CHOICES

Every day we wake up we have a choice.

That is one fundamental in life that will never change.

The fantastic actor Chazz Palminteri once said, “the choices you make will shape your life forever.”

Disturbing story out of Lansing, Michigan. A boys high school basketball coach is in hot water. He made a poor choice.

Muhammad El-Amin, head boys basketball coach at Holt High School was arrested, facing multiple felony charges; one being child sexually abusive behavior.

He was caught in one of several child sex stings conducted by members of “multiple Lansing-area law enforcement agencies” on Thursday and Friday, a Lansing police investigator testified in a court document that led to charges being issued against the Holt coach on Friday.

Police posted an ad on an online prostitution website that couldn’t be accessed accidentally, according to the investigator. A sender later identified as El-Amin responded to the ad on Thursday, requesting that a decoy posing as a 15-year-old girl perform a sex act on him, the investigator said.

Here’s the link to the story: https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/2024/05/03/holt-boys-basketball-coach-muhammad-el-amin-arrested-suspended/73559311007/

I had to blog about this because lately I have been seeing many stories about this disturbing behavior; men going after underage girls. Just recently I saw a story of a guy who committed suicide because he was busted with a young girl.

What is it with these guys and the choices they make?

Do they realize they are ruining their lives? Not to mention bringing shame to their family.

I also had to blog about this because I have coached against El-Amin. I also watched him play in high school. This cat needs help. Hope he gets it.

Caitlin Clark made her WNBA debut Friday night and did not disappoint. Clark made 5 3’s in the Indiana Fever pre-season loss to the Wings, 79-76. She finished with 21 points on 5-16 shooting, 5-13 from 3. They had a sellout crowd in Dallas; without Clark, that just doesn’t happen. She’s brought the league to a new level.

Lakers fired Darvin Ham. The second year head coach out of Saginaw, Michigan was 90-74 with the Lakers. It’s a weak move by LA. Look, it’s not Ham’s fault. I have been seeing “who should be the next coach for the Lakers” stories. They should hire LeBron James and let him be player-coach. Shit, I would coach them. Ownership would save a lot of money. Just give me $1 million per year. I got the clothes, I just need a bench to sit on. Coaching is coaching. It’s on the players to execute and perform.

Patrick Beverley’s recent behavior should not be tolerated. The league should suspend him for a ton of games. This guy just doesn’t get it. But there are people who will give him a free pass because he can dribble and shoot a basketball. https://www.yahoo.com/sports/patrick-beverly-throws-basketball-hits-152559311.html

Knicks and Pacers get underway Monday night Game 1 at MSG. Obi Toppin, former Knicks first round draft pick gets a shot at his former team.

Phil Musnick of the New York Post said John Smoltz of Fox ruins MLB with his constant blathering. Speaking of too much talking, watching Knicks-76ers the other night, why does Grant Hill have to give analysis on every play? It’s annoying.

Stephen A. Smith’s latest comment about Mike Trout was not cool.

I get an e-mail from Dunkin Donuts saying all iced drinks are $2 until May 8. I step to the counter this morning, scan and have to pay $3.70. Girl says it doesn’t work. Come on man…

Happy birthday Dawn Staley; she’s 54.

Always play the right way…

E-Mail: SteveFinamore@yahoo.com

TALKIN’ LOUD AND SAYING NOTHING

I try to enjoy the games. But lately it’s been hard. It seems to me that things going on off the court are talked about more than the games being played. The NBA playoffs are going on right now and we’ve been treated to some good action. It’s a great time of year if you’re a hoops fan.

Joe Mazzulla is right, playoff basketball doesn’t change from the regular season. Biggest thing is there are no bad teams playing. “You’ve just got to bring it physically, mentally and you’ve got to execute.” The league would be so much better if we got rid of the bad teams.

I don’t care where LeBron is going to be playing next year. I don’t care if he played his last game as a Laker. I just want to watch this amazing ball player do his thing.

Magic Johnson blamed load management on the Lakers downfall. One thing I always say about the LeBron-Michael Jordan debate; Jordan would never let the crap that happens with his team that LeBron allows. To me, James doesn’t hold anyone accountable.

Knicks-76ers tonight for Game 6. New York leads 3-2. Ownership of the Sixers bought 2,000 tickets to keep the Knicks fans from buying them. That’s weak.

