We all know it took a lot out of Michael Jordan, arguably one of the best basketball players ever, to retire. He retired three times from basketball and he came back twice. So why is it so hard for players to give up playing, in other words what is waiting for them on the other side?
Management positions, Jordan is now a part owner of the Charlotte Bobcats and is acting as the Managing Member of Basketball Operations.
After 16 seasons with nine teams the Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, New Jersey Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics and Sacramento Kings where he played as a player/coach. The 3 time NBA Champion and one time all star, Sam Cassell decides to hang up basketball shoes for the time be and see how coaching works out for him with the Washington Wizards under Coach Flip Saunders.
There is however a link between Cassell and Jordan. Jordan came back in his second comeback with the Washington Wizards he was part of the management as well as one of their best players, he actually pushed for the trade with Detroit Pistions to essentially get Jerry Stackhouse for Rip Hamilton. After he retired the last time, he was fired from the Wizards, so there was obviously some altercation there.
Cassell was a legendary point guard, there is a reason why he won three championships. His game mainly consist of posting up other guards and hitting mid range jumpers often with hands in his face, but he also was a very consistent three point shooter and could make it rain from downtown in any game. We can tell by his leadership and his joking yet serious attitude that he's a great mentor and will be a great assistant for Saunders.
Quotester99
Friday, May 22, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
Nowitzki: A Jynx for the Mavs?
A few years ago a unofficial error was made that might of cost the Dallas Mavericks a NBA Championship, a few years later, same story. In Game 5 of the 2006 NBA Finals where the Dallas Mavericks were trying to get a win in Miami. Trying to stop them, Dwyane Wade drives towards the basket with one second left and gets fouled. The real controversy is how he got fouled. The referee said it was on Dirk Nowitzki who was barely in the play, the only person who had contact with Wade was Devin Harris who from the footage looks like all he did was touch his leg. Wade hit both free throws and won by one, which led to the Miami Heat's first NBA Championship.
Nuggets up by two games to none, the series gets shifted back to Dallas where it was a game where Mavericks were leading early in the first quarter but Carmelo Anthony tied it at the end of the first with a dunk.
Going into the second quarter Mavericks got off to another quick start with a five point lead but Nuggets took the lead five minutes left with a pair of Chauncey Billup's free throws and hang with a three point lead going into halftime.
In the third quarter Nuggets stretch their lead out to six until the mavs come back to bring it within one. Then the Nuggets stretch it to four and mavs come back within one. Finally Nuggets make the margin four again and Jason Kidd hits a buzzer beating two pointer to bring it within one.
In the fourth quarter, its a quarter of lead changes where the biggest lead is when Jason Terry with 31.1 seconds left hits a three to put Mavericks up by four. With 28.5 seconds left Anthony makes a dunk to bring within two and with six seconds left Antoine Wright is guarding Anthony and means to intentionally foul Anthony, but the referee doesn't call it and Anthony goes up for a three and with one second left he drains it and gives the Nuggets the lead by one. Nowitzki misses a desparation three to lose the game.
Later on the NBA apologizes and admits that they missed that intentional foul that could of saved the Mavericks.
Nowitzki has had some off court dealings with his girlfriend, he wanted to marry her but his family wanted Nowitzki to hire a investigator. It turns out that she had many unpaid bills. She was sent to jail. Nowitzki, the class act that he is, visited her in jail.
Its not sure Nowitzki is a jynx but a alternative solution might be Mark Cuban, the Dallas Mavericks owner. Rumors are, that the NBA hates Mark Cuban and fines him consistently and Mark Cuban is more then happy to pay the fines, "his latest act was tell Kenyon Martin's mom that Martin is a punk" It is possible that the Mavericks could be getting punished through games, through the referees because of Mark Cuban's behavior althrough it is very unlikely.
Nuggets up by two games to none, the series gets shifted back to Dallas where it was a game where Mavericks were leading early in the first quarter but Carmelo Anthony tied it at the end of the first with a dunk.
