The recent battle between the Lakers and the Mavericks treated us to a historical battle that features two opposing players with triple-double 30 points stat. One of the game's turning points was marked by a rather odd sequence that sends the game to overtime. Here's that point:
Why odd? There are two reasons:
- First, Howard clearly fouls Curry but never received a call. If it did, it would have send the game in favor of the Mavericks.
- Second, the Lakers used a play that is not ideal for the given situation (well at least not at the get-go). That play is called the "Hammer Play," made famous by Gregg Popovich's team -- the San Antonio Spurs.
The Hammer Play
The hammer play is a group of set-plays that revolves around the following idea: Set the shooter in the corner using a flare screen while the ball-handler attacks from the strong side.
Consider the following scenario:
We have Player A guard Player 2 and Player B guard Player 4. Let's also assume that Player 3 can blow by his defender towards the rim. Using the hammer play, the action sequence would be like this:
The first action would be Player 3 driving to the basket. Then, Player 4 will set a screen for Player 2 which leads Player 2 to run toward the corner-three. Now, this play will only work if Player B commits in defending Player 3. If Player B does, the action would be like this:
Player 3 will pass the ball to Player 2 and we now have an open three. Swish!! In short, the ball handler's drive to the basket is a misdirection so that we can set up a good shot on the weak side. Now let's get back to the game.
The Lakers-Mavericks Game
Let's break down that play.
The play starts with Avery Bradley receiving the ball after a zipper cut. Then Bradley passes it to Lebron while Davis is rising up from the weak side. After that sequence, we ended up with this:
Now, Lakers is down 3 and there are only 4.2 seconds left. Though the lane towards the basket is open, Mavericks should be more than willing to give the 2 points in this situation. And clearly, at this point, hammer play is not ideal.
What I guess is that the Lakers plays a little mind game here. They probably gambled on the idea that the Mavs does not account for the hammer play, since it's not the ideal play in this situation. The Lakers are hoping that the Mavs will be caught on guard and will try to defend the rim by instinct. Anyway, if it's not the case, Lebron has all the space on the left side of the court and can just pull up a step-back 3.
Though one of the deciding points of this game has blunders (both for the players and the referee 😂), it's definitely one of the best game so far in the young NBA season. And hey, it's part of the game! 💪 So kudos to Lakers and Mavs for putting up such an entertaining battle. I'm looking forward for the rematch!
Lately,
I’ve been re-watching some episodes from the TV series Friends. And as I’ve
watched, I’ve realized that there are still words and references that I don’t
know about even after watching the series for so many times. So I’ve decided to
create a dictionary containing all these words and references.
This blog will contain my journey in creating this dictionary project. I will start by listing them down episode per episode. Then eventually organize them to form a dictionary.
Lists Per Season Per Episode:
13 Words And Phrases You Might Have Missed On Friends (Season 1 Episodes 1-6)
Photo Reference:
https://metro.co.uk/2019/03/19/friends-cast-divided-reunion-said-8944581/
http://www.lifedaily.com/story/50-facts-about-the-hit-show-friends-you-never-knew-about/
13 Words And Phrases You Might Have Missed On Friends (Season 1 Episodes 1-6)
By Alvin Aragon - November 02, 2019
This blog is part of my blog series FRIENDS Dictionary Project, which is an effort to create a dictionary containing all words, phrases, and popular culture references one might have missed while watching Friends. For season 1 episodes 1-6, here are the 13 words and phrases you might have missed:
1. a hump and a hairpiece
In
episode 1, Chandler used this phrase to tease Monica about the guy she's dating. Their conversation goes like this:
Monica: There's nothing to tell! He's just some guy I work with!
Monica: There's nothing to tell! He's just some guy I work with!
Joey: C'mon, you're going out with the guy! There's gotta be something wrong with him!
Chandler: All right Joey, be nice. So does he have a hump? A hump and a hairpiece?
A hairpiece or a toupee is an artificial hair extension mostly used to cover baldness.
So the word hairpiece probably refers to being bald. And since the word hump refers to being a humpback, then "a hump and a hairpiece" would mean "a humpback and bald".
