Getting a Little Homerish...

 (Your editor can't wait to tell his future kids about these three. He just doesn't know how he'll talk about Ray Allen.)

While we look to bring you unbiased NBA news, we will also look to show you why we are such huge fans of the NBA. Our editor, Brian Ford, decided to chime in about tonight's Celts/Heat game, what it means to him, his relationship with Ray Allen, and the city of Boston.

Every Celtics' opener comes with a tradition. Out comes the Larry Bird jersey, put away from the previous spring.  Then I take a look at all 82 games on the schedule, and decide what the Celtics record will be.(For those wondering, I'm thinking 56-26 as long as they stay healthy.)

As I've discuss before, the Celtics are a lifeblood in my life, but also within the city of Boston. As a Boston sports fan, I will be the first to tell you we are assholes. We are irrational, overconfident, over dramatic, and flat out annoying at times. However, all of those qualities come from a loyalty that has been bred into us by past generations. A loyalty where muttering some certain names of athletes gets you the same look at dropping the "F bomb" does. A loyalty where when players come in they are treated as gold; and when they come out, well, they are dragged through the mud. That is why tonight has much more riding on it than in the past. Ray Allen may not factor into the outcome of the game in the way Rajon Rondo, Lebron James or Dwyane Wade do, but he will be on every fans mind.

When the Allen to Miami signing happened, I immediately had two reactions. The logistical NBA fan in me didn't blame him at all. Yes, he didn't make as much money, but now Ray gets to stand in the corner and accept passes from two of the best players in the world all while getting another shot for a title. Not having to play as many minutes or run through as many screens lengthens his career and gives him more stability for him and his family in the future. Plus, who wouldn't want to play with Lebron James? When you are playing pickup, there is always one guy who stands out. Who just makes it fun to play basketball. He scores, but he also gets everyone involved, and makes you play tougher D. Now imagine seeing that opportunity, and getting paid to do it. Oh by the way, you get to do that in Miami beach half the year. Do you really blame Ray?

Beyond that, Ray had been tossed around as the third(even fourth if you include Rondo) star in Boston. He was constantly on the trading block in the past couple years, and even was told by Doc Rivers that he was traded to Memphis for O.J. Mayo before the deal ultimately fell through. If your employer told you time and time again their were more important pieces, and you were expendable, would you want to stay there? Or would you go to a new flashy company whose office is on the beach and just won a bunch of awards? It's pretty tough to pass up.

I walked away from the signing feeling okay, and felt even better after reading his Globe passage. I felt EVEN better after the Terry and Lee signings and still do. (In my mind, the Celtics are a better basketball team than last year. As I spoke about in the preseason rankings, Terry is a more dynamic option on offense, and Lee is a better defender. While Ray brought alot, those two together bring more.) So where did Ray start to go sour on me? When I rewatched game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals from last year.

I know, I know. Who watches a painful memory like that over again? But I had to see for myself if it was going to be different this year. And I realized, it is. Ray couldn't get open in some big stretches in the fourth, and Rondo was forced to pound the ball. The more the shot clock winds down, the better the Heat get, as you are forced to take on some of the fastest defenders in the world one-on-one. Anyone not named Rajon Rondo last year on the Celtics had the ability to do it in Game 7(either because of talent or health), and the Celtics wilted. With guys like Terry, Lee and Jeff Green, plus a healthy Pierce, our offense looks better.

So why did I get mad? Because Ray punked out. The best quality of an athlete is wanting to become better. And alot of times to become better, you have the beat the best. The Miami Heat are the best. So while Rondo, KG, Pierce(and even Terry, who has taken on such a Boston mantra that it's almost too much, but I love it anyway) stewed about the losses in Game 6 and 7, Ray thought about switching sides. Ultimately, it was easier for him to join the winner than to beat the winner. That's why Boston fans are mad. For the same reason people hated Lebron for joining the Heat, Celtic's fans have turned on Ray. How could he join the champs, the team that just knocked us out for the 2nd straight year, after you spent the past five years building basketball in Boston again. You were the first piece in that 2007 draft. You convinced Garnett to come play here. You won your first and only title here. You made the Celtics relevant within the NBA and within Boston again. So why walk away from that?

