Showing posts with label Basketball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Basketball. Show all posts

Friday, December 11, 2015

Aspects of the Game (6) Defense


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Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Aspects of the Game (5) Offense


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Monday, December 7, 2015

Aspects of the Game (4) Ball Handling


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Friday, November 27, 2015

Aspects of the Game (3) Rebounding


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Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Aspects of the Game (2) Passing


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Monday, November 23, 2015

Aspects of the Game (1) Shooting


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Friday, March 6, 2015

Thunder Russell Westbrook is Beast Mode



I love these analyses from Coach Nick, as they help me get a better grasp of the inner game of basketball.  Let's take trust and confidence in your teammates.  A mid-season overhaul of role players have clearly unleashed Russell Westbrook on the NBA.  The fact that they can finish the play with a score, after he has done the heavy lifting, for example, ball handling and dribble-penetrating, has jacked up his assist stat.  In turn, because defenders must now account for his passing and for teammates' scoring, they cannot cover him as well as they have before.  Ergo: His own scoring has also jacked up.  Moreover, players already know Westbrook is a gifted athlete, but now in the midst of a revamped team, plus much greater trust and confidence overall, he is Marshawn Lynch all over the NBA with that athleticism.
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Wednesday, March 4, 2015

JR Smith and Cavaliers are a Great Fit



Perhaps basketball insiders can tell which player will do better in what new situation, but I bet that the majority of them have a tough go at such predictions.  They're not alone, as top leaders and organizational pundits alike struggle to make the right decisions on whom to bring onboard.  The key issue is fit.  
  • Take all that go into a player, such as capability, knowledge and skills, education and experience, plus motivation and personality.  
  • Then take all that are part and parcel of an organization, such as leadership and staff, culture and climate, facility and operations, product lines and marketplace, and so many more things.
  • Those basketball insiders must therefore account for a volume of complex, dynamic aspects and somehow make it all converge in the ways they have for JR Smith and the Cavaliers.  
Clearly this team is much better suited for him, than was the Knicks, because more talented teammates afford him better spacing for shots and because his teammates take advantage of his particular talents - spot ups and catch and shoots.  Not only has Smith found his perfect role and stride, but also he helps position the team better for a title run. 
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Monday, March 2, 2015

Heat Hassan Whiteside like a Cheetah



I think the most impressive thing about Hassan Whiteside is his timing on the defensive end.  It's almost as if he lulls shooters into a false sense of security about scoring, then after waiting waiting, he leaps like a cheetah to block it or grab the rebound.  Of course it helps to have tremendous athleticism and wingspan. 
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Friday, February 6, 2015

The Absurdity that is the New York Knicks




I didn't react to this Forbes' explanation about the New York Knicks high valuation, in the aggressive, offensive way that this YouTuber did.  But I did wonder how in the world can a perennially dysfunctional, oft losing team be the second most valuable in the NBA - at a cool $2.5 billion - just behind the Los Angeles Lakers ($2.6 billion) and well ahead of the Chicago Bulls ($2 billion).  
Revenue: $278 million*
Operating income: $53 million

The Knicks drew the biggest TV audience in the NBA at 163,000 viewers per game on average last season despite their 37-45 record. The teams' operating income fell 45% after missing the playoffs and incurring a $36 million luxury tax bill. *Revenue and operating profit/loss are for the 2012-13 season.
Reference: #2 New York Knicks.

There is something to be said for scores of fans who love their team, no matter win or lose. There is something to be said for the biggest city, hence largest market, that is their home.  There is something to be said for the lore and culture, the moxie and sentiment, even the tragedy that define New Yorkers.


I think this YouTuber is spot on, as far as Forbes' intent with its sardonic explanation.  Of course, there are business underpinnings why the Knicks are worth so much.  But even though he is easily the King of Dysfunction in the Big Apple, maybe James Dolan knows more about how to run a NBA team than many of us give him credit for. 

Boom clap, there it is!  That has to be an absurd thought, isn't it.  You see, Forbes had it right.  Now go read Albert Camus' The Myth of Sisyphus. 
 
