Resurgence

The last post I wrote on here was titled "Lowry -- Solid Move". WTF was I thinking.  It's funny how opinions and sentiments about athletes, sports and teams can change so quickly.  I am going to do my best to keep blasting out my thoughts, since my personal Facebook and Twitter feeds have become more or less a blog of my opinion, posts of articles and interesting news stories I find on the greatest sport ever.  Basketball.  I am going to rehash the Twitter feed for this blog, and start slowly creating the right kind of noise.  Technology has evolved since I last spoke on here, and well, lets just say I could pretty much blog anywhere anytime now.  However, like the rest of is, I have a job, I have responsibilities, and seeing as this is a hobby more or less, I need to pick and choose concise topics to write about and somewhat bring to light.  

Thanks, catch you on the flip side.

@_bigkev_

@brokeanklesblog 

 

Solid Move - Kyle Lowry

In spite of the limitations of our squads ability to attract top FAs year after year, we managed to score a solid player in Kyle Lowry via trade this off season. I remember reading about Lowry as a SLAM Magazine Punk !! He's the type of player who has fought for everything he has achieved in the league so far, and his style of play, work ethic, and attitude will definitely be positive for this Raptors squad. From his time in Memphis, to his opportunity in Houston, Kyle Lowry has been a solid improving player year by year.

Essentially the Raptors are giving this young man the keys to the car and with that being said, his ability to lead will be seen first hand by our city. I am confident that Lowry will not only step up and embrace that role, but will show many ball heads around the L that he is no pushover. On the top of my head I see a projected line up of

Lowry
Derozan
Johnson (James or Amir) - D and toughness / ability to guard the 3 in the NBA
Andrea
Jonas (apparent 2nd pick in this year's draft according to my home @seankolenko)

I can live with that, and I think Lowry in either the run and gun or 1/2 court set will work well with a lineup like that. Having Fields/Davis/Ross/Gray/Quinn coming off the bench alongside Jose (if he's still here) or whatever backup PG could give us a decent competitive squad on the court for us...key word here is could. Lowry, should excel here and his play alone can hopefully bring some smiles and turn a casual fan into a solid follower all based on the way he plays the game. In Toronto, that sometimes means a bit more.

@_bigkev_
@brokeanklesblog

Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network

Landry Fields.....

Yah the newest Raptor does have a smoke show for a girlfriend, and that's the only logical reasoning I can think of for bringing him on here to play. As of 12AM yesterday, he's an official Raptor because the Knicks no matter how much they liked the guy and his girlfriend sitting behind the bench, there was no way they were going to match that ridiculous offer sheet presented to him by the Raptors.

He had a solid rookie campaign, and that's all I remember about his game. 2 years ago the Knicks sucked pretty hard, so he received minutes, and made the most of his touches on a struggling Knicks squad that year. Last year his digression could be attributed to the influx of stars like Melo, and Amare finding their groove.....but when they were out another second rounder stepped up and played a solid 10 games and became the talk of the nation (ill get to that....). Fields wasn't the guy to step up, and had a pretty mediocre year.

In all honesty, ill say it cause nobody in the paid Toronto media has the balls to say it, but here it is. Fields coming to Toronto was a plan that back fired from our cliché GM who had his best years with the Suns and is trying to build God knows what here. 20MM bucks to an unproven, 2nd rounder, who had his best year as a rookie, and now is fighting with about ummm 3-4 players in Toronto for minutes......exhale.....doesn't make sense to me at all. BC wanted Nash here and thought by throwing that stupid money at Fields, he'd block the NY deal for Nash due to salary cap and sign/trade restrictions. WRONG, WRONG. That's the worst way to make decisions, your essentially gambling. If that's the case then I guarantee you any Trader on Bay St, would do a better job managing this team (cough, cough, cough....me, lol).

I'm pretty sure a guy like OJ Mayo wouldn't mind a deal like that, and would improve the squad immediately, if a swing guy is what you were truly looking at signing this off season if the Nash debacle didn't happen....i have no idea where this guy is going great to fit in and what be truly brings to our hometown team because none of us have seen what he can do. Given the opportunity, he may rise to the occasion or be another piece on a team with no clear cut direction or substance.

This is just the start of me spitting fire once again. Thank God for tablets. @_bigkev_ is back.

