...How Things Change, Or Not...

It's been a while since I blogged, and my motivation on blogging again is to rant about how frustrating life has been. I do realize that I've written something similar to this before, and I looked at my Multiply timeline, and saw this post http://voltz1129.multiply.com/journal/item/237/.An_Admission_of_Weakness...?replies_read=2 which, incidentally, was posted on Feb 20, 2011. Talk about coincidence. Is February made to be shitty? 

On to my rants:

In Sickness and In Health

My dad and my aunt are suffering from different illnesses. I'm not sure how serious they are, but I guess they're pretty significant. My aunt had to fly to the US for some treatment, and my mom has regularly accompanied my dad to the doctor for the past couple of weeks for treatment. Since my mom's side rarely has gatherings, I make it a point to be there whenever there is one. My dad has recently been trying to connect by starting a conversation that usually gets me going: basketball. 

I do try to start conversations and keep it going. However, it sometimes is difficult to sustain something that I have never been used to. My mother's side of the family has a huge age gap, and we barely see each other (usually about 8 times a year?), so it comes across as awkward at times when we talk. My dad has always been "right" in everything that we talk about, and never really listened to me (to this day, we still argue about Charles Barkley not having a ring in the NBA). I think that it may be one of the reasons why I'm such a prick at times. It seemed to me that all my life, I never really got to do anything right or impressive for him, that when I'm with my peers, I try to have some kind of superiority complex just so I can make myself feel less inferior.

It's frustrating now that I can't change. I can't shake off the awkwardness with family, nor can I face the inferiority I feel when I talk to my dad. I can hear Britt Reid's dad telling me "trying doesn't count if you're only going to fail". 

========================================================================

On Perfection and Learning

I love my uncle. He sees the best in people, and gives them a chance when nobody else does. That's why I'm working for him, because he's giving me a chance. Outside work, I get to freely talk to him more than I can talk to my dad. But over the past few weeks, I'm learning why my co-workers have a communication problem within the office.

He told me that he can be a different person when he's in work mode. He told me that he would be shouting at me at times, but that would be only within the confines of the office. And with our relationship as family intact, I respect him for that. But as a boss, I'm becoming more and more afraid of him. Well, not because he'd shout at me, but because I'm afraid of being "wrong" again. It's my dad all over again. My uncle rarely taught me stuff, and I've never really practiced some of the things he taught me, that sometimes, I tend to go back and ask him again.

I'm barely being productive these past few days, and I think I'm blaming this stupid fear for my ineffectiveness and lack of effort. I need to talk it out. I'm eating a lot of pride here. I can't wait to win the lottery to start my own business.But for now, I need to persist. And I need to find inspiration and courage to face my fear(s) NOW. 

========================================================================

On Reality and Cheesy Movies

Its always fun to watch cheesy flicks. You get an idea of what makes people react the way they do, and you feel good if their love persists and goes on a "happily ever after" ending. But sometimes, I think they tend to make you forget about your reality, and lose yourself to that fantasy. 

You never question why the protagonists get to eat and not pay for their food, you only see them having a nice dinner date at a fancy place.You never question how they can get off work so easily just to declare feelings for their significant other, you just find the gesture as the sweetest thing ever. You don't ask what they do for a living, you just see that they can go on random getaways to spend time with each other.

Movies are made of fiction, and though they do show some conflict, they resolve it in grand ways that aren't always possible in the real world. It's like fast-forwarding to the good parts, without consideration to the essential parts.

Movies are supposed to entertain us, not provide blueprints of our lives. Its frustrating to want a fairy tale when reality is telling you that things don't work that way. 

========================================================================

Social Networks and Technology

The idea that technology has made it easier to connect to people who are far away and made it more difficult to connect with those who are closer is not new. We all see it happening. And we have acknowledged it.

But as somewhat of a slave to these tech stuff myself, I feel a bit violated because of the widespread use of social networks. While it may be true that the essence of having one is to actually share yourself to the world or friends, it is now becoming more and more limiting despite them being more flexible. When before it catered to a younger audience, now it is almost becoming a necessity that almost everyone has to have one, including your parents. On one side, it is actually fun to think that they are trying to connect with you or your peers, but I don't know, sometimes it just doesn't work that way. 

Blogging is my escape. It is my public diary. I know that people may read my blogs, but I'm pretty confident that nobody really reads it so I feel free to post whatever I want to say in my blogs. I do accept criticism and comments, heck, even jokes about my thoughts, but what I can't accept is ridiculing how I handle my social networks, what I want to share and why I want to share it.

Old people want to be "in" but they never really understand what it is to be "in" this social network thing. There are things some people post that irk me, and there are some posts I do that may irk you, but if I've got reason for it and you don't understand, don't try to be a freakin know-it-all and ridicule small nothings because to me, they are something.

