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Friday, October 8, 2010

basketball1.

It’s only natural that after winning a title a team looks forward to defending the crown. So are the 2009 NBA champions L.A. Lakers the favorites for next season?

Of course plenty can happen until the beginning of the season. Trades, free agent signings and injuries will continually change the NBA landscape. But the Lakers’ chances of becoming the first NBA team to repeat their title since 2002 actually don’t appear too bad.

The roster is relatively young still. Derek Fisher may turn 35 in August and showed his age in this season (Playoffs 2009: 28.4 3pt%). But the point guard could take over more and more the Steve Kerr role as designated three-point shooter. And while Jordan Farmar took a step backward this season (from 9.1 points in 2007-08 to 6.4 points in 2008-09), the 22-year-old will likely improve in the summer and better understand the triangle offense. Then there is Kobe Bryant – who is the only other player on the other side of 30 on the roster back from last season. But he will undoubtedly keep his body in top form and will not just sit back relaxed. And now Ron Artest has come into the picture filling in for the departed Trevor Ariza, who turned into a defensive stopper with three-point potential. But Artest can more than fill that role. The question is how he and Kobe will get along.

That leaves problem child Lamar Odom. The free agent has said he wants to stay with the Lakers. Odom playing more of a power forward position will take away some of the ball-handling responsibilities from Fisher and Farmer. And Odom’s versatility is enormously important for L.A.’s system. But now that Ariza is gone and Artest accepted less money than he could have received elsewhere, Lakers owner Jerry Buss has some room to reach into his pockets even though any additional salary he takes on will count against the luxury tax since the Lakers are over the salary cap.

All in all, the Lakers should have the same rotation – with Artest in for Ariza – and have to go into the season as at least the favorite in the Western Conference. And the team will only get better with the added experience they have gained from the 2009 championship run. In addition, head coach Phil Jackson is an expert when it comes to motivating championship teams.

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Mitchell: The old-school style of the NBA’s 2007 Coach of the Year was not really loved by his players. On top of this, Mitchell has never been GM Bryan Colangelo’s favorite candidate for coach. Colangelo wants the Raptors to play faster basketball and thinks his team is one of the best in the East. Maybe his expectations are a little too high. On the other hand, this might just be the next step in bringing in the first NBA head coach not to go through the US coaching school: Ettore Messina. Rumor has it that Ettore could be the next coach for the Raptors, if Jay Triano doesn’t make it happen in Toronto. Messina has won the Euroleague championship four times since 1997 (twice with Virtus Kinder Bologna, twice with current club CSKA Moscow) and might be the most successful coach in Europe. His contract with CSKA Moscow will be finished at the end of this season. On top of this, Raptors Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations Maurizio Gherardini is a good friend of Messina’s since back when they both worked for Benetton Treviso.

Wittman: Bobby Knight was Wittman’s teacher, which may have been the reason he was a little hard on his team. Bad idea, since he had no success stories that might have given him some respect. Result: The team was not listening at all and gave up way too quickly. Kevin McHale took over while giving up his general manager duties. If he manages to get the team back on track, well done. If not, we can add him to this list at the end of the season.

Cheeks: With a aggressive fast-break style, the 76ers surprised the league and even made a name for themselves against Detroit during that playoff series. Elton Brand was supposed to be take the next step to the top of the East but, not looking nearly as agile as before his one-year break due to injury, slows the team down: Easy baskets are not coming for that reason. One more problem: The outside shooters are missing for Philly, which would help out with the double team defense on Elton Brand. Philadelphia is currently 29th in three-point scoring, 28th in three-point percentage.

