How Would We Respond

As stated in my last blog, the local basketball season is underway and the team that I coach had it's first game and it was a loss. The practice after was a hard one but one spent working on weaknesses I saw when I reviewed the game footage.

Due to weather and some scheduling conflicts (BABA SERIOUSLY needs to get their act together...but I digress) our next two games were rescheduled. We finally got back on the court after nearly two weeks on Monday, April 18th 2011 and the team was anxious to get back on the court and show that the first game was not who we are.  I must say that the guys represented themselves much better this time around. Nerves were replaced with aggression. Uncertainty gone. Purpose fully in sight. Unfortunately we fell short of the goal, losing 48 - 42.

With injuries sustained in our first game, I had to tinker with the starting line up. This unit got off to a slow start allowing the opposing team to score the first four points of the game. This didn't last long as the defense clamped down, taking away the other team's most effective weapon and forcing them operate in a half court setting. With the defense in gear, it was time for the offense kick in. We went on a 9 - 0 run. The rest of the first quarter got a bit sloppy for both teams and ended with a score 13 - 12 in our favour. 'We won a quarter...let's keep it going' was what I told the guys during the break.

The second quarter saw the sloppy play continue. Rushed shots. Missed lay ups. Turnovers. To be honest...there isn't much to really say about this quarter because it went so quick. We lost this quarter 6 -5. Yes...it was that sloppy lol. Although we didn't win the second quarter, we were still in the game. Tied at half. 

Now if you read the last blog, you would know that third quarter was where we lost our first game. I decided to forgo any long half time talk in favour of the team getting properly warmed up to start the third. Before the team took to the court, I reminded them that the first game is gone and that we are a better team than what we showed. Told them to forget about it and put their minds to the task at hand. This seem to work as the different units on the court did their job. Not all the units on the court contributed offensively but they sure did defensively. It got sloppy at different intervals for both teams but a quick time out got the teams back in the right frame of mind. 34 -33 at the end of three. We're taking a one point lead into the fourth.

The fourth started with the opposing team hitting a 3 pointer to take the lead. We responded with a potential 3 point play but the ensuing free throw was missed. For the next ten minutes both teams tried to gain control of the fourth. It seemed that experience of our opponents would see them gain control of the quarter as they held a five point lead with under two minutes to go [44 - 39]. A rushed (or was it a missed shot...can't remember right now lol) by the opponent lead to my point guard getting the ball, pushing in transition and finding the shooting guard for a wide open three. ALL NET!!! Within two. [44 -42] (I think to myself...a stop and a solid offensive possession and we are tied). They inbound the ball and they get a lob pass over our defense for an easy two. [46 - 42]

[I know what you are thinking...how did they get an easy two at this point. Well, I am not a big fan of Press Defense but I do know the uses of it and if I do employ it, it is merely to take time off the clock and not to create a turnover. For the Press Defense to work effectively it has to be set from the time the ball is scored. Normally if the Press Defense is going to be used I would alert the unit on the floor prior to the score but I also allow the unit on the floor the right to implement it if the conditions are right. The mix up here was that the unit on the floor 'put on' the Press after the ball was inbound and in the rush to get to a man, a couple of the opponents got behind us and scored easily]

Despite the easy score the guys on the court didn't hang their heads, instead the once again pushed the ball in transition looking for the early offense. It worked...well kind of. We got what is an easy lay up but the ball didn't go down. Rebound opponents and another lob down the court and yet another easy score [48 - 42]. We attempted a whole court inbound in hopes of getting an easy score but this pass was intercepted and with just seconds left in the game I instructed the guys not to foul.

Like I said earlier, the end result might be the same but I am damn proud of how my guys responded. We may have let this game slip away but this is all in the learning process. We took steps forward. While we may have had our lapses, they were for extended periods of time. As I told the team after the game, there are positives that we can take from the game. Don't dwell on the end result.

The first win for Melrose Thunder is getting closer!!!

Only Way From Here Is Up

Not sure if I mentioned this in a previous blog, but this year I have hung up the sneakers..well sorta...and taken up coaching. Thursday, April 7 was the first game of the season and unfortunately we lost...not exactly the start to our first season that I would've liked/hoped for. It didn't help that the first team we played were a perennial playoff team. That being said I still believe we could have beaten them.