Going into the second quarter Mavericks got off to another quick start with a five point lead but Nuggets took the lead five minutes left with a pair of Chauncey Billup's free throws and hang with a three point lead going into halftime.
In the third quarter Nuggets stretch their lead out to six until the mavs come back to bring it within one. Then the Nuggets stretch it to four and mavs come back within one. Finally Nuggets make the margin four again and Jason Kidd hits a buzzer beating two pointer to bring it within one.
In the fourth quarter, its a quarter of lead changes where the biggest lead is when Jason Terry with 31.1 seconds left hits a three to put Mavericks up by four. With 28.5 seconds left Anthony makes a dunk to bring within two and with six seconds left Antoine Wright is guarding Anthony and means to intentionally foul Anthony, but the referee doesn't call it and Anthony goes up for a three and with one second left he drains it and gives the Nuggets the lead by one. Nowitzki misses a desparation three to lose the game.
Later on the NBA apologizes and admits that they missed that intentional foul that could of saved the Mavericks.
Nowitzki has had some off court dealings with his girlfriend, he wanted to marry her but his family wanted Nowitzki to hire a investigator. It turns out that she had many unpaid bills. She was sent to jail. Nowitzki, the class act that he is, visited her in jail.
Its not sure Nowitzki is a jynx but a alternative solution might be Mark Cuban, the Dallas Mavericks owner. Rumors are, that the NBA hates Mark Cuban and fines him consistently and Mark Cuban is more then happy to pay the fines, "his latest act was tell Kenyon Martin's mom that Martin is a punk" It is possible that the Mavericks could be getting punished through games, through the referees because of Mark Cuban's behavior althrough it is very unlikely.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Who will win this Unpredictable Series?
Have we ever seen a series as crazy as the (2) Boston Celtics and (7) Chicago Bulls series? Most would say it would be easy for Celtics after winning the title last season, but the Bulls have showed big hearts by forcing a total of seven overtime periods in six games. After stealing game one with the score of (105-103). The Celtics knew this wasn't going to be easy. The Celtics took back game two with the score of (118-115). They head to Chicago where in game three Celtics won it by (107-86). The Bulls even the series in game four (121-118). Heading back to Boston the Bulls knew this would be a crucial game, which they loss by two (104-106).
Now for game six it is a must win for Bulls and for the Celtics it's a win that could end the series. With 1:09 left in the fourth quarter Brad Miller hits a three to bring the bulls within two and with 29.7 seconds left miller again comes up big for the Bulls making a layup shot forcing it into overtime.
In the first overtime period the Bulls win procession and get off to a quick four point lead. However the Celtics retaliate with its own six point run led by Paul Pierce hitting four out of four free throws. Then with 23.5 seconds left John Salmons makes a drive into the lane forcing it into a second overtime.
In the second overtime period the Celtics win the tip and it is a quarter of trading baskets until Salmons hits a well covered three with 3:28 left and then Salmons hits a lay up with 2:00 left to give Bulls the lead by three. However 20.0 seconds left Ray Allen hits a three, wait no, the ref ruled it as a two. Was Allen's foot on the line? With much deliberation from both coaches and players, it is finally ruled a two, still giving Bulls a one point lead. They foul Miller to go to the free throw line, he hits both. Chicago is up by three then Allen with 7.6 seconds left hits a leaner three and forces it into a third overtime.
In the third overtime period the Bulls won the tip and this quarter is another overtime quarter of lead changes until 35.5 seconds left Joakim Noah stole the ball from Pierce and outran him for a fast break dunk and got fouled giving Pierce his sixth and final foul, Noah made the free throw giving the Bulls a three point lead. Later on that quarter Rajon Rondo tipped in his own miss to bring it within one. The Celtics made a stop and Rondo with 7.9 seconds left gets blocked by Derek Rose on a quick fade away. With 4.2 seconds left Rose gets fouled and misses both free throws. Rondo gets the ball and dribbles to half court and puts up a prayer right as the buzzer goes off and misses. Bulls won by one.
