2014-15 NBA Awards

Now keep in mind, these award predictions aren't necessarily my personal picks but rather who I think will be voted.

MVP:  Steph Curry, Warriors

Rookie of the Year:  Andrew Wiggins, Timberwolves

Defensive Player of the Year:  DeAndre Jordan, Clippers

Most Improved Player:  Draymond Green, Warriors (just over Jimmy Butler)

Comeback Player of the Year:  Al Horford, Hawks (just over D Rose)

6th Man of the Year:  Isaiah Thomas, Celtics

Coach of the Year:  Coach Bud, Hawks

1st Team:                                                                                          

G  Russell Westbrook                                                        

G  James Harden                                                              

G  Steph Curry                                                                              
F  Anthony Davis                                                                     

F  LeBron James                                                                    

 2nd Team                                      

 G  Kyrie Irving                               

 G  Klay Thompson                          

  F  LaMarcus Aldridge                                                                                
  F  Paul Millsap

  C  Marc Gasol                              

 3rd Team

G  Chris Paul

G  Jeff Teague

F  Pao Gasol                  
C  DeMarcus Cousns

C  Al Horford

1st Team Defense:                                   2nd Team

G  Russell Westbrook                              G Chris Paul

G  Klay Thompson                                  G Jimmy Butler

F  Draymond Green                                 F  LeBron James

F  Paul Millsap                                         F  Tim Duncan

C  DeAndre Jordan                                  C  Marc Gasol

2015 NBA Playoff Predictions (*Written 4/17/15)

Excuse me as I clear my throat.  Ahem...."Play-Awwwfffs?!?!" (In my most shriekiest Jim Mora voice).  With all due respect to the season of Christmas, this is the most wonderful time of the year---if you're an NBA fan at least.   

This is all the time when my alter-ego, "Dice-A-Damus" makes his highly anticipated appearance on your local social network to make solid and accurate NBA predictions.

And without further adieu, here are my----or his----predictions:

*Advancing teams in bold

1st Round East:                           2nd Round East                                       ECF

1 Atl v 8 BK                                  1 Atl v 5 Wash                                    1 Atl v 2 Clev

4 Tor v 5 Wash

2 Clev v 7 Bos                              2 Clev v 3 Chi

3 Chi   v 6 Mil

1st Round West:                        2nd Round West                                        WCF

1 GSW v 8 NO                          1 GSW v 5 Mem                                     1 GSW v 7 Dal

4 Por    v 5 Mem                                                                              (*mind says GSW,

2 Hou   v 7 Dal                           6 SAS   v 7 Dal                             heart says Dal)

3 LaC    v 6 SAS

Finals

Dal v Clev

NBA Champs:

Cleveland Cavs

Bow Out Gracefully: Wu Tang, 50 & DipSet Give It Up!!!!!

“…Took a shower kinda sour cause my favorite group ain't comin with it/
But I'm witcha/ cause you probably goin' through it anyway/But anyhow, when in doubt went on out and bought it/Cause I thought it would be jammin' /but examine all the flawsky-wawsky
/ Awfully sad and it's costly, but that's all she wrote.”

                                                                        -Andre 3000 “Rosa Parks”

In the past I’ve written about how the quality of work had piqued (if not declined) in almost all genres of popular culture and entertainment.

I basically argued that everything that transpired or was produced in the 80’/90’s era was the last time we witnessed something organically unique and creative.  

http://thelegendofdice.blogspot.com/2012/07/peak-of-interest-volume-1-sports.html

http://thelegendofdice.blogspot.com/2012/08/peak-of-interest-volume-2.html

http://thelegendofdice.blogspot.com/2012/08/music-this-is-for-hip-hop-primarily.html

Evidently that theory applies to the very same people that created said classic material in that era, at least musically.  There’s a bevy of reasons to attribute for such an unfortunate fall off:  dissension, ego, money, usually plays the main role and at times cats just lose “it.”

Sometimes artists just lose touch with their core audience and try to blend in with what’s trending in contemporary times.  Progression and adjusting your styles is a part of the game but when artists totally conform their style just to be relevant, that’s when I walk away from supporting artists in a present tense. 

I’ll support their past work and remember them at their pinnacle, but miss me with that Washington Wizard, shell of their former self work that they’re doing now, case in point:

WU TANG CLAN

The Wu Tang is one of my favorite groups of all time (Wu, Public Enemy, OutKast, Mobb Deep, NWA, & EPMD).  When they first hit the scene, or when I discovered them in 1993, I was deeply influenced, intrigued and impressed by their whole movement.  I was open off of the kung fu samples, the themes, the teachings, the knowledge, and the message of brotherhood. 

