Decade in Review....Part 1

So, Everybody's talking about the best, and worst of the decade, and I thought I would come out with the Hibachi 2.0 Edition. This is just Part 1, part 2 will be coming soon...

THE BEST

PLAYERS: (and because we're talking about the whole decade, there's no Chris Paul, LeBron, D-Wade, B-Roy, Dwight Howard, or any of the other good young players on this list. They all didn't come in until about halfway through the decade, so It's hard to put them on the All-decade team. If I were making a team for the last 5 years, they would definitely be on it)

1. Kobe Bryant

- The best player in the game today. He led his team to the Playoffs 9 times (and to the Finals 5 times), won 4 championships, a gold medal, while winning an MVP award, scoring titles, and numerous all-star appearances. He's undoubtedly the best player of the decade.

2. Tim Duncan

-He may not have the same flair that Kobe has, but he has become a symbol of consistency and hard work over the course of the decade. aside from his double-double average, he has also won an MVP award, and started in the All-Star game just about every year. He led the Spurs to the playoffs every single year this decade, and led them to the finals 4 times. The Spurs won 3 championships, and Timmy won Finals MVP twice.

3. Shaquille O'Neal

-Shaq is one of the 5 most dominant players of all time. Aside from his 4 championships (3 with Lakers, 1 with Heat), he also has an MVP award, 9 All-star selections, and 2 scoring titles. He isn't nearly as dominant as he used to be due to his age, but He still deserves to be on this list.

4. Kevin Garnett

- He has been to the playoffs 6 times this decade (technically 7, but he didn't play last year), and finally won his first championship two years ago. He has won the MVP award, a gold medal, an All-Star MVP, and a Defensive Player of the year award. He has also been named to every All-star game this decade. He personifies Intensity, heart, and pure love for the game. He is an all-around player who can score, rebound, pass, and dominate at the defensive end, and is a true leader. He isn't done winning championships either....

5. Allen Iverson

-A.I. does not have a championship, but he has made the playoffs 7 times this decade, and made the Finals once. He has 3 scoring titles, 1 MVP, 2 All-Star MVPs. His legacy has taken a dip the past few seasons, but he is still without question one of the players who defined this decade.

6. Steve Nash

- He won two MVP's, a few assist titles, all-star appearances, and is still the best point guard in the league today. He hasn't won a ring, or even made it to the Finals, but he is the prime

example for how to run an offense, and does way more than his impressive stats indicate.

7. Jason Kidd

-Jason Kidd is the Ultimate point guard. Unimaginable passing ability, shooting stroke, has a great nose for the ball, and displays perfect leadership and poise. He won multiple assist

and steal titles, and went to the Finals twice. He pretty much defines the phrase "triple-double"

8. Dirk Nowitzki

- Dirk doesn't get much praise or acclaim for all he does; probably because of his unique, unorthodox playing style; but when it comes to just straight putting up numbers, and producing

in the clutch, Dirk is one of the best. He is in the top 5 in scoring just about every season, has been selected to several all-star games, won an MVP award, and has transformed the Mavs

into a Western Conference heavyweight.

9. Paul Pierce

- He's not one of those players that dominated due to supreme quuickness or athleticism, his playing style is based on hard work, hustle, and a high basketball IQ. For most of the decade, he

was basically playing alone in Boston. He led the Celtics to the playoffs 4 times; almost singlehadedly. The Celtics then went two straight years without making the postseason, and

everyone was thinking that he would never win a championship. In 2008, he not only won a ring, but also got a Finals MVP trophy. He was in the top 10 in scoring in 7 consecutive seasons, and

has also been named to 7 All-star games.

10. Ray Allen

-He has made about 2,000 3-Pointers this decade, and has been in the top 10 in scoring just about every season. He doesn't have any MVPs, but he does have multiple All-star selections,

3-point titles, and a championship ring.

Honorable Mentions

- Chauncey Billups: 1 championship, Finals MVP, 4 All-star appearances, and helped turn Develop Detroit as a powerhouse.

- Richard Hamilton: He's always been one of those under-the-radar players, but he definitely deserves to be on this list. 1 championship, 3 All-star selections, and hasn't averaged less than 17.3 PPG since 2000.

- Tracy Mcgrady: Mcgrady SHOULD have been in the top 10, but because of his inabilty to get past the first round of the playoffs; and his health problems in the past few years; I had to leave him out. He has 7 All-Star appearances (6 All-Star starts), a scoring title, and All-NBA selections.

- Vince Carter: Just like His cousin Tracy Mcgrady, Vince SHOULD be in the top 10, but he has never been able to do anything in the playoffs. He has been near the top in scoring every year this decade, and seems to have no conscience when it comes to clutch situations. He has 7 All-star selections under his belt; 5 of them being starts; and despite the fact that people criticize

his shot selection, there is no doubt that Carter is one of the best players of all time.

- Tony Parker: No one ever really talks about Parker, but he does have 3 All-star selections. Tony was the starting point guard for the Spurs for 3 championships, and won the Finals MVP in

2007.

