Western Conference Finals Preview

As the Western Conference Finals approach, I felt it was necessary to write a preview. Without further adieu...

Center

Andrew Bynum 15.0/8.3/1.0 (10.3/8.9/1.1)
Robin Lopez 8.4/4.9/0.1 (unavailable)

This is no contest. Andrew Bynum is twice the center that Robin Lopez is. The only way that Phoenix wins this battle is if Drew's knee is actually getting worse. Drew is bigger, stronger and a better player than Lopez. Bynum should be able to have his way around the paint when Lopez is in the game. However, Lopez will win the hustle plays. If there is a knock on Bynum it is that he doesn't always match the intensity of his opponent. Lopez will bring plenty of energy. Bynum is also a liability when the Sun switch in Channing Frye for Lopez. Bynum will not follow him to the three point line.

Advantage: Lakers

Power Forward

Amar'e Stoudemire 23.1/8.9/1.0 (20.5/7.0/1.5)
Pau Gasol 18.3/11.3/3.4 (20.2/13.1/3.3)

I personally think this is a no-brainer. One of my favorite movies is Remember the Titans, there is a scene when Julius Campbell is talking to Gerry Bertier and Bertier says, "you're nothing...nothing but a waste of God-given talent". This line rings clear in my head EVERY time I watch Amar'e Stoudemire play basketball. He is a 6' 10" freak of nature. He can jump out of the gym. He plays with a ton of energy. A few years ago (2005 Playoffs) he played one of the most amazing playoff series I can remember torching Tim Duncan (41,37,34,31,and 42). However, he has gotten by on pure athleticism. He has no low post game. He can't back you down. He can dunk and from time to time drop a 19 footer and he struggles to get 10 boards a game. On the other hand Pau Gasol is legit. He has been through the battles (Carlos Boozer, Dwight Howard, Kendrick Perkins, KG, etc...) and he has won most of those battles. He is adept at going right, left and has a sneaky good jump shot. Lastly, if Gasol's offense isn't going well he will pitch in with 15 boards or 5 block shots or 5 assists. If the game isn't going well for Amar'e...well he will pout.

Advantage: Draw (Amar'e still has Nash getting him the ball for dunks)

Small Forward

Grant Hill 11.3/5.5/2.4 (9.5/6.7/2.3)
Ron Artest 11.0/4.3/3.0 (9.8/3.1/2.7)

Like I said last round of the playoffs, Ron Artest must feel like he is getting some time off. Kevin Durant was a bear in the first round. A constant struggle for Ron. However, Utah didn't have a good 3 for Artest to check and neither does Phoenix. I think that the Lakers should have Artest cover Richardson who has been playing well in the Playoffs and let Kobe guard the middle. Grant Hill doesn't have the game anymore to merit a big time defender.

Advantage: Lakers

Shooting Guard

Jason Richardson 15.7/5.1/1.8 (21.9/6.3/1.0)
Kobe Bryant 27.0/5.4/5.0 (26.9/3.9/4.9)

Even with all of the ailments, Kobe is better than Jason Richardson. He can shoot you into a game and he can shoot you out. I expect J-Rich's number to drop a bit on the offensive end since he has to follow Kobe around. Although, I wouldn't be surprised to see Grant Hill guard Kobe. If this switch does happen, Artest should take Richardson into the post until the Suns switch back.

Advantage: Lakers

Point Guard

Steve Nash 16.5/3.3/11 (17.8/3.1/9.0)
Derek Fisher 7.5/2.1/2.5 (10.6/2.5/3.2)

Steve Nash is one of the greatest player of all time. His pure shooting stats are out of this world (FG - 50+%, FT - 90+%, 3FG - 40+%). He is the Wayne Gretzky of basketball. He knows where his teammates will go before they do. And he hits them in stride almost every time. His weakness is on the defensive end. Fortunately for the Sun, Derek Fisher is not a primetime offensive player, so this deficiency will not be exploited too much by the Lakers. D-Fish is here for his experience and his ability to knock down timely shots.

