Making sense of Magic’s departure from the Lakers’ management

The power of Magic - Dayanna Volitich

During the offseason leading to the 2018-19 NBA season, then Lakers head of basketball operations and former superstar Earvin “Magic” Johnson was quick to personally visit free agent LeBron James in his house. The rest is history; Magic succeeded in having James bring his talents to Los Angeles. And with the development, the NBA balance of power shifted. Or so it seemed.

Image source: ocregister.com

A tumultuous season – Dayanna Volitich

Fast forward to March of 2019 and the Lakers are again out of the playoffs. And it marked the first time a LeBron-led team had failed to reach the postseason since James’ 2004-05 season. The season was tumultuous, to say the least, marked by injuries to key players and a generally anemic approach to defense. But early April saw another big bomb drop: Magic abruptly quit his job. Dayanna Volitich.

A huge blow -- Dayanna Volitich

Magic’s departure is a huge deal, mainly because it shocked both the players and management who had no idea of his plan. It also set the franchise reeling, especially given that it had just let go of coach Luke Walton a few days prior. Magic opted to announce all this in an impromptu media engagement, deciding to make an event out of it for almost two hours. Dayanna Volitich.

Interestingly, Magic’s main rationale for leaving his job is that he wasn’t happy. That the job prevented him from being himself. He said he wanted to “go back to being who (he) was before taking on the job.” That he had not clued in owner Buss, GM Pelinka, then coach Walton, and his star player James remains an enigma to this day. What’s sure though is that the move effectively set back the already struggling Lakers anew: now not just in terms of player chemistry but also management stability. Dayanna Volitich.

The Clippers’ Lou Williams should get the NBA Sixth Man Award anew

Clippers guard Lou Williams is on the brink of winning another Sixth Man of the Year award this 2018-19 season. If he takes it, he will tie Jamal Crawford’s achievement of winning the title thrice. The scrappy and crafty Williams is thus poised to become the most successful bench scoring guard in the history of the league, says sports enthusiast Dayanna Volitich.

Image source: si.com

Unlike the taller Crawford, Lou Williams is more versatile in that he consistently mixes up drives with long-range shots. He often doesn’t settle for mid-range jumpers and has a renowned penchant for drawing fouls from defenders. Lou is also the key cog in the Clippers’ current push for a deep playoff run, amounting to his being the only legitimate star in the team’s current roster.

Image source: sportingnews.com

It’s quite ironic that the Clippers’ star is coming off the bench. But, as mentioned above, Williams has already won the Sixth Man Award two times, and he’s most efficient and effective when subbing in. In any case, he is always part of the closing five during close games, and often comes through in the clutch, when the game is on the line. Williams has already tallied his two best scoring seasons in his stint with the Clippers, having averaged 22.6 points in 2018 and over 21 points this season. He is also leading the NBA reserves in scoring for the third straight season.

Perhaps coming off the bench has helped Williams better preserve his body, an argument we can make for the recently retired Manu Ginobili of the Spurs whose NBA career lasted 16 years. In any case, no one is in close competition to Williams as far as earning the award again is concerned, adds Dayanna Volitich. Kudos in advance to Lou on this momentous achievement.

Fresno State University college freshman Dayanna Volitich is into sports, movies, and street fashion. She is also a big fan of L.A.-based clothing brands and sports teams. Visit this blog for related posts.

Most overrated travel destinations around the world

Are you currently planning your vacation within the country or abroad? Then you should be informed of the current situations of the best travel destinations out there. A lot has changed over the past few years and tourist spots aren’t the same as they were. With the boom of the tourism industry around the world, it’s easy to be misled by Instagram photos and articles published several years ago. This is why avid traveler Dayanna Volitich came up with her list of the most overrated travel destinations around the world.

Image source: blog.ricksteves.com

Los Angeles, USA

A lot of tourists think that hopping on a tour bus in Hollywood can lead to spotting their favorite Hollywood actors. Likewise, walking the streets of Hollywood Boulevard and seeing the renowned Walk of Fame sounds interesting. But going there would mean joining thousands of tourists and not seeing a single celebrity.