Theus: Right after his first season in the NBA, some questioned Theus’ ability to coach an NBA team, since they didn’t like the way he was leading. Somehow this must also have reflected on the team in Sacramento, who wasn’t giving 100% each game with Theus as a head coach. Another problem: Shooting guard Kevin Martin barely played because of an ankle injury.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

The plays of a champ: Dribble-Drive-Motion

The Dribble-Drive-Motion (DDM) was invented by college coach Vance Wahlberg and is an offensive play used mostly at the high school and college levels. Even the Boston Celtics added this method to their playbook last season and run it about 30% of their offensive plays.
Instead of passing the ball to the wing, in DDM the point guard drives hard to the basket at the beginning of the play. Rajon Rondo is the perfect guy for this type of play, although Paul Pierce sometimes takes the role. When Rondo brings the ball, there are only a few players that can prevent Rondo getting at least one foot into the zone, thereby drawing more than one defender. With sharp shooters Ray Allen and Eddie House available, the Celtics can create open shots for those guys when calling DDM. If Rondo chooses to pass the ball to his wings Allen or Paul Pierce, either can penetrate again to get an open shot or drive against defenders. If an open shot still remains unavailable, the ball goes right to the center or another wing, which will lead to an easy basket. You can already see why the Celtics are so successful: They play as a team on which anybody could be taking the open shot.
This set play starts with Rondo and Pierce as guards, while Allen finds his spot in the other corner at the three-point line with no low post on that side. Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins find their spots on the block on the opposite side and in the corner.
This setup gives Rondo lots of space to drive to the basket and draw the defensive help. With the DDM’s wide setup, however, the helper must go a long way which makes it easy for Rondo to drive or kick the ball out to an open shooter.
Boston’s modification of the DDM, the high pick-and-roll, opens up even more options for the Celtics to score easy baskets. To prevent Rondo’s drive, the defender can either step out or switch, which gives Pierce a chance at a mismatch.
This play seems to work very easily – and it actually does, although some call the DDM a mocked-up streetball play that runs disorganized. The Celtics prove them wrong every night they play, simply because this team understands what to do in every situation and truly knows that spacing is the most important thing for the play to work.Buy and sell your basketball tickets through yourticketmarket.com. this is one of the mose reliable and secure side for buying and selling of online tickets.Buy nba baskerball tickets through yourticketmarket.com..This is one of the best side for buying and selling of online ticket.Visit this side you will find many event tickets like sports,thretre,concert and much more.nba basketball tickets through this secure site.nba basketball tickets are cheap on this site.so buy these cheap nba basketball tickets through this site.

Dirk Nowitzki talked to us (Part I)

The championship still motivates me. We were so close in 2006 in the Finals against Miami … It’s so much fun playing in the playoffs … playing right until the end … on the big stage … it still hurts that we lost back then. That was indescribable. That was the hardest loss I have ever suffered. I still think about it. And some time I want to get that bad taste out of my mouth. There are awesome players who have never won a ring. And people say: “He was great, but he never led his team to a title.” I don’t want people to say that about me.

It’s no secret that not every NBA player prepares so hard in the summer. How do you deal with it when a teammate does not invest as much time and sweat as you during the summer for the common goal?

I know I’m not in an individual sport. If I were in track and field maybe I would have won something big by now. But I am not. I decided for a team sport and I always had more fun in a team. I tried the other way with tennis. That’s what makes it a challenge, playing away from your weaknesses or attacking those of your opponents. That’s what makes a team sport attractive. Finding a way to win despite your own weaknesses is important. But, sure it’s bitter sometimes when a teammate doesn’t invest the necessary time. The best example was Shawn Bradley. He would some times come to training camp and not had a ball in his hands for four months. But what can you do? There is no rule. Everyone needs to figure out for themselves how to stay fit.

Well, we wanted a playmaker who had been around and already seen everything. I also hoped that Coach (Avery Johnson) would let him play his way, that we would play quicker and have more fun. But just the opposite happened. Avery pushed his style on Jason. It was tough throwing a guy like him into a system which he didn’t really like. How could Jason play his best in that system against the good teams from the West? It’s kind of funny though that Jason held his own defensively. He still has incredibly quick hands.

Good question. I hoped that new players would have brought a new wind into the team. After the loss I said Mark Cuban had the right to get rid of everybody and start all over again. That was construed that I wanted to leave the Mavericks. I was misunderstood. But now we are playing with the same team but just a different coach.

