Let the Chaos Begin...

Tomorrow could be LA Lakers’ last game of the season and we only have 2 Game Of Thrones episodes left.

What the fuck am I gonna do after?

LA Lakers’ collapse in the playoffs last year affected me so much to the extent that it made me depressed for over two months. They are back again this year all poised to make me suffer the same fate.

I can always go back and rejuvenate my focus in my action figure collection but I don’t know. I feel so aimless.

Fuck sports clubs for making me care so much and shit.

I need to realign this passion in to something more productive but I don’t have the slightest idea what it is. 

Lakers win the battle for Los Angeles

The Clippers’ goal all season long has been to prove that, in Chris Paul’s words when he was acquired by the team earlier this season, they “are not a joke”. Their team had been the receiving end of really bad jokes up until last year when they started to become better during the emergence of the phenomenal Blake Griffin. 

Here are some of the jokes about the Clippers back then:

Q: What’s the difference between the Los Angeles Clippers and a dollar bill?

A: You can still get four quarters out of a dollar bill. 

Q: What do the Los Angeles Clippers and possums have in common?

A: Both play dead at home and get killed on the road! 

Q: What does an Los Angeles Clippers fan do when his team has won the NBA Finals?

A: He turns off the PlayStation 3. 

Q: Did you hear that the Clippers basketball team doesn’t have a website?

A: They can’t string three “Ws” together. 

I’m a bad Laker fan.

Last night, I stayed up until 3:30 AM this morning to watch the LA Lakers play against New Orleans Hornets. I went home around 2 AM so I figured I could just stay up and see the game.

It started up pretty good for the Lakers, outscoring the Hornets early in the first quarter and they seemed really well rested running a lot of transition plays. But then Kobe started missing a lot of open shots. It was so painful to watch. He just couldn’t buy a shot anywhere in their home court. It was like there was a lid covering the rim whenever he takes a shot. Good thing Pau Gasol didn’t have the same curse. He was the only one scoring for the team mostly in the first half with Stephen Blake’s 3 for 3 rainbow connections. But it wasn’t enough. The Lakers suddenly became lethargic and out of focus as Kobe continued to struggle ending the first half with zero points. 

When the third quarter started I was hopeful that the curse on Kobe would be over but the rim just won’t let his shots go in. Then the Hornets took the lead and extended it to double digits late in the third. I gave up. I just couldn’t stand to see the Lakers struggle that much against a very short-handed team that also happens to be at the bottom of the western conference standings. I gave up on the Lakers and went to sleep.

Hours later when I woke up, I went to NBA.com expecting to see another home loss but was surprised to see that the Lakers have managed to win the game! And it was Kobe’s game winning three pointer that sealed the deal! He was 0-for-7 on three point attempts prior to that shot. At the end of the game, he only had 11 points, all of them in the final quarter. 

“He is Kobe Bryant. He is going to find a way to score and he’s going to will his team to win. He’s an amazing, hall of fame player.” Hornet’s Jason Smith on Bryant’s struggles.

A lot have been said about Kobe’s way of handling his shot selections over the course of this shortened and exhausting season. But he is who he is and at the end of the day, he will do whatever it takes to will his team to win.

I was a fool to lose faith in him and in the team. I’m a bad Laker fan.

“It was awful. The shots I was taking were good shots and makeable, but they just weren’t going in. But the crowd had my back and I have great teammates to get us through it.” 
— Kobe Bryant on his worst shooting performance in 14 years.

I has been really hectic in the NBA in the last 24 hours or so because of the very much anticipated Trade Deadline. And now that it’s over, who do you think got the best deals?

Dwight Howard is the biggest troll in the NBA. Everyone was expecting him to move some place else but the dude decided to stay put in Orlando (at least until this season ends). I think it’s a good choice considering the fact that Orlando is playing well as of late and just a little more push and they’d be a contender this year. 

I think the team that made the best deal out of the deadline is Milwaukee Bucks. Monta Ellis is a good scorer and along with Brandon Jennings, the bucks will enjoy utilizing an awesome 2 hit combo in the backcourt.

In Lakerland, fans had a huge sigh of relief when Pau Gasol wasn’t moved and because the point guard problem is now fixed by the acquisition of Cleveland’s Ramon Sessions. But everyone didn’t see it coming, the management decided to trade their veteran other point guard Derek Fisher in exchange for Houston’s Jordan Hill. I was shocked myself, devastated even. I thought, “Why can’t they just let him retire as a Laker?”. We’re talking about a guy who has showed a lot of leadership in the team especially in huddles and in the locker room. He is Kobe’s closest friend and confidant. He should’ve always been a Laker. But having to rotate 3 point guards with him, Blake and Sessions would be messy. It makes sense. And emotions aside, I know it’s for the better. Kobe is not getting any younger and he needs to have a much more competitive ally in the backcourt to get that sixth ring. I would love though, to see Fisher back in the Laker bench again in the future. Not as a player but part of the coaching staff. The Old Man deserves it.

