The League is Back in Action!

   
Wow, basketball fans around the globe can finally breathe as the NBA season is back in action. Sooo many awesome story lines coming in....the new rookies, will the Warriors defend their championship and form into the new dynasty, will KD and Westbrook stay healthy and take the next step in conference supremacy, can a healthy Cavs team make it back to the finals and win the cities first Championship in forever??? So many good things to keep an eye on and therefore building excitement.

The Warriors opened up the season being presented with their championship rings and hanging their championship banner. From the tip the Warriors showed that they were no fluke as MVP Steph Curry put up a 40pt opening night performance, first since MJ did it in the mid 90s.
With that being said, who will be able to de-thrown the champs if anyone?
 Some of the teams that repositioned themselves to be favorites in that quest is the Spurs with the additions of Aldridge and D. West, Houston became stronger with the addition of Ty Lawson, Miami got stronger and healthier, and OKC Thunder is, at least for now up and at it, which was displayed last night with the dynamic duo of Westbrook and KD going for 48pts and 43pts respectfully!! The Cleveland Cavaliers started the season with King James a little rusty and sore, falling in the first outing but have bounced back beautifully with Kevin Love looking like the Twolves version of Kevin Love.
The rookie class is off to a strong start, one of the strongest starts in recent history. Jahlil Okafor looked like a seasoned, veteran All-Star post man on opening night with an easy looking 26pts displaying that incredible footwork and soft touch....to bad he plays for the Philadelphia 76ers. Karl Anthony Townes has been strong in the first few, posting a 28pt 14 reb 4blk performance last night. Porzingis of the New York Knicks has shown early flashes of awesomeness, combating some of the negative undertones and doubt felt throughout the NYK fan base after they took him as their first pick in the draft passing up other high end prospects such as Emanuel Mudiay and  Justice Winslow. Mudiay has stepped into a situation where he has an opportunity to show what he has and he has already given the organization much to be encouraged about.  We will keep the rookie watch going as we move on.
 NBA season is off to a great start and with names like Jabari Parker and Kyrie Irving among others on the cusp of returning, there are some good teams that will get even better as the season wars on!!
Stay Tuned!!!

Tips For July For The TravelAAU/Showcase Ball Player : Pt. 1

Tips for July pt.1

 Good day ladies and gentlemen..... Its that time of year where in college coaches/recruiters and beating a path all over the country to lay eyes on prospects who they feel are a fit and can contribute in their program, thus resulting in NCAA scholarship offers. With this being said, though we may not want to state it this way, the stakes are high and the lights are on for these young players. Often times this can cause the young man or women to give a ton of effort and focus on showing that they are offensively gifted or hugely productive on that end and a huge shadow is casted over the other....DEFENSE/EFFORT end. Keep this in mind, if you don't appear ENGAGED on the defensive end which includes good posture, talking on D, the hustle 50/50 balls, coaches will be turned off as they will see you as a liability and with the multitude of players to choose from, may not take a second look. Don't gauge your game by the ball going through the net ALONE. Being locked in n defense and the hustle game screams TEAM, and you only giving effort and playing with urgency when you have the ball screams ME! You've gotta want to stop somebody. You have to take every defensive possession personally. This alone separates you from many others on the court and is the real definition of imposing your will and impacting the game unto "domination". It infuses your teammates and believe it or not, it's the best way to get going on the other end!!  D-UP!!!

D.Rose "Heart of the City" Returns

 

 Back in the spring, during the start Chicago Bulls 2012-2013 playoff season, many had already questioned Derrick Roses commitment to the team by not coming back as soon as team doctors cleared him to play, but now no Rose in the playoff? D. Rose was fresh off of recovering from ACL surgery after tearing it the playoff season prior. He had been cleared for a couple months by playoff time and many accused him of quitting on his team. That sounds like an argument, IF you are viewing the situation from solely a selfish fan's perspective.... let me explain. Derrick Rose grew up seeing the likes of Penny Hardaway & Grant Hill, two mega stars who were set to be first ballad hall of famers and potentially in the convo for top 5 all-time. Penny, a 6-8 PG that could shoot the long bomb, super athletic finisher at the rim, defensively above average, pass the ball like a young Magic and control the pace of team play with perfection. Having the biggest Nike marketing campaign since Jordan, Penny and Lil Penny were lighting up footlocker and commercials, including other huge endorsement deals, like the NYC skyline. Nagging injuries, that he always attempted to come back too soon for his own liking from, wore him into the ground and faded a future legend's career. Almost the identical story with Grant Hill, having continued to play during a Detroit playoff series on a jacked up ankle which lead to him never being the same explosive talent again on top of nearly costing him his life. Not only does this affect the "superstar" athletes potential as a player in the future but their fortune, on and off the court. A lot of the critics may not be a kid from the South side of Chicago raised in a single parent home, that saw their mother work 2 and sometimes 3 jobs to make ends meet or raised in a place where in the best player in your schools history, in your perspective sport, was shot dead right outside of the school over nothing. They may not be from the new murder capital of the world where it's a blessing just to see 21 yrs of age, no event to mention making it to college and being an NBA lottery pick, rookie of the year, an All-Star, MVP, a grateful  son who made it and a loving father....oh yeah and ADIDAS leading poster boy! ......so it was more riding on Derrick Rose making sure that he was more than %100 ready to go before he came out and put it all on the line than what it may seemed to be on the surface. As fans it's easy to look at the surface. For what it's worth, Derrick Rose actually made the best decision for his team in waiting to make sure he was completely ready to go this season. What if he had risked it and came back too soon, never reaching 100% on his rating chart and lost some of his step and explosiveness, which would have resulted in a loss of confidence. Why risk his financial future, endorsements, on court ability, player stock??? For what? To play in the playoffs and get bounced in the second round by a loaded Miami squad? To please some fans that won't be able to negotiate him a new shoe deal with Adidas if they were to drop him due to lack of superior performance nor be able to convince the Bulls to give him a franchise player's contract after showing that he can't produce on the same level anymore? Come on people!!! No one connected to Rose, up to and including former and current teammates and coaches have ever questioned his heart. He opened up the 2013-2014 preseason the other night with a very fast and explosive 13pts, almost looking like he never left, attacking with that D. Rose fury. In summary it wasn't a lack of heart issue, it's more about him using his head!