But the race for the playoffs will certainly not be easy this season. And last year you didn’t book your playoff ticket until the last minute …

The West is really tough. But that makes it exciting, that you have to go all out every night to win. Still, just reaching the playoffs cannot be our goal.

Not even reaching the playoffs? I am too old for that now. And Mark Cuban and General Manager Donnie Nelson know that. I cannot imagine us making any moves which would cost us a spot in the playoffs. We still have a playoff-caliber team. And even if things absolutely do not work out with Kidd, I cannot imagine that we would drastically make the team younger as long as I’m in Dallas.

Of course it would be more exciting to do it in Dallas and being the franchise player. The best thing would be me carrying the team to the title. But the other teams have gotten so strong, also through some unfair trades – Pau Gasol to Los Angeles and Kevin Garnett to Boston. Maybe I will see if it helps changing teams in like three years. Maybe it won’t be fun any more or I can’t keep up with the athleticism anymore. Maybe I will play in Europe again. I can imagine all of that. What Karl Malone did back then – heading to L.A. after all those years in Utah – yeah it was a little questionable. But when you want the championship so bad, then you can’t rule out a move like that.

No. I still believe to this day that we had everything we needed to win the title in 2006. Dwayne Wade just played out of his mind, hit threes and got every whistle. I still think we were the better team.

Well, if it didn’t work for me in the end … I saw an interesting interview with Charles Barkely. He was talking about his career and said he can’t blame himself because he always gave 100 percent. That’s how I see it. I have given my all for the last 10 years in Dallas. And if that’s not enough, I can’t do anything else. Then at 35, 36 – however long I can go – I can retire and say: “In the summer and winter I gave everything I had for my team.” Unfortunately not everybody can win. But I hope that I can still fulfill my dream in the future.

Basketball is still fun for me. I would rather be in the gym than anywhere else. That’s why I can’t set an age limit. If at the end of my contract I see that I’m not having fun, then I will retire. I am in a very good situation that I don’t have to worry about money and have to play until I’m 38 because I don’t have a financial cushion. If basketball ever becomes work – if I say: “I don’t want to practice or play games any more” – then I will quit. I don’t want to wake up one day, drink my coffee and say: “Okay, I’m going to work.” And one day I will have a family. But that is a full-time job. I see that with my sister, who has two kids now. You have to be there every day. And I will not be the kind of dad who says: “Mom, take care of it, I’m leaving.” I want to be involved and be there for the kids. But that’s the plan for the next stage of life. I don’t want to just go to the beach or play golf.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Blazers’ Wonderful New World

This was the worst team in the league (21-61) and had an even worse reputation. The nickname “Jailblazers” says everything. The Rose Garden was like a graveyard. The only time it got loud was when the few fans who did show up wanted to unleash some frustration. Even the local daily Oregonian seemed at war with the club, practically refusing to write anything positive. From Motown to P’Town. From basketball heaven to basketball hell.

Thanks a lot.

But oh how times have changed! Detroit are desperately trying with their over-the-hill stars to keep up with the best in the league while the young, ambitious Portland Trail Blazers are the “it” team in the league, everyone’s favorite. It’s like a start-up company flourishing despite the recession.

The Rose Garden has been sold out for the past 50 games and resembles a madhouse. It’s hard to imagine what the noise level will be like in the playoffs. Hours before every game, there’s a sense of excitement, suspense and anticipation in the air.

Going to a Blazers game is for the cool people, no longer just for losers or dreamers. And whether it’s at the bar, at work or in the street car – called MAX here – all the talk is about the latest from Brandon, Rudy, LaMarcus and company. Once again, it’s hip and fashionable to be a Trail Blazer. Blazermania is back!

The new era can also be seen by the media interest. Before this season, the press stands used to be filled with only local reporters and journalists from the guest teams. But now the stars of the field are taking the honor of watching the Blazers. Gracing the Rose Garden this season have been the likes of Ric Bucher from ESPN The Magazine; stats pope John Hollinger of ESPN.com and diverse scribes from Sports Illustrated. Many have been there numerous times and wrote declarations of love about the Blazers in their big national publications. Even the Oregonian is again the team’s best buddy, regularly publishing extra pages reporting, in depth about the all-of-a-sudden great group. Success makes you sexy, I guess.