Andrew Bynum has been phenomenal in the Lakers last two games scoring a total of 57 points and grabbing 40 rebounds. Is this enough proof that they are ready to let go of their other 7 footer Pau Gasol? I don’t think so.

Gasol was really efficient as well especially on tonight’s win against the Grizzlies. The Lakers’ strategy had been consistent, do a pick and roll play between Kobe and Gasol, leaving Bynum open for lobs and strong finishes most of the time. In total, Gasol ended the game with a game high 8 assists. 

Warning: The Walking Dead spoilers ahead.

It’s been a long time coming but Rick finally did the deed, ending the roller coaster ride of a friendship him and Shane had been going through ever since the zombie apocalypse started. 

To be honest, I kind of liked Shane’s reincarnation in the TV series. In the comics, there wasn’t any character build up and all we know is that he was a jealous prick. But in the TV series, there was more to him than that. He seemed to be making a lot of good calls especially because they were in survival mode but he just couldn’t present them well enough to make everyone agree that they were the right things to do. He was trouble but he was an asset.

But in the end, it was still his jealousy that got the most of him.

Again, I’ve been stressing this out ever since that failed 3 team trade that would’ve landed Chris Paul to the Lakers, trading away a player like Gasol, who makes your team special, would be another wrong decision in a season filled with them.

Right now, the Lakers appear to be vulnerable and wounded but this guy was the impetus of the team’s success in the last 5 years and letting him go is the stupidest idea ever.

They are opting for a younger point guard in Houston Rockets’ Kyle Lowry but will that make the team better? I don’t think so. I’m all for improving the team’s roster, but maybe the culture and atmosphere surrounding the franchise need to change first.

There have been rumors that the players are losing their faith with their new Coach Mike Brown. These same complaints have been plaguing Brown even during his stint with Cleveland Cavaliers, late game management and so on. 

The need for a young point guard to head the back court is a must but the Lakers focusing on their own inner-turmoil is much more important.

In case you don’t listen to a lot of Kanye and Jay-Z, H.A.M. means “Hard as a motherfucker”. 

Exactly a week after that controversial Dwayne Wade hard foul on Kobe in the All-Star game, their teams finally met earlier today. No one really knew what was gonna happen. The tension has been building up ever since Kobe went out to play with a protective mask earlier this week and everyone was expecting something controversial to happen again. And indeed there was.

Frustrated with his last miss, Lebron James shoved the closest player in front of him, innocent bystander, Troy Murphy. Seeing this, Pau Gasol stepped in and pushed Lebron James back, which was followed by Udonis Haslem pushing Gasol. In came Metta to administer some World Peace. Gasol walked away, glaring at James on his way to the bench. Gasol and James were hit with double technicals as a result.

The Lakers had been bullied by the Heat in every contest since Lebron James arrived in South Beach with those talents of his. The purple and gold were constantly outplayed, outhustled and outsmarted by the most hated team in the league, and it’s taken Kobe Bryant’s broken nose and concussion to finally incite his team to take a stand with him.

(Source: lakernation.com)

After that D-Wade controversial hard foul last Sunday, Kobe came back today wearing a protective face mask and finished the game with 31 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists. Earlier he was questionable to play but the doctors gave him a go signal after some few minor tests.

If it was Dwayne Wade who got that injury, I bet he would have sat the bench. But not Kobe. He is a warrior and will play through anything. 

Can’t wait til Sunday when both the teams meet again.

The 2012 NBA All-Star game last Sunday sure broke some records. Viewership has increased tremendously and it hasn’t been that high since 2005. The West team also made history when they scored 88 points in the first 2 quarters breaking the previous record of 87, and then Kobe surpassed Michael Jordan’s All-Star scoring record with a two handed slam late in the third quarter.

Miami Heat’s Dwayne Wade also left a mark in history as he committed the first ever All-Star Flagrant Foul. 

Seriously? Who does that? It’s just an All-Star game goddammit! 

He went too far by drawing blood on a hard two handed foul to Kobe Bryant as Kobe drop stepped him in the post and on his way to an easy basket!

 ”I obviously didn’t try to draw no blood, but I took a foul,” Wade said. “Kobe fouled me two times in a row, so he’s still got one up on me.”

Yes, let’s say he did foul you twice in a row, but you can’t just break his nose in return. This is not UFC All-Star (lol do they even have an All-Star weekend? I’m sorry I’m not a UFC fan). 

