Dare I say it but Phil Jackson is the greatest coach of all time. To get political I’ll say why. John Wooden’s legacy remains in tact and is well deserved but the playing field wasn’t even yet. In the 90’s I believe racial equality was more present during Phil’s run coaching the Chicago Bulls. Don’t misunderstand me The Celtics, Lakers, and Bruins were awesome but those teams were still cracking racial barriers. In the 90’s African American men really started believing in the American dream. Society was changing. We were now on as many magazine covers as everyone else and Phil Jackson coached a man named Michael Jordan to be the greatest of all-time. It’s not just the records or rings but it’s the stature of your legacy. I honestly believe that as the Michael Jordan statue stands in front of the United Center there should also be one of Phil Jackson close by admiring his work. For how great Michael is, he knows he couldn’t have achieved half of his success without Phil Jackson. So for the greatest player of all time I credit the Greatest Coach of all time…Phil Jackson.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Lakers get Odom back!...So what?
Hip Hip Hooray! The Lakers have managed to keep a valuable player in Lamar Odom. He's highly capable of keeping the title in Hollywood but the Lakers may have not made enough moves to combat the new faces in familiar places. In the West the Texas road trip can make or break your season. Dallas and San Antonio have made the effort to aquire players that may end hopes of the Lakers repeating.
Dallas has kept floor Veteran Jason Kidd in the fold and also have added Shawn Marion, Drew Gooden and Tim Thomas who I feel is highly underrated in the NBA. Mark Cuban has been busy getting new talent but San Antonio may have made the moves to get them to Raise another Banner in the Allamo.
The big fundamentals has been teamed up with the best wing man that he has ever played with. Richard Jefferson is a flat out stud and compliments Tim Duncan's game so well it's gonna be scary. RJ is dangerous because he can kill you in ways you don't expect becasue he doesn't carry the air of arrogance that someone of his skill set usually has. His abilty to score without the ball is second to none. He knows how to find angles that catches his defenders in vulnerable positons. He's definitley the steal of the off season and with a healthy core returning San Antonio is already thinking about parade plans. Oh and did I mention they also have obtained Antonio Mcdyess and Theo Ratliff? I personally think the Spurs are the team to beat for 2010.
Now back to our World Champion Los Angeles Lakers. It actually doesn't matter what other teams do because they are the champs and you don't win rings in Fantasy Leagues. Phil Jackson is a genius and Lamar Odom made the right desision to stay. The Lakers have a few tricks up their sleeves and Artest isn't the name I'm going to mention. Dare I say that Adam Morrison is the Lakers real secret weapon. He looked to be in rare form during the Summer league this summer and if he can turn the clock back on his game Lamar Odom and Ron Artest can be sharing lengthy highschool stories on the bench.(After creating a huge lead that is!)
Dallas has kept floor Veteran Jason Kidd in the fold and also have added Shawn Marion, Drew Gooden and Tim Thomas who I feel is highly underrated in the NBA. Mark Cuban has been busy getting new talent but San Antonio may have made the moves to get them to Raise another Banner in the Allamo.
The big fundamentals has been teamed up with the best wing man that he has ever played with. Richard Jefferson is a flat out stud and compliments Tim Duncan's game so well it's gonna be scary. RJ is dangerous because he can kill you in ways you don't expect becasue he doesn't carry the air of arrogance that someone of his skill set usually has. His abilty to score without the ball is second to none. He knows how to find angles that catches his defenders in vulnerable positons. He's definitley the steal of the off season and with a healthy core returning San Antonio is already thinking about parade plans. Oh and did I mention they also have obtained Antonio Mcdyess and Theo Ratliff? I personally think the Spurs are the team to beat for 2010.
Now back to our World Champion Los Angeles Lakers. It actually doesn't matter what other teams do because they are the champs and you don't win rings in Fantasy Leagues. Phil Jackson is a genius and Lamar Odom made the right desision to stay. The Lakers have a few tricks up their sleeves and Artest isn't the name I'm going to mention. Dare I say that Adam Morrison is the Lakers real secret weapon. He looked to be in rare form during the Summer league this summer and if he can turn the clock back on his game Lamar Odom and Ron Artest can be sharing lengthy highschool stories on the bench.(After creating a huge lead that is!)
Saturday, July 25, 2009
The Birthday Blog
Wow I'm 34 today. God has been good to me and I'm grateful for the strength he has blessed me with to deal with the stressors of the world. As we all only get to live once I wouldn't change a thing because I've seen the results and what is, was meant to be. My spirits are not high and they are not low. I'm right in the pocket and that's how I like it. I thank my parents for giving me the tools to succeed indirectly. I'm a handful but I'm God's product and whatever they couldn't show me, he did. The outside world can be cruel and unforgiving so I kinda learned to live in my own space despite what others think of me. I'm gonna strive to keep being the best I can no matter what. I've experienced far too much to not embrace my destiny.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
New Wave Coaches for New Wave Players.
