Haha... woops. Remember that one time I had a blog?
So, now that NBA season has started up, I have something to talk about!... with myself... because nobody in Atlanta cares. "Braves! Braves! What's a 'hawk'? Is that something like phlegm in my throat?"
First of all, in the interest of not jinxing the Rockets, I won't say anything about how I used to think James Harden was overrated but now I don't anymore cause he can score in so many ways like outside shooting, step-back jumpers, Euro-steps, and the much maligned impossible-not-to-foul-me drive to the basket and also did I mention his passing being #6 in the league at 7.5 assists/game?
Deep breath
I also won't mention Dwight Howard, the anchor of a defense that was ridiculed last season but stands at #2 right now.
Sure, we're only eight games into the season. Sure, their opposition hasn't been incredibly taxing. That's why I'm not saying anything after all...
So let's focus on a team that I'm ok with jinxing. How about the Lose Angeles Lakers...
Here's a conspiracy theory: Jim Buss is paying ESPN and other sports media to focus on the flaws of Kobe's game. Evidence: Look at all the focus on how Kobe is now the all-time leader in MISSED shots. Like ever. Motive for Buss to do this: He wants to ease the Laker's fanbase out of the Kobe era as he tanks his way into a new dynasty... that will show up around 2024. The more blame that Kobe gets for the Lakers' woes, the better chance Buss has of not getting offed in a "random" Compton shooting when he makes the inevitable and GOOD basketball decision to let Kobe go. Now, since Kobe's contract expires in 2016, the Lakers are in for a solid 3 years of awfulness, four if you count the one disappointing year they had with Howard. Is that enough to sway the Kobe fanbase--not to be confused with the actual Laker fanbase?
I don't think so.
Here's an example of what kind of irrationality Lakers fans wake up with every day--and this also includes Kobe fans. I talked to a Laker fan recently--in person--and he truly believes that the success of the Orlando Magic from 2007-2010 was all because of HEDO TURKGOLU!! Yup. The bitterness for the Dwight departure runs deep and stirs up all kinds of stupid in the lives of people who don't have a whole lot else to invest their emotions in (Get a football team already!).
I have had other experiences with Lakers fans too. Sometimes I think it would be fun to kick up another flame war with Kobe groupies, but then I think, "Do I really want all that profanity on my Facebook page?" It's a lot like bible bashing... it can be fun, but it's really not good for the soul.
I admit, there's no getting past what Kobe did for this fanbase in giving them 5 championships... but I really think the key word of that last sentence was "Past".
So good luck, Jim Buss. I don't think you can avoid being "Public Enemy Number 1" in L.A. With Kobe it's a... Lose-Lose Angeles Lakers situation!! :D Uggg, that was pretty bad... sorry.
Enough about a largely irrelevant team, let's talk about the relevant ones; like every single other team in the Western conference not from Utah or Colorado. Even the Suckramento Queens? (I remember when I came up with this nickname for them and told it to my roommate who was from Sacramento--he responded with "How about those Houston D@#%heads?"!! Lolz). Because the talent is so tightly packed at the top, the Western conference--perhaps even the championship--will be decided by one thing: Injury. I imagine the entire city of Houston glimpsed just how fragile our season was when Harden landed awkwardly on his ankle last night--flashes of the wasted potential of Yao and McGrady probably came to mind for everyone. But how are all the other teams up there different? Blake Griffin gets into trouble at a club... Dirk is getting old... the entire roster of the Spurs seems to be old every year, even with all their depth. Take a look at what is happening in OKC and Chicago. Yes, the winners of this season... and most seasons, for that matter, will be who shows up in the postseason with the most 100% superstars. I'd argue that the only team with more than two superstars on the roster is Cleveland; nobody else can afford to lose even one. Except maybe the Spurs, because superstar coaches are not as much in danger of injury.
So there you have it. I hate to make my comeback from a two month lapse a sports bit, knowing many of my readers are bored to death with this stuff, but there's just not a whole lot going on in life otherwise. Even my dreams are becoming mundane and repetitive... or perhaps so trippy that words cannot make sense of them. Wow... dreams really do reflect our lives.
Then again, I do have this impending exodus and a new chapter of life starting... or restarting... but I'll talk more about that later. The thought of such things will only make me sad and anxious.
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Sports Corner with a Dunce Cap
Posted by I Study Sticks at 4:04 PM 0 comments
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