Hoop for Life

USA Basketball 2012 Olympic Finalists

noreply@blogger.com (D. Shu) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:41:00 +0000

NBA basketball is alive and well. With the 2012 Olympics around the corner, the finalists for the roster were announced today.

"This will be the most talented of the three teams that I've had the opportunity to coach," coach Mike Krzyzewski said Monday during a conference call.

Coach K was right on the money. I took a look at the list to rank them and was excited about the talent to choose from however, it's going to be extremely difficult to select 12 out of these 20 players to send to London, England.

Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge have been added to the mix. How do you rank the 20? Submit here.

Here are my picks along with the line ups.

1.Kobe Bryant

2.Dwyane Wade

3.Derrick Rose

4.Kevin Durant

5.LeBron James

6.Chris Paul

7.Blake Griffin

8.Carmelo Anthony

9.Tyson Chandler

10.Dwight Howard

11.Kevin Love

12.Chris Bosh

13.LaMarcus Aldridge

14.Russell Westbrook

15.Andrew Iguodala

16.Deron Williams

17.Chauncey Billups

18.Eric Gordon

19.Lamar Odom

20.Rudy Gay

Depth Chart
PG: DRose, CP3
SG: Kobe, DWade
SF: Durant, Melo, LeBron
PF: LeBron, Griffin, Bosh
C: Howard, Chandler, KLove

Oh no....There's a Man Down

noreply@blogger.com (D. Shu) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 08:24:00 +0000

The famous words of Pat Summerall on Madden '96.

Early Offense
Speaking of man down, all eyes are on Kobe Bryant at the end of 2011 because of the following:

1. No more Vanessa
2. No Pre-Nup
3. No Phil Jackson

Adding insult to injury (no pun intended), #24 is listed as day to day with a torn ligament on his right wrist. Kobe has played on Christmas Day for the last 13 seasons so he'll be fine. #toughness

Bad Shot
Is Monta Ellis following the footsteps of Brett Favre? We're not talking about retiring and coming back, then retiring again either. Ellis and the Warriors caught a cold case, while the chick he was "sexting" was not even that hot. #notagoodlook #worththedataplan?

20 Second Time Out
Brook Lopez broke his foot in a preseason game. Get well soon #Stanford #noDwightHoward in #NewJersey

Offensive Foul
Via ESPN
Don't Hate The Playa!

According to a survey conducted by Nielsen and E-Poll Market Research that appeared on Forbes.com, the 10 most-disliked NBA players:

1. Kris Humphries	Nets
2. LeBron James	Heat
3. Kobe Bryant	Lakers
4. Tony Parker	Spurs
5. Metta World Peace	Lakers
6. Chris Bosh	Heat
7. Carmelo Anthony	Knicks
8. Paul Pierce	Celtics
9. Dwyane Wade	Heat
10. Lamar Odom	Mavericks

Box Out
On a good "downer" note: Charles Barkley is a spokesperson for Jenny Craig. We'll see how that works out. Remember when CB34 was in shape?
#Beast

Reality TV #OpenCourt

noreply@blogger.com (D. Shu) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 06:17:00 +0000

If you're a cable junkie like rest of America's 99%, one of the best shows to watch is Open Court on NBATV. It's a 6 part series which features stories, commentary, and opinions from the "NBA on TNT" crew. The show is hosted by Ernie Johnson and the panel consists of Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Reggie Miller, Steve Kerr, Steve Smith, Chris Webber, and Shaquille O'Neal.

#OpenCourt is insightful, hilarious, and definitely a hit! Check out the trailer for a little taste of All Access.

Players discussing their "Last Meal."

Transition Basket

CP3 aka "Carlton" from the Fresh Prince of Bel Air gives the LA Clippers a good look and a great chance to be contenders. #playoffs

Chauncey Billups needs to stay healthy throughout the season. Expect another year of big time dunks from "Earthquake" Blake Griffin aka "O'Doyle Rules" (from Billy Madison), as well as DeAndre Jordan who posterized the Lakers big men Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol #BubbaGump & #GeicoCaveman.

The new look Clips made Kobe Bryant and the Lakers look old and slow. And is it just me or does Mike Brown look lost as their new head coach? #notagoodfit

Rookie of the Year Watch
One word: Kemba!
Watch for this young buck out of UConn to earn his way into a starting spot for Michael Jordan's Charlotte Bobcats. #nationalchamp

Love this game winner highlight. #anklebreaker

Delay of Game
Shawn Marion feels like the Mavs are overlooked this season. It's because your owner bought you bracelets instead of Championship Rings! #nobodycares

Fan: How many rings you got? Mav: None, I got a bracelet

NBA is Back #2012

noreply@blogger.com (D. Shu) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 07:59:00 +0000

BFF's #finally

Despite the drama before, during, and after the lockout; we can finally enjoy and celebrate the greatest sport on Earth!

