Should The Lakers Trade Lonzo Ball?

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The ongoing drama surrounding Spurs superstar Kawhi Leonard’s statement that he wants out of San Antonio has led to a veritable frenzy as free agency nears. Add to this the fact that LeBron James has already opted out of Cleveland. Leonard has made it clear that he wants to join the Lakers. And many believe that the franchise is also James’ top destination.

The Lakers, for their part, are busy maneuverings things their way. After all, the franchise has the existing salary cap space to make a new super team. Before the season ended, team president for basketball operations Magic Johnson had made it clear that he will retire if he doesn’t make the team competitive next season. He has been busy talking to San Antonio these past days.

Which brings us to last year’s top pick and Lakers player Lonzo Ball. Chances are high that the Lakers will have to give up two to three of its young prospects if the team is to acquire Leonard. The James and George conundrums are easier to manage as the two players are free agents. But San Antonio is unlikely to trade what’s considered the third best player in the league unless it gets significant value and number of promising young talents.

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Ingram, Kuzma, and Ball top the list of Lakers’ rising stars. The problem is not so much Lonzo’s play as the attention and goofiness his father, LaVar, brings to the equation. The conservative Spurs are unlikely to get Ball in the first place. But if he is kept by the Lakers, his game might truly shine when surrounded by LeBron, Leonard, and even a Paul George.

In the end, the antics of Lonzo’s father might be enough for the team to trade him, anyway. And if this means getting Kawhi Leonard, Magic and the rest of the management will surely not hesitate.

Former basketball coach and Memphis resident Bob Mimsis passionate about many sports. He is an avid fan of SEC college football and shows his support for Ole Miss. For more sports insights, visit this page.

Kenpo x: Why It’s More Amazing Than People Think

The P90X series has two cardio-centric routines: Cardio X and Kenpo X. These routines are designed to increase cardiovascular endurance. While both burn more calories than most P90X routines, they are different. Cardio X uses anaerobic, aerobic, and compound movements while Kenpo X focuses on martial arts movements.

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For people without a martial arts background, Kenpo X can take some getting used to. Movements are repetitive and could get droning at times. However, all this repetition tones the muscles and burns calories and fat. And Tony Horton and friends do their best to keep participants entertained throughout the routine.

After a few tries with Kenpo X, however, participants will get a sense of accomplishment. The whole routine, once a chore to some, becomes more fun over time. Participants will not only experience a cardiovascular boost, they’ll also have increased flexibility with the legs.

More advanced Kenpo X participants carry one to two-pound weights, which give extra resistance to the boxing movements. Some even shuffle their feet when it comes to kicking to add more movement.

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Kenpo X is best paired with boxing training to maximize movement. While the routine doesn’t teach people how to fight or how to defend themselves against an attack, the movements are legitimately used in combat scenarios. And repetition and practice provide efficiency of movement when the situation calls for it.

Bob Mims is from Memphis, TN. He regularly does P90X and loves the Kenpo X routine. Learn more about Bob and fitness by checking out this site.

Are The 76ers Ready Enough To Go To The Eastern Conference Finals?

Just less than a week ago, NBA analysts and experts were fully sold on the idea that this is the year the so-called Philly “process” gets realized. After all, the Sixers just ran over the Miami Heat in the first round of the NBA playoffs, winning 3-1 to set a meeting with the Boston Celtics.

But things have quickly gone south. The undermanned Celtics squad have managed to outplay the dynamic duo of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons and the rest of their vaunted “United Nations” starters of Marco Belinelli, Ersan Ilyasova, and J.J. Redick. As of this writing, Philly is down 3-0 and is now almost guaranteed not to progress to the conference finals.

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Of course, we’re not taking anything away from the great job Boston have done in matching up with the 76ers. But the bleak scenario facing Philly just boils down to playoffs inexperience. For one, they were leading the Celtics during Game 2 in Boston by more than 20 points. Yet they still managed to lose the game in overtime.

As the 76ers lick their wounds, they look forward not so much to winning Game 4 at home (and making the series a little less lopsided) as assessing how to reach the next level. After all, we can permit this iteration of the team their shortcomings; they have already overachieved as it is after recent horrible, losing seasons. The process simply must go on.

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Bob Mims is a true-blue sports fan from Memphis. Aside from catching up on basketball games, he is a follower of the SEC college football and a devoted fan of the Ole Miss. Visit this blogfor more sports reads.

