Rookies of the Year:
My draft picks are still holding strong, but take a look at stephen curry. my goodness, lil dude is a shooter & i never realized how much of a hustler he was. he's already had a couple triple doubles. i had a feeling this guy would be good, but not this good. keep it up, mr. curry, prove all those doubters wrong. the ROY should come down to tyreke, steph curry or jennings, period.
after a strong start, brandon jennings is getting more double teamed and hands in his face. as a result, his FG% has dropped quite a bit. he's around 39% on the season, which is pretty bad. tyreke or stephen curry may take over his rookie of the year award and i honestly have both those guys over jennings.
so final verdict... 1) tyreke evans
2) steph curry (elite steals)
3) brandon jennings
Most Improved:
let's see. lots of good candidates this season. i'm actually missing the short list i made this season for this, so prepare for an update.
1) zach randolph: some will stay he's way too high for this list, but the grizzlies have an improved record and in the close wins they've had, he's been a major factor why. he's a double double machine these days and is making less stupid mistakes. it seems as if he knows he's making a bad shot, he tries to get the rebound. he's having a career high in FG% and it actually looks like he's maturing. i call that improvement. not to mention, his 2nd highest RPG season next to the likes of marc gasol. he could still become a more defensive force, but has obviously improved on the offensive end.
2) carl landry: he will also be features in 6th man of the year. led the league in FG% for december and is improving in defense. he is just efficient and hits FT's to round out his game.
3) joakim noah: his hustle rebounding has amplified his value even more and he knows how to box out. he shoots at a high cilp and you know you will get effort from him every night. his form on his jumper is almost laughable, but he's making his shots, so how much can you complain?
4) marc gasol: has used his body even more to get physical and is starting to prove himself as a better rebounder and man-to-man defender than older brother, pau gasol. he still doesn't have pau's post moves or passing, but he sure is becoming solid.
5) aaron brooks: everyone knew he was fast, but now he is starting to create for teammates and shoot knockdown 3's while becoming a slightly better defender in the passing lanes.
6) kevin durant: already an established scorer, just rebounding and finishing plays even better this season. slowly becoming a better defender.
6th man of the year:
1) jamal crawford: bench scoring is what ATL needed and crawford sure did fill it. we're taking about a 6'6 SG shooting 36.4% from downtown, averaging nearly 18 pts and 3 assists. if bibby gets it going along with marvin williams, this team will be hard to beat.
2) carl landry: yes, he takes two spots because he's both improved and comes off the bench.
3) jason terry: he's won it once and having a down year, but he can still score in bunches and help finish fast breaks.
4) charlie V: instant points and rebounds when he has the hot hand. inconsistency keeps him at this ranking.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Fav Movies '09
Favorite Movies of 2009
Note: these are in no particular order. With movies I like, it highly depends on mood, so I don’t know how to quantify these things.
Warning: minor spoiler alerts
1) Star Trek - tradition be damned. this was an ass kicking, action packed movie with a good back-story and a believable villain. also, what geek didn't feel a half chub when we met father spock?
2) The Hurt Locker - not a typical war movie. not preachy, not glamorous. just good intense drama and dialog. couple things i didn't like: lack of air support for one, but those were minor flaws.
3) Zombieland - over the top zombie killing hilarity. cameo from bill murray = solid fucking gold. For fans of dawn of the dead.
4) District 9 - would be higher but i couldn't get over the way the aliens could mimic human emotion...seemed sort of plastic, but i understand why the director wanted it that way. last 20 minutes was the shit and left it open for a sequel (yes please!)
5) Coraline - reminded me so much of a tim burton movie. pure fun and creative animation with fitting music. on top of that, terri hatcher had some nice dialogue in this one.
6) Drag Me To Hell - my type of horror movie. mixed bits of comedy, lots of blood, loud and no lame twists or "boo" moments. sam raimi being sam raimi...certainly a better theater movie
7) Inglorious Basterds - just too surreal for me, even for a tarantino movie. he flipped between serious tension to random way too quickly. he's still a brilliant writer, but shit on a stick, were there way too many subtitles! this was like reading a book and it took away from some of the acting nuances. great story, not the best execution. still, this is tarantino through and through. he overindulges, pretty much to a fault. you either like it or don't, but he is unique.
8) Adventureland - quirky 80s goodness
9) Watchmen - not as good as the comic, but the comic was monumental. i quite enjoyed the alternate ending and james earl jones did a great job playing rorschach. costume design was top notch and dialog was pretty accurate. comic snobs should just appreciate the effort.
10) Moon - the landscapes were stunning and rockwell did a good job playing two separate characters, not an easy task. also highly original, kudos.
you may be asking, where is The Hangover? there were a couple laugh out loud moments, but it was so unreal yet serious in its premises, that i couldn't get into it. i need unreal + goofy to pull that off. i may have developed a small man crush for zach galifinakos or whatever though...
yet to see avatar and a couple others and there's more "worthy" movies this year
Note: these are in no particular order. With movies I like, it highly depends on mood, so I don’t know how to quantify these things.
Warning: minor spoiler alerts
1) Star Trek - tradition be damned. this was an ass kicking, action packed movie with a good back-story and a believable villain. also, what geek didn't feel a half chub when we met father spock?
2) The Hurt Locker - not a typical war movie. not preachy, not glamorous. just good intense drama and dialog. couple things i didn't like: lack of air support for one, but those were minor flaws.
3) Zombieland - over the top zombie killing hilarity. cameo from bill murray = solid fucking gold. For fans of dawn of the dead.