TEAMS

1. Lakers

- 4 NBA championships, 6 Conference Championships, 9 Playoff appearances, and a regular season record of 555-296 this decade.

2. Spurs

- 3 NBA championships, have made the playoffs every single year, and have won atleast 53 games in every season since 2000. Their overall regular season record this decade is 594-255.

3. Pistons

- They won the 2004 NBA championship, and for most of the decade have been the Best team in the Eastern Conference. Their record this decade is 508-334.

4. Dallas Mavericks

- They havn't won any championships, but have made it to the Finals. They've won atleast 51 games 9 consecutive seasons, and are on pace to do it again this year. Their record this decade

is 560-281.

5. Phoenix Suns

- They have no titles, or Finals apperances, but Steve Nash has turned the Suns into a Western Conference Power. Their record this decade is 517-311.

MY FAVORITE MOMENTS

There have been lots of unforgettable things this decade, and I can't remember them all, but these are the first 10 that come to mind. These are my top 10 favorite moments of the decade.

1. This isn't just my favorite moment of the decade, this is my favorite moment in NBA

history...

2. I remember watching this game live...

3. I get goosebumps just watching this. This definitely doesn't make me a Laker fan, but

I am a HUGE Derek Fisher fan...

4. Reggie Miller retires...

5. Robert Horry takes over the 4th quarter and overtime, and gets the game winner with 5.8 seconds left....

6.Tracy Mcgrady scores 13 points in the last 35 seconds. I remember watching this game live. I

still can't believe it happened. This was the most amazing thing I've ever seen....

7. "he just sucked the gravity right out of the building" - Well said, Marv Albert

8. Inspirational....

9. B-Roy....

10. Travis Outlaw hits the game winner that changed the Blazer's whole orginazation. from this game, they went on a 13 game win streak, and now, 2 years later, the blazers are contenders....

and I'm pretty sure no one else on Hibachi is going to agree with this, and your probably gonna blow me up in the comments, but I'm gonna say it anyway ---->Here's my pick for the best song of the decade (and best song of all time)....

I'm out.....see ya'll next year!

Official Re-Introduction...

So I am officially the newest member of Hibachi, but I'm not exactly now to the site. I've been a huge Hibachi fan for about a year now, and have gotten to know the other Hibachi members pretty well (well kinda...) so everyone on the site, or has been a fan of the site already knows who I am (or you may know me from my other site Truly Hoops), but just in case you have no clue who I am, here's a quick introduction.....

I'm a 16 year-old Junior in High-School. I live in Oregon (I think I'm the only Hibachi member from the West Coast), I'm a diehard Boston Celtic/Portland Trail Blazer fan. Basketball is pretty much my life. I hope to become an NBA player someday, but am also pursuing a sports-writing career as well....

I want to think all the Hibachi members for bringing me on, and I want to let you all know that I'll post as often as I can, and as often as you need me to.

It's time to continue the Hibachi 2.0 takeover.....

I thought I'd end this post with some music....



I'm out....

De-jaun and Only...

Intoducing: Collin

When people talk about the best rookies so far the season, Tyreke Evans and Brandon Jennings are probably the names most commonly mentioned, but Dejaun Blair is doing work behind the scenes that undoubtedly is worth some notice. The Spurs haven't really developed a spot in the rotation for him yet, and have been playing him pretty inconsistently thus far, but when he's gotten the nod from Gregg Poppovich, he's yet to disappoint.

The Other night against the Celtics, He put up 18 points (9-11 Field Goals), 2 blocks, and 11 rebounds (5 offensive) in just 22 minutes, and single-handedly kept the Spurs within reach during the Celtic's 4Th quarter lapse. The game before that against the 76'ers, he put up 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks in just 17 minutes. Although his averages of 6.5 points and 5.6 rebounds don't look very intriguing on paper, he gets those numbers in just 15.1 minutes, and shoots 61% from the field. If he could get consistent minutes, he would be putting up near all-star worthy numbers nightly, as his impressive 48-minutes-averages of 20.8 points, 17.9 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks indicate.

I love watching Blair play; his Tenacity, timing, and rare combination of quickness and strength has quickly made him one of my favorite players in the league. I think he is a smaller, quicker version of Dennis Rodman. Blair already has a much more polished offensive game than "the Worm", and his quick second jump (probably the best after Shawn Marion) and nose for the ball have made him the best rebounder I've seen since the '90's. Most people consider Rodman to be the best rebounder of all time, and I think that by the time Blair's career is over, he'll be challenging him for that label. Sure, he's just a rookie, but when I look at Blair, all I see is a future 20-point, 20-rebound per game player.

Watch this short video of Blair. He didn't play a whole bunch of minutes, but still had 16 points, and 19 rebounds. keep your eyes on him the whole time and watch how he works underneath the basket, and gets any rebound that comes his way. (and look at HOW he gets those rebounds) He also is very crafty when it comes to offense, and will take advantage of anybody who doesn't respect his offensive abilities......



