Dangerous

"It's easy to love me now..."

Nate Dogg - 21 Questions

The Celtics have put themselves in a position to raise championship banner number 18...and while it didn't seem like it was going to happen during the season...they have quietly made a run unlike no other.

Not now, but right now

Before the 2009-10 NBA campaign, I wrote a piece on how the Lakers and Celtics would meet again for the title. My assumption could prove accurate in the next week, as the C's look to wrap up the series tonight in Orlando. On Monday I met with Hall of Fame Coach John Chaney, and as our conversation shifted to the league...he expressed that Rajon Rondo is a scoring first, pass second point guard, and because of that fact the Celtics will not win it all with him at the helm.

I'm not sure what to think...I feel that Rondo is doing a terrific job. Coach Chaney wants him to pass to Ray Allen more, and drive to the basket less. (Coach says Ray has the best jump shot in the league, while Kobe Bryant is the best overall player) The Orlando Magic have struggled more within themselves, than from any defensive pressure, and as they play Game 5, 8:30PM EST...they are playing for tomorrow, while the C's once again find themselves with nothing to lose.

If they win, mission accomplished...if they fail, then they still have two more opportunities to win one game...which makes the Boston Celtics a very dangerous team.

Photo: Elsa/Getty Images

Reverse the Curse

Love/Hate

“The Blueprint 2 homie, follow the moves…you put on two tube socks you couldn’t walk in my shoes…”

Jay – Z – Diamond Is Forever

William Michael Krzyzewski took over a struggling Duke University Men’s Basketball program 29-years ago, and while he has had the success of 3 National Championships, and 10 Final Fours…there is a stigma that goes along with being a Duke Blue Devil.

True Blue

I’ve always been a fan of basketball, and teams that play the game the “right” way. In my youth I watch John Chaney, and Mark Macon of the Temple Owls play so well that they were ranked number 1 in the nation during the 1987-88 season. The other team that intrigued me was the Bruins of UCLA, as they had the prestige of the NCAA record books, and the allure of Southern California…so in 1992 when Christian Laettner hit the game winning shot off a Grant Hill pass in my hometown Philadelphia, something changed and I became a Duke fan.

There were two problems with my being a Blue Devil fan…first and foremost everyone where I lived was either a UNLV or Michigan supporter, or both…because in my community, it was easier to identify with Larry Johnson, and Chris Webber, than Brian and Grant Hill. The other obstacle is/was that no one from Duke ever did anything worth mentioning in the NBA…and this argument has been carried on in barbershops, on basketball courts, and living rooms across the country.

In my opinion the players from Duke should be discussed in categories, instead of labeling them all as a disappointment. The way I see things, they can be organized as follows: bust (Alaa Abdelnaby, Trajan Langdon, Shelden Williams), all-star (Grant Hill, Elton Brand, Carlos Boozer), solid (Johnny Dawkins, Christian Laettner, Mike Dunleavy Jr., Corey Maggette, JJ Redick, Dahntay Jones, Luol Deng) tragedy (Bobby Hurley, Jay Williams)

I have my stance, but I never played in the ACC, nor did I attend the university on tobacco road, so instead of going any further with my theory…I asked a few former Dukies why their program consists of equal parts hearsay, judgment, love and hate?

Elton Brand
Philadelphia 76ers

Can Duke players make it within the NBA game?
“In college you know we have so much of a team concept, and everything is really about the team. In the NBA its more about individuals…so when we play our defense, that’s team defense, when we play on offense you get an open shot, you set a pick, you’re focused on a team. When you get to the league, it’s more individual…can I iso this guy…and a lot of our players aren’t those players. It’s a system, and also you know besides North Carolina…it’s not a ton of players from Arizona, Kentucky, or from any other premier powerhouse every year that has ten players doing it, you know what I mean? You know with the high school exodus, guys were coming out of high school…so you know North Carolina with MJ, and those guys, Sam Perkins…getting to the championships all those years, other than that…there isn’t too many other powerhouse colligate programs that have ring after ring, and players. In the league it’s not like those players are translating into top-notch pros also. And you know UCONN…they have some players in the league too…”

What do you think about Gerald Henderson Jr.?
“I saw the Georgia Tech game. That was the game he played really well…he had like 25 points. He’s comfortable in the system, you know finding his way, and learning, and growing as a player. I think he’ll do well [in the league] too. You have Dahntay Jones out in Denver…he’s playing well, and I think he’ll be in the same type of mold or better, he has that same athleticism.”

