khandor’s sports blog

Where does your favourite team rank at the halfway point in the regular season schedule?

Related:

What it takes to win the NBA Championship

19 months ago, this is exactly what was written here, concerning the ability of Jeremy Lin:

Trying to make your way in the world

based on:

i. The eye test;
ii. A cursory look at his basic game stats while a student-athlete at Harvard University; and,
iii. His stellar performance in this specific game against UConn and Kemba Walker:

The simple facts are these:

1. The vast majority of so-called basketball experts … which, unfortunately, includes most General Managers, and coaches, and players, and stats gurus, etc., in the NBA … do not have the necessary level of basketball acumen to accurately assess the actual skill-set of a player like Jeremy Lin;

2. The Golden State Warriors’ decision to sign but then use Jeremy Lin only as a 3rd string PG, in arrears of Monte Ellis and Stephon Curry, is akin to the Phoenix Suns’ decision in the 1996-1997 season to use Steve Nash, as an after-thought only, behind initially-perceived-to-be “more dynamic” players like Kevin Johnson and Jason Kidd;

3. If Jeremy Lin was diligent enough to work hard to improve his left-hand dribble, he was always more than capable of becoming a legitimate Starting PG in the NBA … if he was also fortunate enough to get the opportunity to play for the right head coach in a best-fit system;

and,

4. Nothing which Jeremy Lin has done so far in the NBA should really come as a surprise to a legitimate basketball expert.

Related:

Jeremy Lin: Knicks’ star is Warriors’ loss

Where is your favourite team in the race to win this year’s League Championship?

Related:

What it takes to win the NBA Championship

When the ball actually stops bouncing long enough, in the NBA …

———————————————

Ex-Blazer Washington recounts his first aide trip to Congo

In the summer of 1994, I was working with Pete Newell at his Big Man Camp. At the time, his camp was probably the No. 1 camp in the world. Pete was a world-renowned coach and former general manager of the Lakers. He was the gentleman who drafted me to the Lakers out of college [No. 5 overall in 1973 Draft], and was responsible for me earning a spot as a starter in the NBA. I was working on the camp when the situation in Rwanda broke out.

The news was flooded with horrendous accounts of murder and terror, affecting hundreds of thousands of lives. My daughter, Dana, came into the room after watching the news on TV and was incredibly upset. Here was a young girl who was so sensitive and caring that if she saw a dog or cat hit by a car, she would always make me stop and pull it out of the street. She was compassionate for everyone and everything. She told me I better do something about this situation. I saw the broadcasts and it reminded me of the problems in Somalia years before when people were suffering and dying from the drought. I felt as though I should have helped those people and didn’t, and even years later still had residual guilt. I felt like this was my opportunity to change that feeling, so I looked in the phone book for an organization where I could donate money.

I called Doctors Without Borders and the Red Cross. I didn’t have any success speaking to a person, just to an automated teller telling me how to donate money. When I called the Northwest Medical team in Beaverton, Ore., my luck changed. They were operating 10 minutes from where I was living, and got a person on the line that was able to talk to me and give me information. They also knew who I was and were very thankful that I called so I decided to donate to them. I don’t remember how much I donated on my credit card, but I did happen to say to them before I hung up that one day I would like to go and see for myself what the conditions were really like. They said, you can go with us next week, we’re taking a group over.

———————————————

There are some truly noteworthy things accomplished in this world.

The Kermit Washington Story – i.e. Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 – is most definitely one of them.

In conjunction with:

A) Today’s official announcement made by the Rockets’ “Gentle Giant“:

Yao Ming officially retires from the NBA

and,

B) Yesterday’s unofficial internet roasting of the Lakers’ “Baby Huey“:

Andrew Bynum parked in a handicapped spot. Come on, Andrew Bynum.

it is very interesting to take a brief journey back in time … to approximately 3 years ago … when the first of three separate blog entries about Yao Ming and Andrew Bynum appeared in this space:

Yao Ming or Andrew Bynum … You make the call [Wednesday, July 30, 2008]

which was then followed by blog entry #2:

Yao Ming or Andrew Bynum … Part II (the call) [Thursday, August 7, 2008]

and, eventually, by blog entry #3:

Yao Ming or Andrew Bynum … Part III [The Playoff Series] [Monday, May 4, 2009]

which appeared during the next season’s playoffs, as the Rockets faced off against the Lakers.

