Clippers win streak up to 12. Heat tie Knicks on top the East. Bobcats now have lost 15 straight.

Two teams are streaking, one in a good way, the other in a bad way. Here are some of the highlights of Week 8 of the 2012-13 NBA season.

Clippers win streak now stands at 12!

Photo ©NBA/Clippers.com 

Things are looking well in Tinseltown, this time thanks to the men from Lob City, the Los Angeles Clippers, as they continue with their win streak at 12 games and they are now the hottest team in the NBA today, after the league-leading Oklahoma City Thunder suffered a setback against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis, which ended a 12 game winning streak for them. The Clippers are now sitting in second place in the Western Conference behind the Thunder. This week, point guard Chris Paul also made history, he became the 3rd youngest player in NBA history to reach the 5,000 assists in his career in a game against the New Orleans Hornets at home. In fact, Paul himself didn't knew that he had set history and was left wondering why the Clipper Nation in attendance are giving a standing ovation. These guys are giving people in Tinseltown a reason to cheer about as their more popular co-tenants the Lakers are going through a dramatic season with a lot of ups and downs. With a streak snapped out West, who knows when their streak will come to an end.

Heat tie Knicks for top spot in the East.

Photo ©NBA/Heat.com

The reigning NBA champions Miami Heat have tied the New York Knicks on top of the Eastern Conference, the Knicks who suffered a home setback against the Chicago Bulls on a game that saw the Knicks star forward Carmelo Anthony, center Tyson Chandler, head coach Mike Woodson and Chicago's Joakim Noah get ejected from the game. Meanwhile, the Heat have now won four straight games with their usual protagonists of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh leading the way. The Heat are at 18-6, while the Knicks stand at 19-7. It is going to be another wild finish on top of the Eastern Conference with both the Knicks and Heat jockeying for position on top and with the Atlanta Hawks not far behind. Who knows who will be the best team in the East at the end of the season.

Bobcats losing streak stands at 15.

Photo ©NBA/Bobcats.com

A promising start to the season has turned into a nightmare for the Charlotte Bobcats, as they have now dropped their 15th straight game bringing back memories of their disastrous campaign last season when they capped the season with a 23 game losing streak. Despite a strong season from their young backcourt of sophomore Kemba Walker and rookie Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and the Bobcats being competitive all-season long, they have failed to capitalized their good play into victories. Most of the games in this losing streak were decided in the final moments, while some games, they played bad and suffered massive routs from their opponents. From standing as high as 6th place in the Eastern Conference, they have now fallen into 13th place only ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Washington Wizards. These guys from the Queen City still have a lot of work to do, they are a young team, and these growing pains will make them even better in the future.

Meanwhile in Week 7, Paul George of the Indiana Pacers becomes the 6th player to win the Eastern Conference Player of the Week award for the season. While David Lee of the Golden State Warriors also becomes the 6th player to receive the Western Conference Player of the Week award for the season.

Here are the standings from across the association:

Western Conference:

1. Thunder (21-5), 2. Clippers (20-6), 3. Grizzlies (18-7), 4. Spurs (20-8), 5. Warriors (18-10), 6. Timberwolves (13-11), 7. Rockets (14-12), 8. Nuggets (15-13), 9. Trail Blazers (13-12), 10. Jazz (14-14), 11. Lakers (13-14), 12. Mavericks (12-15), 13. Suns (11-16), 14. Kings (8-18), 15. Hornets (5-22)

Eastern Conference:

1. Heat (18-6), 2. Knicks (19-7), 3. Hawks (16-9), 4. Bulls (15-11), 5. Pacers (16-12), 6. Bucks (14-12), 7. Nets (13-12), 8. Celtics (13-13), 9. 76ers (13-14), 10. Magic (12-14), 11. Raptors (9-19), 12. Pistons (9-21), 13. Bobcats (7-20), 14. Cavaliers (6-23), 15. Wizards (3-22)

Once again, both sides are having tight races for the top and middle spots in the standings. 23 out of the 30 teams have now won at least 10 games with the West having 13 of the 15 teams with 10 wins or more, while the East have 10 of the 15 teams with 10 wins or more.

Stay tuned for the final edition of my NBA weekly blog for 2012 will come to you next week.

K-Smoove

Who said it's the END? I say, it's just the BEGINNING of something BIG!

