Bold and Not-So-Bold NBA Predictions

1. Brook Lopez will be an all-star in a break out year.
2. Rajon Rondo will be the starting PG for the eastern conference
3. The Knicks will not make the playoffs with their current roster
4. The Cavs will not make the playoffs either.
5. The Lakers will cruise to the NBA finals.
6. Carmelo will not be traded before the end of the NBA season
7. The Bulls will not make it to the Eastern Conference Finals
8. The Bucks will be over .500
9. The Jazz will win fewer games this year than last year.
10.The Heat will win a lot of games.
11. The Magic will not make it out of the East.
12. John Wall and Blake Griffin will be co-winners of Rookie of the Year.
13. The Hawks will win fewer games this year than last.
14. The Celtics will win more games this year than last.
15. Michael Beasley has a good statistical year despite the Wolves sucking ass.
16. Kevin Garnett is back to old form!
17. People still boo Lebron, but dies down by season end (outside of Cleveland, NY).
18. 1st team all NBA at the end of the year will be- Howard-Durant-Lebron-Kobe-Rondo
19. The Nets make the playoffs, and then get swept!
20 The Celtics win the whole thing in a hard fought series with the Lakers!

My New Team

I've lived in South Jersey, in the Philadelphia area, for just over three years now. Growing up in Bergen County, my main sports allegiance was always for the New York Knickerbockers. I would "follow" the Yankees and Giants for stretches of time, but my heart wasn't into them and I wouldn't call myself a "fan" of either team. However, even after I moved down here, I've been purchasing the NBA League Pass package so that I could watch my beloved Knicks stink it up (along with following the guys on my Fantasy NBA team. I'm embarrased to admit that, but it's true.) The main drive, though, was to watch the Knicks games frequently and the Nets games from time to time.

However, as we face the dawn of the 2008-2009 NBA season, I sadly have to announce that I believe - and this remains to be seen - that my time with the NY Knicks is done. They have been too mismanaged for too long, and there aren't many likable characters around. They are a bloated, overhyped franchise which has been heading in the wrong direction for several years now. And so, finally at my wits end, I've realized that I don't really want to order the League Pass this year. It's not a money question - it's a "I really don't want to watch the Knicks anymore, so why do I need League Pass?" feeling that my heart is conveying that I have to acknowledge. And consequently, that means that my allegiance may wind up switching to...

... the Philadelphia 76ers. They are a fun team to watch. They have a bunch of good young guys who, unlike the Knicks' guys, have been given a chance to develop and the team is seeing the results. Then, during this offseason, they addressed one of their biggest needs, a post-up presence who can score, by signing Elton Brand who is a perennial All-Star when he's healthy. Philly is a good sports town, all their teams are successful... and hey, when in Rome...

Look, I'm not consciously doing this. This is very hard for me. This is a guy that used to tape most of their home games in the early 90s (while I was in h.s.) and rewatch many of them. However, unless something changes in N.Y., my time with the Knicks may be over. I'll have to see what my heart tells me when the season starts. This could be very bittersweet.

Random Links 11/21/2007

1) Shaq's said some good stuff over the years (for Daffy).



2) I found this blog written by a NYC bouncer about the clublife through following one of Open Bar's stories through and got caught up in a random string of links (for all the still single guys trying to do it in this cold cold world).



3) "Staging a legendary duel for the ages..."



(for MMG)

Random Notes Sat 11/3/07

- My obsession with Desktop Tower Defense has not abated. I got a new high score - 7252 - but when I attempted to post it to the ChuckJerry leader board (which has two members: myself and ChuckJerry) the website froze and it was lost. Ahh well, that score will be the Snuffleupagus to my Big Bird. By the way, did anybody know he had a first name? Aloysius?


- I have found myself quickly biting the style of the boys over at Where's Luke with posting a picture in each post and attempting a funny comment. I caught myself about to post a random photo of Snuffleupagus. I will refrain, for now.


- I'm really torn about buying NBA League Pass this year. It's been awesome to get home and be able to flip on any random NBA game. However, I don't know if I'm home often enough now to warrant it. The price is not that much when you consider all the games you get...


- I'm currently reading a book entitled "What's the Matter with Kansas?" I get bored with political discussions, but this book is very interesting.


- Is there any better time to read than on the shitter?


- ING Direct has been paying off well since we started to save there. Also incredibly easy and convenient.


- Six of us have started a Fantasy NBA league again this year. "I try to get out... and they keep PULLING me back in."


- And finally, Check out this list of "coolest blogs of 2005", and especially you NYC people, check out the first link about "Things Overheard in NYC". Obviously, there's no way to verify if these things are real or not, but entertaining nonetheless.