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I really hope this is the start to a new segment….

1. Miami Heat

Although they have struggled recently the Miami Heat top my rankings. They are deeper than they were last year and the speed with which they play at is downright frightening. However, their recent struggles have highlighted some problems. First, they struggle in a half court offense, especially down the stretch. Most teams have a designated “closer” (i.e. Kobe for the Lakers or Carmelo for the Knicks) and anything the offense does down the stretch runs through him. The Heat have not designated a closer. At times they go to LeBron and sometimes to Wade. The resulting effect is a lack of identity in late game situations, thus causing people to throw up ill advised shots – also, players don’t know what positions to take up on the floor. My guess is that the injury to Wade is causing all this mess and once he is healthy, he will take over late in the game and their troubles will disappear. By right now, it’s a bit worrying.

2. Chicago Bulls

Derrick Rose keeps getting better and better. His perimeter game has improved this season and his court vision has also improved. I have been impressed with his toughness as well as he is battling a turf toe, yet he continues to play 40 minutes a night. He seems to be on the Kobe path in terms of playing through injuries and his toughness is winning the admiration of fans everywhere and his teammates. Tom Thibodeau and Derrick Rose have instilled a mental toughness in this team that has no rivals, other than maybe the Celtics. As great as the Bulls are I don’t think they have enough scorers to beat the Heat but let’s see how the season shapes up.

3. Oklahoma City

Durant and Westbrook are at each other throats again and we won’t know if this will be a serious problem until the playoffs where the spotlight is at its brightest. Quite simply, the Thunder are deep everywhere and this keeps them fresh throughout the game. My questions about this team center on their offense and coaching. They take way too many jump shots and my fear for them is they won’t be able to get enough easy baskets in crucial games. Also, I don’t trust their coach but their team is so talented that they should win in spite of him.

4. Philadelphia 76ers

I have been pleasantly surprised by the 76ers this season. They are winning games by an average of 15 points; highest in the league. Spencer Hawes is playing out of his mind but I expect him to cool off as the season progresses. With their great young nucleus, they have become one of the more exciting teams in the NBA.

5. Los Angeles Lakers

Kobe has been on fire recently and Bynum might be playing better than Howard right now. The Lakers used to be called Showtime but not they should be renamed Slowtime. They don’t get enough easy baskets in transition and outside of their big three, they have nobody. I don’t expect to be this high in the rankings come the All Star Break but for now they are playing well.

6. Portland Trailblazers

Led by LaMarcus Aldridge the Trailblazers have been one of the surprises of the season. Wesley Matthews is ballin’ and I consider him to be one of the better shooting guards in the NBA. Felton is doing a good job of getting everyone involved and I expect them to make some noise in the postseason.

7. Denver Nuggets

I can’t imagine how good this team will be when some of their players return from playing overseas. Resigning Aaron Affalo was a brilliant move and although I think they overpaid for Nene, he has been making a solid contribution this year. Gallinari looks good as well but I’m not sold on him. The Nuggets are my outside pick to make it to the NBA Finals.

8. Los Angeles Clippers

They haven’t had their back to back to back yet and depending how they do there will determine if they move up or down in my power rankings. Paul looks great and Griffin looks set to become a Hall of Famer when he draws the curtain on his career. Jordan needs to step it up though.

9. Indiana Pacers

Pacer fans will be upset I don’t have them higher but their lack of assists per game is the reason for their place in my standings. Too often their offense is stagnant and this lack of ball movement is troubling. They have a great core of young players and they are well coached but they will need to improve in this area if they are to take that next step as a team.

10.  Dallas Mavericks

They looked to terrible to start the season but solid wins at Boston and against OKC have got them in my top 10. It’s way too early to count them out of a title run in May but they are slow on the perimeter and Odom has yet to be a presence on the team- it should be noted that his play has improved as of late.

11.  San Antonio Spurs

Despite a better record than the Mavs they find themselves lower in my power rankings. I am concerned about Ginobili and Duncan’s retirement is right around the corner. Parker has been good lately and their ability to close out games is second to none.

12.  Orlando Magic

The trade rumors are clearly getting to Howard. At times he isn’t locked in and he doesn’t look committed to what the Magic are doing. Nonetheless, an 80% Howard is better than most players in the NBA and they will probably end up with a top five seed in the East unless Howard is traded.

13.  Atlanta Hawks

The most frustrating team in the NBA. One game they look like a team that is going to make that leap forward and the next game they look like a team that will end up with the first pick. I never know what to make of the Hawks.

14.  New York Knicks

Iman Shumpert is hilarious. He’s a rookie point guard who refuses to pass the ball to his teammates. He makes selfish Kobe look like John Stockton. Obviously he will improve under DAntoni but right now the Knicks looks terrible. I had them winning the division and as of right now that looks like a terrible choice. Melo hobbled off at Memphis a few nights ago and his injury  will be closely monitored by Knicks fans. By the way, if Stoudemire wants to act like a superstar can he start playing like one as well?

