Hey, Let's Make the Worst Sign Ever

"Dude, we've got to make a sign for tonight's game. The Nugs can clinch!"

"OH that's right! For sure, let's make a sign. But we need to make sure it's very to the point."

"Yeah, yeah. Like nothing that doesn't make sense or that's too complicated. And it should be pretty boring."

"Got it."

RetroTorch: Wilt Chamberlain Dunks

While Wilt Chamberlain dunked, teammate Tom Meschery was frozen in terror. Wilt hadn't seen the enormous robot destroyer approaching the court. Just like dinosaurs, if you didn't move, the robots couldn't see you. But, well, Wilt had moved.

Fortunately for Wilt, he was faster than Tom. Unfortunately for Tom, the robot was hungry.

I Think I Killed Brad Miller

Remember when I unearthed the video of Brad Miller cutting off his beard? That was a really emotional video that deeply affected me emotionally. And I've regretted it to this day. I'm even pretty sure that showing that video killed Brad Miller. On the inside.

It's been basically the hardest three weeks of my life, dealing with the death of Brad Miller. Since then, his points per game, rebounds per game, assists per game, and field goal percentage have gone down. And his turnovers per game went up.

And he got punched in the face.

And he missed two free-throws that would have tied a playoff game.

And he's been ridiculed across the Internet.

And he didn't get to go to Coachella.

And he didn't really like the movie Earth.

And he still hasn't seen the Susan Boyle YouTube clip.

And he burned his hand on his waffle maker.

And he can't get his DVR to stop recording every episode of The Soup.

And his Geocities account was closed.

And he had high hopes for the Asher Roth album.

And the Hipster Grifter stole $800 from him.

So it's been pretty hard on Brad too. I can't help feeling that I did this to him. If I'd have just left that video in the depths of YouTube, maybe Brad Miller would still be alive. On the inside.

The least I can offer him is this electronic collage (French for "lots of things together to make one big thing"). He's one of my favorite guys ever and I'm sorry if I killed him. On the inside.

The Most Exciting Lay-Up in the History of Lay-Ups

Magic fans are a fickle bunch. Remember two week ago when they couldn't give a rip about Dwight Howard dunking? Now Andre Miller, possibly the most boring player in the league, drives to the basket and everyone FREAKS OUT.

I've never seen so many people so pumped up for a lay-up. Anthony Johnson looks like he's going to die.

Overheard at Last Night's Lakers Game

During the first quarter... So excited to be at the Lake Show
I'm having so much fun, you must know
My mustache doesn't even connect
Spotty facial hair, what did you expect?

(Unintelligible rapping)

(Gibberish)

The Lakers I love
The things I've tried
To be part of
The team don't work
Ever wonder if it's all for you.

-------------
At halftime...

Is Jack down there? Have you guys seen Jack? Just let me know if he's down there. I need to know if he likes my black jacket and baseball hat look. I got it from him. Oh, and maybe he can explain why I'm wearing a Grambling hat.

-------------
During the third quarter...

Oh, so some honkeys get to sit in the front row, mang? Estupido. Chicano can't get some seats, hombre? NBA be cheto packin' us all back here. Mexicans and white people are different.

-------------
During the fourth quarter...


Every [expletive deleted] [expletive deleted]ing game I [expletive deleted]ing come to is a [expletive deleted] blowout. What the [expletive deleted]?! I pay [expletive deleted]ing $2600 for this [expletive deleted] seat and I have to watch some [expletive deleted] [expletive deleted]ing Mormons drag their [expletive deleted] sorry [expletive deleted]es all over the [expletive deleted] court in their [term for homosexuals][expletive deleted] baby blue jerseys that look like a [expletive deleted] robin's egg took a [expletive deleted] on them. Is it me? Did I do something to deserve this [expletive deleted][expletive deleted]?!

Does this shirt make me look fat? [Expletive deleted], it does doesn't it? [Expletive deleted]. No wonder none of these [expletive deleted]ing Lakers girls will even look at me. What a [expletive deleted]ing waste of [expletive deleted]ing money that could have went to a [expletive deleted] steak or some [expletive deleted]. [Expletive deleted] me.

