Effects of the Dwight Howard Trade on the Court

Philadelphia 76ers Gains in trade: Andrew Bynum Lost in trade: Andre Iguodala, Moe Harkless, Nic Vuevic, Draft pick Gains in other ways: Kwame Brown, Dorell Wright Lost: Lou Williams and Elton BRand.

 Probably the biggest adjustment to make among all team but happy to say that they're half way there. This team has just become a dark horse getting Andrew Bynum. 76ers have always played small ball and getting Bynum and Brown signifies the end of the era.

 Spacing, Bynum needs space to score. Bynum dominates by sprinting down the middle and setting up quickly. The triangle and Pau Gasol made this very Easy for him. Bynum however, can also score easily from 5-8 feet back to the basket, where he'll be most of the time. Sixers should know, however, that Bynum can't do it alone. Shooters or slashers need to be around. If Bynum sprints down the middle or gets in the block there has to be pass in less than a second when he sets up. That pass falls to Evan Turner (very good passer) and Jrue Holiday ( relatively good passer). It will also be key to Spencer Hawes ( his running mate at the 4) to get set up to either feed Bynum when Bynum gets a one-one with Hawes' man covering the shot. Means Hawes has to learn to pass off during his shooting motion. At 6-10, Hawes should have that ability. Thaddeus Young, the hybrid 3-4 man, will most likely have the biggest change, he won't find the lanes he used to drive on with Bynum setting up but will need to rely on his jumper more or learn to pass to Bynum while driving. What Young does need to read is when Bynum has sealed or screened his man to give Young an open lane. This is a high level of basketball that the Sixers must reach to be offensively effective for Bynum. The Spacing will also free up Holiday and newly brought in Jason Richardson for jumpers or opportunities. Wright will have dun using his athleticism off the bench or starting to provide more of those to surround Bynum and Hawes but a line up of Holiday, Turner, Richardson/ Wright, with Hawes and Bynum will probably be most effective. However, the 76ers speed and small ball play may actually help Bynum. Keeping the speed of the game, Bynum can do what he does best by running down the middle with a man on the wing to feed him the ball. This is good for fast breaks and quick 3-point shot misses that Bynum can easily rebound. Granted this will be probably 5-8 out of his 10 - 15 shot attempsts but that is almost a sure 10-16 points easy and if he doesn't score the 3-point shot will be the next option because the focus in on Bynum, another 15-20 points with Bynum making 4-6 of his own.

 Defense, Brown and Bynum are the key aspects here. Sixers are capable of chasing any wing players and often are weak in the middle. OF course Bynum will change all that, Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, Derrick Rose will all have to be double careful about going inside with Bynum's hands at wait. Bynum, however, is just one man. The Sixers need to use their speed to force players to go at Bynum rather than around him. Hawes and Young and whoever plays the 3-spot has to box out for players like Rajon Rondo who can grab offensive rebounds extremely quick. Cutters who simply run on the baseline will also have to be covered. Bynum can't guard all directions and that means Hawes need to be blocking force as well. The defence that this team brings can be much better than what the Lakers had the past 3 seasons mostly because of the Sixers Speed but the discipline needs to be there for it to work.

 Los Angeles Lakers Gains: Dwight Howard, Chris Duhon, Earl Clark Lost: McBob, Christian Eyenga, Andrew Bynum Gains: Antawn Jamison, Steve Nash, Jodie Meeks Lost: Ramon Sessions, Possibly Matt Barnes

 Offense: The Princeton Offense may not work as well as Howard is still not adapted to handling the ball. Regardless, having a guy like Howard deep in the middle curling for dunks and layups with passers like Nash, Bryant and Gasol will open up so much space. The question is that whether it becomes too organized or too good to be used. The Triangle's weakness was that it became predictable when defences recovered faster which meant 10-5 seconds of creativity is needed from Bryant, Nash or Gasol. That will be the Laker's strength or basically, bringing back Lakers Showtime. Bryant will need to continue to chuck away more jumpers but the post up, his strongest quality, may not be used as much. This is mostly because there will be more passing and less one-one offense. Bryant can still drive and beat his man but it won't happen as much. Most the offense, I predict, will go with Gasol. Gasol was severely underutilized to shooting sometimes rather than passing or initiating offenses. With Nash, Gasol will be able to read defences better. It's like having two brains to solve a two-part question. The result is more Kobe time in knock out time rather than crunch time. Meaning the game won't be as close in the 4th quarter and Kobe won't have to play 48 minutes to keep the Lakers from blowing 15-20 point leads.

How about World Peace? He'll be mostly in for defence but his shooting needs to better and needs to keep driving and be agressive. He'll be left open for more shots that need to fall and must not force his way unless necessary. He needs to recognize open lanes like how he got that winner over Phoenex in his first and championship season. He also needs to continue being an enforcer for Howard. Howard will get hacked and World Peace needs to be there to keep Howard in check.