D. Rose....Heart of the City!
http://youtu.be/JmFO_4IefEs

2013-2014 Debut!!
http://youtu.be/ICqT24UwVfU

Ladies First! A Few Names You May or May Not Know....Yet!!

WE'VE GOT NEXT!!!!

After the one of the most high profile WNBA drafts yet, an incredible women's college basketball season that was star powered and more girls prep basketball coverage ever, spectators are looking for the next great crop earlier and earlier in the women's game. HNB is here to highlight that category for you in this first episode of "Lady's First" South Eastern addition!!!!

First we want to highlight a young lady that has ATHLETE written all over her, Anna Wilson of Richmond, VA. (Collegiate HS). Anna (class of 2016-ESPN TOP 100), already being offered by Maryland, Virginia, WakeForest, Marquette among others, the 5-8 G has already shown great ability to lead and make those around her better topped by an impressive skill set. She grabbed a lot of attention last year playing on the Boo Williams Richmond 8th grade squad in the Division 1 nationals, in which she racked up 17 assist. She has definitely made a good name for herself, garnering a lot of attention to her game legitimately though we do know it runs in her blood... Anna's big brother is Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks and even he let's it be known that Anna holds her own weight!. Keep your eyes on this awesome young lady!
Anna Wilson Videos: http://youtu.be/soxQN2NI5As

Next up we head south to NC's Page H.S. to highlight 5-8 G Paris Kea (class of 2016). With a great ability to break down defenses with an explosive step and a strong, controlled handle, Paris is able to draw help defenders and set up teammates extremely well but let it be known...she can fill it up as well! Just this past spring in the state championship vs. power house Millbrook H.S., Paris lead her team with an impressive 31pts. Not a bad showing considering Millbrook was loaded with 8 scholarship players on it's roster. She has made All-State two yeas running and is anticipated to explode up the national level this summer and over the upcoming school ball season as she continues to display the explosive but controlled nature of her game!! Remember I told you....PARIS KEA!

Now we will travel about an hour up the road to Raleigh N.C. where we will highlight 5-10 underaged rising sophomore, Kristi Demski. Though not being exposed to AAU until this spring and somewhat flying under the radar as a result (until now) Kristi Demski has not come short of displaying that she is a talent worth keeping an eye on. Skipping a grade at a younger age, Kristi began her freshman year at just 13yrs old but didn't play her age in her first varsity season. On opening night, not only did she pull her team back from being down 30 to falling short only by 5 or 6, but KD broke the school scoring record with 32pts adding 8reb and 3 ast to go with it. Despite breaking her pinky finger on her shooting hand in the second game of the season, she played through it missing no games from the injury and ended the season with averages of 21ppg, 7rpg, 2.5apg, 2bpg, and 2spg. After her school season she joined the Garner Road Lady Bulldogs Elite 2015 squad with girls 2 full yrs older than herself and soon hit maybe her biggest basket yet. After starting nationals bracket play 6-0, her team faced elimination with about 2 minutes left, trailing by going back and forth with the lead. Not only did she score 5 points in the final minute and change but that included being down 2 and knocking down a 3pt basket with 4 seconds to go, giving her team the W. Pure shooter, good handle, long arms and good hands....Straight A student too. DON'T SLEEP!! Kristi Demski is going to be a player!

Kristi Demski
http://youtu.be/JFPLu0nIss8

Love The Game, Play the Game!

Love the Game...