Photo ©Karl Carandang

Yesterday was December 21, 2012 and the date rings a bell, as some people believe on that day, the WORLD will come to an END as predicted by the Mayans (which they categorically denied) and popularized by the movie "2012" which was released in 2009. Yet, today is December 22, nothing bad happened, no doomsday scenarios happened, and we're all alive and well, and I'm here to share what happened on that day.

Well, before Thomasians head for the Christmas break. One special event happens here, a time for celebration and joy, that is the annual Paskuhan where thousands of Thomasians as well as our friends studying elsewhere and families converge in UST for a day filled with the spirit of Christmas.

The day began with our class Christmas party in the morning, where we had games like Eat Bulaga's Pinoy Henyo where unfortunately, me and my partner lost causing us to do a  dance, and I get to show them my version of PSY's record-breaking hit "Gangnam Style". Other games include the newspaper dance and stop dance, as well as our traditional singing contest among the ladies. Then we had lunch, as well as a raffle where the grand prize was a Jansport bag. Unfortunately for me, I never won in the raffle, even the minor prizes I did not won at least one of them. Then came the exchange gifts. For me, I gave a book to my blockmate who I drew up with in the lottery. Then on my end, I also received a book from my blockmate. The book is entitled "Win Like Lin", a story about Jeremy Lin, the "Linsanity" story in New York, and the keys to his success. Of course, I always appreciate an underdog story since I can relate with it on my own life. As for most of my life, I have been the underdog and I always have to win my way to the top.

 Photo ©Karl Carandang

After the Christmas party, I took a rest drinking a cup of Coffee Jelly Frapuccino in a nice place around campus. Then I went along with one of my former mentors in UST for dinner and went around campus to see people around and settled by the field for the Paskuhan concert with some of my friends from another section. The highlight of each Paskuhan is the fireworks display, of course UST has a distinction as the "Pyromusical Capital of the Philippines". The fireworks lasted for around 6 minutes, it was shorter than previous years, but it was still a sight to see. Then after, we went our own ways. Before I went out of campus, I got to see my high school friends (some of which I haven't seen for a very long time) and got time to catch up with them for a bit. Afterwards, I went out of campus, for home. Despite having a great time at this year's Paskuhan, one regret I had is that I never got to spend a time of the night with my blockmates. But, I'll make it all up to them as soon as we come back next year.

Now the Christmas break has begun, a break from schoolwork and a time to spend the holidays with my family and friends. For now, I can rest, sit back and enjoy this festive time of the year. To my blockmates, until then, see you next year!

The holiday season has arrived.

K-Smoove

Ricky Rubio returns. Thunder and Clippers streaking. Bobcats in a funk.

The return of the Spanish wonder, win streaks and losing skids. Here are the highlights of Week 7 of the 2012-13 NBA season.

Ricky Rubio returns to action.

Photo ©NBA/Timberwolves.com

After a horrific ACL and LCL injury on his left knee last March that cut his rookie season in the NBA short. The Spanish sensation returns to action for the first time in his sophomore campaign. Ricky Rubio made a rousing return with the Minnesota Timberwolves in today's game against the Dallas Mavericks at the Target Center. Rubio dished out the rock like he never got hurt dishing out 9 assists with 8 points and 3 steals in 18 minutes of action as the Timberwolves defeated the Mavericks in overtime 114-106. Rubio's return gives a much needed boost to a Timberwolves squad who have been riddled with injuries all season long to players like Brandon Roy, Chase Budinger, Josh Howard and even Kevin Love who is suffering from the flu. The Timberwolves though have remained competitive all-season long as they are in 6th place in the Western Conference at 12-9, and that is a testament to head coach Rick Adelman who has made teams riddled with injuries competitive each season as seen when he was the coach for the Houston Rockets a few seasons back. With "La Pistola" back in the mix, and Love's impending return to the lineup, the Wolves are ready to make a lot of noise out West.

Thunder and Clippers, stroking hot with win streaks.

Photos ©NBA/Thunder.com, Clippers.com

In the Western Conference, two teams are having their own this season with win streaks of their own. The reigning Western Conference Champions Oklahoma City Thunder have now put up a 10 game winning streak as they have now taken the top reigns of the Western Conference at 19-4 as well as holding the best record in the NBA so far this season. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Clippers have also put up a winning streak of their own, they have now won 9 games in a row and are sitting in third place in the Western Conference behind the Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs at 17-6. Both teams have dynamic duos with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook leading the charge for the Thunder while Chris Paul and Blake Griffin leading the Lob City crew. These two teams are ready to contend for a shot at the championship. Who knows when their winning streaks will end?