The first half went pretty much how I thought it would, especially the first quarter. I could feel the nervousness and that was just me lolol. The team showed their nervousness and it seemed that no one wanted to be the person to take the first shot..which is quite funny considering the louses [Louse: A player that has no hesitation about taking a shot at any point throughout a game. See Kobe Bryant for perfect example] that are on my team. Despite the hesitancy on offense, the unit on the floor made up for it on defense and as ugly a quarter it may have been we were only down four at the end it. 


The second quarter saw us falter at the start of it which led to us being down double digits within the first 3-4 minutes. As a coach, when this happens you have a few options...you can call a timeout and try to break the momentum of the other team or you can let the unit on the floor figure it out. I chose to go with the second option because I know what the guys can do at practice, I needed to see what they can do under the whistle and for the most part they figured it out [with some yelling from me on the side lines but I digress lol]. With about 3 minutes to go in the half we had reduced some of the double digit lead and that caused the opposing coach to call a timeout. I used this time to reinforce our defensive and offensive strategies. Again, as a coach you have to find that balance if you will on how to bring over your point to the team. Sometimes you have to be aggressive other times the calm approach works..this time the calm approach worked. For the rest of the quarter, both our offense and defense picked up and we managed to go into the half only down five. Not bad for a rookie team.

The third quarter was bad. Some might use stronger words and I can't fault them. This quarter saw lots of turnovers, missed lay ups, forced shots, lack of ball movement and a let down on the defense. No amount of timeouts, yelling from the sidelines, substitutions could help. It was just 'that quarter' for us. ['that quarter': In almost every basketball game there is this one quarter where a team will have a lull in their productivity...for some teams it may be a minute or two for others it may be the entire quarter]. Now you may think that I am being dramatic but believe me....no need to be dramatic when you are outscored 20 - 2 for an entire quarter. Say it with me now....OUCH!!!!!


As I mentioned earlier, this is my first official year being a coach and although on other teams which I've played on I've experienced this type of thing, as a coach it is quite different. The team is down huge double digits and I have to find a way to lift the morale of the team. I'll admit I was having a hard time coming up with a way to this but then it hit me...use this quarter to get out all of the jitters and work on our ball movement/defensive rotations while being under the whistle. I know it doesn't sound very inspirational but somehow...someway this worked. The different units on the floor really played together and gave the most effort they had for the game. We still had our lapses but I could see the guys start to get their confidence back and take it to the opponents. 


The final score was 61-37. Again, say it with me now OUCH!!!!!


Something that I've told my guys on more than one occasion at practice is that in a loss there is much that can be learnt. What did we learn you may ask? We learned that we must bring the intensity from beginning to end. That when we play to our potential, we can play this game as good as anybody. We learned how it feels to be at the bottom and from here we will learn how to climb to the top.


As I was typing this earlier, I got a call from one of the captains updating me on an injury to my starting point guard. Seems that he has suffered a minor fracture and will be out for at least 8 weeks, which is basically the entire season. This is a chance for other players to step up and fill the void.


As I told the team, the only way from here is UP!!!!!

Can They Stand The HEAT?

When I started this blog I intended to cover a cross section of topics but decided I would lay off basketball related topics. This was done for two reasons. One being that my very good friend has a blog himself and he mostly covers basketball issues and we have been friends for 25+ years we tend to share the same views so it would just be re-hashing what he said more or less, the other reason is that after the conclusion of last year's NBA Finals I decided that I wasn't going to follow the NBA anymore. Settle down Lakers fans, it had more to do with the officiating in the second half/fourth quarter than my genuine dislike for Kobe Bryant. 

Then came the off-season...and what an eventful one it was. Lebron James, some would say the best player in the game, and Chris Bosh decided to team up with Dwyane Wade and play for the Miami Heat. This peaked my interest once again in watching the NBA, if only to see how this new 'super power' in the East would fair against the League. Add that to the fact that once you truly love something, it is kind of hard to do without it so I'm actually following the NBA again.

What has followed since 'The Decision'  has been a full blown media frenzy. From the burning of Lebron James Cavalier jerseys to the present struggles of the Heat team. These recent struggles for the Heat have been dissected, analyzed and solutions offered by just about everybody in the sporting media. There are those that are even glad that the Heat are having problems.