That brotherhood has been fractured throughout the years to the point where their 20 year anniversary and final album was postponed because of monetary discrepancies (mainly Ghost and Rae). 

The irony of that statement is that nobody is waiting for a Wu Tang Album!  What is Rae and Ghost holding up?  Ever since the Wu started to have guest features on their albums (i.e. Snoop Dogg on “Conditioner” for the “W” album), it’s been a decline for the Wu.

RZA started to decrease his production responsibilities during that period (The Wu element suffered and sounded different without the Abbott’s fingerprints on it) and simultaneously if not as a result, the RZAs skills started to regress.  Plus my man said when rappers get on VH1 they become musically wack.  I guess it’s a sign of the times and appro po to see GhostFace on “Couples Therapy.”

Wu Tang Cut Off Line: The W---I couldn’t make it to Iron Flag. 

50 CENT

I won’t beat up on 50 Cent, and when I say “I respect him but I just don’t rock with him musically,” I don’t say that in the same vain as I would for say, Nelly, Ludacris, Master P or Akon.  I actually was a fan of 50s music for a while. 

But the thing that made 50s music so ill was that it was a live war report from his life, which at the time was filled with plenty of street action.  He was also the savior to Murder Inc.’s love song radio dominance. 

Everything 50 touched turned to gold in the beginning, but that bully music, calling out rappers and beefing with them is kind of old.  And when he’s not trying to bait other artists to beef, his street tale rap is kind of recycled and tired, especially when we know you’re sitting on 350 milly.

You’re paid 50, you don’t have anything else to prove. Get your money in Hollywood, SMS Headphones and promoting boxing.

50 Cent Cut-Off Line: The Massacre---Couldn’t make it to “Curtis” (ever since 50 challenged Kanye it’s been downhill for your boy record sales wise).  Listened to “Before I Self-Destruct” and was amazed at the lack of  50’s progression, lyrical content wise.

DIPSET

The once kings of neo-Harlem, the DipSet are apparently in the studio to make an album.  But why?  Core Dip-Set fans have long ago mentally accepted the unfortunate dissension and demise of Dip Set, specifically the Cam-Jim Jones fall out.

In addition they’re selling Dip Set merchandise now?  I can’t lie, the ish would’ve been fly during that 2000-04 wave, but now it’s a day late and a dollar short.  Their whole reuniting appears contrived and only for the money.  “Only for the money” albums aren’t as dope as organic albums when all members are in sync, but time will tell.

DIPSET Cut-Off Line:  Whenever Cam and Jim had issues and Jim Jones publically sided with G-Unit/50 Cent.

The N-Blog

So the new "n-word" rule (assessing a 15 yard penalty to the teams player that uses the word in the field of play) that the NFL is attempting to impose is creating a lot of controversy.

There are respected sports media figures such as Stephen A. Smith and Michael Wilbon who are in favor of the word when it's used under "appropriate" conditions.  Of course "appropriate" meaning amongst other black people.

Players are still processing the proposed rule and the results are mixed.  The ever outspoken Richard Sherman declared his definitive stance against the rule in a recent interview with themmqb.com:

"It's an atrocious idea. It's almost racist to me. It's weird they're targeting one specific word. Why wouldn't all curse words be banned then? It's a common word in so many players' everyday lives. Among African-American players and people, it's used among friends all the time. It seems like a bit much for the NFL to try to get rid of it. It's a pretty common word in the locker room."

My initial response to Sherman's statement is that I appreciate his candor but respectfully disagree nonetheless.  Number 1,  don't you ever insult, undermine and disrespect the history of the "n-word" by classifying it as a regular "cussword."  As much as I love a good "Motherfucker" as both a term of endearment and an attack word, it doesn't have the reverberating effect as the epithet of all epithets: nigger.

Secondly, when Sherman says "it's used among friends all the time" that's just another way of resorting to the ever popular excuse for using the word as a "term of endearment."  That maybe true but until all blacks are unanimously responsible enough to discern and utilize "n-word" discretion, that luxury may have to be put on hold.  How many times have you ever felt awkward and uncomfortable when you're out in public because raucous black people are calling each other the "n-word" in front of non-blacks? As Pimp C said on 'Big Pimpin', "Take those monkey shits off you embarrassing us."  Im tired of the monkeys embarrassing us!---That may have been out of control.

Behavior of that ilk is counterproductive regardless and misleading to other races.  Yes, other races should have enough common sense to implicitly infer, under any condition, they can never have the green light to utter the word; no matter how often black people abuse or cavalierly say it in their presence.