I know he is just a rookie, and it might seem insane that I am giving him all these accolades so early, but trust me, if there's one thing I can guarantee, it's that DEJAUN BLAIR won't be going unnoticed very much longer.

Dejuan is a force that cannot be contained.

I'm out....

Life in Gotham Village, Part III

As Regina Hurtz entered the dark alley, she knew she would walk away a changed person. For the better or for the worse, she would soon find out. To see if she would change or if she would not is what drew her in, and ultimately lead to her demise. It is an addiction to probability, a lust for taking chances that got her to the point she reached.

Entering such a place (as Regina had done) does not come without ramifications. (Side note:ramifications were exactly what Regina was seeking, so this worked out well for her.) Out from the darkness, without warning sprang a human silhouette. Rising and rising until fully erected, Regina came face to face with what, no actually who, she was looking for: snake-man. "What are you doing here, Regina Hurtz" it hissed, sounding as snake like as any human imitating a snake could ever sound. "Im here to see what it is everyone's talking about, thats all. Nothing sinister i swear it". Regina answered in a nervous tone. Sounding like a innocent little school girl did nothing but bad for Regina (bad meaning good in this instance). For you see Regina had come to the alley to see snake-man, and snake-man had been waiting for Regina. Now that they had met, it is as if snake-man had entered Regina, as if snake-man had penetrated Regina's soul. Regina Hurtz was a changed woman, just as she expected to become. She gave snake-man one last look, dead in the eye, then turned around and walked away.

That look changed a life. My life. For you see, i am snake-man. When Regina Hurtz looked me dead in the eye, i did a lot of thinking. When i went home i told my mom what happened. Her response was simple and sweet. She said she was scared. Then the shocking announcement: she said "your movin with your auntie and uncle in Bel Air" I whistled for a cab when it came near the license plate said 'fresh' and it had dice in the mirror. If anything i could say that this cab was rare. But then i thought 'now forget it yo holmes to Bel-Air!' I pulled up to the house about 7 to 8. And yelled back to the cabbie 'yo holmes smell you later'. I looked at my kingdom. I was finally there. To sit on my thrown as the prince of Bel-Air.

Thanksgiving . . .

Just wanted to say happy thanksgiving to everyone out there in the blogosphere. Have a good time hanging with the fam, and be sure to give thanks for all that we have. And, don't forget to enjoy Lupe's new mixtape. Have a great Turkey Day everyone. I'll leave that with a track...



--Moose

PS: dp this is for you and me: Charles Hamilton is back!!!

A Leap Of Faith

Return to what you know.
For some, that's routine, for others it's the knowledge that a textbook can provide.
For me, it's sport.
Sports are easy to write about, but hard to write well about. It doesn't matter whether it's about Golf, Ice Hockey, Petanque or Fly-Fishing. If it's poorly written, it doesn't matter how good the subject might be - there won't be readers.
But here's the thing - the style of the author changes depending on the comfort and knowledge they have of their material. Obvious right? Well, maybe so - but why hasn't it been written about prior? Maybe it has. Can you prove it?
For a writer, it's not about being 'average' with their content. It's getting the best stories, most impressive leads, and crucial quotes - they make and break the text.
For an athlete, being 'average' isn't acceptable either. It just isn't. They come up with the best strategies, most impressive performances and crucial plays. And if they don't - they become fodder for the media.
You've seen what pressure can do to athletes. See it in their eyes, their shaking hands, the unecessary movements. Big moments create big characters. When you see Kobe Bryant calling for the ball on the wing, you know he's not afraid of the moment. He won't slide to the corner, shying away from the ball, gesturing "No, no - you take the final shot Lamar Odom. You make the last gasp play."
Even when Brett Favre or Peyton Manning misfires on a touchdown pass during the 2 minute drill in the 4th Quarter, you know that despite the failure, they've learnt something from the experience. That's what makes a champion. In failure, and adversity one can learn and strive forwards and become better. The desire and willpower to improve oneself is what makes a champion.
Manu Ginobli was never the fastest guy on the court, or the most athletic - sure he was above average, but never exceptional - but his effort and desire set him apart from his peers. We've seen the images of him iced from ankles to knees. During the pre-season.
It takes heart to train yourself to the brink of collapse, to push that extra lap around the football field. That final benchpress that burns so much you need two spotters. The last dumbell curl that leaves your bicep screaming for hours afterwards.
And why do they do it? Why, perhaps do you do that? It's minimal gain for a whole lot of pain. Ali, The Greatest said that he could only truly know his limits and abilities once he was past pain and the psychological restraints of his mind.
That burning desire for success lies within all of us. Dormant.
It's up to you to awaken it, nobody can make you work so hard you're ready to crumple to the floor. There can be inspirations, quotes, family, role-models, the list goes on.
But at the end of all things, there is only you and your desire. You must jump to be successful, you cannot be pushed.
Take the Leap of Faith.

Most of my thinking is complex, but most of you think that it's nonsense...

