If we could see souls instead of bodies, what would we find beautiful? What would scare you the most to let others see?
If you think ANYONE out there is 100% clear, omniscient, and infallible, you’re setting yourself up for disaster. But there is hope to start NOT struggling and come out the other side. Let's work together to help you reach a new level of awareness. To feel more comfortable in your skin and your goals!
Well, I personally would choose..The 4th one. Wut 'bout u?
Columnist Halsey Blocher imagines what life with SMA would be like if she could have a superpower. Her choice might surprise you.
Scent is the voice of the soul.
If I could solve your biggest freediving frustration, what would it be? #freedivingadvice #freediving #spearfishing #apnea #diving
by Bruce Bennett, Getty Images North America from http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/sKm20-vGweh/Detroit+Pistons+v+Brooklyn+Nets/9fgkVXKsOCV/Mason+Plumlee The Brooklyn Nets are currently 15-16 which gives them a 7th seed in the Eastern Conference. Nets owner, Mikhail Prokhorov, expected the team to contend for a championship after acquiring Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce from the Boston Celtics. Looks like it's not happening after he promised a title unless they win it this year. Prokhorov spent tons of money and is well over the salary cap yet the team wasn't winning much games for the past two seasons. The Brooklyn Nets need an all-around player for them to be successful. Brook Lopez is a great offensive player but he lacks on the defensive end. Kevin Garnett is no longer the type of player he was ten years ago and we shouldn't expect much from him unless he turns back the clock like Tim Duncan. Deron Williams is playing better basketball compared to the past few seasons with the Nets but still needs consistency in order for him to be a top five point guard. The team has many injuries with Deron Williams and Brook Lopez. They need to build up better chemistry with a consistent line-up who new head coach, Lionel Hollins, is trying to find. For several games of this season, Brook Lopez and Deron Williams came off the bench and the team has won. While spending time and winning a gold medal with team USA, Mason Plumlee gained confidence and has played great for the Nets when given the opportunity. Plumlee is only a sophomore and he's one of the key players who need to develop quickly if the team wants to win soon. They need to trade for a player like Mike Conley Jr. or John Wall who can make the players around them better who has a sense of urgency.
by Brian Robb from http://www.celticshub.com/2014/02/09/report-hawks-interested-trading-jeff-green/ The Boston Celtics are in a rebuilding stage after trading away Rajon Rondo to the Dallas Mavericks. It's obvious they are not ready compete against teams like the Golden State Warriors or Chicago Bulls. After the acquisition of Brandon Wright and Jae Crowder from the Dallas Mavericks, their roster is filled with more good players, not great players. They have a young star in Marcus Smart who was a great offensive player in college. With a few more years playing with one another, each player from the Celtics should understand their roles better. I want to talk about Jeff Green for a moment. He was traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2011 so he can backup Paul Pierce and replace him after he leaves the organization. He averaged around 15 points and 5 rebounds before he left the Thunder. I assumed he would play a major role because he had to play behind Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Those are pretty decent stats playing behind two superstars. His first season with the Boston Celtics was a tough one as he went from averaging 37 minutes to around 24 minutes. After Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce left for the Brooklyn Nets, many people assumed it was the year Jeff Green was going to have a break-out season. Unfortunately, it was another disappointing season for him. Fast-forward to his 5th season with the Boston Celtics, he is finally posting career high 18.5 point per game through 29 games. He produces monster statlines sometimes but sometimes is not enough. Green needs to be more consistent for the Celtics to have a chance winning against teams above .500. Another player who needs to improve his game is Jared Sullinger. Analysts have compared Jared Sullinger to Kevin Love when he just entered the league. He has great size and range for his position. What he needs to work on is his defense and mobility. In time, the Boston Celtics would need Jeff Green to become their veteran leader. Budding young stars of Jared Sullinger and Marcus Smart are key for the Celtics if they want to make the playoffs. They might have a few more disappointing seasons but through the draft and experience playing together, the Boston Celtics will be an elite squad sooner rather than later.
by Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports from http://www.azdesertswarm.com/basketball/2014/11/9/7180157/solomon-hill-arrived-indiana-pacers The Indiana Pacers are in a developmental stage where the playoffs doesn't matter. They need their franchise player, Paul George, healthy at the start of next season. So far, no one on the team is averaging more than 15 points per game. Is this a bad thing or a good thing? Well, we understand David West and George Hill are coming back from injuries and it will take time to shake off their rust. With the absence of majority of the starters, Roy Hibbert should be the offense who controls the paint on both sides of the floor. He's not an athletic big man like Anthony Davis but he should be scoring more when Paul George is still sidelined. Through 35 games, Hibbert is only averaging 11.4 points per game. The offense should run through him because he can post up, make hook shots, and capable of hitting that mid-range shot. He is also a great passer but not the transition type player who can run the fastbreak. Roy Hibbert is one of the many concerns head coach, Frank Vogel, has to fix. The Pacers resolution is all about Solomon Hill. He is the type of player who can play a similar role like Jimmy Butler. When Derrick Rose was down, Jimmy Butler stepped up and played extremely well. His tough defense allowed him to stay on the court and thus play major minutes. Hill has had a reduced role since C.J. Miles and Rodney Stuckey are taking up the small forward minutes. Solomon Hill has shown signs where he can be a slasher who can get easy baskets and go to the free throw line. He has so much potential and the Pacers need a player who can step up and contribute next season when Paul George is healthy. We will see if the Indiana Pacers decide to trade away players for Solomon Hill to expand his game.
by Lauren Moranor from http://www.sportsworldreport.com/articles/18083/20130712/milwaukee-bucks-rumors-jeff-teague-asks-atlanta-hawks-match-offer.htm Surprisingly, the Atlanta Hawks are in a great situation. Who would've thought they would be the second best team on the East with a remarkable 23-8 start. Even though the Hawks are off to a great start, they need a few more adjustments to make it to the next level and call themselves title contenders. They need to find that one player who can make the last shot of the game whether it's Jeff Teague, Al Horford, or Paul Millsap. In order for the Hawks to advance deeper into the playoffs, I believe Teague has the ability to take that one extra step and be that team leader. We all know what Paul Millsap is capable of with his mid-range, post up, and defense tenacity. Kyle Korver is a great teammate to have who can shoot the three and DeMarre Carroll is a player to watch out for. He's the type of player who can defend Lebron James or Kevin Durant. He won't stop them but he will slow them down. Al Horford is coming back from a shoulder injury and should play like the way he did a season ago. Jeff Teague has shown improvements and could be the go-to player for the Atlanta Hawks in a few years. The team has a great starting five led by head coach, Mike Budenholzer. Last year, they made it to the playoffs but it was as a eighth seed with just a record of 38-44. This group of players has been meshing for a few years and their chemistry will grow game by game with the return of Al Horford. In order for the Hawks to be a threat, Jeff Teague must make himself a leader how Mike Conley Jr. did for the Memphis Grizzles. It's not going to happen overnight but he will gradually learn. The Atlanta Hawks are in a good spot and their fans should be proud of them.
by Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports from http://www.usatoday.com/sports/services/photos/USATSI-186772/ The fans were joyous when Andrew Bynum joined the 76ers. Unfortunately, he played no games and they were in the bottom of the East. Jrue Holiday made the All-Star team when Evan Turner and Thaddeus Young were with the team but the organization decided to head towards another direction and draft Michael-Carter Williams. Last year, it was bad luck of Nerlens Noel missing the whole season due to ACL injury. Now this year, young prospect Joel Embiid, is injured and will miss the whole season as well. With what we know so far, it's not looking good for Embiid. Rumors has it, he gained extra pounds and hasn't participated in mandatory workouts. The 76ers need a veteran player who brings leadership like Andre Iguodala when he was with the team. They are building through the draft like Oklahoma City Thunder. Imagine where the Thunder would be if they still had James Harden along with Serge Ibaka, Russell Westbrook, and Kevin Durant as their core roster. Be sure to check out my other blogpost, "What If... Oklahoma City Thunder still had James Harden?" for more information. The Philadelphia 76ers are trying to solidify their team and have a foundation of young players with high draft picks every year. In time, Nerlens Noel will be in chase for Defensive Player of the Year and develop an offense game with post up moves. He is a high motor guy much like Kenneth Faried who has years to improve. So far he is averaging 1.6 blocks as well as 1.6 steals. He can give these goodies and they are great for your fantasy league team but his free throws are an issue. Like Blake Griffin, I can see him work on it in the gym and gradually improve to a 70% free throw shooter. Until they make a trade for a superstar, the 76ers are not ready for the playoffs. Fans will have to wait a few more years until big things happen in Philly.
