Off The Court: Nokia + Deadmau5

What do you get when a multi-million dollar cellphone company celebrates it's new model, the Nokia Lumia, with Canada's top DJ, Deadmau5?  An outrageous free light show using a new 4-D technology at Millbank Tower in London, UK!

On The Court: Bynum Is Back

After coming back from a four-game suspension, Andrew Bynum, the center for the L.A. Lakers, put on a clinic.  Whether he was proving his worth or finally ready to show the world what he can do when he's healthy, Bynum started off the season with a chip on his shoulder.

And I can understand why.  I'll admit it, even I undervalued his skill based on his injury prone inconsistencies when comparing him to Dwight Howard in an earlier post.  But like I mentioned in the past, he's got pure size and he's effectively using it.  Blocking shots, grabbing rebounds, and scoring with strength and good footwork down low in the paint.  Bynum finished his first game of the season with 29 points and 13 rebounds.  He scored 18 points and boarded 16 rebounds in his second game.  He also scored 21 points and grabbed 22 rebounds in his third game.  These numbers alone have got me reevaluating his game.

Thus, resurrecting the trade rumors of Bynum for Howard, it seems to be not only more of a fair trade, but also beneficial for both teams as Howard seems more and more eager to leave Orlando with every passing game.  I really can't predict how long Bynum can stay healthy for, but at this pace, I feel the trade could really shake things up for Orlando acquiring the seven foot center, while a relocation for Howard could rejuvinate his spirit and his game!

On The Court: The Spanish Prospect

The highly anticipated Spanish point guard, Ricky Rubio, has not disappointed.  This intelligent playmaker has proved he can play since he was 14 years old, being  the youngest player ever to play in the Spanish ACB league.  At the age of 17, he was drafted for the Spanish National Team playing on the same stage as NBA All-Stars during the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics.

Rubio is known for his high basketball IQ decision making, his fundamental skills, his finesse passes, and his vast court vision.  After being drafted 5th overall in 2009, a family decision was made to keep Rubio in Spain for one more year before playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

After hearing about all the hype around this spanish prospect and seeing him play confidently on the international level, I was excited to see him in action in Minnesota.  In his debut game, he put up 5 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists.  Although the numbers are not high due to limits in minutes played, what really caught my eye was how easy Rubio makes the game look.  He knows who to pass to, when to pass, and how to pass in various situations.  Not to mention, he makes it look natural, bringing some European flare to the Timberwolves.

Alongside with 2nd overall draft pick Derrick Williams and a rejuvenated Kevin Love, the Timberwolves' future is looking very bright.  In fact, I feel like I'm watching the OKC Thunder about three years ago.  With these additions to this team, Minnesota is definitely back on my radar.

Here's a video of highlights of Rubio playing Spain:

Off The Court: Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  As I celebrated NYE in Toronto, Canada this year, I was eager to see how the rest of the world welcomed the new year.  The Daily Mail has the global scoop on NYE with captivating photos capturing the various celebratory moments all around the world!

Sydney, Australia:

Malaysia:

Taipei, Taiwan:

Beijing, China:

Vienna:

London, UK:

Berlin, Germany:

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil:

New York City:

Check out the rest of the photos on the Daily Mail!

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2080858/New-Years-Eve-Times-Square-celebrations-America-welcomes-2012.html