3/30/11: Jose Juan Barea Is Winning

Well of course he is, you say; he’s an effective NBA player who stands 5’11 on his best day.  Any pro basketball player under 6’0 is an auto-winner… hell, any pro basketball player is an auto-winner.  What I’m talking about has little to do with his game, though.  Actually, it does have to do with his game, just not his basketball game.  I’ll just get to the point: move over Kris Humphries, JJ Berea is dropping 22 on the Clipps and dating 2006′s Miss Universe!  Via ESPN…

Dallas Mavericks backup point guard J.J. Barea arrived nattily attired and fashionably late to Jason Kidd’s Charity Casino Night last week. When he walked through door, heads turned as if on a swivel.

But that’s protocol when a Miss Universe walks into a room — arm-in-arm with her basketball-playing boyfriend. 

  

Listed graciously by the Mavs as 6-feet tall, but really pushing 5-10, Barea already has beaten the odds on the hardwood in his fifth NBA season. And now he’s got a good thing going with fellow Puerto Rico native Zuleyka Rivera, who is Miss Universe 2006. For competition purposes, she’s listed at 5-9.

“She has NBA League Pass now,” Barea said, smiling. “She watches our games. It’s pretty good, man.”

Why is it always the most random of NBA pine riders who get with these insanely beautiful girls?  First it was Sasha Vujacic with Maria Sharapova.  Next it was Marko Jaric and Adriana Lima, the most mind-boggling match.  I mean, like, WTF?!  Jaric can’t even crack a roster anymore… and as far as I know his eyes still migrate closer and closer to the center of his face by the day.  He’s going to be cyclops by 2018.  We all know about Kris Humphries and Kim Kardashian… also slightly baffling… and now we’ve got Miss Universe buying NBA League Pass to watch JJ mo’f@ckin’ Berea.  I can’t really talk because I once purchased asked my mom to purchase LP (I was 16) so I could watch Stromile Swift (pause. I did it because I am a basketball fan)… but that was back in ’05 when he was supposed to break out in Houston.  JJ Berea isn’t breaking out any time soon… so I’m just wondering why not Blake Griffin, or Dwight Howard, or Derrick Rose?  Miss Universe could definitely do better than JJ Berea.  He looks like a bobblehead.  So how did he pull this off?  He sent a damn text message.  A text message?  A text message.

How does one go about contacting Miss Universe?

“Text message,” said Barea, who did his own reconnaissance work to obtain her phone number. “I sent her a message to say hi, something simple like hope you’re doing good.”

She was. But, she was also in Miami, where she lives and works as an actress, starring in telenovelas.

They began to talk via telephone and texts, and Rivera invited him to Miami before he headed to Dallas.

“It was an awesome first date,” Barea said. “We took a private boat in Miami Beach and then went to a restaurant and hung out. Then I had to go to Dallas the next day.”

Daily phone and text conversations ensued and Rivera began to visit Barea in Dallas when she had time off. Soon they were an item, but they had yet to be discovered by the media in Puerto Rico. That changed Feb. 13 thanks to — what else? — Twitter.

Barea’s more than 18,000 Twitter followers (@jjbareapr) received this provocative, 25-character message that originated as a message to Barea from Rivera (@Zuleyka_Rivera): “I just Need You NoW!!!!!”

Whoa.

“We were talking back and forth and I was like, ‘If you keep saying stuff like that, I’m going to retweet it,’ ” Barea said. “She was saying I don’t believe you or you’re too scared to do that. I was like, ‘I’m going to do it and everybody’s going to find out pretty quick.’ ”

He wasn’t too scared, and the Internet on the Caribbean island burned up.

“As soon as I did it,” Barea said, “we were in the newspaper in Puerto Rico in like the next 20 minutes.”

So everyone knows and all is bliss.

“My [friends] are happy for me; my teammates are happy for me, too,” Barea said. “It’s cool. My family is happy as long as I’m happy. It’s all good.”

Well yeah, I bet it is all good… you lucky bastard.  Send a text message, get invited to Miami, hang out on a private boat, and BAM!  You’ve bagged Miss Universe.  I guess that’s the life of an NBA backup point guard.  I should’ve practiced more.

