The NBA's general managers have cast their votes. Although the current Vegas odds have the Miami Heat winning the title, 63% of the league's general managers believe the Los Angeles Lakers will follow through on a three-peat. In contrast, only a third of GMs think the Larry O'Brien trophy is headed to South Beach.
They certainly have the resources to do so. On the sidelines, the team has Phil Jackson, who was voted best coach by 39% of GMs. In the post, they have Pau Gasol, who is tied with Dirk Nowitzki after receiving 29% of the votes. Of course, there's always Kobe Bryant. 79% voted picked Bryant as the player they most want taking the shot with the game on the line. Furthermore, 86% of GMs say that the Black Mamba is the best shooting guard.
Bryant was also voted second-most likely to win the MVP award with 26% of the votes. Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant finished first with 67% of the executives backing him.
Other results/facts (Source: Truehoop):
* The Wizards' John Wall, this year's top overall pick, earned 68 percent of the vote as this year's likely rookie of the year. Last year's top pick, the Clippers' Blake Griffin, will also be a rookie after missing a season to injury, and received 29 percent of the vote.
* For the first time, Deron Williams (50 percent) of the Utah Jazz was voted as the top point guard in the league, overtaking the New Orleans Hornets’ Chris Paul (36 percent).
* The Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki (29 percent) and Lakers’ Pau Gasol (29 percent) finished tied as the best power forward in the league, replacing the San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan, who had been selected as the best at his position for the past eight years.
* The Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard (96 percent) was voted as the top center.
* The Heat’s James (68 percent) was named the best small forward.
* The Lakers’ Bryant (86 percent) was voted the best shooting guard. Bryant is currently the only player to have been selected as the best at his position every year of the survey.
* Thirty-nine percent of GMs believe the Heat will be the most improved team in 2010-11 while 14 percent of general managers feel the New York Knicks and Washington Wizards would be the most improved teams.
* For the ninth consecutive season, Bryant (79 percent) was also selected by GMs as the player they most want taking the shot with the game on the line.
* Nowitzki (57 percent) was voted the top international player.
* Durant (56 percent) was voted as the top player GMs would sign to start an NBA franchise.
* The Boston Celtics (100 percent) were unanimously picked to win the Atlantic Division, Chicago Bulls (82 percent) in the Central Division and the Miami Heat (74 percent) in the Southeast Division. In the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers (96 percent) were predicted to win the Pacific Division, the Dallas Mavericks (71 percent) in the Southwest Division, and the Oklahoma City Thunder (63 percent) in the Northwest Division.
* The Magic’s Dwight Howard was voted best defensive player (78 percent).
* The Bulls’ Derrick Rose was voted fastest with the ball (21 percent).
* The Suns’ Steve Nash won the vote as best passer (75 percent).
* The Clippers' Griffin tied the Thunder’s Russell Westbrook as the most likely to have a breakout season (15 percent).
* The Oklahoma City Thunder were called the most fun team to watch (52 percent).
* The Celtics’ Ray Allen was voted the best pure shooter (54 percent).
* The Utah Jazz were voted the team with the best home court advantage (46 percent).
With the Lakers winning their sixteenth championship, holding a massive parade, and questions over Phil Jackson's future, it's easy to forget about L.A.'s "other" team. The Los Angeles Clippers have seemingly always operated in the shadow of the Lake Show ever since the team moved to Los Angeles in 1984. However, there is reason to believe that (relatively) happy times are just around the corner - which made me wonder what the happiest Clippers fan was thinking. Of course, I am referring to Clipper Darrell.
As predicted at Halftime Hype, the Lakers won in 7.
Although the end result of this season and last season were the same, the unique paths to the title were quite different. In '09, the Lakers actually seemed to care about the regular season. This year the Lakers played like high school seniors: as long as your results/grades aren't too poor, you could still get to your destination (the college you want to go to, in the case of a high school senior; the NBA Finals in the case of the Lakers). Last year, the Lakers were also under more pressure to win a ring. Frustration was mounting and Kobe could not let another year go by without adding jewelry; that ring belonged to the Lakers. This season, it was "been there, done that. Don't stress about this loss; focus on the title." Still, in both circumstances the Lake Show finished as the best in the West.