Considering Von Wafer

Hey guys, you guys know that I don't usually like easy jokes that erryone on the Internet Googlebox makes. Like, yeah, Greg Oden looks old, and if you add an L to his name it makes it Olden. Hilarious. Or did you know that some basketball players look like rappers? Genius! Oh, and Magic Johnson still has AIDS!!! Great!

Anywhatevers, this Von Wafer situation is really busting my beans. I couldn't even enjoy my nightly watching of A Walk to Remember starring Mandy Moore. It's really bugging me that we're letting Von Wafer's transgressions go unchecked. Someone needs to speak truth to Wafer.

Throwing out his last name, because he can't help it, let's realize that there is actually somebody in 21st century America who has CHOSEN the name Von. This isn't 16th century Germany, nor is it a 1980s video game about boxing.

And yeah, he CHOSE that name. I cannot stress this enough, which is why I'm capitalizing it every time I mention it. Von was given the name Vakeaton Quamar, which as far as I can tell means "Squatting Dog," but is also a pretty great name in a 60s activist kind of way. But upon being gifted with that wonderful name, this guy CHOSE "Von." There is no conceivable series of events that I can imagine picking that name. It doesn't really relate to Vakeaton that much, and it makes him sound like a tyrant. Oh, and it's the name "Von."

Think of the things you can do with Vakeaton Quamar. Here's an incomplete list, off the top of my head:

• produce albums for A Tribe Called Quest
• be a Wu-Tang affiliate alias
• as mentioned before, participate in 1960s rallys
• overthrow a country and serve as a horrible dictator
• Afro-centric poet

Comparatively, here's what you can do as Von:

• be confused with Vin
• overthrow a country and serve as a horrible dictator

It's obvious that Von Wafer has made a huge mistake. It's not just that he now has a funny name, but he's missed some golden opportunities. If you put a guard like Von Wafer in to the draft as Vakeaton Wafer, show some grainy footage of him doing Von Wafer things, and call him an overseas project, he'd be a top 10 pick. Instead, he was a second round pick and largely unnoticed until this season. And it's all because he picked that silly name.

My 13th Birthday

And now a guest post from my grandma Trudy.

The year was 1997 and Trey was going to be turning 13. He's always been a big basketball fan and in the past few years I'd gotten him different basketball-themed gifts that he seemed to really like. The previous year, I bought him a Chicago Bulls beret (they're his favorite team) that he wore all winter. A few years before that, I got him a complete set of Skybox cards. He told me recently that he still has them in his mother's basement. For his first birthday as a teenager I wanted to get him something really special.

During the previous summer, Trey had been really interested in a team called the Seattle Supersonics, who had played the Chicago Bulls in the championship round of the playoffs. Trey was particularly taken with a player named Shawn Kemp. I was reminded of this by my husband Harold one day when we were shopping for Trey's present. I even remember Trey getting his hair cut just like Shawn Kemp's. There was just a little square of hair on the front of his head. It looked odd to me, but he said all the kids in his subdivision had their hair cut like that. He's always been a bit of an eccentric anyways.

With this in mind, I decided to look for something to give him in DC Collectibles, a store that has a plethora of different sports memoribilia. Since we were in the midwest, it was a challenge finding any sort of Seattle Supersonics products. I considered getting Trey a Michael Jordan autographed jersey that he had worn during the playoffs, but decided that he would rather have something that wasn't Chicago Bulls. Then I saw it: a signed Shawn Kemp poster. I knew it was the perfect present.

You should have seen Trey's face when I gave it to him! He was so excited and thankful. I told him about the Michael Jordan jersey, and he assured me that he'd rather have the Shawn Kemp poster that I had purchased. I was so happy to make him so happy! Just this past year, when I visited Trey at his house I was shocked to see that he still has that Shawn Kemp poster hanging on his wall. He must really love it!

Thanks, Grandma!

Birdman Meets Birdman

You know me, I don't need no introduction. It's Baby, the numba one stunna, I shine every summa. The one and only Birdman, I fly in any weather.

But I be hearin they some balla callin his self Birdman. That aint gon fly, playboy. Baby, Brian, B, Bubba, you can call me what you feel, but you best know that I'm the Birdman. BRRRRRR.

