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Friday, June 29, 2007

Breaking Down the NBA Draft

i haven't done this in a while, so let me indulge in a sports analysis...

2007 draft

First Round:

1. Portland: Greg Oden – low-post big man that would anchor a revitalized franchise. Rip City Revival.

2. Seattle: Kevin Durant – Can this guy save the franchise? Maybe, just maybe.

3. Atlanta: Al Horford – best player available. Tag-teaming with the Landlord.

4. Memphis: Mike Conley, Jr. – plays like Tony Parker, will be Iavaroni’s Steve Nash

5. Boston (but goes to Seattle): Jeff Green – consummate role player / glue guy.

6. Milwaukee: Yi Jianlian – will China’s 50 Cent fit with Bogut and Charlie V? head-scratcher…

7. Minnesota: Corey Brewer – 2007 MOP will complement Foye in the backcourt.

8. Charlotte (but goes to Golden State): Brandan Wright – adds size and length to a thin frontcourt, without compromising Nellie-ball.

9. Chicago: Joakim Noah – another energy guy in a team filled with energy guys. Needs work on offense.

10. Sacramento: Spencer Hawes – adds size. Can learn from Brad Miller. Franchise, though, seems to be lost.

11. Atlanta: Acie Law IV – team finally gets a PG. Fearless. Next Sam Cassell, perhaps.

12. Philadelphia: Thaddeus Young – another complementary piece for Igoudala, but still a bit raw, though.

13. New Orleans: Julian Wright – another piece of the puzzle. Will do the little things. Will spell david west and peja.

14. LA Clippers: Al Thornton – Best Player Available (Crittenton will not fit here, Law and Conley are gone). Will definitely add scoring off the bench.

15. Detroit: Rodney Stuckey – fits Piston basketball (goodbye, flip murray!) could be chauncey’s successor.

16. Washington: Nick Young – another offensive tool to help Agent Zero. Shooter.

17. New Jersey: Sean Williams – risk-reward pick, will help defensively with a team bereft of shot blocking

18. Golden State: Marco Belinelli – fits Nellie-ball to a T.

19. LA Lakers: Javaris Crittenton – another head-scratcher (Farmar last year, now him?) does this mean Smush is out? Bigger question is what will happen to Kobe?

20. Miami (but goes to Philadelphia): Jason Smith – adds ceiling, but that’s pretty much it.

21. Philadelphia (but goes to Miami): Daequan Cook – Heat are reloading for another run at a title.

22. Charlotte: Jared Dudley – hard worker, athletic, another complementary tool

23. New York: Wilson Chandler – adds more athleticism, remember that Zeke can find talent

24. Phoenix (but goes to Portland): Rudy Fernandez – Spanish Ginobili? Fits well with the current roster.

25. Utah: Morris Almond – Utah need scoring from backcourt. Morris is the 3^rd in division I in scoring. If he can play like what coach sloan asks for defensively, pencil him in as a starter.

26. Houston: Aaron Brooks – you have luther head, rafer alston, mike james, the son of john lucas, bob sura, bonzi wells in the backcourt. How will he fit in that log-jam.

27. Detroit: Arron Afflalo – can score. Would help in ending over-reliance on starters.

28. San Antonio: Tiago Splitter – typical Spurs pick. Expect him to contribute down the road.

29. Phoenix: Alando Tucker – hmm… kinda reminds me of shawn marion…. Hmmm…. Maybe… just maybe… wasn’t marion being dangled around…

30. Philadelphia (but goes to Portland): Petteri Koponen – finnish PG still needs seasoning

Second Round:

31. Seattle: Carl Landry – can compete with the logjam of forwards

32. Boston: Gabe Pruitt – 1^st round talent, made delonte expendable

33. San Antonio: Marcus Williams – another 1^st round talent, not expected to contribute immediately

34. Dallas: Nick Fazekas – could replace croshere in the rotation as the white boy reliever / poor man’s version of dirk

35. Seattle (but goes to Boston): Glen Davis – Big Baby needs to address weight and conditioning concerns, but could back up al jefferson at the low post

36. Golden State (But goes to Charlotte): Jemareo Davidson – hard-luck kid will improve frontcourt depth (okafor, may, brezec)

37. Portland: Josh McRoberts – another glue guy. Little known fact: he was a teammate of oden before. Maybe that would help his chances..

