On The Court: An NBA Christmas

Merry Christmas!  I hope everyone received what they wanted, because I sure did: family, turkey, presents, and a full day of basketball!  For those who missed out here's my recap for the five NBA games on Christmas day:

Game 1: Boston at  New York
A pretty damn good start for the quintuple header.  New York came out strong, as expected, playing their first home game at MSG.  Occasionally pressing, New York took an early lead and held it for the first half. The Celtics, being the veteran team, matched the Knicks' intensity in the second half, not only coming back but taking a double digit lead.  As both teams competed fiercely,  this match could've been mistaken for a playoff game.  Carmelo Anthony, the lead scorer took over in the fourth finishing the game with a game high 37 points.  The game came down to the wire with New York on top by two points and only 3.9 seconds left on the clock.  Without Pierce (heel injury) to close out the game, they go to KG, who gets a decent look but wasn't able to knock down the shot to tie it up.  Knicks win after 8 consecutive losses to the Celtics.

Game 2: Miami at Dallas
Dallas opens the game with the raising of the 2011 championship banner.  Miami started off the game focused and ready for revenge but Dallas just seemed unmotivated.  While Lebron poured on the points, the Miami defense were causing turnovers left right and center on the defensive side.  Meanwhile, the Mavericks all played with the intensity of a preseason game with the exception of Jason Terry trying to prevent Miami embarrassing them at home.  With a gap as big as 30 points, this game soon became boring to watch.  In the 4th quarter, Dallas able to close the gap to 11 points but this game's outcome was sealed by the first half.

Game 3:  Chicago at Los Angeles Lakers
This was my most anticipated game to watch.  I haven't seen Derrick Rose, the former MVP, play this season yet and was excited to see him in action.  As both teams battled, it was a close game up to the first half.  In the second, L.A. seemed to be running away with it but I knew the Bulls weren't going to give up.  After the Lakers missed four consecutive free throws late in the fourth, Chicago capitalized with a Luol Deng and-one.  Down by one point, Lakers inbound with 20.4 seconds on the clock.  Deng miraculously comes up with a steal following the double team on Kobe Byrant, and after a controversial no-call on what seemed to be a travel on the pass to Derrick Rose, the former MVP waited for the clock to go down and drove towards the center, elevated, and hit the ten foot floater right in Gasol's face with 4.8 seconds left.  Who do the Lakers go to?  Who else?  Kobe Bryant grabbed the inbound pass, drove right but Deng came up with a huge block!  Chicago wins it big on the road, starting off what will be another impressive season.

Game 4:  Orlando at Oklahoma City
Dwight Howard and the Magic started off strong but once the game became the Durant-Westbrook show, you could tell where the game was heading.  Turkoglu could not guard Durant and the OKC fans were letting the Magic know.  The Thunder defeated the Magic 97-89.

Game 5:  Los Angeles Clipeprs at Golden State
This game was somewhat close.  Paul and Billups dropping their veteran points.  Jordan and Blake bringing the Lob City to Golden State.  Monta ellis trying to keep them in the game but when LAC started to run way with it, Mark Jackson implemented the hack-a-Jordan strategy that seemed to get them back in the game.  In the late fourth quater, the game was up for grabs, despite that, Curry, playing injured, gave away consecutive careless turnovers, and Chris Paul put the dagger in the game.  Sad to see Curry injured once again; I really thought this was going to be his year.  He's got to be healthy again, but until then, it seems like Mark Jackson has a lot of work to do to rid of the Warriors' bad habits.

Off The Court: Azealia Banks

Nicki Minaj meets M.I.A. was the first thought that came to mind upon watching this clip.  Azealia Bank's 212 has been a hit--tearing up clubs all around the states.

The newcomer is a 20 year old rapper from Harlem, New York.  She released her first single in 2009 called Seventeen.

212 was the first track that put her on my radar.  I couldn't decide whether her unique style was weird or hip but after sleeping on it, I couldn't wait to hear it again.  What really caught my eye was her "in your face" lyrics, delivered over a hard hitting beat, but also incorporates a bit of an indie-hipster vibe.

After hearing more of her discography, I was surprised to find one of her tracks produced by Lunice, who I've seen perform live in Montreal.  She kills it over a very well produced instrumental!

Literally, 2 days ago, Azealia's website was upscaled.  This young lady's making moves and getting the attention she deserves. Watch out for her during the upcoming year, she could potentially run 2012.