Ray's legacy will be tarnished in Boston. Over time, we'll forgive. People have already started to forgive Johnny Damon, and it's not as if Ray was on a Tom Brady or Paul Pierce type level with fans. But this year is going to hurt. It's going to hurt to see him where the black and red of the Heat, and it's definitely going to hurt when he hit threes in the Garden and it's just a subdued "Ray Allen" instead of "RAAAYYYYY AALLEEEEENNN FOR THREEE!". Two days before the signing, I bought a plaque commemorating Ray's record breaking three pointer. It was one of my favorite Celtics moment's of the past decade, and he did it against the Lakers' no less. I figured "this will be good karma, he'll stay." I haven't thrown away that plaque, but it's not hung up either. I honestly don't know what to do with it. And to be honest, Ray's actions this year might make the decision for me.

So yes Ray, I get it. It made sense for you to go to Miami. You'll have a blast, lengthen your career, and have a better chance at a title. I don't think you made the wrong decision for yourself. Just know that I won't be making the wrong decision for myself when I "BOO" tonight every time you touch the ball. Because you'll never receive the loyalty down in Miami that you would have received here in Boston.


Make sure to follow @picknpopdiaries during tonight's games, and until next time an amazing NBA YouTube clip:

-Bford

Fantasy Pickups for the Week of 11/4

One of the biggest parts of Fantasy bball for those who play a weekly match up format is the Sunday games. It is when owners usually wait to make their weekly pickups to grab a couple wins late is stats categories. As part of Fantasy Tuesday, we will give you a guy from every team playing who should be available in most leagues, and can help you out on Sunday. Here are some solid pickups for games on November 4th.

 

Philadelphia at New York-

Knicks-

 

 

Jason Kidd- Kidd should not be in your everyday lineup. But for a player at his age, he can still pass the ball effectively. He could be a good pickup if you are in need of assists, as well as FT shooting if he does get to the line.

76ers-

 

 

Kwame Brown- Again, just like Kidd, Kwame Brown should DEFINITELY not be on in your starting rotation. But with Bynum ailing, the Sixers are going to have to look for inside scoring and rebounds somewhere. Brown could help with REBS, PTS, and FG%.

 

 

Minnesota at Toronto-

Timberwolves-

Juan Barea- Barea is not a starter in the NBA, and even with Ricky Rubio's injury you are more likely to see Luke Ridnour starting at the point. Barea could see starter like minutes however in Rubio's absence, and feels the stat sheet with PTS, ASTS, STLS and even the occasional 5-7 REB game as well, which is great from guards. If you are looking for some cheap stats, he could be a good play.

Toronto-

Landry Fields- Landry Fields seems to be fighting for a starting spot with Terrence Ross at shooting guard, but it seems as though Fields is going to win out. Picking up Fields now if he is available could prove worthy. While he may not be a great NBA player for what Toronto is looking for, it looks like he could be a good fantasy player. He will get more shots than he did in NYC, and could even play some time at the three with a small Toronto roster. Expect his numbers to go up in alot of areas, but be careful as his FG % could hurt you.

Phoenix at Orlando-

Suns-

Kendall Marshall- With the Steve Nash era over in Phoenix, scoring and assists are going to have to come from somewhere. Marshall seems to be playing above the rookie status that he is, and has shown a calm presence with the ball in both summer league and the preseason. While Sebastian Telfair looks the have some of the handle on the backup PG spot, Marshall has much higher upside and could get some strong minutes against a slower Orlando team.

Magic-

J.J. Redick- It is said every year, but Redick is a fantasy stud off the bench. He is obviously well known for getting 3PTS up, but has a great FG% as well. Besides that, Redick isn't the best one-on-one defender, but takes alot of chances and can get you a few steals if you need them. Also, with the loss of Howard expect a few more shots to go Redick's way to get the offense going.


