“You think about being in the NBA and you get paid to coach and play basketball. It’s kind of silly, but we get to do it and I think I lose sight of it at times. We talked about that after the Cleveland game about what we get to do and not what we have to do.”
-Coach Finamore
E-Mail: SteveFinamore@yahoo.com
“We all know if you’re right off the court, you usually have a much better chance to be right on the court. And with us, it’s a privilege and a blessing not only to pour into guys character-wise, academically and athletically, but the most important thing is winning the game of life and that’s the spiritual component.”
E-MAIL: SteveFinamore@yahoo.com
After his Iona Gaels beat Alabama on Thanksgiving, 72-68.
“I’m happy for the guys. They are great guys to coach. I’m really, really excited, happy for them.”
The Gaels win reminds me of 1980 when Louisville was ranked #2 in the country and made a visit to Madison Square Garden to play Iona. The Gaels won 77-70. The Cards would go on to win the NCAA championship that year beating UCLA.
E-Mail: SteveFinamore@yahoo.com
Hope everyone has a great day.
I’m thankful for everyone involved in the greatest sport in the world.
The players, coaches, fans and media.
Over the years I have met so many good people involved in the game.
Thanks for all you do…
Happy Thanksgiving…
-Coach Finamore
E-Mail: SteveFinamore@yahoo.com
After being out of coaching for two years, I recently took a job as head coach of the Chippewa Middle School 8th grade boys basketball team. (Okemos school district)
We actually have two teams; an A and a B team, I coach both.
It may have been the greatest move I have ever made in my coaching career.
I love these kids; 19 in all.
They listen and they are coachable. When they come to practice they work hard. All of them want to learn. They don’t think they have all the answers. Just the other day I was ready to let them leave a few minutes because they were leaving it all on the court but they begged me to stay and let them keep practicing.
I look forward to every single day with them.
We mention being a good person off the court and being responsible in class.
ATTITUDE, WORK ETHIC and CHARACTER are three staples of our team.
There’s no “entitlement.”
We discuss humility, passion, unity, selflessness and thankfulness all important traits in our program. We have the man who scores point to the passer running back on defense telling him, “NICE PASS!”
We mix things up every day; we’ll work on breakdown drills, we’ll scrimmage and of course we’ll talk basketball. For the games, we play uptempo basketball. We shoot three’s, press full court and most important we share the ball. If you miss a layup, turn the ball over or get beat on defense, we move on to the next play.
On defense we talk about and work on the important things; ball pressure, help side and of course rebounding.
It’s a lot of fun working with the young players – we have 14 practices in the books and 3 games. I have seen a lot of improvement over this short time. The season is over December 15, we have 7 practices and 7 games left. We are back at it Monday, we have an away game. I can’t wait…
–Coach Finamore
E-Mail: SteveFinamore@yahoo.com
It starts early.
The desire to become the best you can be.
How bad do you want to become a better basketball player?
I’m here to tell you that you have to make a choice.
Are you going to put the time in and work on your game?
You have to make a sacrifice.
It’s on you…you’re responsible for your improvement.
-Coach Finamore
E-Mail: SteveFinamore@yahoo.com
“You can guard set plays, but it’s tough to guard principles.”
“I’m a good person, good teammate, I want to see everyone win. It’s just not just about myself, as people would try to make it seem. I’m trying to do whatever it takes to help my team win.”
SOURCE: NEW YORK POST. https://nypost.com/2021/11/06/memphis-freshman-emoni-bates-out-to-show-hes-total-package/
-Coach Finamore
E-Mail: SteveFinamore@yahoo.com
“Always assuming there is something wrong with others and not yourself.”
Often times not only in life but in sports, you see people with a bad attitude. Something goes wrong, they don’t know how to cope. Or they make excuses and place blame.
I believe this begins when someone is young. You’re taught how to deal with failure at home. (or you’re not taught) In basketball, when you start out you have to learn how to deal with adversity.