Follow, @brokeanklesblog peace.

Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network

How Ya Like Me Now!?

Not a big fan at all in regards to this Miami Heat movement but unlike a lot of peeps I have always liked the villan,  point in case my obsession with The Rock when he was a bad Guy in the WWE.  This Miami Trio reminds me a lot of that WWE obsession years ago.  I mean you loved to hate him and that's the same case with these guys.  Nobody likes what they did and everyone has been against them since day one, but look at them now, in the finals and the consensus favorite to win it all according to Vegas.

I'm not for them but wouldn't mind seeing them take it all and pumping Kool Moe Dee, during the victory parade in the all white jump suits, that would be kind of dope and a nice slap in the face to all the haters including myself. Dont you think that would be a fitting way for these three jokers to end their run this year!?!

@_bigkev_

Road Teams Getting it Done

Round 1 has just started and there have been a few pretty noticeable upsets, Memphis over the San Antonio Spurs being the main one.  Earlier this afternoon another road team took it to the Lakers convincingly, the Hornets really played well today, despite injuries to David West and Aaron Gray.

Right now the Knicks are kicking some serious ass in Boston and are up by 10 in the second 1/2.  I am really enjoying this, the predictability and notion of you know who is gonna take it before a game has been played, so far is non existent.  I know its all too early to start shooting my mouth off but I needed to let this out quick before others start stating the obvious if this trend continues.  I am really looking forward to the Denver  and OKC series that's coming.on later tonight, I'm thinking OKC in this series, but again with the trends being as they are, you never know. So far the best bet is to get that road team to cover, I'm heading to Vegas this week and will keep that in mind when placing my bets and the various sports books on the strip.

@_bigkev _
@brokeanklesblog

Do you wanna see what a MVP looks like?

Yaaaaa boy.
Killed it this season, I don even know where to begin.  I will however show some love to Rose soon times.

@_bigkev_

1,2,3?

So the Lakes begin their journey to go for 3, once again.  Its going to be interesting to see how things shape up this season out west, cause I am pretty sure the east is a lot more dominant. 

The resurgence of Chicago has been great for me and all those 80s babies, to see the team we alkaline grew up cheering for dominant.  I just wanted to drop a quick line on this, reach out to our twitter and share your playoff thoughts @brokeanklesblog

@_bigkev_

I AM BACK

Ok, brokeankles community, sorry for the disconnect over the past few months. My schedule in terms of work has been crazy. I do this has a hobby and, do my best to keep on top of the NBA and post my thoughts as frequent and as quick as I can. However, doing the Bay Street thing, and being having other obligations on top of my intense job, is tough. Anyhow, I will be posting some new thoughts, funny ish and all over the next few days and will be touching base with you all!

@_bigkev_
@brokeanklesblog

Peace

what a disappointment....

When Mr Noah went on his tyrant about how Cleveland sucks a season back, he was spot on. I remember seeing the images of jersey's burning, Gilbert's letter to the public, all the media coverage on how much the city hates Lebron and just all the general negativity in regards to this situation, I seriously thought a riot/fight a la pacers/pistons would happen tonight.

Instead, what did we get.....a whole bunch of bullshit. The fans had there moments very early on and just like that they were completely silent. Like I said this in the post before, when Carter came back to Toronto it was a total shit show. The boos came raining down and the hatred was evident from the beginning to end. Like Torontonians, we are really passionate about our sports, and games like this really prove my opinion.

Lebron finished with 38pts I believe, didn't play the entire 4th, joked around with his old team, and buried these guys earlier. So much hype around this return and it turned ugly so, so fast....

I'm still watching the game and this isn't the last you'll hear about this topic.....but just had to get this out now!

Key points:

-bosh is horrible
-does anyone know who's #7 on the heat
-chris bosh....what?
-"im improving my greatness day to day" - that was the line of the night, not the 38

Oh yah and Reggie (as in Miller)....this is Lebron's team.

Don't get it twisted.




Kevin U
follow us on twitter at, twitter.com/brokeanklesblog
email us at, brokeanklesdotblogspot@gmail.com

guess who's comin home....

Oh hell yaaaahhhhhh.....
Lebron James makes his return to Cleveland tonight in probably the most anticipated return to the latter team's home stand in sporting history!!! Whewwww that was a big ass sentence.