The latest media feeding is centered around the comments made by the Heat's coach Erik Spoelstra comments about some of his players crying in the locker room after their last loss to Chicago Bulls, who some consider to be one of the top four teams in the NBA. This piece of info has been met with both positive and negative reviews and all I am saying is...SERIOUSLY?????

What is really the big deal about this? I get that from a 'team' concept it can be viewed as the coach telling out locker room secrets. What I don't get is the ridicule that the players are getting. We as fans, get mad/annoyed/upset when athletes seem not to care about anything but themselves and their paychecks but now that information has come to light that some players took a loss to heart to the point of tears...we make sport about it. I see nothing wrong with a player/players shedding a few tears after a tough loss, especially when his team has been going through a rough patch. It takes a lot out of a player to go through a losing streak (believe me I know, been on two different teams that didn't win any games for an entire season) and to be losing the same way each time is even more frustrating. (In 3 of the 4 losses, the Heat have had big leads only to let them slip away and have failed to hit a game winning shot).

Interestingly enough, I think that main reason for the 'tears' isn't the losing....but more the 'hate' the Heat are receiving. Before this season LeBron, Wade and to a lesser extent Bosh were some of the most liked players in the NBA. After they decided to team up together, their 'likable image' took some serious hits. I truly believe this has more to do with the way LeBron went about revealing his choice than anything else. As a result of this, LeBron and the Heat by association are the villains of the NBA and this is a new 'role' for these three. A role they never wanted but none the less are in and it has finally taken it's toll and lets be honest here...no matter how much money you make or how good you are at what you do at the end of the day, as a human being liked is something we would rather be than hated.

Throughout this losing streak, and the one they had to start the season come to think of it, the most offered solution has been to replace the coach. Call me silly, but I do not think that is the remedy for this problem. Spoelstra is a very good coach, where he is falling down however is that he has not defined to his 3 (some say 2.5) stars what roles they play in crunch time. All who follow the NBA know that while LeBron is the best all round player in the League, as a closer he isn't in the top three..he isn't even the best at late game heroics on his team but yet somehow the play is designed with him having the ball. Once Spoelstra tells his players what their roles are, I can see the Heat being more successful in these situations.

That being said, I still don't think this incarnation of the Miami Heat has everything needed to win the NBA Championship. They are still missing a reliable point guard (this too is why they are failing in close games but I digress), a legitimate post presence...this does not only apply to the offense but defense as well and lastly, they need a bench...too much of the offense/defense is on the 'Big 2.5' and it is finally getting to them. 

Will they make the playoffs? Of course

Will they go deep into the playoffs? I have them making the Eastern Conference Finals

Will they win a Championship? Yes. The team's foundation is too talented. The Celtics are getting older. Kobe won't be with the Lakers forever (THANK GOD!!!!) It's going to be an open field very soon.

Until they do win though, the question still remains

Can they stand the heat? 

Only time will tell... 

Say Before It's Too Late

They say the only things in life that are certain are change, taxes and death. I'd have to agree with two of those, I mean..if I'm living on the street and jobless..exactly how are they really going to tax me?

As is my routine on mornings, I usually have the television on SportsCenter while I'm getting ready for work. This morning there were two stories that made me pause. They weren't about any sports but about two athletes dying. One was a stabbing incident (read more here) and the other was what appears to be natural causes (read more here). Both are quite tragic and I hope the families are able to make it through this dark time in their lives.

The one that really made me think was the story about the high school kid. (Maybe because as a basketball player that situation is something I've played out in my head. Hitting the game winning shot). Here he is, probably one of his proudest moments and in an instant...that moment was gone. Joy and jubilation was replaced by, what I can only imagine would be panic, concern, fear, sadness.

I know we don't know when our time or our loved ones for that matter is up and I know almost daily we hear 'Live your life to the fullest' or 'Tell your loved ones how you feel..you never know when they won't be here'. Most of my friends would say that I've certainly done the first one (some might say I've lived enough for two people) but the second one...I'd admit not so much. Yes I've told them how I feel. Tried my best to show them how much they mean but maybe not as often as I should. Can't remember the last time I've told a family member I love them. I've known my best friend for 27 years (known him longer than I've known my brothers) and to me he is a brother but it seems 'wrong' to say that to him.