 Defence: Howard will be a huge improvement. They can't be lazy and the second can't be either. Resigned Jordan Hill will serve best to keep the defensive intensity up from the bench. The reason the Lakers actually lost so much is because of their second unit and forcing the first unit to over play themselves. The defensive rotation needed to be more efficient and to Mike Brown, Hill was a gift from the basketball gods to save them in the playoffs last season. McBob and Murphy was gone from the rotation and Hill and Gasol became the primary back ups which actually tired out Gasol more for the 4th Quarter. The keys weren't lack of talent but a lack of intensity and efficiency. Gasol became the back up because neither Murphy or McBob was good enough offensively or defensively.

Jamison will add offense but a full training camp of guarding Gasol and Howard should help him and Hill get accommodated to Brown's defensive- minded approach. In the backcourt, adding shooter Jodie Meeks was wise but MWP will have to anchor that unit even as a starter defensively. Much will be expected from MWP when Bryant and Gasol or Howard goes to the bench. He'll have to pick up the faster player so that Meeks and Steve Blake can also start learning to keep up with them. Offensively he doesn't need to do a lot but defensively he has to be the guy keeping Meeks, Devin Ebanks and Blake chasing their man or bring some sort of order to this line up. Unsure of Matt Barnes returning, the Lakers may have to rely on MWP to keep the bench rolling or keeping up with the starters.

The Coach's book

I think what inspired me the most today about leadership today wasn't power or strength or teamwork ;but rather it was plain imagination and determination.

Today down 24 at the half to the Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs Coach, Greg Poppovich told his team these at half time, "We've got them exactly where we want them! They had that first half too easy, from now on, everything goes right for us and none for them!" Too bad they lost, but there's a truth behind this. No matter how far behind we are God always puts us in the right spot. We have complained for so long that of we were just richer or a little younger or taller or whatever change we thought we wanted, God just made us perfect. We think we need more time? God thinks otherwise, He's either trying to tell us that we can do it or trust Him. Either way, here is God telling us that in all his knowledge and wisdom telling me that I'm in the best place possible to get an A in a test I'm so doubtful off and asking me to make a new commitment to the church to become a member and serve there in my hardest time. Yet, I've had my best weekend these past two weeks. They have been so fruitful and worth it to recover my being and I just believe I'm in the best possible position to win this. I can't think of any better way to finish. Sometimes, I wish I was just a little more talented, changed a few of my plans in the past or made certain choices ;yet I seem to think that despite all the daring changes I've done, I've started with doubt and fear. I wouldn't have even touched this plan with a 100 foot long pole! I saw uncertainty, doubt till I convinced myself that God was with me no matter how far I went. Today God was here, telling me one thing, "I have you where I exactly want you".

On the other side of the bench I think I saw the next coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, the other All-Star Pau Gasol ran to the bench being called on, it wasn't a sub or to grab a towel or to even talk to the coach, it was to hear out teammate Kobe Bryant on what to do next. Bryant has been the most vocal leader in the NBA next to Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics. On the bench, Bryant constantly analyses, talks and yells night in and night out to tell people what they're doing wrong, where they should be, how much space to give him so he can work a play or how much space they can create to be open. So much of these can link back to Bryant's 10-year career of studying his game and his mistakes.

If we could play our life in rewind could we see the same, I often go back to time where I regretted my attitude or my decisions or words. I regret the time I let my anger get the best of me or allow myself to get rid of a problem by simply ignoring it. I regret the time I didn't give myself enough time to study or analyse my work correctly. I also look at what worked for me and what didn't work for me and realize that I often took too many risks and sometimes what worked before didn't work now. I just know that I can make mistakes but I can't point at others till I point them at myself. I have a plan now to live and save money but I know I have to execute it and at the same time stabilize my life and work on a weekly basis while finding time for God. I took a lot of my time this week to catch up with whatever I've been missing. I know now how to study backwards and learn patterns that can help me be a better person or driver of my life. We need to vocalize towards ourself and be our self-critic to find our way out of our own troubles. So many time we never utilize the third or fourth best option or source of criticism which is ourselves. This is not self-blame but self-examination. Being able to see our own faults and really see how we can bring out the best in us without putting more pressure.

Instead of dealing with the jitters later , deal with them now, sit in a classroom and attempt a difficult question without books or answer guides; realize your potential and don't be afraid to get stuck rather move to the next one and with confidence master it as if it was your own art and your own form.

I think we took a little to far. God pushed so far off the cliff but I was like an hollow dot on the end of the line. Unable to reach his limit, knowing that there is still a higher power. I know I have a higher purpose. We can't just go down swinging but we have to swing knowing what we have to hit.

