Its been a while since I got on here. Today seems like a good day to share my thoughts though.
Best Team(Right now)- Spurs
I said it. The Spurs are rolling. Tim Duncan is healthy and aging with grace. Tony Parker lost his girl, but he hasn't lost a step on the court. Manu looks great as a starter. Its a different feel having him in from the start of the game. Richard Jefferson is back to being himself after an off season last year. The Spurs are real contenders. Are they the team to beat in the west? No, that would be the defending champs from LA. Should the Lakers be worried? I think so. Once Bynum comes back the Lakers are officially the deepest and best team in the league; however if he isn't at full strength then it wont help them. As of right now the Spurs are playing the best basketball in the league. I'm impressed.
Rookie of the Year- Blake Griffin
This is kind of that "no shit" moment of the day. Blake Griffin is on another level compared to all the other rookies. Hes explosive, physical, and determined. If the Clippers were 15-8, Blake would be getting early consideration for MVP, but they suck. Its the Clippers though, they always suck. This guy is going to be a star. Could you imagine one day seeing Clippers vs Lakers in the playoffs? That's something basketball fans would love, especially if it could happen this year or next. Anyway, Bleezy is the best rookie hands down.
Surprise Team- Knicks
Wow, my Knicks don't suck for the first time in a long time. Amare is coming on strong as of late, putting up over 30 a game over the last six games. Raymond Felton is a perfect fit in New York. Hes tenacious and has some flare, which fans in New York love. The biggest surprise from the Knicks has been Landry Fields. He seems like a plain Jane type dude to me, but hes making an impact. Over 10 points a game and over seven boards a game. The Knicks look poised to make the playoffs and that's a good thing for the league. If New York and LA are in the playoffs the NBA is in good shape. If the Knicks keep this up they may be able to make some noise come April.
Early Season MVP- Derrick Rose
Please watch a Bulls game if you can. Rose is the most entertaining player in the game right now. He can take it to the hoop, hes developed a jump shot, and can even step out and shoot the three ball. Rose has matured so much in such a short amount of time. He kept Chicago afloat while Boozer was out and now he looks to take them to the next level. If this team can gel and really put the pieces together, I could see them in the Eastern Conference Finals. They wont get to the finals, but they could get close. I think Chicago is one shooting guard away from being a championship team. With that said though, they have an amazing point guard in Rose that can overcompensate for his team's deficiencies.
Its been a great month and a half so far. I cant wait to see what else is in store for this season.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Fav 5: Centers
Ah, finally I'm back and this is going to finish this series. I have had a lot going on lately, personal stuff. When life hands you lemons, doesn't mean you have to make lemonade.
#5 Vlade Divac
Okay, he flopped a lot, I'll give you that. Divac could ball though. He was so smart with the ball. He always knew the correct decision to make with the ball, whether it be a pass, shot, or strong take to the rim. Like his boys Mike Bibby and Chris Webber, I love Vlade for his days in Sacramento. He held down the middle with those guys for a number of years. That Sacramento team is one of the greatest teams to never make the finals. They were the definition of team work and Vlade was their leader. Not to mention Vlade was a trailblazer for other players coming out of Europe. ESPN 30 for 30 are the best.
#4 Patrick Ewing
I'm a Knicks fan. Ewing had to make the list. He carried the Knicks for years. In fact putting the team on his back may have lead to an early demise of his knees and body overall. He never won a ring, but he did make it to the Hall of Fame.I must say that isn't totally bad. Sure, every player wants a ring, but the Hall of Fame is pretty special. Knicks fans are still waiting for the next Patrick Ewing. Please God, let it be Amare.
#3 Hakeem Olajuwon
The dream had moves for days. His soccer background made him quick on his feet. He beat his opponents not only with his physical ability, but his intelligence. I don't know if the league will ever see another big man quite like "The Dream." Remember when he put in work on David Robinson? Yikes. It happens to everyone I guess. He did some work with Dwight Howard over the summer, so maybe we'll see his game pick up now as well.
#2 Marcus Camby
I don't even know why. Camby's just always been a guy I liked. He cant do too much on offense, but makes up for it with his rebounding and defense. He's 36 now and still playing just as well as he always did. I don't have much to say about Camby just because I'm not even sure why I like the guy so much, but he gets respect.
#1 Shaq
The Diesel is a man among men. No player has ever been as dominant. Well Jordan was dominant, but even he didn't shoot 60% for his career. Let me not get anything twisted, Jordan is the best ever, but Shaq is no joke. Sure now days he isn't ripping down backboards and tossing opposing centers, but hes still a force. In his prime Shaq was the best player in the league. 3 time Finals MVP. We'll never know who needed whom more, Shaq or Kobe, but I think the big man could have done it with someone else. Kobe obviously can do it now too with Pau. Maybe they never needed each other? Anyway, in my opinion Shaq is the best center of all time. Maybe he'll cop another ring with the Celtics this season.
#5 Vlade Divac
Okay, he flopped a lot, I'll give you that. Divac could ball though. He was so smart with the ball. He always knew the correct decision to make with the ball, whether it be a pass, shot, or strong take to the rim. Like his boys Mike Bibby and Chris Webber, I love Vlade for his days in Sacramento. He held down the middle with those guys for a number of years. That Sacramento team is one of the greatest teams to never make the finals. They were the definition of team work and Vlade was their leader. Not to mention Vlade was a trailblazer for other players coming out of Europe. ESPN 30 for 30 are the best.
#4 Patrick Ewing
I'm a Knicks fan. Ewing had to make the list. He carried the Knicks for years. In fact putting the team on his back may have lead to an early demise of his knees and body overall. He never won a ring, but he did make it to the Hall of Fame.I must say that isn't totally bad. Sure, every player wants a ring, but the Hall of Fame is pretty special. Knicks fans are still waiting for the next Patrick Ewing. Please God, let it be Amare.
#3 Hakeem Olajuwon
The dream had moves for days. His soccer background made him quick on his feet. He beat his opponents not only with his physical ability, but his intelligence. I don't know if the league will ever see another big man quite like "The Dream." Remember when he put in work on David Robinson? Yikes. It happens to everyone I guess. He did some work with Dwight Howard over the summer, so maybe we'll see his game pick up now as well.
#2 Marcus Camby
I don't even know why. Camby's just always been a guy I liked. He cant do too much on offense, but makes up for it with his rebounding and defense. He's 36 now and still playing just as well as he always did. I don't have much to say about Camby just because I'm not even sure why I like the guy so much, but he gets respect.
#1 Shaq
The Diesel is a man among men. No player has ever been as dominant. Well Jordan was dominant, but even he didn't shoot 60% for his career. Let me not get anything twisted, Jordan is the best ever, but Shaq is no joke. Sure now days he isn't ripping down backboards and tossing opposing centers, but hes still a force. In his prime Shaq was the best player in the league. 3 time Finals MVP. We'll never know who needed whom more, Shaq or Kobe, but I think the big man could have done it with someone else. Kobe obviously can do it now too with Pau. Maybe they never needed each other? Anyway, in my opinion Shaq is the best center of all time. Maybe he'll cop another ring with the Celtics this season.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Fav 5: Power Forwards
Damn, does anyone slack as much as I do? If you don't know what I'm doing by now then I really cant help you out. Its in the title of the post. Anyway lets get it going.
#5 Pau Gasol
Pau Gasol is the most skilled player in the post in today's NBA. His efficiency and smooth moves around the hoop are incredible to watch. Sure he hasn't showered since 2002 or 2003, but that dirt and grime makes Pau the man he is. He was a leader for the Grizzlies for a number of years and has become a superstar in LA. If your team is playing LA you almost have to turn away every time they give the ball to Pau. The reason? You know he is going to drop two points on his defender and their is nothing anyone can do to stop him. Pau is still relatively young and considering his game isn't built off athletic ability, we should be seeing this domination for years to come.
#4 Tim Duncan
If the Dos Equis man is "The Most Interesting Man in the World" then Tim Duncan has to be "The Most Boring Dude Ever." Sure his personality is...different, but Tim can ball. In fact, he's probably the best power forward in the history of the game. Lets see, four rings, two MVP trophies, 12 time all-star, All NBA team 13 times. Wow. Talk about distinguished. Duncan's been a terror on the court since his days at Wake Forest. Hes the most fundamental player I've ever seen and it makes him great. Nothing flashy, just the stuff coaches try to teach young kids coming up. Of course he does it at a much higher level, and has some of the best footwork ever seen, but that's beside the point. Tim Duncan is arguably the best player of the last decade along with Kobe. Some may find this crazy, but look at the accolades and team production and an argument can be made. Not to mention Timmy was a beast on defense. The guy has a vertical of maybe 7 inches, but can block almost any shot. Duncan has excellent timing. Now days Tim Duncan is slowing down and may only have two or three seasons left, but people will always remember him for winning championships and playing the game the right way.
#3 Chris Webber
Some people are never going to forget what went down with C-Webb in college, but I'm not one of those people. I could care less about it. When I think of Webber I think of one of the best all around players I grew up watching. Webber was a handful on the offensive end. He could shoot the 17 footer with ease, he had the post moves, he had the mean dunks, and he also had some of the sickest passes for a big man. When Webber got the ball on the low block he was either going to face up and score, throw a sick behind the back pass, or put a crafty post move on you and finish the play. I'll always remember his days in Sac-Town and the joy that team brought to me. Him, Divac, Bibby, Stojakovic, Christie and all the other players made the west interesting when LA was running the league. The whole Tim Donaghy scandal now makes me wonder if that Sacramento team could have won a ring, but we'll never know. What I do know is that C-Webb doesn't get the love he deserves from the basketball world and people should check out his highlights.
#2 Kevin Garnett
KG is the realest dude in the NBA, which makes him one of my favorite players ever. Raw emotion is a given with this guy. He plays every game like its his last and lifts his team to new heights at all times. KG spent pretty much all of his good years in Minnesota with a sub par supporting cast. The reason for that is because KG is a loyal guy. He could have skipped out on the team after his contract ran out, but he stayed and earned an MVP award in the process. Garnett regrets it now, but I think a lot of people respect what he did. Hes even the one who publicly told LeBron not to waste his time in Cleveland. Talk about good looking out. Although KG is a great scorer, rebounder and defender, none of that is running across my brain right now. All I can think about is the skinny man with huge heart. He may not be the best power forward ever, but he definitely is one of the most memorable players of all time. Oh and he got his ring with Boston. Lets see what "the old guys" can do this year.
#1 Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk is kind of the Jackie Robinson of this list. Hes the first European/white guy to be number one, but that should not surprise you. Dirk has been blazing his own path since he came into the league. German, 7 foot, baller, that's the best way to describe Dirk. Hes without a doubt one of the most skilled offensive players in the history of the game. Jumper, hes got that. Fade away, hes got that. Ability to go to the rack, yep. You see where I'm going? This guy can do it all on offensive. He completely revolutionized the position. I'm not sure if I'll see a power forward ever again quite like Dirk. Hes almost a shooting guard with height. Its just wild to think about the things he can do on the court. Dirk is till chasing that elusive ring, but he still has a couple of good years left. Will he win the ring? I don't think he will unless he has another big name. He needs a LeBron, Durant, Melo or Wade to compliment him. But that doesn't look like its going to happen anytime soon. Dirk's ability to do it all on the offensive end at an efficient level makes him my favorite PF of all time.
#5 Pau Gasol
Pau Gasol is the most skilled player in the post in today's NBA. His efficiency and smooth moves around the hoop are incredible to watch. Sure he hasn't showered since 2002 or 2003, but that dirt and grime makes Pau the man he is. He was a leader for the Grizzlies for a number of years and has become a superstar in LA. If your team is playing LA you almost have to turn away every time they give the ball to Pau. The reason? You know he is going to drop two points on his defender and their is nothing anyone can do to stop him. Pau is still relatively young and considering his game isn't built off athletic ability, we should be seeing this domination for years to come.
