THEY’RE OFF…

Bill Simmons from ESPN has a book out “The Book of Basketball” and it’s a must read.  I am currently reading chapter 1 and it’s all about Isiah Thomas and his secret; secret on winning.  Don’t laugh, it’s serious stuff.

The first couple of games of the 2009-2010 NBA season is in the books.  Here’s some observations thus far.

The Cavaliers lost their first two games before beating Minnesota and Charlotte.  Delonte West is back for the Cavs and in the win over Charlotte tonight he scored 13 points.

When the Blazers and Nuggets hooked up the other night in Portland I posted a tweet on Twitter (@CoachFinamore) that is was a huge game.  Someone countered that it was too early to be a huge game.  I’m sorry but you had two heavyweights hooking up.  The place was rocking and Carmelo Anthony dropped 41 including 18 for 19 from the free throw line.  Nuggets win…Here’s a good interview by Henry Abbott of True Hoop with Melo’s trainer.

What was the off-season like?
His effort level and commitment were extraordinary. With a player of his stature, his off-season responsibilities are enormous. Yet he made time every day, regardless of the city he was in or the time of day, to get to the gym. Our time was focused, measured and intense.

The Celtics look good at 3-0. Rajon Rondo had 16 assists and 8 rebounds against the Bulls.  I’m looking forward to their match up with the Orlando Magic on Friday November 20.

How about the OK City Thunder getting a win on the road in Detroit? Kevin Durant scored 25 points as the Thunder are off to a 2-0 start.

What’s going on in Golden State? I watched the Warriors lose by 1 to the Houston Rockets on opening night at home.  Things did not look good.  On one play I watched Corey Magette take the ball coast-to-coast  without looking at an open Stephen Jackson on the wing.  Maggette missed the lay-up and Jackson threw his hands up in disgust.  Maggette shot 3 for 14 on the night.

Chris Sheridan of ESPN.com has this story on Stephon Marbury, former point guard from Lincoln HS in Coney Island being removed from his seat at MSG during a Knicks game.

I’m rocking the free preview from NBA League Pass.  It expires Tuesday night. Debating whether I should get it…

-Coach Finamore

Hoops135@hotmail.com

I’m on Facebook and Twitter (@CoachFinamore)

I LOVE THIS GAME!

With the start of the NBA regular season just a couple of days away, I figured I would chime in with my thoughts on each NBA club starting with the Eastern conference.  So sorry but you will not find 1,000 words of analysis on each club; nope, I keep it short and sweet. And, I will not predict how many games each team will win, just playoff playa’s! By the way, I’m happy to see the officials are back even though I thought the replacement refs did a solid job. (BTW, my love for the NBA has grown so much over the past couple of years, I really enjoy watching the greatest basketball players in the world perform.  You’ll see more and more material written on this blog pertaining to the NBA.  I’m thinking of asking my wife if I can get the NBA League Pass)

Definite Playoff Teams:

Boston Celtics: I hope the addition of Rasheed Wallace doesn’t blow up in their faces.  I hope KG is healthy and I hope Ray Allen shoots it well.  I really like the Marquis Daniels dude they picked up. Will Rajon Rondo be a distraction or not? I wish he would eliminate that fake ‘behind-the-back pass’. C’s still have a bad taste in their mouth from losing to Orlando in the play-offs last season.  Hard to believe Doc Rivers is starting his 6th season-he’s one of the good guys in the business.  Like most places, a lot of questions in Boston this winter.

Cleveland Cavaliers: LBJ, LBJ…I love watching him play; the cat can do it all.  Can Shaq help him win a championship like he helped D-Wade in Miami? I hope Delonte West makes it back. Hopefully Mo Williams found his jump-shot because he was invisible back in the Spring. Does Big Z come off the bench? The playoff loss to Orlando was a shock to many. Hopefully if they go down in the playoffs again, LeBron shakes hands and congratulates the winner. Assistant coach Mike Malone is a New York guy.

