Got 'Em Coach

ALLEN IVERSON RETURNS TO PHILLY #GotEm

Thu, 24 May 2012 11:41:00 -0400

ALLEN IVERSON RETURNS TO PHILLY #GotEm

MUST WATCH: The Webbys, Spike Lee and the Year in Sports The...

Wed, 23 May 2012 10:48:50 -0400

[Flash 10 is required to watch video.]

MUST WATCH: The Webbys, Spike Lee and the Year in Sports

The great team over at Grantland asked me to put together a video covering the Year in Sports online for the Webby Awards. Not just the big moments in games, but the moments that took off on the Internet. I happen to have two rules in life:

Be kind to others.
When Bill Simmons’ Grantland calls and asks for a video covering the Year in Sports online for the Webby Awards - and not just the big moments in games, but the moments that took off on the Internet - you say yes.

So I made one. Kindly.

What I did not know is that my video would be played on a giant floating screen, amidst a complex framework of pipes and bubbling erlenmeyer flask. I also did not know Spike Lee would introduce the video, but I gotta be honest, it’s the really huge, bubbling erlenmeyer flask that surprised me. [SCIENCE!!!]

Best part is, if you turn the volume on your computer all the way up, and listen really, very closely, in a room that has little to no distraction whatsoever, you can hear one laugh.

Hope you watch and enjoy. Thanks to Grantland for the opportunity, and check out their incredible site here.

#GotEmCoach

“I’m not fading into the shadows, if that’s what you’re asking....

Tue, 22 May 2012 02:03:52 -0400

“I’m not fading into the shadows, if that’s what you’re asking. I’m not going anywhere. We’re not going anywhere…It’s not one of those things where the Bulls beat the Pistons and the Pistons disappeared forever. Not going for that shit…Come hell or high water, we’re going to be there again.” - Kobe Bryant

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Repost, now and forever. #GotEmCoach

Tue, 22 May 2012 00:59:52 -0400

Repost, now and forever.

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Q: Who committed more fouls in the Spurs v. Clippers 2nd Round...

Mon, 21 May 2012 17:42:00 -0400

Q: Who committed more fouls in the Spurs v. Clippers 2nd Round series: Tim Duncan or Blake Griffin?

A: Tim Duncan and Blake Griffin have never committed a foul, ever, since they’ve been born.

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The #Clippers and Chris Paul finish a great season.

Mon, 21 May 2012 01:25:00 -0400

The #Clippers and Chris Paul finish a great season.

“I don’t give a [expletive] what you say. If I go out there...

Sat, 19 May 2012 13:04:04 -0400

“I don’t give a [expletive] what you say. If I go out there and miss game winners, and people say, ‘Kobe choked, or Kobe is seven for whatever in pressure situations,’ well, [expletive] you.”

- Kobe Bryant

Read the rest here.

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Sat, 19 May 2012 02:28:30 -0400

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Fri, 18 May 2012 11:44:58 -0400

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The Pacers win, and are up 2-1 over the Heat. Indiana absolutely...

Thu, 17 May 2012 21:55:00 -0400

The Pacers win, and are up 2-1 over the Heat.

Indiana absolutely believe they can beat the Miami in this series, and by the way, they currently employ Tyler Hansbrough.

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GOT ‘EM COACH PRESENTS: Face Math Listen, I’m not...

Thu, 17 May 2012 15:45:00 -0400

GOT ‘EM COACH PRESENTS: Face Math

Listen, I’m not going to say the newest member of the Got’Em Family, Omar Villegas, has an innately and insanely odd talent, but this guy Omar has a crazy, weird talent he was born with to dissect, and breakdown the faces of celebrities.

Check out more of his oddly engrossing Face Math at facemath.tumblr.com. Omar is the Da Vinci of whatever this thing is he’s created.

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The @Lakers have blocked me on twitter. Honestly, what could I...

Thu, 17 May 2012 01:43:00 -0400

The @Lakers have blocked me on twitter. Honestly, what could I have done to get a professional sports team, that I root for, to block me on twitter?

You tell a few hundred thousand jokes about Ramon Sessions being an awful, awful basketball player in big games, and the nerds handling the @Lakers twitter account block you.

@GotEm_Coach

The Lakers got worked in Game 1, and the slaughter has just...

Wed, 16 May 2012 17:16:55 -0400

The Lakers got worked in Game 1, and the slaughter has just begun (try to remember the good times, fellow Laker fans). Despite having strengths where the Thunder have weaknesses (inside, half-court offense), this series is a bad match-up for LA because they simply cannot defend Durant, Westbrook or James Harden.

And when all three are in the game? Power vomit. There’s nothing LA can do.