A Moose Track

So we're two weeks into the NBA season (I think?) and I haven't checked in here for a substantial post in a while, so I'm gonna give it a go here.

I say Jay-Z in Rhode Island a week ago, and I gotta say....man. Was the greatest concert I've ever been to (which doesn't imply much but the show was sick). I had decent seats, the sound wasn't bad, Hov put on a great show. He did pretty much everything....really. Name it, he did it. Big Pimpin', Dirt Off Your Shoulder, 99 Problems....everything. You can see the whole show that I saw in pretty good quality right here.

N*E*R*D, J. Cole and Wale opened for him, and they all performed well. J. Cole only did three songs, but they were the essentials (Grown Simba, Lights Please, I Get Up). He came back to do "A Star Is Born" anyways. Wale did about a half an hour, and he did some good joints--W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E., Nike Boots, Pretty Girls, Mirrors, Chillin, World Tour...that's about all I can remember, but he was sick. Had great energy, frequently talked shit about the radio (both while spittin and while talking to the whole crowd). NERD was on for a while and it was tough to hear them; the rock band behind them was kinda ruining it. They were solid, but Pharrell needs to get some dance lessons. Man...

On to the current NBA season. I'll start with the normal things...

The Celtics are dominating. We all know it, and we shouldn't be afraid to admit it by now. You know I'm a big fan, but I'm realistic and I don't take sides while blogging, so I can say that. Rondo is owning while barely taking any field goal attempts, PSquared is playing out of his head, and for those of you who aren't paying attention, Kendrick Perkins has improved immensely. Swatting shots left and right. The C's are the deepest team in the league, and if we don't get injured, then nobody will stop this team.

Miami, Denver, Atlanta, Orlando, Phoenix and LA are all playing outstanding so far among many. Other teams (San Antonio, Cleveland, Dallas) will pick up slack in the next couple of weeks and it'll all even out. And what do you guys think about Washington, Toronto and Philadelphia? I can't make up my mind on any of these teams. So much talent, but...

There haven't been many big surprises this year SO FAR in the league, HOWEVA! we all know that it's too early to call that stuff. J.J. Redick has been playing way too well. Somebody put a lid on that dude, he shouldn't be playing this well. Making me think that the NBA could be some big joke that ends with JJ Redick in the top 10 scoring and rebounding. But on the real, he's doing things other than shooting, and I hope that it's not here to stay.

Maybe it's just me, but I don't see Steve Nash playing the way he's been playing for 82+ games. He's got 19.6 points, 10.8 dimes and 3 boards per game. These numbers look great for Nashty, looks like him circa 2004. But, he's very fallible because of his percentage line--.529 FG%, .923 FT%, and--ready?--.545 3PT%. This will not continue. But, maybe Nash can lead the Suns to a good season. I don't see that out of the picture.

Pick up Brandon Jennings in your fantasy league. He's my rookie of the year pick, and the dude is wreckin. 22, 5 and 4 with 1.7 steals per game is sweet from a rook, even with 34 minutes a game. Jennings is the man. There aren't many point guards who can match up to his quickness, Derrick Rose and Rondo are probably his counterparts in that area.

Not much else I can say here. Keep your eyes on Michael Beasley, just as someone interesting to watch right about now. Happy birthday to our dude DP. Put on some Curren$y and go around saying "play wit it" to everyone after a conversation in honor of his 18th. Be easy.


--Moose

I got 18 years of this!!!!!

I just wanted to make it known that by the time you guys read this, yo boy will be 18. It's been a fun ride so far and I thank you guys for being my blog mates for almost 2 years now? I not good with times so please remind but I feel like you fellas are family and I've never met you. I have a feeling that once the years go on we will have a chance to link up and do some crazy shit together. Maybe even see young Moose play a D1 college game. Who knows? But I thank God for giving me these 18 years and I hope he gives me 18 more years of happiness and straight up excellence. Just a lil mini vent from ya boy. and since I can now buy black and milds now I plan on buying some just to show the old lady at the corner store by kroger's that I can buy what the hell I want. She was bugging the last time so showing her my ID will make me feel accomplished. That and the act of voting who the fugg I want for office. As always I leave you guys with a beautiful song because November 4th, 1991 was my moms beautiful day and November 4th, 2009 is another beautiful day for me.

"when you fly as a bitch, and you ain't bothered a bit.....this is my beautiful day."
play wit it.

Unabomber

Basically I'm blowing up overnight.....BOOM!!! Nice to be back in the house while these other dudes out here decorating. I just wanted to take the time out to inform you guys on my fantasy team and why I will go undefeated this year. Moose's team seems unreal to me because there is no way you can have both Carmelo and Bron unless the people in your league are brain dead. Either that or they listened to reggie miller but either way it's a big F#ck up on their part. My team is looking crispy so far seeing that I just beat my first opponent by over 400 points. Gangsta. Here is the run down of my squad.

PG-Monta Ellis. Great choice for me because he is the only true guard on the team and he can get to the rack with ease. and by the looks of it, he will get assists on demand with Ex Cap Jack and Curry in the corner for threes.