38. Philadelphia (but goes to Utah): Kyrylo Fesenko – adds size. Could it be that the Collins twins’ days are numbered? He’s mean and physical.

39. Miami (but goes to Indiana): Stanko Barac – the guy that comes to mind is primo brezec… that guy did play in Indiana… but I don’t know why indy would take him.

40. LA Lakers: Sun Yue – Chinese Toni Kukoc… Phil could use a guy like that…can he understand triangle in Chinese?

41. Minnesota: Chris Richard – another undersized big man who compete with other undersized big men. Will eat space.

42. Portland (but goes to Philadelphia): Derrick Byars – guy can score, but will eat into green and ashton korver’s minutes. But he is better than koponen right now.

43. New Orleans: Adam Haluska – might replace d-mason in new Orleans

44. Orlando: Reyshawn Terry – adds perimeter threat. Could get minutes with possible grant hill departure

45. LA Clippers: Jared Jordan – solid if unspectacular pg. Could compete vs Daniel ewing if Jason hart leaves.

46. Golden State: Stephane Lasme – shot-blocking specialist. Would definitely add size and defensive intensity to the equation.

47. Washington: Dominic McGuire – adds depth to wings to team having injury issues

48. LA Lakers: Marc Gasol – adds size and ability (does he have Pau’s skill?)

49. Chicago: Aaron Gray – still does not exactly address low-post scoring, but adds more size and depth

50. Dallas: Ronald Seibutis – stashable overseas. Donnie nelson knows international basketball (save for pavel podlokozine)

51. Chicago: JamesOn Curry – can he play under Scott Skiles? I doubt. But he can score.

52. Portland: Taurean Green – why not take a flyer on him? He can play and has NBA genes. But it is a big logjam there at the point. I smell trades afoot.

53. Portland: Demetirus Nichols – ditto, but at least, there is a less logjam situation at the wings.

54. Houston: Brad Newley – aussie shooter, but still does not address size in the frontcourt.

55. Utah (but goes to Philadelphia): Herbert Hill – another big guy to add to the mix. We’ll never know…

56. Milwaukee: Ramon Sessions – hmmm… good talent. Might be insurance given both boykins and mo Williams are free agents.

57. Detroit: Sammy Mejia – another backcourt player? Something’s afoot here in Detroit. (delfino, hunter, murray, maybe billups?)

58. San Antonio: Giorgos Printezis – again, typical Spurs pick. Expect him to be stashed overseas, given the current talent.

59. Phoenix: DJ Strawberry – could he spell Steve Nash? Marcus Banks was not the answer.

60. Dallas: Milovan Rakovic – who’s this guy? Another one of those stashed in euro peeps.

Winners:

1. Portland - Greg Oden. Jettisoning Z-Bo was addition by subtraction. Can LaMarcus make the sophomore leap? Rip City Revival!

2. Seattle - Kevin Durant. next on the agenda: Rashard Lewis. could this be the team PJ Carlesimo makes his comeback and chokes the opposition? he's long due...

3. Golden State - they add size and athleticism to the nellie-ball. it is expected that monta, etc. will replace j-rich's scoring. i don't think they are finished yet.

4. Atlanta - need size: Al Horford. need PG: Acie Law. they better improve. Phoenix is watching.

5. LA Clippers - offensive spark in Thornton. Jordan can compete vs ewing. next step: jason hart and quinton ross

Losers:

1. Philadelphia - i am technically not sold on how billy king drafted. thaddeus young, jason smith? maybe byars.

2. Charlotte: i do not know how getting j-rich will affect gerald wallace.

3. Houston: drafted 2 guards. pretty much Yao in the low-post. what if he gets hurt again...

4. Lakers: their drafting does not still address one thing: kobe.

5. Milwaukee: yi? when you have charlie v? should have been brewer.

Written by the Ninja @ 4:28 PM

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last night....

guess who are on the picture...