With that said, all black people are born with the ordained power to enforce their unlimited jurisdiction of the word when it involves other races.   If your honey boo is down for the cause and you don't mind her calling you her "nigga," then that's up to you to give her a pass.  You may let it ride when your white friend says it because he was raised in the black culture.  It's strictly up to you (if you're black and reading this).  On the same token don't ever think twice to voice your displeasure with the word being used in your presence and if you have to, check a "blankety blank."

Again, as the word relates to being legislated in the professional game of football, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson makes an excellent point:  "(The NFL) wants the use of the n-word to be outlawed while the use of racism to remain sanctioned."  Shiiiiit, that was deep!

And therein lies the real crux of this whole matter:  ego, control and/or being "infantilized" as Dr. Dyson says.  Im interpreting all the criticism of the rule as people (the players and pundits) feeling insulted that an entity (the NFL) would have the audacity to regulate their speech and communication.  

So if that's the issue then focus your argument on freedom of speech.  I can't believe that people are  crying over the potentiality of being prohibited from using such a poisonous and nefarious word.  If eradicating the use of the word in the NFL-with all it's influence and popularity-can inevitably lead to the declination and extinction (like the year 2130) of the word altogether, then why not embrace this change even if it comes at the expense of your own selfish inconvenience?  But that's only big picture talk.

I usually don't agree with Jason Whitlock but last week  he brought up a point that I thought was fascinating in regards to the "n-word" being used as a term of endearment. Im paraphrasing but Whitlock said that in the 1940s similar discussions were held amongst white people regarding the n-word as a term of endearment.  In essence the same zeal and sense of ownership we are showcasing now, is the same zeal whites who were in favor of keeping the word in everyday dialogue had in the 1940s.

The target of the 'n-word' rule is John Wooten, an Afro-American and former player.  I'll continue to use the word at my own discretion and with my people, but I'm not mad at what Wooten is trying to do.  On  surface level, yes maybe it is a micro-managing sham designed to infantilize black people yet again.  Or maybe Mr. Wooten is really trying to make a difference, no matter how small the increment is.  When good ideas are born they're usually met with criticism and allegations of crazy talk.  Wootens words don't sound that crazy to me:

"I want players to know and understand that it is the most vicious word in the language. It's about us, as a race of African-American people, have to continually make our youngsters understand that the word can't be endearing. The word was created to make you feel, as a black man, that you were inferior; that you were nothing; that you were sub-human; that you had no talents; that all you could do is pick cotton. This is what the word was intended for."

Vanilla Dice Dice Baby or Michaelvelli the Don: Ambitionz as a Writer

A couple of months ago I gave a friend some advice to use for a disagreement of some sorts he was having with an individual (or something like that).  I told him sometimes you have to have a vanilla response/approach to things. 

Those words must have had sprinkles on them because I’ve been eating them ever since.  Now every time the aforementioned friend and I engage in a controversial conversation or decision I’m automatically labeled “Mr. Vanilla”-as if I’m trying to take the easy way out…. or dare I say ‘Not keep it real!’

The ‘vanilla’ comment was initially intended for my friend to display a “poker face “ at all times and never “let them see you sweat. “

My advice is a thing of art and therefore open for interpretation but indifference was the gist of the vanilla remark.

As an aspiring writer, being colorful and totally transparent can be a slippery slope.  You never want to be disingenuous, of course, but if disclosing every detail can potentially compromise or harm you, then censorship may be a good idea.  You don’t have to use every crayon to successfully color a picture.

The good writers usually get away unscathed when it comes to exposing their weaknesses and vulnerabilities.  Why?  Because they woo you with their ability to paint a vivid picture with their 1080, high definition words and style of prose.  

There’s a scene in the “The Client” episode from my favorite show, “The Office.” “The client (Tim Meadows) consoles a recently divorced executive (Jan) in her divorce and the controversy it created in her life.  Meadows said:  “You (Jan) were really brave! You, you put your arms out there, you slit your wrists.  You said ‘World, this is my blood! It’s red, just like yours.  So love me!”

When good writers slit their metaphorical wrists, people love them.  When I slit my wrists I’m usually exiled somewhere or misunderstood.   I thought it was about discretion and discernment; timing and tact.  “Don’t be vanilla”?  Be careful what you ask for.

Andy: Andy have a boo-boo tummy.

Michael Scott:  Right there is the problem. There have been reports around the office that you have been talking baby talk.

Andy: Would you rather me say, hey guys, my irritable bowel syndrome is flaring up?...Crazy diarrhea happening right now. Cause things can get real adult, real fast.

So is that what I need to do? Do I need to describe the crazy diarrhea happening in my life?

Do I just turn up and just write the stuff that would raise the eyebrows of my elders?  Put myself in a situation where I embarrass my family and/or threaten potential future commerce? I have younger family members and friends on Twitter and Facebook and I can’t believe some of the stuff coming out of their mouths, from cussing their significant others out to talking about drug use and taking suggestive/ sexual pictures.