There was no question about his desire to win, though. During the ring ceremony at the season opener, Artest stayed in the locker room, "sick to his stomach", according to his agent. As written in Lee Jenkins' article for Sports Illustrated, "It's not that he didn't want to see the rings (he downloaded photos of them onto his phone)...It's that he didn't feel he deserved the privilege. Even in the days leading up to the Finals, when ABC asked the players to pose with the Larry O'Brien Trophy, Artest refused to touch it." What's more, Artest, in a way, had predicted this championship long ago. After the Lakers lost to the Celtics two years ago, Ron met up with Kobe in the locker room - or more specifically, when Kobe was in the midst of a shower - and ensured that #24 wouldn't be let down again. Ron would come to the rescue. Indeed, he did. He stepped up in the playoffs, forced Durant and Paul Pierce into tough shots, and even had some notable offensive games of his own (Game 3 against Utah; Games 1 & 6 vs. Phoenix; Games, 1, 6, and 7 in the NBA Finals). Without him, who knows how Game 7 would have ended.
After months upon months of preparation, plenty of playoff games of enhancement, alas all the blood, sweat, and tears will be defined by a single game. The greatest rivalry in the NBA will conclude another chapter in its storied history in a mere 48 minutes of play. After four quarters, "there can only be one." Whoever wins tomorrow at Staples Center in Los Angeles is the 2010 NBA champion, simple as that.
That's the difference between the regular season and the playoffs The 2010 Los Angeles Lakers. The defending champions. The team that just went 2-3 on a road trip, losing by double digits to Atlanta & Oklahoma City and tanking against New Orleans. Suddenly, things aren't going so well in Lakerdom. Cleveland, on the other hand, is feeling a whole lot better...
There's no doubt that the Los Angeles Lakers are the most talented team, at least on paper. Save Derek Fisher, all the starters make for a tough matchup on both ends of the court. The Lakers couldn't ask for a more versatile sixth man than Lamar Odom (though, they could ask for a more consistent one). So why have the Lakers been playing like the Clippers lately?
First of all, there's the conventional excuse: fatigue. After 70 NBA games and countless practices & workouts in between, you can imagine these guys are worn out. The more relevant reason, though, is that they are now firmly out of reach of both the Cavs and rest of West. Right now, they could care less about losing games here and there, or as Kobe described it, "lollygagging".
That's not to say the losses don't affect them. Frustration mounts (see Kobe's face and Sasha Vujacic v. Coaching staff). And confidence rises - for the opposing team(s). The Lakers' three potential 1st round matchups relish times like this. Oklahoma City is still smiling at its score vs. the Lake Show. Portland, already notorious for prevailing vs. the Lakers at the Garden, must be extremely giddy after the Lakers' recent road trip. And San Antonio now has a little hope. Oh, and every other team in the hunt, to one degree or another, now believes they have a shot versus L.A. When you're playing bad, one of the worst things you can do is help the other team play better. Remember that, Lakers.
However, the playoffs and regular season are totally different beasts. For some, the playoffs are a destination. For the Lakers, they're supposed to be part of the journey. More than anyone else in the league, unquestionably more so than Lebron James, Kobe Bryant wants to reach the destination - scratch that, SUCCEED in his destination. Make no mistake, KB will go to great lengths to win an NBA championship - and he will demand the same from his team. The Lakers may have a roadbump or two, but there's no question they'll emerge as the Western Conference champions. I guess you could argue that this isn't a convenient way to enter the playoffs, performing sub-.500 on a road trip. But, then again, expect the Lakers to step up.
It's all a matter of beating the Cavs. Despite the fact that the Cavs aren't exactly a guarentee (who remembers Orlando in the Eastern Conference Finals last year?), their chances of making it to the NBA Finals are just as high as the Lakers, if not higher. Assuming the Finals are between the Lakers and Cavaliers, without fully acknowledging the "step-up in the playoffs" factor, the Cavs have the edge. And it's simply because the Lakers can't perform away from Staples.
The Show must go on - now it's a matter of stepping up.
It was only three years ago when the Miami Heat became the third team in NBA history to steal the title after trailing 0-2 in the finals. And as with any championship team, there was a ton of joy and happiness to go around. D-Wade had proved himself a legitimate player in this league and was presented with the NBA Finals MVP trophy. Shaq one-upped Kobe, winning a championship in the same postseason that Kobe's Lakers gave up a 3-1 first round lead in the series versus Phoenix. Gary Payton backed up his impressive career with that championship. And, of course, as is the ritual, the team was recognized at the White House.
