First, please check out my cooking demo on the Lifestyle Network. October 7 at 11 am, 5 pm, 11 pm, October 8 at 10 am, 4 pm, 10 pm, October 9 at 9 am, 3 pm, 9 pm. Vote for me by sending an email to lifestylenetwork@thelifeyoulive.tv Just type in VOTE SHARWIN TEE on the subject line. You can vote as many times as you want and help me get my very own cooking show!
It's that time of the year again. The NBA season is fast approaching and it's time to preview the teams and their chances. This time, our fifty peso previews get an upgrade from our special guest, singer Toto Sorioso, who supplies his own previews by assigning theme songs for each team. I guess, our fifty peso previews should be seventy five peso ones now...
Boston Celtics
Major Additions: Shaquille O'Neal, Jermaine O"Neal, Luke Harangody
Major Subtractions: Rasheed Wallace
Going against the trend, the Celtics sought to enhance their chances for a title by getting older, not younger. Replacing the retired Wallace with two O'Neals, both past their primes, Celtics are bigger and more experienced, but also a lot older and slower. Still, the sheer brilliance and experience of this line up will give teams more than they can handle, and the Celts will look forward to another deep playoff run. Look for Rajon Rondo to continue to emerge as Boston's franchise player and an inspired effort from the "Big Three" who may consider this year as their last best chance.
Fearless Forecast: Playoffs (conference semi-finals)
Toto's Theme Song for Boston: My Way (Frank Sinatra)
New Jersey Nets
Major Additions: Travis Outlaw, Derrick Favors, Anthony Morrow
Major Subtractions: Courtney Lee, Chris Douglas-Roberts
Tying an NBA futility record of only 12 wins, and then losing the Lebron sweepstakes, Nets fans probably wanted to shoot themselves rather than watch another miserable season. The Nets' new Russian owner, however, refused to lay down. Using money wisely, the Nets hired a teaching defensive coach Avery Johnson and then gathered some young, exciting talent at relatively cheap salaries to form a talented, athletic team to support All Star Devin Harris and franchise center Brook Lopez. The Nets will definitely improve from last season (but of course), but also will fight for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Fearless Forecast: Bubble Team (playoff eighth seed or eliminated)
Toto's Theme Song: The Climb (Miley Cyrus)
New York Knicks
Major Additions: Amare Stoudemire, Ronny Turiaf, Raymond Felton, Kelenna Azubuike, Roger Mason
Major Subtractions: David Lee, Chris Duhon
Make no mistake about it. The Knicks lost out on the Lebron sweepstakes, but they still found ways to use their money. Making big splashes on Stoudemire and Felton, the Knicks will certainly improve this year. The added firepower, an additional year to acclimate to Coach Mike D'Antoni and new energy players in Turiaf and Azubuike will finally give Knicks fans something to cheer about. Of course, a title run is still far off for Team Broadway, but they will be fun to watch.
Fearless Forecast: Playoffs (out in the first round)
Toto's Theme Song: Good Vibrations (Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch)
Philadelphia 76ers
Major Additions: Evan Turner, Spencer Hawes, Andres Nocioni
Major Subtractions: Samuel Dalembert
Every pre season, the 76ers embark on a similar journey. They bring in a new coach with new hope that the coming year will be THE year for them. Then, every year, the team just plain loses. This year, they are again on the same journey with new coach Doug Collins. Will this year be different? It might very well be because Collins' style may be a better fit (as opposed to Eddie Jordan's Princeton style offense) to build a young, running team which can make use of Turner, Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young and Maresse Speights and their absurd athleticism. If Collins can patiently teach and then make better use of Elton Brand, the 76ers might actually challenge for the playoffs.
Fearless Forecast: Bubble Team (Playoffs 8th seed or eliminated)
Toto's Theme Song: Mowtown Philly (Boys to Men)
Toronto Raptors
Major Additions: Leandro Barbosa, Linas Kleiza
Major Subtractions: Chris Bosh, Hedo Turkoglu
It's admirable from a teaching standpoint to let the unhappy employees (Turkoglu, Bosh) leave for the sake of team camaraderie. The problem is, the NBA is a results-oriented business. Now, the Raptors have to find a way to win without a clear franchise player. GM Bryan Colangelo is building a European-style line up that will thrive with movement and outside shots, but they will need either Andrea Bargnani or Jarett Jack to step up big time or Canada's only team will join the lottery yet again.
Fearless Forecast: eliminated in the regular season
Toto's Theme Song: Gravity (John Mayer)
Toto's Solo Album, Totoismo, is available in all record bars across Metro Manila. Grab a copy now!
photos courtesy of chicagonow.com, getty images, gvnews.com, sportsillustrated.cnn.com, sportige.com
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