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!
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.
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:
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!
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:
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:
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...
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.
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!
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!
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. 