I know he can't outstunt me when come to these cars, believe that. Earrings be trillion cut and my grill be slugged up. Normally, beef I don't discuss. Homeboy outta line, gon get his mondayfriday head bust. But this a clear case a copyright infringement, whoadie.

This boy be hoppin out the E class Benz? This boy got the alligator seats with the head on the inside? When the light hit his ice do it twankle and glisten? I know he ain't stunt like me. I just bought me a platinum football field. He ain't got that new Mercedes, wit da bubble eyes. I got that ON DUBS. That three wheel ride with a tire in the middle? I got that ON DUBS. TVs in all my cars, whoadie.

So why dis busta be callin his self da Birdman? Lemme peep homeboy.

Oh for real? Homeboy stay fly! I aint messin with no crazy white boy who lookin like a rooster on some down South meth addict tip. Playboy welcome to come to my next parkin lot party, and get his roll on, ya heard me? YA HEARD MEEEE? BRRRRRRRR.

Cruel Irony

So I said to Chauncey, our next game is on "Earth" Day. LOL

Ha.

Chill Out Justin TimberLakers

Look, Justin Timberlake, I like you. I've seen you in concert twice solo and once with *NSYNC. I bought both of your records the day they came out. One time, I signed autographs at a mall because these two young girls thought I was you and it made their day. I even didn't think Alpha Dog was THAT bad. I mean, it was pretty bad, but I've seen worse movies. Like The Love Guru.

Just kidding, I didn't see The Love Guru. Everything else was true though. And Black Snake Moan was even enjoyable most of the time. My point is, in general, I think you're a pretty legit bro. But why don't you relax with the Justin Timberlaking for a little bit?

You were at the Lakers game last night, kissing your Jessica Biel (who, let's be honest, has kinda fallen off since I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry) and dancing. Now, I understand that you can't help dancing all the time; it's what you do! And you do it well, but come on. We both know you're not really a Lakers fan.

You're from Tennessee, right? People in Tennessee don't like basketball. We both know this. They like football, sometimes golf, NASCAR, and racial insensitivity. I know you like golf (INTENSE) and I remember *NSYNC playing football on MTV or something like that. You don't have to act all Justin Timberlake all the time, just because you're at the Lakers game.

Okay, you did play in all those weird charity games back when you and Britney would wear matching jerseys, but you were terrible. I guess that means you have a little bit of credibility in that sector, but I'm just asking you to chill out with all the Justin Timberlake-ness. Maybe just be like 25% strength Timberlake. The girls will still go crazy, and guys will probably not hate you as much.

By all means, go to the Lakers game, if you must. But you don't need to wear a zany hat AND wacky glasses AND a jacket that you designed. And you certainly don't have to be "on" all the time. Look at your smile, Justin. No one is that happy at a Jazz game.

Basketball if fun, so keep having your fun. You don't have to be Super Fan #1. Look at Jack, he's more famous than everyone on the court other than Kobe and he just sits there like a normal human, checks out girls a third his age, and occasionally yells at refs. You don't see him dancing around all nimbly pimbly like Fred Astaire on Adderall.

One last thing; be nice to Andy Garcia, please. That guy can't get a decent seat for the life of him. People are still pretty mad about the third Godfather.

Sorry

No posts today. Except this one.

Here's Your Proof

If you've ever doubted the accuracy of this Internet weblog site, don't. Everything you ever read on here is true. Just two months ago I posted this absolutely brilliant deconstruction of Vinny Del Negro's coaching methods. Included in that post was this picture:

You might have thought I was joking and that these really weren't Vinny Del Negro's notes. Compare that play on the left to this one that Skeets captured during Saturday's game against the Celtics:

Eerily similar, aren't they? This just goes to show that I know things. But how?, you might wonder. I can't reveal that, but you should know the question isn't what are Vinny Del Negro's plays; it's WHEN are Vinny Del Negro's plays.

Carmelo and Chauncey Come Back to Earth

Space was really cool LOL but we want to talk about the Playoffs. Right Chauncey?

Word.