Coaches have been getting fired at the high school level at an alarming rate.

One thing no one has mentioned about Caitlin Clark is how much better she is going to be in the WNBA – why? Because her teammates around her will be so much better than the players she teamed up with at Iowa. As long as the head coach of the Indiana Fever allows her to play her game, things will be kosher.

Awful Announcing came out with their broadcast ratings. Walt Frazier and Mike Breen were voted top duo in the league.

Dusty May had a meet and greet in Lansing on Wednesday. The Wolverines head coach is going to get it done in Ann Arbor.

Deion Sanders had a great quote a few days ago,” Sometimes you need to disconnect from something to reconnect to something else to restart you and stabilize you.”

RIP Paul Auster. He was 77. The author had lived in Park Slope, Brooklyn since 1980.

NBA ACTION

The Denver Nuggets eliminated the LA Lakers Monday night, 4-1 with a 108-106 victory.

Jamal Murray scored 32 points to lead Denver.

Nikola Jokic scored 25 points, grabbed 20 rebounds and dished out 9 assists.

Michael Porter Jr. added 22 points.

For the Lakers, LeBron James led the way with 30 points.

In the 5 games Jokic averaged 28.2 points per game, 16.2 rebounds and 9.8 assists. Anthony Davis scored 27.8 points per game, pulled down 15.6 rebounds and 4 assists per game.

The Minnesota Timberwolves swept the Phoenix Suns 4-0. And the OKC Thunder swept the New Orleans Pelicans.

Celtics lead Miami 3-1.

Knicks look to close out the 76ers tonight at MSG. New York is up 3-1.

Always play the right way…

E-Mail: SteveFinamore@yahoo.com

NBA PLAYOFFS

First round action from Saturday.

Cavaliers over the Magic: Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points to lead the Cavs to the 97-83 win. Cleveland takes a 1-0 series lead. Jarrett Allen grabbed 18 rebounds. Paolo Banchero led Orlando with 24 points.

T-Wolves over the Suns: Minnesota took a 1-0 lead in the series with a 120-95 victory. Anthony Edwards scored 33 points to lead the T-Wolves. Rudy Gobert had 16 rebounds for Minnesota. Kevin Durant led PHX with 31 points.

Knicks 111-76ers 104: Josh Hart scored 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead the Knicks to a 1-0 series lead. Jalen Brunson added 22 points with 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Deuce McBride shot 5-7 from 3 off the bench for New York. Tyrese Maxey led Philly with 33 points. Joel Embiid had 29 points and was a +14 on the night.

Nuggets 114-Lakers 103: Nikola Jokic scored 32 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists leading Denver to the game 1 win. Denver has now beaten LA nine straight times. Jamal Murray added 22 points and dished out 10 assists. Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 32 points and 14 rebounds. LeBron James scored 27 points and 8 assists but he also turned the ball over 7 times. Denver had 27 assists with just 4 turnovers.

AN OUTSTANDING PODCAST

JJ Redick and LeBron James have a podcast called, “Mind the Game.” It’s a basketball junkie’s fix.

I highly recommend it.

In the episode below LBJ and JJ discuss “what makes a great basketball player?”

Love LeBron’s answer:

1-Knowing the history of the game.

2-Discipline

3-A love for the game.

KOBE AND LEBRON

The following was taken from an article on MSN. https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/explosive-leaked-audio-allegedly-exposes-lebron-james-clash-with-kobe-bryant-over-wild-shot-selection-during-the-2008-olympic-finals/ar-AA1glY4a

LeBron James and Kobe Bryant are two of the greatest players to ever play basketball. The two led Team USA or what is more popularly known as the “Redeem Team” in the 2008 Olympics.

In the finals of the said tournament in Beijing, China, the Americans took on an experienced and talented Spain squad led by Pau Gasol. James, Bryant and crew engaged the Spaniards in a nip-and-tuck affair throughout the game.

The intensity and pressure of the game were evident in what could be an exchange between LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. In the clip where Bryant took a shot from way behind the arc, “King James” exclaimed:

“Watch the shots that you’re taking, motherf**ker!!! Drive that b**ch!”