Advantage: Suns

Bench

Channing Frye 11.2/5.3/1.4(8.7/5.6/1.1)
Leandro Barbosa 9.5/1.6/1.5(7.6/1.8/0.9)
Jared Dudley 8.2/3.4/1.4(7.4/3.5/1.9)

Lamar Odom 10.8/9.8/3.3 (8.5/8.1/1.8)
Shannon Brown 8.1/2.2/1.3 (6.6/1.6/1.0)
Jordan Farmar 7.2/1.6/1.5 (4.9/1.2/1.0)

Both teams benches have struggled this postseason. Frye has struggled to find his stroke and Odom has struggled to find a way into the flow. Odom should find a way to have an impact on the series from a rebounding and fascilitating the offense perspective. Frye will have an impact because of his ability to float around the three point line and his ability to nail long range jumpers. Barbosa can get going in a hurry, but has been very sporadic with his play this season. I expect him to get to the rim and rattle home a few open 3s in transition. The Suns bench plays with a lot of energy and can bring their team back into the game, or can extend leads that they have built. The Lakers will need to spend a lot of time slowing down the second unit of the Suns.

Advantage: Suns

Coaches

Alvin Gentry is a nice coach. However, he was fired by the Clippers and the Heat, and last year was the interim coach after Terry Porter completely tried to change the culture of the Suns. He will have his team prepared. However, Phil Jackson is the best coach in the NBA. Let's not get caught up in the hype over Greg Popovich (he is great), but Jackson has him by 6 rings. The argument that Pop hasn't had the players is silly, because Pop hasn't won a ring without Tim Duncan. Jackson has now won with his third different team (Bulls, Lakers '00-'02, Lakers '09). Phil will not be outcoached by Gentry.

Advantage: Lakers

Bottom line

The Suns have Stoudemire and Nash, but the Lakers respond with Kobe and Gasol. The Lakers run 5 deep with all-stars, the Suns just do not have enough to match up. Based on talent and experience, I do not think that the Suns have enough to win even one game in this series. However, the Lakers tend to coast when not challenged (and I don't think the Suns can challenge then), so I expect the Suns to take a game in Phoenix. The Suns only hope of extending this series is to have a 'Goran Dragic' game 4 times this series. While they do have some guys capable (Frye, Barbosa, Dragic) the odds of it happening once let alone four times are pretty small.

Prediction: Lakers in 5

New Beginnings

I said there were some changes coming a few months back. Well, things have taken way longer than I thought. Anyway...without any further adieu...

I have left Zip Realty. I am now working out of the Park Place GMAC office in Riverside, CA.

Tim Trainor
Park Place GMAC
7379 Indiana Ave
Riverside, CA 92504
951-346-5123 (office)
951-264-1591 (mobile)
951-905-5438 (fax)
timothy.trainor@sbcglobal.net
DRE # - 01468436

Jukebox XIV

I took another bite of the Quarter Pounder with cheese...as our friends were diligently inputting their food intake into their iPhones. Hanssie and I were curious about what they were doing so a conversation began. They told us about losing weight. They told us about counting calories. They told us about logging food. They told us about logging exercise. They told us about results. They encouraged us to download the app..."we can all be connected and hold each other accountable."

I downloaded the app and began putting in the info...age, weight, target weight, how fast to get to weight, etc...the computer spits out a number 1,806 calories a day will allow me to drop 26 pounds in 12 weeks.

Now for the hard part...inputting my food for that night...1,496 calories (IN ONE MEAL!). Looking back on the day, I see that the majority of my calories are from drinks...soda to be exact.

The result. No more soda for me. And plenty of exercise. My buddy has been begging me to get out on a bike with him, so...my Jukebox's should be way more frequent.

1. Young Forever Jay-Z feat. Mr. Hudson

Jay-Z has become one of my favorite artists. I love the song Empire State of Mind...and the hook on Run This Town is great. This song is a little different...Mr. Hudson has an amazing voice.