Random Observations:

• Highlight Recap, Blake Griffin Edition:

• Highlight Recap, Vince Carter Sighting Edition

• A few notes on that top 10: First of all, that was a sick dunk by Wince.  Even at this stage of his career he’s one of… probably two players who can pull off a dunk like that one.  The only other guy with the combination of skill, ups, and body control to make that play (complete with the spin move off the dribble) is probably Blake Griffin.  Secondly, I think Carlos Boozer may well have kicked that basketball into the balcony section.  That was awesome!  Thirdly, Javale McGee, you aren’t the sharpest tool in the shed… but you’re a baaaaad man.  That’s the nastiest pair of blocks I’ve seen in one game by one player for a long time (possibly ever, considering who they came against.  He put Chris Bosh and D-Wade, two All-Stars, flat on their backs on dunk attempts.  Give the man props).  Lastly, how are the refs going to let LeBron flatten the guy like that to start the break for his dunk?  That’s ridiculous, and I’m a little angry.  Two officials were looking directly at the play… and you know damn well that would’ve been a foul if it was the other way around.  Instead, play resumed, and the death of Othyus Jeffers resulted.  R.I.P.
• The Clippers took an early lead over the Mavs, but trailed by halftime and lost 100-106.  They remained competetive throughout the night, but they were hurt by giving up 21 points off of 17 turnovers.  Blake Griffin was responsible for three of those miscues, but he had a great game (25/17) and put the Clipps on his back as they made a too-little-too-late comeback midway through the fourth.  JJ Berea killed the Clipps for the second time in a row with his 22 points, six assists, and two steals.  He notched 25/4 in their previous meeting on the 25th of January.  The Mavs meet the Clipps one more time this season (April 8th), and if you’re still alive in your fantasy league then I’d highly recommend adding JJ Berea for the day.  With this win Dallas moved back within a half-game of the Lakers for the second spot in the West.  The Mavs will stay in LA to play the Lakers tonight… and I’m thinking they’re still going to be in second place come tomorrow.  That’s an official NBA247365.COM prediction, by the way. 
• The Charlotte Bobcats almost blew a golden opportunity to climb within one game of the playoffs.  They had the Cavaliers on their home floor, but won by just one point (98-97).  Credit Boris Diaw (26 points) and KWAMAY BROWN (16 points) for taking care of business.  Ramon Sessions was big for the Cavs with 24 points on 7-12, but the Cavs were unable to score in the final two minutes.  The ‘Cats move on the play the Magic, whereas the Pacers draw the Bucks next… not looking great for the ‘Cats, but they’re hanging in there.
• The Memphis Grizzlies still play “So Krispy” in their arena, which is a questionable decision at best, but the poor musical selection didn’t prevent them from beating up on the Dubs 110-91.  Zach Randolph dominated the inside with 20 points and 13 boards while Tony Allen and Mike Conley dominated the perimeter with 41 points, 11 assists, and four swipes combined.  Fun Fact: Jeremy Lin and Vladamir Radmanovic collaborated on 14 consecutive Golden State points in the second quarter.  Throw in Al Thornton and make it 18.  That didn’t last, of course… they totalled 25 in the game.
• Credit Jason Collins and Zaza Pachulia for doing an excellent defensive job on Dwight Howard.  Superman Jr. was unable to live up to the name with 17 points on just 4-13, and the Hawks took a big 85-82 W.  Orlando came back from a double-digit defecit in the second half as Zaza and Collins sat on the bench.  Dwight ripped some boards, scored a few buckets, and was starting to kick it up a notch.  Josh Smith could be seen repeatedly asking the coaching staff to put one of the two back in the game, but it took multiple offensive boards and scores before they finally complied at the 1:39 mark.  Collins kept Dwight from establishing deep position, kept him off the glass, and helped ATL close it out.  He also moved his feet and stuck with Jameer Nelson off of a pick and roll, forcing Nelson to miss a tough floater.  It’s not often that a guy scores three points and could be called the player of the game, but in this case it wouldn’t be unreasonable.  Josh Smith was the man offensively with a game-high 26 points. 
• The Nets damn near beat the Knicks on national TV, but once again, it was Carmelo Anthony to the rescue.  He scored 39 points for the second game in a row, and turned it up a notch individually on the defensive end.  New York’s team D was crap, as usual, and they were pounded inside by Kris Humphries (15/14), Brook Lopez (26/9), and Johan Petro (9/8).  Amare Stoudemire… how are you going to get out-rebounded by Johan Petro on national television.  Matter of fact, how are you going to get ONE rebound on national televeision?  C’mon son.  Anyway, despite 39 from Melo, 33 from Billups, 23 from Amare, and an impressive overall showing offensively, I’m not the least bit impressed.  So the Knicks can put 120 points on the Nets… okay, I knew that already.  They still gave up 116.  They’re still 2nd in the league in scoring, but 28th in points allowed.  Good luck with that. 
• The Other Games: Philly got 24 points from Jrue Holiday in a 108-97 win over H-Town.  The Rockets made 21 of 22 freethrows, but hit just 34 field goals compared to Philly’s 46.  The Bucks dropped 104 on the Craptors in a much-needed victory that keeps their dim playoff hopes alive.  Brandon Jennings was the game’s leading scorer with 25.  Andrea Bargnani put in his best effort in the loss with 22 points and a pair of rebounds.  Josh McRoberts dropped a solid 15/13 double-double on the Pistons in Indiana’s 111-101 W over the Pistons.  Tracy McGrady started in place of Rodney Stuckey, but went just 12 minutes on the night.  He left with a–take a wild guess–sore back.  Stuckey came in and proceeded to drop 24.  Jordan Crawford loves to play against LeBron James…