On The Court: Clippers Land Chris Paul

After a wave of excitement and let down, Chris Paul has officially been traded to the Los Angeles Clippers!  Hornets receive star shooting guard Eric Gordon, center Chris Kaman, forward Al-Farouq Aminu and the unprotected Minnesota 2012 first round draft pick.  Clippers also receive two future second round picks.  Not a bad trade, eh?

Wait, did I just become a Clippers fan?!  I can't say yet.  All I know is I can't wait to watch Paul toss up some filthy alley-oops to Blake Griffin!

On The Court: High School High Flyer

Shaquille Johnson is the most ridiculous high-flyer I've seen this season in high school basketball!  Standing at 6'5", the ferocious dunker plays above the rim.  I'm excited to see what else this kid can do offensively as well as defensively but with athleticism like this, his potential is out the roof.  This video will definitely get you as excited as I am:

On The Court: Upcoming Player - Stephen Curry

Last year's NBA season, it was quite apparent how much Team USA's endeavor to the gold medal championship improved the players on their roster.  The team consisted of MVP Derrick Rose, All-Star Kevin Durant, and the monster rebounder, Kevin Love, achieving 31 points and 30 rebounds in 2010-2011 season.  Not to mention Eric Gordon, Lamar Odom, Rudy Gay, Andre Iguodala, and Tyson Chandler all contributing a huge impact on their NBA teams after playing together on the international level.

Stephen Curry, also a USA gold medalist, was on the verge of a dominating season.  With one of the smoothest jump shots as well as one of the quickest releases in the NBA, Curry's high basketball IQ makes him a dangerous threat on the court.  However, hindered by his ankle injuries last season, the upcoming star did not follow the path of his fellow international teammates.  This year, Curry's been humbly attending Davidson and staying healthy during the lock out.  He's bulked up a bit, played a couple of chairty games, but most importantly, he's ready to dominate the way he was suppose to last year.

I'm predicting an explosive year for the Golden State Warriors.  Along with new coach Mark Jackson's defensive mindset, prolific scorer Monta Ellis and sharp shooting Stephen Curry will provide a deadly back court combination that will surely lead the Warriors to an improved record.  If all goes well under the new head coach and the roster stays healthy, you can expect to see this team in the 2011-2012 playoffs.

Off The Court: Illanoize

So this discovery took place last Friday evening, sipping on a casual beer, chillin' with some friends, vibin' to some good tunes.  I was looking for something special to hear, something new.  Group settings are usually well complemented with some Hip Hop bumping in the background so I browse my iPhone for a sick album or playlist and settled for Nas' Illmatic (how can you ever go wrong with old school Nas).

As the casual beer became a casual five beers, everyone's feeling pretty good by this point.  A friend yanks the jack out of my iPhone and puts on a track.  Suddenly I realize what I'm listening to is sick!  A new school instrumental with an indie flavour rapped over by Aesop Rock.  Never have I heard a remix of None Shall Pass but I've always remembered that Aesop Rock delivers unreal flow in that track, but the instrumental portrays an but cool mood.  By replacing it with a Sufjan Stevens sample, the song becomes very easygoing.

The mixtape, Illanoize is by Tor, a Vancouver-based producer.  Every track features ridiculous rap flows remixed over a Sufjan Stevens sample including hit songs such as ATLiens by Outkast and Make You Feel That Way by Gift of Gab.  The video's posted are my favourite songs, but every track is sick.  Get a free download and tell me what you think!

On The Court: Player Transactions

Here's the clear and organized update of all player transactions that have been made courtesy of NBA.com
Enjoy!

NBA transactions for the 2011-12 season: July 1, 2011 to the present.

December 2011

Monday, Dec. 12
• Houston Rockets signed forward Marcus Morris. Claimed guard Jeremy Lin off waivers from Golden State. Added guard Ibrahim Jaaber to the training-camp roster.
• Memphis Grizzlies agreed to terms with center Marc Gasol.
• Philadelphia 76ers re-signed center Tony Battie.
• Los Angeles Clippers matched the Golden State offer for center DeAndre Jordan.
• Boston Celtics acquired forward Brandon Bass from Orlando for forward Glen Davis and guard Von Wafer. Signed forward JaJuan Johnson and guard E'Twaun Moore. Re-signed guard-forward Sasha Pavlovic.
• Chicago Bulls re-signed forward Brian Scalabrine.
• Cleveland Cavaliers re-signed guard Anthony Parker. Waived forward J.P. Prince.
• Dallas Mavericks re-signed forward Brian Cardinal. Signed forward Vince Carter.
• Detroit Pistons waived guard Richard Hamilton.
• Minnesota Timberwolves signed forward Derrick Williams.
• Toronto Raptors agreed to terms with guard Anthony Carter.