#4 Tim Duncan
If the Dos Equis man is "The Most Interesting Man in the World" then Tim Duncan has to be "The Most Boring Dude Ever." Sure his personality is...different, but Tim can ball. In fact, he's probably the best power forward in the history of the game. Lets see, four rings, two MVP trophies, 12 time all-star, All NBA team 13 times. Wow. Talk about distinguished. Duncan's been a terror on the court since his days at Wake Forest. Hes the most fundamental player I've ever seen and it makes him great. Nothing flashy, just the stuff coaches try to teach young kids coming up. Of course he does it at a much higher level, and has some of the best footwork ever seen, but that's beside the point. Tim Duncan is arguably the best player of the last decade along with Kobe. Some may find this crazy, but look at the accolades and team production and an argument can be made. Not to mention Timmy was a beast on defense. The guy has a vertical of maybe 7 inches, but can block almost any shot. Duncan has excellent timing. Now days Tim Duncan is slowing down and may only have two or three seasons left, but people will always remember him for winning championships and playing the game the right way.
#3 Chris Webber
Some people are never going to forget what went down with C-Webb in college, but I'm not one of those people. I could care less about it. When I think of Webber I think of one of the best all around players I grew up watching. Webber was a handful on the offensive end. He could shoot the 17 footer with ease, he had the post moves, he had the mean dunks, and he also had some of the sickest passes for a big man. When Webber got the ball on the low block he was either going to face up and score, throw a sick behind the back pass, or put a crafty post move on you and finish the play. I'll always remember his days in Sac-Town and the joy that team brought to me. Him, Divac, Bibby, Stojakovic, Christie and all the other players made the west interesting when LA was running the league. The whole Tim Donaghy scandal now makes me wonder if that Sacramento team could have won a ring, but we'll never know. What I do know is that C-Webb doesn't get the love he deserves from the basketball world and people should check out his highlights.
#2 Kevin Garnett
KG is the realest dude in the NBA, which makes him one of my favorite players ever. Raw emotion is a given with this guy. He plays every game like its his last and lifts his team to new heights at all times. KG spent pretty much all of his good years in Minnesota with a sub par supporting cast. The reason for that is because KG is a loyal guy. He could have skipped out on the team after his contract ran out, but he stayed and earned an MVP award in the process. Garnett regrets it now, but I think a lot of people respect what he did. Hes even the one who publicly told LeBron not to waste his time in Cleveland. Talk about good looking out. Although KG is a great scorer, rebounder and defender, none of that is running across my brain right now. All I can think about is the skinny man with huge heart. He may not be the best power forward ever, but he definitely is one of the most memorable players of all time. Oh and he got his ring with Boston. Lets see what "the old guys" can do this year.
#1 Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk is kind of the Jackie Robinson of this list. Hes the first European/white guy to be number one, but that should not surprise you. Dirk has been blazing his own path since he came into the league. German, 7 foot, baller, that's the best way to describe Dirk. Hes without a doubt one of the most skilled offensive players in the history of the game. Jumper, hes got that. Fade away, hes got that. Ability to go to the rack, yep. You see where I'm going? This guy can do it all on offensive. He completely revolutionized the position. I'm not sure if I'll see a power forward ever again quite like Dirk. Hes almost a shooting guard with height. Its just wild to think about the things he can do on the court. Dirk is till chasing that elusive ring, but he still has a couple of good years left. Will he win the ring? I don't think he will unless he has another big name. He needs a LeBron, Durant, Melo or Wade to compliment him. But that doesn't look like its going to happen anytime soon. Dirk's ability to do it all on the offensive end at an efficient level makes him my favorite PF of all time.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Top 5 Small Forwards
So you all know the drill by now. Well if anyone reads this, they know the drill. Here we go, top 5 Small Forwards.
#5 Tracy Mcgrady
T-Mac was the man during the early-mid 2000s. This guy went from a potential draft bust to a superstar. Once he left Toronto and established himself in Orlando it was a wrap. He showed he was an elite NBA player. T-Mac could shoot, drive and rise up to throw it down on his opponents. One of the great things about T-Mac was that he hit the most difficult shots. He didn't care about who was on him or what angle the shot was at, he was going to take it. I think people will always remember when Mcgrady torched Tim Duncan and the Spurs for 13 points in 33 seconds to win a game at the buzzer. That is one of the most amazing performances I have ever seen on a basketball court. Go try to hit six jumpers in 33 seconds, I promise it wont be easy. Its kind of sad what has become of T-Mac's career. So many injuries, so many missed games, I just hope he can bounce back this year. Time will tell.
#4 Carmelo Anthony
Melo' is a beast. He is truly someone I enjoy watching. One thing that is dope about Melo is the fact that he doesn't look like LeBron. He comes from the Antoine Walker/Paul Pierce body sculpting class more so than the LeBron/Len Bias class. Anyway, Melo' is one of the best players in the league right now and will be for many years to come. He is a lot like T-Mac was back in his glory days. Anthony literally has no weaknesses on the offensive end. He can bang with you in the post, drive around you, rise up over you, or J it in your face. Melo' has the best mid-range game in the NBA right now. His pull up jumper is so clean and so pretty. I feel bad for anyone who has to defend him. In fact if you do have to defend him...take the night off. Melo' is going to light up any defender and probably make them look foolish at some point.
#3 LeBron James
I know a lot of people don't really care for the man anymore, but he can ball. LBJ is the greatest physical specimen to play basketball. Hes 6'8, weighs as much as a line backer, and runs like a track athlete. LeBron James is incredible to watch, from the dunks to the chase down blocks, he does it all. What LeBron does better than anyone is attack the hoop. There is no one, and I mean no one, who wants to challenge LeBron James mid-air. He may not have a clean offensive game like Melo', but Lebron is super efficient. He gets the looks he wants and half the time he converts. On top of being a great scorer, hes a great passer and rebounder. LeBron is a triple-double waiting to happen. In Cleveland he literally did everything for the team. I can't wait to see what he does in Miami once he joins D-Wade. F*ck the haters LeBron, do what you do.
#2 Larry Johnson
Larry Johnson AKA Grandma-ma was a beast at UNLV and a monster when he first got into the league. I don't remember much of his early days, but from the highlights and game footage I can tell he was no joke. What I remember most about LJ are his days with the Knicks. Johnson was the emotional leader on the team and was one of the main reasons the team was able to get to the NBA finals in 1999. One of my favorite moments in basketball history is his 4-point play against the Pacers which put the Knicks in the finals. LJ was hobbled by injuries throughout his career, but he carried on like a warrior. I have nothing, but the utmost respect for him. Thanks for the memories brah.
PS- I know he played PF more so than SF, but PFs is going to be packed next week.
#1 Vince Carter
Air Canada. Half Man/Half Amazing. The best dunker EVER. Vince Carter is my favorite small forward of all-time. He was an extremely bad dude. VC is the best dunker in the history of dunks. the 2000 dunk contest was the most amazing thing I had ever seen when I was a 10-year-old. He jumped so high and threw it down so hard. 360s, Windmills, between the legs, this guy could do any dunk. He truly was an amazing athlete. It wasn't just the dunks either. Carter was an overall great scorer. He hit tough shots and wasn't scared to go up on anyone. He dunked on ever great shot blocker of his time. Carter is still in the league and still doing his thing today. He may not be Air Canada anymore, but he still gets it in. I don't know what his legacy will be when his playing days are done, but I'll always remember him as one of the most entertaining players of his generation.
#5 Tracy Mcgrady
T-Mac was the man during the early-mid 2000s. This guy went from a potential draft bust to a superstar. Once he left Toronto and established himself in Orlando it was a wrap. He showed he was an elite NBA player. T-Mac could shoot, drive and rise up to throw it down on his opponents. One of the great things about T-Mac was that he hit the most difficult shots. He didn't care about who was on him or what angle the shot was at, he was going to take it. I think people will always remember when Mcgrady torched Tim Duncan and the Spurs for 13 points in 33 seconds to win a game at the buzzer. That is one of the most amazing performances I have ever seen on a basketball court. Go try to hit six jumpers in 33 seconds, I promise it wont be easy. Its kind of sad what has become of T-Mac's career. So many injuries, so many missed games, I just hope he can bounce back this year. Time will tell.
#4 Carmelo Anthony
Melo' is a beast. He is truly someone I enjoy watching. One thing that is dope about Melo is the fact that he doesn't look like LeBron. He comes from the Antoine Walker/Paul Pierce body sculpting class more so than the LeBron/Len Bias class. Anyway, Melo' is one of the best players in the league right now and will be for many years to come. He is a lot like T-Mac was back in his glory days. Anthony literally has no weaknesses on the offensive end. He can bang with you in the post, drive around you, rise up over you, or J it in your face. Melo' has the best mid-range game in the NBA right now. His pull up jumper is so clean and so pretty. I feel bad for anyone who has to defend him. In fact if you do have to defend him...take the night off. Melo' is going to light up any defender and probably make them look foolish at some point.
#3 LeBron James
I know a lot of people don't really care for the man anymore, but he can ball. LBJ is the greatest physical specimen to play basketball. Hes 6'8, weighs as much as a line backer, and runs like a track athlete. LeBron James is incredible to watch, from the dunks to the chase down blocks, he does it all. What LeBron does better than anyone is attack the hoop. There is no one, and I mean no one, who wants to challenge LeBron James mid-air. He may not have a clean offensive game like Melo', but Lebron is super efficient. He gets the looks he wants and half the time he converts. On top of being a great scorer, hes a great passer and rebounder. LeBron is a triple-double waiting to happen. In Cleveland he literally did everything for the team. I can't wait to see what he does in Miami once he joins D-Wade. F*ck the haters LeBron, do what you do.
#2 Larry Johnson
Larry Johnson AKA Grandma-ma was a beast at UNLV and a monster when he first got into the league. I don't remember much of his early days, but from the highlights and game footage I can tell he was no joke. What I remember most about LJ are his days with the Knicks. Johnson was the emotional leader on the team and was one of the main reasons the team was able to get to the NBA finals in 1999. One of my favorite moments in basketball history is his 4-point play against the Pacers which put the Knicks in the finals. LJ was hobbled by injuries throughout his career, but he carried on like a warrior. I have nothing, but the utmost respect for him. Thanks for the memories brah.
PS- I know he played PF more so than SF, but PFs is going to be packed next week.
#1 Vince Carter
Air Canada. Half Man/Half Amazing. The best dunker EVER. Vince Carter is my favorite small forward of all-time. He was an extremely bad dude. VC is the best dunker in the history of dunks. the 2000 dunk contest was the most amazing thing I had ever seen when I was a 10-year-old. He jumped so high and threw it down so hard. 360s, Windmills, between the legs, this guy could do any dunk. He truly was an amazing athlete. It wasn't just the dunks either. Carter was an overall great scorer. He hit tough shots and wasn't scared to go up on anyone. He dunked on ever great shot blocker of his time. Carter is still in the league and still doing his thing today. He may not be Air Canada anymore, but he still gets it in. I don't know what his legacy will be when his playing days are done, but I'll always remember him as one of the most entertaining players of his generation.
Monday, September 6, 2010
My fav 5 SG's
In case you didn't see the last post...I'm ranking my top 5 favorite players at each position. Last week it was point guards, this week the shooting guards. Lets get it rolling.
#5 Kobe Bryant
Although I do not like the man one bit, Kobe can ball. The way he can take over a game and drop points like no one else is amazing. He is one of the best, if not the best, player in the game. The will to win, and championships to back it up. Good luck with the 3-peat my man.