SG-Brandon Roy-Kind of on and off guy for me. One day he will score 40, the next he will get 13. But more than likely the 40 comes on regular basis than the 13 so I will take my chances.

SF-LeBron James-Yeah.

PF- Andrea Bargmoney-this motherlover is going to give me some action this year! Pause. Really though he is young dirkin the competition in the first couple of games so I expect nothing but good results from this guy.

C-Bynum-took a big gamble with this one because he is one dead leg away from being out for another year.

Other notable guys- Russel Westbrook, Joe Johnson, Noah, Oden...will be replace soon, Brandon Jennings, Mareese Speights and Gerald Wallace.

When my guys are on, I don't think no one in my League can stop me. I hope you guys are REALLY paying attention to guys like Speights and Jennings though. Especially Jennings. He will win ROY and I have been saying this since last year. The boy is the closest thing to an Iverson I have ever seen. With better passing ability and 100X athletic. It's Paranormal Activity scary. I haven't seen the flick yet but I heard it will make you shit yourself. Anybody want to tell me different?

Basketball season for me starts Saturday and I'm coolin with it. I'm so stressed out by other things in my life right now that I'm not even nervous about the season. I'm ready but looks like this year I might be looking at the nickname of young Ryne Nelson, DNP-CD. lmao don't ask why it just is what it is. After being off the team for two years and finally being "graciously" let back on as a senior, I'm just glad to be on a team and to experience the game I love so damn much. I really wouldn't care if I played a minute because my love surpasses any stats that I could muster up in a high school game. Spalding still has love for me and I'll be damn if I stop loving that chick either. Alright I'm done venting for the moment. I'm off to eat this banana pudding that my mom blessed me with for my birthday. I'm finally going to be 18 so how about you fuckers give me a shout out on twitter or facebook on November 4, 2009 and wish ya boy a good birthday! Thats Wednesday for those who didn't know. Now I leave you with the soulful sounds of my dude, J.Cole. This boy is a problem.




"And it's happening fast........."
play wit it.

in unrelated news.....

!

I dont have much to say, i dont have manys ways to say it. I have been buisy, neglectful, and misprioritizing. I havent been on here in such a long time. The reason for that, is because i have really not been on SLAM as much as i once was. It might be because i dont have a computer class this year, it might be because the comment rules basically restrict fun, or it might be because the quailty of everything has in my eyes gone down significantly......

Check out my boy, Los. Stummbled across him by accident, he is by far the best unknown rapper out their right now.

His blog - http://swaggaboylos.blogspot.com

Look him up on youtube for proof!

Im tired, and im going to let you finish but BETCATS is the best blogger of all time.

Fantasy Hoops! Who to watch...

A Moose Track

Basketball season is almost upon us. Fantasy basketball has drafted (or has almost drafted). And my league has already auto-drafted based on our pre-draft rankings. I think I scored. In a 12-team league, here's my team at the moment...

Gilbert Arenas
Stephen Jackson
Russell Westbrook
LeBron James
Paul Millsap
Carmelo Anthony
David Lee
Jermaine O'Neal
Anthony Randolph
Rodney Stuckey
Udonis Haslem
Luol Deng
Louis Williams

What do you guys think? I think I'm primed for domination. Are there any moves I should make? Trades? Add/Drops? The main dudes who are on the waiver wire are Kellena Azuibuke, James Harden, Robin Lopez, Matt Barnes, Travis Outlaw, Anthony Morrow, Anthony Parker....my fantasy hoops skills aren't on par with my regular hoops knowledge, so if there's any advice that anyone can give to me, I'd love it.

For sleepers this year in terms of production, Anthony Randolph is my number one guy to keep our eyes on. The second-year forward will get his chance, and he will take it. I think he'll definitely be in the running for the MIP award and he will put up consistent numbers across the board. I just traded Marvin Williams for him, and I'm psyched about that.

Villanueva will be a beast this year. I think he'll work well in Detroit, and he'll get the points--but if he can get the boards then he'll be an absolute stud. Jeff Green will get his. Jason Thompson will be a good utility guy. Personally, I'm not worried about Agent Zero at all, I think he'll bounce back and put up 23/9/3. Hopefully our blognamesake will do it.

Andrea Bargnani is a sick fantasy player. If he can grab a couple boards he's one the most valuable ones in the league. Brooke Lopez is gonna break out this season. I'm still skeptical of Oden. I think the dude's only gonna end up being worth 12/9 in his career, which is solid, but definitely not where they thought he'd end up. I'd pass on Oden.

Derrick Rose is a good fantasy player, but only if you don't convert many turnovers. I had him on my squad last season and he turned the ball over too much for my liking, anyways. And yes, on the PG's, my man Rajon Rondo is going to perform. He'll get you 14/8/6, and hold me to that and use it against me if I'm wrong.

That's pretty much all I got. Anything you guys want to add, or any advice you can give me on my team, please let me know. For now, I'm out...