Sunday, Dec. 11
• Dallas Mavericks signed guard Drew Neitzel.
• Phoenix Suns re-signed forward Grant Hill. Signed guard Sebastian Telfair and forward Markieff Morris. Added guard Jeremy Hazell and guard Dwight Buycks to their training camp roster.
• Washington Wizards re-signed center Hamady Ndiaye.
• Toronto Raptors signed center Aaron Gray.
• Golden State Warriors waived guard Charlie Bell. Rescinded their qualifying offer to forward Reggie Williams. Signed center DeAndre Jordan to an offer sheet.
• Memphis Grizzlies signed guards Josh Selby and Jeremy Pargo.
• Oklahoma City Thunder signed guard Reggie Jackson.
• Charlotte Bobcats signed guard Kemba Walker.
• New York Knicks signed guards Mike Bibby, Iman Shumpert, forward Jared Jeffries and center Josh Harrellson.
• Portland Trail Blazers signed forward/center Kurt Thomas.
• Los Angeles Lakers traded forward Lamar Odom and second-round pick to the Dallas Mavericks for a first-round pick and $8.9 million trade exception.

Saturday, Dec. 10
• Golden State Warriors signed forward Gary Flowers and forward Chris Wright.
• Indiana Pacers re-signed center Jeff Foster. Signed forward/center Jeff Pendergraph, forward/center Jarrid Famous, forward Tyren Johnson, forward Darnell Lazare and forward/center Matt Rogers.
• Milwaukee Bucks signed forward-guard Mike Dunleavy to a multi-year deal.
• New York Knicks traded forward Ronny Turiaf, cash considerations and a 2013 second-round draft pick to Washington and guard Andy Rautins to Dallas, who sent center Tyson Chandler and the draft rights to Ahmad Nivins and Giorgos Printezis to New York and a 2012 second-round draft pick to Washington. Washington also sent a conditional future second-round draft pick to Dallas.
• New York Knicks waived guard Chauncey Billups.
• Sacramento Kings signed forward Lawrence Hill and guard Adrian Oliver.
• Toronto Raptors signed forward Rasual Butler.
• Atlanta Hawks signed forward Vladimir Radmanovic.

Friday, Dec. 9
• Atlanta Hawks signed guard Tracy McGrady to a one-year contract.
• Boston Celtics signed guard Marquis Daniels, forward Chris Wilcox and center Greg Stiemsma.
• Chicago Bulls signed forward Jimmy Butler.
• Charlotte Bobcats re-signed guard Derrick Brown to a one-year contract.
• Cleveland Cavaliers signed guard Kyrie Irving and forward Tristan Thompson and waived forward Joey Graham.
• Dallas Mavericks signed forward Brandan Wright.
• Golden State Warriors signed guard Charles Jenkins and waived guard Jeremy Lin.
• Los Angeles Clippers signed forward Caron Butler to a three-year contract.
• Los Angeles Lakers signed forward Jason Kapono amd guards Darius Morris and Andrew Goudelock.
• Miami Heat agreed to terms with guard Mario Chalmers.
• New Jeresy Nets signed guard MarShon Brooks and forward Jordan Williams.
• Oklahoma City Thunder agreed to terms with guard Daequan Cook on a two-year contract.
• Orlando Magic released guard Gilbert Arenas via amnesty provision and signed guards Larry Hughes, Gabe Pruitt and DeAndre Liggins and forward Justin Harper.
• Philadelphia Sixers agreed to terms with forward Thaddeus Young on a multi-year contract. Also signed forward-center Nikola Vucevic, centers Dwayne Jones and Mike Tisdale, guards Antonio Andersen andXavier Salas and forward Lavoy Allen.
• Phoenix Suns re-signed guard-forward Grant Hill to a one-year contract and signed guards Sebastian Telfairand Shannon Brown to one-year contracts. Waived guard Vince Carter.
• Portland Trail Blazers signed center Greg Oden to a one-year contract.
• Sacramento Kings signed guard Marcus Thornton and center Chuck Hayes to four-year contracts and guardsJimmer Fredette, Isaiah Thomas and forward Tyler Honeycutt to rookie contracts.
• Toronto Raptors signed center Jamaal Magloire.
• Utah Jazz re-signed guard Earl Watson and signed center Enes Kanter and guard Alec Burks to deals.

