I got all I can handle in 2010. I had to take the good with the bad and sacrifice pleasure for pain in hope that the pain makes me stronger. Every day hurts lately. There is not a second without regret for some of the bad decisions I made but my moves were with faith. I don't know what 2011 has in store for me but I embrace the challenge now more than ever. I no longer doubt the content of my charecter so I don't care who does anymore. Whatever pain I caused I got it back 100X worse. Maturity has been a humiliating process that I've had to go through on my own. It all starts with me again in 2011 but I want to end it with us. I believe I earned the right to ask for that. I'm working hard for that. Harder than anything I have in my life.
On a side note I have to work tonight. I really can't bitch about it because on this day last year I was praying for this. There are alot of people in the mindset I was in last year so I'm going in with no complaints for them. God has a plan for all of us. To relate it to basketball junkies like myself, he's the coach and it's your job to stay ready when he calls you off the bench. He can make that seat real hard. When it's your turn you gotta show him you're worthy. Well I'm in the game now and when I come out my jersey is gonna be soaked.
Once again I'm grateful for my family who loves me unconditionally. I'm just as proud of you as much as you are of me. I may seem distant at times but it's for the best. I carry you guys in my heart everywhere I go. Your love empowers me do do things I didn't know I could. We'll be together when it matters most. That's a promise.
We were all baited in to watch Lebron's Decision to join the Miami Heat but his decision doesn't command who will be raising a championship banner this season.
With all decisions made and rosters being set for 2010-11 I think the Lakers will once again win the NBA Championship. Phil Jackson perhaps the greatest coach in sports history's job was made easier with a few underated off season moves. Steve Blake, Matt Barnes and veteran center Theo Ratliff are perfect additions to a Championship team.
Yes Lebron, Wade and Bosh will be a traveling circus all season but can they bring drama to the post season where they will have to go through the Boston Celtics? The Celtics have added Shaq and Jermaine O'neal to solidify the center postion which was their weak spot in the finals. Not being able to get key rebounds against a surprisingly tough Lakers tandem of big men The Celtics knew they had to get a force in the middle and they don't come bigger than the 4 time NBA Champion Shaq. It's going to be a interesting season but things might start looking the same in June.
For those who are interested in my honorable mentions I'd like to say in the West look out for Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder. He can emerge as MVP this season and push the Lakers if they steal a few games from championship caliber clubs and get home court advantage in the playoffs for a couple of series. Last year Russel Westbrook showed flashes of wanting to enter the conversation as one of the leagues top point guards and seems ready to go toe to toe with the likes of Chris Paul and Deron Williams.
As for the East the Celtics and Orlando Magic will be there to cool down the Heat. Dwight Howard has worked with Hakeem Olajuwon all summer to work on basketball moves. If Howard can develope some up and under moves he can tilt the power scale all by himself. The Celtics and Magic are stronger than Miami in the post and both clubs will be looking to exploit that fact constantly.
Believe me I'm not trying to gas myself up with possibilities but look out for my Knicks. We didn't get Lebron or Wade or Bosh or yata yata yata but somehow we came up with Amare Stoudamire who has never had a losing season under head coach Mike D'Antoni. The Knicks have sacrificed years out of Knicks fans lives to put a product on the floor that can allow us to stand by the water cooler and not be afraid to admit who we cheer for.
I'm not going to go into detail of how crazy it will get in NYC if Carmelo Anthony joined the Knicks just yet but if it happens...
The last 2 NBA Champions are both back to show not just who's the best but to show who's ot the Greatest franchise of all time. The Celtics big 3 of Paul Perce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett returned the Celtics back to glory by dismantiling the Lakers in 2008...
In 2009 the Lakers were on a mission to show they had grown from their previous finals appearance and won a title of their own in 2009...
Last Year the Celtics felt they were robbed of a chance to be back to back NBA champions due to a season ending injury to Kevin Garnett but now he's healthy and the Celtics plan to return the title back to who they believe to be the rightful owners...
But the Lakers kind of like the trophy right where it's at...
Everyone knows I'm a Brandon Jennings supporter but tonight he has a chance to speak for himself. Today he faces The current Rookie of the Year Derrick Rose in a game that can send the Bucks into the playoffs and maybe eliminate the Chicago Bulls. The Bucks have suffered injury to their star players in Michael Redd and now Andrew Bogut. John Salmons has been solid for the Bucks but Jennings has to be heady tonight to knock off the Bulls and maybe a strong game can help him lock up Rookie Of The Year!
I wish I could start the New Year on a lighter note but God's plan shows us what matters most to us...Life.
Knicks faced a heart torn Samuel Dalembert and the 76ers January 13, 2010
The Knicks have been playing better ball this 09-10 season but still have not been able to get into a playoff spot. The team has a major flaw of not believing they are the better team every night and sometimes let teams that they are better than on paper steal victories away from them. Tonight is another winnable game but they have to believe they deserve to win it.
Ironically as this is my first post of 2010 I'd like to note the significant historic value of tonight's New York Knicks Vs. Toronto Raptors game in relation to today's blog post.
Toronto was the site of the league's very first game on Nov. 1, 1946, with the Huskies hosting the New York Knickerbockers at Maple Leaf Gardens. The contest drew 7,090, a good crowd considering that virtually every youngster in Canada grew up playing hockey and basketball was hardly a well-known sport at the time...
Today was the first time that I ever had a Q&A style interview where my passion as a Knicks fan helped to land me onto http://raptorsrepublic.com Which is a very popular Toronto Raptors fan site. I was honored to help preview tonight's game: http://raptorsrepublic.com/2010/01/15/gameday-raptors-vs-knicks-jan-1510/
I get to feel like a celebrity for a day and always have a good time with the Raptor fan community. Thanks www.twitter.com/RapsFan !
In other News there are some big playoff games this weekend.
