My first NBA game going experience... and more!

As a basketball fan for all these years, I have never been to an actual NBA game until last night. A lot of people who know me are often surprised just because I make it very obvious that basketball is almost as important to me as a serious relationship. Okay, maybe not quite, but you know what I mean. All these time I held out because I refused to have my first game being a Lakers game (Staples center was the closest when I lived in San Diego for the last couple of years). The Lakers don't deserve to pop my basketball-game-cherry. And well if I didn't want to watch the Lakers, the Clippers aren't exactly all that fun either. But anyway, I am very glad I waited because my first time going to an actual game, was about as good as it gets for me.

So here you go, my first NBA game experience.

It was an incredible game. Although it was not exactly playoff atmosphere, but the Warriors and the Suns are just so much fun to watch. Prior to the game, I was betting my friends saying it would at least be a 130-140 point game. Little did i know, we ended up with 154- yay for season high for points scored in regulation! Yes, granted neither team played any defense haha, but honestly, who cares at this point?! I was just overjoyed with dunk after dunk and one fast break after another. Before I could start cheering, a whole other possession would have gone by already. And to be honest, just seeing the Suns in real life was incredible enough for me. It felt so surreal, they were no longer little figures running around on my tv, there is no more annoying commercial breaks and stupid bias commentators (such as the likes of Bill Walton, or the unbearable voice of Avery Johnson), I was really there! I was sooooooooOOOooo tempted to just run into the court and give Steve Nash or Matt Barnes the biggest hug in the world.

@ Oracle Arena before the game started

the starters on the bench cheering their teammates on!

Final score- Warrior 130 Suns 154!!!!!!

Throughout the entire game, I was overjoyed and overly excited from beginning to the end. And somehow it got even better- (thanks to my new favorite person in the entire world- Sam) we got invited to Matt Barnes' birthday party!!! Without a doubt, we decided to go!

So we showed up at this club somewhere in Oakland- under dressed and awkwardly not fitting in with the crowd at all (There was a total of 5 asian ppl in the entire venue- 4 of us and 1 bartender LOL). A few drinks later, Karen and I decided that its time to go search for Matt Barnes. So there I was... a lost asian girl in her white tennis shoes running around with her camera inside some club in Oakland, trying to find one of her favorite players. And as I ran to the the back of the club, there he was. Right in front of me... just sitting right there and surrounded by friends. For a minute I hesitated... he was in some sort of a VIP area sectioned off from the rest of the crowd. But then I realize, OMG JULIA! This is Matt Barnes! You love him! You HAVE to go up to him! So with some pushing and pulling by Karen, I went to the back, walked right up to him and asked him to take a picture/mumbled telling him I was his biggest fan/congratulated him for the game/said happy birthday... I don't think he really paid attention to what I had to say, partially because I doubt he really heard anything as I stumbled over excitement and giggles. But he was still very nice and took a couple pictures with us. Words cannot describe how happy and giddy I was for the rest of the night! I got a chance to interact with one of my favorite player in real life as he is celebrating his birthday! I love you Matt!

Me & Matt Barnes! I love you!

Karen & Captain Jack!

Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes partying it up!

Captain Jack and Matt Barnes were so nice and friendly and approachable. They totally made my night. Our first real life encounter with famous people was a complete success! I wonder if they would ever remember seeing the awkward asian girl jumping around in joy and excitement after meeting them haha!

Other than Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes, Monta Ellis was there also. However, he was not nearly as friendly or nice as the other two. We were actually really close to him and I was about to approach him just to say hi and ask for a picture. But his girlfriend gave us a death stare when I stepped closer and I just totally chickened out. Okay fine, I get it, your boyfriend is famous and makes millions of dollars and you probably get harassed all the time. But come on, did you have to ask your big black friends/bodyguards to push us out of the way when I wasn't even bothering you? Oh well, its okay. That is why, Monta, that you are known as the dumbest warrior alive. Plus I'm not really your fan anyway! So HAH!

Monta Ellis and his mean girlfriend

The awesome crew of one of the most awesomest night!

So there you have it. My very first NBA game going experience... and more. I look forward to going to a lot more games in the future, but I'm not sure how they can possibly top this past weekend. Okay perhaps if I ever get the chance to go to a Suns playoff game, hypothetically game 6 blow out win against one of our archnemesis, then maybe. But since that isn't going to happen anytime soon, this is definitely a night to remember.

It's about time

It's about time that Porter finally got fired.

It's about time the Suns start running & winning.

Tonight's win, although only against the Clippers, have been oh so wonderful to all the fans eager to see the Suns in their old form again. I have faith we can pull together a good run to finish off the season and make a good run in the playoffs. Perhaps it is not exactly fair to wrong Porter who has only been coach for 4 months... the blame really lies in Kerr and Sarver for all the changes and adjustments. But Porter clearly hasn't been a good fit for the team and better late than never to let him go now. Like Gentry said, let we be who we are. It is better to have the team be who we are at its best, than to imitate someone else and suck.

I believe we have what it takes.

BTW, Ben's Suns Blog defends Nash against Porter's system. Nash will always be our MVP.

Mason, you broke my heart on Christmas

I am a die hard fan of the Phoenix Suns.

Following the rivalry from the last few years between Spurs and Suns, the loss today really broke my heart. Despite our loss, I have to say I am very very proud of Shaq, he has been exceeding my expectations in so many ways that I am slowly (yes, still slowly, although the trade was made almost a year ago now) warming up to having him on our team.

How could we leave anyone wide open on the 3 point line?? YOU KNOW THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO!

I still think the Suns have what it takes to make it through the finals. There are a lot of critics out there doubting the Suns, and there are definitely legitimate concerns and things that need to improve (yes yes defense blah blah blah). But I have faith. We need to stay healthy, be confident, and focus. We can do it.

BTW, please vote for Steve Nash for the All Star Game 2009 on http://www.nba.com/. Our MVP deserves to play on his home court on the All Star weekend after everything he has done for the team.