Pac said he knew he wasn’t the nicest rapper but he was the realest.  And while the  vocab in my lexicon may not be the most expansive and compelling , whatever I write will always be reflective of how I feel at the time.

In an interview at a gun range, Pac also said: “Besides that, every other record that came out that Tupac did, I did high or drunk in the studio, when they was making the beat.  That’s why I be sounding heller sloppy, you know what Im saying? I feel as though I feel like niggas is drunk or high when they listen to it…you know? You either going to like it or not”

Now, I’m not saying I sit around the crib blowed waiting for inspiration, or that you should be wasted when and if you so kindly read my blog (but like a comedy club it gets better after two drinks).  “Don’t have to bump this but please respect it” is another jewel Pac said in “Krazy.”  Just respect my shit, whether its diarrheic or vanilla.


Suggested Non Vanilla picks:

On the plight of single moms and sex:

http://thelegendofdice.blogspot.com/2011/02/motherfucker-sex-chronicles-of-single.html


On marriage and the disconnect between single people:

http://thelegendofdice.blogspot.com/2011/03/wifed-up.html


On death:

http://thelegendofdice.blogspot.com/2013/03/dice-presents-delusional-deaths-and.html

HANDLE IT (The NBAs best dribblers)

Throughout the history of professional sports, there has always been s a signature style of play or tenor that defines that particular era.

Baseball, for example, was dominated in the ‘60s by pitching (Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, etc).  By the late 90s, it was all about the homers.  Greg Maddux afterall did say “Chicks dig the long ball.”

The NFL was once a defensive, vertically-challenged, “3 yards and a cloud of dust” running league until contemporary times led to a bevy of NFL passing records to fall by the wayside.

Now in the NBA, more than any other sport, the players (not schemes or coaches) dictate the style of play.  In the 90’s we withe golden age of Shooting Guards (MJ, Joe Dumars, Clyde Drexler, Mitch Richmond, Reggie Miller, Ron Harper, etc), Point Guards  (Magic, Isiah Thomas, John Stockton, Mark Price, Tim Hardaway) and Centers (Shaq, Hakeem, The Admiral, Pat Ewing, Brad Daugherty).

The 2000s were pretty much owned by the Power Forwards (Tim Duncan, Karl Malone, Chris Webber, Kevin Garnett, Antonio Mc Dyess, Dirk Nowitzki) and now in 2014, it appears that Small Forwards (Lebron, Kevin Durant, Paul George, Carmelo) and Point Guards (Kyrie Irving, CP3, Steph Curry, Damian Lillard, John Wall, Westbrook, Derrick Rose) are running the league.

This wave of point guards is extremely gifted and addictive to watch.  They possess never before seen athleticism (Russ-Rose-Wall), jump-shooting ability (Steph, Lillard, Kyrie) and maybe the most important quality that separates them from other positions: exceptional ball-handling capabilities.

Out of the aforementioned point guards, I depict Irving, Curry, CP3 , John Wall and Jamal Crawford as THEE best dribblers in the league.  While they all showcase amazing talent with the things they can do with the ball, their styles are all different.  If I had a chance to choose which set of handles to infuse in my game, it would be between Kyrie and Steph.  How about you?

MANY STYLES, MANY STYLES!!!!!

CP3: Steadiness; seldom turnovers (ripped, ball falling off foot)… can revert to a flashy “yo yo” when needed but always keeps the dribble.

Crawford:  ultimate yo-yo….can lull you asleep or hit you with the rapid behind the back cross.

Kyrie:  MASTER of the “hezo’s” (hesitation dribble---don’t sleep on Melo’s hezo’s either)…smooth, natural crossovers…. ambidextrous handles, subtle gestures (eye brows, shoulders, picking up hand). Even when he falters, you appreciate it.

Watching K.I. do his thing reminds me of a John Coltrane or Miles Davis jazz impromptu session….

Steph:  similar to kyrie but just technically more proficient, according to the eye ball test.  If Kyrie’s handle is of the Jazz variety-impromptu, reactive and natural-then Steph is the classically trained Mozart.  Every move looks natural from a calculated standpoint, meaning everything he does, he practiced for it 100’s of times and anticipates it…Not fond of the musical analogy? Ok, Steph is like an actor performing on Broadway w/ out slurs or stumbling over words, or re takes.

John Wall:  Is able to do what these point guards, to an extent but the boy does it with lightning speed.

HONORABLE MENTION:

*Jeff Teague                         *D Rose

* Brandon Jennings              *D Will

* Damian Lillard                    *Isiah Thomas

* Ty Lawson