Is it easy to pick on Duke because it’s an elite program?
“Oh yeah! Other schools have some of the same traits, same stories, but it’s easy to pick on Duke. For one a lot of people don’t like Duke, you know what I mean? Our mantra was hated by few, loved by many, but respected by all. That was our manta…let’s go get it! So Coach K will get the best out of his players in a team concept.”

What ever happened to William Avery?
“Was he cold or what? That was my roommate…that was my dog. You’re right…you got another one for your list.”

JJ Redick
Orlando Magic

What do you say to the fact that people believe Duke players never develop as great NBA players?
“I think the average fan doesn’t realize that 80% of the league, it’s all about being in the right situation. I think Elton [Brand] is exactly right…if you made the league then you panned out, you panned out as a basketball player. So the fact that we have whatever…13, 14, guys in the league is a testament not only to the talent level we’ve had, but the development program that Duke has had in place…I mean I don’t buy it. We’ve had too many good players, especially within the last 7 or 8 years, starting with Elton, that have been a major role…have had major roles on great teams…Grant Hill, Elton, Corey Maggette…there’s a long list of guys, and I don’t know what the numbers are, but I know as of last year I think our salaries…we’re all signed for whatever [laughs]…you know Boozer is an All-Star…Olympic guy, we’ve had a lot of guys that have had a lot of success in the league. I think in the 90’s there…unfortunate things happened with Bobby and his accident. You know people pick on Christian [Laettner]; he was so good in college, that unless he was the next Larry Bird…I mean people forget…Christian average double figures many years. He averaged 18 a game his rookie year, he was an All-Star in Atlanta, I mean the guy played for 13 or 14 years, I don’t buy any of that stuff, and I think Elton is right on…when you’ve had success, I don’t want to say people get sick of you, but you become a target of scrutiny, and I think that’s what happened with Duke a little bit.”

How is Coach K?
“I think Coach K gives us a lot of freedom. I know when I was there, I got to do what I wanted on the court in terms of playing offense…taking shots, I think the locker room atmosphere, how people talked to each other is definitely different from the NBA. I think that was probably the biggest adjustment, because…everything…Coach K is so hands on, whether if it’s meeting with a player an hour after practice, or have a 3-hour team meeting, I mean everything is just very detailed…you don’t have the time in the NBA to do that with 82 games, so I don’t think it’s because Duke plays as a team that guys get to the NBA and are like oh my gosh what do I do? It’s just a different system and it takes some adjusting to do.”

Why do you get so much of that Duke hate?
“I think that the only explanation is that I went to Duke. Maybe early on in my career…my freshman and sophomore year I acted like a bit of a jerk on the court…but let’s say I went to Texas or Florida, 2 elite programs, 2 great programs…their programs have had a lot of success within the last 10 years, I don’t think that I would be a name. So I think that it was a gift and curse, because I made a name for myself…I became a household name in college basketball, but also there was a lot of negative attention and scrutiny, so it went both ways.”

Dahntay Jones
Denver Nuggets

What are your thoughts on Duke players in the league?
“The focus is on us because we are so successful. Guys have had different stories, different routes, people have had career ending injuries, and sometimes it’s not the right situation, but we’ve had a lot of guys stick around and play key roles on teams. We have guys that have had success in this league…Elton, Corey Maggette, Mike Dunleavy plays well in Indiana, Christian had a cool career…he didn’t have a stellar career, but few people have a stellar career. Before Grant [Hill] got hurt he was having an awesome career. It’s just the right situation, at the right time.”

Politics as Usual

Pride

Strength

"Down to Maryland...all the way over there at Morgan State..."

RZA - Ain't Nothin' Ta F--- Wit

I love sports, because like our lives...anything can happen without a moment's notice. On Wednesday, January 7th, the Morgan State University Bears, traveled south on the beltway to College Park, MD to play against the University of Maryland. What would eventually happen is something that brings joy, and pain.

unBEARable

During the days of racial tension and Jim Crow laws, black people in this country worked together to provide services, and opportunities for one another. For example, there were black business (hotels, laundry mats, newspapers, restaurants, mom & pop stores, etc.) that thrived in this country because of segregation...as this relates to institutions of higher learning and intercollegiate sports, they also enjoyed the success of high enrollment, and winning programs.