--Moose

Entertaining Hoops Pictures ***PART TWO***

A Moose Track

We all like funny things. Dane Cook. Family Guy. The Los Angeles Clippers. That's why I decided to put together some funny hoops pictures in one post for us all to enjoy. This is Part Two, because almost a year ago I posted the first edition; you can look at it here. Let's go...

Considering the big fella plays for Danny Ferry now, that's pretty embarrassing...

SAFE!

Duncan's a little over-excited here. Wasn't programmed to smile.

Ballet is more fun than basketball anyways.

Does this need explanation?

That's a problem.

There are truly some beautiful Western Conference big men.

Allen really wants......the basketball?

This move is more reliable than Hughes's jumpshot....

Two people here, ladies and gentlemen...

*Whistle* Flagrant two. Technical foul.

Parker's neck DIDN'T break.

I thought Kidd was married?

What, it's just extra support.

Tony's new wrap-around move....

Thanks to all of the sites that I posted onto here from; I got all of the pictures from Google. So there it is....be easy.

--Moose

My Detox

Yeah so since I have a couple of free minutes on my hand today I wanted to post a little note letting yall know I'm still alive and kicking. Sorry DP vol 2 hasn't dropped yet but I've been writing scholorship essays out of the ass and so right now vol 2 is my equivilant to Dr. Dre's the Detox......the shit might never come out. That doesn't mean I'm not working on it or I'm not working on other ish. NBA is weeks away and that means I'll be back on my Bball shit for the next 7 plus months. And I mos def agree with Moose, Slamonline isn't the same anymore. Two years ago, I used to be so fuggin physched to go to digital photography at school. Not just to look at this chick called Victoria Hunter(shout out to my teammates Gerad and Ife who are probably reading this now!) but to get on slamonline and just debate about anything from basketball to what to get a chick for valentine's day. I miss THOSE Post up Days. Holly is still the shit and her post are better than 2 years before but the comment section is falling off big time. I'm not going to lie I don't even go on SLAmonline but about a couple times out of the week. Maybe my dedication will return when I see more familiar faces but hey I digress. Y'all be easy this weekend and be safe. Tonight I'm off to get into "something" but I haven't found out yet. Should be an adventure.

p.s. To my teammate chris, dog if you're reading this I just wanted to let you know....Reebok fitted hats? We off that......

Yahoo Fantasy Basketball

So i'm going to go ahead an renew the fantasy league from last year....if you were in it last year you should be receiving invites for this year in the next day...any new people want to join just let me know...

Original as always

A Moose Track

Yes, the title is an oxymoron. And the above picture lets everyone know what's on my mind. That, and the fact that I'm not getting the opportunity to write the Celtics season preview for SLAMOnline this year. And, I was kind of outraged that BETCATS didn't get the nod this time. Sorry about that one, BET.

The Packers v.s. Vikings game this Monday was great. Felt like the playoffs there. Despite the recent (ok, not so recent) annoyances following Brett Favre, I always have to cheer for the Minnesota teams (damn right I was watching the Tigers-Twins tiebreaker tonight. AMAZING game). I have to admit that I only watched the first half, bedroom was calling my name after wrestling with this book for the better part of the night. It was still a great game.

On to more SLAM talk. None of the regulars are showing up anymore. TADOne comes every now and then, Eboy is nowhere to be found, and all of us at HIBACHI (myself included) are commenting less frequently. But I'm sounding like a broken record here, I'll stop complaining about that. On to my next speculation...

Has SLAMOnline sold out? I mean, I know that the economy is tough on everything, but the advertising is getting a little too much for SLAM. SLAMTV: Powered by: EA Sports? Really? And who else grimaced at the advertisements that ran at the bottom of countless articles in the latest issue? I don't like it, but I know I'm being a crybaby, so don't rip me in the comments...

On to the Top 50, and how I think it should stack up from now on (this was written on the day that Pierce was ranked 17, so don't say that I got anything wrong or anything. Okay, here are my rankings...

16. Pau Gasol
15. Tony Parker

14. Chris Bosh

13. Kevin Garnett

12. Brandon Roy

11. Tim Duncan

10. Carmelo Anthony

9. Kevin Durant

8. Deron Williams

7. Dirk Nowitzki

6. Amare' Stoudemire

5. Dwight Howard

4. Dwyane Wade

3. Kobe Bryant

2. Chris Paul

1. LeBron James

This is just rough, nothing concrete, nothing huge. Yeah, I put Chris Paul over Kobe Bryant. Why? Because I believe that CP3 will have better all-around stats than Kobe, and that he will be a better team leader. I see the Lakers as a definite, definite force, but I think that Kobe's stats will deflate this year with the addition of Artest, and I see Ronny as a possibility for implosion. In my opinion, Chris Paul gets the nod over Kobe for the first time, based on what SLAM has laid out as the criteria for the list.

Until next time, a track...

What Else Is New?