Got cut from the team, how will you respond?
You’re coming off the bench for your team, how will you get more playing time?
Missed some shots? How will you adjust?
You’re a step slow – how will you increase your speed?
So much goes into having a positive attitude after mishaps. It’s not easy, it’s hard, I get it.
My main man Ed Klimkowski likes to say, “Be a good guy. Stay positive and be a hard worker.” Simple, right?
I have been around many basketball players with poor attitudes. I have also been around many basketball players with outstanding attitudes (I prefer the ones with the outstanding attitudes). Me and hoopers with negative attitudes do not get along. I can’t figure them out. They have a great opportunity but still will make others lives around them miserable, including the coaching staff.
A negative attitude can be contagious, as well as a positive one. Instead of placing blame and complaining, try and make things better. If a coach criticizes your play, take it and make it better. Don’t talk back. Turn that energy into doing a better job. Stop making excuses for a turnover. Own up and move on to the next play.
Show positive body language. Stop pouting. Cut out the pity-party. No one wants to hear your gripes. Take responsibility. The two things we can control are our attitude and effort.
There was once a player I coached a few years ago, everything was my fault. I was the reason he wasn’t getting playing time. I was the reason he was afraid to make a mistake. His father told people that his son was, “confused.” Instead of working harder, trying to be a better practice player, trying to be a better teammate, it was easy to blame the coach. Losers do that. It’s called “Entitlement 101.” And no one is entitled to anything.
Be coachable. Compete. Practice hard. Accept the fact there are players on the team more deserving of playing time. Sacrifice. Play through adversity. Change your mindset. Have respect for adults.
Improve your attitude. Go from negative to positive. A negative attitude holds you back.
Like the Chicago Bulls head coach says in the quote above, stop assuming there is something wrong with others and not you. Losers do that.
Look in the mirror – self assess; Are you part of the problem or part of the solution? Be honest with yourself.
E-Mail: SteveFinamore@yahoo.com
“Drive the ball, get your spacing, make your rim read — keep the game simple.”
We can all agree that everyone has a different opinion on a good shot and a bad shot during a basketball game. Some coaches will not tolerate a certain shot, but some will.
This is a tough subject for me because I see players jack up shots that make me say, “WOW, what a bad shot.”
But then I hear someone say, “That was a good shot.”
Basically it comes down to does that player work on that shot in practice? Have they made it in the past. Do they look confident shooting it? Does the coach mind?
Shooting the ball is the most popular thing in basketball. When you are first introduced to the game first thing you do is throw the ball up to the rim. You have never seen a six year-old walk on a basketball court and do defensive slides.
Lately while watching the NBA I have noticed something – there’s a lot of bad shots being attempted; especially 3-pointers. Don’t get me wrong, I love the 3-ball. A guy like Steph Curry will shoot it up from almost anywhere and it looks like it’s going in. I wonder if Steve Kerr, head coach of the Golden State Warriors has ever said to Steph, “That was a bad shot.”
I love all aspects of the game but on offense I would much rather see ball movement and the team on offense getting a great look. Last night while watching a game (I will not disclose the player’s name) the team on offense had a 4 on 2 break. The player with the ball dribbled down the middle of the court and pulled up for a long three from the top of the key. He missed, the team on defense rebounded and pushed the ball the other way for an easy basket.
If I was that shooter’s teammate, I’d be pissed off that he didn’t share the ball.
Maybe I am old old school? Maybe I prefer players share the ball? All I know is that many of my friends are turned off by the NBA game because of selfish play.
“I don’t watch the NBA,” is what I hear often. This coming from people who have loved hoops their entire life.
That narrative at times creeps in my head. It pains me to see bad basketball, especially at the highest level.
Things can improve if we had more passing and better shot selection.
–Coach Finamore
SteveFinamore@yahoo.com
PLAY THE RIGHT WAY 