Thursday, Dec. 8
• New Jersey Nets named P.J. Carlesimo and Mario Elie assistant coaches and Jeremy Bettle strength and conditioning coach.
• Utah Jazz named Michael Sanders player development coach.

Wednesday, Dec. 7
• Minnesota Timberwolves named Terry Porter, Jack Sikma, T.R. Dunn and Bill Bayno assistants coaches andR.J. Adelman director of player personnel and David Adelman player development coach.
• Portland Trail Blazers promoted advance scout Larry Greer to assistant coach. Named Dan Dickau player development assistant.

November 2011

Tuesday, Nov. 15
• Philadelphia 76ers named Jeff Capel assistant coach.
• Sacramento Kings named Keith Smart and Bobby Jackson assistant coaches.

October 2011

Wednesday, Oct. 26
• Toronto Raptors named Ed Stefanski executive vice president of basketball operations.

Thursday, Oct. 6
• Utah Jazz named Sidney Lowe assistant coach.

September 2011

Monday, Sept. 26
• Golden State Warriors named Rick Welts president and chief operating officer.

Tuesday, Sept. 13
• Minnesota Timberwolves named Rick Adelman coach.

Friday, Sept. 9
• Phoenix Suns announced the resignation of president and chief executive Rick Welts, effective Sept. 15.

August 2011

Monday, August 29
• New York Knicks named Mike Woodson assistant coach.

Monday, August 15
• Milwaukee Bucks named Sidney Moncrief assistant coach.

Thursday, August 4
• Golden State Warriors named Pete Myers, Wes Unseld Jr. and Jerry DeGregorio assistant coaches andDarren Erman and Kris Weems assistant coaches/player development.

Wednesday, August 3
• Detroit Pistons named Lawrence Frank coach.
• Golden State Warriors named Nate Bjorkgren coach of their D-League Dakota Wizards affiliate.

Tuesday, August 2
• Charlotte Bobcats named Dave Hanners assistant coach.

July 2011

Friday, July 22
• Miami Heat promoted vice president of basketball operations Nick Arison to chief executive officer.

Wednesday, July 20
• Houston Rockets announced the retirement of center Yao Ming.

Monday, July 18
• Indiana Pacers named Jim Boylen assistant coach.

Thursday, July 14
• Cleveland Cavaliers named Wes Wilcox general manager of the NBA D-League affiliate in Canton, Ohio.
• Phoenix Suns named Elston Turner defensive specialist.

Wednesday, July 13
• Indiana Pacers named Brian Shaw assistant head coach. Retained assistant coach Dan Burke.

Tuesday, July 12
• Minnesota Timberwolves fired coach Kurt Rambis.

Thursday, July 7
• Cleveland Cavaliers announced they have purchased the New Mexico Thunderbirds (NBA D-League) and will relocate the team to Canton, Ohio.

Wednesday, July 6
• Golden State Warriors named Marty Glick chief financial officer.
• Indiana Pacers named Frank Vogel coach.

Friday, July 1
• L.A. Lakers named Chuck Person and Quin Snyder assistant coaches.

Source: http://www.nba.com/news/transactions/2011_12/

On The Court: Brandon Roy's Retirement

Ill-fated by his knee injuries, Brandon Roy is retiring in his prime.  After years of building the franchise around the all-star, drafting future prospects (Aldridge and Oden) to complement his game on the court, and giving the city of Portland hope for a future championship, it seems much that was gained is lost.  Roy's final memorable moments on an NBA court will surely bring us back to Game 4, against the Dallas Mavericks in 2011.  His performance will forever be remembered as a stunning display of courage, heart, and pure talent:

On The Court: Chris Paul to Lakers Trade Called Off

Last night, basketball fans raved about the Laker's acquisition of Chris Paul only to be let down by David Stern calling off the trade.  The complex three team trade deal consisted Chris Paul (New Orleans), Pau Gasol (L.A.), Lamar Odom (L.A.), Kevin Martin (Houston), and Luis Scola (Houston).  It was announced that the deal had been made moving Gasol to houston, Odom, Scola, and Martin to New Orleans, and Paul to L.A.  After complaints from various owners including Mark Cuban (being allegedly very vocal) forced David Stern to intervene.  Part of the post-lockout collective bargaining agreement was to prevent large franchise teams to leverage smaller teams.  Stern, showing support for free agency, vetoed the deal.

