Transitions II

New locations, new teams, new uniforms, new teammates, new set of fans, new environment, same old faces, maybe some adjustments on their compensations.  A very expensive merry-go-round happening in the world’s most popular professional basketball league. 

It has been an active pre-season for the NBA with deals and signings of notable free agents available in the market.  There are still negotiations going on and until the 2013-2014 season opens in late October, expect more familiar names moving to unfamiliar teams.

Boston’s rebuilding process started when they let go of Kendrick Perkins.  The following year, their Big Three became Terrible Two when Ray Allen took his talents to South Beach.

The last remnants of that terrific trio, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, shifted allegiance and settled in Brooklyn.  Gone also was their coach in Glen Rivers and in his stead, Butler University’s youthful Brad Stevens, who could be having sleepless nights handling Boston’s remaining bratty diva Rajon Rondo.

Making the playoffs would be quite difficult this coming season for the men in green but given the history and tradition enveloping the Celtics, the team could spring some surprises.

Making another move to the East is the Artest formerly known as Ron.  He was amnestied by the Los Angeles Lakers, in the process saving the team some $14 million in luxury taxes.  This in turn will make them a major player in the free agent market come 2014.  Why?  Zach Randolph, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony banners the FA list and it will be the franchise having money to burn who will have the upper hand in the free agent ukay-ukay.

Going back to Metta World Peace, he signed a two year deal with the New York Knicks, significantly fortifying their defensive rotation, that is if Kenyon Martin will still be around.  Not counting his confusingly quirky off-court behavior, MWP is a solid contributor with at least 11 points per game, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and more than one steal per game averages from last season. 

Hoping for an eventful lift-off, Dwight Howard has landed in Houston.  He vows to rise again with James Harden and Jeremy Lin as his sidekicks.  Still, we have to take things at face value, considering the mind set of this talented but more often childish center.

He was not a good fit to the Lakers as he refused to adjust to the system.  Howard insisted on his limited post-up, back-to-the-basket plays, not exploiting the pick-and-roll offense with the league’s best (Steve Nash) on the matter orchestrating the play.  Maybe, just maybe, D12 will do rise with the Rockets.

Subbing in for Howard in LA is Chris Kaman.  At least Pau Gasol has a legitimate center to back him up and Kaman will have significant minutes.  There will be instances when both Kaman and Gasol will be on the court at the same time.  The new Laker has good range from around the perimeter and is not afraid to do some bruising around.

The Lakers were relatively old last season with Gasol, Nash and Kobe Bryant on the bad side of 30.  With the recent subtraction-addition that management made, they had become a bit younger.  The return of Jordan Farmar will be welcome as he has been a fan favorite.  It will be a long shot for the Lakers to figure in the Conference Finals but with the current roster, this will be a fun team to watch this coming season.  Of course, anything can happen.

Victims of rape, shootings and other acts of random violence do need justice but more often, these are left unsolved, and in worst cases, ignored.  Here comes again this commission blowing their horns on the allegedly unconstitutional and inhuman acts done by a local chief executive somewhere in Mindanao dedicated to these undesirable elements.

The recipients of these acts are notorious elements of society, people in conflict with the law, with total disregard and disrespect to the innocent and unprotected.  Why oh why is human right too important for these menaces to society. Victims of their wrongdoings also have rights.  When was the last time this freaking CHR made noise in reference to kidnap, rape and murder victims?  Officers of the law are severely undermanned and outgunned.  It is the right of every individual or local chief executive for this matter, to defend themselves and their constituents from predators, human, alien or otherwise.

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