Security is ramped up hard, and I mean its going to be a zoo in Cleveland tonight. Like I am not anticipating chaos, but this guy is gonna get ripped all night by the fans. I remember when Vince Carter made his return to Toronto for the first time since joining the Nets a few years back, and I remember I couldn't even hear myself think when he stepped onto the court. It became worst when he got announced as a starter and then when he touched the ball for the first time....oye vay!

Lebron in the words of the great Eddie Murphy "you brought this shit on yo-self..." Every boo, jeer, scream, insult, etc is all well deserved. You are a phenom of an athlete but could quite possibly be the biggest douche bag in all of professional sports world wide.

"What should I do?"
Ummmm shut the f*ck up, start playing, cause your team sucks monkey sack.

Oh yah say hi to your mom for me tonight...opps oh yah, she's not gonna be there cause you've made such a spectacle of yourself, your old lady is scared for her own safety in her hometown. Your such an ass guy....

Douche.




Kevin U
follow us on twitter at, twitter.com/brokeanklesblog
email us at, brokeanklesdotblogspot@gmail.com

@_bigkev_ 's thoughts so far on this NBA season....

Alright, been slacking a bit on the posts fam and i know this! Anyhow, here are some of my quick thoughts so far on the season, and I WILL BE UPDATING these thoughts throughout the season.....so here we go....

All that hype around OKC this pre season and summer, hasn't really translated into the impressive play we some from them last year. Westbrook is the MVP thus far on that squad, by a landslide.

Why did I take Lebron in the top 3 in my fantasy drafts this season!?!? On that topic, why did anyone take any of those big 3 in the top 10 in any fantasy draft this season.

Blake Griffin.

Nobody's talking about the Grizz, Mayo I hear you homie, Rudy hope you sell some jersey's this season. That shot on Lebron may have got you two more sold.

Eric Spolestra is a trending topic on twitter #rileyhasyourass

Blake Griffin

Vince Carter looks like Rick Ross this season.

Reggie "Rodman" Evans, it was an awesome run big guy, but come on Raps fam, how long would that have really lasted. We're in TORONTO REMEMBER!

My favorite play thus far by the Lakers this season, is "Crouching Kobe, Hidden Bryant" love it when he calls his own plays in the huddle



Blake likes the Knicks...nutwich



The Heat hahahahahahahahaahahahahhahaaaaaaaaa #karmaisabiaaatch, make that a trending topic people

Speaking of the Heat, are there any All Star's on that squad this season?

Rondo is the real deal. No questions about it.

Portland is totally jinkzed, Oden sorry about all the trouble big fella, and BRoy, damn.....so much promise a couple years back. Remember when you coulda drafted KD....

@seankolenko, where's my Raps Rants homie!?! You are reppin the West's POV on the T Dot, come on buddy.....

Blake Griffin

Shaq is becoming the Ric Flair of the NBA

Who's the best PG in the league, Deron/Rondo/Paul....thats the toughest spot to call right now in the L in my opinion.

Carlos Boozer healthy and on the Bulls will be a scary, scary front line.

Kevin LOVE! OMG

Love/Beasley, my new fav NBA jam combo for the PS3

David Lee, where are you?

Jennings, i think he's about to make some serious noise come the new year, serious, serious noise

Bryan Colangelo has a sweet gig, real sweet gig.

@realsports

Josh Smith is making the Eastern Conference All Star team this season, he's putting it all together and its so nice to see.


Melo, what's your favorite Pizza place in NY?

You know who can dunk really well. Blake Griffin



I wonder who the @raptors will get for Peja's contract hmmmmmmm.....hmmmmmm....

Houston, you have a problem. So much talent, what the hell is happening there?

The Heat bhahahahhahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. hahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa............bhahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa #karmasabiaatch

John Wall is foreal.

Roy Hibbert and the Pacers may just get into the playoff's....Hibbert/Granger/Collison, nice, nice pieces on this squad from the bench to the starters. Well done Mr. Bird

Derrick Rose, you shoulda been called for a flagrant on this one....people, watch this ummm 10 times.



