Nate Archibald was a pretty good player. In 1973, he led the league in assists and scoring. in 1973.
Bob Hohler of the Boston Globe on Nate’s comments regarding Rajon Rondo.
“I’m going to get in trouble for this,’’ said Nate “Tiny’’ Archibald, who helped a young Larry Bird win his first NBA title in 1981, “but if you look at all the great point guards who have worn the Celtics uniform, Rajon Rondo does more than any of us put together.’’
HOOPS135@HOTMAIL.COM
TWITTER: @CoachFinamore
The Lakers big man has a message for his teammates at the defensive end of the floor.
Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe:
“The biggest thing is we don’t have to gamble,” said Howard. “That’s the one thing I told those guys — don’t gamble. We’re solid on defense, we work hard for 24 seconds on defense and then we’re out.
“That’s when you put everybody else in bad predicaments, when you do gamble. But when we’re solid, we have some great defenders on the wing. We have some great defenders on the post. So there’s no need to gamble. We all just have to trust our instincts and play the right way.”
HOOPS135@HOTMAIL.COM
TWITTERL @CoachFinamore
Bernard King’s Journey to Springfield: As a rookie with the New Jersey Nets Bernard purchased 25 season tickets for a spot in Piscataway Arena where the Nets played their home games called, ‘King’s Korner‘. This was a section for underprivileged kids. “If I can possibly enlighten some kids and help them learn to respect themselves and keep their problems in the past…show them that the thing is to not try to be what you can’t be but to realize your own potential.”
1-I attended the BCAM coaches clinic this weekend and had an enjoyable and productive two days. Every coach should attend at least one clinic per year. Keep learning.
2-Alex Kennedy of Hoops World on Arron Afflalo of the Orlando Magic.
3-SF Gate.com on Warriors rookie Draymond Green. I love this guy out of Michigan State. Just read some of his quotes. “His basketball IQ is far beyond any rookie I have ever seen come into this league,” said Pete Myers, who played nine seasons and has been a coach or scout in the league since 1999. “He knows himself, he has a mental toughness and a physical competitiveness. It’s going to be hard to keep him off the floor.”
4-Bob Finnan of the News-Herald on Luke Walton trying to stick with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He really knows how to play the game of basketball,” Cavs coach Byron Scott said. “He has a high basketball IQ. He’s looked that way from Day 1. I was surprised with his conditioning when he came to camp. He picked up where he left off (from last year). His experience is invaluable. He’s a guy who’s won (two) NBA championships.
5-Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe on Doc Rivers and his approach with a Darko. “You can see that he gets frustrated easy,” Rivers said. “So we’re trying to eliminate those episodes. Our thing right now with Darko is to play forward. From being around for a short time, as a coach I can probably feel he’s played his career backwards. He lives in the past a lot and we’re trying to get him to live in the future. I told him (Friday), the only time I’ll take you out is if you make a mistake and make another mistake because you’re thinking about the last mistake. I won’t take you out for making a mistake. So hopefully that works.”
HOOPS135@HOTMAIL.COM
TWITTER: @CoachFinamore
What is up sports fans?
Some hoop notes for you today!
Sean Lealos of the Examiner.com on Texas Tech head coach Billy Gillispie who has been hospitalized. It also seems like a few of his players are complaining.
“We are looking into some concerns within the leadership of our men’s basketball program,” athletic department spokesman Blayne Beal said Friday, reading from a prepared statement. “Student-athlete well-being is something that is our top priority. We take that very seriously at Texas Tech. We are devoting our full resources into looking into this matter.”
Lima Ohio.com on Allen Iverson, who was supposed to show up and play in a game in Lima, Ohio. The director of the game said A.I. was a “no-show.”
“He didn’t give me his word. He gave me a contract,” Simpson said. “This wasn’t a handshake agreement. This was an actual contract that he was going to be here. I never had a conversation with Allen Iverson myself, I didn’t need to. I talked to his people and they assured me he was coming. They told me (Saturday night) he was in the Dayton airport. They assured me he was on the road (to here), but I’m starting to think that was basically a lie. It was very embarrassing.”
Josh Barnett of USA Today on UCLA; the Bruins are being investigated by the NCAA over a couple of new recruits.