There is a not so new problem the NBA currently faces. Just about every person in the league thinks they're on the verge of being the next best thing. Yes you do have your select few who have been humbled to the competition but you've also got alot of one hit wonders trying to get major pay days. You really have to be careful as a coach to designate roles to players who have their own agenda.
I'd like to comment about Phil Jackson's incredible major accomplishment. He's developed a system. No it's not him who invented it but he's used it to get players to rely on what he's saying rather than there individual selves. Alot of Franchises are being put in the hands of coaches who feel inferior to the players and rely on their superstars to get them out of tight jams which leads to a lack of success and ultimately getting them fired. So far Phil is the only coach who has survived the kids ruling the school trend. Phil is the ultimate ego checker and there are alot of coaches wishing for the same success.
In New York we have a highly ranked coach in Mike D'Antoni who has his own system. Not as fine tuned as Phil Jackson's but he's had success with it. The only problem is he's on a team of wannabes and mightbes. He's only had one season to evaluate the talent and is already facing one of the major crossroads in the team's history. He's inherited a team of underachievers who all think think they warrant huge contracts. Despite how good they may be he can only judge them from one season's body of work and 32 wins shouldn't get anyone the keys to the castle.
In the NBA you got alot of players who think they are the reason or believe they will be the reason for the teams success and want to get paid accordingly. I'm not going to mention any names but this is the problem, from the worst team in the league to the first. Players don't want to get judged based on team success but on individual success and new wave coaches are not standing for it.
If you think you're all that, a new wave coach is gonna show you the door. Do you want to know why? Because they think they're all that! It's about the system. The parts are interchangeable. Once you think you you're bigger than the hole you're screwed into you've gotta be replaced with one that's happy to be there. There are alot of big screws looking for holes right now. I just hope a few of them realize that the NBA itself is a system and no one is bigger than that. Don't let self worth get in the way of real worth. Phil Jackson has experieced the success of real worth over ten times and still yearns for more. He's setting the example for the new wave coaches and even the baddest of bad boys have humbled themselves. Don't go chasing waterfalls.
I'd like to comment about Phil Jackson's incredible major accomplishment. He's developed a system. No it's not him who invented it but he's used it to get players to rely on what he's saying rather than there individual selves. Alot of Franchises are being put in the hands of coaches who feel inferior to the players and rely on their superstars to get them out of tight jams which leads to a lack of success and ultimately getting them fired. So far Phil is the only coach who has survived the kids ruling the school trend. Phil is the ultimate ego checker and there are alot of coaches wishing for the same success.
In New York we have a highly ranked coach in Mike D'Antoni who has his own system. Not as fine tuned as Phil Jackson's but he's had success with it. The only problem is he's on a team of wannabes and mightbes. He's only had one season to evaluate the talent and is already facing one of the major crossroads in the team's history. He's inherited a team of underachievers who all think think they warrant huge contracts. Despite how good they may be he can only judge them from one season's body of work and 32 wins shouldn't get anyone the keys to the castle.
In the NBA you got alot of players who think they are the reason or believe they will be the reason for the teams success and want to get paid accordingly. I'm not going to mention any names but this is the problem, from the worst team in the league to the first. Players don't want to get judged based on team success but on individual success and new wave coaches are not standing for it.
If you think you're all that, a new wave coach is gonna show you the door. Do you want to know why? Because they think they're all that! It's about the system. The parts are interchangeable. Once you think you you're bigger than the hole you're screwed into you've gotta be replaced with one that's happy to be there. There are alot of big screws looking for holes right now. I just hope a few of them realize that the NBA itself is a system and no one is bigger than that. Don't let self worth get in the way of real worth. Phil Jackson has experieced the success of real worth over ten times and still yearns for more. He's setting the example for the new wave coaches and even the baddest of bad boys have humbled themselves. Don't go chasing waterfalls.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Is it 2009 or 1989?
There is something really funky going down this off season. This league is turning to a parody of itself due to a saturating market. What's so cool is that you're noticing alot of big names being spread out through smaller markets. I know the salary cap is lower for the NBA but it's forcing good players to go to places they normally wouldn't.
I think the lower cap makes the league stronger like it was in the 80's where people had to work harder to earn the big money, wich means we as basketball fans will ultimately see a better product. It's groovey baby! I live in a major market city but really don't like seeing us sit idle and praying for Lebron. The cap hurts our chances to bring him here but it also encourages to look for other options sooner than later.
I miss the days of knowing no matter who your team was playing it was going to be an intersting night because everybody had a star and they played as if there lives depended on it. There werent as many side deals to make like there are today. Rising stars like Hedo Turkoglu and Trevor Ariza opt to go to rebuilding franchises while Shaq and Iverson motion to franchises that can use there star power. I think this will be a season where one or two calculated risks can land an unexpected team to make a title run. In 2009, I think we're all gonna go along for a ride on a fantastic voyage.
I think the lower cap makes the league stronger like it was in the 80's where people had to work harder to earn the big money, wich means we as basketball fans will ultimately see a better product. It's groovey baby! I live in a major market city but really don't like seeing us sit idle and praying for Lebron. The cap hurts our chances to bring him here but it also encourages to look for other options sooner than later.
