DECISION MAKING

Last night I watched the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Orlando Magic in Game 5 of their best of seven Eastern Conference finals series.  Cleveland is now down 3-2 as they go back to Orlando.    LeBron James had an incredible 4th quarter-one of the best I have ever seen.

He had a hand in 32 straight points scored by his team!

Until Orlando began to foul at the end, there were only 3 possessions LBJ wasn’t involved in – and all three times the Cavaliers missed a shot.

LBJ finished with 37 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists.

I listened to the TNT guys after the game and Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley didn’t seem to think it was a good thing that Lebron took over the game.  New York Times article.

Still, James has been given a heavy weight in this series. “That’s a great, great player doing great, great things,” the T.N.T. analyst Kenny Smith said. “But to me, that’s discouraging that a guy has to do that much to will a team to win a basketball game.” His fellow analyst Reggie Miller agreed. “They are putting so much pressure on this kid to do so much and he needs some help,” he said.

Sorry guys, it was the right thing.

Everyone always says, “so and so needs to put their team on their back”.  LBJ did that and carried his team to victory.

James had 4 assists in the final quarter-finding the open man when the double team came.

A couple of years back in the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals;  Game 5 to be exact James scored 25 straight points against the Detroit Pistons-often times you hear how James needs to be more selfish that he passes the ball too much late in the game.  So here he is going to work, like everyone wants and he gets blasted for it.

To me, you as a fan need to make up your mind-what do you want him to do?  Great players, no make that superstars take over games!

-Coach Finamore

Hoops135@hotmail.com

PLAY THE RIGHT WAY!

BACKS AGAINST THE WALL

You hear it all the time.  When a team is down in a series, about to get eliminated like the Denver Nuggets (down 3-2) and the Cleveland Cavaliers (down 3-1) you hear all sorts of cliches.

‘Backs against the wall’ is one.

No one is giving the Cavaliers a chance.  Most think the Lakers are in the driver’s seat.  But don’t count out guys like Chauncey Billups and LeBron James.  Billups has won an NBA championship and James has taken a team to the Finals.

These two guys will not go down without a fight.  And when you come out playing hard and giving all you have, you have a chance.

Western Conference Finals Game 5 Notes:

Kudos to Jeff Van Gundy of ABC.  Listening to JVG is like being at a coaches clinic.  Except for Hubie Brown, I have never heard a color analyst explain things like Van Gundy.   Do you realize JVG started as a high school coach and three years later he was coaching in the NBA?  During his coaching career JVG was an assistant coach under four different coaches in New York.  He has also coached under Rick Pitino and Gordon Chiesa.

“Inexcusable that guys don’t sprint back on defense.”  This after a Nuggets player missed a fast break layup and was able to get his own rebound and laid it up.   No one on LA got back to rebound.  Always sprint back and never assume your teammate will make the shot.

After Kobe Bryant was fouled hard on a drive to the goal, he didn’t complain or go back at the guy charged with the foul.  Bryant stepped to the line and JVG talked about how important that was.

In a nutshell JVG is all about playing the right way, giving full effort and being a great teammate.  And he isn’t afraid to speak his mind and tell the truth.

-Coach Finamore

hoops135@hotmail.com

PLAY THE RIGHT WAY!

KEEP BATTLING

Manhattan College Men’s basketball has signed a player with only one hand.  New York Times has the story.

“He was too good of a player not to get a chance at a college scholarship,” said Fork Union Coach Fletcher Arritt, who has sent more than 150 players to Division I programs. “Kevin has adjusted to having one hand, whether it’s tying a shoe or doing a figure 8 in basketball.”

Game 4 Western Conference Notes:

The Denver Nuggets beat the Los Angeles Lakers last night 120-102 to even the series at two games apiece.  

“Great defensive teams communicate.” Said Mark Jackson, ABC analyst. 

Phil Jackson called the Nuggets onslaught of rebounding last night, “crash ball”.  Denver outrebounded LA 58-40 including 20 offensive boards.   I’m sure that has to drive Lakers assistant coach Kurt Rambis crazy.  Rambis was known as a solid rebounder during his playing days.  Rebounding is all about heart, urgency, hustle, toughness and courage! 

“The aggressive get the advantage”, said Jackson.