2. Mastodon
Mastodons
are four-legged creatures that have been
extinct for the last 11,000 years. They are distantly relative to elephants, along with the more popular Mammoths.
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The word appears in episode 2 while Ross argues with Marsha about the configuration of a certain mannequin in the museum.
Here's the script:
Ross: No, it's good, it is
good, it's just that- mm- doesn't she seem a little angry?
Marsha: Well, she has
issues.
Ross: Does she.
Marsha: He's out banging
other women over the head with a club, while she sits at home trying to get the
mastodon smell out of the carpet!
Ross: Marsha, these are
cave people. Okay? They have issues like 'Gee, that glacier's getting kinda
close.' See?
3. ThighMaster
ThighMaster is a fitness product designed specifically for toning the muscles of one’s thigh. It consists of two metal loops joined by a springy hinge.
ThighMaster is a fitness product designed specifically for toning the muscles of one’s thigh. It consists of two metal loops joined by a springy hinge.
It works by clipping it between your legs and then squeezing them. It gained popularity in the 90’s but still commercially available today. You can actually still buy one in Lazada:
The word appears in episode 2 when the guys are doing their usual habit of peeping on the
ugly naked guy.
Here's the script:
Chandler: (looking out the
window) Ew, ew, ew, ew ew ew ew ew!
Monica: What?
Chandler: Ugly Naked Guy got a
Thighmaster!
All: Eeaagh!
4. Karmic Debt
Karmic debt refers to the bad deeds you commit in your previous life that needs atonement in your current life. It assumes the concept of Karma, which is a belief based on the following concepts:
1. People reincarnate when they die.
2. People's deeds determine their fate in their next life.
The word appears in episode 3 when Phoebe complains about the extra five hundred
dollars in her account. Here's the scene at 1:41:
Here's the script:
Phoebe: Okay. Okay, let's
say I bought a really great pair of shoes. Do you know what I'd hear, with
every step I took? 'Not-mine. Not-mine. Not-mine.' And even if I was happy,
okay, and, and skipping- 'Not-not-mine, not-not-mine, not-not-mine,
not-not-mine'...
Monica: We're with you. We
got it.
(Chandler
leans over the back of the couch out of sight.)
Phoebe: Okay. I'd- just- I'd
never be able to enjoy it. It would be like this giant karmic debt.
5. Hasidic Jewelers
Hasidic Jew refers to the members of Hasidic Judaism, a Jewish religious group. Play the word with jewelers and you will have Hasidic Jewelers.
I don't know exactly what's with the play of words. But based on a few references that I've read, It seems Hasidic jews dominate the jewelry business in a certain part of the US. My guess is the Diamond District in Midtown Manhattan, New York. Since the setting of Friends is in New York, somewhere near Central Park.
The word appears in episode 3 when the gang tells their story about playing softball with Alan (Monica's dating partner).
Here's the script:
Ross: He was unbelievable. He was like that-that-that Bugs Bunny cartoon where Bugs is playing all the positions, right, but instead of Bugs it was first base-Alan, second base-Alan, third base-...
Rachel: I mean, it-it was like, it was like he made us into a team.
Chandler: Yep, we sure showed those Hasidic jewelers a thing or two about softball.
5. Filter-tipped
Filter-tip is a part of a cigarette that traps some dangerous substances while smoking. Though it filters the smoke, it doesn’t make cigarettes less unhealthy.
The word appears in episode 3 when Joey used the phrase “filter-tipped buddy” to
refer to his cigarette. Here's the scene at 0:26.
Here's the script:
Here's the script:
Monica: (shouts to Chandler)
Chandler? Do you promise to be good?
(Chandler
makes a 'Cross my heart' sign. It starts to rain and he taps on the
window.)
Joey: You can come in, but
your filter-tipped little buddy has to stay outside!
6. FICA
FICA stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It is a mandatory payroll deduction (US federal payroll tax) that funds programs for retirees, disabled, and children in the US.
FICA stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It is a mandatory payroll deduction (US federal payroll tax) that funds programs for retirees, disabled, and children in the US.
The word appears in episode 4 when Rachel is wondering why FICA is getting the most of
her salary. Here's the scene at 0:34.