The Spurs are the Chevy of the NBA

Im calling it for now, your 2010/2011 NBA MVP is KOBE BRYANT



holla at your boy @_bigkev_
@brokeanklesblog

An Ode to the Baddest Man in the Game

Kobe Bryant - Court Cuts - Nuff Said




@_bigkev_
@brokeanklesblog

Can't Knock the Hustle

Im writing this as the Raptors are on pace to lose against the Hawks (98-69, 4thQ), and i have to admit this game and their last they looked pretty flat. However as the majority of the brokeankles readers seem to be T dot boys, you feel me when i say, you can't knock the hustle. For the majority of their games this season, this team has hustled, played hard, and worked together to to get things done. We have lost some tight ones, and have thrown punches with the best of them, but when you have a lineup consisting of Joey Dorsey, Linas Klieza and Sunny Weems on the court battling with the likes of Joe Johnson, Al Horford and Josh Smith (ATL example cause we're playing them) its hard to close out games, because of the talent level.

Problems like, Andrea does not understand that at the 5 spot you are suppose to play some kind of interior D, Sunny Weems thinking he's Kobe, certain "YOUNGONEZ" not asserting themselves as they should, are still issues that are lingering but in time these issues could sort themselves out...or can they? Anyhow, the point of all this, is that they are a young squad, new concepts on offense and defense, a few trades here and there have forced these guys figure things out on the fly. I am not the biggest fan of Bayless (never have been, even since his Zona days) but I do like his hustle and fire, the fact that we got a huge expiring contract in Peja, implies BC has finally understood we will acquire "that player" via trade.



Cause lets face it peeps, nobody wants to play in White Vegas nowadays. So we gotta force the issue. The team is 6-11 now, and to be honest I was expecting a lot worst. This season isn't one of those "wash" seasons, it's more of a building block season, hopefully these guys keep on developing, and you have a core next year of Andrea, Bayless, Derozan, Amir, Weems, Ed Davis and Julian Wright. Not exactly your top tier young talent, but good enough to surprise a lot of teams and do some damage in the long run. All those players mentioned have great amounts of athleticism, low bball IQs, but the key in all this, "potential". This "Young Gunz" movement, I like it, and much love to the people that organized the concept, web page and media coverage on this. Gives us a little more street cred and considering Derozan and Amir are from LA, and when I say LA i mean Gangster LA, not the Hills LA, it's kinda fitting. You gotta love that NWA shot above!

Ed Davis, will be joining the team sooner then later hopefully, its been a bit, and hopefully he'll had some more toughness, and length in the interior, Bayless will begin to understand the defensive schemes and Andrea will continue to improve game by game. It'll be a lot more tricky as the season goes on, but hey, nobody can knock a team for trying, playing with heart, grit and hustle.



@_bigkev_
@brokeanklesblog

Listen up Bron

If the greatest player in the world cant knock sense into you, then you have no chance. As basketball fans, we're all tired of the excuses that your not having fun or your playing too much. Step up, shut up and play.



Posted by Kevin S

Rumble young man rumble!

For almost a year, we have been waiting patiently to see Blake Griffen play.
Man can he ball. I am very impressed with what he has been doing so far this season. He let John Wall get all the hype while he has been quietly beasting everyone under the rim. I love the fact that he is a humble dude on and off the court. What he did against NY the other night was totally nuts (literally...just look at this picture - remember Frederick Weiss). I am actually calling my rep at MLS to order my Clippers tix when they come to play the Raps. I can't quite figure whose game he reminds me of. He dunks mean like Dominique used to and runs the floor like a young Amare. I actually tune in to watch clipper highlights because of Blake.

If he keeps this up - hands down my Rookie of the Year, I will buy his jersey and I will show more love to LA as whole and not just for my Lakers.

Blake - my only request is for you to save something nasty for my man KG when you play Boston. He really needs some nuts to shut the hell up on the court. Maybe you can visit my main man Chris Bosh who is currently "chilling" in Miami.

Move over VC - someone might just become the next Half Man Half Amazing! You have not brought justice to that title in a while son. Give it up.