I'm not much of Lakers fan but I do credit them for being an outstanding basketball team supporting a legendary franchise.  My reactions to the trade before it was revoked initially was shock and confusion.  So much uncertainty comes about when two players who dominate the ball are forced to play on the same team.  Surely being a play maker, Paul could complement Bryant's game but Kobe, for the most part, creates his own shot.  Meanwhile, I would credit a large part of the Lakers' previous success to their dominant big men, on both offense and defense.  As much as I was excited to see Paul and Bryant play together, I think the better move was keeping Gasol in L.A. but since the trade was made and called off, the players are now aware of their worth to their teams.

Now is the question of Dwight Howard.  Chris Broussard of ESPN claims that he is preparing to ask the Magic for a trade to New Jersey.  This will put pressure on the Lakers to trade Andrew Bynum so that Howard can team up with Kobe.

To me, Andrew Bynum is not equivalent to Dwight Howard.  Yes, he's got the size and potential to be dominant but Howard already has shown that he is, whereas Bynum's injuries have kept him very inconsistent.  The Magic better try to get more out of this trade, because Bynum alone is not going to be able to replace Howard. 

On The Ice: Stefan Elliot's first NHL goal

I know, I know, on the ice...this is a joke, right?  Sorry, but I'm actually serious.  I'm breaking my own "Blaws" (blog laws) because this a tribute to a good friend of mine; his name might sound familiar to you:  Stefan Elliott.

Drafted to the Colorado Avalanche in 2009, Elliott tried out for the team this year and made the Lake Erie Monster farm team instead.  On November 26, 2011, he was called up to play his NHL debut as a replacement for the injured Erik Johnson, and what a game he had.  Scoring the game winner and his first NHL goal to lead the Avalanche to 5-2 victory over the Edmonto Oilers, the Avs fans can look forward to this "flashy" youngster to play a couple more games as Johnson remains injured.

I was fortunate enough to attend high school and play on the same Basketball team with this future NHL star, and as a friend of Stefan, I can proudly say that no one deserves this more.  He's the most modest, selfless, hard working person I've ever met.  On behalf of Argyle Secondary and even North Vancouver, I cannot be more happy for him!  Way to represent the hometown, buddy!

On The Court: The NBA Lockout is Over!

November 26th, 2011, the NBA lockout finally came to an end.  Promising a 66-game season commencing on Christmas day, I am unbelievably relieved to not have to watch anymore defenseless charity games featuring NBA stars and watch a disciplined, regulated plain ol' good game of basketball on Christmas day.  And not just any game of basketball, but a triple header featuring former MVP Derrick Rose and the Bulls against the Lakers, a renewal rivalry of Knicks vs. Celtics, and an NBA finals rematch between the Heat and the Mavs.


However, with the great news, I can't help but wonder what happened during the resolution.


"I wish they [NBA players] had taken their fight out of the boardroom and into the public sphere. Make no mistake, I'm an NBA junkie and I'm thrilled to be watching ball sooner rather than later. But with every game of this warped, bastardised 66-game season, I'll remember that we had a lockout where the rich got richer, the players got played and the fans didn't get a damn thing." - Dave Zirin


After reading Zirin's article , I agree with his bold statement.  But where players are still making more money than I could imagine, I'm just content to watch my favorourite players play the game that I love once again.


Source: http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2011/11/2011112993728332260.html


Here's a video to remind us how much we've missed the NBA:

On The Court: Flashback to the MVP

Here's a quick flashback to Derrick Rose's monster season last year!  Along with the debut season of Coach Thibodeau, Rose stepped up the 2010-2011 season leading the Chicago Bulls to an NBA record of 62-20.  Averaging 25.0 points per game, 7.7 assists per game, 4.1 rebounds per game, and 1.0 steals per game, the MVP became the youngest player in the NBA to receive the award.  Being, personally, one my of favourite players, Rose's agile light footed drives to net, improved three-point range, acrobatic mid-air lay-ups, ridiculous two hand cock-back dunks reminds me how much we need the NBA back.  With that said, let us reminisce on a flash back of last year's memorable season for Derrick Rose:

On The Court: Player Analysis - Myck Kabongo

Myck Kabongo

6’2”, 170 lbs, class of 2011

Highschool: Findlay College Prep

Signed:  University of Texas Longhorns

Player Position:  Point Guard

          Born in Ontario, Canada, this Canadian basketball player, playing in the States, is ready for Division I basketball.  Graduating from Findlay College Prep in Neveda, Kabongo received a scholarship to play for the Longhorns.   Get ready for this selfless point guard is to make some serious plays for Texas!  Let us analyze.