2. What I Need To Do Kenny Chesney

Kenny being Kenny...he is at his best with his ballads. He is taking 2010 off to recharge (something he needs to do). His "island" albums have not had a huge amount of commercial success. Despite his large concert numbers he needs to get back to what made him who he is. I can't wait for his next studio album. Expectations are high...

3. Feed Jake Pirates of the Mississippi

When I was a kid we had cats. We had a real bad stretch of cats that didn't pan out...and one of these cats was an orange tabby named Jake. I loved that cat...and it really connected me to this song. As I listen to this song today...the lyrics are a little off color.

4. Anymore Travis Tritt

This is without a doubt one of my favorite songs. I have a love/hate relationship with Travis. Half of his songs don't resonate with me...the other half are just ok. However, I love this song...I feel like the sap from the episode of Seinfeld...every time Desperado came on the radio he was transfixed. So am I...every time I hear this song...I just stop and listen for 4 minutes...

5. Back at One Brian McKnight

I was driving home from softball 13 years ago and my buddy at the time (Dave Mann) told me about this singer. When I was in college I was all about Boyz II Men, Dru Hill, Puff Daddy, Notorious, Tupac, Snoop Doog...a very much hip-hop and R&B vibe. Anyway, once Dave turned me onto Brian...I was hooked. Hanssie and I saw Brian in concert once...we sat in the very last row at Universal...Eric Benet (a train wreck) was the opening act...anyway...Brian was amazing.

6. Spirit of a Storm Kenny Chesney

Kenny has been amazing. Always the tops of the concert charts. He is usually #2 in attendance behind U2. However, every once in a while he comes out with a CD that he does all of the writing on (usually after he has gone to the islands to wind down after the long concert season) and those albums do not have the same commercial success. I am a huge fan...so I like most if not all of what he does.

7. Fall Into Me Sugarland

Mac and I love this CD...many a day spent cruising around listening to Jennifer Nettles voice with us singing at the top of our lungs. I seriously can't wait for their next album to come out.

8. You're So Crazy Guns 'N Roses

This is another song/CD from my childhood. I can vividly remember playing video games to this song and a whole host of other songs by Skid Row, Slaughter, Def Leppard, etc...and when i say video game, I mean Nintendo. I can still remember my mom and dad going to Vegas for a weekend and my brother buying Super Mario Bros. 3. I was in the 7th grade...my parents were gone so me, my three best friends and my brother literally played this game for 60 straight hours. Periodically my brother would leave and bring back some fast food or pizza for us to eat.

Jukebox XIII

So, April is an exciting time of year. Baseball is just getting under way (which means it is going to be more and more difficult to find free evenings with the Dodgers season starting). The time change is becoming more and more evident. The NBA playoffs are getting close (I am bored with the regular season, no wonder the Lakers look bored). Summer is getting close, which means that I need to get back out and run a lot more....

So here is my first Jukebox for the Spring of '10.

1. What'cha Say Jason Derulo

I don't have a good reason for liking this song. It is the third verse that gets me every time. Side note...when I found out that Kara DioGuardi from American Idol discovered Jason, and that she is a VP at Warner Bros records (or something like that) it made me want to hear her critiques more.

2. Bedrock Young Money

I love this line..."I love your sushi rolls hotter then wasabi, I race for your love shake-n-bake, Ricky Bobby". I am becoming a fan of Drake...

3. The Man I Want to Be Chris Young

I am constantly trying to become the man that I want to be. I love this song...Chris is one of my favorites.

4. The Truth Jason Aldean

I was hooked on Jason with songs like Johnny Cash, Laugh Until We Cried, Why, She's Country, Amarillo Sky...but this song is legit. Jason is really good. We considered paying $1,000 to go to Stagecoach in Indio this month just to see him...cause there really isn't anyone else in the lineup we want to see (besides Sugarland).

Sidenote...we were driving and Kenny Chesney came on the radio, Mac said, "I like Kenny Chesney, but my favorite is Jason Aldean". I had mixed feelings. I want her to like Kenny (which she assured me that she does), but I was also happy that she made her own decision.