Orlando Magic: Just like the C’s, will the addition of Vince Carter work? I like Jameer Nelson and will Dwight Howard take this game serious? I like that guy from France, Mickael Pietrus he’s tough and plays the right way. Matt Barnes will help. I like Jason Williams backing up Nelson. Don’t sleep on the Magic.  You may see them back in the Finals.

Strong Possibility of Making the Playoffs:

Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose is a star.  I like Vinny Del Negro.  Joakim Noah brings it every night. They are young and play with a ton of energy.  I like John Salmons, he has a nice game and is multi-talented. Whatever happened to the P.A. guy they used to have? I wish WGN would televise more games.

Miami Heat: D-Wade and Co. will win some big games.  I think he’s going to really step it up. Michael Jordan-type step up. Jermaine O’Neal needs to stay healthy. I like Mario Chalmers.  I hope Michael Beasley has licked his problems; I’d hate to see him become the next Walter Berry or even Chris Washburn.  Health will be a key issue with this club, can’t afford injuries.

Philadelphia 76ers: Hmmm…World B. Free. George McGinnis, Harvey Catchings, Bobby Jones, Caldwell Jones. Nah, just kidding.  Fast Eddie Jordan entering his first season as head coach.  I wish they still played in the Spectrum.  I miss Zink’s voice behind the Mic. Elton Brand needs to improve on 13 and 8.  I can’t forget Dr. J stating, ‘mail in the stats’ before their playoff series with the New Jersey Nets.

Atlanta Hawks: Can head coach Mike Woodson gets his club the last Eastern conference play-off spot?  He enters his 6th season as top guy in Atlanta.  Joe Johnson will not be a Hawk next season. Will Jamal Crawford hurt the team chemistry? Do they have any chemistry? Will Crawford help? We all know he can score. Do they have a guy that can step up in crunch time and get them past the first round?

Toronto Raptors: Jose Calderon is the man. I enjoy watching him run the club. The addition of Hedo brings them a guy who can score late in the game. Chris Bosh is a free-agent, will he think about his future address too much?  Head coach Jay Triano is a good dude. They may sneak in the back-door for the 8th spot.

Washington Wizards: Gilbert Arenas appears to be focused; hopefully he stays healthy.  Flip Saunders will show people he can coach; they won 19 games last year-so you’re probably wondering how are they going to make the playoffs, just watch. Mike Miller will help and I like Oberto. Do people realize how good Caron Butler is? I hope former Michigan State Spartan Paul Davis can make the club. If they share the ball and play hard, look out. But that’s a big ‘If’.

Detroit Pistons: I love Ben Gordon. Ben Wallace is back in town and they sell Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream at the Palace. Who starts at the ‘2′, Gordon or Rip? Watch out for Will Bynum.  Greg Kelser, a former MSU Spartan does color for Pistons television. New head coach John Kuester once coached former Xaverian Clipper  point guard Mike O’Reilly at George Washington.

Probably Not Going to Make the Playoffs:

Charlotte Bobcats: Larry Brown can coach-can he get his guys to listen to him preaching to play the right way and to defend? They have energy-type guys. Additions of Tyson Chandler and Flip Murray help big-time.

New York Knicks: Will they be cheering on 33rd and 8th or will they be booing? Is Nate Robinson the answer? Is Darko? How about that cat Danilo Galinari, who someone said is the best shooter they have ever seen? The Garden deserves a winner.  Don’t be surprised to hear the “We Want Steph” chants. I grew up a huge Knickerbockers fan; I haven’t worn their cap I own in a few years-I try and stay loyal but it’s tough.  Come on Mike D, turn it around, please.  I like the uptempo style, I’m sure the fans do too, but ya gotta stop someone at the defensive end of the floor.

New Jersey Nets: L-Frank works his tail off; he’s entering his 7th season!  Do they have enough firepower? I love Devin Harris. Skip-to-My-Lou is back in the metropolitan area where he starred as a high school player; he’ll have all his homeboys in the stands.  Are they moving to Brooklyn? Newark? Heck, I’ll take a move back to the Nassau Coliseum.  Piscataway even?