Athleticism:

Sitting at 6'2" at 170 lbs, Kabongo is a decently big point guard.  He's only a freshman who's going to bulk up over the years.  Known for his high speed and agility, Kabongo possesses a powerful drive to the net.  He is a sharp cutter which allows him to switch directions instantaneously when he's dribbling down the court.  Not exactly a high flyer, however, Kabongo can dunk.  He uses his vertical to get arc on his spot up threes and pull up jumper.

Grade: B+

Scoring:

Scoring is not the first thing on Kabongo's mind which is the way it should be with play making point guards.  With that said, it does not mean he's not capable of scoring.  Averaging 17.1 points per game in his senior year, he is familiar with using both hands, finishing finesse layups and dunking on fast breaks.  Even though he spots up for threes and pulls up mid range occasionally, I wouldn't say shooting is his forté.  That doesn't mean he isn't a threat.  He can draw contact which sends him to the line shooting 70% from the free throw.  Another one of his best qualities as player is his knowledge of the game.  He can recognize when the defense is collapsing which he than can make a smart decision to shoot or pass.

Grade: B+

Passing:

From analyzing the defense, Kabongo will choose to shoot or pass; if he chooses to pass, you can bet that the receiving player is going to be wide open!  Being a decently tall point guard with a pass-first mentality, his best attribute is his court vision.  Kabongo is a very unselfish player always looking to get his teammates involved.  Combined with his athleticism, and proficient scoring ability, he can drive to net aggressively enough to convince the defenders that he's finishing at the rim.  Once he draws two or three defenders, look for Kabongo to kick the ball outside for a teammate spotting up for an open three or a no-look dish to a post player for a wide open dunk.  Knowing that he's going to pass doesn't help either.  Kabongo's got a few trick passes in his repertoire including behind-the-backs and wrap-around passes that will leave the defender in a daze.  In his final season, he averaged 6.0 assists per game.

Grade: A+

Ball handling:

Being a point guard, Kabongo has the handles to create any play off the dribble.  He's excellent at creating a situation from a drive and kick.  He can beat defenders with ease as he breaks them down with various inside outs and behind-the-back crossovers.  Combined with a quick first step, defenders usually give him enough room for a shot knowing that any tighter close outs will result in Kabongo blasting by them.

Grade: A

Rebounding:

Kabongo isn't known for his rebounding skills, nor is any point guard in particular, but he isn't afraid to get in the paint and do some dirty work.  He's big enough to box most opponents out, resulting in an average of 5.3 rebonds per game at Findlay College Prep.  This advantage allows him grab the boards, and run on transition without the need for an outlet pass.

Grade: B+

Defense:

Not a flashy defender, Kabongo isn't looking to swat shots out of the court.  He is good with his hands and getting steals and interceptions but what really impresses me is his fundamental ability at keeping his opponent in front of him. As a competitor, you can see he takes pride in his defense.  Using his athleticism, his lateral movement allows him to get in position to not get beat off the dribble.  In the next level of basketball, I'm eager to see how he will use this skill to draw some offensive fouls.

Grade: A

         Ranked ninth among the top point guards of his class, Kabongo is ready for college basketball.  His ability to score and pass will naturally create team chemistry.  (I mean, come on, who wouldn't like to play with a guy that makes you look good).  I can see him taking on some leadership roles being the lead play maker.  His role on the Longhorn roster will be an impacting one and hopefully, this will bring Texas not only some easy offense, but also some lock down D!

Off The Court: We Are Radical

A little more West Coast for ya'll!  This new underground group, Radical Something, released a free album We Are Nothing and I'm diggin' it!  A mix of Loggy's "frat-rap" and Josh Cocktail's impressive vocals under the production of DJ Big Red has created a great collaboration.

It seems like their making moves with tours and apparel sales but currently, they are still under the radar.  Through twitter and youtube, they've been gaining views and followers but not quite at the viral level yet.  However, as the word spreads, I can only support them and hope for their success.

This positive california music needs to be heard by all.  It actually really makes me miss the summer.  In Montreal, winter is coming....(yes that is a Game of Thrones reference) but I'll be on my student exchange in Perth, Australia soon enough.  And you know what I'll be jamming to?  Radical Something!

Other than their hits, my favourite songs are Gonna Be Good and No Lovin'.  These tracks, like the entire album, are very well produced.  Loggy's killing it with his verses and Cocktail's producing some real catchy hooks.  However, Loggy's raps are pretty cheesy sometimes and Cocktail's voice reminds me of John Mayer/Adam Levine.  But don't let that stop you from giving them a listen.  Give me a comment and tell me what you think.  Here's a couple of my favourite videos by them:

Off The Court: Hey Ocean!