... wala lang... :)

Written by the Ninja @ 9:12 AM

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Tuesday, June 26, 2007

simply 25 @ 25

it has been a quaint and quiet day... tired, but happy. i have been thinking a lot and i felt that this is how a good celebration of my birthday in retrospect. a true friend generally remembers your little quirks.

not much happened at work today. i never announced my birthday. it took one of my supervisors to broadcast it. final 2 hours pa ng shift and i took an hour break to watch the rx concert series (which is probably becoming my monday habit). parang blessing in disguise as a database error prevent us from working in half our shift.

i would like to thank those who greeted me today:

special mention: the RX staff (esp. fran, delamar, diego (fran's friend), hazel, tom, fritz, jude, danielle, dante and session road)
friendster: christa, jel, jean llana, jt, camillea
email: flora joy
sitti forum: aimee, issa, mj, dhey, leslie
text: joanna (and jamine - yihee!), ken, van omar, ate pats, cla, hazel nut latte, lilac, swissy, kit (oo, tama balita seio), nadja, xy (and the DA people - where the heart still is), mimi, marcus (hahaha... eps!), dada (long time no hear), maria angelica (who loves pink), katek (happy birthday!), pitt (brod pitt!), lendsi (thanks for the patience and friendship), jeff, ramien (galing.. nakuha mo pala num ko), ate via (malapit na rin birthday mo), glai (hehehe... *smile*), sarah (my ka-birthday), jean llana

those who know me well know what i truly wish for. just continue to pray for me and guide me through :)

Lord, thanks for the 25years. looking forward to the next set, and then some.

(And the band played on....) *signs of nostalgia* cheers to 25 @ 25.

Written by the Ninja @ 2:31 PM

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Sunday, June 24, 2007

post-fete

yes, i did go to fete de la musique... by myself, but met famillar faces on the way. it was surreal.. i pretty much stuck myself in the world stage (nakpil-orosa), but i did go around the other stges.

i wish i could split myself and watch all four.

kudos to the staff and crew and artists.

p.s. mother nature sure knows how to tease us... it never really rained, but it sure threatened to, ala the fete 2/3 years ago.

Written by the Ninja @ 12:53 PM

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memories of a past

ah.... memories... magaling sila sa discernment.

Written by the Ninja @ 12:47 PM

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Wednesday, June 20, 2007

The Fete

i would so love to go watch this event... sana may kasama ako...

this is how you go there....

Written by the Ninja @ 6:38 PM

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Monday, June 18, 2007

alchemy

i managed to "legitimately" (as what francesca said) get tickets to a party at Alchemy. Alchemy is a bar located at the edge of the Silver City Auto Mall at Tiendesitas. That mall is next to a building that will house our office. (i recognized that from the ramp)

that party was a blast, it was packed. i had difficulty going to and fro. people with claustrophobia are to warned. dj mccoy of remix fridays and dj mars miranda of embassy spinned the tables.

looks promising. they just need to work on the facade. construction is not yet finished.

you can check out the pictures. you know how to find it.

Written by the Ninja @ 1:48 AM

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being a happy camper

you enjoy life. you have fun. you only live once. you just take it and run.

when i often think about getting old, i often reflect and bear the brunt of the misgivings i had in the past, all the bad memories that just will not let you go. as such, we should just live it to the fullest and chill.

i wonder why i am thinking like this. those who know, well. alam mo na yun. hahaha...

moving on... i am suffering from dial-up. hahaha... ang bagal e. wah. this is my 1st time to post online at home. as in at home using dial-up. kahiya naman if i go to a friend to do that, so there. deal with it. soon... dsl is coming.