#4 Allan Houston
If you are a Knicks fan like I am then you appreciate H20. Houston is one of my all-time favorite players. He had one of the prettiest jump shots I have ever seen. He released the ball at his highest point and had excellent form to go with it. Just thinking about his jumper brings back great memories. He didn't showboat or ever react to a call, but his game did all the talking necessary. I'll never forget when him, Sprewell, Larry Johnson, and a few others took the Knicks to the finals in '99. That honestly was one of the happiest times in my life seeing the Knicks get that far. On top of all that I'll always remember the runner he hit on Miami in the first round in game 5 to get the Knicks to the semis. Allan Houston's game truly was water. He just kept flowing.
#3 Ray Allen
Its Jesus Shuttlesworth. Ray Allen is streaky at times, in fact, he can be really streaky. But who cares? Allen is one of the best shooters ever. His release is as quick as the blink of an eye, or the bullet out the gun. He is going to be the best 3-point shooter when his career ends, he is going to have a ring, and he will eventually be in the Hall of Fame. If you need someone to model your shot after, pick him. By the way I dont want to knock his ability to take it to the whole, because if you do play tight on him, hes going to go by you. Shout out to Sasha Vujacic on that one.
#2 Dwyane Wade
Fall seven times, stand up 8. We all remember that Converse commercial from a few years ago. D-Wade is a warrior. I love the fact that he is not scared to sacrifice his body. He does everything a coach can ask for. Shoots well, passes well and plays tough defense. Back in 06' he took Miami from the bottom to the top in just a couple of years. Sure the Mavs collapsed, but what caused it? Correct, that boy #3. With some new friends joining him in Miami, look for Mr.Wade to be holding up another championship. He's a true champ and the now the Derek Jeter to Lebron's A-Rod.
#1 Michael Jordan
Best.Player.Ever. I honestly have nothing to say. Its self explanatory. How could you not love MJ?....Drop me answers and I'll put those up.
Next week Small Forwards
#5 Kobe Bryant
Although I do not like the man one bit, Kobe can ball. The way he can take over a game and drop points like no one else is amazing. He is one of the best, if not the best, player in the game. The will to win, and championships to back it up. Good luck with the 3-peat my man.
#4 Allan Houston
If you are a Knicks fan like I am then you appreciate H20. Houston is one of my all-time favorite players. He had one of the prettiest jump shots I have ever seen. He released the ball at his highest point and had excellent form to go with it. Just thinking about his jumper brings back great memories. He didn't showboat or ever react to a call, but his game did all the talking necessary. I'll never forget when him, Sprewell, Larry Johnson, and a few others took the Knicks to the finals in '99. That honestly was one of the happiest times in my life seeing the Knicks get that far. On top of all that I'll always remember the runner he hit on Miami in the first round in game 5 to get the Knicks to the semis. Allan Houston's game truly was water. He just kept flowing.
#3 Ray Allen
Its Jesus Shuttlesworth. Ray Allen is streaky at times, in fact, he can be really streaky. But who cares? Allen is one of the best shooters ever. His release is as quick as the blink of an eye, or the bullet out the gun. He is going to be the best 3-point shooter when his career ends, he is going to have a ring, and he will eventually be in the Hall of Fame. If you need someone to model your shot after, pick him. By the way I dont want to knock his ability to take it to the whole, because if you do play tight on him, hes going to go by you. Shout out to Sasha Vujacic on that one.
#2 Dwyane Wade
Fall seven times, stand up 8. We all remember that Converse commercial from a few years ago. D-Wade is a warrior. I love the fact that he is not scared to sacrifice his body. He does everything a coach can ask for. Shoots well, passes well and plays tough defense. Back in 06' he took Miami from the bottom to the top in just a couple of years. Sure the Mavs collapsed, but what caused it? Correct, that boy #3. With some new friends joining him in Miami, look for Mr.Wade to be holding up another championship. He's a true champ and the now the Derek Jeter to Lebron's A-Rod.
#1 Michael Jordan
Best.Player.Ever. I honestly have nothing to say. Its self explanatory. How could you not love MJ?....Drop me answers and I'll put those up.
Next week Small Forwards
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
My Fav 5 PG's
So I haven't been blogging much, but I just got some inspiration from Slam. For the next 5 weeks I guess, which will take us pretty close to the start of the regular season, I am going to post My Fav 5. What is this? My list of my five favorite players of all-time at their respective positions.
Today lets kick it off with the point guards, the QBs on the court, the guys that make sure things run smoothly. Remember these are just my favorite five, not who I think are necessarily the best five.
#5- Mike Bibby
Now Mike Bibby may seem kind of random to some people, but the dude can ball. Bibby led Arizona to a National Championship as a sophomore and then was the #2 overall pick in 1997. He was never a flashy player, but he played hard and made teammates better. Mike Bibby never cared who the opponent was he was going to go at them, and go at them hard. I'll always remember his days in Sacramento when him, C-Webb, Vlade, and Doug(i love my wife) Christie would take it to the Lakers. At the end of the games Webber never took over or took the big shot, Mike Bibby did. He's never been scared to be the hero and for that I respect him.
#4 Jason Williams
Jason Williams AKA White Chocolate was in many ways the streetballer that made it. Like Mike Bibby, Williams had his best days in Sac Town. He had great handles, awesome court vision, and probably made Sports Center's top 10 everyday during the early 2000s. I messed up by the way, he didn't have great handles, he had the best handles....EVER. Watch any highlight tape of Williams on Youtube and you will see exactly what I am talking about. His no look passes were crisp, his handles were flashy, and he had the ability to make any defender look average (peep his cross on Gary Payton). White Chocolate will live on forever in the basketball world because of the moves he invented and moves he made famous.
#3 Tony Parker
Fastest man ever. That's a lie, but with a basketball in his hand and an open lane in front of him, Tony Parker is the flash. His ability to go from end to end at blinding speeds with great control is something to marvel at. He has an array of floaters and has developed a great mid-range game to go along with them. Not to mention, does this man miss lay ups? Seriously he goes up on everyone and comes down with two points almost every time. The greatest thing about Tony Parker isn't his endless arsenal of offensive fire power, but rather his ability to win. Three rings, one finals MVP and Eva Longoria all before the age of 30. Do work TP, do work.
#2 Steve Nash
Two MVPs, great court vision and beautiful stroke all describe Steve Nash. Over the last several years in Phoenix, Nash has orchestrated one of the most fun things to watch in basketball. The fast tempo implemented by Mike D'antoni in Phoenix made Nash an MVP. When he had Amare and Shawn Marion in his prime, Nash put on a show every night. The way he distributed the ball and led the team was something every young baller should watch and learn from. Another thing Steve Nash doesn't get enough credit for is his shot. This guy is lights out from anywhere on the court. I honestly think he may be the best shooter in the league along with Stephen Curry. He may look like a goofy Canadian, but get him on the court and hes trouble.
#1 Jason Kidd
I don't care who came before him, Jason Kidd is the best point guard of all time. If Steve Nash is "trouble" Jason Kidd is the guy that f*cked around and got a triple double. Jason Kidd is 3rd all time in triple doubles behind Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson. Jason Kidd took New Jersey from obscurity to the finals(with a weak roster). Jason Kidd has eyes in the back of his head, seriously its in a Nike commercial. All jokes aside, Jason Kidd is everything a point guard should be. He is the best passer I have ever seen, he makes his teammates better, hes smart, a great defender and is not scared to shine. I really cant express how I feel about Jason Kidd as a basketball player. Personally, I have tried to emulate everything he does in my own game. In my opinion he is the guy that bridged the gap between Magic Johnson and guys like Deron Williams. He always had some Magic in his game and now guys have some of J-Kidd in their games. I could go on forever, but I will stop here.
Thanks to all these guys for being crafty and giving little guys like me moves to use in pick-up games. It means a lot to me and everyone else that struggles in this game full of giants.
Next week- Shooting Guards
Today lets kick it off with the point guards, the QBs on the court, the guys that make sure things run smoothly. Remember these are just my favorite five, not who I think are necessarily the best five.
#5- Mike Bibby
Now Mike Bibby may seem kind of random to some people, but the dude can ball. Bibby led Arizona to a National Championship as a sophomore and then was the #2 overall pick in 1997. He was never a flashy player, but he played hard and made teammates better. Mike Bibby never cared who the opponent was he was going to go at them, and go at them hard. I'll always remember his days in Sacramento when him, C-Webb, Vlade, and Doug(i love my wife) Christie would take it to the Lakers. At the end of the games Webber never took over or took the big shot, Mike Bibby did. He's never been scared to be the hero and for that I respect him.
#4 Jason Williams
Jason Williams AKA White Chocolate was in many ways the streetballer that made it. Like Mike Bibby, Williams had his best days in Sac Town. He had great handles, awesome court vision, and probably made Sports Center's top 10 everyday during the early 2000s. I messed up by the way, he didn't have great handles, he had the best handles....EVER. Watch any highlight tape of Williams on Youtube and you will see exactly what I am talking about. His no look passes were crisp, his handles were flashy, and he had the ability to make any defender look average (peep his cross on Gary Payton). White Chocolate will live on forever in the basketball world because of the moves he invented and moves he made famous.
#3 Tony Parker
Fastest man ever. That's a lie, but with a basketball in his hand and an open lane in front of him, Tony Parker is the flash. His ability to go from end to end at blinding speeds with great control is something to marvel at. He has an array of floaters and has developed a great mid-range game to go along with them. Not to mention, does this man miss lay ups? Seriously he goes up on everyone and comes down with two points almost every time. The greatest thing about Tony Parker isn't his endless arsenal of offensive fire power, but rather his ability to win. Three rings, one finals MVP and Eva Longoria all before the age of 30. Do work TP, do work.
#2 Steve Nash
Two MVPs, great court vision and beautiful stroke all describe Steve Nash. Over the last several years in Phoenix, Nash has orchestrated one of the most fun things to watch in basketball. The fast tempo implemented by Mike D'antoni in Phoenix made Nash an MVP. When he had Amare and Shawn Marion in his prime, Nash put on a show every night. The way he distributed the ball and led the team was something every young baller should watch and learn from. Another thing Steve Nash doesn't get enough credit for is his shot. This guy is lights out from anywhere on the court. I honestly think he may be the best shooter in the league along with Stephen Curry. He may look like a goofy Canadian, but get him on the court and hes trouble.
#1 Jason Kidd
I don't care who came before him, Jason Kidd is the best point guard of all time. If Steve Nash is "trouble" Jason Kidd is the guy that f*cked around and got a triple double. Jason Kidd is 3rd all time in triple doubles behind Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson. Jason Kidd took New Jersey from obscurity to the finals(with a weak roster). Jason Kidd has eyes in the back of his head, seriously its in a Nike commercial. All jokes aside, Jason Kidd is everything a point guard should be. He is the best passer I have ever seen, he makes his teammates better, hes smart, a great defender and is not scared to shine. I really cant express how I feel about Jason Kidd as a basketball player. Personally, I have tried to emulate everything he does in my own game. In my opinion he is the guy that bridged the gap between Magic Johnson and guys like Deron Williams. He always had some Magic in his game and now guys have some of J-Kidd in their games. I could go on forever, but I will stop here.
Thanks to all these guys for being crafty and giving little guys like me moves to use in pick-up games. It means a lot to me and everyone else that struggles in this game full of giants.
Next week- Shooting Guards
Sunday, July 18, 2010
The Return
What up blog world? Its been way too long since I got on this, but i started a job and working full-time has me in a weird place. I want to get on and post things, but I'm usually too tired by the time I get home. That isn't the case today though as you can see. I'm here and ready to do the damn thing (whatever that means).
Okay so I don't know who reads my blog, but if you do, then you probably want to read my thoughts on the Miami Heat. I love it. Plain and simple its a beautiful thing. Three of the top 15 players in the league just joined forces in order to win. How can you not respect that? Oh right, LeBron is taking the easy way out. Blah Blah Blah. Put yourself in his shoes for a second. Seven years...no rings. Imagine if someone got a job at McDonalds making burgers in 03' and in 10' they only moved up to fries. Tell me that doesn't suck. That is kind of how I look at LeBron's situation. Cleveland wasn't the right fit anymore, so he made a change. It is what it is.