I daresay that social networks are only fun when the right people are in it. That said, I have finally made use of some privacy features of Facebook. I shall take to Twitter for random musings. Facebook just isn't as fun anymore. 

...The "Bakit Sila" Mentality: Keeping a Third World Country Where It Is...

We hate our government.

The Philippines I grew up to, the "free" Philippines not anymore limited by the dictatorial rule of then President Ferdinand Marcos, has always been plagued by corruption. As far as we're concerned, the word "government" is so synonymous with "corruption" that no one would be surprised if they were seen in each other's entry in the thesaurus.

I have been vocal of my support for President Noynoy Aquino during his presidential campaign. After enduring 10 years of crap from the previous administration, everyone wanted positive change. We each had our views, and ultimately, the yellow campaign won. Looking at the state of the government now, it seems as if nothing has actually changed much. Corrupt and/or unqualified politicians are still voted into power and we still loathe the government because of how much tax they deduct from our salaries, only to give back so little.

Despite how loud we shout for change, though, we seem to just let tradition drag us down, then blame it all on the government. Despite our clamor for change, we continue to cultivate our traditions. It shows on the political families that dominate the local scene. And it shows on our everyday lives.

The "Bakit Sila" Mentality 

We Filipinos are creatures of imitation. From movies inspired by Western media to fashion inspired by our neighboring countries. This same drive to imitate is that which keeps us from being a developed country, but it may also serve as an inspiration to finally start change within ourselves. Let me cite some negative examples of this mentality:

On Mall/Train Lines - It's usually chaotic, going to a mall during rush hour, or lining up to get to a train station in the morning. Lines are crazy and people continually bump you to be able to get in first. People with baggage line up at the "express/no bag" lane and guards still check them and let them in. Those who see this do the same, thinking "bakit sila, pumila dun?" and do the same thing. 

On Traffic Rules - Traffic lights. Traffic signs. They're there to be followed, not merely suggest. If it says "yellow" you should slow down, "red" to stop, a sign that crosses out an inverted "U" means you can't make a u-turn on that street. Basic rules and regulations people need to know before being able to acquire a license. Yet because of people who break these rules, those who wonder "eh bakit sila, pwedeng gawin yun?" follow suit, resulting to more chaos on the roads.

Cultivating Corruption - A respected friend of mine was known to be a man of principle back in his college days. Eventually, he got a position in the government and enjoyed the perks it brought. I remember him telling me that its either you let the system eat you up, or fail in that field. The government has become a "survival of the fittest" kind of game, and newbies entering it would have that "bakit sila, ganun kumita?" line of thought, and eventually learn to play the same game the older TraPos play. 

Discipline and Change

I think genuine change still lies within ourselves. Refraining from the negative "bakit sila" mentality and turning it into a positive thought. We envy the roads of Singapore and resign to thinking that its not possible to emulate here, however, we can see traces of it in Subic. How come we can do it in Subic, but can't do it in freakin Quezon City? We shouldn't keep thinking and acting on "bakit sila, pwedeng mag-counterflow" when we should be thinking and acting on "bakit sila, maayos ang disiplina sa kalsada?". 

I do not wish to defend the government, I'm as disappointed as most Filipinos are. While it is easy to blame everything on the government, no change will come to us if we don't trust in it. So, why would we wait for positive changes in a government we can't learn to trust, when we can start change within ourselves by doing ordinary things guided by discipline and not by what others do? Rules are meant to be followed in order to avoid chaos. While breaking some of it allows temporary relief for us, it does not help our cause in aspiring to be a better country to live in.

So I say, stop ranting and start doing. If politicians can't make our country better, why can't we? 

...Afternoon Pakialaman: Spot the Not!...

Sa nuknukan ng pagkabato ko, nagbabasa ako ng mga comments sa websites at fanpages. Ang napala ko ay sakit ng ulo dahil sa maling paggamit ng mga salita. At upang ipamahagi bahagya ang sakit ng ulo ko, idadamay na lang kita.

Nais ko sanang gawing parang pagsusulit ang blog na ito at pahulaan kung ano ang mali, pero habang umuusok ang ilong ko kakaisip at hindi pagsasalita laban sa mga pagkakamaling nakita ko, naisip kong gawin na lang silang katatawanan. Dahil UAAP ang usapan, naniniwala akong tapos na o kasalukuyang nasa kolehiyo pa ang mga naguusap. At punyetang mga pagkakamali yan. Subukan nyo na lang i-tama ang mga pinakialaman kong mga hirit. 

Isang mensahe sa mga tao: wag nang piliting mag-Ingles para magmukhang aral dahil mas nagmumukha ka lang tanga kung di ka talaga marunong.