Kobe Bryant Great NBA Player

Kobe Bryant led LA Lakers to win NBA league three years in a row from 2000 to 2002. During the 2009 NBA All Star Game, Kobe Bryant was chosen All Star Game co-MVP with former teammate Shaq O'Neal.

Tim Duncan NBA Awards Winner

Tim Duncan is the captain of NBA San Antonio Spurs, a four-time NBA champion, and a three-time NBA Finals MVP. Tim Duncan has won NBA Rookie of the Year, NBA MVP Award twice, and has been voted into 11 NBA All Star Games, 11 All NBA Teams, and 11 All Defensive Teams.

Good Action I

As there is nothing actually happening in the NBA today or yesterday (aside from the Devil collecting on last year's deal with the Celtics) here's some good action:

• During the playoffs, I'll be doing little videos for Hardwood Paroxysm. There is going to be no editing or coherence or substance, so you should definitely tune in. Apparently, there will be antiquated sayings.
• I've also recently started writing little music blurbs for The Singles Jukebox. I know just as much about music as I do about basketball. Take that for what it's worth.
• One last thing I tend to know lots about: random basketball goods. As such, I'm now writing the Phenomenal Swag posts for Skeets.

So those are other places you can find my musings on various subjects. Now on to more good action.

• Here's a video of me performing Seal's number 1 hit "Kiss by a Rose" while driving around with Lady Gaga:
• If you'd like all The Brad Miller Show videos, along with outtakes, never-before-seen footage, and other extras on a DVD for a low price, email me. I'm talking nice menus, high quality video, and laughs for literally probably an hour, all for around 6 dollars. It's an unbeatable deal. Also, be on the lookout late this summer for an amazing Brad Miller production.
• As a reward for making it this far (you haven't made it this far), here's another chapter of my book. If you, or anyone you know, want to publish it, email me. I'm easily bought.

(click for full-size)

Whatever, Dwight Howard

It's finally happened; the slam dunk has lost its cache.

You're probably thinking, "yeah, right. Go back to Alabama where they don't even have SLAM at bookstores and you'll end up having to read Can I Keep My Jersey? even though it's not that great. That's what you deserve for saying dunking isn't cool anymore. A place that hates basketball. Go there." But I didn't even say dunking isn't cool, so you're kind of being a jerk.

The point is, this picture of Dwight Howard. I carefully analyzed each and every human in it who isn't Dwight Howard in order to test my theory. Check it out:

(click for full-size)

KEY

Green - actually enjoying this slam dunk shot

Yellow - refusing to watch, out of boredom

Red - visibly upset by the dunk

Light blue - skeptical

That's inarguable evidence right there, pal. These people are so fed up with Dwight Howard just dunking all the time. They're like, "sweet dunk Dwight." Then they roll their eyes to their friend behind Dwight's back.

So why don't you just lay off and stop telling me to go back to Alabama. I saw a kid there wearing a full Dwight Howard uniform, but with the new Melo's and socks, TO THE BEACH. Think about it.

Sabem decidir os jogadores ?

O Blogue espanhol http://viveelbasket.blogspot.com/ publicou um artigo interessante que não resisto a transcrever mesmo sem tradução :