Atlanta at Oklahoma City-

Hawks-

Kyle Korver- Korver has the same type of fantasy reasoning as Redick. He is a bigtime shooter, and a not so bigtime defender but can get misleading stats on that side of the ball. The difference between Redick and Korver is that it seems Korver will be the start for the Hawks at the three. With only DeShawn Stevenson playing behind him on the depth chart, Korver could see alot of time on the court, which could mean alot of 3PT's for you on Sunday. Beyond that, the Hawks will look to stretch the floor against OKC to try to avoid Sege Ibaka in the paint.

Thunder-

Thabo Sefolosha- Sefolosha is by no means a prolific scorer, and isn't going to be looked at to fill the void in scoring that James Harden left behind. While he shouldn't be an everyday start, putting Sefolosha in against weak backcourts could lead you to getting high steal totals. With guys like Anthony Morrow, Devin Harris, and Lou Williams(who all pound the ball alot and could be susceptible to steals) he can help you in a category tough to gain traction. This is much more of a reach than the past, but if you are down 1 or 2 steals heading into Sunday, he could be a good play to push you over the top.

Detroit at LA Lakers-

Pistons-

Corey Maggette- On any other Sunday, I would say pick up Andre Drummond to get some solid REB, BLK, and FG% numbers. However, against the Lakers' frontcourt, I don't see that happenning. Corey Maggette won't get you alot of stat categories, but he does love to shoot the basketball. If this thing gets out of hand early, Maggette could see alot of garbage time, and therefore pick up alot of garbage stats.

Lakers-

Jodie Meeks- Meeks left Philadelphia for a chance to play with an instant contender and to learn behind Kobe Bryant. With Kobe's foot ailing him early on, this could be a game where we see Bryant take a seat or play limited minutes. The Pistons aren't much of a challenge, and there is no reason to risk Kobe in a blowout. If this game starts to get out of hand, or even if it doesn't, Meeks could see some starter like minutes on Sunday that would give you bumps in stats all around.

Good Luck in all your week 1 matchups, and until next time, an Amazing NBA youtube clip.

(I had no choice but to put this up with the start of the Celtics season just hours away.)

 

Our Newest Blogger Evan makes his debut to the blog!

We are excited to introduce Evan to the blog as another writer who will be bringing you NBA news. Evan will be writing about all things, but will especially give us insight come NBA draft time as well as discussing the contracts and new collective bargaining agreements. To start things off, Evan has given us some quick thoughts coming into the season. You can follow evan at @EvanTime. Once we start our podcasting within the next month, expect to see Evan as a visitor as well.

Evan's Random Thoughts/Predictions coming into the NBA season:

1. This is going to be one of the most competitive seasons in recent memory. Only Orlando and Charlotte look like sure fire doormats (although the Bobcats will be greatly improved from last year).

2. While this rookie class does not scream superstar, it will prove to be one of the deepest as far as producing rotation players.

3. After years of being a consistently down division the Atlantic becomes the best in basketball.

4. Without James Harden, Russell Westbrook will take even more ill-advised shots and it will hurt the Thunder.

5. Houston will be a playoff team, after trading for Josh Smith before the deadline.

6. Al Jefferson and/or Paul Milsap will be traded after Derrick Favors emerges as a dependable starter, making at least one of them expendable.

7. The second team in the Atlantic division will not come from the state of New York. Philadelphia will ride defense and size to the four seed. Philly fans will somehow still find a reason to boo the Sixers.

8. The Lakers will trick some poor team into strengthening their bench via a trade where they don’t give up anything of value (some things never change).

9. Lebron James will play more power forward than he ever has before and take a beating in the post because of it.

10. Teams with elite size will be the Achilles heel of the Heat.

11. Derrick Rose will come back quicker and with less restrictions than any player with a similar injury before him (or maybe I was just tricked by that awesome Addidas commercial).