The Lakers’ troubles this season have almost always come on the defensive end. It’s easy to see. During a regular season game, in a regularly paced season, a good NBA basketball team should reasonably expect to score 90-100 points. In the Playoffs, because we’re dealing with the best, scores might fluctuate up a few points, but just as likely, down a few, as team defenses give more effort.

Simply put, it’s pretty difficult to beat a team that scores in the upper ‘90’s or above, especially in a accelerated season like this one.

The NBA has made it easier to prognosticate outcomes by partitioning games into 4 quarters of play. Fancy! If Team A is scoring 23-25 points in any given quarter, they’re on pace for that 90-100 point goal, and Team B’s defense isn’t getting the job done.

In Game 6 against the Denver Nuggets, the Lakers gave up 113 points. Denver had 30 in the first quarter, 24 in the second. That’s a 108 point pace, except the Nuggets had a whopping 36 in the third, and another 23 in the fourth. That’s mucho bad. It didn’t even matter that LA scored 96 of their own. In Game 1 against the Thunder, the Lakers gave up 119, including 30 in first, 29 in the second, a soul-crushing 39 in the third, and a “lowly” 21 in the fourth, when OKC clearly relented, and rested their starters.

Can I pull some sort of alarm?

Mike Brown was hired to coach the Lakers, in part, because he was supposed to bring his tough, hard-nosed defense to Los Angeles. He was going to change the culture. It hasn’t happened.

Brown’s reputation as a defensive specialist is not without merit. In ‘06-‘07, the Cavaliers finished 4th in the league in defensive efficiency, 5th in points allowed, 5th in opponent’s true shooting percentage, 2nd in defensive rebounding rate, 1st in opponent’s 3PT%, and lost in the NBA Finals. That team played Damon Jones, Larry Hughes and Sasha Pavolvic major minutes.

In ‘08-‘09, the Cavs were tied for 2nd in defensive efficiency, gave up the least points in the league, were tied for 1st in opponent FG%, were 5th in blocks, and won 66 games, all behind the defensive stylings of Boobie Gibson and noted stopper, Mo Williams.

In ‘09-‘10, Brown’s Cavs were Top 7 in all of those important defensive categories, and again had the best record in the league. His defense is no joke. To boot, the Lakers have three All-Stars, a former Defensive Player of the Year, and Matt Barnes (if that still means something). Something’s clearly wrong. So should Mike Brown be fired for his failure this season? Let’s examine.

From the Orange County Register’s Kevin Ding:

Why, almost after almost six months of hearing his voice, are the Lakers still so unable to adhere to one of the three defensive tenets Mike Brown declared the day he was hired: Make multiple efforts on defense, the last effort being that someone must always contest whatever shot goes up.

Ding says Brown’s messages are failing to get through to his players. Is that Brown’s fault? The players? Both? Other media members, and most fans, point to the team’s lack of effort, which at times, is clearly suspect. But before we render a verdict, let me present an alternate line of thought: What if the Lakers aren’t good enough to play good defense?

Brown espouses the belief that “anyone can be taught to defend.” Technically, that’s true. All people do have brains that can take in and process information. Problem is, we all have bodies too. Making our bodies do the things our brain knows ain’t that easy.

Mike Brown can teach me defense, and I can learn how to play it, but that won’t mean I’ll be any good at it. The old maxim, “There’s no excuse for lack of effort,” is indisputably true, but there is an excuse for the Lakers’ defensive trouble: “They’re not good at defense.”

The Lakers just don’t have the personnel. Some players in the league can’t shoot. Maybe LA can’t defend? Kobe, Ron, Barnes were excellent defenders, who have clearly lost a step. Pau struggles with activity and strength in the post. Bynum has never had much lateral quickness, his leaping ability is minimal, and his ability to jump a second time is laughable. Steve Blake is average on his best day, and Ramon Sessions will never have a best day defensively.

Should Mike Brown be fired if his team isn’t good enough to play his defense? Whther my theory holds water or not, there are enough questions surrounding the Lakers’ players, and enough miles on their legs, that I believe it’s unfair to fire Mike Brown based on LA’s performance this season.

Oh, but don’t get me wrong, he will be fired. Likely sometime relatively soon. And here’s why. From Kevin Ding, again:

Maybe it’s too much to expect the Lakers to be connected to a first-year coach nearly as well as the Thunder to Scott Brooks or the Spurs to Gregg Popovich, and Brown will tell you with regularity how there’s no shame in finished third in the West to clubs whose systems have been in place for years.

Hey, Mike Brown, save your breath. Don’t ever tell me there’s “no shame in finishing third in the West” to anybody. I don’t care what your reasons are. Stick all of your excuses in a paper bag, along with your rotten suits, and set it on fire.

Lakers fans, the Lakers’ organization, and the Los Angeles Lakers expect Championships. Nothing less.

That’s it.