...que debería de ir de la mano de “enseñamos a decidir, o nos limitamos simplemente a lo que dé de sí su talento?
Me centraré en las primeras etapas de formación. Recuerdo aún mis primeros entrenamientos en los que la entrada a canasta por izquierda y derecha era una repetición continua. Reinaban. Podían hacer en los entrenamientos semanales cientos de entradas, de tiros para aprender una adecuada mecánica, de pases diferentes y de botes en movimiento. Y repetíamos, y repetíamos...
No cabe duda que al cabo de unos meses (e intentando variar los ejercicios todo aquello que mi falta de experiencia me otorgaba) de los 15 jugadores y dependiendo también del talento de cada uno de ellos, al menos 4-5 te dominaban relativamente bien el gesto técnico en cuestión. 
De esos 4-5 (y sin olvidarnos de continuar el trabajo con el resto del equipo) salían 1-2 jugadores que te lograban realizar la entrada, el tiro, el pase y el bote de modo bastante maduro para su edad y desde el punto de vista del aprendizaje motor.
Pero, ¿qué ocurría cuando llegaba la hora de decidir cuándo se trataba de jugar un partido? ¿Cuántas veces hemos dicho los entrenadores: “vaya tela, nos salen muchas cosas en los entrenos que después en los partidos no aplicamos”? Ya sea una buena entrada a canasta, un buen tiro o sencillamente un buen pase. ¿Sabían decidir y saber aplicar lo que sabían? La respuesta una vez pasado el tiempo y siendo consciente de lo que todos vamos aprendiendo, es NO.
¿Cuántos niñ@s que estamos formando actualmente tienen una desproporción considerable entre el llamado ”mecanismo de ejecución” (tiro tras salida abierta, pase picado en contraataque, tiro libre, etc. etc.) y el “mecanismo de decisión”? ¿Los enseñamos adecuadamente para que sepan decidir en situación de juego?
Personalmente pienso que la capacidad de decidir es de lo más difícil de enseñar. Y para ello es imprescindible que el jugador/a posea un notable bagaje técnico (mecanismo de ejecución bien trabajado), para que tenga recursos con los que poder decidir. 
No cabe duda que recetas mágicas no existen, que el proceso de aprendizaje motor de un benjamín se complica cuando vemos que también existen otros mecanismos a trabajar (de percepción o de saber “leer” las situaciones; y de evaluación de lo que se ha ejecutado). Muchos de estos detalles quedan finalmente definidos en el jugador por eso que llamamos talento, pero: ¿hasta qué punto podemos trabajar en nuestros entrenos esa capacidad decisoria una vez que el jugador tiene un adecuado y maduro arsenal de recursos (bote en carrera, tiro tras recepción, entrada a paso perdido...)? 
Pienso que nuestro granito de arena lo podemos aportar en su desarrollo. En mayor o menor medida. La toma de decisiones en un entrenamiento va a ir complicándose desde el momento en que partimos del 1x0 hasta que lleguemos al 5x5 (pasando por el 1x1, 2x1, 2x2...). A mayor número de elementos que entren en juego, mayor será la exigencia para decidir óptimamente. Podemos tener jugadores muy listos que tengan éxito en sus decisiones, y jugadores que sean portentos físicos y que puedan “saltarse a la torera” mucha de esas decisiones basándose en su fuerza o velocidad. Pero, ¿cómo trabajarlos? 
Insistiendo en la realidad de que no existen recetas en esto del aprendizaje motor, se puede partir del clásico trabajo en ruedas (distintas filas con distintos roles que compartan espacio) para introducir precisamente filas y roles que no estén definidos como una única posibilidad a hacer, sino que se le dé la posibilidad al jugador de decidir entre dos-tres alternativas de modo que va a obligar al resto de la rueda o de filas a “responder” y decidir en función de lo que se vaya encontrando.
Es responsabilidad nuestra diseñar posibilidades para el jugador (que elija libremente entre 2-3 soluciones mediante un descubrimiento guiado o una resolución de problemas); e incluso “sacrificar” en los comienzos de su formación momentos en los que lleven a cabo una libre exploración. Somos conscientes que en una libre exploración, una gran cantidad de soluciones aportadas por el crío/a no van a ser óptimas para el basket, pero sí que va a ser realmente interesante el hábito y el acostumbrar al jugador a que piense, a que tenga un algo de protagonismo esencial en su aprendizaje. 
También nos podemos valer de los ya conocidos “hándicaps” en las situaciones de partido que se jueguen (dotar de diferente puntuación a dichas situaciones como por ejemplo 5 puntos tras canasta de contraataque, 5 tras rebote ofensivo, sólo canasta tras pase y no tras bote, etc. etc). Mostrar al niño/a una serie de posibilidades a elegir, que compruebe y viva el éxito que tiene según qué seleccione, que no tenga miedo a la hora de decidir, que tenga desparpajo, desvergüenza, “morro”, que aprenda a pensar en la pista, que mire y decida (y no al revés)... y que ellos elijan.
En fin, una serie de cosas que no se aprenden precisamente leyendo este artículo, sino planificando, aplicando, equivocándose, reajustando, viendo a los compañeros entrenar, a los jugador@sentrenar y jugar, y sobretodo mostrando un “hambre” e ilusión tremendas por enseñar a los que están en formación. 
Realmente lo que ello conlleva es aumentar el protagonismo del niñ@ en su toma de decisiones, en su capacidad para elegir una solución... u otra... u otra...o incluso aquella que no nos hemos dado siquiera cuenta y que él/ella descubre. 
Aunque también está el tema de los gustos: ¿Gusta más un equipo que aun siendo dirigido desde el banquillo posea una dosis de desparpajo, juego libre e imaginación; u otro que aun siendo también bueno sea característicamente robótico, memorístico y más rígido?.