Ever since then, things have declined dramatically. You'd think a championship team would at least continue to contend the next season, but they didn't exactly come out with a bang against Chicago in a 108-66 loss. That 42 point defeat began a gloomy season for the Heat, who endured a multitude of injuries. This was the year when Shaq's aging and fatigue became more apparent as he missed 30 games because of a knee injury. D-Wade briefly injured his wrist then later suffered a season-but-not-playoff-ending dislocated shoulder. James Posey and Antoine Walker, though later reinstated, failed body mass exams. Two potentially Hall-of-Fame players in Antoine Walker and Gary Payton were being benched at the expense of mediocre talent in Jason Kapono and Dorrel Wright. Although, the Heat really got their act back together in the last stretch of the season. Without their star player in Dwyane Wade, they proved pundits wrong by making the playoffs as they won 11 out of 14 games at one point, and in total, went 16-7. The playoffs are what really turn this into a depressing story, as the Heat became the first championship team since 1957 to win the title one year and then to be swept in the first round the following season.
You know something is wrong when a team signs Smush Parker, who got into legal troubles for a dispute with a valet parking attendant. After watching Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich dance their way to 4-0, the Heat should've known what a good backcourt should look like. There are actually many details to this season, but in whole, it was simply a crapshoot. D-Wade was gone for rehabilitation for awhile. The Diesel was traded to Phoenix. Pat Riley missed games to scout NCAA prospects and ultimately gave his job to Erik Spoelstra. At 15-67, the Miami Heat, two seasons after being NBA Champions, now had the worst record in the league and tied a franchise low for wins in a season.Some might call the current state of affairs in South Beach, a "new era." I beg to differ. So far, we have seen a promising prospect in Mario Chalmers and some level of greatness in Wade. Otherwise, there really is nothing formidable about this team. Recently, news has surfaced that Michael Beasley will be entering rehab for reported marijuana use. On the plus side, last year they did have a seven game series with the Atlanta Hawks - but that was in the first round. Nothing, however, makes this team elite.
The Miami Heat arguably had the worst decline of any team in NBA history. As my math teacher would say, they truly went from "the outhouse to the penthouse."
Now that many of the big names of the free agency have been signed and dealt to their respective teams, I think it's appropriate to predict championship contenders for the upcoming NBA season.
Western Conference
Los Angeles Lakers - The defending champs look like they can easily win another title. Despite the fact that they lost Ariza to Houston, they managed to make what may turn out to be a better deal with the acquisition of defensive beast, Ron Artest. I've said it before and I'll say it again: this move undoubtedly should silence those who criticize the Lakers for being "softies." As I've already noted in a previous post, it's hard to have a missing piece in the puzzle when you're on top, but apparently, there is always room for improvement. The Lakers improved. Plus, Lamar Odom is still in town. By keeping Odom, they have the rights to his versatility and possess one of the best sixth men in the entire league.
At point guard, the Lake Show retains the high IQ of Derek Fisher, a phenomenal presence on and off the court and especially in the locker room. Furthermore, if you haven't already noticed, Gasol has gotten stronger and his attitude has changed dramatically - for the better - since the Lakers were defeated only a couple of years ago by the Celtics. The All-Star is a great teammate and makes for a productive post presence; we've seen the ball thrown to him down low numerous times and see him convert on the majority of his possessions. The main weakness on the team may, indeed, be Andrew Bynum who has yet to develop but remains full of wonderful possibilities. If the Lakers are able to capitalize on his potential, they could have themselves a very special season.
Ultimately, though, the Lakers still have the two cornerstones of their franchise: Head Coach Phil Jackson and superstar Kobe Bryant. Phil expressed in early July that he will be back and even though he may share head coaching duties with defensive-minded assistant coach, Kurt Rambis, he is on the payroll and will be back for one more season with the Lake Show. And any team with Kobe is almost always a competitor in the NBA. Even after thirteen seasons of professional play, he's still committed to winning and is competitive drive is as strong as ever. This year we really saw him balance his scoring well and trust his teammates much more. That will only continue. If injuries don't hurt this team too badly, they are definitely a solid lock for the NBA Finals and the odds are that the Lakers will bring home the gold for the second consecutive season.