by Reuters/File from http://www.christianpost.com/news/la-lakers-trade-rumors-news-2014-eric-bledsoe-trade-would-be-unlikely-126722/ The last spot in the Western Conference playoffs is between the New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Phoenix Suns. This will be an on-going battle for the rest of the season. The West is just so deep and the position of the teams in the West will come down to the wire. Much similar to a team like the Atlanta Hawks, the Suns have great players but not superstar players. The Hawks have improved dramatically because of the return of Al Horford. He is the anchor of their defense and without him, there's no rim protector. As long as they play team basketball, they will win games with a record of 37-8, a franchise best. Alex Len of the Phoenix Suns, has been a nice addition since being inserted into the starting lineup. He has provided a solid contribution with increased minutes since his rookie season. What he needs to work on is his body because he's going to take a beating if he wants to compete with other centers in the league like Dwight Howard or Marc Gasol. We will see where he progresses from here. But signing the Morris brothers in the offseason, which I thought, was a great decision for the organization. The Suns have enough stability in the forward position and Markieff Morris, at times, can play center if they decide to go with a smaller lineup. Both Markieff and Marcus can shoot the ball as well as handle the ball which is a great skill to have if you're a big man. I think their resolution should be defense. We know what they are capable of scoring but defense wins championship. The three-headed monster between Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragic, and Isiaah Thomas is a match-up nightmare for the league. Just not when they play defense. The Suns score an average of 107.4 points per game, good for 3rd in the league. But that doesn't generate wins as they allow 105.3 points per game. I believe they are one player away from contending for a title. Someone like Jimmy Butler or Draymond Green who can guard Lebron James and Kevin Durant. They could work on their interior defense as well. Until they change from their high octane offense system, they are only trying to get into the playoffs. The West is just too competitive as they are in the 8th seed for now. Don't be surprised if they fall down one or two spots. Can they commit themselves defensively for 48 minutes?
by Tyler Perez/ Fox Sports from http://thesportsaga.com/why-nikola-vucevic-is-a-top-5-center/ Nikola Vucevic and Victor Oladipo are the future of the Orlando Magic organization. After the Magic traded Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers in return for Nikola Vucevic from the Philadelphia 76ers, they thought no one would replace Howard. Vucevic has improved his scoring each of the last three seasons he was with the Orlando Magic and made it clear this year, he is the first option for offense. They are a great duo to build around with the draft pick of Elfrid Payton. Tobias Harris who was acquired from the Milwaukee Bucks has been a great complement player next to Vucevic. Harris is having a steady season averaging 17.8 points per game through 39 games. The Orlando Magic also has Channing Frye who can play the stretch four position and open up the lane for Oladipo and Harris. The Magic are still young who has high potential under head coach, Jacque Vaughn. Victor Oladipo is someone who can average a triple-double and give you steals and blocks because he doesn't take a day off on the defensive end. He was in the run for Rookie of the Year last year right behind Michael-Carter Williams of the Philadelphia 76ers. With Nikola Vucevic, he can easily give you a double-double, sometimes in one half. On occasions, he can get you more rebounds than points. In the upcoming years, the team will need to develop their younger players on the bench like Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier. Don't be surprised if you see Nikola Vucevic or Victor Oladipo in the All-Star game within the next five years. They remind me of a young Shaquille O'neal and Kobe Bryant duo. Who am I kidding? I know they are not superstars but it doesn't hurt to see what they can be. For now, their goal is to develop their young players and give their fans hope their team can make a push for the playoffs soon.
by Gerren Keith Gaynor from http://www.blackenterprise.com/lifestyle/kenneth-faried-fights-homophobia-in-sports/ For the past decade, the Denver Nuggets have always been a team around the 6th-8th seed in the West. We all know what Kenneth Faried is capable of. After displaying a showcase of both offense and defense playing with Team USA, he would surely make a huge contribution with the Denver Nuggets. Despite playing like a MVP with Team USA, he is only averaging a dash under 12 points per game and only 8.6 rebounds through 33 games. Head coach, Brian Shaw, at times is bringing him off the bench and that's a huge question mark. Kenneth Faried brings intensity to the team because he works hard on every possession. He should average around 30-35 minutes per game. The Denver Nuggets are a solid team and Ty Lawson has to become that leader the Nuggets need to surpass their current position. In the NBA today, it is the league of point guards. If the team has a great point guard, they will have a higher chance of making the playoffs like Chris Paul, Stephen Curry, John Wall, and Damian Lillard. Every night Lawson will have to go against solid players and it allows him to develop his game further. Like Jeff Green from the Boston Celtics, Ty Lawson has to be more consistent in order to consider him as an All-Star caliber type of player. I would like to see Kenneth Faried improve on the New Year as he has been stepping up his game lately. On December 26th, Faried has a 26 points and 25 rebounds night. That is unbelievable considering the fact he only played 30 minutes. He has so much upsides and if Brian Shaw starts giving him more minutes, he won't disappoint coach Shaw. There's a reason why Faried's nickname is "The Manimal".