I spoke to a friend and for the first time I couldn't answer the question "What has God been telling you lately?" It was then and there that I realized I haven't held my end of the bargain with God. I couldn't imagine for one night not being able to know what was happening and what was going on; I went nuts in a good way. I just knew that I had a lot left in me to be a servant of the Lord. I then got this idea, I wasn't going to give up and I wasn't planning on giving away my life to just myself. I wanted to give some of it back to God. I remember the story of how a man kept his promise of giving God the same amount of offering regardless of his condition, he kept his end even when he couldn't pay the bills that week or for the payment on his house, with so much uncertainty, would he stop giving? No he never gave up and continued to give. I never knew the name of that story but I knew that it was true, when we leave it all to Him, there's nothing we can't fear.

If we give up on our faith, we give up on God and Life all together. Never say die.

V-day is upoun us and so is life...how much longer before you reach that time?

We were not born to be losers. We were made with a purpose and by a plan. We are part of the plan. I often question the mental aspect of telling yourself everyday that you can make something happen today whether it's an A or a D.

In each and every part of man, there's always that motivational factor that we hope pushes us further than usual. It can go from a small click that pushes you to a large smack on the face that we often get. The question sometimes is whether or not we can handle the responsibility of taking care of ourselves. Times have changed where in people are more independent. The Asian culture of our life has always taught us that we need to win the big battles in life. We need to win in college or at work or make the most money. Thankfully there are those who still remember to win at home, being home for the kids or the parents or the house. Little victories such as making dinner or reading to a child make life more worth while and give us that motivation to work harder on our bigger victories. Sure making money is a big motivation, earning the paycheck to pay for a new home or a new car. It's all in the big world of the human mind that we would someday be set for life with no problems but what are they really? They are simply things that will keep you at home with no worries of the big problems so that you can win your little victories or giving the house the life that it needs which is you. Let's face it, the real victory is not making money but finding one's purpose in the world. Finding out how much your worth in life.

I sincerely believe that I needed to succeed on a higher level not from the one high step to another but from the bottom ground even when you fall. We need to learn how to make adjustments that can change the results of our labor. At the same time, we need to realize that time is precious. Whether I put my time in the little victories or big victories, nothing in my result will change. It will only change if I don't put in the effort in which case I take longer to finish this race in life. So rather what is the result or purpose or end game that I will get, why not ask how long will I get there? Why not do some things now rather than wait?

Valentine's day is just around the corner. There's that one lonely person for another, how long will it be before you accompany them today? It doesn't have to be your girlfriend or boy friend or the person you like, it can be just someone in need that you know is in need of a friend. How long are you going to get there? In this case we know that the result can't be always love but the result one's action can be fruitful to another, there's an end game on Monday. I just question if I decide to put off that time or use that time a little wiser and just go.

Hard humility

The word humble is a rare compliment. Who wants to pass up some attention or recognition? Very Very Few. Being humble is hard even to oneself. Jesus said that we need to completely lay down our pride and follow him. That what it means to be humble.

We can only hope to be worthy of that word. It's hard not to find something wrong with what we are good at. If our forte is Physics and feel that we know everything, we sometimes need to learn that even if we heard of gravity before we still need a book by our side to teach it. I think that's what God tries to tells us. That we always need to go back to the bible, to relearn our Christian faith and values.

As I'm studying for my Physics Mid-terms, I spent an hour working on one particular concept with I couldn't understand. Thing is it was something I learnt before as an engineer yet I never took the time to understand it. All that was in my head was the A+ i got 2 years ago proving that I knew it inside out. It took me an hour to realize a horrible truth, I didn't understand it I only memorized it and didn't look back. I ate some familiar humble pie and learnt it the hard way. I was definitely not ready for this.

Humility hits us hard and it never changes its tune. It's a teacher that we must all face. Sometimes it strips into the very core of our principles or helps us adjust the little nuts and bolts that are loose. Either way, it's hard humility. How humble are we? We claim to follow Christ but fail in our time management to honor him the best we can. We claim to do our best but always fall behind and cram in our studies.

In conclusion, we can never be truly humble. Humility is not something we earn or achieve. It's something we just need to listen too and if we listen hard enough build on to maturity as a Christian, Student and a Person

Why it's basketball....