What I'm looking forward to most is how the Heat will run their offense. On defense LeBron and Wade should be able to shut down any team. Bosh is a beast on the boards and then who cares about whom they pick up right? I think the offense could be something amazing. It all depends on how Spoelstra decides to run the offense. I think their best bet is to have a read and react offense. Just make the right play every time down the court. The "Big 3" shouldn't take turns scoring or running the show in my opinion, that is going to make things too predictable. If they can find a way to completely let egos go and be content with maybe scoring between 20-25 each, its going to be a great season.
Lastly, I just want to say how happy I am for these three guys. Sure Wade already has a championship, but the Heat have been disappointing the last few years, while Wade has been spectacular. Bosh has been putting up huge numbers in Toronto for years, but probably hasn't received the recognition he deserved. LeBron, well I think I said my piece on him. These guys are doing something great. They sacrificed money, legacies, and maybe even some respect, in order to win. I will never be able to hate on that. Are they taking the easy way out? No, they're making the right move. Besides the Heat, what other team do you think could beat the Lakers? Exactly, no one, because the Lakers are an all-star team themselves. A lot of other stuff went on in the NBA since I left the blog world,so I'm just going to do some quick hits.
Chicago is officially serious. Love the Boozer pick up to bolster front line. Rose is a beast. Noah is the man.
How did Joe Johnson get paid so much?
"Entourage" started its new season and it looks like its going to be really dope.
The Jets are going to be on "Hard Knocks" in case you didn't know (I'm going off course)
Look out for the Clippers and Golden State to be battling for the last spot in the west.
Eminem is back with "Recovery" its sick. Oh and Big Boi's C.D. is also amazing.
Lastly, my Knicks. Nice job getting Stoudemire,but damn we dropped the ball. Maybe next year we can bring Melo' and Tony Parker. Imagine seeing that team vs. the Heat for four years.
Okay so I don't know who reads my blog, but if you do, then you probably want to read my thoughts on the Miami Heat. I love it. Plain and simple its a beautiful thing. Three of the top 15 players in the league just joined forces in order to win. How can you not respect that? Oh right, LeBron is taking the easy way out. Blah Blah Blah. Put yourself in his shoes for a second. Seven years...no rings. Imagine if someone got a job at McDonalds making burgers in 03' and in 10' they only moved up to fries. Tell me that doesn't suck. That is kind of how I look at LeBron's situation. Cleveland wasn't the right fit anymore, so he made a change. It is what it is.
What I'm looking forward to most is how the Heat will run their offense. On defense LeBron and Wade should be able to shut down any team. Bosh is a beast on the boards and then who cares about whom they pick up right? I think the offense could be something amazing. It all depends on how Spoelstra decides to run the offense. I think their best bet is to have a read and react offense. Just make the right play every time down the court. The "Big 3" shouldn't take turns scoring or running the show in my opinion, that is going to make things too predictable. If they can find a way to completely let egos go and be content with maybe scoring between 20-25 each, its going to be a great season.
Lastly, I just want to say how happy I am for these three guys. Sure Wade already has a championship, but the Heat have been disappointing the last few years, while Wade has been spectacular. Bosh has been putting up huge numbers in Toronto for years, but probably hasn't received the recognition he deserved. LeBron, well I think I said my piece on him. These guys are doing something great. They sacrificed money, legacies, and maybe even some respect, in order to win. I will never be able to hate on that. Are they taking the easy way out? No, they're making the right move. Besides the Heat, what other team do you think could beat the Lakers? Exactly, no one, because the Lakers are an all-star team themselves. A lot of other stuff went on in the NBA since I left the blog world,so I'm just going to do some quick hits.
Chicago is officially serious. Love the Boozer pick up to bolster front line. Rose is a beast. Noah is the man.
How did Joe Johnson get paid so much?
"Entourage" started its new season and it looks like its going to be really dope.
The Jets are going to be on "Hard Knocks" in case you didn't know (I'm going off course)
Look out for the Clippers and Golden State to be battling for the last spot in the west.
Eminem is back with "Recovery" its sick. Oh and Big Boi's C.D. is also amazing.
Lastly, my Knicks. Nice job getting Stoudemire,but damn we dropped the ball. Maybe next year we can bring Melo' and Tony Parker. Imagine seeing that team vs. the Heat for four years.
Friday, June 18, 2010
LA Won..What does that mean for Kobe?
Since he came into the league Kobe has been compared to Michael Jordan. I really don't like to compare people, but these guys are too similar to avoid it. Great scorers, great defenders, true winners, etc. I could go on forever, but I would rather not seeing as how I am tired as shit. Lets begin the comparing though.
Well MJ is the greatest scorer of all time. Kobe is a great scorer, but he isn't the greatest. Jordan averaged close to 50% shooting for his career and 30.1 ppg. Anyone who has even the slightest bit of knowledge about basketball knows how crazy this is. To hit half your shots and score 30 plus for a career would be unfathomable if Jordan never did it. Kobe on the other hand has never even shot 50% during any of his 14 seasons.
Both guys love to win. Kobe has been to the finals more times than Jordan, but Jordan is undefeated in the finals. I can't really knock Kobe for the loss to the Pistons in 04' because the Lakers were so disoriented at that time, but i can blame him for 08'. He came up small in games 4 and 6, which allowed Boston to win. On the other hand he did just win two in a row so that helps his case. I can't really give either guy an advantage in this category. We all know I want to give it to Michael, but I have to respect Kobe's desire to win and ability to do so. Both guys are true champs.
Defensively both guys are studs. I think MJ was a bit more intimidatory on the defensive end, but Kobe has worked his ass off to become a great defender (Mike did too for the record). I really don't know how to judge which was better at defense because they played against different competition; therefor this is another draw.
Now with all that I have said I find myself giving the edge to Jordan. In fact I don't think Kobe even comes close. I was just trying to hide my bias the whole time. Kobe's great, one of the greatest ever, but Michael Jordan is the best. Its like comparing Michael Jackson to Justin Timberlake, Usher, Chris Brown (pre-beating). All three of those guys are great singers and entertainers, but he was Michael f*cking Jackson. That's the exact same way I feel when i hear Kobe, LeBron or anyone else compared to Jordan. He's f*cking Michael Jordan. No one will ever be better. Naismith created basketball, and the planets aligned the right way to give us the greatest athlete ever.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Game 7, lets go!!!
So after a game like last night, I don't really need to say much.
LA strapped up Boston on defense. Boston missed three lay-ups to start the second half and possibly get back in the game and Perkins went down early.
LA just kicked Boston's ass up and down the court. Farmar and Brown even went off for great performances. It was just a complete ass whooping, I cant even stress it anymore or say it any other way.
With Perkins out, Boston is in some trouble. KG, Big Baby, and Rasheed Wallace are going to have to play big. Perkins doesn't score much, but he does the dirty work. Look for Glen Davis to fill his role and play well.
As for LA, you have Kobe Bryant, at home, in a game 7. I think that's the most important factor in the game, but Boston may be able to counteract if Rondo can have a HUGE game. Only time will tell, it should be epic though.
LA strapped up Boston on defense. Boston missed three lay-ups to start the second half and possibly get back in the game and Perkins went down early.
LA just kicked Boston's ass up and down the court. Farmar and Brown even went off for great performances. It was just a complete ass whooping, I cant even stress it anymore or say it any other way.
With Perkins out, Boston is in some trouble. KG, Big Baby, and Rasheed Wallace are going to have to play big. Perkins doesn't score much, but he does the dirty work. Look for Glen Davis to fill his role and play well.
As for LA, you have Kobe Bryant, at home, in a game 7. I think that's the most important factor in the game, but Boston may be able to counteract if Rondo can have a HUGE game. Only time will tell, it should be epic though.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Celts go up 3-2
The Celtics finally took control of the series. Last night was a great game. Any true basketball fan had to admire the way both teams played.
The Celtics found offense early in the first half with Paul Pierce. Each time down the court it seemed like they were running an ISO for Pierce and he delivered. Pierce looked unstoppable last night, especially in the first half. He was hitting jumper after jumper and looked unstoppable after a great step-back on Odom.
At the end of two quarters the Celtics had a slight lead, but seemed to be in control. In the third quarter Kobe Bryant put on a show. I'm no Kobe fan, but he was amazing . He put up 19 points in the quarter and made some of the most difficult shots you'll see in an NBA game. The Celtics were able to weather the Kobe storm with great team play. While Kobe played great, his team played terribly.
To me the game really took a turn when the Celtics bench came in during the third. Tony Allen blocked the shit out of Pau Gasol on a lay-up attempt (Excuse my language). That play is one that I guarantee you will see 50 times more if the Celtics win the series.
During the fourth the Doc Rivers let his bench begin the quarter. They held the lead and did well enough to even build on it. At around the 8 minute mark Doc came back with his starters and they kept the lead for most of the quarter. However, with about two minutes left the Lakers mounted a small come back. Ron Artest even had a chance to close the lead to three points with about a minute left on the clock, but as he has done so many times this series, he missed. On the next play, Paul Pierce got his "Randy Moss and Tom Brady on," with a good catch over Fisher and a great pass to Rondo which sealed the deal.
The Celtics are going into LA with a chance to close out the series and win the franchise's 18th championship. Its going to be tough and I'm sure Kobe will play strong, but with Bynum hurt and the Lakers are going to be in trouble. If Pau can bounce back and the bench can play well they have a chance, not to mention its going to be hard to beat anyone three times in a row.
The Celtics found offense early in the first half with Paul Pierce. Each time down the court it seemed like they were running an ISO for Pierce and he delivered. Pierce looked unstoppable last night, especially in the first half. He was hitting jumper after jumper and looked unstoppable after a great step-back on Odom.
At the end of two quarters the Celtics had a slight lead, but seemed to be in control. In the third quarter Kobe Bryant put on a show. I'm no Kobe fan, but he was amazing . He put up 19 points in the quarter and made some of the most difficult shots you'll see in an NBA game. The Celtics were able to weather the Kobe storm with great team play. While Kobe played great, his team played terribly.
To me the game really took a turn when the Celtics bench came in during the third. Tony Allen blocked the shit out of Pau Gasol on a lay-up attempt (Excuse my language). That play is one that I guarantee you will see 50 times more if the Celtics win the series.
During the fourth the Doc Rivers let his bench begin the quarter. They held the lead and did well enough to even build on it. At around the 8 minute mark Doc came back with his starters and they kept the lead for most of the quarter. However, with about two minutes left the Lakers mounted a small come back. Ron Artest even had a chance to close the lead to three points with about a minute left on the clock, but as he has done so many times this series, he missed. On the next play, Paul Pierce got his "Randy Moss and Tom Brady on," with a good catch over Fisher and a great pass to Rondo which sealed the deal.
The Celtics are going into LA with a chance to close out the series and win the franchise's 18th championship. Its going to be tough and I'm sure Kobe will play strong, but with Bynum hurt and the Lakers are going to be in trouble. If Pau can bounce back and the bench can play well they have a chance, not to mention its going to be hard to beat anyone three times in a row.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Boston Ties it Up
Last night was a great game, not a classic, but still a great game. The Celtics and Lakers brought out the best in each other I felt.
Early in the game it seemed as if LA had complete control. They weren't scoring much, but their transition defense was solid and they controlled the ball on offense. Boston, on the other hand, was looking rough. They had a number of missed lay-ups and a number of missed shots from the field. Their brightest moment in the first half was KG's buzzer beater before half.
In the second half i expected LA to continue what they were already doing, and they did to an extent. Kobe caught fire from downtown and it looked as if he was starting to have "one of those nights," but Boston was able to persevere. The big reason Boston was able to persevere you ask? Their bench. And more specifically Glen "Big Baby" Davis.