According to the report, it is unclear whether the potential violations involving Anderson and Parker are related to the ongoing investigation into Muhammad, the 6-5 guard from Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas ranked as the No. 2 recruit in the country. According to the report, another program “turned in evidence of violation in the recruitment of Muhammad, Anderson and Parker.” The specifics were unknown.
Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe on Magic Johnson-Larry Bird; this rivalry will never end.
He related a story about Bird telling an injured Magic and Lakers coach Pat Riley during a regular-season matchup that he was disappointed he wouldn’t be able to drop another 30-point game on Johnson.
USC guard Maurice Jones will miss the entire 2012-13 season for the Trojans due to academic reasons.
HOOPS135@HOTMAIL.COM
TWITTER: @CoachFinamore
Jeff Goodman of CBS Sportsline on Towson winning their first game of the season last night 66-61. The longest losing streak in the history of Div. I hoops is over at 41, as the Tigers beat UNC-Wilmington. It was the first career win at Towson for coach Pat Skerry, and the program’s first since a win at La Salle on Dec. 29, 2010
Mike Casazza of the Charleston Daily Mail on West Virginia’s loss to Syracuse Saturday afternoon. Was it goal-tending or not?
Gene Steratore — who has worked 17 college basketball and two NFL games this month — was the official under the basket while Karl Hess — working his 21st game in 28 days — was on the left sideline near the play. Neither hinted they might call goaltending, though the rule says the basket counts once the ball hits the backboard above the rim.
Jeff Faraudo of the Mercury News on top basketball recruiting classes don’t always live up to their top billing.
Mike Sorenson of the Deseret News on Jimmer’s return to Utah…had a chance at the end but came up short.
Bill Plaschke of the LA Times on USC basketball.
Saddled by injuries and past probation defections, the Trojans have won only a handful of games. Saddled with the high expectations of the Trojans nation, they’ve been watched by only a handful of fans.
One minute they are averaging 23 wins a season for three years under Tim Floyd, advancing past the first round of theNCAA tournament in two of those years. Then, three seasons later — poof — they are losing their first eight conference games, failing to score more than 50 points in five of them.
“We’re pinned,” Coach Kevin O’Neill acknowledged. “There’s no moves right now.”
Steve Gorten of the Sun-Sentinel on Miami’s Jim Larranaga, one of the good guys in the coaching business says he can coach until 2019. I bet he gets into TV someday. Has a great personality, excellent voice and has much hoops credibility.
“It just proves how much he loves the game and how much passion he has, how much he wants this school to become a great school,” freshman point guard Shane Larkin said with a smile. “I know Coach is very passionate, so I think he’ll definitely finish the deal, and if he can, he’ll sign another extension after that.”
Jacob May of the Arizona Daily Sun on NAU’s former men’s coach under investigation.
Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe on the Washington Wizards problems.
An NBA scout who watched the Wizards said they may be the most dysfunctional young team in the league. Management is hoping the coaching change has the most effect on Wall, who has been given the mantle of team leader although he’s just three years removed from high school.
“I think for us not playing hard every night, the record we have, that puts a tough decision on the coach,’’ John Wall said. “We didn’t go out there and play hard enough for him. Me and Flip had no problem. There were times when I got frustrated for not playing good. I talked to him [after the firing] and he told me the same thing – he said, ‘Just keep working hard’ – and I’m sorry that happened to him.’’
Moe ‘Better’ Harkless of St. John’s is a big time player! I tuned in to Duke and St. John’s yesterday and I was very impressed with Harkless who was clearly the best player on the floor.
Last night I was watching NC State and Virginia in an ACC match-up. A Wolfpack player had a break-away layup, all alone out in front of the field and just like that, the young man missed it. Lenny Elmore, the ESPN analyst said, ‘it’s fundamentals, the player didn’t put the ball on the backboard.” Great point Leonard!
Francisco Elson is now on the Washington Wizards.
Quote of the Day: ”This is not what we want USC basketball to be, but we think K.O. is doing all the right things to get this program turned around. Kevin has inherited a bad hand and we’re going to give him time.” -USC A.D. Pat Haden
Hoops135@hotmail.com
Follow me on Twitter: @CoachFinamore