Denver Nuggets - Not to be redundant, but considering the fact that the Nuggets really haven't lost any talent over the summer, their contention should be taken seriously. Even after trading away Allen Iverson and receiving Chauncey Billups, I don't know how many people would've foreseen Denver almost pushing the Lakers to the brink in the Western Conference Finals. Nonetheless, we saw Melo mature, a phase that we should see Lebron go through this year, and accept the fact that in order to win, he'd need to listen to the new leader on the team.
The point of consistency on this team, for the time being, is Billups. If he can continue to hold this team together, victories should pile up. What Denver should wake up and realize is that by trading for Billups they might have gotten a marginally better point guard than Iverson, but they dropped an ego. Unfortunately, Carmelo Anthony can be a bit of a lunatic sometimes. J.R. Smith can take some crazy shots. Instead of A.I. barking at them or hogging the ball, in those situations it's Billups that can pull them aside and contribute his veteran knowledge.
The big factor, though, will prove to be how effective Nene and J.R. Smith can be. Nene helped out fantasy team owners tremendously last season with his superb numbers. Just when we though the Nuggets were on the verge of collapse after trading away Camby, Mr. Hilario emerges out of the shadows to prove us wrong. One could even argue that Nene did a better job than the Cambyman. As for J.R. Smith, his energy is unparalleled and can often result in quick bursts of scoring. There were games where he would drain three-point shot after three-point shot, regardless of the fact that the defense was in his face on each possession. Although, the key will be to see how he can control his energy. If the Nuggets can get consistent contributions from everybody on the team, their twenty-nine opponents that better be careful.
San Antonio Spurs - So far in this decade, the Spurs have seemingly always been strong contenders for the Larry O'Brien trophy. You could bet that Tim Duncan would still be performing his post moves come playoff time. There wasn't a single reason to doubt that Tony Parker would be getting inside for layups during the NBA tourney. You knew that Manu would be flopping in a seven game series. Despite all indications that this team is too old to compete, they keep hushing naysayers by dominating the West. In short, they're still beasts.
In the past, we've seen what a large impact Ginobli's presence has on the Spurs. They're just not the same without the Argentinian. Which makes the acquisition of Richard Jefferson all the better. They no longer have to put so much pressure on Manu. Now, all Parker really has to do is pass it to Richard Jefferson and leave it to him to create his own shot - or maybe give him a pick and let him shoot. Anyway, Jefferson brings a much more dynamic range and dependency. In clutch situations, I'm sure Gregg Poppavich didn't have a 100% faith in his team. Sure, they execute well, but they didn't have a scoring superstar. Emphasis on the word "scoring." When the clock is winding down, they don't have to think about who gets the last shot. It's going to be Richard Jefferson.
As if the Spurs needed another veteran, they snagged Antonio McDyess, one of the most consistent Pistons of the decade. His steady mid-range jumpshot and post maneuvers really helped out Detroit. If he can continue to work down low and spread the floor with a 15-footer, he can easily create a tough match-up. He's certainly an upgrade over Oberto, whose IQ I still question. McDyess, however, has been around and knows what it takes to be a champion, as do many of his teammates. He's surely self-motivated. If all these puzzle pieces come together for the Spurs and the starters can stay healthy, the Spurs' season should be just as fruitful as those that preceded it.
Eastern Conference
Cleveland Cavaliers - Many have jumped on to the Cavs' bandwagon since they signed Shaq. I'm not quite ready to get on board, but I will admit that they are certainly contenders. Shaq's been around for awhile - so has his ego - and now he realizes that it is no longer his time to shine. As a Cavalier, Shaq recognizes the fact that his numbers will decrease, that he will get less attention, and that he is the head of the witness protection program. Cleveland's grand jury is demanding that Shaq/(insert nickname here) come through and help the king secure gold. However, the pursuit to the promised land won't be an easy one.