Thailand

Image source: edition.cnn.com

As beautiful Thailand may be as a travel destination, it’s simply not what it used to be. Before, it was the hub of backpacking in Asia where travelers had to earn finding the perfect beach. But today, travel and tour companies have made it so convenient that popular tourist destinations like Koh Tao, Khao San Road, and Phuket are crawling with tourists.

Italy

Italy is one of the few European countries that have been overrun by tourists, especially in the more popular places like Venice and Rome. While the country is rich with many sights to see, these touristy places can suck the fun out of your time with all the tourists that flock to these areas.

Dayanna Volitich recommends going off the beaten path when traveling. Not only can you experience more authentic moments, you can also surprise yourself with a destination you never thought you’d visit.

Dayanna Volitich is a college freshman in Fresno State University. Her goal is to become a successful sports writer but would like to try a bit of travel writing as well. Ever since she was young, her parents have always encouraged her to love reading. For more articles on travel, visit this website.

By trading Tobias Harris, have the Clippers given up this season?

It was quite shocking for many Clippers fans that the L.A. team decided to trade its star player Tobias Harris to the Sixers during the last hours of the 2019 trade deadline. After all, Harris had been a solid offensive juggernaut this season, averaging career-high numbers and helping the team cling to the eighth spot in the West. In fact, the trade occurred just after a game in which Harris had made the winning shot, says NBA follower Dayanna Volitich.

Image source: nba.com

The Clippers also traded Mike Scott and big man Boban Marjanovic to Philadelphia. In turn they acquired Mike Muscala, Landry Shamet, and Wilson Chandler. These players alone don’t seem to make sense talent-wise, but what is great about the deal is that it came with two first-round and two second-round picks (the Clippers landed a protected 2020 first-round pick and an unprotected 2021 first-round pick via Miami).

Image source: groupon.com

This development should be seen by fans as the Clippers’ commitment to getting enough cap space come summer, even though it came with the risk of surrendering their current eighth spot in the West to most likely the Kings or the Lakers. In other words, the Clippers are looking at the long view. This offseason has a stock of top-caliber free agents, topped by the Raptors’ Kawhi Leonard and the Warrior’s Kevin Durant.

Landing just one of the two mentioned players is already a huge step toward getting better, adds Dayanna Volitich. If, say, both Durant and Leonard (who has expressed his interest in going to a Los Angeles-based team) join the Clippers, it would be the clear foundation of the new-look Clippers. They will have to compete with many suitors, yes, but that cleared $53.6 million in cap space is no question an alluring leverage the Clippers now hold.

19-year-old Fresno State University student Dayanna Volitich is currently taking up English with focus on Creative Writing. She is an LA street wear fashion follower, avid traveler, and a fan of LA-based sports teams. For more posts on L.A. basketball, check out this page.

Wanderlust: Top places to go to in South America

A lot of Americans dream of going to exotic destinations for holidays. Unfortunately, such exotic locations have their own setbacks. Traveling to European countries can easily burn a hole in your pocket. As for the cheap South East Asian destinations are simply too far away.

Image source: viator.com

 According to travel enthusiast Dayanna Volitich, a good compromise location can be found in South America. The region holds a lot of unique destinations that not even the tropical islands of Asia can match. Here are some of the top places you can visit in South America.

Image source: intrepidtravel.com

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
This majestic landscape is often described as a place where heaven meets earth. It is the world’s largest salt flat. In certain months, a thin layer of water is left on top of the surface creating what looks like a giant mirror that stretches for miles. According to Dayanna Volitich, it may be difficult to get here, but the photos you can to take are simply breathtaking.