As a fellow Vancouverite, I just had to blog about this up and coming indie pop band from Vancouver: Hey Ocean!  This young group consists of talented lead singer, Ashleigh Ball, who's also an impressive jazz flautist as well; gifted guitarist/vocalist , David Beckingham; and skilled bass guitarist/vocalist, David Vertisi.  Together they are known for mixing creative instruments with harmonizing vocals to innovate catchy tunes for various moods.

Hey Ocean! is mostly well known for their recent album, It's Easier to be Somebody Else.  With hit singles such as Fish, and Alleyways, I am proud to say that they are bringing Canadian music to the world with a West Coast flavour.  Surely, this group has proved to be a prospective band to keep an eye out for.

In fact, just recently on October 24, 2011, they signed with Universal Music Canada!  A significant milestone in their careers, they are now working on their highly anticipated EP Big Blue Wave.  I hope that this album exceeds expectations that their previous album has set.  Most importantly, I could definitely use another chill positive album to listen to.

Check out some of Hey Ocean!'s songs on their myspace page.  I recommend anyone who is into up beat positive chill music to go out and buy their album.  In fact, if you get a chance to see them live on their tour, I highly recommend doing so as I was able to in Montreal at Divan Orange.  Although it was undersold, I pity anyone who missed out this opportunity as I was blown away by how much talent this band has.  Here's my exclusive video of Hey Ocean! performing Write a Song About California during my experience at this concert:

On The Court: Jeremy Lamb Posterizes Mark Cisco!

Are you kidding me?!  Jeremy Lamb is a monster!  We all knew that the exit of Kemba Walker would allow Lamb to step up to the plate and shine but a career high of 30 points with a posterizing dunk on Mark Cisco against Columbia really justifies the hype around this athletic small forward!  There's not much else to say that wouldn't be reiterated by the follwing video.  Sit back, watch, and try not to fall off your seat...

On The Court: Kentucky Wildcats Home Opener

Kentucky Wildcats, ranked number two of the nation, is a strong contender for this year's national championship.  Anxious to see their new freshmen in action, their season opener really opened everyone's eyes to the potential of this team.  On November 11th, 2011, Kentucky started off the season strong against the Marist Red Foxes with a dominant win of 108-58.

Anthony Davis, their touted freshman, finished the game with an impressive set of stats including 23 points, 10 boards, and five blocks!  He became the third ever Wildcat freshman to finish their debut game with 20+ points and over 10 rebounds.

Marquise Teague, another freshman, added 16 points of his own.

Doron Lamb contributed with 15 points, eight assists, and five rebounds.

Isiah Morton led Marist with 13 points.

John Calipari, Head coach of Kentucky, was not satisfied with the first half of the game despite the final score.  Kentucky, clearly being the "bigger" team could have taken more advantage of rebounds and points down low in the paint but Anthony Davis alone not only was an offensive force but a defensive shot blocking machine.  As the game came more naturally to wildcats in the end of the first half and the rest of second, Kentucky took over as predicted but in spectacular fashion with hustle plays and a couple of three pointers from Lamb.

Off The Court: Blue Slide Park

Mac Miller's debut album Blue Slide Park under Rostrum Records was released on November 8, 2011.  With hit singles released before the album including "Frick Park Market" and "Smile Back.", Miller shoots for the number one album on iTunes.

Mac Miller's previous discography includes a hit mixtape, K.I.D.S (Kickin' Incredibly Dope Shit), with popular underground songs such as "Koolaid and Frozen Pizza" and "Senior Skip Day".  Following with an impressive free album ("fralbum" as Mac likes to abbreviate), Best Day Ever, releasing his most recognized song "Donald Trump".

This past summer and spring, Mac's been releasing a song for every 100,000 new twitter followers such as his 300k song, People Under the Stairs, and a Temper Trap sample/cover, Love Lost at just 400k followers.  With 1,210,031 followers now, Miller cleverly released these songs to maintain fan growth, while giving himself enough time to thoroughly work on his new debut album.

Blue Slide Park is a huge turning point for Mac Miller.  This was a chance for him to really use all his resources, come out with something special that will define his style while showing his millions of fans and twitter followers that he is capable of evolving as artist.  Unlike his mixtapes back in the day, where Miller was notorious for spitting witty "high school" bars on catchy instrumentals, the tracks on Blue Slide Park are very complete.  His verses are coordinated very well with the production, in the sense that Miller is leading the direction of his music while collaborating with producers such as ID Labs and Ritz Reynolds to extend his music in that direction.