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Wednesday, February 4, 2015

NBA Numbers at Dizzying Heights



For me, basketball has dropped to the third spot among my favorite major sports in the US, behind football and hockey.  I love the complexity of the gridiron and the grace-cum-aggression of its gladiators, even though the Chicago Bears have had aggravating seasons in recent years.  A fresh sheet of ice turns up the heat for me, largely because the Chicago Blackhawks are Stanley Cup battle tested and perennial favorites. 

But, man oh man, the numbers for the NBA, as Forbes Mike Ozanian and Kurt Badenhausen dish them out, have spiked up and seem poised to keep going north.  Over the past year, former Microsoft CEO and tech titan Steve Ballmer stood head and shoulders among owners, when he paid $2 billion for the Los Angeles Clippers.  Why did he over pay for a team that has been a laughingstock for much of its existence?  Simple, because he can.

The NFL is the most valuable sport on the planet, but this Forbes estimation makes me think that the NBA, with its great national and international appeal, can overtake the NFL at some point.  Unlike football, scores of fans around the world grasp the game of basketball and play it with minimal resources and costs.  Here's the full report and rundown from Forbes:  Lakers Top 2015 List Of NBA's Most Valuable Teams; Average Franchise Is Now Worth Record $1.1 Billion.
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Friday, January 23, 2015

Lauren Hill inspires on and off basketball court


Lauren Hill
Tom Rinaldi tells the story of Lauren Hill, diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer and expected to live only until December, as she takes the basketball court for Division III Mount St. Joseph.
Reference: Lauren Hill: One More Game.

It is January 17th, as I write this, and I searched for articles on Lauren Hill.  The fact that I found nothing that said she had died is, to me, no news is good news.  

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Friday, November 28, 2014

Some 'Sick' Basketball In Yo'Face!



That's what the Triangle, courtesy of Phil (The Zen Master) Jackson, is all about: Show high post, move purposefully without the ball, find and quickly pass to the open man!


How about a little Tajmania in yo'face... with your morning coffee, lunch burger, after-work drink or midnight snack?


You know, Linsanity would be a perfect feature of The Lake Show. Lin set off a firestorm across the NBA world two and a half years ago, when he scored at will against several opponents.

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Friday, August 22, 2014

Paul George Injury and Sporting Dilemma


On Friday evening, August 1st, Pacers star Paul George suffered a compound fracture in his right leg, during a Team USA scrimmage game.  I saw my Twitter feed buzzing late that evening, and there was no video that I could find quickly.  It was the next morning that I saw a GIF of George going up to defend a shot, then getting his right foot caught at the base of the stanchion, and his leg breaking so gruesomely that seeing it once was enough for me.  

I posted the following image, article and note, a couple of days later.  

Paul George, stretchered off the court

No ankle or knee damage, and Paul George is expected to have a full recovery... good news! 

We can only imagine what was going through Paul George's mind

Injuries happen, sometimes they're horrific. But athletes are hardwired to play and compete, so who's to stop them?

ESPN SportsNation

I agree with SportsNation! Playing for your country is important motivation for pro athletes. 

There was the usual call, even demand, to get these highly-paid superstars off the courts, when the play is not official NBA games.  That's expected, as it's human nature to feel terribly traumatized about what happened to George and even worse to feel a terrible lack of control.  Fortunately, horrific injuries are rare, but under such emotionality, logic has difficulty keeping its root.  While there is simply no way to prevent freak injuries from ever happening, players and their teams can do a lot to ensure they are in the best possible position to withstand the rigors of the sport.  Aside from relatively minor injuries, aches and pains, then, competition goes on without physical damage.

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Friday, July 11, 2014

Is Decision II in the Offing for LeBron James?



LeBron James announced what came to be known as The Decision in this interview four years ago. The anointed King compounded the PR nightmare with this naive-at-best, arrogant-at-worst prediction, once arriving in South Beach:


LeBron's Not 2, Not 3... promise stopped at 2.  The Heat reached the NBA Finals every single time in the four years since The Decision, but were a mediocre 2-2 and it made him a Peyton-Manning-like 2-3 overall for the Finals.  As of right now, we do not know if The Big Three will remain intact, but regardless the Spurs doused their seeming invincibility with an authoritative beatdown. With Dwayne Wade in the twilight of his career, and Chris Bosh more of a mini-member of The Big Three, it's possible but unlikely they will win another championship.  I'm sure this point weighs on LeBron, as he remains in limbo on whether he's staying or going.