Hey everyone, just a quick update from me (at least by my standards).
I graduated HS on Friday afternoon, had formal (which is like prom I guess). Then afterparty etc etc. So I'm all done with High School now except for these big-ass exams which start in 2 weeks time and finish around November 30ish.
So until then, you will not be blessed with my presence. Shame, I know. But study comes first
...
In other news, we've started to get the NFL here and I'm enjoying it. We saw the Vikings v. 49'ers game, and that final pass by that really, really old guy for the Vikings was.. good.
The Lions won. Hmm.
I think I'm going to cheer for the most thug team in the League. Lemme know who that is. Or you can just say why I should support your team.
...
The NRL Grand Final is on today. It's our equivalent of the SuperBowl. If any of you are interested, it'll be all over youtube tomorrow. Expand your horizons.
...
Speaking of expanding horizons, I'm really digging 'Girl Talk', he's a guy who does mashup music from top 40 type stuff and fuses it with hip-hop, rock, pop most genres actually.

Have a listen.

In a world of hypotheticals....

Did you miss me America? Well a lot of shit has happened since i wrote last. I have started school. When my time isnt consumed by writting shit for my AP English class (yup i am taking AP English! Me, the same guy who couldnt even form a comprehensible sentence 2 years ago) i am chilling with my friends. I have been balling, lost some of my bunnies, but i can still dunk two handed on 10 feet.

On here, one of the best pieces ever written was wrote (look at the article directly below this post for proof) by RV and their were so many Moose Tracks everywhere that it appeared some canadians showed up and had a orgy.

I am cutting down on my SLAMONLINE commenting due to 2 overlying problems:

1) I dont have any computer classes this year (thank god i dont gotta deal with ms haynes ever again)

2) It sorta sucks now. Ryne made all these 'rules' that restrict what you can and cannot say. Since i enjoy 'flame wars' and 'off collar comments' which are now outlawed, i cant find any way to have fun. So i guess i will have to resort to new techniques for conjering words together, but until i do, the 'BETCATS domination of the comment box' will not be what it once was....


In global news, well a lot of shit has happened. California is constantly on fire. Speaking of California, i swear they voted to ban gay marriage last year! If that is the case, somebody please explain how the Lamar Odom/Khloe Kardashian marriage got through. (sorry Khloe, i would probably bone you too but the jokes are just waaay too easy).

Other then the goofy state of Cali, Iran has been making nukes, everyone has forgot about North Korea, Israel is still expanding, the British Prime Minister claims that he was chosen to lead the world out of recession, and the entire time Barack Obama has been dilly-dallying concerned about health care. I am in favor of a public option, but right now it is just not do-able. We need to get out of the finacial crisis before we deal with health care. I am not saying dont pass any reforms now, but lets not pass any that would just add to the debt, which is already insurmountable. The civil rights movement wasnt fought and won in a day, or via one bill. Why should health care be any different?

DJ Pretty Kitty recommends you all go to Datpiff.com and download the new Gorrila Zoe mixtape 'GI JOE'. Yeah, its the shit.

I salute you all:

(for some reason i cant embed stuff, if anyone wants to help me, feel free)

Ps- Thanks for reading
Pps- If it was underlined/bold it was a link
Ppps- I like doing this 'ps thing' (it has been a reacurring theme in my last 2 pieces!)
Pppps- get fucked
Ppppps- thats it im done

Tracy McGrady, I apologize.

I apologize. I apologize for questioning your talent. For doubting your desire to be great. For not believing you gave 100% on the court. Not because I believe I was wrong, but because now I know it was justified. How do I know? Because for most of my basketball playing days I was you. Yes, I was the Latino T-Mac. Allow me to explain.

First, let me point out I was never a serious threat to play pro-ball. I became more preoccupied with working to make my own money. And well, it's hard out there for someone 5'9 and 160. So I had to be T-Mac of the playgrounds (ok stop laughing). Yeah I was that guy who could keep his team of scrubs in games, scoring 70-80% of points. The guy who didn't always have to drive because he could get his shot over anyone . I would talk trash and guarantee wins because I knew my talent was good enough to take over when I wanted. Practice? We talkin bout practice?? Never heard of it. Never done it. Just laced them up, threw up some warm up shots and my game was on.

However, there was always something missing in my game. I played consistently well, but there always seemed to be that itch I couldn't scratch. I could dribble well, but couldn't handle the rock. I could shoot well, but couldn't stroke the jumper. I could block shots, but didn't swat them. I could get assists, but didn't really throw dimes. Know what I mean? I got the job done, but it wasn't basketball pretty sometimes. My conditioning was great, I was athletic, knew how to play, but yet some let downs had people questioning my effort at times. I could snatch the ball from a fast breaking point like T.J ford used to do, so then why would a guy go around me so easily? I could drain 30 foot jumpers, but I missed that breakaway layup? Grabbin' rim one day and grabbin' net the next?? WTF is going on? Everything felt right to me. Nothing hurt. My brain knew what I wanted to do, it sent that electrical signal ASAP, yet my body was doing its own thing.