I miss the days of knowing no matter who your team was playing it was going to be an intersting night because everybody had a star and they played as if there lives depended on it. There werent as many side deals to make like there are today. Rising stars like Hedo Turkoglu and Trevor Ariza opt to go to rebuilding franchises while Shaq and Iverson motion to franchises that can use there star power. I think this will be a season where one or two calculated risks can land an unexpected team to make a title run. In 2009, I think we're all gonna go along for a ride on a fantastic voyage.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Artest Vs. Ariza
It's time for the Artest and Ariza debate. Artest is a seasoned veteran who is starving for a ring while Ariza is a seasoned pro who is young and already knows what it takes to get one. Despite Artest's resume he still has alot to prove to duplicate Ariza's performance last year in bringing LA another championship. Ariza displayed the heart of a lion and I think his talent can no longer be caged in the Triangle offense. In Houston Ariza will be able to play with the rage of a boxer who is losing in the final round. Artest on the other hand is already a Lion but I think this lion is losing it's roar as seasons go by. I think he's now ready to sacrifice wich may make him an ultimate weapon instead of a loose cannon.
These are two players going in two different directions and one day in the near future they will look at each other in the eye and notice something very familiar...Fire! In the imitation of life I can only relate their paths to the movie "Benjamin Button". Ariza is going to emerge as everything Ron Artest once was hopefully with less drama while Artest is gonna be content conforming to a system he can trust because he's seen it's track record.
Truth is you can't lose with either player and I feel both chose the right path. Artest is finally at a place where he knows he can follow someone elses lead that he respects and Ariza has learned from that same leader enough to where he's ready to leave the nest and lead his own flock. There is no wrong to either's decision and I think the ultimate winner is fans like us who love this game.
CShoops
These are two players going in two different directions and one day in the near future they will look at each other in the eye and notice something very familiar...Fire! In the imitation of life I can only relate their paths to the movie "Benjamin Button". Ariza is going to emerge as everything Ron Artest once was hopefully with less drama while Artest is gonna be content conforming to a system he can trust because he's seen it's track record.
Truth is you can't lose with either player and I feel both chose the right path. Artest is finally at a place where he knows he can follow someone elses lead that he respects and Ariza has learned from that same leader enough to where he's ready to leave the nest and lead his own flock. There is no wrong to either's decision and I think the ultimate winner is fans like us who love this game.
CShoops
Free Agents...Not really.
Alot of major moves are gonna go down today. Old faces in new places and the rich keeps getting richer. The champion Lakers get the NBA's biggest pest in Ron Artest and the Eastern Conference champs get Vince Carter. With that said The Boston Celtics welcomes back the NBA's most versatile player Kevn Garnett from a season ending injury with a new ally...Rasheed Wallace! The Three Amigos are now the Four Horsemen and Rondo. What about last year's MVP? He only gets Shaq...who's that? Anyone remember a guy named Tim Duncan? Yeah that one. He just got one of the most underrated players in the league in Richard Jefferson.
Sneaky deals flying under the radar that I like are Jamal Crawford to the Hawks. He's so underated it's a crime. He only drops 50 on All-Stars more often then most All-Stars. Gortat and Marion to Mavericks is not shabby either. Giving Jason Kidd more targets was a great move by Mark Cuban no matter what the cost.
My take on Trevor Ariza deserves it's own section. I think he made the right move to move out of the shadows of Kobe Bryant. I think trevor can be a star in this league. He wasn't just another piece on that Lakers Championship team. I think that it's a credit to him to strive to be better. The system the Lakers run is flawless but his individual ability will never be creditted under it.
That's just a taste of my thoughts today. More to come
CShoops
Sneaky deals flying under the radar that I like are Jamal Crawford to the Hawks. He's so underated it's a crime. He only drops 50 on All-Stars more often then most All-Stars. Gortat and Marion to Mavericks is not shabby either. Giving Jason Kidd more targets was a great move by Mark Cuban no matter what the cost.
My take on Trevor Ariza deserves it's own section. I think he made the right move to move out of the shadows of Kobe Bryant. I think trevor can be a star in this league. He wasn't just another piece on that Lakers Championship team. I think that it's a credit to him to strive to be better. The system the Lakers run is flawless but his individual ability will never be creditted under it.
That's just a taste of my thoughts today. More to come
CShoops
Monday, July 6, 2009
My take on Grant Hill Joining the Knicks.
The Knicks could use a Veteran in the locker room. As a wing player Grant Hill could help Wilson Chandler because he's used the same playing style. Also I could see him move into a player developemnt role with Allen Houston his former teemmate. I think it's a smart move for Hill and the Knicks and bringing positive moral to a orgnization desperate for it.
To Lee or not to Lee?
Will the Knicks get something out of this David Lee instance? Fact is no one expected Lee to make himself this valuable and not at such a critical time in Knicks history. This will be the move that will be talked about for the next 20 years. Wow David Lee, You're the ultimate example of what hard work can result to in the worst of situations. Good Luck!
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