12. Brooklyn will hurt because of their lack of rebounding and defense. I will hear Kris Humphries be booed and continue to be shocked by the overlap between NBA fans and Keeping up with the Kardashian fans.

13. Dallas will be selling off assets in an effort to become a free agent player next offseason.

14. The new flopping rule will take more than a year to change the game but will be the first step in removing flopping from the game. Manu Ginobili will end up operating at a loss for the year.

15. MVP: Lebron

16. MIP: Jeff Green

17. Rookie of the Year: MKG

18. Coach of the Year: Tom Thibideaux

19. East Standings: 1. Miami 2. Boston 3. Indiana 4. Philadelphia 5. Chicago 6. New York 7. Brooklyn 8.Washington.

20. Yes, you read that correctly Washington will be the last playoff team John Wall will flourish with dependable veterans around him.

21. West Standings: 1. LA Lakers 2. Oklahoma City 3. San Antonio 4. LA Clippers 5. Denver 6. Minnesota 7. Memphis 8. Houston.

22. Sacramento will trade Tyreke Evans for a point guard who will at least entertain the idea of passing the ball.

23. A lot of teams will be sellers, come trade deadline time in an effort to avoid the punitive tax in the new collective bargaining agreement. Fans will enjoy hearing billionaires complain about losing money.

24. Paul George will become the undisputed best player on the Pacers.

25. The Raptors will be greatly improved, and all five of their fans will have renewed hope.

26. The New York Knicks will either be portrayed as the best team in the league or completely awful with no in-between. Knicks fans will continue to be insufferable.

27. Andrew Bogut will finally be healthy. Warriors fans will boo the owner anyway.

28. NBA players will tweet numerous stupid comments that they will be fined for. All of them will be entertaining.

29. Phoenix will not be good. Gortat will suffer greatly from the loss of Steve Nash.

30. Tobias Harris will be one of the better players in the league no one has heard of.

 

Look forward to some Fantasy talk later today, but until then here is an awesome NBA youtube clip!

 

 

(Oh Javale, you slay me.)

Braid Hairstyles 2012-13 for Asians | Party Hair Fashion

Collection autumn-winter 2011-2012 were filled with literally all kinds of braids and pigtails, confirming to the delight of many, that favorite childhood hairstyle again relevant.
The intricate braiding hair instead of the usual tail not only creates a unique image, reputation and mistress, because the ability to braid braids given not for everyone. At the same time, the skill of weaving braids can be learned, if a little effort. Kosopletenie wonderful complement the basic hair or become very basic. With all the variety of braids, braid and how they lay, perhaps, there is not one girl who will not spit.
Here we are going to share you some of the best Braids Hair Style fashion 2012-13 Asian girls as well as western fashion. These types of hairstyles are mostly like for parties and special events. Lets have a look.

Latest Braid Hair Fashion

To braid her hair long and lush , wash your hair and plait them loosely, especially roots. If the resulting amount is small, poddergivaya curls at the sides, to give an additional amount, fixing her hair lacquer. Actual this season became the braid braided around her head. hairstyle is suitable for both day and evening dress. If you are the original nature and not boring, woven into a braid ribbons, flowers, hair pins. The image will be more feminine and romantic, if you weave a braid carelessly, intentionally leaving free the individual strands.

Party Style

In addition, fashion designers today's call is not just a standard weave braids and hair styles with a variety of novel ways of weaving. You can tighten the hair into a tight bundle, or weave in her hair colored hair, shreds. Spit can be dense and tight, or, conversely, light and airy, three-dimensional or flat.

Wedding Hairstyles For Long Hairs

Are you going to be the forthcoming bride in the coming months? Are you all set with your bridal dress and makeup? Well it is a natural fact that all the brides get curious for their wedding planning just before few months of the wedding. But on the other hand there are many brides as well that have the complicated troublesome regarding the hairstyles for the long hairs. It is said that long hairs are the biggest sign of women attraction and she can manage her long hairs with the wide ranges of hairstyles on her wedding. But we are all here for solving the main problem of the brides. In this article we are mentioning some of the main and known wedding hairstyles for long hairs. When you firstly make the choice of the hairstyle just make sure that the hairstyle should matched well with the bridal dress. Most importantly the hairstyle must be managed in such a way that it also makes the veil and jewellery noticeable as well.