Here's the script:
Rachel: God, isn't this
exciting? I earned this. I wiped tables for it, I steamed milk for it, and it
was totally—(opens envelope)—not worth it. Who's FICA? Why's he getting all my
money? I mean, what- Chandler, look at that.
Chandler: (looking) Oh, this
is not that bad.
Joey: Oh, you're fine,
yeah, for a first job.
Ross: You can totally,
totally live on this.
7. Uberweiss
Uberweiss is a fictional detergent brand. It's German for "super white". The word appears in episode 5 when Ross and Rachel are doing their laundry. I'm not sure if this is a pun of the dairy company Oberweis (just a theory 😂).
Uberweiss is a fictional detergent brand. It's German for "super white". The word appears in episode 5 when Ross and Rachel are doing their laundry. I'm not sure if this is a pun of the dairy company Oberweis (just a theory 😂).
Here's the scene at 0:44.
Here's the script:
(Ross pulls out a huge box of laundry detergent.)
Rachel: What's that?
Ross: Uberweiss. It's new, it's German, it's extra-tough.
8. Belch the alphabet
The phrase appears in episode 5 when Joey is convincing Monica to go on a double date with him. Monica used this phrase to refer to Joey’s cousin being able to do alphabet sounds by just burping. A way of Joey's cousin to show off to Monica.
The phrase appears in episode 5 when Joey is convincing Monica to go on a double date with him. Monica used this phrase to refer to Joey’s cousin being able to do alphabet sounds by just burping. A way of Joey's cousin to show off to Monica.
Here's the scene at 2:16.
Here's the script:
Joey: Monica, I'm tellin' you, this guy is perfect for you.
Monica: Forget it. Not after your cousin who could belch the alphabet.
9-10. cocktails in Appalachia, rambunctious
Appalachia is a cultural region in the US. And people living there, the Appalachian, faces a number of stereotypes throughout their history. One of these is the stereotype of them being poor.
Appalachia is a cultural region in the US. And people living there, the Appalachian, faces a number of stereotypes throughout their history. One of these is the stereotype of them being poor.
The phrase "cocktails in Appalachia" is based on that stereotype. The phrase loosely means "I can't believe it's happening." Cause based on the stereotype, Appalachian can't afford luxury drinks like cocktails.
Rambunctious, on the other hand, is an adjective referring to uncontrollable activeness or exuberance.
Both of these appear in episode 5 when Monica found out that their supposedly double date is actually Joey’s plan to break up his ex-girlfriend and her boyfriend.
Here's the scene at 3:39.
Here's the script for "cocktails in Appalachia":
(Her and Joey walk away from the table.)
Monica: Oh my god.
Joey: What?
Monica: Hello! Were we at the same table? It's like... cocktails in Appalachia.
Here's the script for rambunctious:
Joey: Come on, they're close.
Monica: Close? She's got her tongue in his ear.
Joey: Oh, like you've never gotten a little rambunctious with Ross.
11-12-13. Kook, Madcap / Ottoman
Kook and madcap are synonymous adjectives that describe one’s recklessness, craziness, or foolishness. The word appears in episode 6 where Monica is trying to defend her obsession for organizing stuff.
Ottoman, on the other hand, is a piece of furniture commonly used for resting one’s feet. Also known as a footstool. The word appears in episode 6 where Monica dislikes Rachel moving the ottoman while cleaning the apartment.
Here's the script for kook and madcap:
Monica: Okay, so I'm responsible, I'm organized. But hey, I can be a kook.
Ross: Alright, you madcap gal. Try to imagine this. The phone bill arrives, but you don't pay it right away.
Monica: Why not?
Ross: Because you're a kook! Instead, you wait until they send you a notice.
Monica: I could do that.
Here's the script for ottoman:
All: Very clean! It looks great! Terrific!
Monica: ...Oh! I-I see you moved the green ottoman.
All: Uh-oh...
Monica: How-how did that happen?
Photo:
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/friends-inside-netflix-warnermedias-new-80m-streaming-deal-1166238
http://www.lifedaily.com/story/50-facts-about-the-hit-show-friends-you-never-knew-about/