• You’ve all seen the infamous dunk, and then last night he went and put 39 points on the King and his army.  Unfortunately, the rest of his team only put up 66 while giving up 123.  I’ll let you do the math.  LBJ was beastly himself with 35/8/8.  EDIT: just realized I completely forgot to mention the fight…

• Of all the people who I’d expect to see in a fight, Zydrunas Ilgauskas has never been one of ‘em.  Portland got 24/15 from LaMarcus Aldridge, but that wasn’t enough to beat the Hornets, who have now won two of three since losing David West.  Carl Landry continues to do his best to fill the void; he had another 21 points.  The Bulls shot 50/40/90 from the field/three/line as they beat the Wolves 108-91.  Derrick Rose had 23/10, and Carlos Boozer had 24/14.  Sacramento’s four-game win streak ended at the hands of the Nuggets.  The Queens turned the ball over 19 times, leading to 25 points (many of them working towards Denver’s total of 24 on the break).  Giving Denver extra chances to run is essentially suicide.  Marcus Thornton dropped another 27 points in the 90-104 L.  The Suns are setting fast… they took their fourth straight L (98-116), this time to the Thunder.  Half Man Half Season showed up with 28 big ones, but the rest of the squad was completely ineffective.  James Harden and KD did 22 a piece.  Aaron Brooks was tossed late in the fourth for grabbing a hold of his nuggets…

• Zabian Dowdell, who was also tossed, claims to have been called a “b!tch” by an official.  Via SB Nation Arizona…

A report from someone sitting court side near the incident was tweeted by KTAR radio personality, John Gambadoro claimed that the the official Ken Mauer told the Suns’ rookie third-string point guard “to stop being a little bitch”.

Dowdell then reportedly asked Maurer if he would say that to him off the court. Maurer ejected Dowdell and then immediately ejected Brooks who also said something to the official.

“Disrespectful, that’s how it was. I think it was very disrespectful,” Dowdell said when asked what the official said to him. “Obviously the game wasn’t going the way we wanted it to go. I just think something like that was uncalled for.”

Dowdell and other Suns players declined to go into additional detail. Center Marcin Gortat, however, stated he had never seen anything like it in his four years in the league but refused to specify what he was talking about.

• This isn’t the first time Ken Mauer has been the subject of controversy this season…

• I know the officials take a lot of crap from emotional players, and at times I feel for them, but that’s part of the job.  They can’t be overreacting, and certainly not calling players b!tches.  I think someone needs to have a word with Ken. 

Quote of the Day: Jason Terry keeps it realer than he had too…

“It’s a game we had to win. They’re a bad team. They’re not a good team. “It’s a good team (Thursday).”

Well that wasn’t very nice, Jason.  I’m going to laugh if the Lakers murk you guys tonight.  I’m also going to laugh if you finish in third place, because a few weeks ago you were talking all that junk about how “we’re not worried about the Lakers, we’re looking ahead.”  Yeah, you thought I forgot, didn’t you?  Nah, son.  NBA247365.COM, where sh!t talkers are forced to back it up.

Photo of the Day: How DeMarcus Cousins lost five Gs…

DMC: “Haven’t you heard, Al?  We’ve won four in a row.”
Al: “Word?  Bet you five bucks we win this game.”
DMC: “Five bucks? We’re NBA players, man. Make it 5 Gs.”

The story above is completely fictional, by the way. I feel the need to say that because this involves DeMarcus Cousins, a very questionable decision maker.