Why is it easy to express feelings for things we own but freeze up when it comes to telling the people in our lives how we feel? 

Then when they are no longer with us, we lament not telling them. 

Why do we only speak of the good things a person has done when they are no longer living?

Have we become so caught up in being individuals that we forget those who are most important?

I really hope not because it is those special people that make life that much more sweeter. That big promotion at work is that more enjoyable when you can come home and share it with those you love, be it wife/gf, mother. That game winning shot is celebrated that much harder when your close friends are the ones that congratulate you.

Take the time to let these people know that they are appreciated. A simple phone call can make their day. 

Never let an opportunity pass.

Valentine's Day - What A Bunch of .....

Yeah I said it. No I'm not  unromantic. I just think that this day is not needed.


Out of 365 1/4 days, there are a few days that man must remember when he is in a relationship. Her birthday, your anniversary and yes, valentine's day. Now that may seem simple enough to the women who are reading this, but in actuality...nothing could be further from the truth. Men are wired to remember sports related stuff, car stuff and such like but we do make the effort to remember these dates. I would be the first to agree with most punishments dished out if your fellow in question happens to forget your b'day (I mean come on, if not for your birth he wouldn't have you in his life...now would he) or anniversary.


That leaves the last day, Feb 14th....


This day, for as long as I can remember has been 'hyped' as the day to show your loved one just how much you care or if you have your 'eye' on a certain someone..announce it to them (although, I do have some vivid memories of this not working out too well...but that is another blog).


Now here is where I start to have an issue.


Let's take scenario number two, I have a crush on a certain lady and to bring this to light I choose Valentine's Day. I can already hear the ladies swooning and awwwwing and making the comment 'That's so sweet' and yeah sure it is...but lets be honest here...would me bringing my feelings to light on any other day make it less romantic?


Scenario number one...you are in a relationship and for the most part you two are in sync , yes there are disagreements and what not (I mean it has to happen, we aren't exactly The Borg here now are we) but when all is said and done when you think about this person you get those 'butterfly feelings' in the pit of your stomach (or is that just me *shame*). Now you are going to make a big production out of this one day....SERIOUSLY??? I'm not saying that everyday has to be dinner at a restaurant, 12 long stem roses (or which ever flower is her favourite), I'm saying that everyday he/she/it should know that they mean the world to you. Calls in the middle of the day to say 'I Love You', showing up at their work and taking them to lunch (again...this can go oooooooohhhhhhhh so wrong lol), a hand written letter left in her bag...stuff like that. 


Am I the only one that thinks romance should be part of a relationship? That time should be taken to learn each other? 


Maybe my 'logic' is like MS DOS. Maybe I'm the last of a dying breed.


God I hope not.

Sellout

Sellout as defined by Dictionary.com

A person who betrays a cause, organization, or the like; traitor.

A person who compromises his or her personal values, integrity, talent, or the like, for money or personal advancement.

Over the years, this term has been used to describe people from all walks of life/areas. Lately, this term has been used by fans of the music industry to let the world know what they think about their favourite artist going 'mainstream'. My question is...Have they really sold out?

Follow me on this one. 

An artist is discovered, his/her/their music hits the public in all ways possible, artist has a following, artist becomes rich. Somewhere along the line, a few followers fall off the bandwagon for some reason or the other, but the main reason is because the artist has decided to 'sellout' and go mainstream. Now I get that as fans we easily identify with an artist mainly because their music 'speaks' to us on some level and we use this as means to escape our reality. To lose this ability to escape reality for even the duration of the song would be a tragic event and we would look to blame the culprit, in this case the artist. 