4) District 9 - would be higher but i couldn't get over the way the aliens could mimic human emotion...seemed sort of plastic, but i understand why the director wanted it that way. last 20 minutes was the shit and left it open for a sequel (yes please!)
5) Coraline - reminded me so much of a tim burton movie. pure fun and creative animation with fitting music. on top of that, terri hatcher had some nice dialogue in this one.
6) Drag Me To Hell - my type of horror movie. mixed bits of comedy, lots of blood, loud and no lame twists or "boo" moments. sam raimi being sam raimi...certainly a better theater movie
7) Inglorious Basterds - just too surreal for me, even for a tarantino movie. he flipped between serious tension to random way too quickly. he's still a brilliant writer, but shit on a stick, were there way too many subtitles! this was like reading a book and it took away from some of the acting nuances. great story, not the best execution. still, this is tarantino through and through. he overindulges, pretty much to a fault. you either like it or don't, but he is unique.
8) Adventureland - quirky 80s goodness
9) Watchmen - not as good as the comic, but the comic was monumental. i quite enjoyed the alternate ending and james earl jones did a great job playing rorschach. costume design was top notch and dialog was pretty accurate. comic snobs should just appreciate the effort.
10) Moon - the landscapes were stunning and rockwell did a good job playing two separate characters, not an easy task. also highly original, kudos.
you may be asking, where is The Hangover? there were a couple laugh out loud moments, but it was so unreal yet serious in its premises, that i couldn't get into it. i need unreal + goofy to pull that off. i may have developed a small man crush for zach galifinakos or whatever though...
yet to see avatar and a couple others and there's more "worthy" movies this year
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Top 30 Albums of 2009
1) Converge - Axe to Fall
2) Gaza - He Is Never Coming Back
3) Kylesa - Static Tensions
4) Baroness - Blue Album
5) Krallice - Dimensional Bleedthrough
6) Coalesce - OX
7) Burnt By The Sun - Heart of Darkness
8) Cobalt - Gin
9) Ancestors - Of Sound Mind
10) Black Math Horseman - Wyllt
11) Goatwhore - Carving Out The Eyes of God
12) Weekend Nachos - Unforgiveable
13) Tombs - Winter Hours
14) Russian Circles - Geneva
15) Alice in Chains - Black Gives Way To Blue
16) Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 4
17) Slayer – World Painted Blood
18) Mastodon - Crack the Skye
19) Snowgoons - The Trojan Horse
20) Oddisee - Mental Liberation
21) Shpongle - Ineffable Mysteries from Sphongleland
22) Mos def - The Ecstatic
23) People Under The Stairs - Carried Away
24) Bk-One - Radio de Canibal
25) Amesoeurs - Amesoeurs
26) Goes Cube - Another Day Has Passed
27) Funeral Mist - Marantha
28) Gallows - Grey Britain
29) Between The Buried & Me - The Great Misdirect
30) Anti-Flag - The People or The Gun
Honorable Mention:
Dying fetus
Vader
Yob
Insomnium
Animal Collective
RA The Rugged Man
Keelhaul
Monday, June 29, 2009
NBA Draft 2009
If I had to sum up this year's draft in one word: unpredictable. Mock drafts across the country were blown up, if not after the first five picks, then the first 10 picks. I will highlight some players I feel good about, some "project" players and players I feel were underrated and will make solid contributions.
Here are my "sure guys": Blake Griffin, James Harden, Jonny Flynn, Terence Williams, Tyreke Evans
Let's start with the #1 pick. I'm sure Clippers lost no sleep over this. At worst, I see Blake Griffin being a stronger Antonio McDyess player and at best, I see him being a mix of Karl Malone & Tim Duncan. He doesn't have near the footwork of Duncan, but he can put the ball on the floor a bit and is also much more athletic. He will be a Rookie of the Year candidate and a solid starter for years to come. 95% of players have weaknesses and Griffin's is low post work, but he can only improve from here on out.
Project Players: Chase Budinger, Jordan Hill
Underrated: DeJaun Blair (steal of the draft IMO)
12/4/09 Update: So ya, that was almost six months late (time of creating blog really) and I still like all my picks, except Terence Williams. Griffin is coming off an injury. Williams is developing slower than I thought. He's a bit of a tweener, not good enough to be a great rookie SG and also not a great passer. At least yet.
Biggest surprise thus far has to be Brandon Jennings, even though his shot is falling off lately. If the Bucks make the playoffs, he's a major reason why.
Here are my "sure guys": Blake Griffin, James Harden, Jonny Flynn, Terence Williams, Tyreke Evans
Let's start with the #1 pick. I'm sure Clippers lost no sleep over this. At worst, I see Blake Griffin being a stronger Antonio McDyess player and at best, I see him being a mix of Karl Malone & Tim Duncan. He doesn't have near the footwork of Duncan, but he can put the ball on the floor a bit and is also much more athletic. He will be a Rookie of the Year candidate and a solid starter for years to come. 95% of players have weaknesses and Griffin's is low post work, but he can only improve from here on out.
Project Players: Chase Budinger, Jordan Hill
Underrated: DeJaun Blair (steal of the draft IMO)
12/4/09 Update: So ya, that was almost six months late (time of creating blog really) and I still like all my picks, except Terence Williams. Griffin is coming off an injury. Williams is developing slower than I thought. He's a bit of a tweener, not good enough to be a great rookie SG and also not a great passer. At least yet.
Biggest surprise thus far has to be Brandon Jennings, even though his shot is falling off lately. If the Bucks make the playoffs, he's a major reason why.
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