 

 

 

Dennis Rodman 1990/91 NBA Defensive Player of the Year

Dennis Rodman was famous for his bizarre attitude and his defensive hustle from the beginning of his career. Yet Rodman showed great performance by making himself as one of the best rebounders of all time.

Chris Webber NBA All Star 5 Timer

Chris Webber is a 5 time NBA All Star as Sacramento King's basketball player. Chris Webber was also titled NBA Rookie of the Year when he played for Golden State Warriors.

I'm in Alabama

I am driving a Chevrolet Aveo.
I am staying in a Holiday Inn.
I am eating at a Waffle House.
I am getting sunburned.
I am wearing boat shoes.

Ergo, content will be meager until Thursday.

But first, a two man play I call "We Move as One."

-------------

We Move as One

Fin.
-------------

Chauncey Billups Denver Nuggets Guard

Chauncey Billups was the 2004 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP). Billups chose the number 7 jersey to honor Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway.

O retrato do basquetebol lisboeta...

Acabaram as Festas de 2009 e é tempo para refletir.


Ao fim de três anos já é possível fazer uma radiografia relativa ao valor do basquetebol actual em Lisboa.

Os dois quadros anexos dão matéria para refletir.

Saldo negativo nos Masculinos com Porto(1-5) e Aveiro (2-4).

E igual saldo nos Femininos com o Porto(1-3), Setúbal (0-2), Aveiro (3-6) e Coimbra (2-3).

O Ranking Festas Basquetebol diz que este ano démos um passo, mas a caminhada é ainda longa...

A tabela do "Ranking" é elaborada a partir das classificações obtidas pelas várias selecções na prova. Assim tomando como exemplo Lisboa:  em 2009 tem 12 pontos obtidos com 2 pontos (2º lugar Sub 14 M) + 3 pontos (3º Lugar Sub 16 F) + 3 pontos (3º lugar Sub 14 F ) + 4 Pontos (4º lugar Sub 16 M) o que dá no total 12. Não foi fácil elaborar esta tabela , mas nada melhor que os números para podermos saber onde estamos e  onde queremos chegar...

O trabalho com jovens jogadores e treinadores é das poucas coisas que ainda valem apena neste nosso basquetebol.

NBA Dancers Girls

NBA Dancers or Cheerleaders support a men's NBA team and are usually involved in charity work, fundraisers, and modeling. NBA Cheerleaders are also well known for their fashionable uniforms and costumes.

The End of Carmelo Anthony's Space Adventure Letters?

Sup, Earthlings. It's me, Carmelo Anthony.

As you're well aware, me and my buddy Chauncey Billups have been travelling all around Space, doing Space things. We've seen some crazy stuff. Stuff that you can't see on Earth. Like for instance, we saw Earth. The whole thing. You can see little pieces when you're on Earth but to see it all, you have to go to Space.

And we went to Space. As I said before. Here's the proof.

That's me and Chaunce in deep dark space, posing. Giving cold looks. LOL We had a great time. Ain't that right Chauncey?

Yessir.

But we were up in Space the other day, and Chauncey throws Independence Day in the DVD player. That's one of his favorite Fresh Prince movies. But we're watching it in Space, which makes it even more relevant. Chauncey looks at me and says, "fossil fuels." And I knew what he meant.

We been using so much fossil fuels being up here it's ridiculous. And we like the environment, so we decided to come back and go green. So that's basically it. We're back from Space to save the environment with going green. Probably won't here much about our trip until the book comes out, which is supposed to be summer of 2009. It's going to be otherworldly good. LOL

Peace for now, everybody.

Keep it real,

Melo