Quick Dimer
Does Preseason Count?

Yes, of course. At least if you pay attention to it.

Why?

Team preparation and chemistry
Players trying earn a roster spot (and a living).

Jump Stop
Small reason to get excited about 2012 NBA Season: Jimmer Fredette!!

#unlimitedrange

Turnover
#kobedivorce Will it help or hurt his game?
Via @DeRay Davis (as a joke!): "Kobe ain't gettin a divorce, Vanessa got traded for 3 new 1st round young chicks and a non-questioned household."

No prenup #ouch

Kevin Durant lights up Rucker Park

noreply@blogger.com (D. Shu) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 15:52:00 +0000

The Durantula goes for 66 points and showcases a barrage of 3 pointers in the 4th quarter that fired up the crowd causing everyone to spill out onto the court. As Mark Jackson would say, "Hand Down, Man Down!"

Per Kevin Durant via Twitter: "No lie, jus had one of the best times of my life at Rucker park..wow! I love NY... Harlem waddup"

Classic Streetball Showmanship!

Derrick Rose Chicago Bulls NBA 2010-11 MVP

noreply@blogger.com (D. Shu) — Sat, 07 May 2011 03:04:00 +0000

Congratulations to the youngest player in NBA history to win the Most Valuable Player award.

USA Basketball Nike Hoop Summit (NHS)

noreply@blogger.com (D. Shu) — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 02:33:00 +0000

2011 USA Basketball Men's Junior National Select Team
USA NHS Team - USA Basketball

Player	Pos	Hgt	Wgt	DOB	High School / Hometown	College Choice
Brad Beal	G	6'3''	180	06/28/93	Chaminade Prep / St.Louis,MO	*Florida
Rakeem Christmas	F	6'9''	225	12/01/91	New Church Academy / Philadelphia,MD	*Syracuse
Quinn Cook	G	6'1''	178	03/23/93	Oak Hill / Bowie,MD	*Duke
Anthony Davis	F	6'10''	220	03/11/93	Perspectives Charter / Chicago,IL	*Kentucky
Michael Gilchrist	F	6'7''	220	09/26/93	St.Patrick HS / Somerdale,NJ	*Kentucky
James McAdoo	F	6'8''	210	01/04/93	St.Patrick HS / Norfolk,VA	*No.Carolina
Austin Rivers	G	6'3''	175	08/01/92	WinterPark HS / WinterPark,FL	*Duke
Marquis Teague	G	6'2''	175	02/28/93	Pike HS / Indianapolis,IN	*Kentucky
Adonis Thomas	G	6'6''	205	03/25/93	Bishop Melrose HS / Cordova,TN	*Memphis
Tony Wroten	G	6'5''	206	04/13/93	Garfield HS / Seattle,WA	*Washington

HEAD COACH: Kevin Sutton ASSISTANT COACH: Kevin Boyle
* Player has signed a National Letter of Intent to play in 2011-12.

2011 World Select Team
International Team Press Release

Player	Pos	Hgt	Wgt	Year	Home Country	Current Team
Kyle Wiltjer	F	6'10''	221	1992	Canada	Jesuit HS (Portland, OR)
Dario Saric	F	6'9''	190	1994	Croatia	KK Dubrava Zagreb
Davis Bertans	F	6'7''	205	1992	Latvia	Union Olimpija Jr. Team
Mateusz Ponitka	G	6'5''	190	1993	Poland	AZS Politechnika
Kevin Pangos	G	6'1''	178	1993	Canada	Dr.Dennison HS (Ont)
Evan Fornier	G	6'6''	185	1992	France	Union Poitiers
Raul Togni Neto	G	6'2''	195	1992	Brazil	Pitagoras Minas Tenis Club
Lucas Riva Nogueira	C	7'0''	225	1992	Brazil	Estudiantes
Przemyslaw Karnowski	C	7'0''	269	1993	Poland	Sport School Cetniewo
Guo Ailun	G/F	6'4''	180	1993	China	Laioning
Bismack Biyombo	F/C	6'9''	240	1992	Congo	Baloncesto Fuenlabrada

HEAD COACH: Roy Rana (Canada) ASSISTANT COACH: Marin Sedlacek (Serbia)

*Indicates college where the player has signed a National Letter of Intent to play in 2011-12.
#Indicates college where the player has verbally committed to play in 2011-12.

About

2011 GAME SITE: Rose Garden, Portland, Oregon

GAME DATE: Saturday, April 9, 2011

GAME TIME: 7:00 p.m. (PT)

EVENT DESCRIPTION: An annual basketball game played under international rules. The Nike Hoop Summit features the USA Basketball Men’s Junior Select Team, comprised of the top high school boy senior players, playing against an World Select Team, comprised of top players 19-years-old or younger from around the world.