Written by the Ninja @ 1:26 AM

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Saturday, June 09, 2007

Trinoma vs. The Block

i managed to go to both malls last sunday. the objective was to go watch the bloomfields perform. i did and i enjoyed, as seen with the multiply pictures. anyway, after the gig, i thought... maybe i should go visit the much-ballyhooed place. anyhow, it's there.

the block is like a huge podium, with a hypermart. trinoma on the other hand, is kinda like greenbelt / glorietta. but much better looking (when construction is completed). i can see the good potential. wait until sm rebuilds the former annex. then the competition really begins.

Written by the Ninja @ 6:25 PM

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Wednesday, June 06, 2007

the UAAP schedule...

the 2007 uaap schedule was posted on my favorite hardcore basketball forum. looks like i'll be trekking to manila a lot this season.

SATURDAY, JULY 07, 2007
2PM DLSU vs UP ARANETA
4PM NU vs FEU ARANETA

SUNDAY, JULY 08, 2007
2PM ADMU vs ADU NAS
4PM UST vs UE NAS

THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2007
2PM UE vs NU NAS
4PM UP vs ADMU NAS

SATURDAY, JULY 14, 2007
2PM ADU vs DLSU NAS
4PM FEU vs UST NAS

SUNDAY, JULY 15, 2007
2PM NU vs UP NAS
4PM ADMU vs UE NAS

THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2007
2PM ADU vs UST NAS
4PM DLSU vs FEU NAS

SATURDAY, JULY 21, 2007
2PM NU vs ADMU NAS
4PM UST vs UP NAS

SUNDAY, JULY 22, 2007
2PM FEU vs ADU NAS
4PM UE vs DLSU NAS

THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2007
2PM NU vs UST TO BE RE-SKED
4PM DLSU vs ADMU ARANETA

SATURDAY, JULY 28, 2007
2PM ADU vs NU NAS
4PM UP vs UE NAS

SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2007
2PM UST vs DLSU NAS
4PM ADMU vs FEU NAS

THURSDAY, AUGUST 02, 2007
2PM UE vs FEU NAS
4PM ADU vs UP NAS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 04, 2007
2PM UP vs FEU NAS
4PM UE vs ADU NAS

SUNDAY, AUGUST 05, 2007
2PM NU vs DLSU NAS
4PM ADMU vs UST NAS

NAS = Ninoy Aquino Stadium

Written by the Ninja @ 6:26 PM

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Saturday, June 02, 2007

sino sikat?

i met them at the RX Concert Series last Monday. such a nice bunch. you should see them. kat is gorgeous. too bad i did not have my camera with me. anyhow, this is what the band gave me a gift. i love it. i hope to see them again. this time, my camera will be with me.

buy the album also.... support the local scene....

Written by the Ninja @ 9:02 PM

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june na naman.... alak sugal kape babae kabaong.

i always look forward to june. i get older, wiser, hopefully better. nakikita ko that things are what they are and you deal with them accordingly. now, if they just be like that, then i'll be like who i want myself to be, without prejudice, without a care.

***

i was at saguijo for the 1st time last may 30... i first knew about the place from the DS Egroup, as there was someone who keeps on plugging it.... anyhow, it has a very homely feel... talagang astig. it was the Terno Inferno (whose pics are finally on multiply). grabe. lourd de veyra is such a genius. i managed to finally see paramita perform after the RX party at the then Dish @ ABS-CBN compound oh so long ago...

***

work has been kinda blah lately... my mind wandering off... i am coping though, discovering my pace while adjusting to the QA lifestyle. still... my heart remains with the DA team.

***

tentative plotline remains on the 30th... i know you are reading this... :)

***

soon, may internet na kami sa bahay, once i figure out the details...

***

and yes, lebron is crazy....

Written by the Ninja @ 8:51 PM

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I am John Paul Manahan.

I am a Cancer, born in the Year of the Dog, a day after the feast day of St. John the Baptist, in the month of the Pearl.

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