In summary:

1. There should now be no doubt, whatsoever, that the great Yao Ming is deserving of an honoured place in the Naismith Basketball  Hall Of Fame, one day in the future, as an outstanding player with a terrific skill-set who [i] conducted himself with poise, dignity and class, at all times, and [ii] was a fantastic ambassador of the game;

and,

2. Andrew Bynum was, indeed, The Correct Choice in the poll conducted here 3 years ago.

Pay close attention Lakers fans:

————————————————————————

The Lakers lose perspective

The mistake we made with the Lakers all season long was granting them allowances based on what they’ve done in the past. We ignored warning signs and excused slumps because we had seen them turn it around when it mattered before. We all saw how that turned out in the playoffs.

It’s time to apply that lesson to the franchise.

It’s clear now that we can no longer give the organization the benefit of the doubt going forward, even though they have been the most successful team in pro sports in the three decades-plus that Jerry Buss has owned the team. If the Lakers don’t want to assign any value to their past, why should anyone else?

————————————————————————

The gigantic flashing sign says,

“Unpaved road ahead. At present, littered with Hubris. Travel at your own peril.”

This is all you really need to know about the current situation with the LA Lakers:

1. What Jerry Buss didn’t say [Dec 21, 2009]

If Jim and Jerry Buss want my advice – and I’m pretty sure they don’t – they can save themselves a lot of grief and messy embarrassment if they’ll just sit back and chill, and let Phil and Jeanie take over. – Roland Lazenby

2. LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Mike Brown, Phil Jackson, Chris Bosh, The Redeem Team, and the Handling of NBA Superstars

3. Phil Jackson’s Final Interview with the LA media [May 11, 2011]

- Especially what Jackson says about his “connection” to those in management positions with the team today, at @ the 19:00 mark of the video clip

4. Lakers issue statement on Mike Brown [May 25, 2011]

5. Lakers should’ve consulted Kobe on Brown hire [May 26, 2011] 

For Bryant, there was never time to consider Brown’s candidacy as Lakers coach because sources close to him say that he was never asked about the candidates to replace Phil Jackson. The Buss family promised they would proceed this way, without the consultation of the most important person in the franchise.

These are partnerships in the NBA, and Bryant, with five championships, should’ve been part of the process. Bryant didn’t deserve the chance to choose the next coach, nor did he have the inclination. In the end, such an arrangement makes for an impossible dynamic between an indebted coach and a star player.

Still, Bryant happens to be one of the sharpest basketball minds in the NBA, an ability to see the game in its most overt and subtle ways. So why wouldn’t you want Bryant’s input? Why wouldn’t you want to lay out to him the plan and vision of returning Bryant and these Lakers to championship basketball?

Mostly, Lakers vice president Jim Buss had a habit of exacerbating Jackson, and he’ll regret it should that be the basis of his relationship with Bryant now.

The San Antonio Spurs wouldn’t hire a coach without discussing names with Tim Duncan. Steve Nash gets immense input – probably too much – with the Phoenix Suns. Those two aren’t twentysomething’s at the apex, but they should still be afforded the chance to have names pushed past them. Bryant? The Lakers can still win titles with him. He’s no ceremonial franchise player. All they had to do was say, “Hey, what’s our feeling on Rick Adelman? Mike Brown? We’re balancing these strengths and weaknesses. What do you think?”

Jim Buss is running the Lakers now, and this is a frightening proposition for everyone.

If you happen to be a die-hard fan of the LA Lakers, and would like to see the team return to the NBA Finals, asap, then, the latest news from Hollywood, re: the search for a new head coach, is the worst possible:

————————————————————————

Sources: Brown, Lakers in serious talks

The Lakers are focused on talks with Brown, who was fired in 2010 after five seasons in Cleveland, where he went 272-138.

Los Angeles had considered longtime assistant Brian Shaw, but the focus is now on Brown, who is currently an NBA analyst for ESPN. There could be an agreement in place within the next 24-48 hours, sources say, but nothing has been finalized. Brown expects to reach a resolution one way or another with Los Angeles on Wednesday.

The two sides are working out issues that could be dealbreakers and cause the Lakers to go to another candidate, sources said, but there’s clearly momentum toward Brown becoming the next head coach.

The Lakers and Brown’s representation were discussing salary and length of contract on Tuesday, with the Lakers trying to hold the line on terms, sources said. Those talks will continue Wednesday, with the Lakers playing hard ball.