Davis was incredible last night. Their was no stopping him in the paint. He took it to Odom, he took it to Gasol, and he even through Kobe to the ground. Davis looked possessed out there. He was the leader of the Celtics team that essentially won the game. Along with Robinson, Wallace, and Tony Allen the Celtics bench was able to put the game away. Each player made key plays. Nate hit a clutch floater in the lane after a stupid technical foul he received. Rasheed put in a big 3-pointer after a stupid technical foul he received and Tony Allen did well against Kobe.
I give Doc Rivers a lot of credit for leaving his bench in. Most coaches in the league want to win or lose solely with their stars. Doc took a different approach though. He rode the hot hands and it was the right decision. Games like this establish trust within a team. Boston's starters and coaching staff probably feel a lot more comfortable today than they did yesterday and rightfully so. In LA's defense though, they weren't at full strength.
Andrew Bynum played only 12 minutes last night. Reports say his knee was swelled up more than it had in about a month. He was held to only 2 minutes in the entire second half, which put a lot of pressure on Gasol and Bryant. Without Bynum the Lakers aren't the same team. In fact, Kenny Smith called them "The Lakers of 2008 without Bynum," which is true. Bynum brings LA toughness on the boards and some easy buckets on offense. Bynum going down or not being healthy for the rest of the series could change things in a big way.
Going into game 5 I think Boston has a slight edge. They are going to be at home and they are going to be ready. The Lakers are going to be ready too,but with Bynum at anything less than 100% I am worried for them. Its impossible to count out any team with Kobe Bryant on it, but it can't just be him and Gasol. The Lakers are going to need a third scorer if Bynum can't do it. They had it in game 3 with Derek Fisher, but they didn't have it last night.
Keys for game 5: Lakers- Get Bynum healthy, be more physical, bench production.
Keys for game 5: Boston- Win the battle on the boards, tempo, big play from the bench.
Early in the game it seemed as if LA had complete control. They weren't scoring much, but their transition defense was solid and they controlled the ball on offense. Boston, on the other hand, was looking rough. They had a number of missed lay-ups and a number of missed shots from the field. Their brightest moment in the first half was KG's buzzer beater before half.
In the second half i expected LA to continue what they were already doing, and they did to an extent. Kobe caught fire from downtown and it looked as if he was starting to have "one of those nights," but Boston was able to persevere. The big reason Boston was able to persevere you ask? Their bench. And more specifically Glen "Big Baby" Davis.
Davis was incredible last night. Their was no stopping him in the paint. He took it to Odom, he took it to Gasol, and he even through Kobe to the ground. Davis looked possessed out there. He was the leader of the Celtics team that essentially won the game. Along with Robinson, Wallace, and Tony Allen the Celtics bench was able to put the game away. Each player made key plays. Nate hit a clutch floater in the lane after a stupid technical foul he received. Rasheed put in a big 3-pointer after a stupid technical foul he received and Tony Allen did well against Kobe.
I give Doc Rivers a lot of credit for leaving his bench in. Most coaches in the league want to win or lose solely with their stars. Doc took a different approach though. He rode the hot hands and it was the right decision. Games like this establish trust within a team. Boston's starters and coaching staff probably feel a lot more comfortable today than they did yesterday and rightfully so. In LA's defense though, they weren't at full strength.
Andrew Bynum played only 12 minutes last night. Reports say his knee was swelled up more than it had in about a month. He was held to only 2 minutes in the entire second half, which put a lot of pressure on Gasol and Bryant. Without Bynum the Lakers aren't the same team. In fact, Kenny Smith called them "The Lakers of 2008 without Bynum," which is true. Bynum brings LA toughness on the boards and some easy buckets on offense. Bynum going down or not being healthy for the rest of the series could change things in a big way.
Going into game 5 I think Boston has a slight edge. They are going to be at home and they are going to be ready. The Lakers are going to be ready too,but with Bynum at anything less than 100% I am worried for them. Its impossible to count out any team with Kobe Bryant on it, but it can't just be him and Gasol. The Lakers are going to need a third scorer if Bynum can't do it. They had it in game 3 with Derek Fisher, but they didn't have it last night.
Keys for game 5: Lakers- Get Bynum healthy, be more physical, bench production.
Keys for game 5: Boston- Win the battle on the boards, tempo, big play from the bench.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Really Boston? You let D.Fish take it to you?
Well, I guess we all know what this is about. Derek Fisher, a man of many trades and few talents, took it to the Celtics last night in the 4th quarter. Now, I really dislike Derek Fisher as a player, but as a man I do respect him.
Anyway lets take it from the top. Boston came out hot and looked like they were going to run away with it. KG was going to work and making Pau look like Paula. Rajon was running the show and it looked good for Boston. Little did they know, LA came to play. The Lakers picked it up behind some key plays by Lamar Kardashian, or is it Odom? I forget, but anyway that guy really came through and did work for his team.
The game had few highlights as LA was in control throughout the second and third quarters. Boston made a few key plays in the 4th, but never made enough stops on defense or big plays on offense. Not to mention Derek Fisher scored 11 points in the fourth. When teams play the Lakers they expect Kobe to beat them. If anyone else does the job then you are truly screwed and last night it was not Kobe. Derek Fisher made play after play and was spectacular for LA.
On the other hand, Ray Allen played awful. After a night to remember in game 2, Allen posted a dud. He went 0-13 from the field. He was getting similar looks to those in game 2, but he was not capitalizing. It could have been that Derek Fisher played him a little bit tougher on screens and on the ball, but that is still no excuse.
If Boston wants to win they need their best players to all play well. The big 3 scored 42 points total and KG posted 25 of those. Basketball is a team game, but individuals can change the landscape of a series like Fisher did. If Boston plans on winning the series Pierce, Garnett, Allen, and Rondo all need to be on the same page. It cant be one-on-five.
For the Lakers to win, I say keep doing what you're doing. Last night wasn't even a good game yet they pulled it out. They played physical defense and made the big plays when they needed it. Kobe is going to play better, Pau is going to play better, and Bynum is supposedly "Ready."
All I know is Boston better tighten up.
Anyway lets take it from the top. Boston came out hot and looked like they were going to run away with it. KG was going to work and making Pau look like Paula. Rajon was running the show and it looked good for Boston. Little did they know, LA came to play. The Lakers picked it up behind some key plays by Lamar Kardashian, or is it Odom? I forget, but anyway that guy really came through and did work for his team.
The game had few highlights as LA was in control throughout the second and third quarters. Boston made a few key plays in the 4th, but never made enough stops on defense or big plays on offense. Not to mention Derek Fisher scored 11 points in the fourth. When teams play the Lakers they expect Kobe to beat them. If anyone else does the job then you are truly screwed and last night it was not Kobe. Derek Fisher made play after play and was spectacular for LA.
On the other hand, Ray Allen played awful. After a night to remember in game 2, Allen posted a dud. He went 0-13 from the field. He was getting similar looks to those in game 2, but he was not capitalizing. It could have been that Derek Fisher played him a little bit tougher on screens and on the ball, but that is still no excuse.
If Boston wants to win they need their best players to all play well. The big 3 scored 42 points total and KG posted 25 of those. Basketball is a team game, but individuals can change the landscape of a series like Fisher did. If Boston plans on winning the series Pierce, Garnett, Allen, and Rondo all need to be on the same page. It cant be one-on-five.
For the Lakers to win, I say keep doing what you're doing. Last night wasn't even a good game yet they pulled it out. They played physical defense and made the big plays when they needed it. Kobe is going to play better, Pau is going to play better, and Bynum is supposedly "Ready."
All I know is Boston better tighten up.
Monday, June 7, 2010
And Its Tied Up
So Ray Allen went Jesus Shuttlesworth on us last night. I find it funny every time he has a big game we all call him Jesus Shuttlesworth, which is actually Ray Allen playing a character, but whatever. Allen led Boston in the first half with 27 points, but LA kept it close due to some quarter ending heroics from Kobe.
Watching Kobe and Allen last night looked a little bit like Jordan vs Miller in 98'. I hate making comparisons, but it is what it is. The best player in the league and the best shooter in the league trying to win a game for their respective teams. Each player made plays, but ultimately neither of them were as important as Rajon Rondo.
Rondo made every key play down the stretch, not to mention he had a triple-double. His performance in game one was lackluster to say the least, but in game two he put on a show. The Lakers really had no answers for the man. They tried a giving him a few different looks on defense, but nothing worked. Even when they tried to play him for the drive he was still too quick for them.
At the end of the game Rondo made a key block and a key jumper, and yes I did say key jumper and Rondo in the same sentence, to close out the game.
KG and Pierce played poorly again last night so who knows how the Celtics will look when each player is playing to their full potential. On the other hand LA does not have too much to be depressed about. Bynum and Gasol both went for over 20 and held down the paint. If Boston can't correct that they are going to be in trouble and Kobe will not be in foul trouble in game 3.
At the end of the day Boston did what they had to do, which was get a win in LA. Now, they need to go back to Boston and not come back as Paul Pierce insisted. The odds of that happening are slim, but they better try. I can see Boston winning a game 6 in LA, but a game 7 would be tough. Either way these finals look like they are going to be great for fans and the NBA.
Side Note- Everyone heard this right?
Watching Kobe and Allen last night looked a little bit like Jordan vs Miller in 98'. I hate making comparisons, but it is what it is. The best player in the league and the best shooter in the league trying to win a game for their respective teams. Each player made plays, but ultimately neither of them were as important as Rajon Rondo.
Rondo made every key play down the stretch, not to mention he had a triple-double. His performance in game one was lackluster to say the least, but in game two he put on a show. The Lakers really had no answers for the man. They tried a giving him a few different looks on defense, but nothing worked. Even when they tried to play him for the drive he was still too quick for them.
At the end of the game Rondo made a key block and a key jumper, and yes I did say key jumper and Rondo in the same sentence, to close out the game.
KG and Pierce played poorly again last night so who knows how the Celtics will look when each player is playing to their full potential. On the other hand LA does not have too much to be depressed about. Bynum and Gasol both went for over 20 and held down the paint. If Boston can't correct that they are going to be in trouble and Kobe will not be in foul trouble in game 3.
At the end of the day Boston did what they had to do, which was get a win in LA. Now, they need to go back to Boston and not come back as Paul Pierce insisted. The odds of that happening are slim, but they better try. I can see Boston winning a game 6 in LA, but a game 7 would be tough. Either way these finals look like they are going to be great for fans and the NBA.
Side Note- Everyone heard this right?
Thursday, May 20, 2010
What Could Have Been
Everyone always wants to debate about who the best player in the NBA is. I wont lie, I thought it was LeBron James, but after an uninspired playoff game I lost some respect for him. Kobe Bryant is the best basketball player in the league. He isn't Michael Jordan, but that comparison is unfair because no one will ever be Michael Jordan. Kobe is great though, no denying that.
During my latest epiphany about Kobe being the best, I thought about someone else. Someone who was great and could have been one of the greatest. Someone who I was a huge fan of as a child. His name? Grant Hill.
Check out Grant Hill's numbers between 95' and 2000. Actually forget that, I'll throw some numbers out at you. 22 Points 6 assist and 8 rebounds per game. That is what Hill was doing for his first 6 seasons. That is a triple double on any given night. Hill was explosive, smart and made his team better.
At a time when Michael Jordan had just retired and the NBA was looking for the next face of the league,it seemed as if Hill could be that guy. He had the skill to do it. Injuries killed any hope of that though. Hill had numerous surgeries and missed a number of games over the middle part of his career. In the years where his numbers probably would have been highest, Hill was forced to watch from the sidelines.
Now at the end of his career, Hill is experiencing some success with the Suns and its a great thing to see. The Lakers are probably about to oust them from the playoffs, but that's a whole other topic. I just wonder, what could have been?
