DAY II

Dear Bryan, 

I am angry at you. Los Angeles' effect on Baron Davis was agreed upon by the both of us via text message last night sometime in the Eight O' Clock hour. The Clippers looked god-awful in a basketball sense but were quite compelling from the vista of the story teller. 

The story starts with Baron. A product of the melting pot, his career has been a collage of hybrids and hi-jinx, with his game operating as a medium between the two rules. In Charlotte Baron played like a Tight End. In Golden State, he operated as the leader of a kamikaze platoon, holding the reigns as he charged charged charged. The mentality of being everything to everyone permeated the off court persona as he produces movies and seduces Kate Hudson. Coming to LA, Bruckheimerfication was imminent but no one knew what that meant. 

Point Guard as a classification no longer does him justice. Master's Dissertation in Sociology is much more like it. Baron's always been a bull but yesterday I saw him extend the Point Guard domain all the way to the hoop. Point guards penetrate but Baron was just sort of there, meticulously controlling the half court from every spot on the floor. I saw him reset the offense at the top of the elbow with three defenders all around him. The defenders put no affronts towards Baron and accepted it. 

Also of note, is the additional infusion of flash into Baron's game. Pulling fancy shit from every corner because y'know he is Los Angeles now. 

Everyone wins when Geography marries Ball Handling. Thanks Baron. 

***** 

Quick thoughts on the First REAL night of the NBA season. 

Tuesday was such a cock tease. It was a good night for stir-fry and nothing more. 

I really like this Clipper team. Two legits running into each other, Thornton and Gordon bouncing around like over-zealous mosquitoes, and Paul Davis shooting transition threes (FROM THE BACK UP CENTER!) should be captured in finger paint forever. 

Unfortunately, Ricky Davis and Tim Thomas will ruin everything. Like always. Again. 

A staunch defense on my opinions towards Amir and Stuckey is coming. It will read like excuses. 

Nearly every notable rookie had a stellar debut--except for Odie but that's a shoo-in if he ever plays. First games don't mean much but they can damn sure stand as an announcement. I didn't think much of OJ Mayo or Kevin Love in college or when they came out in the draft. I go to USC and ran into Mayo on occasion but was far from enamored with the chunky white girl chasing SG. 

If last night was any indication these two will be running (ok one will be waddling) rampant for a while. 

OJ Mayo went 5-20 which is a terrible line but shooting twenty shots in your first game exhibits the quiet type of confidence that turns good players into great players. 

Kevin Love played 18 minutes scored twelve and grabbed nine. His +/- = +20!!! Shit. 

*****

I often wonder what to do with my film degree. Making the greatest Josh Smith mix tape of all time could be the calling. 

It will be fifteen minutes long and be set entirely to the music of Girl Talk. Highlights of Smith with be mashed up with the clip from Critters in which the critters form into a giant critter ball and roll through town. I also hope to find footage of Dwight Howard with food poisoning. 

Magic/Hawks a rivalry we can all agree upon.