1. "It seems to me that they lost their esteem when UST started firing back to back to back 3's." 

- Ang daming back! At esteem talaga yung nawala? Lakas pala ng 3 pointers. Kakanood mo ng TV di mo iniintindi. Di porke't pareho ng tunog eh yun din yun.

2. "They are just proving na worth it sila sa final 4 this year"

- Worth what? Ano yung "it"? 

3. "Mga looser kasi kayo." 

- Ano, taga-pagpaluwag? Ito siguro ang salin sa Ingles ng mga kasali sa Paluwagan. (weh!)

4. "This is just an opinion and my insights regarding on how Falcons play."

- Teka, opinion, naging insights, pero is? Ano ba talaga gusto mo palabasin? 

5. "Bawat team gusto makuha ang championship ng walang hustle parang kayo..." 

- Defense wins championships. Not hustle. So may point naman siya. Hassle nga lang basahin comment nya. 

...Panginigalam ng Pakialamero: Oo, Pinoy Ako!...

May mga bagay na gustuhin man natin o hindi, tila naka-imprint na sa pagkatao natin. Marahil dala ng pagpapalaki sa tin, marahil sa kapaligirang nakagisnan natin, marahil sa mga kaibigang nakakasama natin parati. Pero may mga bagay na magkaiba man ang mga pangyayari sa buhay natin, ay mei pagkapare-pareho pa rin sa tin sa kadahilanan lamang na Pilipino tayo. 

Ito ang ilan sa mga bagay na napansin kong hindi nawawala sa ating mga Pilipino saan man sa mundo, kahit paano pa pinalaki ng magulang. Mga bagay na pinakikialaman ko habang pinapanood ang mga tao sa paligid.

"Kain tayo"

Likas sa atin ang isali ang mga tao sa paligid sa kung ano ang ginagawa natin. Ilang beses na rin ako naaya ng mga taong kumakain para saluhan sila. Napadaan ka habang kumakain sila, bigla kang aayain nang "kain tayo!" na kala mo naman buffet yung nasa harap nila. Madalas, baon naman o sariling order ng pagkain ang meron ang meron sa harap nila.

Alam kong nagmamagandang loob lang, at nagpapaka-Pilipino lamang sila. Pero minsan ko na rin naisip na mang-trip lang at makikain talaga. Makihati nga ako sa kinakain nila.

"Malapit na ko"

Dito sa Pilipinas ang ibig sabihin dapat ng "malapit" ay maaaring abot-kamay, dalawang tumbling, o ilang kandirit na lang. Pero madalas, ang katagang "malapit na ko" ay ginagamit lamang para manlinlang ng tao upang di masyadong mainip sa kakaantay.

Meron kasing tinatawag na "Filipino Time" o ang oras na tayong mga Pilipino lang ang nakakaintindi. Basta sigurado, ang oras na ito ay hindi eksakto sa tinakdang oras. Sa mga hindi pa nakakakintindi nito, o kung negatibo ang dating ng katagang "Filipino Time", mas mainam nga namang sabihing "malapit na ako". 

"Basta libre, pwede!"

Nakapagtataka na para sa isang mahirap na bansa, sobrang daming mamamayan ang bukas-loob na gagastos, lalo na pag may sale. At pag may libre, asahan mong dudumugin yan kahit ano pa man yan.

Likas sa ating mga Pilipino ang maghanap ng "free taste" sa mga grocery, o di kaya'y mga sale sa kung saan saan, na tila isang beses lang mangyayari sa buhay ng tao ang sale na yun. Kaya nga lumalakas ngayon ang mga website na nagbibigay ng mga sale, tulad ng DealGrocer at Ensogo.

"Ikaw ang boss ko"

Kilala ang katagang binitawan ni P-Noy noong unang SONA nya. Tayong mga mamamayan daw ang boss nya. Parang bago sa mga pandinig natin, pero di ba totoo naman para sa karamihan ng mga Pilipino? 

Kakain ka sa restaurant, ang tawag mo sa waiter, "boss". Magbabayad ka sa jeep, ang sasabihin mo eh "boss, bayad po". Tatanong sa sikyo ng direksyon, "boss, san po ba dito yung.."

Meron ba tayong inferiority complex na tila lahat na lang ng tao sa paligid eh "boss" natin?=P 

Ang Walang Lamang "Kamusta"

Ano ba ang salitang Pilipino sa Ingles na "Hi"? Tila "kamusta?" ang nagiging katumbas nito. Nakakatawa lang minsan kasi, wala ka naman talagang interes na kamustahin ang tao, gusto mo lang siyang batiin. Pero dahil Pilipino ka, nasasabi mo na lang bigla ang "kamusta?"