During my latest epiphany about Kobe being the best, I thought about someone else. Someone who was great and could have been one of the greatest. Someone who I was a huge fan of as a child. His name? Grant Hill.
Check out Grant Hill's numbers between 95' and 2000. Actually forget that, I'll throw some numbers out at you. 22 Points 6 assist and 8 rebounds per game. That is what Hill was doing for his first 6 seasons. That is a triple double on any given night. Hill was explosive, smart and made his team better.
At a time when Michael Jordan had just retired and the NBA was looking for the next face of the league,it seemed as if Hill could be that guy. He had the skill to do it. Injuries killed any hope of that though. Hill had numerous surgeries and missed a number of games over the middle part of his career. In the years where his numbers probably would have been highest, Hill was forced to watch from the sidelines.
Now at the end of his career, Hill is experiencing some success with the Suns and its a great thing to see. The Lakers are probably about to oust them from the playoffs, but that's a whole other topic. I just wonder, what could have been?
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Micah Lancaster Q and A
Basketball is a sport dominated by some of the world’s biggest and best athletes. So what would you think if I told you a short white guy from Michigan was being paid to train these great physical specimens?
Micah Lancaster is a rising star in the basketball world. The 26-year-old skill development trainer has gained notoriety across the country for his ability to instruct some of the best basketball players in the world.
Lancaster is the lead trainer for Ganon Baker Basketball. Ganon Baker Basketball is sponsored by Nike and responsible for training some of the best basketball players in the country. Lancaster can be seen on www.ganonbakerbasketball.com or www.hoopscityu.com training both professional and amateur basketball players.
Lancaster recently sat down with Planet Blacksburg for an interview. What follows is an edited selection of questions from that interview.
Q: I read on one site that you were 5-foot-6 inches tall as a junior in high school and 5-foot-9 inches tall on Hoops City U’s website. So which one is it really? How tall are you?
Lancaster: I was 5-foot-6 as a junior in high school and that’s when a big transition in my life happened. I began training the way I should and through that summer, I grew an additional three inches and ended up being 5-foot-9 as a senior in high school.
Q: I read online that your older brother got cut from his high school basketball team for being too short, what did that experience tell you?
Lancaster: Well that experience with my brother completely changed my perspective on what I was going to have to deal with. In all honesty, he was good enough to have played and be a starter…that gave me the perspective that I was up against a battle with my height. I was going to have to be that much better and that much more prepared to have a chance. So it wasn’t good enough for me just to be good, I had to be great and it wasn’t good enough for me to just work hard, I had to work harder than anyone else.
Q: In high school you tore your cartilage in your knee, how did you motivate yourself to get back in the gym and train eight hours a day?
Lancaster: The very first play of my very first varsity game I tore all the cartilage in my left knee. It pretty much caused me to hobble through the first part of the season and by the second half I was able to tweak out a good second half of the season…the fact that I had a decent second half was all the motivation I needed to know that if I could put in the work and train the way I could, that my senior year could go very well. So that was the motivation I needed, I always wanted to play college basketball, I always wanted to play professional basketball and I was always told that would never happen. So once I experienced success at that very hard part of the season that’s what inspired me to just do it and hold nothing back. And that eight hours of training a day changed everything.
Q: What was it like to be the focal point of your team senior year, after a tough junior season?
Lancaster: It was amazing and I still look back at my high school experience and I rate it as the top experience in my basketball career. It was life changing. What really brings the most memories is that tournament run. Where we literally were picked to lose every game and I was able to score 30 points a game during that tournament. And that really not only catapulted a really fun run of proving everyone wrong as at team, but it was fun to finally be turned loose as a player and be able to show what I can do.
Q: After your senior year how did the recruiting process go?
Lancaster: I was still one of the late bloomers I was virtually unknown. Because I was so small and because I had been written off for so long no one was really taking me seriously…in the district’s first game I scored 39 points and that was our very first game of the tournament. Everything really took off for me after the district finals when I scored 45 points and hit the game winning shot to send us to our first district title in many years. From there the recruiting process really began late into my senior year.
Q: After being recruited by Spring Arbor University did you feel like you finally arrived?
Lancaster: Well, I didn’t have much time to enjoy it. I definitely felt thrilled that I was able to get a full ride scholarship and get my education for virtually nothing… but everything started over again because the first thing I heard from everyone was that I was too small for the college level… literally it was like I had to do high school all over again, by that time I had the confidence I could play at that level. It was like groundhogs day.
Q: Do you enjoy that role of being the underdog?
Lancaster: Yeah, it turned into that. Pressure was something that I learned to cherish and love. I loved the situation of people not believing in me because I had learned how to believe in myself and had the work ethic to back that. That carried over into other parts of the game. I loved having the ball in my hand at the end of the game to take and make the last shot. I loved to be the playmaker that everyone counted on. When you’re the underdog you learn how to win as the underdog and you learn how to love all those situations. It turns into a blessing for a player.
Q: After college you played professionally in the International Basketball Association, was it tough to choose training over playing?
Lancaster: It was easier than I thought it was going to be…in the IBL I started out the season as the fourth string point guard. I had to build my way up. By the second game I was third string, by the third game I was second string and by the fourth game I was starting. From there I was able to have an all-star season. At the professional level the game because more of a job. So the love of the game started to slip away and the love of the process was still there. It was an easy experience to choose what I loved more and I just happened to love training players and training myself more than I did competing in games.
Q: Was working for Ganon Baker your first training job?
Lancaster: Everything started for me after those eight hour summer days in high school and what I had done was learn how to train and how to efficiently train. People actually started approaching me to train after that year. So I started training kids in high school as a freshman in college. Bringing them through the same things I did for those eight hours a day. I continued training all through college and my first DVD was “Serious Basketball Volume 1.” Where a production company approached me wanting to put that eight hour work out into a DVD. We filmed that DVD based on the things I did that summer. It’s amazing to think people are purchasing that DVD simply based on the things I did to get better as a junior in high school… so that’s where it started for me and I started my own business out of that and that led to joining Ganon Baker basketball.
Q: Now that you are part of Ganon Baker Basketball how does it feel to be with such an elite company?
Lancaster: You can’t really put it into words its been an amazing experience. It continues to be a testament to me of how hard work can pay off… all the sacrifice finally paid off. To finally be recognized for your work and for what you are able to do for players and make players better is a blessing for me. It’s just a constant reminder for me and the players I train, that hard work and persistence pays off.
Q: You also are the director of basketball training for Hoops City U, so how did that come about?
Lancaster: Hoops City U hired me to run a camp and they loved it. Out of that process they invited me to move and do my training through their facility. I’m still able to do my Ganon Baker training here and actually run the Hoop City U program also. It gave me a home, a place to call my own, and instead of me traveling to other players across the country and internationally they can come to me. It was a no brainer move from my side to have a place where you can immediately schedule and have players come in. We have a player from India coming this summer and another from New York.
Q: So do you still have to travel?
Lancaster: I still run camps and clinics across the country and around the world. There are still players I’ll travel to if they are a high level guy and they want training. I’ll go to them if they can cover my expenses and my rates. The facility has made me more affordable to more people because I can keep my rates lower. For me that’s what its about, training more players, at a rate more people can afford. I am a family guy first so its fun for me to not have to travel as much.
Q: How are you able to train seasoned veterans as well as 18-year-old high school seniors?
Lancaster: You learn as a skill trainer that training doesn’t change much. Training a pro is not too much different from training a kid. You always start at point A then take them to B, C, D and E. The only difference between my pro’s and my kid’s are the intensity levels and how quickly they can learn… what you do as a skill development trainer at this level is take a move that a player might need a month to learn and break it down to the point to where they can master it in an hour. You learn how to formulize the move and teach it in a way pros and kids can learn. It’s just about reading their skill level and pushing them toward their goal.
Q: Are you currently training any pros or college players one-on-one right now?
Lancaster: It’s on and off right now. Hoops City is focused on bringing in some of the best high school players in the country right now. We are really pushing towards Nike High School All-Americans and offering our services to them and helping at that stage. It’s going to be a mix of working with players at every level, but we are really focusing a little bit more of the younger side of the game. The pros will come when they need their training.
Q: What do you think separates those great players from those who are content with being where they are?
A: It’s a fine line between players at every level. There are only small differences that separate each level. It can be a player’s mindset or just having a couple of inches on your vertical… I think where you see the big difference is in those players who are very special. That usually just always comes down to what their work ethic is. Those who can push themselves to unbelievable levels and beyond are the ones that make it. It comes down to how hard they are working and how efficiently they are training.
Q: What small things separate the college players at each level?
Lancaster: The skills are very close at each level so it can come down to the vertical or speed. The bottom line is when it comes down to those special players… So you want to find those players who are the All-Americans at the division 1 level and who are the All-Americans at the division 2 level. Where there skills are that much better, or they can handle the ball that much better, or their footwork is that much better, so that’s when you see the difference, in those special players.
Q: In one of your videos on Youtube you say players should imitate pros, who were some guys you imitated growing up?
Lancaster: Its important that people first imitate then innovate. When you first learn a move, you learn the dance steps, the footwork. Every move can be broken down into scenes. Once you get the process you can add your own style and bring you into that move. I looked up to Michael Jordan just like everyone else and Isiah Thomas. Those two were really the ones I focused on and adapted a lot of my moves and finishes at the basket around.
Q: On Youtube I saw another video of you doing a move that was a Kobe Bryant and Tony Parker mash-up. Is that what you mean by innovation?
Lancaster: Yeah, it is. One thing I learned recently as I train more and more players is that I have always had a knack for picking up details. Where I would see a person do a move and I would see those small details. I would see how their feet moved and I would see everything that went into the move. Where a lot of other people would just see a picture. I never realized that I saw things a little differently. I never realized how detail oriented my mind was when it came to what people were doing. So when I watch a move it allows me to come up with a creative way to teach people that move and how to teach their body to do it in a very progressive way and it also allows me to get creative and combine some moves.
Q: How do you come up with your drills, like the use of the medicine ball during dribbling drills?
Lancaster: The key is basically never forgetting what skill you’re working on. I think there are a lot of trainers, who will use a tennis ball or a medicine ball, like we do, and they will keep the focus on what they are using and so it becomes a show and tell type of thing…so the medicine ball has been something that no one else has ever done and I was just looking at problems. I was looking at the fact that players had a hard time getting low and getting their hips down. That is always a problem players and coaches are working on. The medicine ball served as something people can actually pick up on the move and give them some really great resistance, so it was great tool to get people to stay low. And the other issue that people need to work on is protecting the basketball so if we can keep a player occupied on both sides of their body they become better equipped for the game. So the key is first pin pointing the skills or need and then coming up with ways and different tools to improve those skills.
Q: A lot of critics say Europe is gaining on the U.S. in basketball because of their skill training. Do you think kids would benefit more if they focused on the kind of training you’re doing as opposed to just going out and playing?
Lancaster: Kids in the U.S. desperately need skill training. It hasn’t necessarily always been prevalent in our game because we’ve always been ahead of everyone else. The big thing in Europe is that they are putting more focus on skills. Unfortunately, we have a system in the U.S. where players play a lot of games. So we’re playing too many games and not doing enough training. The other problem then, is simply how players train… the majority of U.S. players go out and shoot and work on a move, but they don’t necessarily work on how to effectively use that move. Europe has done a great job of really focusing on the skills and developing the system in which they train their players. That should be a message to our U.S. players that we should be training a little bit more and playing games a little less.
Q: Does it frustrate you when a guy isn’t skill orientated and more focused on just playing to play?
Lancaster: It doesn’t frustrate me; they can’t know what they don’t know. What’s frustrating is just our system. I don’t want to put the blame on coaches. Coaches can’t focus on skills. They have to focus on philosophy and the x’s and o’s. A great example, coaches will generally teach their players one way to stop. They might teach their players a jump stop because it’s easy to teach. When really there are four ways to stop that each player should know…what we really need is our coaches stepping up and having their players get involved with skill development trainers.