Chris Anderson of the Nuggets was the main contributer.  This guy was all over the place.  Anderson brings energy! He reminds me of Dennis Rodman.  Kenyon Martin had 15 rebounds, Anderson 14 and Nene 13.  

Another player-comparison: Nuggets perimeter player J. R. Smith reminds me of former NBA player John Starks.  Both players possess toughness, hustle, energy, courage and a fearless attitude when shooting the ball and attacking the rim.

The Nuggets turned the ball over only 6 times last night.

PLAY THE RIGHT WAY!

-Coach Finamore

hoops135@hotmail.com

FOUL SHOTS

I once heard a coach say that he didn’t think missing foul shots were all that important.  Ha!  Tell that to the Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic.  Last night Howard made 14 of 19 from the line to help the Magic win 99-89 and take a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Howard came in shooting at a 58% clip.

I love the new term “chase down”, coined after LeBron James of course for his unique ability to sprint back on defense and block shots from behind.

“No room for excuses.” said James after the loss.

“Man-up, take responsibility for who you are guarding.” James added.

The Cavs shot 5-26 from distance. They also committed 15 turnovers.

How about Hedo Turkoglu shooting 1-11 from the field?  But fear not the guy had 7 assists and 10 rebounds.  If you aren’t scoring, do other things!

Denver and Los Angeles:

“This is from all the windsprints you run in the summer.” said Kobe Bryant at the press conference following game 3.

The Lakers have come up with two big steals on defense while defending Denver’s sidelines out of bounds plays late in games (SLOBS).  A big reason is they put Lamar Odom who stands 6′10″ on the ball applying pressure.  When Lakers head coach Phil Jackson played for the New York Knicks, one of his main jobs was to pressure the in-bounds pass.  His long arms and active body created havoc for the inbounder.  Orlando Magic guard Rafer Alston said, ‘We used to do jumping-jacks when guarding the guy taking it out’.

Lakers center Andrew Bynum has been upset about his lack of playing time.  ABC analyst Jeff Van Gundy said, “Now is not the time to gripe.”

Mark Jackson, ABC’s other color analyst during the game on leadership; “Ya just don’t do it by running your mouth.  You show it on the court by getting it done.”

PLAY THE RIGHT WAY!

-Coach Finamore

Hoops135@hotmail.com

BIG SHOT, BIG VOICE, BIG RESULTS

Chauncey Billups is the reason the Denver Nuggets are in the Western Conference Finals.  John Branch of the New York Times on the point guard.

Unlike Iverson, he elevated the play of those around him. His maturity was contagious, demonstrated in everything from Anthony’s on-court effort to the team’s off-court makeover. Suits are the norm, not baggy pants and untucked shirts. Camaraderie, not individualism, is the cherished trait. Billups won the N.B.A.’s sportsmanship award this season. No more Thuggets.

“He’s perfect for our team,” said Doug Moe, the coach of the Nuggets during their 1980s run-and-shoot heyday and now a team consultant. “He has made our chemistry.”

PLAY THE RIGHT WAY

-Coach Finamore

Hoops135@hotmail.com

50-50 BALLS

Last night I heard Cleveland Cavaliers head coach use the term, “50-50 balls” when describing players coming up with loose balls.  I like that.  When the ball is on the floor or loose, it’s a 50-50 chance you have to get it.  Come up with the 50-50 balls!

Game 2 Eastern Conference Finals:

We all saw the big shot LeBron James hit last night at the buzzer wining the game 96-95 bringing the series to a deadlock at one game apiece.   Big time shot by a big time player.  The will he displayed to break free from his defender, catch and square up to the goal…big time!  Mo Williams made a great pass from the sideline and James’ cut to the ball was sharp. No wasted movement.

“An amazing player,” Cavs coach Mike Brown said. “To have the wherewithal to have that type of confidence in yourself, to know there’s one second on the clock and you’re ending this thing right now … not many people could do it. An amazing shot by an amazing player. That’s what great players do.”

“I wanted to put Akron on the map.” Said James in his documentary Dream Season; which by the way is a must see for all players, coaches and parents. I cried when he thanked his mother after accepting his MVP trophy.

Mo Williams moves great without the ball.  The guy sprints to spots and hustles his ass off to come around for dribble hand offs.

You have to love the Magic’s perseveance and will to never give up.  They found themselves down 23 last night but managed to come back and take the lead.