Madalas, ang unang nasasagot ng nasabihan nito ay "ito.." na tila hinahayaan ang kausap na husgahan na kung anong tingin nya sa kalagayaan ng taong kinumusta. Walang tama o maling sagot. "Hi" lang ang gustong sabihin, simpleng ngiti, onting kaway, posibleng beso, pero wala lang naman; gusto lang nyang ipaalam sa iyo na kilala ka pa rin nya. 

Pero minsan, parang trip kong kwentuhan ng buhay ko yung biglang magsabi nyan. Yung tipong, makasalubong ko sa mall habang nagmamadali siya, tapos kakamayan ko pag sinabi nyang "kamusta?" sabay kwento ng mala-teleseryeng kwento ng buhay ko nung mga nakalipas na araw. Tingnan ko lang kung di siya matutong mag-"hi" na lang sa susunod.

Kamustahan ng Obvious

Eto naman ang karugtong ng tanong na "kamusta?". Natural lang sa atin ang mangamusta sa ating mga kaibigang matagal na nating hindi nakikita. Ngunit hinding hindi naman mawawala sa kamustahan ang unang bati: "tumataba ka na ah!" Pag mga bata naman ang pinag-uusapan, ang unang nasasabi ay "ang laki laki mo na!" susundan pa ng "parang kelan lang, karga karga lang kita, ngayon.." 

Tila ata may hilig tayong mga Pilipino na pansinin ang mga bagay na kapansin pansin naman, o di kaya'y obvious na. Siyempre lalaki na lang yung bata, sa alanganamang lumiit pa yan? Eh kung patpatin yung tao nung huli mong nakita, sa alanganamang pumayat pa lalo yan sa susunod ninyong pagkikita? Pucha yung mataba nga minsan nasasabihan pang "tumataba ka ah!" dahil lang sa habit ng pagbati ng pagtaba ng tao eh.

Suggested Answers:

1. Kaw din!

2. Yumayaman eh. May pang-kain.

3. Tapos na ko lumaki ng pahaba, palapad naman.

*Hindi sinama sa suggested answers ang posibleng sagutin ng bata. Masamang ehemplo ang pinapakita natin kung turuan na silang sumagot sa murang edad.

"Mind your own business"

Ito siguro ang isa sa mga katagang hindi naman talaga pwede sa ting mga Pilipino. Kahapon lang, habang naghihintay magsimula ang misa sa Padre Pio, may nagbubukas ng pintuan at medyo maingay. Ang mga tao naman sa paligid ko, tingin ng tingin sa pintuan na tila tatahimik ang mundo pag nakatingin sila.

Ilang aberya na ba meron sa kalsada ang nakita mo na pinagkaguluhan ng mga "usi" kung tawagin natin? May nagsisigawang mag-asawa, mei magkukumpulang tao. May nasiraan ng kotse, magkukumpulan ang tao. May umiiyak na bata, may magkukumpulang tao. Sa 10 tao na magkukumpulan, 5 lang ang magtatanong, at siguro, 2 lang ang tutulong, pero isa lang marahil ang makatulong talaga. 

Tapos nagtataka ka pa kung bakit kasali sa pambansang balita ang "Chika Minute" at "Showbiz Patrol" na tila nakasalalay ang progreso ng bansa sa susunod na ka-love team ni John Lloyd.

Kung iniisip mo na hindi ka interesado, pwes... Akala mo lang yun.

"Babay na talaga."

Ang pagpapaalam siguro ang pinakamahirap na gawin nating mga Pilipino. Pag nagkikita kita, madalas ay matinding paalamanan muna bago kayo tuluyang magkahiwa-hiwalay. Halimbawa, bumisita ka sa bahay ng kaibigan. Tapos, magpapaalam ka na. Nariyan na ang beso, ang kamayan, ang tawanan, ang "next time ulit", ang pasalamatan, at kung ano ano pa. Nandun pa rin kayo sa pwesto nyo, pero nakatayo na kayo. Pag mei nakapansin, sisimula na ang paglalakad palabas. Siyempre bilang maybahay, ihahatid ka nila palabas. Pagdating sa labas, mei kwentuhan pa rin na pahabol. Tapos pag medyo nakatagal tagal nanaman, mei papansin nanaman nyan, at saka lang tuluyang makakaalis.

Sige, sabihin mo sa kin na mabilis ka lang magbabay. Kita tayo.=P 

==================================================================

Ito'y mga bagay na di ko naman pinipigilan. Dahil di naman kaya, bilang mga Pilipino tayo. Di ko rin naman kinukutya dahil minsan mei mga nagagawa din ako dyan. Pinapansin ko lang at sinusulat. Pakialamero kasi ako.:P

…On Sunday Masses and Religion…

"I like your Christ; I do not like your Christians.
Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
-Mahatma Gandhi

I am a Catholic Christian, though not a “model” example. But I do take to heart the Apostle’s Creed. I do firmly believe in God. In my own way, I believe that I have a strong faith in Him. I was schooled in Christian schools ever since I was a kid. I am thankful that the formative years of my faith were spent within Don Bosco Mandaluyong, because I think they built a strong enough foundation for me to always put Him ahead of everything that I do.

