I Should Just Work For the NBA

It's extremely rare that I post two days in a row, however #1 I don't have much to do at work today and #2 I just NEED to talk NBA.



As you sports fans know the NBA All-Star starters were revealed last night. No real surprises. The West is made up of all LA players except for the amazing Kevin Durant. The East of course has Twiddle Dee and Twiddle Dumb (aka LeBron and Wade) along with Mr. Crybaby himself: Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony, the only player I can stand out of the 5......Derrick Rose.

But like a said nothing unexpected. The fans vote on these guys so I expect style over substance when it comes to All-Star starters. What I'm interested about is exactly who will be the reserves. If you were unaware the reserves are chosen by the coaches, people who study these players on a nightly basis. It is always my hope that the reserves are chosen not by name, but by numbers. With that being said, here are my All-Star reserves, and I have the numbers to back my selections up.

Let's start with the East (in no particular order):

1. Amare Stoudimare: Can't leave him out. All the BIG market teams need multiple players in the game. Miami has 2, the Lakers have 2, the Clippers have 2, so New York "The Mecca of Basketball" needs 2 too. Stoudemire is averaging 18.4 ppg and 8.2rpg.
2. Rajon Rondo: Will get chosen, the question is he healthy enough to play after his wrist injury. Averaging 15 ppg, 9 apg, and 5.1 rpg.
3. Brandon Jennings: Averaging 20 ppg and almost 6 assists per game. Leading the Bucks to a 10-11 record currently. Who would have thought? However even though he is leading the Bucks to a better record it's more likely that Deron Williams will get chosen from the 8-15 Nets. Womp Womp. (Sorry I've always thought Williams is overrated).
4. Andre Igoudala: Best player on the NBA's most surprising team. Currently they are 2nd in the East. Averaging decent numbers....13 ppg, 6.7 rpg, and 5 apg. Would be a robbery not to have a Sixer represented.
5. Danny Granger: The Pacers have a 15-6 record. Not too shabby. Granger is averaging 18.3 ppg, 2 apg, and 4.7 rpg.
6. Paul Pierce: I don't really want to put Paul Pierce here, but he's been a staple in the All-Star game forever. Averaging 17.8 ppg, 5.5 apg, and 5.4 rpg. I guess that's good enough.
7. ANDERSON VAREJAO: Even though I'm totally biased towards the Cavs, that has nothing to do with this selection. Varejao has put up the numbers to make him the best center in the East behind Dwight Howard. Look at other center's averages that led him in the voting:

Noah: 8.3 ppg, 9.2 rpg
Horford: Hurt
Chandler: 10.9 ppg, 10 rpg
Frickin Joel Anthony (SERIOUSLY?!): 3.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg

Averaging a double double with 10.4 ppg and 11.5 rpg. Bryon Scott is campaigning hard for him and the people of Cleveland need to back him up. #Andy4AllStar



Now the West:

1. Russell Westbrook: The jelly to KD's peanut butter. 21.9 ppg, 5.7 apg, 4.8 rpg. Was an All-Star last year and will be for many years to come.
2. Kevin Love: No brainer. The guy is averaging more points and rebounds than starter Blake Griffin (K.Love averages 25.3 ppg and 13.6 rpg while Blake averages 21.4 ppg and 10.9 rpg). Should have been a starter, but Blake is more flashy and plays in LA so that says enough.

3. James Harden: Best 6th man in the NBA. 16.1 ppg 3.6 apg 4.2 rpg. He's the glue guy for the Thunder. There's no way they would be as good without him.
4. Dirk: The reigning MVP and NBA Champion will not get left off this roster. Averaging 16.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg, and still has one of the best 3-point percentages for any big man at .378% this season.
5. LaMarcus Aldridge: Got snubbed last year. This guy IS the Portland Trailblazers with Brandon Roy gone. Averaging 22.8 ppg and 8.7 rpg. If he's snubbed again this year I've lost all my faith in the NBA.
6. Monta Ellis: Averaging 21.5 ppg, 6.7 apg, and 8 rpg. Ellis's reputation isn't squeaky clean so I don't know if they'll want to put him in the game, but he is putting up the numbers to earn a spot.
7. Rudy Gay: Averaging 18 ppg 2 apg, and 6.5 rpg. Has led the Grizz to a 12-10 record even after losing Z-Bo. He also has the best All-Star campaign video (even if it was from last year). Check it out: http://youtu.be/o4hMBvsGgn0




So I state my cases. We'll see how right I am. If I'm almost completely right I think I need to get hired by the NBA. Seriously.

Can't wait till February 9th to find out the selections.

Until then....Peace, Love and Basketball,
Becky

Much Love

On Monday I ended my stint house-sitting. It was bittersweet. I was definitely glad to not have to wake up anymore at 6 AM and go out in the cold to take care of the animals. However, by the end of my time there I had my morning routine down pat. My milking skills got substantially better. It used to take me 45 minutes to milk the goats, by my last day it only took me 15! Check out my skills:



I do miss all the animals. Me, being the animal lover I am, developed special relationships with all the animals. I must say though, out of all the animals I cared for, the chickens completely won over my heart. I'm head over heals in love with chickens and when I say in love, it's already boarding on obsession. Since I've been back at my house I'm watched YouTube videos of chickens every night. I'm in the process of becoming familiar with the roughly 54 common breeds of chickens. I plan on purchasing some chicken books when I head to Barnes and Noble this weekend. I will become a chicken expert. I plan on owning chickens one day, and I need to start preparing for that day now. Call me crazy, I don't care.....I <3 Chickens!



So being back in my little apartment in Livingston is not too bad. Back to snuggling every night with Walnut. Yay!!! Also there has been some John Mayer sightings in Livingston lately (for real, my roommate saw him). Word is that he's looking at property out here. How awesome would it be to have John Mayer around?! Maybe one of these days he'll decided to play at one of our local bars. I could die happy, but it's probably just wishful thinking.

Anyways, I'm just waiting for this week to wrap up. Next week I'll be gone Monday and Tuesday for a FoodCorps retreat/training at B Bar ranch which is about 45 minutes south of Livingston. From what I've heard from my friends here it's extremely nice. Then on Wednesday my friend Greg is flying in from Ohio! Yay for my first visitor from home! We have plans to go to Chico Hot Springs, Yellowstone, and Missoula along with that I'll be showing him good old Livingston and Bozeman of course. I'm super excited! I'm sure we'll be taking oodles of pictures. With that being said, I won't be blogging till sometime after the 14th. Hope you can wait till then...

I want to end this blog by giving my lovely sister Michelle a birthday shout out! She's my best friend and one of the most beautiful, fun, and caring people I know! Love you and miss you Shell! Happy Birthday!



Love,
Becky


P.S. Check out my pics page for more pictures of me and animals!