LEBRON

Jeff Benedict has written a biography about LeBron James. I’m two chapters in and it’s awesome.

James is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. He has won 4 NBA titles, has 4 NBA finals MVP’s, 4 regular season MVP’s and is 4th all-time in assists.

He’s made first team all-defense 5 years. He’s been in the NBA for 20 seasons and has made the all-star game in 19 of them.

All that is amazing.

I love his game. To me, he’s the second greatest player in the history of the game. (Michael still is #1).

NUGGETS-LAKERS: GAME 4

SWEEP! SWEEP! SWEEP!

The Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokic took care of business Monday night and finished off LeBron James and the Lakers in LA, 113-111.

Denver had been 0-7 in the playoffs against the Lakers.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it…

The Nuggets will have off until June 1st where they will meet the winner of the Heat-Celtics series. Miami is up 3-0 in their best of seven; they try to sweep Boston tonight in South Beach.

Johnny Point Spread had Denver last night +3.5 – he’s perfect in the Conference finals.

Jokic finished with a triple-double; 30-14-13. Denver has played 15 games this post-season, he has 8 triple-doubles.

LeBron finished with 40 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists. This guy is incredible. LBJ dropped 31 of his 40 in the first half. But the problem for LA was him not making an impact in the beginning of the 3rd quarter. That’s when Denver made their comeback. The Lakers led at the half 73-58. James took his first shot at the 5:27 mark of the third, by that time the damage had been done. Denver was down 3.

Aaron Gordon was excellent for the Nuggets: 22 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. 3-5 from distance.

A guy told me this morning, “told ya Denver would win, LA had no one to guard Jamal Murray.” I said “What? They had no one to cover Jokic.”

Murray was outstanding in the series. He comes up with big shots at crucial times.

Tristan Thompson played 9 minutes for LA, scoring 4 points.

How about LeBron in the building getting up shots 5 hours before the game? It paid off. He played all 12 minutes of the first quarter and scored 21 points on 7-9 shooting. He was 4-5 from 3. James played all 48 minutes.

Anthony Davis was a -6 last night. In the previous 3 games in the series he was -8, -10 and -12. Compare that to Jokic: +6, +15, +7 and +11. The Joker had 3 triple-doubles in the series and was named Conference Finals M.V.P.

“He’s showing other people nationally that he’s real,” Michael Malone said. “Like what he’s doing is real. The M.V.P.’s are real. The triple-doubles are real.”

Austin Reaves finished up the playoffs making 28 straight free-throws. Reaves, who scored 20 or more seven times in the playoffs reminds me of Henry Steele. In the first three games against Denver he was 13-23 from distance. Last night he managed just 2 attempts, making 1.

On making in-game adjustments; “play harder, play smarter,” said Jeff Van Gundy.

How bad are these State Farm commercials?

Always play the right way…

SteveFinamore@yahoo.com

NUGGETS-LAKERS: GAME 3

Oh boy, the Los Angeles Lakers are in trouble.

The Denver Nuggets went into LA last night and beat the Lakers 119-108.

“This group is capable of doing great things, and they believe,” Michael Malone said. “Belief is a very powerful thing.”

Sorry coach but the narrative will be about LA being down 0-3.

While watching the game last night with me, “10 outta 10” called LA’s home court, “The Forum.” LOL

The Nuggets are the tougher team right now. They are more aggressive and play with more energy and effort.

How about Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson on the call for ESPN. JVG is the best in the business.

He had a great quote from Bill Donovan: “You don’t get to decide what wins. You’re only decision is will you do what it takes to win.”

Other analysts don’t bring nuggets like that to the broadcast. Seaking of the Nuggets, how about Jamal Murray? This cat is unreal. Has Lisa Salters ever seen him play? Murray dropped 30 points last night in the first half.

“It’s not about one guy,” Murray said following the game. He finished with 37 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists.

Jack Nicholson was courtside. Jack needs a shape-up. His hair was wild.

How about Red Pants Man, he was sitting next to Jack. I first saw this guy in Denver. No, 10 outta 10 did not call Denver’s home court McNichols Arena.

Adele and Rich Paul were enjoying the game courtside.

Carl from Brooklyn asked me last night in a text, “Is Tristan Thompson so bad that he doesn’t deserve any time?” Thompson is with the Lakers. I was waiting for the same question about DeAndre Jordan of the Nuggets.