Now that I got that out of the way, let me make my points. I rarely go to Church on Sundays since college. I don’t blame my being a Philosophy major, even though people tend to attribute it to that. Philosophy didn’t teach me to think, but it inspired me to be more critical. And being critical made me sad, as a Catholic Christian, that parishioners have somewhat become mindless drones who go to Church without knowing why they’re really there. The hourly masses at Baclaran on Sundays have become like free-seating movies; people come in anytime, and leave after they reach the same part of the next mass. At another church, some old people who seem like regular church-goers don’t seem to know when to sit and stand without some lector telling them to. Everyone is looking at everyone else feeling out what they would do.

I still go to mass occasionally, but only because it’s family time. I sometimes refuse, because I find it hypocritical for me to go there and not want to be there. I want to hear mass because my heart openly wants to hear the word of the Lord and to be with my family, not because I am dragged to go out of obligation and to have the opinions of men shoved into my system. While it is nice to know that the men who serve the Lord are all keeping up to date with current events, I’m a bit disappointed that they use the Homily to spread their cause. I write not because of my inclination towards the issue, but rather because I feel as if my religion is being alienated by political intentions.

My high school Religion teacher (now a priest), on the issue of EDSA 2, did explain to me why the Church had to be involved. “To protect the morality of the nation from an immoral leader,” was the gist of what I learned from him. Today, the RH Bill and the Divorce bill are prominent topics that are inserted to Homilies I hear. I do not wish to defend any side; both have their pros and cons. But I do want to defend my Church. If I wanted to hear the Church’s view on the matter, I would gladly listen through different avenues (public forums, interviews, debates, etc) than in the House of God.

The Philippines may be the biggest/only Catholic country in Asia, but we have to understand that the constitution separated the Church and the state for a reason. As our population grew, so did the number of religions our country plays host to. Why, then, should the Church be so vocal to the extent of dedicating part of the Sunday Mass to discuss the “perils” of the proposed bills?

I am more inclined to believe that despite such a growing population, our nation is still not prepared for such radical changes. There are still the malleable minds of those parishioners I spoke of above, who will blindly follow what has been “taught” to them during the Homily. And to be fair, there are the media puppets, who dance to the tune of whatever is being thrown at them, blindly defending something they know only “parts” of, and not the whole picture.  

I just want my Church back.

...On Filipino Hospitality...

We, as a nation, are known to be generally hospitable. We accommodate visitors pretty well, we smile at people often, we talk to strangers, and we are just, generally nice. Best example; if you're walking on the road or even the mall, then someone stops to ask for directions, do you not try to help out? We just can't be rude. 

On Invitations and Greetings

We have this "nakakahihiya kasi" mentality that sometimes gets us to a situation we're uncomfortable with. While talking casually with people, we tend to sometimes bring up plans that they're not included, and we usually end up trying to invite them without the intention of really inviting them. For example:

1. "Gusto mo sumama?" - after opening a plan that originally didn't include person you're talking to, but it's with common friends. 

2. "Kain tayo!" - while munching on a burger for yourself, with no extra food on the table.

3. "Kamusta?" - the most generic greeting, and the first you would get from an acquaintance you haven't seen in a while.

These are the most common invitations we get. And just because we can't be rude and decline outrightly, we have these following answers:

Replies to invitations to an invitation or event you won't go to:

1. "Try ko." - They probably won't even try, but the effort has to be shown that you're interested, so as not to be rude. 

2. "Text text!" - You won't get any. They probably wouldn't text you either, anyway. 

3. "Habol ako." - Probably won't. But personally, I usually do.=P

Replies to above-mentioned eating invites:

1. "Sige lang, *add smile*" - Nicest way of saying "nakasubo na kaya lahat ng pagkain nyo para sa inyo"

2. "Ok lang, kakakain ko lang din" - But you haven't. Nakakahiya lang makiupo at maging masiba. 

Replies to "kamustahan":

1. "Eto, ok lang, ikaw?" - Basic conversation killer. You'd probably get the same "ok lang" reply, and conversation ends there. Then person pulls out the "pumapayat/tumataba ka" card.

2. 

On Ending Conversations

"Like"

"Haha"

"Oo nga eh"

...Playoffs 2011: The Second Round...

