Basketball 101

Bosox Blast Bombers

2004-07-26T14:30:00.000-04:00

That's right, I'll give them their props. The Red Sox smacked the Yankees Saturday and Sunday in front of national t.v. The lead is 7 1/2. Good luck should be a great race.

Have you see Da Ali G show on HBO? You need to check it out. It may be the funniest show i have ever seen.

Not much happening Hoops wise except for the LaSalle men's and women's coach both stepping down. Has that ever happened in one shot? Disturbing charges at the school, look them up on Google and read all about it.

My man Mateen Cleaves had a decent summer league tour with the Sonics, let's keep our finges crossed they keep him.

Peace

Good Saturday

2004-07-24T11:27:00.000-04:00

Well, well, well...How about them Yankees? Despite Kevin Millar hitting three homers last night, the Yankees pulled out the win, 8-7 on back-to-back doubles by A-Rod and Shef.

The lead goes to 91/2. Big game on Fox today. Then tomorrow night it's ESPN, Sunday Night baseball.

Oops, this is supposed to be about basketball, right?

Ok well my baseball juices get flowing in July, Aug, Sept, and Oct!

Lots of talk about Shaq in Miami, I say, they're right.

Watch out for the Heat.

College basketball coaches are on the road, recruiting of course. In Vegas, they have a big time, actually make that a couple of big time tournaments going on.

Hope every one is enjoying the summer.

Peace

Shaq in Miami

2004-07-16T22:37:00.000-04:00

Done deal. Going to be interesting watching the Miami Heat.
They got the missing piece. Wade and Shaq will wreck-shop.
Butler, Odom, and Grant to LA.

Wilt and Kareem both were traded in their career.

Derek Fisher to the Warriors.

Kenyon Martin to the Nuggets.

Al Harrington to the Hawks in exchange for Stephen Jackson.

Some interesting moves.

Oh yeah, Kobe re-signed with LA.

That's all folks...

It's Been a Long Time

2004-07-13T09:13:00.000-04:00

Sorry about the delay, been out of town for a while working at the Junior College All-American Basketball challenege.

I'm back and will jot down a few thoughts about what has been going on as of late.

Shaq, Kobe, Rudy T, college coaches switching jobs, etc.

Have a great day!

Coach K staying

2004-07-05T18:29:00.000-04:00

Mr. K is staying in Durham. They now say the Lakers will be going after Rudy T.

Duke fans are elated...

Coach K

2004-07-02T20:00:00.000-04:00

I'm not going to say what he should do but...

At Duke, he has done everything there is to do; win and graduate players. He makes a ton of money, he has the support of everyone there in Durham. Recruiting is changing, he just lost his two best players to the NBA. (He still has a strong team coming back)

In LA, new challenge, tons and tons of money, Kobe behind him, has been told he can be a success there and he is 57 years old. I think he would get along with the players, he'll earn their respect.

I think whatever he decides to do will be a great move.

Hey Coach K, go to LA, try and turn the Lakers around. The bottom line, it's coaching, anyway you look at it.

Good luck coach...

Sebastian Telfair

2004-06-28T00:18:00.000-04:00

Too much talk about how this kid is going to be a flop.

WRONG!

Anyone who knows basketball knows this kid is going to be an impact player. He is the ultimate team player.

I think people get a bit jealous when young basketball players make a ton of money (adidas contract)

Good luck Bassy!

Shaun Livingston

2004-06-26T23:11:00.000-04:00

I'm going to go on record and say that Livingston is going to be the best player in this year's draft.

Livingston was taken 4th by the LA Clippers.

Six-seven point guard from Peoria will show people how the game is played.

You don't find many PG's at his size. I saw him two years ago and thought he was the real deal.

He signed to go to Duke, but he has decided to follow his dream and play in the NBA.

Watch this kid!

New Heights

2004-06-25T08:45:00.000-04:00

The NBA draft was Thursday night. Jameer Nelson, NCAA player of the year was picked by the Denver Nuggets with the 20th pick in the draft but then his rights were traded to the Orlando Magic.

Nelson is six-feet tall. He plays hard, can score on anyone, passes the ball to the open man, led his team (St. Joe's) to an undefeated season and all the way to the Round of 8 in the NCAA tournament.

Nelson defends, plays within a team concept and is very quick. He makes his teammates better.

The bottom line; He's special! Players like Nelson don't come along every year.

His college coach, Phil Martelli says that Nelson is a "old school point guard." He also said that Nelson believes you play for one reason - that your team is supposed to win.

Nelson played four years of college basketball, they tell these kids to stay in school. Nelson stays and gets picked 20th, there were eight high school players picked before Nelson.

Go figure!

Attitude

2004-06-23T00:11:00.000-04:00

While working basketball camp this week, a few topics have been brought up and one was the "attitude" of today's basketball player as opposed to the old school type player.