Q: You’ve received a lot of notoriety and everyone keeps talking about you as the next big thing in training, how does it feel to be getting this success at a young age?
Lancaster: It’s amazing. That was one of the things I always worried about after my playing career. Are people going to give me a shot? As a player I was in front of a coach and I could prove myself in practice. Where as a trainer, people were going to first look at how big I was, they were first going to look at how young I was and really how young I look. And were they going to give me a chance. Really what has happened for me is that just the very way that I look and the very size that I am have really given me an edge. When I get in front of a player and show them what I can do with a basketball I can help them believe they can do it too…it has turned into a blessing that I don’t fit the part. I have learned that if you can reach people and teach people that notoriety will come.
Q: Do you have any funny stories about players who were caught off guard when you were the guy coming to train them?
Lancaster: I remember training a semi-professional team in Virginia. When I walked in the gym and they realized I was about to train them they started laughing and pointing. I could obviously tell they were making fun of me and I loved that. I thought that was hilarious because I knew what I was about to put them through and I know enough about that level to know that those players have things I could help them with…but what’s really unique about the kind of trainers that Ganon Baker and I are is that we have really worked hard to have the skills of NBA players. We know we can do things that other players cannot do. I am very confident that there are things I could show any player in the world and they would not be able to do it. So I always know I can stump them, so I always love those challenges.
Q: From what I have seen on Youtube it looks like you can play in the NBA, why don’t you?
Lancaster: We get asked that all the time. Ganon got his chance to play in the NBA very late. Could he have been a player at a younger age, definitely…I can’t tell people if I could have played in the NBA or not. What I can tell people is that I succeeded at every level I played at and I continued to get offers to play overseas and I just simply stopped. All I can say is that skill wise; do I have the skills of an NBA player? Absolutely…the luxury of our job is just that we get to continue working on our own skills so we will be able to get to a level that not a lot of players are able to reach.
Q: Do you see yourself continuing to train or do you think you may want to coach at some point?
Lancaster: I am going to continue to train…I’m going to continue to train for as long as God can allow it. I want to really change the game so I am going to continue putting videos on the Internet and really use that as a resource to get the word out. We are launching a brand new website on ganonbakerbasketball.com where we will give people memberships to really learn everything that we do. So we are going to be unleashing that. That’s the future right now.
Q: Do you have any DVDs coming out soon?
Lancaster: I have my two available right now “Serious Basketball,” and “Keys to a Quick Handle.” The one I am most excited about is a DVD designed for coaches that they can implement into their practices and work on their offense while working on their skills. I think it can revolutionize the game.
Q: It sounds like that is going to solve the skill problem we were talking about earlier?
Lancaster: It understands that coaches don’t have the time. They will be working on their offenses anyway. So it’ll be good to work on the player’s skill while working on offense.
Micah Lancaster is a rising star in the basketball world. The 26-year-old skill development trainer has gained notoriety across the country for his ability to instruct some of the best basketball players in the world.
Lancaster is the lead trainer for Ganon Baker Basketball. Ganon Baker Basketball is sponsored by Nike and responsible for training some of the best basketball players in the country. Lancaster can be seen on www.ganonbakerbasketball.com or www.hoopscityu.com training both professional and amateur basketball players.
Lancaster recently sat down with Planet Blacksburg for an interview. What follows is an edited selection of questions from that interview.
Q: I read on one site that you were 5-foot-6 inches tall as a junior in high school and 5-foot-9 inches tall on Hoops City U’s website. So which one is it really? How tall are you?
Lancaster: I was 5-foot-6 as a junior in high school and that’s when a big transition in my life happened. I began training the way I should and through that summer, I grew an additional three inches and ended up being 5-foot-9 as a senior in high school.
Q: I read online that your older brother got cut from his high school basketball team for being too short, what did that experience tell you?
Lancaster: Well that experience with my brother completely changed my perspective on what I was going to have to deal with. In all honesty, he was good enough to have played and be a starter…that gave me the perspective that I was up against a battle with my height. I was going to have to be that much better and that much more prepared to have a chance. So it wasn’t good enough for me just to be good, I had to be great and it wasn’t good enough for me to just work hard, I had to work harder than anyone else.
Q: In high school you tore your cartilage in your knee, how did you motivate yourself to get back in the gym and train eight hours a day?
Lancaster: The very first play of my very first varsity game I tore all the cartilage in my left knee. It pretty much caused me to hobble through the first part of the season and by the second half I was able to tweak out a good second half of the season…the fact that I had a decent second half was all the motivation I needed to know that if I could put in the work and train the way I could, that my senior year could go very well. So that was the motivation I needed, I always wanted to play college basketball, I always wanted to play professional basketball and I was always told that would never happen. So once I experienced success at that very hard part of the season that’s what inspired me to just do it and hold nothing back. And that eight hours of training a day changed everything.
Q: What was it like to be the focal point of your team senior year, after a tough junior season?
Lancaster: It was amazing and I still look back at my high school experience and I rate it as the top experience in my basketball career. It was life changing. What really brings the most memories is that tournament run. Where we literally were picked to lose every game and I was able to score 30 points a game during that tournament. And that really not only catapulted a really fun run of proving everyone wrong as at team, but it was fun to finally be turned loose as a player and be able to show what I can do.
Q: After your senior year how did the recruiting process go?
Lancaster: I was still one of the late bloomers I was virtually unknown. Because I was so small and because I had been written off for so long no one was really taking me seriously…in the district’s first game I scored 39 points and that was our very first game of the tournament. Everything really took off for me after the district finals when I scored 45 points and hit the game winning shot to send us to our first district title in many years. From there the recruiting process really began late into my senior year.
Q: After being recruited by Spring Arbor University did you feel like you finally arrived?
Lancaster: Well, I didn’t have much time to enjoy it. I definitely felt thrilled that I was able to get a full ride scholarship and get my education for virtually nothing… but everything started over again because the first thing I heard from everyone was that I was too small for the college level… literally it was like I had to do high school all over again, by that time I had the confidence I could play at that level. It was like groundhogs day.
Q: Do you enjoy that role of being the underdog?
Lancaster: Yeah, it turned into that. Pressure was something that I learned to cherish and love. I loved the situation of people not believing in me because I had learned how to believe in myself and had the work ethic to back that. That carried over into other parts of the game. I loved having the ball in my hand at the end of the game to take and make the last shot. I loved to be the playmaker that everyone counted on. When you’re the underdog you learn how to win as the underdog and you learn how to love all those situations. It turns into a blessing for a player.
Q: After college you played professionally in the International Basketball Association, was it tough to choose training over playing?
Lancaster: It was easier than I thought it was going to be…in the IBL I started out the season as the fourth string point guard. I had to build my way up. By the second game I was third string, by the third game I was second string and by the fourth game I was starting. From there I was able to have an all-star season. At the professional level the game because more of a job. So the love of the game started to slip away and the love of the process was still there. It was an easy experience to choose what I loved more and I just happened to love training players and training myself more than I did competing in games.
Q: Was working for Ganon Baker your first training job?
Lancaster: Everything started for me after those eight hour summer days in high school and what I had done was learn how to train and how to efficiently train. People actually started approaching me to train after that year. So I started training kids in high school as a freshman in college. Bringing them through the same things I did for those eight hours a day. I continued training all through college and my first DVD was “Serious Basketball Volume 1.” Where a production company approached me wanting to put that eight hour work out into a DVD. We filmed that DVD based on the things I did that summer. It’s amazing to think people are purchasing that DVD simply based on the things I did to get better as a junior in high school… so that’s where it started for me and I started my own business out of that and that led to joining Ganon Baker basketball.
Q: Now that you are part of Ganon Baker Basketball how does it feel to be with such an elite company?
Lancaster: You can’t really put it into words its been an amazing experience. It continues to be a testament to me of how hard work can pay off… all the sacrifice finally paid off. To finally be recognized for your work and for what you are able to do for players and make players better is a blessing for me. It’s just a constant reminder for me and the players I train, that hard work and persistence pays off.
Q: You also are the director of basketball training for Hoops City U, so how did that come about?
Lancaster: Hoops City U hired me to run a camp and they loved it. Out of that process they invited me to move and do my training through their facility. I’m still able to do my Ganon Baker training here and actually run the Hoop City U program also. It gave me a home, a place to call my own, and instead of me traveling to other players across the country and internationally they can come to me. It was a no brainer move from my side to have a place where you can immediately schedule and have players come in. We have a player from India coming this summer and another from New York.
Q: So do you still have to travel?
Lancaster: I still run camps and clinics across the country and around the world. There are still players I’ll travel to if they are a high level guy and they want training. I’ll go to them if they can cover my expenses and my rates. The facility has made me more affordable to more people because I can keep my rates lower. For me that’s what its about, training more players, at a rate more people can afford. I am a family guy first so its fun for me to not have to travel as much.
Q: How are you able to train seasoned veterans as well as 18-year-old high school seniors?
Lancaster: You learn as a skill trainer that training doesn’t change much. Training a pro is not too much different from training a kid. You always start at point A then take them to B, C, D and E. The only difference between my pro’s and my kid’s are the intensity levels and how quickly they can learn… what you do as a skill development trainer at this level is take a move that a player might need a month to learn and break it down to the point to where they can master it in an hour. You learn how to formulize the move and teach it in a way pros and kids can learn. It’s just about reading their skill level and pushing them toward their goal.
Q: Are you currently training any pros or college players one-on-one right now?
Lancaster: It’s on and off right now. Hoops City is focused on bringing in some of the best high school players in the country right now. We are really pushing towards Nike High School All-Americans and offering our services to them and helping at that stage. It’s going to be a mix of working with players at every level, but we are really focusing a little bit more of the younger side of the game. The pros will come when they need their training.
Q: What do you think separates those great players from those who are content with being where they are?
A: It’s a fine line between players at every level. There are only small differences that separate each level. It can be a player’s mindset or just having a couple of inches on your vertical… I think where you see the big difference is in those players who are very special. That usually just always comes down to what their work ethic is. Those who can push themselves to unbelievable levels and beyond are the ones that make it. It comes down to how hard they are working and how efficiently they are training.
Q: What small things separate the college players at each level?
Lancaster: The skills are very close at each level so it can come down to the vertical or speed. The bottom line is when it comes down to those special players… So you want to find those players who are the All-Americans at the division 1 level and who are the All-Americans at the division 2 level. Where there skills are that much better, or they can handle the ball that much better, or their footwork is that much better, so that’s when you see the difference, in those special players.
Q: In one of your videos on Youtube you say players should imitate pros, who were some guys you imitated growing up?
Lancaster: Its important that people first imitate then innovate. When you first learn a move, you learn the dance steps, the footwork. Every move can be broken down into scenes. Once you get the process you can add your own style and bring you into that move. I looked up to Michael Jordan just like everyone else and Isiah Thomas. Those two were really the ones I focused on and adapted a lot of my moves and finishes at the basket around.
Q: On Youtube I saw another video of you doing a move that was a Kobe Bryant and Tony Parker mash-up. Is that what you mean by innovation?
Lancaster: Yeah, it is. One thing I learned recently as I train more and more players is that I have always had a knack for picking up details. Where I would see a person do a move and I would see those small details. I would see how their feet moved and I would see everything that went into the move. Where a lot of other people would just see a picture. I never realized that I saw things a little differently. I never realized how detail oriented my mind was when it came to what people were doing. So when I watch a move it allows me to come up with a creative way to teach people that move and how to teach their body to do it in a very progressive way and it also allows me to get creative and combine some moves.
Q: How do you come up with your drills, like the use of the medicine ball during dribbling drills?