EVENT HISTORY: The USA holds an 10-3 series lead. Held annually from 1995-2000, the Nike Hoop Summit was resumed in 2004. The Nike Hoop Summit was played in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2004 in the city hosting the men's NCAA Final Four. Between 2005-2007 the Nike Hoop Summit was held at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. Since 2008 the game has been played in Portland, Oregon at the Rose Garden.

NIKE HOOP SUMMIT PLAYERS OF NOTE

USA Select Team: Shareef Abdur-Rahim (1995); Ron Artest (1997); Shane Battier (1997); Michael Beasley (2007); Mike Bibby (1996); Elton Brand (1997); Nick Collison (1999); Baron Davis (1997); Demar DeRozan (2008); Chris Duhon (2000); Mike Dunleavy (1999); Kevin Durant (2006); Wayne Ellington (2006); Monta Ellis (2005); Tyreke Evans (2008); Kevin Garnett (1995); Dion Glover (1997); Drew Gordon (2008); Tyler Hansbrough (2005); Al Harrington (1998); Paul Harris (2006); Spencer Hawes (2006); Gerald Henderson (2006); Kirk Hinrich (1999); Jrue Holiday (2008); Ryan Humphrey (1997); Larry Hughes (1997); Casey Jacobsen (1999); Antawn Jamison (1995); Al Jefferson (2004); Jared Jeffries (2000); Joe Johnson (1999); Kevin Love (2007); Tywon Lawson (2006); Rashard Lewis (1998); Stephon Marbury (1995); O.J. Mayo (2007); Darius Miles (2000); Jermaine O'Neal (1996); Zack Randolph (2000); Quentin Richardson (1998); Derrick Rose (2007); Josh Smith (2004); J.R. Smith (2004); Stromile Swift (1998); Sebastian Telfair (2004); Robert Traylor (1995); Martell Webster (2005); Jay Williams (1999); Louis Williams (2005).

International Select Team: Dirk Nowitzki (1998); Tony Parker (2000); Alexis Ajinca (2008); Jerome Moiso (1997); Darius Songaila (1998); Luis Scola (1998); Ruben Boumtje Boumtje (1997); Bostjan Nachbar (1999, 2000); Dan Gadzuric (1998); Vladmir Radmanovic (1999); Igor Rakocevic (1997); Mouhamed Saer Sene (2006); Dusan Sakota (2005); Bruno Sundov (1999); Mark Dickel (1996); Martynas Pocius (2005).

Hoops for Wishes

noreply@blogger.com (D. Shu) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 03:06:00 +0000

Up and coming basketball star Alex Otis from Burlingame, CA has organized the 1st Annual 3-on-3 Tournament benefiting and granting wishes to children with life threatening medical conditions. Please come support the cause, all proceeds for this event will benefit the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Click here for registration and details, summary below:

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Tournament Divisions

VARSITY (High School Junior or Senior)

JR VARSITY (High School Freshman or Sophomore)

Team entry (4 players)

Request your registration packet at hoops4wishes@gmail.com

THREE-POINT SHOOTOUT
At the conclusion of the Championship Game, teams will be invited to participate in a 3-point shootout. Prizes will be awarded.

Hosted by Burlingame Sports Center

1524 Rollins Road

Burlingame, CA

Please click here to contact Nuri Otis if you have any questions.

Boxing Out

noreply@blogger.com (D. Shu) — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 04:52:00 +0000

Rebounding is simple. Technique, positioning, and intelligence.

Taught and demonstrated by the legendary Red Auerbach and the best rebounder that ever played the game, Bill Russell. Enough said. Watch, learn, apply, and pass it on.

Foster City Flyers

noreply@blogger.com (D. Shu) — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 04:30:00 +0000

Congratulations to the Foster City Flyers 6th Grade Club Team who took 1st place in the Bay City Tournament on the weekend of September 18-19, 2010. The games were held at St. Emedius in San Francisco and Ocean High School in Pacifica, CA aka the "Mike Keough Shark Tank."

Oceana High School

The Flyers were formed rather quickly by parents who were looking for a new coach. The goal was simple: 6 practices and 1 tournament to see if there was a fit with the team. Initially entered to play in the (All Asian) Silicon Valley Basketball Community (SVBC) Tournament, the 6th grade division did not have enough entries so our team manager attempted to enter us to play up in the 7th grade. However, the upper division was full so we signed up for Bulldawgs AAU (open) tournament.