The playoffs mark the start of separating the boys from the men. But it's relatively easy to determine who the contenders are and who outdid themselves. The second round is where the battle really begins: my predictions now are more based on my faith in the teams rather than an assessment of their first round performance. Sure the first round matters. But, as I said, I will predict based more on emotions, as all the series could go either way.

*I was 2 series off in the first round, relying too much on Spurs' experience (though in analysis, had the Grizz actually capable of an upset), and hating the Celtics too much to hope that Knicks could have a chance against them.

The East

(1) Chicago Bulls vs (5) Atlanta Hawks

How they got here:

Chicago was somewhat pushed to the limit by a nothing-to-lose Indiana Pacers team. They played their hearts out and almost pulled an upset over the top-seeded Bulls. Derrick Rose anchored the Bulls series win with amazing performances in every game. Pacers limited the Chicago bigs, especially Carlos Boozer, who was expected to anchor the Bulls offense inside. As expected, Pacers gave them a fight which they ultimately won. The series did nothing more than solidify Rose's case for MVP.

The Hawks pulled off the expected upset of the slightly-favored Orlando Magic. It may be argued that they won on 2 bad shots, one that went in (Jamaal Crawford's far 3 pointer in the closing moments of Game 4), and one that didn't (Hedo Turkgolu's forced 3-pointer as time expired in Game 5, despite an open, unbelievably hot Gilbert Arenas waiting for the pass). But a win is a win, and they bested one of the favored teams in the East. 

Prediction: Bulls in 7

As mentioned in my first round prediction, I believe that the Hawks are strong as a team. But the playoffs is about match ups. They got through the Orlando series because they match up well against them, and since the offensive playbook of the Magic revolves around Dwight Howard, it was fairly easy for them to advance because they had nice bigs to go against him one on one, making it difficult for the Magic to create other scoring opportunities (the idea behind the Magic offense is to pull everything to a monster force down low, so that the opposing team would double on him, and he'll find the open shooter). Now this is a pretty interesting match up, really.

Against Chicago, the Hawks' biggest piece is Kirk Hinrich. He was the face of the Chicago franchise before Rose came in and was essentially handed the keys to the team. It's not that Captain Kirk wasn't needed in the Bulls lineup anymore; he was a necessary sacrifice to pull off a transition to the Rose era. He's still an able defender, and having played with Rose for a full year last year, would have a pretty good idea how to defend his successor.

The Bulls' supposed advantage down low is the agile big men they have in Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer. However, that can easily be offset by moving Al Horford back to the Center position to match up with Noah, and move Josh Smith back to the 4 spot to go up against Boozer.

Despite these match ups, I peg Chicago to win because of two things: Luol Deng and clutch situations. With everybody busy drooling over every play Derrick Rose makes, Deng will do the dirty stuff like clearing the boards and other intangibles like off-ball defense and stuff. Joe Johnson will have to work for his shots because they might slide Deng over to him if another able defender in Keith Bogans is on the bench. As for clutch, Atlanta relies heavily on sheer dumb luck rather than skill. Most of their close games were won because of a lapse on the part of the opposing team or a bad shot that just miraculously fell through. Their best clutch player would be Joe Johnson, and he will be defended well. Chicago has Rose who will create on an isolation, and once he gets that first step on his first defender, it doesn't matter if there were 5 guys who goes up against him.

Prediction goes otherwise if: 

Derrick Rose's ankle injury gets worse. The Bullls go as far as D-Rose takes them, despite the abundance of talent in that lineup. 

*AFTER REVIEW FROM HAWKS.COM: After MRI on his ankle, it was revealed that Kirk Hinrich suffered a significant injury that could keep him out of the Chicago series. This is a huge blow that could drive Chicago to sweep or drop just one game. 

(2)Miami Heat vs (3) Boston Celtics

How they got here:

Miami had a fairly easy time against Philadelphia, but they did not leave that series unchallenged. Philly gave a good fight, but the three superstars responded well to the challenge. It was great for them to lose a game to the over-performing/well-coached Sixers, because it eliminates the illusion of invincibility in the team. They saw what happens when LeBron has the ball in close, end game situations, and when they put the ball in Wade's hands. What they do with what they know is up to them, but will probably dictate the series.

The defending East champs swept the Knicks, but that doesn't mean they didn't get a scare. The series came down to who had more big time players. Rondo played like it was the first half of the season again, and KG came up clutch in Game 2, which was a big blow to the morale of the Knicks. To some extent, they might have had the luck of the draw when Amar'e got injured, but that is no excuse. The C's is a good team that is a legit contender for the NBA Title. I daresay that whoever comes out of this series will win the East, no matter who comes out of the other East series. This is a true test of fire for both teams predicted to be on top of the East during the preseason.