LeBron only attempted three shots in the last 6 minutes of the game-a big reason was Magic forward Mickael Pietrus’ defense.

PLAY THE RIGHT WAY!

-Coach Finamore

Hoops135@hotmail.com

HIT THE OPEN MAN

Is there anything in basketball that is more beautiful than watching a player with the ball give it up to hit the open man?

I laugh when people on the internet write about players getting “burnt out” from playing basketball all year around.  They say they play too many games, especially with Team USA in the summer Olympics.  All four Final four teams in the NBA playoffs have a player who played for Team USA last summer.

Nuggets-Carmelo Anthony

Cavaliers-Lebron James

Lakers-Kobe Bryant

Magic-Dwight Howard

And to top it off, all four guys are their respective teams best player.

Burn out? Not…

No such thing as burn out.  Losers cite burn out for their mishaps, winners play!  Losers make excuses, winners play!

Game 2 Western Conference Finals Notes:

Nuggets 106 Lakers 103 Series tied at 1 game apiece

Ego aside, sharing the ball, defending, buying into the team, hitting the open man…all words you heard last night by Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson from ESPN.

“Ya gotta play all out every possession.” -JVG

Sprinting back on defense, it’s important.  JVG was upset when guys were trotting.  He went after Nene for not getting back to help Carmelo after Kobe beat him off the dribble.

“Denver expends too much energy complaining.” said Van Gundy.

The Nuggets made their last 18 out of 19 free-throws!“

“There was just a demand that we had to win this game,” Karl said. “There was an inner spirit. We’re a much more smart, mentally tough team than you look at last year and what we are now. It’s a great win.”

Finally, Mark Jackson said he once heard former NBA player and coach John Lucas say, “Kobe is the most fundamentally sound player in the history of the game.”

-Coach Finamore

Hoops135@hotmail.com

PLAY THE RIGHT WAY!

START TO FINISH

When teams get out to big leads early in games, most people think it’s over.  But the problem is, there is always plenty of time to get back in the game.  You can’t give up!

The Orlando Magic got down 16 last night in the early going against Cleveland and managed to battle back to win 107-106 and take a 1-0 lead in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals.

Notebook:

An amazing stat tells us that the Cavaliers, in eight playoff games have not sat in their locker room, trailing! On cue, the Cavs led by 15 last night at the break.

How about LeBron James being out on the floor shooting three hours before game time!

“I watch a lot of film and there’s always room for improvement.” James told John Thompson in an interview before the game.

Interesting conversation between the TNT guys Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Reggie Miller on their All-Time starting 5 in the NBA.

Miller: Kareem, Hakeem, L Bird, Michael and Magic.

Charles: Wilt, Russell, Stockton, Michael and L Bird.

The Jet: Magic, Michael, L Bird, Timmy Duncan and Russell

Finamore: Magic, Michael, L Bird, Kareem and Russell.

This is a tough thing to do but hey, it makes for a lot of fun.  You can’t go wrong with all these guys but Charles, no Magic on your five?

On the ‘Who’s Better Lebron or Kobe’ debate – Jerry West, A.K.A. the Logo made some comments on who he thought was the better player.  Kobe responded, “I can get 35 a night, but I’m all about winning championships.”

At the start, the Q was rocking.  The music was loud and the lights were flashing.  My girl J-Hill twittered, “Since when did the Cavs play in a club?”  And she also added, “Did the Cavs hire Funk Master Flex?”

First play of the game saw LBJ throw a gorgeous pass to an open Anderson Varajao for an easy deuce.

How about Dwight Howard throwing down a dunk and almost tearing the building down!  That man is a beast.  While the players waited around one minute into the game Rafer Alston and LBJ chimed in.

“This is like summer league back in New York City.”  Alston said about the shot clocks being placed in each corner of the arena.

“We did this during AAU.” Said James on the clocks being on the floor.

I love how Cleveland utilizes the dribble HO’s.  (Hand-offs).

The Cavs jumped all over Orlando in the early going (28-14).

I hope people stop their talk about Dwight Howard being limited on offense.  The dude was clicking last night.  First he had the ‘Larry Johnson move going – drop step into the lefty hook. Then he caught the ball, faced up and drove left and finally he was shooting running hooks across the lane looking like Patrick Ewing.