We had the honor of being invited to coach the Flyers. Our Motto was T.S.U. (Tough, Smart, Unselfish) going into the practices and games. We wanted to display that mentality every time we were together on the court and our Flyers did a great job of collectively being tough, smart, and unselfish. Our practices were designed to be uptempo and tough (mentally and physically) so our players could build on fundamentals, awareness, and confidence on and off the court. Our kids are really smart so they picked up everything quickly.

Our last two practices were great so we felt prepared going into the tournament. When I gathered the Flyers before our first game for our pre-game strategy, you could tell the boys were definitely ready by their body language, focus, and excitement. I remember turning to our assistant and saying these boys are like lions in a cage.

(Back row - L to R) Asst Coach Noel, Jason, Mike, Austin, Matt, Ryan, and Coach DShu
(Front row L to R) Ethan, Dylan, and Lucas

Scouting Report

PG: Ethan Cha*- Crafty guard with a knack to make plays for himself and his teammates. Has a streetball style to his game but started to apply fundamentals to help his team be efficient and produce wins.

SG: Dylan Penn*- Best shooter on the team and probably the toughest mentally and physically. Vocal leader and unselfish teammate willing to do anything for his coach and to help his team win.

SF: Jason Apostol- Lefty, consistent on both end of the court. Reminds me of Shane Battier who does all the little things to help the team. Good defender on and off the ball and takes initiative on challenges.

PF: Austin Lee- Quiet leader, very coachable, and exemplified toughness. Unselfish and knows how to make plays or score buckets when needed.

C: Michael Diaz*- The Big Fella. Unselfish leader who cleaned up the boards, scored key baskets, and also made plays for his teammates. One of the best free throw shooters on the team.

Bench
Ryan Shintaku- Deceptively good overall. Our defensive stopper who helped shut down the shooter in game 2 who also made all the right plays on offense.

Matthew Shen- Versatile and smart player who filled in at any position when we needed him, everything from point guard to center. Also a very solid help side defender.

Lucas Lee- Youngest player on our team (8), tough and not afraid to take a big time shot. Came in and gave quality minutes.

*Team Captains

Flyers Team Huddle

Game 1 vs. Bay City
You could tell by the way we warmed up that our Flyers were ready for the host team. There was a lot of communication and leadership being displayed by our newly formed team. Our boys jumped on this team early and often. Our Flyers played man to man full court defense, which we didn't even work on in practice! The intensity and defensive pressure held our opponents close to just 20 points.

Game 2 vs. BAAS Dragons
The Dragons had a sharp shooter and a young player who could flat out play. He had a great feel for the game and just lit up his last opponent with 31 points and a victory. The kid was shooting 3's from college and NBA range. Our Flyers were determined to stop him and we had several players request to guard him. With the emphasis on team defense (5 on 1 as opposed to 1 on 1), we held their leading scorer to 9 points and a blowout victory.

Championship Game vs. Bulldawgs

Our toughest opponent. We actually made it a bit tough for ourselves since two of our best players (Michael Diaz and Dylan Penn) were in foul trouble as well as one of our starters (Austin Lee) getting popped in the mouth and having to leave the game but returning to make some big plays down the stretch. However, our bench (Ryan Shintaku and Matthew Shen) was outstanding and provided the level of play to take us over the top. The Bulldawgs liked to press full court and trap in the half court but our Flyers pushed the ball on made or missed shots to beat the press. The sharing of the ball in the front court also allowed us to beat their zone traps for open shots and easy baskets.

Michael Diaz (11) and Dylan Penn (10)

Overall, our team was put together quickly a la Team USA in the FIBA World Championships. We had to figure out our roles and our chemistry came along throughout our practices. I have to say, this team was special by the way we bonded and trusted each other. I'm very proud of each of our players and honored by the support shown by the parents. The victory's were all well deserved and the Championship was the icing on the cake.

Team Huddle

Credits
Associate Coach Noel Shen
Team Manager John Cha
Special Guest Coaches:
Andrew Borthwick
Mike Barton and his two sons Andrew and Darren
Brian Gomes
Mike Tom

Type 1 Awareness and Fundraiser

noreply@blogger.com (D. Shu) — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 15:23:00 +0000

Type 1, once known as juvenile diabetes for which there is no cure and which, according to the American Diabetes Association, affects about 5-10 percent of the roughly 24 million Americans overall who have it.

Georgetown basketball player Austin Freeman (Junior) was diagnosed last season won't let it slow him down. Other notable athletes and celebs including Adam Morrison, Jay Cutler, and even Halle Berry knows what it's like to constantly having to monitor their blood sugar levels and inject themselves with insulin before each meal.

This hits home for me since my father and my nephew Mikey D are also diabetics. It's all about education, awareness, and support in order to maintain our well being and eventually finding a cure.