Nuggets were getting 5.5 – No word from Johnny Point Spread. I’m beginning to worry about him. Second straight game he didn’t have action on the game.

JVG on sprinting the floor opposed to jogging: “Horses trot, winners sprint.” The great Secretariat would disagree.

Nuggets had just 1 turnover in the first half. They finished with 30 assists and 6 turnovers. When they dish out 32 or more assists in a game this year they are 24-2.

Nikola Jokic in the three games has 34 assists and 12 turnovers. He picked up his 4th foul in the 3rd quarter and rode the pine for a while.

Bruce Brown has been great off the bench for Denver. He’s averaging 14.3 points per game in the series.

Nuggets starters made 15 3’s. Lakers starters made 7. In the series Denver has made 46, Lakers 29.

LeBron finally made a 3. He’s now 3-19 in the 3 games.

I wish Bret Bearup were still alive to see Denver having much success.

Austin Reaves at Oklahoma his senior year made 32 3’s in 25 games. Against the Nuggets inthe first 3 games he’s made 13. Series before against Golden State he made 14. So in 9 games, if my Math is correct, that’s 27 3’s made. I texted a friend last night with those numbers and he said, “He couldn’t shoot in college but he had swag.”

Another Big 12 guy, Christian Braun looks lost out there. Last night he allowed Reaves free for a wide open 3. Reaves knocked it down, Braun was taken out of the game. How does Braun allow that to happen. In the series Braun is shooting 0-3 from the field.

D’Angelo Russell is 2-14 from 3 in the series. 8-27 from the field overall.

Are people that are into basketball still referred to as “basketball junkies?” Yesterday I asked about “gym rats.” I got both these descriptions from Thomas Beller’s wonderful book about basketball, “Lost in the Game.” If you dig basketball, highly recommend you get the book.

Michael Porter Jr. has a little Allan Houston in his game.

Rui Hachimura is playing well for LA. He’s averaging 17 points per game in the series.

The Lakers over the years are 7-0 in the playoffs against Denver. That’s about to change. And, teams that are down 0-3 have never come back. They are 0-149. Soon to be 0-150.

Game 4 is Monday night.

“I can’t speak for the guys right now because I don’t know what’s going through all their minds, but I still believe,” said LeBron James, who had 23 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds. “So it’s time to go right back home and start to refuel and start the treatment process and recovery process and get ready for Monday. My mindset is always locked in.”

Tonight’s game between the Celtics and Heat, Game 3, Miami leads 2-0 is scheduled for 8:30. I wish the game was on in the afternoon.

Happy birthday Foots Walker and Jammin’ James Bailey.

Always play the right way…

SteveFinamore@yahoo.com

NUGGETS-LAKERS GAME 2

Denver took a 2-0 lead last night in the best-of-seven Western Conference finals beating LA 108-103.

Johnny Point Spread took the Lakers plus 5.5. Drinks are on the house.

Beginning of the game everyone was crying on the whistles. I never saw so much pouting.

“What happened to the game I love,” said ESPN announcer Mark Jackson.

LeBron James needs to stop flopping. The King scored 22 points last night with 9 rebounds and 10 assists. He was 0-6 from 3 making him 0-10 in the series.

Jamal Murray went off in the fourth quarter scoring 23 points. He finished with 37 to go with 10 rebounds and 5 assists.

Nikola Jokic did not score in the fourth. He finished with 23 points, 17 rebounds and 12 assists.

Rui Hachimura scored 21 points off the bench for LA. He shot 8-10 from the field.

Austin Reaves was 5-9 from downtown.

Anthony Davis shot 4-15 from the field. 9-11 from the line.

“No one talked about Nikola [Jokic] just having a historic performance. He’s got 13 triple-doubles now, third all-time. What he’s doing is just incredible, but the narrative wasn’t about the Nuggets, the narrative wasn’t about Nikola, the narrative was about the Lakers and their adjustments. So, you put that in your pipe, you smoke it, and you come back. We’re gonna go up 2-0.” That was Nuggets head coach Michael Malone following game 2.

Lisa Salters...SMH

Game 3 is Saturday night in LA.

Always play the right way…

SteveFinamore@yahoo.com