15.  Boston Celtics

Many people have counted out the Celtics this season and those people are stupid, in my opinion. The Celtics are mentally tough and they will be a tough team to eliminate in the postseason. Rondo has been playing well despite his name being thrown around in possible trade rumors; that’s the mark of a professional.

16.  Utah Jazz

Not a great team but they are getting wins against teams of a similar caliber and that’s what kept them in playoff contention.

17.  Cleveland Cavaliers

Kyrie Irving has been very impressive this season but the rest of the team is garbage. I really should place them lower but they are currently a playoff team so top 20 is solid. They will not be higher than this spot season.

18.  Minnesota

Barcelona, Spain has been producing quite a few NBA players and Ricky Rubio is the latest such player. Rubio has got the substance and the flash which makes Timberwolves fans very excited. I’ve been back and forth on Kevin Love and right now I think he is more of a stat stuffer than actual superstar. I might change positions on that but as of right now, I’m calling him a stat suffer.

19.  Golden State Warriors

They have one of the worst records in basketball but they don’t lack heart. Nate Robinson has been a good pickup and hopefully Dorrell Wright can continue his hot shooting from the Miami game. Kwame Brown’s injury hurts the Warriors but Curry’s ankle is the worse news. With Curry’s recurring ankle problems will the Warriors give him a $70 million contract in the fall. Food for thought.

20.  Memphis Grizzlies

There is absolutely no reason the Grizzlies should be this low. Even though they have played so poorly this far I should rank them higher but I am so irritated by their play I placed them here. Step it up Grizzlies!

21.  New Orleans Hornets

They have been poor so far but once Eric Gordon comes back they should be okay. They won’t make the playoffs but Gordon will give them a few more wins.

22.  Toronto Raptors

Jose Calderon is the most underrated point guard in the league. Bargnani is stepping it up this year but he still has not fulfilled the expectations people placed on him when he was drafted. Sad thing is, he never will.

23.  Milwaukee Bucks

What to make of Brandon Jennings? Some people think he can be a superstar. But no one ever thought the Bucks fans were sensible. He’s just a scorer. Just another Kevin Martin or Monta Ellis.

24.  Houston Rockets

They are a scrappy team that doesn’t give up but they lack the talent to rack up the wins. I’m surprised Luis Scola hasn’t played better and Kevin Martin is Kevin Martin.

25.  Detroit Pistons

The league should just get rid of this team. No one cares about Pistons basketball except Eminem.

26.  New Jersey Nets

Brook Lopez return will really help them but at this rate I can’t see Deron Williams resigning with the Nets.

27.  Phoenix Suns

It’s an aging team that plays no defense. They should be happy they have actually won a game this season. Suns management isn’t all that bad- they did sign Gortat who I wish the Lakers had signed. He’s solid.

28.  Charlotte Bobcats

Kemba Walker is cool but they are one of the worst run franchises in basketball. Michael Jordan has been a terrible influence on that franchise.

29.  Sacramento Kings

Why draft DeMarcus Cousins when you know he has attitude problems? That team is poorly run and the only thing that can save them is a change in ownership or at the very least, a change in locations. Can you say, Las Vegas Kings?

30.  Washington Wizards

They might not win 10 games this year (I’m exaggerating). John Wall is the only shining light on the team.

The comics I appreciated, the movie- not so much. “Tintin” is directed by Steven Spielberg and Spielberg’s stock in the movie world is on the decline- “War Horse” has a lot to do with that as well.

Visually the movie is spectacular. We saw it in 3-D and I thought the 3-D was well done. However, the convoluted storyline and relentless action sequences turned this film into a massive bore. Given that I am a huge Tintin fan, I am relatively well versed in the Tintin comics. Spielberg decided to combine two comics to make the movie. The problem is left out too many key moments from the comics to make the movie really tick. Understandably not everything in the comics can be shown in the movie yet there are certain things which must be captured. Spielberg focused too much on the action scenes and not enough the witty dialogue that pervades the Tintin comics.

Jamie Bell as Tintin was a good choice and I didn’t have any problems with him in that role. However, Andy Serkis as Captain Haddock was not the best choice in my view, but not a bad one either.  I always thought of Captain Haddock as angrier and I didn’t like the fact he didn’t drink as much as the comics allowed him to (stupid point but for some reason it bothers me).

The running time on the movie is 1hr and 47 minutes but it feels like a Lord of the Rings epic, except slower. There were times when I felt like leaving but the price of admission kept me seated. Maybe you guys would want to experience the visuals of this movie but I don’t think its worth it. I give this movie a 4/10.

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S My SD4 Part 7

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S My SD4 Part 8

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S My SD4 Part 5

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S My SD4 Part 6

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S My SD4 Part 3

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S My SD4 Part 4

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SD6 is tomorrow! Good luck to are Dude MR. BIG RON!!

S My SD4 Part 1

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S My SD4 Part 2

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