Prediction: Miami in 7

This is a series that could go either way, no matter how Celtics fans insist that this is going to be easy for them. The biggest thing Miami has now that they never had against a favored opponent is home court advantage. This year, they start at home, coming off a win to close out the Philadelphia series. They still have momentum in the building, while the C's have rested a bit. I expect this series to be a home and home series, with no team stealing one on the road. They have genuine hate for each other, with trash thrown each other's ways directly, indirectly, in-game, and off-the court. 

The season series showed how Celtics can dominate the Miami Superfriends, but if it's any indication, Miami won the final encounter between the two teams. Have they figured out how to beat the Celtics? Or was it a lucky break? For certain, the Celtics couldn't have tanked that matchup, since they were both in the running for the top or second spot in the east then, and they would probably choose to lose against the Wizards or something rather than lose to Miami.

This series can't be dissected into match ups, because this is about pride for both teams more than anything else. Well, probably second to LeBron's diva-esque need to "take revenge" on the Celtics for beating him twice as a member of the Cavaliers in the past 3 years. Checking out the match ups though; the Center position is not too much of a factor since Perk was traded away. Essentially, it is the weak spot for the Heat, but Joel Anthony has gone unnoticed throughout the season, but is actually an underrated player. He plays the role that Perk once did for the C's when they had their championship run; with all the attention on the Big Three, Perk was essentially the anchor in the middle that enabled KG to extend his range. For Anthony, he has improved his offensive awareness and has greater confidence now, understanding that he has to contribute in order for his team to win. Early on in the season, he will pump fake or hesitate if he gets the ball inside. Now, he just goes up strong. For the C's, they are still hoping for Shaq to come back to play for them, but they have a plethora of big men to fill up space in the middle. Not as good as Perk, but enough to offset Anthony.

The PF spot is a no contest, with KG dominating that spot. Bosh was never known to be a tenacious defender, but he can most certainly try. They essentially play the same role on offense; stretch the D with range, and mix in some post up moves occasionally. On defense, though, KG could eat Bosh on both ends.

The 3 spot is a marquee match up against the Diva, er.. "King" and The Truth. It's always a joy to watch both players going at it, with Pierce's range and clutch shooting offsetting James' "talent" and athleticism.

The battle at the two spot features two players who can beat the other's team in their own ways; Allen can shoot the lights out on the other team while Wade can dissect the defense to create for himself.

At the point, Rondo's superior ability to orchestrate the Boston offense can be a huge problem for the Heat. They have Mario Chalmers who can try to stop him, but not much anyone else. Mike Bibby and Eddie House are essentially the same players; shooters, but defends like a high school girl. The difference would probably be the confidence that Chalmers carries over from their last win against Philadelphia; he was fed with the ball and was asked to shoot. With guys like LeBron and Wade egging you to shoot, and giving you that much confidence in a closeout game, how can you not trust yourself?

Prediction goes otherwise if: 

The bench players of Boston produce as they're expected to. Clearly, talent-wise, Boston is stacked while Miami is so-so because they spent their cash on bringing in "talents" for their team. They do have Mike Miller and possibly Udonis Haslem, but how much can that match up against a more confident Jeff Green and an energized Glen Davis? 

The West

(4)Oklahoma City Thunder vs (8)Memphis Grizzlies

How they got here: 

Oklahoma got the better of a well-coached team in Denver, crushing Denver's hopes of becoming the second team since the 03/04  (I forgot which) Detroit team that went all the way to the finals despite not having a legit star. But people expected much from OKC since pushing the Lakers to 7 games last season, and Kevin Durant nearly winning the MVP title last year. This year, Westbrook's improvement "dimmed" Durant's chance to challenge for the MVP title. They combined masterfully to conquer the scrappy Denver team, and despite the 4-1 series win, they didn't go through it unchallenged. 

As mentioned in my West prediction blog, the Grizz are a dangerous team more than capable of pulling off an upset over the Spurs. I did not think that they'd do it this year, but Manu Ginobili playing hurt throughout the series may have affected the play of the Spurs, not to mention the ever-efficient Tim Duncan getting dominated by Zach Randolph. Tony Allen has been huge for the Grizz, more for his intangibles than anything; championship experience, defense, energy, and pure love for the game and constant desire to improve. Marc Gasol has been big for the Grizz in the series, literally and figuratively. He has been the better Gasol in the postseason so far. 

Prediction: Oklahoma in 6

The Thunder was a Pau Gasol tip in away from preventing the Lakers from a 3-peat. This year, they have a dramatically improved team; Westbrook has been phenomenal, and Kendrick Perkins has changed their defensive make-up, allowing Serge I-blocka to slide down to the 4 to provide outstanding interior defense that they didn't have last year. As I mentioned, the post season is all about match ups, and this one just doesn't happen to favor the Grizz too much, especially considering their first round performance. 