If you are in the area, please come support this event (9/17/10) will be hosted by a good friend of my whom we call the General, Mike Barton. Both of his sons are Type 1 diabetic, as well as Mikey D so we'll all be there. Hope you guys can make and spread the word.

EVENT DETAILS

D.B.'s Crusaders Bowl for a Cure Fundraiser

Host:
The Barton Family
Phone:
650-952-3787

When:
Friday, September 17 at 06:00 PM
Where:
Classic Bowling Center 900 King Drive Daly City, CA 94015

Message from Host

Join Andrew and Darren Barton and their D.B.'s Crusaders for their 3rd annual Bowl for a Cure fundraiser to help "Strike Out" diabetes.
For a $10 donation you get your shoe rental and 3 games of "Glow Bowl". We will have a DJ, videos and a raffle.
100% of the proceeds will go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

Thank you for your ongoing support. We hope to see you there!
The Barton Family

Team Flight Brothers

noreply@blogger.com (D. Shu) — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 19:00:00 +0000

One word for these high flying slam dunkers: Wow!

Oh, and maybe a few more words a la Bill Walton: Throw it down, big fella!

Since we're on the topic of dunking, you have to peep the following highlights. Another one word description: Dirty!

Team USA 2010 FIBA World Champions

noreply@blogger.com (D. Shu) — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 02:30:00 +0000

Feels great to see the Naismith Trophy return to America. My new favorite player (and probably the world's) is Kevin Durant, not sure why but the following stats might be an indication:

(Last three USA games: 100 points, 35-for-59 shooting (59 percent), 15 3-pointers.
Everyone else on Team USA, last three games: 159 points, 57-for-146 shooting (39 percent), 14 3-pointers). P.S. He's only 21 years old.

Here's a compilation of quotes worth noting via Chris Sheridan's article. Congratulations Coach K and Team USA!

"Coach K said something to them earlier today about the fact that we beat Spain in Spain, we beat Greece in Greece, we might as well beat Turkey in Turkey," Colangelo said. "And that's what transpired, and it's a great tribute to a young group of guys and some veteran leadership who really stepped up, some of which showed in the box score and some of which didn't. And it was a great team effort, and a great thing for USA Basketball because it got us over the hump."

"I think that was everybody's motivation, especially coming from people back in the United States who really doubted us and said it was going to be tough for us to win. We came here and proved everybody wrong," Durant said.

"I think it's a tribute to the structure and foundation we have at USA Basketball that we can turn over as many players as we have, over 30, since '06 in the last world championship and be as successful as we've been," Jerry Colangelo said. "It's a tribute to the players, the quality of players we have, and Mike Krzyzewski deserves tremendous, tremendous praise for the job he's done. I've never seen anybody stick to it as much as he does. He's organized, he's focused, he sleeps it, he dreams it."

Durant's FIBA Mix

"I was pounding my chest and letting everybody know who we are, the USA team, and that's across my chest, that's who I'm representing," Durant said. "I was in the moment, I was emotional, and Coach K told us in all our meetings to be passionate, to be emotional for everybody on the floor and everybody back home, and that's what I was doing."

Way to bring it home boys, let's get the gold at the 2012 Olympics.

The Magic Johnson School of Leadership

noreply@blogger.com (D. Shu) — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 22:22:00 +0000

Once again, my favorite player of all time does it again.
(via TrueHoop)

But it's hardly the only way to fire up your teammates. In that regard, consider what Jackie MacMullan writes in "When the Game Was Ours" about Magic Johnson's first year at Everett high school:

Magic's congeniality was a gift and a blessing to a school that was struggling to maintain order in the wake of the redistricting. There were incidents throughout Johnson's tenure at Everett between white and black students, yet the gifted young ballplayer defused much of the tension by coaxing his friends into becoming like him -- colorblind.

He showed up at parties held by his white teammates, even though he and his friends were often the only blacks in attendance. He convinced his white friends to listen to his soul music and coaxed the principal into setting aside a room to dance during free study periods. He organized a protest when no African American cheerleaders were picked for the school's squad, even though their talents were undeniable.

"For all his basketball skills, the biggest contribution Earvin made to Everett was race relations," said Fox. "He helped us bridge two very different cultures. He ran with the white kids, but never turned his back on the black kids. He broke down so many barriers. He was so popular the students figured 'Hey, if Earvin is hanging out with these guys, it must be okay.'"

It was an Everett tradition that after the first practice of the season, the players ran around the basketball court until the last teammate was standing. Two years in a row, that person was Earvin Johnson. The summer before his senior season, Johnson's teammates Randy Shumway informed Fox that he was out to beat Magic. The two ran around the court for more than a half-hour as their teammates dropped by the wayside. After 45 minutes, both players were panting, clearly exhausted, yet neither was willing to quit. Fox was contemplating how he should break the stalemate when he noticed Johnson whispering in Shumway's ear. The two did one more lap together before Magic announced, "That's it, Coach. We're calling it a draw."