I never understood why I put basketball in my blog name. I guess I wanted something a little silly but serious at the same time. I always saw basketball as the first outlet of anger and stress in my life. Sure I played video games and has cable tv but my mom wouldn't have none of it of me sitting around all weekend long. When I wasn't studying and I watching TV, she tossed me the basketball and told me to make as many free throws as I could for 1 hour. My time decreased as studies became more. I only took time on the weekends and played one on one with my cousin who embarrassingly beat me despite being 2 inches shorter and at least 10 pounds lighter. I always got bullied by my cousins on the court but of course that's what you get when you take bad shots miss defensive assignments and tend to forget to bring basketball shoes and shorts to the Sunday Gatherings ( I didn't get to till they held it at my house, what can you do with so little time after a 2 hour drive from church?) That made me into a "dirty" player, means someone who does all the dirty job, rebounding, diving for loose balls and taking charges.

Those things helped me earn a tough geek image in school, I didn't get that till maybe 2nd year of High School. I didn't get to play a lot and people teased me trying out for the team. I didn't get in because my dad saw that I got sick from playing so late at night (I still had a bedtime of 9pm then) My friend on the team said that I was considered for my dirty work. Nobody really saw me as soft. It taught me to show others two of my sides, one side I was a Christian at heart and the other side I was always willing to do dirty work no matter where I was.

Through out those times I was weak, I always believed that God was my coach and strength telling me what to do and to work on what. Lately I haven't been doing that, I struggled to get myself working sometimes then now I remember how hard I had to work on someone so much bigger than me having to overcome some really big guys or some faster or more athletic people around me. I remember what it's like being pushed around and beaten up. I learn to stand up not on my own two feet but on God's power and to remember that if truly give it all I have the result is still up to Him. Like David Robinson said, in basketball, you play knowing you and your opponent can't go anywhere else but this court and that's where we fight and grind out the win. Here in life, we grind as much as we can night in and night out knowing that God wants us on our home floor, nowhere else to go but His way up or down. People have seen me in really bad situations and my face looks so dumb founded free of worry that's because I know where God leads me.

What scares me the most in life isn't my inability to win, it's my ability to live my life to the fullest and regret never giving it my all for my Lord and Saviour.

Investments and Fish from the Book The Spotlight of Faith written by Bill Crowder and given to me by Lianse

Background, the Book discusses Andrew, the Brother of Simon Peter. Andrew is actually highlighted many time in the Gospels as a frequent listener and helper. Andrew was the one who brought the boy with 5 loaves and 2 fishes for 5000 people. He also asked Jesus if Jesus would entertain the Gentiles.

Despite his roles, Andrew was always in the shadow of his brother Peter. He wasn't with Peter when they saw Jesus with Elijah and Moses or the miracles. Yet, here he is playing a small but significant role in the ministry of Jesus. When I look at Andrew, I realize that God sometimes will put those we mentor ahead of us. Sarah Lim, a teacher I worked with at Toa Payoh Methodist Church, encouraged us to continue teaching the children bible stories. It didn't matter if they heard it already of didn't understand it. She just wanted us to teach them what was right and what was wrong. I realized we were building foundations in this children. When I was a kid, I always wondered about the feeding of the 5000. I took a small piece of bread and tried to cut it into as many small pieces as possible. I saw that it was impossible! Yet, I remember the action of the child and Andrew and how they trusted God with something so little and became so big. If we could give God all that we have no matter how small, it can be bigger. Maybe not for us but maybe for someone else. I would love it if someday a child would be able to retell a story of the Bible. of 10 maybe 1 or 2 will remember but I always remember how God used 5 and 2 to become 5000 and more.

Another person is Barnabas, Paul's former helper. I say former because they had a dispute. He was entitled the encourager. One who raised some one up. Out of all the people, he was the one who encouraged to bring in Saul after his conversion after none of the Christians would touch him with a ten foot pole.. When he was in Antioch, we got the name Christians. He stood up for John Mark who had sort of failed in his last mission with Paul.

Barnabas wasn't the best of the best. He was a encourager. He wasn't one of the original 12 but he supported them by selling all he had. He was assigned to missions to encourage young churches. We know that Acts was mainly focused later on the adventures of Paul evangelizing to other countries but Barnabas was one of this who helped build them up. He also took many risks by taking in Paul and defending John Mark. Imagine taking in a potential spy and a guy who already failed them (in Paul standards) majorly. Yet later, we Barnabas helping build John Mark to the point he was a son to Barnabas. Barnabas teaches us something else aside from giving to God all that we have. He taught us to trust God where nobody else would. Imagine jumping into places people would know they must but are scared too. Risk investments in Paul and Mark. Maybe he did fail a few times but he still made results. Here we learn that God wants us to makes investments but He also wants us to stick with them. Work with what you gave God because he's not gonna let you stick around to see if the stock goes up or down. He wants you to make your own stock go up. Diamonds in the rough. The toughest eggs to crack and the ones with the best potential. Those are the people God wants us to work with. Many come but few are chosen to do this but if everyone doesn't even try, how will we know who the Few are? Try something and have a spine to do it. That's how we need to make an investment.