On the fast break, LBJ is a locomotive.  During one stretch he blocked a shot, ran the floor and took a pass for a slam-dunk.  The next time down the court he caught a pass at the top of the key for a long 3-pt make.

Marv Albert from TNT said, “He’s impossible to stop.”  Albert’s sidekick Doug Collins added, “Don’t underestimate what he brings.”   Yo Dougie Fresh, who underestimates LBJ?

How about Cleveland running a set play out of time out for a gorgeous back-door cut resulting in a slam dunk for James?  Mo Williams took the ball to the left wing and dribbled at LBJ who was waiting in the corner;  the defender overplayed and LBJ cut backdoor on the baseline.

Who said NBA players can’t shoot?  Orlando shot 55% from the field, Cleveland 48%.  James was 20 for 30 including 3 for 6 from distance.

The Cavaliers only had 5 turnovers for the entire game!

Bench play was key – Orlando outscored Cleveland 25-5.

Hedo Turkoglu of Orlando recorded 14 assists including a couple of gorgeous alley-oops to Howard.

I liked how Cavalier guard Mo Williams held himself accountable for shooting 6 for 19. More players need to do that.

“I have no idea how to play James.” -Stan Van Gundy.

“Gotta play 48 minutes.”  Said Magic forward Rashard Lewis.

James isn’t surprised that he, Howard, Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony – all members of the U.S. Olympic team that won gold in China last summer- are all still in the playoffs. “We all worked really hard,” he said. “That experience was great for everyone.”

Finally from Van Gundy.  “Put the ball in the basket. We like to talk about all the other stuff, but ya gotta put the ball in the basket.”

PLAY THE RIGHT WAY!

Coach Finamore

hoops135@hotmail.com

COMPETITIVE WILL

Last night was the start of the NBA Western Conference Finals between Denver and Los Angeles.  It turned out to be a great game that went down to the wire (just like Kareem Abdul-Jabber, former center at Power Memorial predicted last night on Twitter).  The Lakers came out on top 105-103 to take a 1-0 lead in the best of seven.

Notebook:

ABC studio analyst John Barry did a solid job on breaking down how to pick up Nuggets sensational guard Chauncey Billups in transition.  We all know that Billups likes to pull up from three on the fast break and Barry showed everyone where your point of pick up on Billups should be.  Too many defenders get too deep, you need to pick Billups up above the line.  Good job JB.

Speaking of Billups, the crafty veteran made his first outside shot of the game last night getting the Nuggets off to a very good start.  I also enjoyed watching Lakers guard Kobe Bryant guarding Billups to start the game.

Mike Breen from ABC stated that the Billups-Derek Fisher match-up will be interesting.  What exactly does that mean?

Billups came into the game 66 for 69 from the free-throw during the play-offs.  So in the first quarter the former Detroit Piston stepped to the line and missed his first two.

The first seven minutes of the game saw all five Nugget starters score a bucket which helped them jump out to a 14-6 lead.  Sharing the ball is a golden rule of head coach George Karl.

At the conclusion of the first quarter Denver had a 31-23 lead.  Carmelo Anthony was unstoppable.  Melo scored 16 points on 7 of 8 from the field.  Doris Burke from ABC asked him before the game if his low scoring average during the season against LA would be a factor, “That don’t matter.” answered the former Brooklyn, New York resident.  Melo was shooting jumpers, taking it to the goal in the half-court sets and finishing with authority on the fast break.  

I loved the way the Nuggets executed the pick and roll.  It seemed like they got uncontested lay-up after uncontested lay-up.  Nene and Kenyon Martin set great screens and use the proper footwork rolling to the basket.  

“Good, smart, fast-tempo” said Karl.

The second quarter was a bit wild-up and down with a lot of guys settling for long jump shots.  Which reminds me, I wish announcers would stop talking about someone being in a poster on an attempted block of a slam dunk-they don’t sell posters anymore.  When was the last time you went into a store and saw sports posters for sale? I used to have a George Gervin and Michael Ray Richardson poster on my wall.  