Is The Decision II in the offing?

According to Skip Bayless from ESPN First Take, LeBron gave no heads-up to Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert. So The Decision ended up being (what we clinical psychologists call) a narcissistic slight to Gilbert, and it prompted him to write an open letter dripping in narcissistic rage:
Dear Cleveland, All Of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Cavaliers Supporters Wherever You May Be Tonight;
As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier.
This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his "decision" unlike anything ever "witnessed" in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.
Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.
The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you.
There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you.
You simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.
You have given so much and deserve so much more.
In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight:
"I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER 'KING' WINS ONE"
You can take it to the bank.
If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our "motivation" to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels.
Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.
Sorry, but that's simply not how it works.
This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown "chosen one" sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And "who" we would want them to grow-up to become.
But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called "curse" on Cleveland, Ohio.
The self-declared former "King" will be taking the "curse" with him down south. And until he does "right" by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.
Just watch.
Sleep well, Cleveland.
Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day....
I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only:
DELIVERING YOU the championship you have long deserved and is long overdue....
Dan Gilbert
Majority Owner
Cleveland Cavaliers
Which, in light of an apparently real possibility that LeBron would return to the Cavaliers, prompted me to wonder on Google+:

Can Dan Gilbert really pull off The Undecision, and un-nasty The Nasty of 2010?

I hope that LeBron and Gilbert, and anyone else inclined to make stupid predictions or promises, have learned that it is super-tough to win a championship.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

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Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Rockets Dis Jeremy Lin and Asian Community


(image credit)

NBC Sports asked Do you feel the latest move by the +Houston Rockets was disrespectful to Jeremy Lin? and I commented: 

Yes, of course, the Rockets dissed Jeremy Lin! They disregarded him, they dismissed him, and they disavowed him. There is no question that Carmelo is the better player, and I'm sure Jeremy himself would agree. But the Rockets totally mishandled this: (a) Carmelo is more likely to stay with the Knicks (or maybe go with the Bulls) anyway, and (b) the Rockets also dissed the Asian community! 

You see, I even channeled my inner Stephen A. Smith with my alliteration.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

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Sunday, June 15, 2014

Spurs Way Too Hot for Heat


















































































Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

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Friday, April 18, 2014

(3) Steve Nash is not the only Issue


In the third episode of an exclusive Grantland series chronicling Steve Nash's trying season with the Lakers, he reveals his feelings about the media members and fans who are calling for his retirement, questioning his motives, and accusing him of being greedy.
The issue with Steve Nash is that he is not the only issue.  There is the team, and its future, to consider.  There is the chatter in the media, focusing on whatever it deems right to focus on, even if it misses the big picture and the complex issues inside its frames.  There is voice of the fans.

A heartfelt documentary like this isn't exactly new.  But what is new is its distribution online and the opportunity to watch it and comment on it, unlike years ago when it was all on TV and we couldn't speak to it.  These points, plus its very human drama, are what I really like about it.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

 Ron Villejo, PhD

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Wednesday, April 16, 2014

(2) Steve Nash Fights Father Time



In the second episode of 'The Finish Line,' an exclusive Grantland series chronicling Steve Nash's season, Nash battles his way back onto the court, celebrates his 40th birthday with a throwback performance against the 76ers, and faces the harsh reality that the Lakers may essentially end his career by exercising the stretch provision.
Father Time does indeed win all the time.  Like athletes, physical therapist Rick Celebrini is programmed to focus on what's possible and make it happen.  That there are no guarantees is absolutely right, certainly not as far as continued play is concerned.

So what is Nash to do or not to do?
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light. 
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night. 
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light. 
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night. 
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light. 
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Do not go gentle into that good night is the famous villanelle by Dylan Thomas.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

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Monday, April 14, 2014

(1) A Thing like Death for Steve Nash


The first episode in an exclusive Grantland series chronicling Steve Nash's return to the Lakers as the future Hall of Famer fights to save his NBA career and his 40th birthday looms [February 7th 1974].
 Retirement must be a thing like death for athletes, and approaching it akin to dying.  When Steve Nash speaks about feeling blocked, and slowed down, and troubled, he is speaking about a common and obvious reality.  Age blocks us, slows us down, and troubles us, if not now, then inevitably at some point in the future.


 Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

 Ron Villejo, PhD

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