Are players working on their game?

Are kids spending time working on FT's?

How about shooting jump-shot after jump-shot?

What about their conditioning? Are they running?

Coach Sloan, my condolences...

2004-06-19T00:16:00.000-04:00

Utah Jazz head basketball coach Jerry Sloan lost his wife tonight to her long battle with cancer.

From ESPN.

Bobbye Sloan, the coach's wife of 41 years, announced in January she had a malignant tumor in her pancreas, unrelated to the breast cancer she was treated for and fought publicly several years ago.

She died Friday morning at a hospital in Evansville, Ind., Jazz spokeswoman Caroline Shaw said.

"She was such a positive, upbeat person," Jazz owner Larry Miller said Friday. "There was a lot of energy and strength of character with a really positive image. It's the image I hope that all of us who know here will keep of her."

Jerry Sloan considered leaving coaching to be with his wife, but she wanted him to continue coaching. He finished the season, guiding the Jazz to a 42-40 record that left them just short of the playoffs.

After the season, Sloan said he planned to return for a 17th year coaching the Jazz, although that depended on his wife's health. He also said 2003-04 would be memorable more for his life off the court than for the team's accomplishment.

Miller said he received a message from Jerry Sloan during a meeting Friday that Bobbye had died. The Sloans had been spending the offseason at their southern Illinois farm, near where they grew up and were high school sweethearts.

Miller said Sloan would have all the time he wants to decide whether to continue coaching.

Phil Jackson Gone?

2004-06-18T23:54:00.000-04:00

Reports out there saying Phil Jackson will be leaving the Lakers.

Shaq wants a trade and KB 8 is exploring the free-agent avenue.

Skill Development

2004-06-18T17:19:00.000-04:00

Dribbling
Ball handling
Shooting
Passing
Rebounding
Moving without the ball
Speed
Strength
Conditioning

Work on all these areas.

Joe Dumars

2004-06-18T13:48:00.000-04:00

I hope this guy is getting his "props." I mean he did put together the team, he made moves where people questioned them. But he stuck it out and now look.

Summer Days...

2004-06-18T13:29:00.000-04:00

The dog days. That's what they're called. Basketball has become a year-round' sport. You need to work hard in June, July and August. Someone once said, "Basketball players are made in the off-season."

Dribbling, shooting, running, jumping and weight lifting. Don't neglect any area and remember to get out there and play!!!

Chuncey Billups

2004-06-18T13:16:00.000-04:00

Big time guard who has bounced around the league, but has found a home in Detroit. Strong combo guard who defends well and finishes strong. Started the series out against LA strong, that set the table for other guys to step up.

Was named MVP of the series. Well deserved.

Should keep working hard over the summer...

Rasheed Wallace

2004-06-18T13:13:00.000-04:00

The guy can compete, no questions asked. He just needed to get out of Portland. I love his game, he defends, scores, runs hard and is a great guy on the bench when others are doing well.

He can go outside and inside. He's a tough guard.

Hope he signs with Detroit and stays for ten years!

Richard Hamilton

2004-06-18T13:09:00.000-04:00

Great guy moving without the ball, never stops coming off screens. Knows how to turn corner, catch, and square up to the basket. Has great footwork and can get to the rim.

More players should watch him. He had a great quote; 'While I was at basketball camp, everyone was dunking, I thought I should work on my shot.'

Underrated defensive player. Had a very good college career where he won a National Championship.

In two words; He's a winner!

Basketball 101

2004-06-17T23:07:00.000-04:00

Ok so the Detroit Pistons took apart the LA Lakers in five games. No one gave them a chance. (Even Piston fans had their doubts) I thought Detroit would win in seven (I really went on a local sports talk radio show and predicted that three weeks ago).

It was a team effort. The Pistons showed the basketball world that you don't need the best talent to win.

They showed heart, hustle, hard work and team play. They played under control, they weren't intimidated by the Lakers hype.

Joe Dumars did a great job in bringing these players to Motown. Larry Brown did a brilliant job in getting them to play as one.

Chauncey Billups was awarded the MVP of the series. He got off to a great start and showed the Pistons that they could get it done.

Head coach Larry Brown has stressed these principles all year long and the Pistons bought into them:

Playing the right way...
Playing excellent defense...
Playing unselfishly...
Committing themselves to rebounding...
Committing themselves to the team before themselves...

Congrats to the whole Detroit Pistons organization.

Fundamentals

2004-06-17T05:30:00.000-04:00

What's all the talk about fundamentals lacking in our game today? I don't buy it one bit.

All one has to do is look at the 2003-2004 NBA champs!

I will touch on them one by one, including their coach and their President, Mr. Joe Dumars who happened to be one of the most fundamentally sound players in the game back in the day with the Bad Boys!

I think all the talk about the U.S. players playing "Street Ball" needs to be put to rest.