Currently, my favorite track is "Under the Weather."  Fast flow mixed with a chill vocal chorus equals a hit!  Mac Miller is underrated as a singer but seeing him live at Le Belmont in Montreal during March really revealed his vocal talents as well as his showmanship.

A successful debut album is only an understatement.  Blue Slide Park consists of old school flows, new school beats, and Mac Miller doing this thing!  But don't just take my word for it; grab a copy and have a listen as well!

On The Court: Player Analysis - Austin Rivers

Austin Rivers

6’4”, 189 lbs, class of 2011

Highschool: Winter Park High School

Signed:  Duke University

Player Position:  Shooting Guard

          The prodigy of Doc Rivers himself, Austin Rivers is about to bring the Blue Devils an arsenal of offense.  After an astonishing high school season leading Winter Park High School to two state championship, this highly ranked player has the swag and the skills to be a very impacting rookie for Duke.  But how much of an impact will this prospective player be this upcoming season?  Allows us to evaluate!

Athleticism:

For a skinny shooting guard, Rivers' possesses a lightening quick first step with agile footwork.  With an uncanny vertical, he is able to shoot over most shooting guards, maintain balance and stabilize his shots when he fades or pulls up.  Not to mention his capability to throw down huge dunks, “posterize” players, and finish oops with ease.  Ironically his weakness is his strength.  He has big enough body, weighing 189 llbs, to prevent being tossed around but entering the next level will truly put this to the test.  As a shooting guard, he doesn’t necessarily need to body up or post up but additional strength will improve his finish above the rim and his body control during in-air traffic.

Grade: A

Scoring:

Averaging 28.8 point per game in his final season with Winter Park, Rivers is classified as the top scorer of his class.  His shooting range currently extends to a couple feet behind the arc.  With this range, he is already creeping to the NBA three-point line.  As defenders are forced to step up on his shot, Rivers is able to use his ball handling skills and sudden jab step to freeze up any opponent and drive to the net.  Mostly a right hand finisher, Rivers pulls off powerful dunks, finesse lay ups, and cheeky floaters that he knows when to use.  On top of all this, his basketball IQ makes him a threat without the ball as well.  Knowing where and when to be combined with deadly cuts to rim and off screens, he is an offensive threat at all times.

Grade: A+

Passing:

As a guard, Rivers is comfortable with play making.  His basketball IQ – being the son of one of the NBA’s top coaches – is nonetheless advance, allowing him to make the smart pass.  His prolific offense forces the defense to focus on him, allowing teammate cutters to be open when he drives to hole.  However, as a scorer, that is exactly what he looks to do; as a result, this is reflected in his high school statistics of only 2.2 assists per game.

Grade: B

Ball handling:

As a guard who can score anywhere on the floor, his dribbling skills allows him to create his own shot.  Complimenting one of his best moves (the pull up three) he can keep players on their heels with multiple crossovers, through the legs, step backs and pull up on a defender’s face for a three point facial!  Whether he is breaking a press, taking an opponent one on one, or even setting up a play, Rivers' has the ball handling skills of a point guard who’s looking to score.

Grade: A

Rebounding:

Rebounding is one of the stats that are hidden in the shadows for a shooting guard, however Rivers boarded on average 6.1 rebounds per game in high school.  This high number is accomplished by his height, athleticism, basketball IQ and tenacity for the ball.  I believe as he bulks up and gains more strength; he may become an expert rebounding guard that is comparable to Rajon Rondo or Jason Kidd.

Grade: B+

Defense:

Using his athleticism, defense comes natural to Rivers.  However, it is an area where improvements can be made.  He simply needs to be a committed defender all forty minutes of a game.  Nonetheless, his accomplishments as a defender shows through his 0.7 blocks and 2.0 steals per game leading to one handed “cock-backs” on the other side of the court.

Grade: B

          Overall this offensive shooting guard has proved to be a top prospective player of his class.  A factor that was not evaluated but is largely a part of Rivers’ game is his confidence.  Rivers has been comfortable being in the spotlight and has delivered when the pressure is on him to win the game.  I’m anxious to see what role he takes under Coach Krzyzewski’s offense and see how he plays with the other Duke players.  No doubt offense will come naturally but the higher level will test his defense, his strength and size, and his ability to take over games.  A gifted player like Rivers, playing with veteran Blue Devils, under the coaching staff of Legendary Mike Krzyzewski, in a world renowned basketball university; Duke is once again a strong contender for the national championship!