I too have fallen into this 'trap', until I sat down and thought about this situation (yes I admit, I was bored out of my cotton picking mind) and came to a rather interesting conclusion/observation/revelation. We aren't angry at the artist because we believe he/she/they have sold out, we are angry with ourselves that we fell for the 'game'. What 'game' you may ask...the mind game that the artist is actually making the music for us. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that the artist doesn't love making music or doesn't have love for the fans....I'm saying that at the end of the day, they are in it to make money. Where is the money...that's right main stream

There are many examples we could choose from but Black Eyed Peas and to a lesser extent Ludacris are standing out in my mind. I know a lot of you are saying BEP?? Ludacris?? They sold out? For some people BEP, pre-Fergie days and post-Fergie days are two separate entities and there are some people that say by appearing on a track with Justin Beiber, Ludacris has in fact sold out. I actually think that they didn't, they haven't 'sold out' or betrayed anything. They came into the industry to make music and make money. Check and Check (well technically the second would should be Cheque...HA!!! I kill me!!!)

So with this new found 'wisdom', I realised that I no longer was annoyed/angry/upset when the artist went 'main stream', what did get me worked up was seeing people still falling for the 'game'. 

Enjoy the music for what it is, what it does...it just might add a few years unto your life

The 'Pussyfication' of Sports

Like 99.23456% of the males of the world, I enjoy watching sports...whether it be NBA, NFL, Volleyball and such like. My favourite sport is basketball, to play, to watch and lately even coach (although I think that last one will give me the most stress)


My first introduction to basketball 'hardcore' was during the '91 NBA Finals, Lakers vs Bulls, MJ vs MJ...apparently it was what they called 'Destiny Manifest'. I didn't quite get why they said that (again, this is my first serious watching of the game) but from what I was told, these two players were the best of the best at their respective positions and I soon saw why. Johnson a 6' 9" point guard with 'eyes all over his head' and Jordan...NUFF SAID.


After that first game I was hooked, over the years I followed the game...researching it's history to some extent, getting acquainted with the faces of the players and most importantly the rivalries...cause after all, what is sports without a good rivalry?? As many of the rivalries in the NBA, at this time the best was Chicago Bulls vs New York Knicks. Every game lived up to the hype (well as far as my memory goes...Derek where you at?) Hard fouls, good plays, tough defense and most importantly TRASH TALK. As a player there is no sweeter feeling than making an amazing play, whether it be a dunk on a defender or 2, hitting the game winning shoot, breaking someone ankles...you get where I going with this and then letting him know about it.


As we moved along the '90's and into the new millennium, I started to notice a trend...the 'art' of trash talking was on a decline. Was it due to the players not 'practicing' it. No. It was a conscious effort by the powers that be (damn you David Stern) to make the league more 'casual fan' friendly. Now I am all for making your product more marketable, but not at the expense of main clients/supporters. Along with this, I also noticed a more friendly NBA, no longer was there this 'dislike' for the opponent...that was out the window and replaced with fist bumps/high 5's/smiles. Even in the post game interviews, everything seemed so 'friendly'.


The other sport that I mainly watch is NFL. *puts on best Katt Williams voice* This shit right here nigga, this shit right here. *back to normal*
Now if there was one sport MADE for trash talk, this is it. You get big hits and big plays TD celebrations and again rivalries. I will admit that I'm not as 'up on it' with the NFL as with the NBA but I wouldn't say I am a slough either. Once again, the powers that be decided to make the league more 'friendly'. Gone are the really good/funny TD celebration dances. I will admit, the trash talk in this sport is arguably at its best now....take for example the upcoming Jets vs Patriots game. Already there has been enough back and forth between these two teams to keep the press going for a month, but yet on some sports shows I see the panel or 'experts' saying that this is wrong. Seriously??? How does this hurt the game? If you think the opposing team's QB is an a**hole...then that's what you think. Would it be a wise thing to poke the bear, especially after the last time you played him said QB pelt his foot so far up your ass, on national tv mind you, that you STILL get indigestion from his show spikes....not really but then again this may be how this player 'gets up' for games.


Is it so bad to play games with a 'chip on your shoulder' or have a 'dislike' for the team/person you are going against? Why must everything be so 'friendly'? Yes I get that the 'friendly' version gets you the casual fan vote, but do you risk offending your 'die hard fans' just to catch that vote? After all, they are just the casual fan, when they decide to stop watching what then? Hockey is probably one of the most violent games being played (they do have a rule that allows you to fight) but yet they don't 'water down' their product.


I say all of this to make one simple plea....


STOP THE PUSSYFICATION OF SPORTS. PLEASE!!!!!!!