Two Thumbs UP!

Just came back from seeing Disney's UP! I thought the movie was a great date movie. I went with my fiancee and I think that we both enjoyed it. It didn't seem like a kid movie to me though because of some of the adult scenarios where one scene dealt with death. Despite that the adventure of the movie was thrilling and somewhat unpredictable. The jokes were very humorous and I thought the characters were well developed. The talking dogs...very nice touch! I want an adventure like that...very soon...I would like it with my soon-to-be-wife though : )

Transformers and Graffiti

I have a couple of things on my mind. The first would be these punks who think it's cool to go and tag buildings with their tag name. Let me just say it's not cool and just because you put your name on it doesn't mean anything. It's like these punks want to own things but don't know the real way of going out there and owning it. I won't lie I remember when I did tagged a wall in my building when I was younger. I thought "I'm cool now and this friend of mine I was hanging out with would think I'm even cooler". Well that "friend of mine" was never cool and I shouldn't have taken the marker from him. People who put graffiti on walls or any type of property that's not there's should know that they just waste people's times and that somewhere the property owners are either laughing and/or disgusted with that type of behavior. These aren't ancient times where we need to leave behind records on the wall that we were here; we have plenty of multimedia to prove to the future that we were here.


Hung out with one of my brothers last night. We went and saw the new Transformers movie. We both enjoyed it. The movie used a little bit of everything to draw in the viewers such as well timed jokes, some T&A (that I couldn't care for), some cliched lines from Optimus Prime, awesome music that never stopped playing and let's not forget the special effects (my brother told me afterwards "that the special effects could have been better). Everything that action movie fans love. The theater was lively as everyone in there seemed to be amazed by these alien robots that have come to help the human race out. Most theater goers got what they wanted out of the movie no matter what the corny lines were being said. I believe it's what we expected and what we wanted. It most likely reminded the parents who accompanied their children of the time when they were growing up and watching these cartoon robots go into war with each other over our planet. It probably brought them back to a simpler time in their life and with all the bad news being reported by our super hyped media that is looking for ratings or more magazine/news paper sales who can blame someone for being taken away into a world that for a couple of hours. The movie was just what a lot of people needed and it was cool to hear Optimus Prime say "Autobots roll out!".

Changes

Okay, I started this blog with the intention of just writing about the nba playoffs. It turns out that two months later the playoffs are over and the Lakers are champions of the basketball world. That's fine by me. Life is bigger than basketball. I've been busy trying to do my part in getting our wedding together. Everything is finally turning out okay. At first it didn't look like we wouldn't get everything together but you know what with a little teamwork and compromise along the way we are finally there. This one has to be a short one. I'm tired plus my Baby is on the phone : )

The 2009 NBA playoffs

Welcome to my blog.
First of all, I would like to tell you about myself as an NBA fan. I began watching the league in 1992 when it was real hot with great players such as Charles Barkley, David Robinson, John Stockton, Karl Malone (you can’t say one without saying the other), Scottie Pippen, Clyde Drexler and also Michael Jordan. My favorite player was Clyde “the Glide” Drexler just because he wasn’t Michael Jordan. I did not want to be like most basketball fans. I did eventually warm up to Michael because he was so great.

I am what some people would call a fair weathered fan. I will admit that I have liked a few teams over the last 17 years (Blazers, Knicks, Bulls, Rockets, Kings, Sixers, Pistons and now the Celtics). Notice only some of those teams have won championships recently. I will cheer a team because they have a player I respect and like the way they operate on the court. In this blog I will try my best to be impartial and no matter who the person is or what team they play for I will if they are wrong I will call them on it.

The regular season has come to an end. This season has featured some great surprises with the debut of the much anticipated rookie Greg Oden of the Trailblazers and then the surprise trade that saw Allen Iverson and Chauncey Billups swap places. With the trade the Pistons stumbled left and right all season while out west the Nuggets showcased something they have rarely done in the previous seasons: they played some defense. But more on the regular season next time. I will get to the playoff predictions right now before the playoffs tip off this Saturday. Let’s break down each series one at a time.

Western Conference

1. Lakers vs. 8. Jazz
Season Series (Lakers 2-1)
This is a high octane match-up as the third best offensive team in the league takes on the eighth as the Lakers take on the Jazz. The Lakers are the defending Western Conference champions with the reigning MVP Kobe Bryant and they are fully loaded with the return of young star Andrew Bynum which gives them added size and the power to dominate the boards and clog up lanes. The Jazz aren’t slouches because despite being in last place of the conference playoffs they have won 48 games and anytime a team can win so many games they should just be more than just a bump in the road. Expect the Jazz to rely heavily on the trio of Memet Okur, Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer. Williams must create and also score to give the Jazz any hope of staying in the series. The Lakers will look to make them an example and show their prowess. For an upset to occur the Jazz will need Boozer to play like he’s never played like before. He needs to be the “Malone” to Williams “Stockton”.
Prediction : Lakers win in 5 games.