"Earvin could have outlasted him," said Fox, "but he knew it would be better for team morale if he didn't."

Of course, this is just a fraction of the leadership moments from Johnson's life to date. But it's a powerful tale. Remember how awkward you were in high school? All those insecurities that ruled your life? Imagine the self-assurance it takes to walk into that environment and lead a successful and inspiring one-man race relations campaign, complete with protests on behalf of cheerleaders, a room set aside for dancing and passing up opportunities to prove athletic dominance in favor of team cohesion.

Even just reading about it I'm inspired. That's leadership.

PBA Top 10 Plays of the Week

noreply@blogger.com (D. Shu) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 01:53:00 +0000

This video is courtesy of Sunny Margate from Blueprint Basketball via Facebook. My boy Harvey Carey (Bay Area Native) throws down at #1.

July 2010

DShu and Harvey Carey at SF Pro-AM (2008)

Jeremy Lin Owning John Wall?

noreply@blogger.com (D. Shu) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 18:08:00 +0000

Then again, it's only summer league but Jeremy Lin has definitely something to prove. He'll most likely end up on an NBA roster but now with out earning his spot. Wall ended up with 21 pts (4-19), 7 rebs, 10 assts and the win while Lin had 13 pts, 4 rebs, 2 assts. Lin had 11 in the 4th quarter when he went head to head with Wall. Check out the highlights!

Lin also getting love on NBA TV.

Is LeBron Gone?

noreply@blogger.com (D. Shu) — Fri, 14 May 2010 05:59:00 +0000

Thursday- May 13, 2010

NBA Eastern Semi Finals, Game 6

Cavaliers 85 - Celtics 94

Facing elimination, LeBron James once again comes up short. "Another disappointing season to say the least," James said. He is now being nicknamed as a choke artist and known for folding under pressure situations. The fact of the matter is, there is a lot of truth to that right now and until he wins a championship (or 4) he might as well be the modern-day Dominique Wilkins. Taking nothing away from the Human Highlight Reel, Wilkins (like James) was one of the best that never won one (title) which leaves him out of the real "Best." Can you say, "Gone Fishing."

Throughout the series, there was a lot of talk that LeBron just didn't look like himself or he's injured. Whatever it was....the 9 turnovers, 8-21 shooting, and being dependent on Verajao/Jamison/Williams/CAVS just didn't get it done. I was expecting him to take over like he did several years ago in a Game 7 when he single-handedly dominated the Detroit Pistons in the 4th quarter and overtime.

The Cons

Clearly James was passive and not the same aggressive tomahawk dunker. The leadership, the swagger, the body language was not there. Leaders aren't afraid to challenge teammates and get in someones face, let alone lead by example. Let's not get it twisted 27-19-10 aint' too shabby but committing 9 TO's is absolutely careless in an elimination game.

The Pros

The good thing we must remember is that LeBron James is only 25 (pretty scary). How mature and mentally ready were you when you were that age? He has a bright future ahead of him and I'm sure he might get some Chips down the road. However, he's still earning his stripes for now.

The Game

The obvious stats- Cavs shot 38% and turned the ball over 22 times. The Celtics shot 44% and had only 13 turnovers. The biggest disappointment was watching the Cavs QUIT (chose not to foul Rondo and stop the clock) when they were down by 9 points with over 1:30 left in the game. Unacceptable!!

The Support (or lack thereof)

Jamison: 2-10, 5 pts. Can you say Cliff Robinson?

Mo Williams scored 22 but was getting killed throughout the playoffs by D. Rose and of course, Rajon Rondo (who was getting compared to Wilt, Big O, Magic, and other legends).

Might as well have called Candace Parker to lend a helping hand.

The Coaching

Mike Brown, paging Mike Brown!! Sitting duck? Yes, no, maybe so? Whatever happened to making changes, shifting lineups, throwing a fit to fire your team up? If it were me, I'd bench Mo Williams and try Boobie Gibson on Rondo. Williams' foot speed can't keep up so what makes you think putting a taller (not faster) player on Rondo who can't shoot will work? JJ Hickson would have been a better defensive match up on KG. Why was Z even playing?? I would have even tried Leon Powe against his old team to try to provide some type of spark.

Remember when Allen Iverson was destroying the Lakers in the 2000 Finals? What did Phil Jackson do....he called upon Tyronne Lue. They didn't win game one but the Lakers had an answer for the Answer and won the next four games. I mean if all else fails, throw a tantrum, get T'd up to provide something for your team. Where's Donald Trump at (You're Fired!) when you need him? I'm just sayin'!