Once the integration doctrine was accepted, things changed within the black communities, as there was no longer a specific need to support one another...because a new integrated world had opened up. Traditionally Historically Black Colleges and Universities had the best of the best athletic programs...with Coach Gaines, and Earl Monroe at Winston-Salem State, Coach John McLendon at North Carolina College for Negroes, Coach Ben Jobe, Avery Johnson, and Bobby Phills at Southern University, and John Chaney at Bethune Cookman University, to name a few. Nowadays playing for an HBCU is second to the likes of the University of Florida, Duke University, and the University of Kentucky...so when the Morgan State Bears "upset" the Maryland Terps 66-65, it became BIG news. 

I was watching ESPN as always on Wednesday night, when I saw the highlights from the game. I didn't know what to think? Should I be happy because the Bears are getting some national recognition, or should I be upset because they don't get enough attention? As of this morning, I still haven't decided, so I wrote this rather spirited piece. Last season MSU, under coach Todd Bozeman, won 22 games, good for 2nd best in the school's history, if you didn't already know that fact. I say that to say...MSU has a good men's basketball program. 

Last but not least, I went to Temple University...passing on Howard University...which makes me stop and think...was I apart of the problem that I'm writing about now...or did I stay home in Philadelphia because it was best for my family? The answer is...I wanted to attend UCLA because of the prominent black athletes that received their education there in the past...from Jackie Robinson, and Arthur Ashe, to Lew Alcindor, Flo Jo, Reggie Miller, and Pooh Richardson, so between that, and I really didn't have a choice other than Temple and Howard.

As the University of Maryland can attest...things don't always go accordingly to plan, and that's why the games are played. 

Congrats to the Morgan State University Bears, all the best this season.

Photo: Carol Smith

New York State of Mind

Anomaly

Defense first

"Young, early 80's throwing rocks at the crazy lady..."

Nas - Street Dreams

When I first heard of Lamar Odom, I was very impressed at what I had read. So when I saw the left handed, 6'10" point guard, from South Side Jamaica, Queens...my greatest fear had come to fruition. The stage was set, as my Temple University Owls played against the Rams of Rhode Island in the Atlantic 10 Championship game. Much to Coach Chaney's dismay the game's balance was the hands of Odom with a few seconds left on the game clock. To make my story of agony brief, he put up a shot from the arc that not only ended Temple's championship run...it also beat the buzzer, and the rest is history. 

When it was a game

The aftermath of that 3-point shot, resulted in Lamar entering the NBA draft that summer, and becoming the 4th overall pick for the Los Angeles Clippers. It no secret that as a native of Philadelphia I was raised a fan of the 76ers. However, because of where I grew up, I met Sharia Bryant older sister of Kobe, and because of that fact, I cheer for the Los Angeles Lakers, as well as the Philadelphia 76ers. 

Having explained that...as a journalist, I attend as many Laker games as I can when they travel east. Last Wednesday, they were in Philly, and I spoke with Odom, and Stephen A. Smith about New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress. After our conversation, I decided that I would interview Lamar before the next game against the Washington Wizards.

I drove to DC with my fellow writers Jeff Young, and Michael Tillery. Jeff and I, after walking over to the visitor's locker room, spoke with Derek Fisher first, and then Lamar Odom.

Here is the score on my chat with the man they call LO:

Talk to me about your role on this team:

"I just bring my energy off the bench. My role is to fill any position that we need...ball handling, rebounding, I come off the bench...score a couple of buckets, and try to get people involved. Basically it's my job to play basketball the right way every night."

On the possibility of a starting role:

"That's not really my focus. My focus is to...my job is to basically do what I'm asked, you know what I'm saying...and I just leave it at that, and put my head in the right place mentally, so whatever they ask of me, I can fulfill that. Whether it's coming off the bench or starting...at the end of the day it's basketball. You know what I'm saying, when you come off the bench of course you don't get to play as much, but you never know. Injuries, streaks...as far as people playing good or bad, you know it's a long season...minutes, whatever may be, I just try to stay prepared. You know keep my mind, and my body prepared so when the time does come, I can play my role, do what I do."