————————————————————————

Mike Brown?

Really?

This must be a joke, right?

Unless, of course, Dr. Jerry Buss has completely lost his mind?

Mike Brown has already demonstrated that he is nothing like his one-time mentor, Gregg Popovich … or, Doc Rivers … or, Rick Adelman … or, Rick Carlisle … or, the as yet, untested Brian Shaw.

Mike Brown is most definitely nothing like the ZenMaster, Phil Jackson. 

Mike Brown is someone who has been incapable of exercising the required “level of control” over a superstar player – like LeBron James [in Cleveland] or Kobe Bryant [in LA] – and lacks the type of “wholly integrated system of play” which is necessary to achieve major success in the NBA.

Mike Brown is a good defensive coach. Period.

Mike Brown is not someone who will improve the Lakers’ chances of the winning the NBA title next season, or anytime soon.  

The Lakers’ major problems this year had nothing to do with their defensive systems of play … and everything to do with:

i. Their overall lack of talent, in comparison with previous editions of their team;

ii. The poor play of Derek Fisher and Steve Blake;

iii. Their lack of Team Cohesion;

and,

iv. Their overall lack of offensive discipline.

Mike Brown is not the right man to effectively address the Lakers’ specific needs.

If the Lakers do eventually go in this direction, and hire Mike Brown, what it will mean is that something FUNDAMENTAL has now changed with the day-to-day operation of this team, and that Dr. Jerry Buss [owner] and Mitch Kupchak [GM] are no longer in control of this franchise.

Back in Milwaukee, Abdul-Jabbar talks about movie, life

Abdul-Jabbar’s aloof facade, the one that froze out fans, reporters and just about everyone else, began melting about the time he started building a life outside basketball. Hard to believe, but he’s been Citizen Kareem for two years longer than the 20 seasons he broke almost every NBA record.

“How do you think I feel about it?” he said with a laugh.

He was 27 when he requested a trade to New York or Los Angeles so that he might enrich a personal life that revolved around jazz and his religion.

“It’s some time that I did some growing up,” he said of his six seasons with the Bucks. “When you get out of college, you think you’ve done everything when you haven’t done anything. A lot of fond memories. Great fans here.

“Geez, I remember my rookie year, we lost to the Knicks in five games in the conference finals. The team had chartered a plane to take us back from New York to Milwaukee. The plane sets down at 2-2:30 in the morning and we had 500 fans there at the airport. That’s pretty unique.

“My whole time here we had that kind of support. Management was great to me. There’s nothing even remotely remembering bitterness about my stay here. I had a good stay here. That will be my memory of being here.”

As a Muslim, Abdul-Jabbar has been outspoken about the death of Osama bin Laden. On his website, he wrote about his relief that a distinction was made between faith and “a righteous fight for peace. Bringing justice to a mass murderer is something that people of all faiths can understand and support.”

“The people who have become terrorists are basically fascists,” he told me. “They think they’re right and everybody else is wrong and that anyone who doesn’t agree with them is expendable.

“They’re scary. The easy way to understand it is like the Ku Klux Klan. They claim to be Christians, but they’re terrorists, plain and simple. And that’s what’s happening in the Islamic world, unfortunately.”

In 1968, he said he felt like the only Muslim in Milwaukee. Times change, but challenging times do not.

“You live your life and you have to make certain adjustments for reality, but it’s my moral anchor,” he said. “The difference between right and wrong is very clear. There are only two types of people in the world, good people and bad people. Once you understand that, you can get by and get along.”

Do yourself a favour.

Take a break from your otherwise busy day, sit down, relax, and read Arash Markazi’s entire article about how:

———————————————————————–

Brian Shaw has persevered despite tragedy

There is a closet inside Brian Shaw’s bedroom that takes him back to a time he wishes would stand still.

He finds himself inside the small room every summer in late June, on the floor, touching the remnants of a past he can’t let go.

He unzips a garment bag, takes out a shirt his father wore to work, his mother’s favorite coat, his sister’s jumpsuit. He hugs the clothes, brings them up to his face and close to his chest as if he were still hugging and kissing those who once wore them.

This wasn’t how Shaw was supposed to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and championships, alone, surrounded by old clothes and fading memories. Reliving the horrible night of June 26, 1993.

———————————————————————–

When you’re done, you will not regret it, at all … and, have one less reason to cheer against the Lakers next season.