2.Nuggets vs. 7.Hornets
Season Series (Tied 2-2)

This might be a #2 vs. #7 match-up but this one could be tightly contested due to the how similar these two teams play. Point guard match-up of Chauncy Billups vs. Chris Paul should be interesting as the big time veteran Billups will try to slow down the speedy Paul and if he can do that expect the whole Hornets to struggle. X-factor for the Hornets has to be the former Sac-Town King player Peja Stojakovic because if he can find his rhythm for four of the seven games expect the Hornets to move on if Carmelo Anthony can’t match this sharp shooter. The X-factor for the Nuggets has to be J.R. Smith coming off the bench and he has done very well as he matures into a good player. This one is a toss-up as the Nuggets have never moved passed the first round series and they are playing a team that came up short last year to the Spurs in the second round of the playoffs.
Prediction: Hornets win in 6 games.


3.Spurs vs. 6.Mavericks
Season Series (Tied 2-2)

These two Texas teams split their season series but with the playoffs about to start the Spurs are on crutches as they are without the super-sub Manu Ginobli and Tim Duncan as a questionable knee the Mavericks seemingly has the advantage in this series. They have the veteran guard of Jason Kidd breaking records and turning back the clock as if he is up for the rookie of the year award again. If Tony Parker doesn’t play extremely well the Spurs will face something they haven’t seen in a long time: a first round knock-out. Look for Dirk Nowitzki to play like the MVP candidate of old and the Mavericks to move on to the second round as the inconsistent defense of the Spurs and the injuries will definitely hurt them.
Prediction: Mavericks win in 5 games.

4.Blazers vs. 5.Rockets
Season Series (Blazers 2-1)

Who needs Tracy McGrady? It doesn’t seem like the Rockets need him right now. They are playing as well as they have ever played with Yao Ming in the line-up. Portland will throw a vast array of defenses at Yao and I don’t believe that will be enough to slow him down enough as he’s a smart player that senses the double/triple team and will get the ball to the right players when needed. The Blazers have one of my favorite young players in Brandon Roy and I am very happy to see him in the playoffs and playing his best ball when his team needs him. The Blazers are going to need the tandem of Roy and LaMarcus Alridge to step-up big time if they are going to advance to the second round. I feel they are too young and with time they will go deep into the playoffs but not this year. Yao and Ron Artest will be too much for the young Blazers.
Prediction: Rockets win in 6 games.

Eastern Conference

1.Cavaliers vs. 8. Pistons
Season Series (Cavaliers 3-1)

The Cavaliers have figured out the Pistons and it did not happen this season it happened in 2007 when they broke through the Eastern Conference to reach the finals. Too much Lebron James (can you say MVP) in this series for the Pistons to overcome. I would have loved to see Allen Iverson play in this series because of how great of a scorer he is and it would have been nice to see him come off the bench and play that sixth man role. This one ends with a broom.
Prediction: Cavaliers win in 4 games.

2.Celtics vs. 7. Bulls
Season Series (Celtics 2-1)

This series could be very interesting as the defending world champions could start the series without arguably their best player in Kevin Garnett (KG) being out with a sore knee. The Bulls have plenty of fire power with Derrick Rose, Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon makes them have a dangerous perimeter team. The trade to bring Brad Miller back to Chicago was a great one as he has provided a solid big man for the team and a decent perimeter shooter. Obviously the Celtics have their fire power in two future hall of famers in Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. The assortment of big men that they have and the depth on the bench could provide them with enough tools to stop the Bulls.
Prediction w/o KG: Celtics win in 6 games.
Prediciton w/ KG: Celtics win in 4 games.

3.Magic vs. 6. Sixers
Season Series (Magic 3-0)

The Magic are the only team in the playoffs that can say they have Superman on their team in the young and talented Dwight Howard. The Sixers better find some kryptonite as Howard seems like he’s ready to show the world that he can play big in the playoffs and not just the regular season. X-Factor in this series for the Sixers to accomplish a gigantic upset is Andre Iguadala because he’s as talented as they come but he needs to be slightly more selfish and take over a game. This would be a hard series for the Sixers to win with the Magic having such a dominant inside-outside game. Sixers get your umbrellas because the Magic will rain the threes.
Prediction: Magic win in 4 games.

4.Hawks vs. 5. Heat
Season Series (Hawks 3-1)

Another MVP candidate will be in this series namely Dwayne Wade. If Wade can score 30 plus points for 4 out of the 7 games in this series he will push his team pass the Hawks. The Hawks will not be so easy to defeat as they are coming off a terrific playoff series with the Celtics last year and if they play the way they did last year then I don’t see the Heat overcoming the Hawks I see the Hawks beating the Heat. Okay enough clichés. The Hawks have too much fire power with Mike Bibby, Josh Smith (I love his shot blocking ability) and Al Horsford for the Heat. I would love to see the Heat do the impossible though because D-Wade is a fantastic player and I would love to see him take over the series. I’m going out on a limb for this one.
Prediction: Heat win in 6 games.

No matter how the games go; the playoffs will be fun. Enjoy!