Game seven will return in Boston where the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics will face off. Like this whole series it really is unpredictable. However, what we do know is Pierce and Allen will be ready, although Kevin Garnett is out; this is still a great team. Will the Bull's heart's and energy be enough to contain them? Will the Celtics arise and become one step closer to its back to back championship run or would the Bulls overcome the Celtics and rise from the ashes and become one step closer to returning to the promise land. It should be a game for the ages.
Quotester99
Now for game six it is a must win for Bulls and for the Celtics it's a win that could end the series. With 1:09 left in the fourth quarter Brad Miller hits a three to bring the bulls within two and with 29.7 seconds left miller again comes up big for the Bulls making a layup shot forcing it into overtime.
In the first overtime period the Bulls win procession and get off to a quick four point lead. However the Celtics retaliate with its own six point run led by Paul Pierce hitting four out of four free throws. Then with 23.5 seconds left John Salmons makes a drive into the lane forcing it into a second overtime.
In the second overtime period the Celtics win the tip and it is a quarter of trading baskets until Salmons hits a well covered three with 3:28 left and then Salmons hits a lay up with 2:00 left to give Bulls the lead by three. However 20.0 seconds left Ray Allen hits a three, wait no, the ref ruled it as a two. Was Allen's foot on the line? With much deliberation from both coaches and players, it is finally ruled a two, still giving Bulls a one point lead. They foul Miller to go to the free throw line, he hits both. Chicago is up by three then Allen with 7.6 seconds left hits a leaner three and forces it into a third overtime.
In the third overtime period the Bulls won the tip and this quarter is another overtime quarter of lead changes until 35.5 seconds left Joakim Noah stole the ball from Pierce and outran him for a fast break dunk and got fouled giving Pierce his sixth and final foul, Noah made the free throw giving the Bulls a three point lead. Later on that quarter Rajon Rondo tipped in his own miss to bring it within one. The Celtics made a stop and Rondo with 7.9 seconds left gets blocked by Derek Rose on a quick fade away. With 4.2 seconds left Rose gets fouled and misses both free throws. Rondo gets the ball and dribbles to half court and puts up a prayer right as the buzzer goes off and misses. Bulls won by one.
Game seven will return in Boston where the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics will face off. Like this whole series it really is unpredictable. However, what we do know is Pierce and Allen will be ready, although Kevin Garnett is out; this is still a great team. Will the Bull's heart's and energy be enough to contain them? Will the Celtics arise and become one step closer to its back to back championship run or would the Bulls overcome the Celtics and rise from the ashes and become one step closer to returning to the promise land. It should be a game for the ages.
Quotester99
Why This Blog?
Hello, My name is Joshua Richard (author name) but you will know me as Quotester99 (blogger name). I am a sophomore at Brigham Young University- Idaho. I plan to be a high school basketball coach, a blogger, and a novelist.
I am writing about basketball, because I have such a pure love for it. One, Basketball is a great way for excercising and building bonds. Two, it can be a great such a confidence builder that can help you in other aspects of your life. Three, its a true measurer of how much a heart a player has. Four, it such great depth of poetry of how the coach can statergize and players can do unbelievable things with the ball, it is pure amazing. Five, it is a sport that the whole world has in common. There are so many other reason also, just too many to name.
I am excited to get this blog underaway and will appeciate any comments, hits, and followers i can receive. Thank you for your time.
Quotester99
I am writing about basketball, because I have such a pure love for it. One, Basketball is a great way for excercising and building bonds. Two, it can be a great such a confidence builder that can help you in other aspects of your life. Three, its a true measurer of how much a heart a player has. Four, it such great depth of poetry of how the coach can statergize and players can do unbelievable things with the ball, it is pure amazing. Five, it is a sport that the whole world has in common. There are so many other reason also, just too many to name.
I am excited to get this blog underaway and will appeciate any comments, hits, and followers i can receive. Thank you for your time.
Quotester99
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