Let’s also say Wade didn’t do it purpose, that it was just part of the game being physical nearing the buzzer, but he didn’t go and check if Kobe was alright! Instead, he went to the bench and laughed with his Miami Heat team mate Chris Bosh! Are you kidding me?

That crossover that could have been a potential dunk would have made Kobe tied with Michael Jordan’s All-Star scoring record of 262. He sunk both the free throws for the cheap foul anyway so Wade’s attempt to thwart that was useless. Kobe even went on and surpassed MJ late in the third and continued to add more points in his record all throughout the game as he ended with 27 points (he only needed 19) and now has 271 overall.

It wouldn’t have been such a big deal to me if D-Wade just manned up and apologized to Kobe right then and there. Come on! He couldn’t even walk over and say “My bad” or something?  

In a game where everybody is just trying to have fun letting all defensive strategies go just to entertain fans with lobs and dunks, He couldn’t even give up one dunk to Kobe. That’s saying a lot. 

What little respect I have left for Dwayne Wade has gone the way of the dinosaurs.

Kobe left immediately after the game and has not spoken to the media since. Reports say he was examined after the game though. Results of a CT scan revealed that Bryant suffered a nasal fracture. It is expected that Bryant will be examined and re-evaluated by ear, nose and throat specialist Dr. John Rehm when he returns to Los Angeles.

So Kobe broke Jordan’s record of 262 points on a dunk with 4:57 left in the third quarter and now has 271 for his career. He entered with 244 and passed Oscar Robertson (246 points) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (251) earlier in the game.

Even if he didn’t get his 5th MVP, he sure made another mark in history surpassing the great MJ’s all time scoring in the All-Star weekend. Next year, if he’s still up to it, may surpass Jordan as he will be playing his 14th All-Star. Right now they are tied for having 13 a piece.

Good job Black Mamba!

Meanwhile, Kevin Durant bagged the MVP award. Very well deserving considering the fact that he and his team are really doing well so far in the season. He still has a lot of years left so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him grabbing a couple or more. He could even break Kobe’s All-Star scoring in the next 5 years or so. Kobe is a great player, but Durant has shown he deserves to be one of the greats and is way more explosive! But then again, he and Lebron needs to join the slam dunk contest next year. Almost all of the greats have participated and even won the slam dunk contest. That has been the appeal of most of the NBA analysts all weekend long after that disappointing fiasco of a slam dunk contest they just had yesterday.

Another sad night for Lebron and his fans lol.

KOBE: TRADE PAU OR LEAVE HIM ALONE!

Kobe Bryant wants an answer and he wants it now.

“I wish management would come out and either trade him or not trade him,” Bryant said crisply after the Lakers’ 102-90 loss Sunday. “It’s just tough for a player to give his all when you don’t know if you’re going to be here tomorrow. I’d rather them not trade him at all, but if they’re going to do something, I wish they would just … do it.”

The man is fed up with all the uneasy air of gloom in the team. The elephant in the room. 

In my opinion, they don’t really have to give up Gasol. They made a lot of heads turn when they got him back in 2008 and he was one of the people responsible for the back to back championships in 09-10, they can’t just let him go. Yes, he was inconsistent during last season’s playoffs but he is playing better now. Not as good as before but he contributes a huge chunk in points and especially rebounds. Letting him leave would be a big mistake.

“He’s been the consummate professional,” Bryant said. “He’s going out and he’s trying to do what he can. But let’s be real. If you didn’t know you were going to be here tomorrow, if your head’s on the chopping block … it’s tough to put all of yourself into the game.”

Without a focused Gasol, the Lakers won’t be able to seriously challenge the Thunder, Spurs, Mavericks and Clippers for the top spot. It would be awesome if they get to have Dwight Howard, he could be a great help in anchoring the team in the playoffs but it would cost them having a disoriented team again. They are still struggling with Mike Brown’s new system and having another new player in the mix would be difficult especially in this lockout season. Not enough time to adjust thoroughly and have chemistry. 

There is no need for the Lakers to have another big man because they have 2 of the best in the league. What they really need is a legitimate point guard. Or someone to help the back court. I was really excited about the rumor that Gilbert Arenas is going to be playing for the Lakers a few weeks ago. But no news from the management so far. I guess we will just have to wait til the All-Star break is over. In the mean time, Good luck to Pau in wrestling with the daily drama of the rumor mill.

Today’s Action Figure Haul

I haven’t been buying any toys for almost a month now because I’m still waiting for the wave 2 of the new Marvel Legends. But I went to my local toy shop and saw these figs and ended up getting them. These are rare Legendary Comic Book Heroes figures (well maybe in my area) and passing them up would be a big mistake.

From left to right: Judge Death, Savage Dragon, The Darkness, Marv and Mad Man.