Talk about the college game when you were in school and what it is now:

"There was a transition in the college game in the early 90's until now. The transition was that guys started to leave a lot earlier. You know when I was coming up, watching the [NBA] draft... '92 draft, '93...even the guys like Big Dog, Grant Hill, stayed like 3-years. Now guys...the guys that are really good, are going like basically 1 [year] and done. So you see a lot of teams dominating, like all the way through the season, like you can pick who is going to be in the Final Four, and Sweet 16 a lot easier, because the teams that are able to keep players there, and keep really good players there of course, are going to be good. When I say keep them there I just mean, you're a veteran right now if you're a junior in college. I think when [Kevin] Garnett went to the league, and the whole AAU situation, and the high school age limit, all that kind of changed college in general. But I think the college game is a necessity for a lot of the kids to come to the NBA, not for basketball, but for the off the court prep that it gives you. I spent two years in college, and played 1, and I miss it to this day. It's nothing like it...there are people that I know...I bump into journalist, to lawyers...it was probably the most incredible time I've had in my life. You got to do what you love on a national stage, but yet the off court scene still had an innocence to it. This is business, you know what I'm saying...even though we love to do it, but a lot of what we do is based upon economics and politics...like any other job."

You were highly touted as a high school student, what are your thoughts in looking back?

"I've been playing basketball against Ron Artest...I'm only 28, 29-years old...I've been playing basketball against Ron Artest and Elton Brand for like 15-years. You know what I'm saying...more than that really, since like 12, or 13-years old. So to grow up with dudes like that and to get to this level and still play against them...and still be with them...for the whole borough of Queens that's special. I went to Christ the King with Chamique [Holdsclaw] and Sue Bird, and that New York City basketball tradition...I'm trying to hold it down."

Photo: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images - NBA

Flight of the Bumblebee

Staley - the best that ever did it

Teacher, and friend

Coach and AG - Philly's finest

"My name is J-I-L-L-S-C-O-T-T-eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehhhhhheeeeee...Jill Scott...representin' North Philly y'all!"

Jill Scott - The Roots (Interlude) 

The summer Olympics are in full swing, and I have been switching channels like crazy to observe as many different contests as possible. This morning I watched the USA women's basketball team, as they matched up against Mali, the west African nation. It wasn't much of a contest as their star player Hamchetou Maiga-Ba, also of the WNBA Houston Comets, was forced out of the action with an ankle injury, from Monday. 

The score was 51-28 by the half, and Mali only managed to score 5 points in the 3rd quarter, so instead of focusing on the game, I decided to check my email, and listen to the action rather than watch it. There are two things that had my ear long enough for me to look at the television...the first was an interview with Carlos Boozer of the men's team as he and his squad were there to show their support. A few minutes later, Craig Sager, the sideline reporter made a mention of assistant coach Dawn Staley and how she encouraged the team not to let up because the competition will only get stronger. From there the camera panned right to left and there was a stoic coach Staley giving instructions and guidance to her former Olympic teammates. 

I first met her in July, 1992, as she was my coach at the John Chaney/Sonny Hill Camp. She had such a positive impact on me, as years later in 2002 she would hire me to work under her as the film coordinator and office intern for the Temple women's basketball program. 

It was a pleasure to learn from Staley, who was a legendary North Philadelphia point guard having grown up playing with the late great Hank Gathers on Diamond Street. Coach is a true friend, and mentor, and her departure from Temple University to the University of South Carolina is bittersweet. She changed the atmosphere at TU, and turned a notorious losing team into a nationally ranked program, while sending two players, Candice Dupree, and Kamesha Hairston to the WNBA. (Both were first round lottery picks)

As a high school and collegiate star and All-American, she wore the number 24. After my first encounter with her at camp, I went to school that September and begged my coach for that specific jersey. I wanted to be just like her, and I figured I would start with the number, and I've been wearing it ever since, and when Kobe Bryant changed from 8 to 24, it most certainly bought a smile to my face. 

Coach is an American icon as she proved that with hard work and dedication, anything could be possible. The three-time Olympian is on the verge for her first gold as a coach, but most certainly not her last. 

Photos:   Pat Staub Photography

                  Temple University

                  AXG