Milwaukee Bucks: My main guys Charlie Bell and Scott Skiles are in Milwaukee. I like the way rookie Brandon Jennings plays; he’s got a bounce! Michael Redd is a gunner. Hakim Warrick should help them. Kurt Thomas brings toughness.  I miss their former home arena, The Mecca. Will they have a Paul Mokeski Night?  How about a Randy Breuer or even a Brian Winters Night?

Indiana Pacers: Did they really fire Mel Daniels? I’m not a big Jim O’Brien fan.  I like Danny Granger though. Rookie Tyler Hansbrough will play hard every night.  Will he be a success in the NBA? I’m looking forward to watching him this season; he plays the right way.  I think Larry Bird enjoys having him around. I like their arena, is there still a Starbucks on the Lower Level?

Coming next: The Western Conference

-Coach Finamore

Hoops135@hotmail.com

I’m on Facebook and on you can follow me on Twitter @CoachFinamore

WEEKEND WATCHING

So much going on in the world of sports.  Baseball play-offs, college and pro football, and of course the start of the NBA regular season is Tuesday.

California Angels (I can’t bring myself to type Los Angeles) and New York Yankees play Game 6 tonight in the Boogie Down. NY leads 3-2 in the best of seven.  Boy I’ve never heard so much criticisim over the manager’s decisions.  I even went out and questioned the moves by Yankees skipper Joe Girardi.  And how about the umpires? These guys have been terrible.

This Tuesday night we have the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers opening up the season.  I see those two and the Orlando Magic coming out of the East.  As for the West, I really like the Denver Nuggets.  But of course the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers will have something to say as well as the San Antonio Spurs and watch out for the Portland TrailBlazers.

I was watching the Nuggets and Lakers finishing out the preseason Friday night on ESPN. Lamar Odom and Chris Anderson got into a small argument; both players had to be separated.  Kenyon Martin jumped in and threw Odom aside.  I don’t get these guys trying to be tough guys during the games?  Why in the world do they shake hands, hug and do little dances before each game only to get into fights with each other during the game? Odom had mentioned he took up boxing in the off-season; OK Lamar, now you’re ready to get into the ring.

I get a kick out of listening to Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson announce games on ESPN.  Van Gundy said he didn’t think Nuggets rookie Ty Lawson was ‘Athletic’. Obviously JVG never saw Lawson play for Carolina the past couple of years.  JVG said that Lawson pushes the ball up the court but doesn’t elevate to the rim.  Huh? How many 5’11″ guys are skywalkers?  Lawson has blinding speed and is strong, that qualifies for being athletic. Lawson managed 29 points in 29 minutes.

Jackson mentioned during the broadcast Lawson’s college teammate Tyler Hansbrough as being one of the greatest college players of all-time.

JVG disagreed.

I enjoy listening to these guys for this kind of banter.  They know the game and aren’t afraid of speaking their mind; too many guys are worried about upsetting people. Speak the truth!  Jackson played at the highest level and of course JVG has been coaching for a long time.

The NBA officials are back.  This means the replacement officials are out.  After watching a few games the past couple of weeks I thought these guys did a good job.

I’m really starting to ‘feel’ the plus/minus stat the NBA utilizes.

-Coach Finamore

Hoops135@hotmail.com

I’m on Facebook and follow me on Twitter: @CoachFinamore

LEARNING VS PLAYING

My wife and I are proud parents of a 10 year old girl who is currently in the 5th grade. She does well in school, has some solid friends, likes her teacher, loves writing and singing and seems to get along with others. Being a Junior college basketball coach and a self-proclaimed ‘basketball junkie’, often times I am asked if Taylor plays basketball.

“Nope, not really.” is my usual response when asked this question.

Taylor has taken a couple of shots at the basket on occasion.  She’ll take a couple of dribbles and then throw the ball up with both hands behind the ball.  Sometimes she makes it, sometimes she doesn’t.