Bobcats in a losing skid once again.

Photo ©NBA.com

Last season was a disastrous year for the Charlotte Bobcats, they finished with the worst record in NBA history 7-59 (10.6%). However, fortunes changed at the start of the new season with the Bobcats garnering 7 wins in the first 12 games of the season and the Bobcats are in the mix for a spot at the playoffs. Unfortunately, after their good start, the Bobcats have gone back to their losing ways. The Bobcats have now lost 11 straight games and are now in 11th place in the Eastern Conference at 7-16.  The Bobcats despite having promising players like Kemba Walker and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist are a very young team. There is always room for improvement. For now, the Bobcats have to find a way to get out of the funk and start winning games again if they want to make some noise in the East.

Meanwhile, Josh Smith becomes the second Atlanta Hawks player after Al Horford to be awarded the Eastern Conference Player of the Week in Week 6 of the season. While Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers becomes the 5th recepient of the Western Conference Player of the Week award this season on Week 6 of the season.

Here's how the teams are faring across the association:

Western Conference:

1. Thunder (19-4), 2. Spurs (19-6), 3. Clippers (17-6), 4. Grizzlies (15-6), 5. Warriors (16-8), 6. Timberwolves (12-9), 7. Jazz (13-12), 8. Nuggets (12-12), 9. Rockets (11-11), 10. Mavericks (11-13), 11. Trail Blazers (10-12), 12. Lakers (10-14), 13. Suns (9-15), 14. Kings (7-15), 15. Hornets (5-17)

Eastern Conference:

1. Knicks (18-5), 2. Heat (15-6), 3. Hawks (14-7), 4. Bulls (13-9), 5. Nets (13-10), 6. Bucks (12-10), 7. Pacers (13-11), 8. 76ers (12-11), 9. Celtics (12-11), 10. Magic (10-13), 11. Bobcats (7-16), 12. Pistons (7-19), 13. Raptors (5-19), 14. Cavaliers (5-20), 15. Wizards (3-18)

There has been plenty of changes on top and in the middle of the standings with teams rising at the same time teams falling in the standings. 22 of the 30 teams have picked up at least 10 wins this season.

Stay tuned as a new edition of my NBA weekly blog comes out next week.

El Niño from El Masnou is back!

K-Smoove

Down south for some cool mountain air and the "Ala Eh!" feeling.

Last week, me and five of my blockmates went south to my home province of Batangas (though I'm a person who was born and raised in the metropolis for most of my life). We went there as part of our research for one of our projects. We went to the area by public transportation, taking a jeep from school to the LRT station for a train ride to the bus terminal where we took a bus to the destination. We first visited the municipal hall of Sto. Tomas (which is my father's hometown) for official business, then afterwards we went to my grandmother's place for the night. Fortunately, we were able to catch up with the final moments of the PCCL Finals and I was able to witness UST's victory over Ateneo in Game 3 for the championship. Then, me and my cousin, went back to town to order dinner for myself and my blockmates as well as drinking water. Afterwards, we settled for the night. As expected, the cool air made for a comfortable and good night sleep.

The following day, the rest of my family arrived from Manila, then me and my blockmates went to the next town which is Tanauan City where the annual Ala Eh! Festival is being held. One of my blockmates who did not join us the first time joined on that day as well. We saw the parade showcasing every city and town in the province of Batangas. We also came to stream of shops from the locals including products from each city and municipality of the province. We had a great time there. Afterwards, we went back to Sto. Tomas to look for land around town for the project we are working on. After scouting the area, we went back home, then my blockmates brought their bags and left going back to Manila.

Well, after my blockmates left, I rested for most of the day. The following day, we celebrated my grandmother's birthday at a nearby resort by the mountain for lunch. After the party, we packed our things and went back home to Manila.

It was a rewarding time to be back in my home province to get some cool air. As well as the opportunity to do something we want to achieve and make possible in the future. This is just the start of something BIG. I'll be back in town soon, and this time I'll make the most of my time there.

Back home for a reason worth pursuing.
K-Smoove