But the most spectacular part of the new era is the players, who have remained modest, approachable and friendly despite the upturn. The sea of cameras and audio recorders has not however gone lost on those being questioned. Still, the Blazers locker room is probably the most relaxed in the league. Whoever wants to ask two-time All-Star Brandon Roy a few questions can do so without nasty looks. B-Roy was polite and considerate when he arrived in the NBA three years ago and he still remains that way. The same thing goes for his teammates. There is no bad apple on the team. Portland is a team which you can reach out and touch, a team you just have to like. One hopes the humility, freshness and youthful carelessness will remain when the club returns to the elite.

There can be no doubts that Portland will soon be way up near the top the league. The NBA’s second youngest team is already all but secured of a playoffs spot while still developing game by game (instead of just shooting from outside, they are even driving to the basket …). The potential is immense. Greg Oden is currently only playing at about 50 or 60 percent of his ability. Roy and Aldridge, the other two pillars of the Big Three, also are not yet finished products. Rockin’ Rudy Fernandez is a rookie just like the recently-improving Jerryd Bayless. Travis Outlaw is only 24 years old and is still working on the subtleties of the game. Martell Webster will be back soon. And, and, and. As previously noted, the potential is nasty. If someone asks me about the Trail Blazers’ future, I tell them: “In three or four years they’ll be on Broadway!” That means the championship parade can already be planned. Basketball hell? Not even close! I am back in basketball heaven.

Blazers’ Wonderful New World..

When I moved from Detroit to Portland in Fall 2006 it seemed like a worst case scenario basketball-wise. Detroit was pure hoops heaven. The Pistons had the best record in the league (64-18) and should have won the title under normal circumstances. But the piston-powered engine stuttered in the Eastern Conference finals against Miami. The games in the Palace of Auburn Hills were always a highlight. The place was breath-taking, deafening and my favorite arena.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Plenty of rookie struggles and little help.

Durant’s rookie season was in fact less than flattering. His 20.3 points per game were nice. But he shot just 43 percent from the field and just 28.8 percent from three-point range. The rookie took 17.1 shots per game, 2.6 of those from beyond the arc. He was a scorer but needed a lot of shots to get those points for a bad team. And there were plenty of those types of players in the league. Kevin Durant and the NBA were far from a tale of love at first sight. And there were reasons for that. But most experts, fans and media deliberately ignored them.

One reason enough was just the sight of Kevin Durant. It was clear that besides with his height he will not dominate anyone. To be successful, Durant needed to rely on his game intelligence, talent and skills. Many other members of Durant’s draft class could take over games with their strength or athleticism alone. Others were tough to defend with an explosiveness and leaping ability that provided plenty of easy baskets in the lane. And still other rookies had brute force and quick dynamic moves in the paint – making them nearly immovable forces in the block.

Kevin Durant, however, is a different type of player. His game relies on his shot. And that is based on timing, rhythm and confidence. A shooter is always at his best when his game is in a rhythm – and when he understands what’s going on around him and whether or not he will shoot before even getting the ball. Kevin Durant did not know much of this during his first year as an NBA professional. “I had to get used to the league first. Every young player who comes into the NBA has the same problem,” recalls Durant. “You ask yourself: ‘When should I shoot? Where are my spots and when do I start making my moves?’ That was the toughest part for me as a rookie.”

The games flashed by then 19-year-old. He regularly struggled with the physical style of the league, which wreaked havoc with his timing. It also stopped him from getting the ball where he wanted it on the court.

Another difficult aspect for Durant was a lack of a real mentor for him in Seattle. All-Stars Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis had just left the Sonics in the summer after having combined to score 48.8 points in 2006-07. And Durant would be responsible for filling much of that huge void. A good pass or drive, however, didn’t help too much if it came at the wrong time. So Durant was forced to score if the Sonics wanted to win even the occasional game. And it was scary how often he would regularly take very poor shots. But who else was going to do it in Seattle?