The Rondo (I mean, Celtics)

The kid has been playing out of his mind and was even noticed by the legendary Bob Cousy. The Vets have come alive and are clicking at the right time. KG is not the same as he was in 2008 but that defensive presence is coming back. The Truth is still dangerous and you can never sleep on Ray Allen because he can fill it up in a hurry.

The Future

New York, New Jersey, Miami, Chicago, even Golden State? Does LeBron opt out or does he shock the world by taking a pay cut and stay in his hometown? That would display great commitment, loyalty, and an unselfishness that would be great for the entire country. It's really what's missing in today's society.

The Next Round

Boston vs. Orlando: Great match up, Celts win in 6 or 7.

Phoenix vs. LA: Another great match up, LA in 6.

Finals: LA vs Boston- you decide.

Did I miss anything??

Hoop Dreams, 15 Years Later

noreply@blogger.com (D. Shu) — Thu, 13 May 2010 15:00:00 +0000

“People always say to me, ‘when you get to the NBA, don’t forget about me’. Well, I should’ve said back, ‘if I don’t make it to the NBA, don’t you forget about me’.”—William Gates

Remember Arthur Agee and Gates? I don't think hoop fans forgot about them.

(via Ben York)
Gates now has a son who plays at St. Joseph High School, and is still married to the young woman he had a child with in the film. Education is the No. 1 priority for Gates as he continues to set a better example for his children than his father did.

Agee is returning to Tucson in a couple months to screen his follow-up to Hoop Dreams called Hoop Reality. This time, Agee serves as a mentor to a young prodigy at his former high school. The film’s tone and message remains the same – youth with dreams of playing professional basketball have to develop a back-up plan.

Check out the excerpts below in an article from SLA M magazine or read full story here.

"Fifteen years ago, a landmark documentary changed the way we viewed the proverbial dream many children have of playing professional basketball. As with millions of youth across the globe, Arthur Agee and William Gates dreamt of one day playing in the NBA; the only difference with them and others is they were actually gifted enough to make it there. Growing up in the inner-city of Chicago, Agee and Gates were recruited early on to play high school basketball at a suburban prep school. Immediately, they found that their dreams of playing in the NBA would come at a much higher price than they originally thought. Academics, money, family troubles, and politics were just some of the newfound barriers they would have to face. Throughout it all, they never lost faith in basketball, and in doing so captured the collective hearts of moviegoers everywhere. Never before had a film given us a glimpse of this journey as it was actually occurring."

"Today, Agee and Gates are exactly how you would imagine them and are an extension of what they were in the film. Arthur Agee’s kind-hearted nature and friendly personality is both unmistakable and infectious. His passion for inspiring kids to make the most out of life is refreshing and awe-inspiring at the same time. William Gates is still soft-spoken, but his genuineness and warmth translates very well into his current career – pastor at Living Faith Community Church in Chicago. The bond they shared many years ago is still evident today, perhaps even stronger."

Although Agee and Gates never made it to the NBA, their story has caused millions of people to take a second look at their own life. What happens if I get injured before getting a college scholarship? What if I don’t make it? How can I best position myself for success?

CBL Basketball League

noreply@blogger.com (D. Shu) — Wed, 12 May 2010 15:00:00 +0000

From one of the hardest working men in the San Francisco Bay Area, former All-American and SFSU Alum Paul Clay presents Corporate Basketball League. Check out the video highlights below and contact him to enter your team or sign on as a free agent in one of the most competitive adult leagues on the Peninsula.

Pay close attention, you might catch yourself on camera or even notice a few local standouts.

Message from the League Director

Hello everyone,

We are finalizing the dates of our next CBL basketball league which will start in the early part of June.

We are going to add something new to our upcoming season. We are having two divisions as we have had in the past!

Recreational Division (Tuesday nights)
Open Division (Thursday nights) Currently running - (Championship game is May 13th)

Please let us know if your interested in participating or getting more information. We guarantee all teams 8-10 games along with league t-shirts, awards for first and second place and one MVP award.

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Thank you,
Paul Clay

Details
Divisions: Recreational League (Tuesday Nights) Open Division (Thursday Nights)
Cost: $750 per team (includes league t-shirt & regular season games & playoffs)
Game times: 7:30pm, 8:30pm, 9:30pm
Starts: Week of June 1st
Where: TBD (EPA Boys and Girls Club or Redwood City Boys and Girls Club)
Deadline: Friday, May 21st @ 5:00pm
FREE AGENTS: If you are interested and don't have a team. Please contact us and we will place you on a team. Cost: $80 per player. Any questions feel free to email us at (corporaterivals@yahoo.com). If you have a team please contact us and we will send you a roster.

