Author: georgefattell

My NBA Predictions for the 2018/2019 NBA Season

Posted on by georgefattell

The NBA season has been under way for almost a week and I am clearly late posting my predictions at this time, but I can honestly say that the early games have not influenced any of the following predictions.

Eastern Conference Champions: Boston Celtics 

Western Conference Champions: Golden State Warriors

You could say that that Celtics and Warriors were the obvious choices to win their respective conferences, but I did not find it easy to pick either team. I think there will be strong competition in both Conferences and I won’t be shocked at all if either team is denied a trip to the Finals this season.

In the East I think Toronto, Milwaukee and Philadelphia will pose real threats.

In the West I think Houston and Utah will be dangerous rivals to the defending Champions.

Most Valuable Player: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

MVP was another very difficult choice. There are probably at least half a dozen players that have a legit shot, including Lebron, Durant, Anthony Davis, James Harden, as well as young guns Ben Simmons and Jayson Tatum.

Rookie of the Year: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

Coach of the Year: Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics

NBA Champions: Golden State Warriors

I really can’t say that I want the Warriors to win another championship, but with their current roster it is very difficult to pick very difficult to pick against them.

 

 

 

On The Waterfront: Midtown Manhattan at Night

Posted on by georgefattell

I was in Hoboken, NJ this past Friday night and took this shot Midtown Manhattan. It was beautiful, clear night and this vantage point from Hoboken really captures the dramatic cityscape of Midtown. The illuminated spire of the Empire State Building can be seen center and cluster of skyscrapers to the left of center are buildings of the futuristic Hudson Yards.

This picture was taken with my Canon G9X Mk II.

Midtown Manhattan

Clouds over Bethlehem, PA

Posted on by georgefattell

I shot these two pictures with my iPhone SE on Sunday, July 22, 2018, while walking over the Fahy Bridge in Bethlehem, PA. The bridge crosses the Lehigh River and connects Historic Bethlehem with South Bethlehem.

In the distance you can the old Bethlehem Steel plant on the right side of the river.

I modified both photos with the HDR Blue Sky filter on the Tonality App.

Fahy Br South_editBeth Fahy Br Center Blue Sky

Sun Shining on the Statue of Liberty

Posted on by georgefattell

I took this picture of Statue of Liberty this past Wednesday (05/02/18) from the top of Outlook Hill on Governors Island, in New York City. It was about 4:45 pm when I took the picture, approximately 15 minutes before that portion of the Island closed for the day. It was a sunny, but very windy day, with some clouds. It was an almost surreal sight to see the Sun Rays beaming down of the Statue of Liberty at the moment that I took this picture with my iPhone SE.

Statue of Liberty fr Outlook Hill

My Predictions for the 2018 NBA Playoffs

Posted on by georgefattell

I am really looking forward to the NBA playoffs. I think there is a good chance that for the first time in the three years we will see a team other than the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Finals this year. Don’t get me wrong, as a serious basketball fan I have enjoyed watching the Warriors and Cavs battle because of the extraordinary collection of talent on both teams and the high level of play that has been exhibited in the Finals by these teams.

Eastern Conference

My pick: Philadelphia 76ers…I definitely feel like I’m going out on a limb picking the #3 seed Sixers, but they did finish the season with a 16 game win streak, led by Super-Rookie Ben Simmons. Always difficult to pick against LeBron James, but I just think the Sixers have a deeper team than the Cavs or the Raptors and in Simmons and Joel Embid Philadelphia have next gen elite stars that can them to the Finals.

Western Conference

My pick: Golden State Warriors. Tough call because the Houston Rockets have a very formidable team and will hold home court advantage as the #1 seed in the West. In picking the Warriors I am assuming that they will have All-Star guard Stephen Curry back by the 2nd round. GS will definitely need Curry to get past the high scoring Rockets.

Champion: Golden State Warriors wins in 6 games over the Sixers. I think the Sixers, assuming they keep Simmons and Embid together and they stay healthy, will be a real threat to win the NBA championship for the next decade, but we have not quite arrived at the changing of the guard year in the NBA, although I think there is a good chance that will happen next year.

A Walk Across the Fahy Bridge

Posted on by georgefattell

I took this shot a couple of weeks ago during a walk across the Fahy Bridge in Bethlehem, PA. The bridge spans the Lehigh River and connects South Bethlehem to Bethhem’s Historic District. I used the Tonality app to give enhance the colors slightly with the Hint of Color filter. The view is looking north, from the south end of the bridge. The bridge was built in 1972 and was totally reconstructed in 2016 and 2017, including new railings for the pedestrian walkway.

Fahey Bridge Beth 03:18_edit

My Favorite Pictures from 2017

Posted on by georgefattell

Here are my favorite photos from 2017. I initially selected just ten photos a couple of weeks ago that I was going present as my favorites of last year, but after multiple reviews of my 2017 photos I wasn’t totally sure I wanted to narrow down my number of favorites to ten. I ended up with sixteen after my final review.

I’ll start with my Pennsylvania Photos

N3rdSt Easton-IPP May-9-17
North Third Street, Easton, PA
Bachman House H-Day SE Jul-090-17
Bachman House in Easton, PA on Heritage Day, July 9th, 2017.
Route 78 Bridges SE
Route 78 Bridges over the Delaware.
5-Larry Holmes Statue SE
The Statue of former Heavy Weigh Champ Larry Holmes at Scott Park, Easton, PA.
9-Nevin Park
Full Moon over Easton.
1-Jan Towpath Snow SE
The Delaware Canal Towpath
Beth Steel Bldg #76 SE Apr-30-17
Building 76 at Bethlehem Steel

My remaining favorites were taken in New York City and Montclair, NJ.

8-Gov Island Parade Field G9X
The Parade Field at Governor’s Island, New York
Bed 10 Presby
Bed #10 at the Presby Iris Gardens, Montclair, NJ.
7-Great Hall Yankee Stadium SE
The Great Hall at Yankee Stadium
4-Washington Sq Park Summer SE
Summer in Washington Square Park, NYC
2-Montclair Edgemont Pk IPP
Pond at Edgemont Park, Montclair, Nj
3-Liz Christie Chair SE
Chair in Liz Christie Park, NYC
6-Central Park BB SE
Basketball Courts in Central Park, NYC
Rock Ctr Tree and Saks G9X
Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center
10-Gramercy Pk benches_BW G9X
Gramercy Park, NYC