#GotEmCoach

TOP: March 23, 2012 - Jason Smith plows into Blake Griffin. A...

Wed, 16 May 2012 11:44:00 -0400

TOP: March 23, 2012 - Jason Smith plows into Blake Griffin. A day later, Smith is suspended 2 games for what Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President Basketball Operations, deemed “excessive contact with the upper body of Griffin.”

BOTTOM: May 15, 2012 - Dwyane Wade barrels into Darren Collison. Unlike Griffin, Collison never saw Wade, who shoved the Indiana PG from behind. Wade, like Smith, made no basketball play. Collison did not have the ball. Wade extended his forearm, pushing Collison underneath the basket.

Given the ruling on Smith, Wade should absolutely be suspended at least one game. Unfortunately, as we all know by now, David Stern is a crook, and the league values Dwyane and the Heat far more than Jason and the Hornets.

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BREAKING: JaVale McGee is turning Filipino Move over, Nate...

Tue, 15 May 2012 22:01:00 -0400

BREAKING: JaVale McGee is turning Filipino

Move over, Nate Robinson. Step aside, DeMarcus Cousins. Take a knee, Tim Tebow. JaVale McGee is joining the family.

Antipolo City representative Robbie Puno has filed House Bill 6169, which would naturalize JaVale McGee, making him a Filipino citizen, and eligible to play for the SMART-Gilas Pilipinas national team

Puno, in his bill’s cover letter, cited McGee’s “remarkable track record in the United States’ professional basketball scene” as consideration for his inclusion in the SMART-Gilas program.

“Remarkable” is certainly one way to describe his “track record.”

Let me be the first to say, “Welcome, JaVale! We’re glad to have you, your dunks, and your antics. We’re proud to soon call you an honorary Filipino.” #KUYA

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THE BEST I think we, as a nation of basketball fans,...

Tue, 15 May 2012 15:16:22 -0400

THE BEST

I think we, as a nation of basketball fans, consistently take Chris Paul for granted. He’s a Top 3 player today, in my opinion, and has been the best point guard for years, in what should be all of your opinions.

The lead guard position is the most difficult to gauge from our television sets, because being a good point guard is much more about leadership, and controlling tempo, which cannot be recorded by any statistic. I can tell, you want stats. Fine. Try these:

The fewest assists Chris Paul’s had in a game (playing a minimum of 30 minutes) is 3. Paul’s only had 9 games of 3 assists in 7 years (515 games).

Chris Paul has only had one game in his 7 year career with less than 3 assists (NOH vs. PHI, ‘07). He had 2 in 28 minutes.

Over his career, Paul averages 18.8 points (47.2 FG%), 9.8 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and almost 2.5 steals per game in the regular season.

In the Playoffs, Paul averages 21.6 points (48.5 FG%), 10.2 assists, 5.4 rebounds, and still over 2 steals per contest.

All of that’s great, but here’s the real reason I love Chris Paul, and the secret that makes him so good: he’s a nasty little cuss. According to the NY Post’s Peter Vecsey, when Chris Paul was a high school senior, all he wanted to do was go to the University of North Carolina.

“I loved the Tar Heels,” he said, smiling that beatific smile, something he does most of the time, on and off guard duty, keeping the population off balance so no one knows what’s on deck. “I grew up following North Carolina. It was 13 miles away from my home in Lewisville. Since I was a little kid, that was the only school I wanted to play for.”

As the story goes, UNC’s coach Matt Doherty, told Paul there “might be a spot for him after the season.”

“But there’s definitely room on my team for you as a walk-on,” Paul recalls Doherty generously informing him.

After taking his high school team to a the state semifinals and a 26-4 record Doherty finally offered Paul a scholarship.

“I had waited patiently for that day to come,” Paul said somberly, his smile having run away from his face. “I wanted to know I was good enough to get one. As soon as it was offered, I called coach [Skip Prosser] and committed to Wake Forest.”

I like my basketball players the way I like my elderly drunks: pissed off.

#GotEmCoach

IF YOU CAN MAKE IT HERE… It’s a wild ride in New...

Tue, 15 May 2012 14:01:05 -0400

IF YOU CAN MAKE IT HERE…

It’s a wild ride in New York City. Bring your best under the brightest lights, and the city will build you up. If you don’t, they’ll nail you to a cross.

The Knicks’ 2011-2012 season in the New York Post.

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IMPORTANT REMINDER:The LA Lakers won the ‘08-‘09 and...

Mon, 14 May 2012 19:42:15 -0400

IMPORTANT REMINDER:The LA Lakers won the ‘08-‘09 and ‘09-‘10 NBA Championships

Lakers fans, don’t forget: your favorite team, led by Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, won back-to-back NBA titles just two seasons ago. This will be paramount for all of us to remember over the next two weeks.