Last week her school sent home a flyer announcing a basketball program at the local rec center for 5th and 6th graders.  It’s a low key program where they teach you how to play.  After a couple of nights during the week of drills, they divide the girls up into teams on Saturday mornings and play controlled scrimmages.   We are excited about Taylor joining.

Yesterday, her two friends informed her they are trying out for a travel team; much more competitive as you know.  Taylor wants to try out and she’s kinda bummed that I have said no.  From my experience, the coaches of the team watch a bunch of girls run up and down the court and try to make an impression.  From there they pick the team to travel around the State and compete.  I have been involved in the game a long time, I understand how this works.

Taylor is no where near this level. She doesn’t know a double-dribble from an assist, yet.

At this stage (10 years old) I feel kids should be taught how to play the game-they shouldn’t worry about competitive travel teams.  There’s plenty of time for competition in high school…if Taylor wants to learn how to play, we’ll get her the coaching for sure.

**********

Have you heard about the Marcus Jordan-Central Florida men’s basketball sneaker situation? Marcus Jordan, son of the great Michael Jordan, is a freshman at Central Florida and has yet to play his first collegiate basketball game. However, he’s already got the coaching staff scratching their heads. (and it’s not the pressure of playing time) Far from it… Central Florida has a contract with Adidas, which supplies the team with clothing and shoes. As we have witnessed over the past 25 years, Michael Jordan has become synonymous with the Nike brand; actually for a while MJ was NIKE! Marcus says he plans to uphold the family tradition and wear Nike shoes. “It’s a level of importance with my family,” Marcus Jordan said. “It’s no disrespect to Adidas. I have a high level of respect for Adidas, but I’m going to be wearing Jordan shoes.”

Simple solution, why can’t the kid wear Adidas during games and just rock his dad’s shoes off the court?  Plus, I’m surprised this issue didn’t come up during the recruiting process.

-Coach Finamore

Hoops135@hotmail.com

I‘m on Facebook and Twitter: @CoachFinamore

COPING SKILLS

I was talking to a friend this morning over coffee who mentioned that someone at their job has terrible coping skills. Whenever there seems to be an issue in the front office this individual tends to break down and can’t get anything done.  Right away I thought to how I cope with situations at school with my team.  Dealing with 15 players from different backgrounds and different situations we seem to have at least one issue per day.  I will say this, as I go on in the coaching profession, I tend to get better at dealing with these types of issues.  I believe it was Fran Fraschilla of ESPN who once tweeted on Twitter that coaches just don’t coach, they have to manage things outside of the game (or something along those lines).

How you cope with issues is key to your success.  Some people are better at it than others.  Some have different approaches than others.

The Boston Herald on a former Little League coach who is accused of making death threats.

David Barry, 41, of Bridgewater is accused of “continually” making menacing phone calls to Kurt and Kelley Dahlgren between October 2008 and June, according to court records.

Barry “would call late hours of the evening, waking up the kids, breathing on the telephone, saying my wife’s name and saying, ‘Die,’ ” according to a complaint Dahlgren filed in Brockton District Court.

Last week from the Boston Globe I posted a story about a coach and a parent getting into a fight because the kid was late to practice; the father wanted to take the blame…well here’s more on the disturbing issue.

Reynolds told the 12-year-old boy to run laps as a consequence. In his statement to police, VonKahle, 48, said he responded to Reynolds by saying, “If anybody needs to run laps, it should be you, you fat [expletive].”

VonKahle said he made his remarks in a joking manner, but Reynolds, in his statement to police, said the parent continually taunted him. About three minutes later, as VonKahle sat in the bleachers with several other adults, Reynolds approached and asked if they could talk.

You know they say the kids are ruining sports, I don’t think that’s the case.

Defeat is not defeat until you accept it as failure. It should be considered more as a stepping stone to success as it can push you to be better.

-Via Success Wallpaper

-Coach Finamore

Hoops135@hotmail.com

I’m now on Facebook and Twitter: @CoachFinamore