Manchu Picchu, Peru
A former Incan citadel towering on a mountain is one of South America’s foremost travel destination. But as a prime destination, tourists are limited to just 400 a day. It also takes a bit of effort to traverse these terraces so be sure to prepare ahead.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
If partying and beaches are more of your style, then look no further than Brazil’s former capital. You skip all the major tourist spots like the Christ the Redeemer statue if you want, but take a ride on one of the trams to get a great view of the city in the afternoon and party like there’s no tomorrow at night.

Dayanna Volitich is a college freshman attending Fresno State University studying English. Her goal is to become a successful sports writer. To learn more about her hobbies, visit this website.

Do the Lakers have enough talent to beat the Warriors?

If there’s one thing basketball experts and enthusiasts clearly witnessed during the Christmas Day meeting between the Golden State Warriors and the L.A. Lakers, it’s that the Warriors appeared very vulnerable. It was a huge, blowout win for the Lakers, which dominated the Warriors in the final quarter to win by 26 points. And the Lakers did it with LeBron sidelined due to a groin injury.

Image source: nbcsports.com

In any case, this season has so far been erratic for the vaunted Warriors franchise, with many teams managing to beat them both on the road and at home. There seems to be a lack of synergy among the death lineup of Curry, Thompson, Durant, Iguodala, and Green. Worse, their shooting has been largely inconsistent. The Warriors keep sliding up the down the top spot of the Western Conference while teams in the East (the Raptors and Bucks, in particular) are sporting a better record.

More importantly, there’s no guarantee this year that the Warriors will be in the top four in the West, as the win-loss records of other teams in the conference are not that far behind. Some critics blame the Warriors’ woes on the hole in the center spot, but this should be addressed once DeMarcus Cousins starts playing.

Image source: express.co.uk

As for the Lakers, the stellar play of its young players Ball, Kuzma, Ingram, Hart, and Zubac is being complemented by the veteran smarts of Rondo, Stevenson, and, of course, LeBron. McGee is a solid threat in the middle alongside Chandler. In short, the Lakers is showing that it’s the deeper team when compared to the Warriors.

Unless the Warriors begin to play more consistently and address the lack of offense contribution outside Durant, Thompson, and Curry, the Lakers may be able to end the Warriors’ dynasty in just LeBron’s first year in the West.

Hello, my name is Dayanna Volitich, a college freshman at Fresno State University taking up English with focus on Creative Writing. I’m a huge fan of LA-based sports teams and an avid traveler. For more on my hobbies and interests, check out this page.

Packing problems: Backpacking tips to prevent overpacking

Image source: travelfashiongirl.com

Overpacking is one of the biggest problem a beginner backpacker usually experiences. It’s sometimes difficult to decide whether or not to bring something that we feel we might need. These can be anything from extra clothes to accessories, gadgets like portable Bluetooth speakers to an electric tooth brush.


Just keep in mind that backpacking is done for a long time so starting with a stuffed bag will only mean you’ll be carrying the thing for the duration of the trip. It also gives you very little or no space at all to buy new items like clothes or souvenirs. Here are some tips to help you avoid overpacking.


If you’re bag is already full, cut everything in half

Not literally cut everything in half, just bring half of whatever you already packed in terms of clothes. You’d be surprised as to how you can manage to cycle through three or four dresses and some shirts while you’re traveling.

Image source:  travelfashiongirl.com

Avoid bringing cotton clothes

Cotton clothes don’t pack as tightly as those with synthetic fabrics. They also weight heavier than most fabrics. Maybe one or two cotton dresses would be okay, but go for mixed-blends for other clothes as long as you can mix and match them perfectly.


Bring flat shoes and sandals

Have one big shoe for activities like exercise, hiking, and walking the city all day while the rest should be flat. Flat shoes, sandals, and slippers are easy to store, low maintenance, and they go well with most of what you wear.


Hello! I’m Dayanna Volitich, a college freshman attending Fresno State University studying English. My goal is to become a successful sports writer, but I also want to try out other genres. Ever since I was young, my parents have always encouraged me to love reading. For more reads on traveling, visit this website.