Lancaster: The key is basically never forgetting what skill you’re working on. I think there are a lot of trainers, who will use a tennis ball or a medicine ball, like we do, and they will keep the focus on what they are using and so it becomes a show and tell type of thing…so the medicine ball has been something that no one else has ever done and I was just looking at problems. I was looking at the fact that players had a hard time getting low and getting their hips down. That is always a problem players and coaches are working on. The medicine ball served as something people can actually pick up on the move and give them some really great resistance, so it was great tool to get people to stay low. And the other issue that people need to work on is protecting the basketball so if we can keep a player occupied on both sides of their body they become better equipped for the game. So the key is first pin pointing the skills or need and then coming up with ways and different tools to improve those skills.
Q: A lot of critics say Europe is gaining on the U.S. in basketball because of their skill training. Do you think kids would benefit more if they focused on the kind of training you’re doing as opposed to just going out and playing?
Lancaster: Kids in the U.S. desperately need skill training. It hasn’t necessarily always been prevalent in our game because we’ve always been ahead of everyone else. The big thing in Europe is that they are putting more focus on skills. Unfortunately, we have a system in the U.S. where players play a lot of games. So we’re playing too many games and not doing enough training. The other problem then, is simply how players train… the majority of U.S. players go out and shoot and work on a move, but they don’t necessarily work on how to effectively use that move. Europe has done a great job of really focusing on the skills and developing the system in which they train their players. That should be a message to our U.S. players that we should be training a little bit more and playing games a little less.
Q: Does it frustrate you when a guy isn’t skill orientated and more focused on just playing to play?
Lancaster: It doesn’t frustrate me; they can’t know what they don’t know. What’s frustrating is just our system. I don’t want to put the blame on coaches. Coaches can’t focus on skills. They have to focus on philosophy and the x’s and o’s. A great example, coaches will generally teach their players one way to stop. They might teach their players a jump stop because it’s easy to teach. When really there are four ways to stop that each player should know…what we really need is our coaches stepping up and having their players get involved with skill development trainers.
Q: You’ve received a lot of notoriety and everyone keeps talking about you as the next big thing in training, how does it feel to be getting this success at a young age?
Lancaster: It’s amazing. That was one of the things I always worried about after my playing career. Are people going to give me a shot? As a player I was in front of a coach and I could prove myself in practice. Where as a trainer, people were going to first look at how big I was, they were first going to look at how young I was and really how young I look. And were they going to give me a chance. Really what has happened for me is that just the very way that I look and the very size that I am have really given me an edge. When I get in front of a player and show them what I can do with a basketball I can help them believe they can do it too…it has turned into a blessing that I don’t fit the part. I have learned that if you can reach people and teach people that notoriety will come.
Q: Do you have any funny stories about players who were caught off guard when you were the guy coming to train them?
Lancaster: I remember training a semi-professional team in Virginia. When I walked in the gym and they realized I was about to train them they started laughing and pointing. I could obviously tell they were making fun of me and I loved that. I thought that was hilarious because I knew what I was about to put them through and I know enough about that level to know that those players have things I could help them with…but what’s really unique about the kind of trainers that Ganon Baker and I are is that we have really worked hard to have the skills of NBA players. We know we can do things that other players cannot do. I am very confident that there are things I could show any player in the world and they would not be able to do it. So I always know I can stump them, so I always love those challenges.
Q: From what I have seen on Youtube it looks like you can play in the NBA, why don’t you?
Lancaster: We get asked that all the time. Ganon got his chance to play in the NBA very late. Could he have been a player at a younger age, definitely…I can’t tell people if I could have played in the NBA or not. What I can tell people is that I succeeded at every level I played at and I continued to get offers to play overseas and I just simply stopped. All I can say is that skill wise; do I have the skills of an NBA player? Absolutely…the luxury of our job is just that we get to continue working on our own skills so we will be able to get to a level that not a lot of players are able to reach.
Q: Do you see yourself continuing to train or do you think you may want to coach at some point?
Lancaster: I am going to continue to train…I’m going to continue to train for as long as God can allow it. I want to really change the game so I am going to continue putting videos on the Internet and really use that as a resource to get the word out. We are launching a brand new website on ganonbakerbasketball.com where we will give people memberships to really learn everything that we do. So we are going to be unleashing that. That’s the future right now.
Q: Do you have any DVDs coming out soon?
Lancaster: I have my two available right now “Serious Basketball,” and “Keys to a Quick Handle.” The one I am most excited about is a DVD designed for coaches that they can implement into their practices and work on their offense while working on their skills. I think it can revolutionize the game.
Q: It sounds like that is going to solve the skill problem we were talking about earlier?
Lancaster: It understands that coaches don’t have the time. They will be working on their offenses anyway. So it’ll be good to work on the player’s skill while working on offense.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Climate Change in the NBA?
This past weekend the NBA had its annual All-Star game. The 24 best players in the league come out and show their stuff for the world to see.
There is the three-point contest which showcases the game's best shooters. The dunk contest (which was awful) that showcases the leagues best dunkers and the actual game which displays the leagues best players.
This year the All-Star game had a number of first-timers. Among these players were Deron Williams, Kevin Druant, Rajon Rondo, Al Horford and David Lee. Along with these first-timers were some seasoned veterans like Jason Kidd, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash and Kevin Garnett.
As we continue through this NBA season, something has occurred to me. The guys I grew up watching and emulating are now giving way to a new crop of players that a new generation will watch and emulate.
Since I was 10-years-old, Jason Kidd has been my favorite basketball player. His court vision, versatility and ability to make others better always attracted me. Kidd is an extremely rare talent and in my opinion the best point guard of the last 20 years. He has been dazzling basketball fans since 1995, but now that he is 36-years-old, Kidd has lost a little bit of quickness and flare. Due to his minor decline, a new wave of younger point-guards has entered the realms of the elite.
Deron Williams, arguably the best point-guard in the game, is the new Jason Kidd. Williams is similar to Kidd in a number of ways, he has great court vision, excellent size and the ability to make other players better. Williams finally made his first All-Star game and he deserved it. He is averaging 19 points and 10 assists a game.
The way Williams plays point-guard is something to marvel at. His crossover is the best in the league, his passes are amazing and his ability to make the big play is uncanny. Williams represents a small fraction of the growing climate change in the NBA.
With Veterans such as Jason Kidd, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and Allen Iverson exiting their prime and heading toward retirement, a new wave of great players are establishing their legacies.
Kevin Durant for example is on his way to becoming the next great scorer in the NBA. With guys like Allen Iverson and T-Mac declining, the NBA needs a new great scorer. Durant can score anyway possible. He can jay it in your face, go around you, or dunk on you. Anything you can imagine Durant can do. This guy will lead the league in scoring for a number of years to come.
As my favorite player of all time, Jason Kidd, closes out his career, along with a number of other stars I grew up watching, I find myself sad. The era of NBA basketball I grew up watching is truly coming to a close. Sure, I am sad, but I am also excited to see what the next generation has to offer to the game.
Greatness
Next in line
There is the three-point contest which showcases the game's best shooters. The dunk contest (which was awful) that showcases the leagues best dunkers and the actual game which displays the leagues best players.
This year the All-Star game had a number of first-timers. Among these players were Deron Williams, Kevin Druant, Rajon Rondo, Al Horford and David Lee. Along with these first-timers were some seasoned veterans like Jason Kidd, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash and Kevin Garnett.
As we continue through this NBA season, something has occurred to me. The guys I grew up watching and emulating are now giving way to a new crop of players that a new generation will watch and emulate.
Since I was 10-years-old, Jason Kidd has been my favorite basketball player. His court vision, versatility and ability to make others better always attracted me. Kidd is an extremely rare talent and in my opinion the best point guard of the last 20 years. He has been dazzling basketball fans since 1995, but now that he is 36-years-old, Kidd has lost a little bit of quickness and flare. Due to his minor decline, a new wave of younger point-guards has entered the realms of the elite.
Deron Williams, arguably the best point-guard in the game, is the new Jason Kidd. Williams is similar to Kidd in a number of ways, he has great court vision, excellent size and the ability to make other players better. Williams finally made his first All-Star game and he deserved it. He is averaging 19 points and 10 assists a game.
The way Williams plays point-guard is something to marvel at. His crossover is the best in the league, his passes are amazing and his ability to make the big play is uncanny. Williams represents a small fraction of the growing climate change in the NBA.
With Veterans such as Jason Kidd, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and Allen Iverson exiting their prime and heading toward retirement, a new wave of great players are establishing their legacies.
Kevin Durant for example is on his way to becoming the next great scorer in the NBA. With guys like Allen Iverson and T-Mac declining, the NBA needs a new great scorer. Durant can score anyway possible. He can jay it in your face, go around you, or dunk on you. Anything you can imagine Durant can do. This guy will lead the league in scoring for a number of years to come.
As my favorite player of all time, Jason Kidd, closes out his career, along with a number of other stars I grew up watching, I find myself sad. The era of NBA basketball I grew up watching is truly coming to a close. Sure, I am sad, but I am also excited to see what the next generation has to offer to the game.
GreatnessNext in lineSaturday, January 23, 2010
Sanchize or Go Home
My first post was more of a PSA type thing. This one today is going to represent what I plan to do here more often.
The Jets are about to face Peyton Manning's Colts for the AFC title and a chance at the Super Bowl. The team is led by the leagues top defense, top running game, and a rookie quarterback, Mark Sanchez.
Sanchez started off the season hot, but eventually began to look like a rookie. He had a number of games with multiple interceptions thrown, but showed heart the entire way through. His perseverance and almost perfect play in the post season has landed the Jets where they are right now.
Sanchez has the chance to get the Jets their first Super Bowl title since 1969 when Joe Namath guaranteed victory over the "best football team ever," the Colts. My dad tells me the story of how Joe Namath wore white cleats, long hair, and a fur coat nearly every time we watch the Jets play. Namath was something that the NFL had never seen. He was flamboyant and had the game to back it up. He won the Jets their only Super Bowl and is an icon not only to my dad, but Jets nation.
Mark Sanchez is the new Joe Namath in New York. He's a young guy, from California, that loves to play the game and loves leading this team. Sanchez has the chance to immortalize himself in just his first year in the NFL. New York City loves legends, Babe Ruth, Willis Reed, Reggie Jackson, and the list could go on forever. If you do something big for the city your life will be changed forever.
If Sanchez can go out and play perfect football the Jets have a chance to win the game. Even if he doesn’t, the Jets defense may be able to get the win. Many people consider the Jets heavy underdogs, but they have never lost to the Colts in the postseason. So at least we have that going for us. Anyway, tomorrow, we'll find out if Mark Sanchez becomes a legend.
(Sanchez) 
(Namath)Wednesday, January 20, 2010
The Start
I know I said I was going to talk about the latest in sports and music, but something just came to my attention. Haiti just received an after shock that registered as a 6.1. Just from what I can see on TV things seem to be in shambles. Anything You can do to help really goes a long way. The Red Cross and Yele Haiti seem to be legit organizations to donate to. And if you aren't going to donate to either of those just give the book store a dollar when you go there, which I think still goes to the Red Cross. Just do what you can, if you can do anything at all.
On a final note, I am sure by now most of you have heard Tiger Woods may be in a sexual rehabilitation center in Mississippi. Never in my life have I seen such an icon fall from grace. It is crazy to me that a guy who seemed perfect had so many flaws, but I am not going to talk about that. No one is perfect, so please give Tiger Woods a break, I guarantee you he does not care about your personal life so don't worry about his.
On a final note, I am sure by now most of you have heard Tiger Woods may be in a sexual rehabilitation center in Mississippi. Never in my life have I seen such an icon fall from grace. It is crazy to me that a guy who seemed perfect had so many flaws, but I am not going to talk about that. No one is perfect, so please give Tiger Woods a break, I guarantee you he does not care about your personal life so don't worry about his.
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