by Bill Baptist/ Getty Images from http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1907837-dont-blame-sacramento-kings-strggules-on-demarcus-cousins A stability in the coaching position would be a good start. Early in the season, head coach Mike Malone was fired after going 11-13. DeMarcus Cousins has already played with four different coaches in his first five seasons in the NBA. This doesn't show much faith in the organization but Cousins is sticking to the program. With the addition of Rudy Gay last year, they team has an athletic wingman who can create their own offense and drive to the basket. The arrival of Darren Collison has certainly been an upgrade over Isaiah Thomas on defense. He can be pesky against other guards averaging 1.6 steals per game. What the Kings need to work on is at the power forward and shooting guard position. A player like Taj Gibson would be a great pickup because he can be a defensive presence inside the paint with Cousins. The duo could be similar to Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol, Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah, or Blake Griffin and Deandre Jordan. Sometimes it's tough to handle the paint by yourself and with the help of Gibson, it might ease up at times for Cousins, resulting in more energy on offense whom they heavily rely on. Playing for Team USA, Cousins has shown signs of maturity which has led to his first All-Star appearance selection for the West. Congratulations, Demarcus Cousins! What can the Kings hope for? We know DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay are not enough to bring them to the playoffs especially with a crowded Western Conference. They can also go after a shooter to kick out to when Cousins is doubled in the post. Someone like Wesley Matthews who is a perfect fit for Lamarcus Aldridge, would be a great pickup. He can shoot the three ball and more importantly, defend his position. Kyle Korver is another player who can space the floor but it looks like he won't be leaving the Atlanta Hawks who seems like a perfect team for him. His impact doesn't show in the stats but he creates easier shots for his teammates because of his lethal outside shooting, a major reason why the Atlanta Hawks are 38-8 and winners of 17 straight games. Having any one of these players for the Kings who be great. Let's see if the Sacramento Kings can improve on their weakness and fight for a playoff spot where they haven't been to for over nine years.
by Gregory Shamus/ Getty Images North America from http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/1NVysp9b40w/Indiana+Pacers+v+Detroit+Pistons/57ZcAj-eZVR/Brandon+Jennings Boy, what a turnaround after my blog about the Detroit Pistons as the most disappointing team so far in the NBA. Let's see the position they were in about a month ago. The Pistons were 5-19 and went on to lose four more games. After the Josh Smith trade, they were on to win seven game straight and here we are today. They just lost to the Atlanta Hawks which is reasonable considering the Hawks are on top of the East. Now the Pistons are 12-24 who are creeping for the 8th seed, Miami Heat. They are just three games back and if the Pistons can make it to the playoffs this season, it was be a great season. Their goal is to get to the playoffs this year and maybe even try to pass the first round. The Detroit Pistons should be getting better year by year. With Andre Drummond as their center, he is a great piece to build around. Now that Brandon Jennings and D.J. Augustin is able to handle the ball instead of Josh Smith, they have been playing great team basketball and winning against quality teams such as Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, and Dallas Mavericks. The Piston's resolution is to go get a player like Draymond Green who can play the small forward position and make the hustle plays. His defense and second chance opportunities are what's going to make the coach happy and Green is one of those special players who doesn't need plays to have an impact on the game. The future is bright for the Pistons who will be on the rise.
by Jesse Johnson from http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2013/01/05/trail-blazers-timberwolves-nicolas-batum-wesley-matthews/1811637/ The Portland Trailblazers are on the verge of homecourt advantage in the playoffs. Separating them from the 8th seed is only five games. There is no room to slack off if they want to maintain their position as the 3rd seed of the West. With rising point guard, Damian Lillard, and team leader, Lamarcus Aldridge, their star duo are capable of bringing their city a championship. That is to say if Aldridge does not re-aggravate his thumb forcing him to have surgery. What's their resolution? Staying healthy just like last year. Between the starters for the Blazers, they have only accumulated 13 missed games total which was all from Lamarcus Aldridge. That is a remarkable number considering the number of minutes they play each game. This year, they have played numerous games without Robin Lopez, Nicolas Batum, and Lamarcus Aldridge. The chemistry will be a bit off because it won't be as consistent as last season. It's tough to past the first round like last year. Any team they face in the first round will be a worthy opponent whether it's the Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, or last year's matchup, Houston Rockets. Chris Kaman has been a great addition who adds a post-up game and solid offense whenever Aldridge heads to the bench. The key to the Portland Trailblazers doing well in the playoffs are Wesley Matthews and Nicolas Batum. Matthew's 3-point shooting is important when Lamarcus Aldridge is double-teamed and needs someone to kick out for an open jumper. We can't give Batum enough credit. He has to defend the elite wings like Lebron James, Kevin Durant, and Paul Millsap. Sometimes he has to guard the quicker guards like James Harden, Demar Derozan, and Monte Ellis. Nicolas Batum may not have plays called for him but he keeps the job done. It's great to have a player like Batum on your team because he's not a one-dimensional player. Let's hope the core of the Portland Trailblazers stay for many years to come.