At intermission LA went up 55-54.  LA shot 38% from the field and the Nuggets had missed 9 free-throws.  Anthony checked in with 20 points on 8 for 11 shooting.  (There’s your answer Mrs. Burke)

The third quarter saw more of the same up and down wild ball.  Turnovers were piling up but Melo was still going off.  Each team had turned it over 13 times each by the end of the quarter.  Melo had 30 points.  Denver was up 76-74.  Karl asked for a 20 point quarter on the defensive end and sure enough his team stepped up and held the Lakers to 19.

In-between quarters Lakers coach Phil Jackson was wired for sound, “Take a deep breath.”  he explained to his team in a very calming tone.  He had me practicing deep- breathing techniques during the commercials.

Chris Anderson of the Nuggets was all over the backboards once again.  That’s his thing-defend, rebound and play hard.  More players should watch him.  

Great to see both teams diving on the floor for loose balls, something you love to see in players.  

Once again a few questionable shot attempts on both ends.  Shot selection is so important.  Need to take good shots.

Anthony displayed great activity of moving without ball.  One sequence he hit the high post with a sharp pass and cut to the basket for s return pass resulting in a dunk.  Move without the ball!

To me, Anthony was the most determined player on the court all night.  I think he wants to be recognized right up there with the best and that’s how you do it, by playing hard at both ends.

The Nuggets had a 4 point lead with 3:15 to play and then things got interesting/fun/exciting/ and even wild…

The little things hurt Denver all night: Missed free-throws (12 for Denver), poor inbounds pass late in game, failure to block out (Lakers 17 offensive rebounds) and a bad foul by Kenyon Martin during a game that was deadlocked at 99.  The Lakers bench outscored Denver 27-16.  

Kobe made 6 straight free-throws in the last 30 seconds, he finished 12 for 13 from the line.

“You can’t analyze it.  There are no moral victories in the play-offs.” Said a dejected George Karl.

Bryant ended up with 40 points. “Once I sensed we didn’t have the energy, I had to take it upon myself to lead by example,” he said. “It’s just part of my responsibilities to this team.”

To conclude, whenever a team is up 3 with just seconds remaining and on defense, you always ask if the team should foul and send the opponent to the free-throw line? Or do you defend and not let them get off a three?  last night Phil Jackson elected to foul JR Smith up 3 with 5 seconds.  Smith made the first and missed the second intentionally.  Lakers rebounded, game over, arrive home safely.  The strategy of fouling worked.  

PLAY THE RIGHT WAY!

-Coach Finamore

Hoops135@hotmail.com

UNDER-APPRECIATED?

I came across this article in the New York Times on the Cleveland Cavaliers, who will face the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals beginning tomorrow night in Cleveland.  This piece contributes to the ‘talk’ of how basketball players lack fundamentals.  

For the Cavaliers, this has been a spectacular and oddly quiet postseason. They set a franchise record by sweeping the first two rounds and an N.B.A. record by winning all eight games by double digits. Their average margin of victory: 16.8 points.

Yet despite their dominance, or perhaps because of it, the Cavaliers have been almost an afterthought.

An afterthought? Not really.  I like the writer Howard Beck, I think he does a good job but to me, the Cavaliers play the right way.  There’s a reason why they have won all their playoff games.  

TNT and ESPN have attracted record audiences, no thanks to the ratings-busting Cavaliers, whose dominance borders on boring.

James may be the N.B.A.’s most riveting player, but his puppet likeness has enjoyed more air time in recent weeks than James has.

That’s a joke and a big reason why people criticize the lack of fundamentals in basketball players-The Cavaliers boring? Mr. Beck needs to step up and learn the game.  On one hand they want excitement, flash and slam dunks;but on the other they want player to be fundamentally sound.  James provides both; he plays above the rim and below the rim, not many players can do that.  He makes his teammates better and loves the game.  

The media and the fans used to say the same thing about the San Antonio Spurs and the Detroit Pistons-they said they were boring, played slow and had zero flash.  A perfect example is Chauncey Billups and Allen Iverson.  Iverson is the flashy/popular player  who sells a lot uniform tops and Billups is the more controled/unknown player to most.  But Billups now has the Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals and Iverson is waiting for a team to pick him up.  

When Team USA failed to win the Gold and had to settle for the Bronze medal a couple of years back there were complaints; too much one-on-one, too many slam dunks, all show, not enough team work.  Now you have players playing the right way and they say it’s boring.  Make up your mind!

PLAY THE RIGHT WAY!

-Coach Finamore

Hoops135@hotmail.com