5. Imma Be Blackeyed Peas

The Blackeyed Peas are weird and I completely DIG that. Fergie saying, "Imma be shakin my hips, your gonna be lickin your lips"...awesome.

6. Clothes Off Gym Class Heroes

So, this song is just fun. Every time I hear the line, "Oh I'm sorry, my name is Travee and I'm pretty much a big deal. Oh, you've never heard of me, that sounds absurd to me" it reminds me of Hanssie.

7. The Only Difference Between Marytrdom and Suicide is Press Coverage Panic! at the Disco

We were at some friends house for New Year's a few years ago and Panic! performed at one of the New Year's shows and I was completely unimpressed. They cross dress, they wear makeup...they are absolutely insane (you know Lady Gaga meets Keisha meets Queen). Having said that...their music is hypnotic...their music has a good groove to it. I don't know the genre of their music, I just know that when I am running...the time flies by when I am listening to their CD.

8. Empire State of Mind Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys

My favorite song. I could listen to this song over and over again. I can hear this song played at the end of every New York sporting event for the next 20 years...this some is timeless and epic. Jay-Z's performance at the Grammy's was amazing. Blueprint 3 is great! He is the new Sinatra!

"I made the Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee can"

"Sitting court side Knicks and Nets give me high five"

"If Jeezy's payin LeBron, I'm payin Dwyane Wade"

Classic!! We need a new California anthem...now!!!

What's coming this week...

1.) What's wrong with basketball?
2.) Why NOW is the best time to buy a house?
3.) A big change in my life!!!!

New Repo Lists

92879

REO (6)
Short Sale (43)
Standard (27)
Unknown (9)

92880

REO (11)
Short Sale (91)
Standard (36)
Unknown (21)

92881

REO (5)
Short Sale (38)
Standard (27)
Unknown (9)

92882

REO (28)
Short Sale (60)
Standard (31)
Unknown (21)

92883

REO (8)
Short Sale (81)
Standard (37)
Unknown (9)

As of today 3/1/10...there are 598 homes on the market in Corona.

Short Sale - 313 (52.3%)
Standard - 158 (26.4%)
Unknown - 69 (11.5%)
REO - 58 (9.7%)

We have a new category. The unknown category. This is due to the fact that some Realtors do not input the homes correctly into the MLS; therefore, the correct category is unknown. In fact these homes (which total more than all of the REOs on the market in Corona) could be in any of the four categories listed above.

Zip Rebate again!

Here is the latest on the rebate...

• The rebate may be used in conjunction with FHA buyers
• The rebate agreement between the Realtor and the buyer must be obtained and accompany the Purchase/Sales contract
• The total real estate commission must be within ordinary and customary practices
• The rebate cannot exceed 1% of the sales price
• The rebate is considered an interested party contribution (and financing concession), and is applied toward applicable limits
• The borrower must have the minimum investment requirement into the transaction
• If the rebate is applied to the borrower's closing costs, it is credited on the HUD (in the 200 series line items) as a credit to the borrower
• If the rebate is sent after closing and not part of the settlement at the table, it is disclosed as paid outside of closing (in the 200 series line items) as a POC credit to the borrower

These are general guidelines and not a comprehensive list. Please consult your mortgage officer if you have any questions concerning the rebate. All lenders have their own rules and guidelines for handing the rebate.

The long and the short of it is that the rebate is legal.

Zip Rebate

I had the following comment on one of my previous posts. I would have replied directly to the commenter but they left the comment without any information.

Finding out its not as simple as you say and the website claims. Zip is saying that we cant use this towards closing costs and we can only get a check after close. Our lender (or HUD) is saying we cant get a check after close unless they reduce the mortgage amount which means we must have more $ for down payment. Can anyone explain this to me?? Left several messages with Zip managers but no call back yet. The purchase is happening in MA btw.

I have not had any experience with this type of issue. I do however know that Zip has had some issues with the rebate lately. I am trying to get to the bottom of the issue and will post again with the updated information.

Sorry for any confusion and/or trouble.