Nav B

R.I.P. - Pat Burns

Today, the hockey world saw a wonderful man pass away at the age of 58. Pat Burns, former head coach of the Montreal Canadians, Toronto Maple Leafs, the Boston Bruins and the New Jersey Devils, passed away today. In every city he coached at, he was loved by all the fans, players and ownership. He is the only coach in NHL History to win the Coach of the Year three times (on three separate teams, all Original six teams). Big Kev tweeted it earlier that he is the reason why he watched Hockey as a kid. I grew up watching hockey, and I remember being six or seven years old, watching my Maple Leafs play the Canadians and wishing that Pat Burns could one day be our coach, because he just looked so cool behind the bench of the Canadians especially with his wicked Mustache! In 1992, the Leafs made that dream a reality, and he was the Coach of the Leafs, leading them to 2 conference finals, and a lot of fond memories.

The first thought of Pat Burns that always comes to my mind is how nice he was. In the old Maple Leaf Gardens, the seats my dad would get would be a couple of rows behind the Leafs bench. I always enjoyed it, not because I was so close to the ice, but the fact that I had to walk through the Leafs bench to get to my seats. That was probably the coolest thing. I'd be walking back with my 3 dollar popcorn (yes it was $3.00 at the old Maple Leaf Gardens, of course in 1992 that was outrageous pricing), and I'd be sharing that with the back up goaltenders. It was fond memories. Pat Burns was one of those fond memories as well. He'd stick his hand and grab some pop corn and as I am walking back to my seat up the isle, he'd give me a wink. The man, who was in charge of my hockey team, coaching the likes of Dougie, Wendal, Potvin, Elliot, Anderchuk, Anderson Borchevsky, Krushilniski, Foligino, was stealing my popcorn and being a kid about it. Those are moments that as a 10 year old kid, watching the Blue and White in my Gold Seats at the Gardens will never forget.

I still remember how insane the city was getting in 1993, it was the 100th Anniversary of the Stanley Cup, and the Leafs who placed 3rd in the Norris Division (yeah the Norris Division of the Clarence Campbell Conference) played the Detroit Red Wings in the first round. No one thought the Leafs had a chance, but they pulled off the victory in 7 games against the Wings! Unbelievable Moment when Nikolai Borchevsky scored the game winner.
Next opponent of course was the St. Louis Blues and we all remember the goal by Doug Gilmour...you know the goal!!!!
Of course the next opponent was the L.A. Kings and we'll Leaf fans will never forgive Kerry Fraser for his blatant missed call in Game 6.

Pat Burns brought credibility back to the Toronto Maple Leafs, he brought back a winning tradition that we will never forget. It was a terrific run in Toronto those years, we had the Maple Leafs at the highest peak and the Toronto Blue Jays were winning championships too!!! I can only give Mr. Burns credit for their success too!

The Hockey Hall of Fame made a serious mistake this year by not inducting him into the Hall this year. That decision will cloud their heads for the rest of the committee's lifetime, however the results and the value that Pat Burns brought to the game of hockey will never be forgotten. He made a difference to the game, and for the rest of this weekend, and onto next week, Pat Burns will be remembered in every NHL arena, and not just in the ones he coached in.

If the NHL does decide to rename the trophies from the old names to new ones, the first one I'd change is the Jack Adams award for Coach of the Year, become the Pat Burns Award. Coaches should have a standard to rise to win this award, and there's no better role model to look up to than Pat Burns.

As this is Movember, and Awareness for Men's Cancer is the motivation behind my mustache, I would like to first and foremost be able to say that for the rest of my Mustache Journey, I would like to dedicate it not only to all those who have been impacted by men's cancer in their lives and loved ones, but also to the memory of Pat Burns. He might not remember who I am, but I sure remember him and the impact he made on my life. Pat Burns made hockey fun to watch in Toronto, and for that I show him my appreciation.

Follow me on twitter @jollybenjabi
Follow us on twitter @brokeanklesblog

I'm leaving you guys with this clip that I think just makes it right...this is truly Pat Burns at his best!!!

LIKE A BOSH

this is amazing....i love these guys but am confident my brokeankles crew could kill it if we did more vids...hint hint

TBJ exclusive: Like A Bosh from The Basketball Jones on Vimeo.

@_bigkev_
@brokeanklesblog

now thats what i call a warm up dance...

i love this guy already.....



@_bigkev_
@brokeanklesblog

still the best track done by a NBA player....

watch the vid below, and listen to this ill coast flow...



@_bigkev_
@brokeanklesblog

nike still rules the commercial game

@_bigkev_
@brokeanklesblog