Lebron will have to make sacrifices, too. Even though he is still the Commander-in-Chief of his army, he will have to learn how to delegate with his troops. He will no longer be the constant obsession of local reporters. He may no longer have the cover of every magazine to himself. Just like Shaq, he will learn have to share. In order to win as a team, LBJ will have to distribute and find Mr. O'Neal in the paint. He will have to pass up on jumpshots and instead give up the ball for a high percentage jam - by a witness. Additionally, #23 will have to step up his leadership - and that starts by being a good leader. When he chose not to shake hands with the Magic after losing in the Conference Finals, he became a total disappoint and exposed that he was a sore loser. That kind of behavior is unacceptable. It just won't be tolerated, at least, if the league decides to take action. And even if they don't, if Lebron doesn't use his brain, don't expect to see the Cavs in the Finals.
Another key element to a potential championship run will prove to be how many minutes can be split between the Big Z and the Big Aristotle. For the most part, Varajeo shouldn't be affected but how when will Mike Brown keep Shaq on the floor? When will he play Illgauskas? If the Cavs are able to balance minutes and both Shaq and Lebron make the necessary sacrifices, we may very well see the Cavs reach the main stage. After all, as Kobe and Lebron found out the hard way, MVP honors are only so meaningful if you can't win the real prize.
Boston Celtics - Ah, if only Boston had lost in the first round this year. Then the Celtics fans would have nothing to say. But, truth be told, the Celtics are still a powerhouse in the league and should be able to give the Cavs a run for their money. Without hesitation, this team holds the most dangerous group of veterans in the league. Spearheaded by nobody in particular, the starting lineup of this squad is simply scary.
In order to make a legitimate postseason run, the C's will need the same kind of clutch performances we saw from Ray Allen last year against the Chicago Bulls. Every time Derek Rose enjoyed a three-point play on a hard drive, you could sure bet that Ray Allen could follow that up with one of his deadly shots from behind the arc. Despite the absence of KG and the fact that Paul Pierce and Big Baby had fouled out, Allen persisted; he knew that no matter what, giving up was not an option. At his age, if he can match that passion this season, things could get ugly in the East.
On the other hand, the success of this franchise also lies heavily on the shoulders of their starting point guard. Rajon Rondo has already expressed a desire to leave Boston. If that happens, who will be his replacement? He's just such a great fit, it would really hurt the team to see him leave. However, the main catalyst in the Celtics' prosperity will prove to be health. With a veteran team, there's always the concern of injuries. We already saw how things went downhill went KG was sidelined. The Celtics can't afford an injury to Allen, Pierce, Garnett, or Wallace. If they can all keep healthy and stay together (cough, cough, Rondo), then expect a true battle in the Eastern Conference.
By the way, comments are always appreciated. In the last post, an elite reader submitted a suggestion - Ben, you could include Shaq and the Cavs in one of your posts - and guess what, I just did. Remember, story ideas and feedback are always appreciated.
The Lakers players themselves were very exuberant and continued to let the championship vibe sink in. After all, it's been a long road for this team. It is nice to see them showered with love from their fans for all the hard work and effort they've put in. In these tough economic times, people were able to set aside differences and come together; it didn't matter what race you were or how much money you had, you were a Lakers fan, and that was all that mattered. I guess you could say the parade had the same outcome on Los Angeles as the Michigan State team making the NCAA finals did for Detroit.
This may not be a very effective point, but the parade is also another incentive for the Lakers to win. Kobe Bryant has mentioned smiling down Figueroa with a trophy earlier this season, but now the entire Lakers squad had the chance to experience the vivid imagery they had heard about so often. Even the benchwarmers, Sun Yue and DJ Mbenga, could be seen having a good time. Oh, and did you see Josh Powell's interesting new hair style? In my opinion, it qualifies for a retro African-American old school look - but maybe that's just me. No matter where you looked, though, everyone was happy.
It's these moments that add to the memories of a championship team. The money, the fame, and the reputation are all vital catalysts, but it's the rewards like a parade that give you more reason to win. If every team had such an oppurtunity, not only would the respective fans be happy, but the NBA would get a lot more attention too. Non-basketball fans might wonder what's so special about such a simple game - or at least why there's a major traffic jam in downtown. Festivities like the parade are great for the game; more fun and frolic results in more fans. When people walking by notice the headline in their local newspaper about the Lakers parade they may pause and promise themselves they'll watch Lakers games next year to see what's so remarkable about being the world champs.