"I saw the guy out of the corner of my eye, so I went to change up my shot and no elevation.” -T-Mac, after getting hung on the rim last season

Now I know why. Back in 95' I had suffered a serious left ankle sprain playing for my 7th grade team. No medical treatment. No rehab. No crutches. That big ass ankle brace? My Pennys couldn't squeeze around it. I hobbled around school for almost a month. Came back to the team too early. Eventually the pain went away, but my ankle never felt the same. I just figured it was normal after such an injury. I did visit a few doctors, even specialists, over the span of 10 years. Never got me anywhere. Now, within the last half a year, my whole left side has felt like it was breaking down one piece at a time. The bones in my ankle were grindin' harder than a high school couple. At prom. With hotel reservations for later. My shoulder stayed away from it's joint like it was on probation. Knee was more unstable than Ron Artest. Had a little snap in my hip, a crackle in my thumb and a pop in my elbow. Turns out that old injury caused all this. I had limped around for so long that even after my ankle had "healed", most of my left side was still tight and tense from trying to stay off the foot. Most of the muscles on my right side had become very dominant and now they were just taking the left ones along for the ride. If you were to look at me nothing was obviously wrong. Yet I had a very significant muscle imbalance that was throwing my body alignment out of whack.

"His whole body was imbalanced from basically his shoulder blades down to his feet. He was developing a lot of back problems ... He was developing strength in an imbalanced fashion." - T-Mac's physical therapist, David Reavy .

And that is why I'm T-Mac. Because I too once though I could play through pain, only to have it catch up to me. I too thought I had figured it out and was coming back healthy. Better than ever even. And failed. I too thought I had an easy play once, only to have my body fail me and it too left me looking like a joke. But now I know what was really wrong all this time. Now I can truly rehab. Now I can truly feel the difference. I can feel better than ever. Now I can scratch that itch. I know where it is. And I'm going to scratch it well. Maybe too well. Tmac has been breaking down like me. The root of my imbalance was an old injury, his was scoliosis, an imbalance that became worse with time. Every new injury led to a bigger imbalance because it meant another part of your body has to pick up the slack. Back problems? More imbalance. Knee issues? Shoulder problems? More imbalances. T-mac had them all. Why didn't other trainers or doctors fix this before? Why didn't my doctors fix me? Well sometimes doctors don't care enough, or don't have enough time to look any further. Most of my doctors wouldn't look further into my case simply because the x-rays showed nothing negative. They never asked further questions. Maybe they didn't care enough or didn't know enough. I had my suspicions something was wrong. Some friends and family even accused me of just trying to find something wrong, like if i needed an excuse to not do well. The professionals were telling me everything was fine. So I had to be , right? So I ignored any creeping pain or discomfort over the years. Now, I am lucky enough to have just graduated as an exercise science major. That education allowed me to self-diagnose and now treat myself. T-Mac though, he's got Tim Grover and his staff. The best in the business.

When I got here with these guys, [shoot] I think after the first week when I was working with [Dave] I was feeling good, I was like, "Damn," 'cause he was getting other muscles to fire on my body that hadn't fired in a long time." - T-Mac



Its not just his latest rehab attempt that I respect, but everything he's done so far in his career. Every practice, every weight training session , every shootaround. The 13 in 35. The all-star selections. Scoring leader. The 47 in Utah just last year. Why? Because he did it with his body all jacked up. I make sure I remind my boys at the playground of the same. How I played well back then all out of whack and now I'm fixing myself up. Imagine what I'll be able to do once I'm done. Be afraid, very afraid. They laugh, though. They think I'm crazy and don't take my words very seriously. I'd like to see Kobe Bryant score his 20+ a game with one shoe on, his jersey tucked in too tight, the drawstrings to his shorts tied around his back and then up to his neck, all while turning his hips just slightly to the right. At least that's kind of how I felt, but I imagine T-Mac can relate. This began for me at a young age. I had just seriously started playing sports, after being mostly a couch potato, so I couldn't compare how my movements felt before and after my injury. I hadn't played ball much prior to it. I didn't know my feet could be so much more stable while taking a freebie, among other things. T-Mac is similar because he's had scoliosis, and therefore some degree of muscle imbalance, since he's been playing ball. Just like me, he didn't know how much better he could move. Neither of us knew what right felt like until we were right.

"I think he's gonna be a player like he used to be in his younger days, because his body is balanced now," Reavy says confidently. "He's using all his muscles properly and everything's absorbing a force and creating a force versus just the knee." -Reavy

So yes, i do believe T-Mac will truly be back in All-Star form. It's unfortunate he didn't get his body corrected until this late in his career, so age and wear and tear will stil affect him. I don't think we'll truly know how great he would have been had he done this earlier and stayed with it. But believe it when he says he's coming back this year. Believe it when he says he'll make it right after so much wrong last season. I do. I know how correcting the problem can make simply moving around so much better. So much easier. After years of working harder just to move incorrectly, now we just work hard to move correctly.. So let them think you're all talk. Let them believe they've heard this before. Let them look past you. Let them laugh at you and point fingers. Let them, because in the end, you will have the last laugh.