Amazing how young ball players and their parents under value seeking out greater competition at all times. We know skill training is essential, its a must but getting on the gun and doing a billion drills alone isn't going to get it done!!! You have to compete against the best talent possible. You can't duplicate that temp better than the real thing.....anticipation, pace, momentum, communication, court vision, poise on and on....then they wonder why their child or school can't compete against the upper echelon.... You don't actually PLAY enough basketball against REAL competition. What's sad is that they really feel like they are getting somewhere with that concept but yet they aren't putting out a whole lot of talent...I mean real talent!!! I think that's why it's a lot of kids who can't pass the rock very well. They are just "drilling" themselves crazy (mostly 1 on 1 offensive stuff with the ball) and that's it (do to some dude that wants to over sell himself as the only element the player needs to be successful at the game.... Let these kids play!!! A player has to be able to play in situations where in the court has exceptional talent on the floor. People can cry about all the things that they don't like about AAU, which there are probably valid reasons, but when it comes down to it, AAU is 1 of the greatest ways for a young player to play against the best talent and be comfortable in that setting.  When you hear Magic, Bird, Michael, Kobe and tons of other greats, they talk about the battles at the bball court up the street against the older brother or the taller older kids or, in Reggie Miller's case, the older better sister!!! That's what helps turn those corners and apply what is addressed in those workouts. I saw some kids in a gym shooting on the gun while I was getting ready to play with a group of adults who were about to come in. When the group came in to play, the teenaged kids who were shooting, put on their slides, took the gun down and left, though toughness, and the ability to play and compete strong were these kids very weaknesses!!!! Shout out to the coaches, teams and organizations that promote real competition and encourage players to play basketball.

Kobe Bryant, Forever Under Appreciated!

   

 I've heard all of the critics. Some alluding to Kobe not trusting his teammates, dominating the ball and being to old to keep putting up great numbers night in and night out to carry this (weak) team. They allude to everyone being the "best" everything in the league but him, you know, Lebron is the best player on planet earth (after winning 1 ring with a dream team roster), Durant, Melo and several others follow as Kobe's greatness is always followed by "but" or "although", in the media's rank. If he goes off for a big scoring night, no matter how well he shoots its, "well they can't continue to win that way" or "he won't be able to continue that all season" or"he has to get his teammates involved"or "that wasn't a great team they played". Jordan dominated the ball, shot just as much as Kobe, and didn't trust his teammates anymore than Kobe but that was ok for MJ but not Kobe....huh? Side note...Kobe and MJ have something else similar, MJ has 6 rings and Kobe 5!! Its funny because when Lebron or Durant put up big numbers, "oh my goodness, what an unbelievable performance". The circle of NBA basketball analyst look for a angle to discredit Bean!!!

    

     The truth is, in the last two games, games 77 & 78 of his 17th season, on his 34 yr old knees, Kobe Bryant, as he has done all season, showed that he is everything that an all-time great basketball player needs to be, scoring 23 of his 30pts Tuesday night in the 4rth qtr (14-27 fg and 10-11FT), over coming a deficit and going for 47pts including (9-18FG and18-18FT) from the free throw line against a young, athletic Portland team that was looking to spoil the Laker's efforts to make the playoffs! That's just this week. Kobe Bryant's numbers this year.... 27.3pts 6.0 ast and 5.6 rebounds per game, including shooting 46%FG and 84% FT. In March he avg. 7.1 ast and April 8.2 ast. Because of the lack of perimeter defense on his team, he works like a crazy man every night trying to put out Steve Nash and Blake's fire. He has had some of the most incredible performances since the All-Star break, in the entire league, literally putting the team on his back. Howard has played better as late, but struggled and was limited in many ways more than half of the year and when he gets a lots of touches, he is sent to the line where he is HORRIBLE. Nash has been out more than he has played this year with injury, though even when healthy, he can't defend my 11yr old son.  Pau is actually the second best overall player on the team as far as presenting match-up problems and overall versatility but has also been bit by the injury bug a great deal of the season and bitten by the Mike D'Antoni "I can't coach two bigs at the same time"/ "I can't coach" bug. Everybody else on the roster is less than impressive...I mean really, they're roster is pretty weak. Everything that could go wrong has went wrong for the Laker's except that one constant that has been staring down opposition for 17yrs....and is still bleeding ICE COLD BLOOD, the Mamba!

Star "Track" The Next Generation!! 2013 McDonald's All-American Game

 In today's world run by unlimited social media outlets, there are a lot of sources that build a lot of hype on young, up and coming players in the game of basketball. There is one corner stone in that field though... these are the grounds in which a basketball head can view the "next" big thing.... The McDonald's All-American Game! This has been the preview for most of all of today's college and NBA stars from Kobe, Lebron, Carmelo and the list goes on!!! 

  

                                          Jabari Parker #2 overall prospect

This year will be no slouch on the list of great games in this storied event, highlighting a super talented  class including Andrew Wiggins (uncommitted), Jabari Parker (Duke commit), the Harrison twins (Kentucky commits) and Julius Randle (Kentucky commit) among a host of other super talented names!! This classic event, laced with the next generation of studs, is being held, again, in the United Center in Chicago. College hoops coaches and fans can view what they have to look forward to and NBA fans get a  heads up on what is to come. So far, once again, it looks like coach Cal and Kentucky may be the "fortunate" again in this 2013 class. In fact people say this may be the class that almost makes you forget about the fabe fab!! (We'll see) This is a gigantic stage and one of the greatest honors for a high school player to be involved in and its often used as a proving ground and intro to the national scene!!

Catch a load of this game Wednesday April 3rd on ESPN at 9:30pm est!!