2010 Champs

John Wall: Before Kentucky and the NBA

noreply@blogger.com (D. Shu) — Tue, 11 May 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Here's a quick video with highlights of J-Dub aka Mr. Muscle Dance.

To Travel or Not to Travel??

noreply@blogger.com (D. Shu) — Mon, 10 May 2010 15:00:00 +0000

For all of you so called experts, is this a travel or a jump stop??

If you said Jump Stop, you're absolutely correct! The height of his move may have thrown you off but it's a legal move.

If you said Travel, then it's time to study the game a little more. It's so common for people to call that a violation because they are not accustomed to seeing the move performed in that manner. I've seen many refs along with players and coaches argue for a traveling call (Doc Rivers and the Boston Celtic bench in that play) just as people would call a "walk" when someone performs the slow and elongated two side steps that we're seeing more and more of a la Manu Ginobili and D-Wade.

Learn the game, ham and egger!

True Fan with Gratifying Ending

noreply@blogger.com (D. Shu) — Fri, 07 May 2010 15:00:00 +0000

This is a story worth reading, I wish it made bigger and more headlines. The man in the story is Ray Towler, who was presented with a LeBron James jersey by his attorneys moments after his best day of his life.

By Mike Wagner
Wrongly convicted man goes free
Long-awaited DNA tests prove he is innocent of rape

CLEVELAND -- Cuyahoga County Judge Eileen A. Gallagher broke down on the bench this morning as she freed a man who has served 29 years for a rape he did not commit.

After a 10-minute hearing, Gallagher approved a prosecutor's request to release Ray Towler from his life sentence and declared him innocent.

Gallagher stepped down from the bench, approached Towler with an extended hand, and said, "Mr. Towler, you are free to go," as she shook his hand, tears streaming down her face.

Towler beamed throughout the hearing, waved to family members in the back of the courtroom, and again showed no signs of anger or animosity for losing so many years behind bars.

"I just waited for the sun to come up today and it did. And for the first time in a long time, I get to walk in the sun outside of prison," Towler after his release.

Ray Towler had just learned that he was going to be released from prison after serving nearly 29 years for a rape he didn't commit, but the inmate was more interested in talking about LeBron James' injured elbow than blaming anyone for his wrongful conviction.

"This is the greatest day of my life, and it's pure joy; I have no hate for anyone," said the 52-year-old Cleveland native in a phone interview yesterday. "I suppose hoping to see LeBron play in person is too much to ask, but at least I can watch the games from outside the barbed wire. I get to start a new life, and the Cavs are going to win the championship. It doesn't get much better than that."

Read rest of the story by clicking here or watch the trial.

Bay Area's Finest Hoop Mixtape

noreply@blogger.com (D. Shu) — Thu, 06 May 2010 21:47:00 +0000

Check out a nice compilation of young ballers that are up and coming from the "Yay Area" via Bobby Fullilove. See if you can recognize any faces...also, might want to remember some of the names. Enjoy!

Taiwan National Team 1996

noreply@blogger.com (D. Shu) — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 05:59:00 +0000

I found this picture in the archives via Air Chuck (my teammate and road dog from back in the days). The team photo was taken after a day of training on the beach. Brings back memories for sure! Fun times but where's Waldo?

NCAA March Madness 2010

noreply@blogger.com (D. Shu) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:07:00 +0000

My Final Four Prediction: Kansas, Kentucky, Duke, Butler

Here are familiar words for this time of year, "One and Done, Win or Go Home, Cinderella." Do you know who usually does well in the brackets? It's mostly the people who watch basketball the least. Maybe I'm exaggerating, but there's actually some truth to that. Think back to last year where the "Martha Stewart" or your ham and egg coworker who couldn't dribble a basketball and talk at the same time, go take a look how you faired against them. Their brackets probably looked much better than yours. At least for me, they blew me out of the water. I was always good at NBA Fantasy hoops but when it comes down to the college game, I'm no match for Michael Bolton and the rest of the Initech crew.

THE UPSET IS IN THE MIND OF THE FAVORITE

Because most upsets can never happen unless the favorite lets his guard down, starts getting cocky and believing his press clippings. Coca-Cola could have bought Pepsi a hundred years ago, but didn't think they had to. Sports Illustrated could have bought ESPN twenty years ago, but figured it was a waste of money. And the Soviet hockey team could have easily crushed the Americans at Lake Placid in 1980, but they didn't take them seriously - and every one of those giants paid for it.

- Bo Schembechler

Anything can happen in this tournament, we've all seen it before (except the #1 seed losing to #16). Hence, March Madness. My pick to win it? John Wall does his muscle dance, Kentucky Wildcats.