Why? Because this Oklahoma City series could get ugly.

The Thunder are younger, more athletic and have home court advantage. In a cruel (and insanely stupid) twist of fate, the older Lakers, coming off a 7-game series with the Nuggets, will actually have to play back-to-back games in this Western Conference Semifinals.

Kevin Durant won the NBA scoring title, while Russell Westbrook, who’s poised to feast on Lakers exceptionally weak PG defense, finished 5th in the league’s scoring race. Kendrick Perkins is strong enough to battle Andrew Bynum in the post, Serge Ibaka is active enough to really bother Pau Gasol, and even Thabo Sefolosha does a relatively decent job on Kobe Bryant. James Harden probably wants payback for the Artest elbow (presuming, of course, Artest doesn’t elbow him again) and Derek Fisher wants payback for the Derek Fisher trade.

Ya see, this isn’t setting up well.

On the other hand, while the Thunder live (and die) by jump shots, the Lakers have the better half-court offense (because they have the better - and only - post scorers in the series). This will be important when games slow down, as they always do in the Playoffs (especially during 4th quarters). In addition, the Lakers have more size, the Lakers might have the best guy in the league at defending Durant (Artest), and the Lakers definitely have the best guy in the league at elbowing players’ heads (Artest, again).

So, can the Lakers win this series? Yes, but I seriously, seriously doubt it. They’d have to be near perfect. If you want a positive Laker fan, who’ll tell you everything’s going to be alright, there are a lot of them out there. What I’m good at is telling the truth. The Lakers are in for a fight, and they may not have the fighters any longer.

(I’m actually better at commiserating with other angry fans - tweet me).

Here’s the formula for a Lakers series win:

LA must steal Game 1. The Thunder could be rusty with the layoff, while LA played just two days ago. A win would force OKC to play from behind, in a must win Game 2, which could change their style.
The Pau Gasol who showed up in Saturday’s Game 7 must show up to each and every game of the semifinals. Matter of fact, “Game 7 Pau Gasol” should just kill the regular Pau Gasol, and assume his body, forever.
Andrew Bynum must dominate, and be the difference in at least two games. The Lakers will need their center to protect the rim from his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle-lookalike brethren, Russell Westbrook. More importantly, the Lakers will need their center to help win the rebounding battle (without the rebounding edge, LA will surely lose). All of this seems like a long shot, given his propensity for taking plays and entire games off. We are talking about the guy who said this after a Playoff loss to Denver,

“I came out and tried to do well. Then obviously not getting the ball, it’s tough when you don’t get up shots.” - Bynum, on the Playoffs.
— Got ‘Em Coach (@GotEm_Coach) May 9, 2012

Kobe needs to perfectly dance the line between big game scorer, and team facilitator. He did a marvelous job in Game 7, but let’s face it, this guy is truly just wired to score the basketball. 22 and 7 (with 6-8 FTs per game) would be his sweet spot.
The Laker bench needs to continue to surprise in the clutch.

If every single aforementioned thing actually happens, and the LA can avoid the injury bug/parasite David Stern unleashed on this league, I believe the Lakers can force a Game 7. And as we all know, anything can happen in a Game 7.

But if Steve Blake’s jumper runs dry, and Pau Gasol starts loafing around the perimter, and Andrew Bynum disconnects because he’s not shooting enough, and Kobe Bryant gets angry, then tries to take over games, and Ramon Sessions continues to choke, and Ron Artest kills somebody, this could all be over quickly, and my twitter feed will be chock full of swear words and venom.

If that’s the case, Lakers fans please remember, your team, with Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, just won back-to-back championships. Remember the Ariza steals against Denver. Remember the Fisher dagger over Jameer Nelson. Remember Pau giving it to Kevin Garnett in Game 1, and remember Ron Ron giving the greatest post-game interview ever. Remember Lamar and his candy, Phil and his hat, and Andrew fighting through injury, determined to matter in a Lakers’s championship.

Remember Kobe jumping up and down, and Kobe on the scorer’s table.

Who am I kidding? I’ll be so angry if they lose.

#GotEmCoach

Good season from the Nuggets, highlighted by the Best Alley-Oop...

Mon, 14 May 2012 15:10:19 -0400

Good season from the Nuggets, highlighted by the Best Alley-Oop of the Year.

He didn’t need to befriend every good player in the league or...

Mon, 14 May 2012 13:36:07 -0400

He didn’t need to befriend every good player in the league or link up with anybody who became a free agent. Rose hasn’t found that he needs a nickname or carefully crafted image.

He’s a doer, a leader, charismatic in a way perhaps only Chicagoans understand — without smiling and clowning and dancing and posing, kind of like a young Dick Butkus. He has represented Chicago in a way even Michael Jordan couldn’t.

Jordan is an adopted son, Rose a native son.

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