One of the most famous hairstyle for the wedding hairstlye has been the asymmetry. This hairstyle is just similar to one shoulder gown as all the hairs are placed at one side of the shoulder with the little strokes of the curls. In this article we are mentioning few pictures of wedding hairstyles for long hairs. Next we have the ponytail. Just allow few curls on the ponytail and then tie up the hairs tightly. You can even make the choice of applying the glitters and long flower veil for making the ponytail even extra attractive and striking. On the whole many brides can even favor the use of the updos as well that are much famous these days. You can just take the help from the pictures and just try them on wedding day.

Latest Winter Designer Collection 2013

It’s a compliment we hear all the time, and one that is often repeated especially when it pertains to young girls and women. Pretty as Pink can refer to the shade of an outfit, the mood of an outfit or even the glow on someone’s face: in this exclusive article, we talk to top designers of Pakistan about their opinion on the color pink.

Third Day Festivities of Eid-ul-Azha- The Festival of Sacrifice

Eid-ul-Azha symbolize the end of the hajj, commemorates Ibrahim’s Faith and devotion to Allah. Muslims celebrate this festival by sacrifice a cow, lamb or camel and distribute its meat among family, relatives and poor. Food is dominant chapter of the whole celebration and mostly, is in the form of elegant family feasts which mostly includes meat dishes and desserts. People wear new clothes on this Fest. Many designers launch their special collections for Eid. Women and young girls wear different colorful bangles, jewellery; apply henna on their hands, arms and feet.

In many regions around the world, it is also known as Eid-ul-kabir; people start their day with a Morning Prayer and sacrifice of the animal- a cow, goat or camel. People greet each other, exchange gifts and they have feast with their family and friends. It is a custom to prepare organ meats, for instance liver, kidneys and heart, on the day of the sacrifice and entertain all three days of the festival with varieties of meatier dishes including steamed lamb and Mrouzia (a beef casserole with raisins). Different kinds of desserts are made which add colors to this Eid Festival. Special dishes of fruit, candy and salads are placed on table for kids. First two days of the Eid are quite hectic and many people spent it by hosting lunches and dinners.

Third day- the last day of the meat-fest starts with sweet breakfast such as Seviyan, or vermicelli noodles, kheer (rice pudding) and sheer khurma. Few people start their day with healthy meatier dishes such as Paaye ka salan, Nihari, Haleem and Magaz Masla (Brain Curry). Most of the people plan to spend third day of Eid with people which they find to do I regular days. It is easy to plan something different on this day such as picnic, watch a movie, or other outside activity.

Many people like to go out to visit their relatives living outside the town. Some people spend their day visiting different amusement parks, cinemas with friends and families. In the evening, everyone gathers at sophisticated family feast where friends and relatives celebrate few last hours of Eid. Dinner mostly includes barbecue, Meat loaf, Stuffed Red Peppers (Stuff bell peppers with a mixture of rice, beef, mushrooms, onions, garlic, and tomatoes), Salisbury steak with Mushrooms (Seasoned beef patties are simmered in a mushroom and onion sauce) and Beef Pasta. Desserts mostly include Feerni, Kheer, Custard, Fudge Brownie, Muffins and Apple Pie with ice- cream.

Team of Fashion Central celebrated wishes everyone a very delightful, pleasant and wonderful Eid day. Celebrate it with essence of brotherhood and embrace each other with love and walk together in harmony. Make your Eid holiday as perfect time for your friends and family. It’s time to end up all the disputes and make your life cheerful and contend. Try to enjoy all minute moments with your family with you might have ignored in your regular days with bliss of cheerfulness. Stay blessed and a happy Eid Mubarik!