The Grizz relied heavily on their leader, Zach Randolph throughout the season and against the Spurs. Marc Gasol performed excellent as well against the San Antonio bigs. The difference now is that they have Perkins and Ibaka manning the middle for the Thunder, rendering Gasol's post up moves, and pretty much every Grizzly drive to the hole, a low-percentage shot. On offense, Z-bo can probably stretch Ibaka out to the perimeter, but can't do the same for Perk. Z-bo and Gasol are going to be beaten up with Ibaka and Perk pounding their chests in the middle. 

The Grizz have two defensive specialists in their lineup as well; Tony Allen and Shane Battier to cover Kevin Durant and Russel Westbrook's offense, which is good news. The bad news for them; the Thunder still has James Harden, who will be left unguarded in their offense should Allen slide down to defend Westbrook. Mike Conley is an able playmaker, but won't do much for defense, either on Westbrook or on Harden.

I maintain that Z-bo's 3 pointer in game 3 in the closing minutes of the game was the difference in the San Antonio series. It generally destroyed the morale of the team in that game, and the negative psyche of being down 3-1 didn't help the young core of players I expected to help the Spurs in this series. Had Z-bo missed that shot, this series would've easily gone 2-2, with the Spurs closing out at home in 7. That said, the Thunder have two closers/clutch players in Westbrook and Durant, while the Grizz will be a bit predictable; turning to Z-bo in the clutch. 

Prediction goes otherwise if: 

Harden fails to show up for the Thunder. With Westbrook and Durant clearly being marked men, the Thunder will have to rely on other players to pick up the slack and give Memphis all that it could handle. 

(2)Los Angeles Lakers vs (3) Dallas Mavericks

How they got here: 

The defending champs met a bit of a roadblock in New Orleans, when the latter stunned them at home in game 1 of their series, which was expected to be swept by the Lakers after the Hornets' leading scorer, David West, went down at the end of the season. Chris Paul was sensational in the series, and it took a Kobe Bryant dunk to wake the boys in Purple and Gold. They Lakers eventually took care of business, but not without showing chinks in their armor.

The Mavericks have always been criticized for their defense, and as I recognized (won't so much as claim that I had the original idea, since I did read from several authors), their team make up changed when they picked up Tyson Chandler in the offseason. The series could have easily gone either way, but ultimately, the Mavs prevailed thanks to the ever-reliable Diggler. It's not the lack of talent that doomed the Blazers, nor is it the lack of will (see Brandon Roy's performance in game 4). I daresay that it is the dramatic improvement of the Mavericks, finally claiming to have a "D" in Dallas. 

Prediction: Lakers in 6

Despite the improved team, the Mavericks won't be able to overcome the Lakers. I honestly want to give the Mavs their home wins, but I think, with the swagger that the Lakers are carrying now, they would make a statement and close out on game 6 in Dallas. The Mavs are too hyped up and too good to be swept in this round. And yes, I would bet on that.

The Lakers have Matt Barnes back and Ron Artest flexing his muscles again, not to mention Steve Blake back to provide stability in the back court. This cast of supporting players can shut down a wide array of Dallas weapons, from the starting lineup to the bench. And we haven't talked about the huge Laker frontcourt in Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, and Lamar Odom.

The huge advantage Dallas had over the Blazers was clutch play. Brandon Roy wasn't the same player he was before he got injured. Now, Dirk's clutch play will be offset by arguably the best closer in the game; the Black Mamba, Kobe Bryant.

Shawn Marion has been pretty much the most consistent player in the Mavs lineup since the start of the season, but he's not the same Matrix as he was some years back in Phoenix. He can still defend and give the intangibles on the court, but with the stack of talent in LA, you can't just stop Kobe and expect the whole team to collapse. 

Pau Gasol has been criticized throughout their series with the Hornets, considering he didn't have to defend a David West. However, he didn't dominate the paint as he was expected to, prompting critics to burn Pau by saying the better Gasol is in Memphis right now. If Marion can successfully defend Kobe, Gasol's effectiveness will play a huge part in the Lakers' success. 

Prediction goes otherwise if:

Kobe Bryant's ankle injury is legit. It's one thing to miss Kobe for a few minutes, but it's another to miss him all throughout. Other than that, there aren't too many scenarios where Lakers will lose this round. It's not to underestimate the Mavs, I understand how good a team they are, but the Lakers are just too much for the Mavs to handle. The season-ending injury to Caron Butler may have doomed their chances for a deep playoff run even before the playoffs began. 

====================================================================

I'm going for games going 6-7 games deep not to play safe, but more because these games are just too close to call (except the Bulls series if Hinrich is out of commission). These are the best of the NBA, and it would be interesting to see the winners of the Miami-Boston series and the Dallas-LA series, as they would come out better teams after being tested by such quality teams.