Why Yoga Is Good For Your Mental Health

Yoga is often practiced for increased strength and flexibility. But there’s been an impressive link between the exercise routine and improved mental health, with practitioners and experts highlighting yoga’s ability to enhance mood and help reduce anxiety and stress when done regularly. Here are some of these mental health perks.

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Stress and anxiety relief 

Stress and anxiety can take physical and mental toll on the body, leading to feelings of nervousness, frustration, and worry. Stress can result in problems hypertension and uncontrolled diabetes. Yoga brings calm, relaxation, and a feeling of fluidity and meditation. 

Increased mindfulness

Mindfulness means being able to focus on the present without judgment or worry, and it increased one’s connection to the body and self. It synchronized with emotions and can help improve stress levels and social relationships.

Improved sleep 

Cutting out caffeine and improving the bedroom environment aren’t the only things that can help sleep – yoga’s breathing and stress reduction techniques can also help defeat insomnia and lead to sound, restful sleep at night. 

Building a sense of self 

Yoga helps one get to know the self better and cultivate a more loving, non-judgmental relationship with it. There are self-trust and greater confidence that one is healthier and more attuned to what the body needs. 

Better romance 

The ability to be more at peace and centered enables one to transmit the same benefits to a partner, viewing them with the same compassionate and unconditional love. This, in turn, can translate to better, more fulfilling romantic relationships.

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Bob Mims is a football enthusiast from Memphis and a true-blue sports fan. He also does golf, the P90X workout, swimming, and yoga. More articles like this on this blog.

'Undefeated': A Must-Watch Football Documentary

North Memphis is home to many impoverished children, most of which are African-American, who had to grow up with no father figure to raise them. It is also home to the Manassas High School, whose football team had not found short- or long-term success before the team signed Bill Courtney as coach in 2004.

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Prior to Courtney’s hiring, the ragtag bunch of inner-city black kids had not won a football game for more than 10 years. And since its founding in 1899, the Manassas Tigers had not yet won a single playoff game. With all the danger the children face on a daily basis (their hometown was once considered the crime capital of the U.S.), it would be hard to imagine them giving much of their focus on the sport rather than on survival.

But once Courtney entered the scene, everything changed. He not only became the kids’ coach but also became something of a father to them. What is even more impressive is that this was not even his day job; he was a volunteer coach, along with all his staff.

The football team’s turnaround, particularly the inspiring story of then eight-grader O.C. Brown, caught the attention of three filmmakers, co-directors Daniel Lindsay and T.J. Martin and producer Rich Middlemas, in 2011. They traveled to Tennessee with the intent of filming a documentary about the offensive tackle, whose life story mirrored that of Michael Oher, the subject of the critically-acclaimed biography, “The Blind Side.”

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Ultimately, the film centered on not just Brown, but also the journey of the entire team during the 2009 season. Though it was titled “Undefeated,” the documentary showed the Manassas Tigers losing its first game a few minutes into the movie. It becomes apparent then that the title should not be taken in the literal sense, instead, it describes the resilience of the inspiring football team.

Bob Mims of Memphis, TN, is passionate about films, with the Oscar-winning 'Undefeated' at the top of his must-watch movies. Visit this blog for more on his interests.

Reasons P90X is better for everyday living

Reasons P90X is better for everyday living When the folks over at Beachbody.com brainstormed its follow-up to P90, it had Tony Horton come up with a more in-depth, comprehensive set of exercise routines called P90X. The routines are 40 to 60 minutes long and perfect for the everyday Joe. Here are few reasons why the P90X is the ideal regimen to follow. 

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Time and money 

P90X is a perfect time and money saver. It eliminates the need to go to a gym, which means that one would no longer have to travel or pay for a gym membership. The circuit format of the routines makes sure that rest intervals are kept to a minimum. The only expense for a person here would be for dumbbells, a yoga mat (if desired) and the purchase of the DVDs. 

Functional fitness

While P90X weight routines focus on building strength and chiseling the physique, there are some routines such as Cardio X and Kempo X that are high cardio and emulate everyday movement. This is called functional fitness in which a person exercises to maximize the capability of his body. 

Workout schedule

The workout schedule is laid out for participants. It is fixed in such a way that there is a logical progression to one’s regimen. There are also several schedules that can be found on the internet for people with different health goals.

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Bob Mims is from Memphis, TN. He regularly does P90X to stay in tip top shape. To learn more about Bob and his hobbies, check out this page.