I think it's safe to say that the Lakers are officially the franchise of the decade. In the immediate years following the Shaq trade, the Lakers were victims of their own despair. They have now exemplified different variations of glory at its highest honor. At the beginning of the decade, the Lake Show was a numerous-headed monster that couldn't be stopped. The Lakers of today, however, are a combination of several styles that find creative ways to attack. Back in the early 2000's, the supporting cast was a bunch of veterans who had enjoyed playoff prosperity. Nine years later, the bench of the purple and gold consist of determined youth motivated to win under the leadership of a single soul: Kobe Bryant. The championship night riots might have been more lively in the early part of this decade, but there are plenty more jerseys to be found on the streets today. If you haven't already caught on, this is an entirely new team with a memorable road to the title.
You might be wondering how a bunch of young boys beat older men in Hedo Turkoglu (a.k.a. The Turkish Michael Jordan) and Rashard Lewis. In that case, just think about their shortcoming last year. After "cake walking" to the NBA Finals, the Lakers were utterly embarrassed and disgraced the city of Los Angeles with their poor performance. The first round was a complete joke, with not even a touch of brutality as we saw in this year's match-up with Utah. There were no technical fouls and they didn't show a bit of the intensity they dominated with this postseason. Defense? It wasn't in their vocabulary. As many already know, while playing at Staples during a critical Game 4 of the NBA Finals, the Lakers gave up a 24-point lead. They didn't have the will to close out games. They couldn't find the energy to drive to the rim and stop the NBA's biggest madman in Kevin Garnett. The boys didn't have the intangibles in the arsenal of every championship team, either. Key word here: EXPERIENCE.
The opposite of cake walking, though, is effort - something the Lakers didn't have in their postseason campaign last year. Did we see Kobe Bryant scowl and model his teeth angrily last year? Did we see Lamar Odom scream en route to three points plays like he did this year? Did Derek Fisher outperform his younger counterpart on the opposing team as well as he did this year? They didn't even have a Shannon Brown to come off the bench and score within the first few seconds he was inserted into the ball game. Was the media making such a big deal about winning without Shaq? Was Trevor Ariza making game-changing steals in the last minute of ball games? Was the post-game parade on anybody's mind at all (I don't think I even saw the word "parade" anywhere until the Rose Parade this January)? Was there a Josh Powell to praise Kobe every timeout? Was there a retired player (cough, cough, Alonzo Mourning) around to criticize the game's greatest coach of all-time? The answer to all of these questions, without a doubt, is "no."
A big part of this postseason has been the people who haven't been involved on the court. Even though Kobe will continue to say that winning without Shaq means nothing, we all know what he's really thinking - "Shaq, tell me how my ass tastes." The criticism from the Big Aristotle last year may have, indeed, spurred these amazing games from Kobe. Kobe knows that the future generation of sportswriters (that probably includes me) would always hold that potential accolade against him: oh, you didn't win without Shaq; you only won as the obedient sidekick. And even though that doesn't mean anything to real fans of the game, it's nice that Kobe got that accusation out of the way. Plus, former center Alonzo Mourning has began many debates with his controversial comments accusing Phil Jackson of "just showing up" and Kobe doin' work as the primary coach. Well, what did you think of the Zen Master's hat last night?
Congratulations, Lakers. Phil Jackson can smoke his victory cigar in honor of the late Red Auerobach (sorry if I mispelled his name). Kobe can smile. Lamar can eat his candy. Adam Morrison can go shopping for suits. And DJ Mbenga can do what he does. Enjoy the parade and thank you for restoring pride to Angelenos and energizing Lakers fans all over the world. I leave you all with this last tweet by THE_REAL_SHAQ:
Btw, an explanation of my culture recommendations in the "Culture" box which appears under my tweets on the right column of this blog: The Rhumb Line, the debut album by Ra Ra Riot, is a blend of semi-fast rock that isn't too sleepy but has chill tracks, The Soloist by Steve Lopez is on there not because it became a movie (which I haven't seen yet) but because it brought light to a part of Los Angeles I don't (like to) read much about, Always Looking Up by Michael J. Fox is an inspiring story by another embattled warrior in this world, Freedarko Present the Macrophenomenal Basketball Almanac is the best modern analysis of any sport I've seen so far, and I've already wrote a review about J.A. Adande's book and it's on the box 'cause it's a relatively recent read which I enjoyed. I'll try to update once or twice a month, but until then take my word for the current picks.