A Tale From the Sidelines Part Three: Freshman Year

(Continuing from Part 2: Rec Ball)

I never really knew how it felt to have your confidence crushed in a single minute until the very first day that I stepped foot into the cold, hardwood floor of the San Gabriel Matador Arena for basketball try-outs. I also never knew how it felt to have your self-esteem shattered and depleted right before your very eyes until I met Coach Chris Kwan.

Though these two things were particularly new experiences that I hoped to never come across, that seemingly harmless and humid day came in the summer of 2010 when both instances hit me...and hit me pretty hard.

Despite an awful season with the Rosemead Recreation team, I have to say that I was still pretty cocky and arrogant in that I thought that my individual skills were impeccable in comparison to the rest of the other young athletes that were trying out that evening. I had timidly gone through one try-out before and I was not going to let anyone step all over me again; I had worked on my shooting and overall scoring capabilities during the brief time following my promotion from Temple Intermediate School to prepare for the day and I felt better than ever.

Like any natural athlete would on the first day of try-outs or workouts, I quickly scoped out and sized up those who were trying to take "my" spot on the team. During the casual shoot-arounds prior to the start of the tryout, I paid attention to those who seemed quite experienced and began to think about the things that I would need to impress the coach the best that I could possibly do. Like every young and desperate athlete begging for a spot on the squad, I would later go on to make the mistake that everyone else made: I tried too hard to BE "that guy" on the offense, but I will get into that a bit later.

Anyways, as we were shooting around, showing off our forms and new kicks, a clean shaved 5'5'' Asian man comes into the gym from the side door. He is dressed in the typical shorts, generic Nike tennis shoes, and a plain solid colored t-shirt. He wears a little smirk on his face as he looks off every single player in the gym before gathering all the guys to huddle up. Seems reasonable enough, right? Well, that was what we all thought.

First of all, Coach Chris takes no bullshit. That is really the core of what he wanted to get off his chest right from the start. Secondly, Coach Chris needs everyone to work hard and work together,constantly. By the competitiveness expressed through the dirty looks and gestures that everyone gave one another once this was said, I knew that this was going to be a challenge. Third, do what Coach Chris says and he is happy, we are happy, and no body gets yelled at or told off. Fair enough. Lastly, nothing is personal.

Now that last one was pretty hard to swallow because of its vague implication of the type of discipline Coach Chris was all about. The first drill was supposed to be simple and because of its simplicity, everyone wanted to do it as quickly as possible which we would soon learn was not part of Coach Chris' five "basic" codes. All we had to do was jump stop and pivot with the foot that he indicates, either right or left. We were to perform four jump stops and pivots from the first free throw to the half court to the opposite free throw line and up to the baseline on the other side. I was up with the first batch of participants and in retrospect, I really wish I was not.

The simple drill came to a disaster and the inner Coach Chris was unleashed. When he said pivot left we went with our right foot and vice versa. He literally exploded, blasting out with all the insults that a 15 year old could possibly hear and he still was not done. He came up to my face and spit out that we all are horrible players and inquired that our former coaches had not taught us anything, I could not agree more.

After the disaster that was the pivot drill we went on to some shooting drills which did not turn out that well either. If your a young kid who is a huge fan of the NBA, you should really consider learning not to emulate anything that you see your favorite players do. We all know that the athletes in the NBA all shoot slightly side ways because, seriously, no one that plays in their caliber really squares up to the basket. Coach Chris was a very fundamental man and we pissed the crap out of him off when we all garnered our very best NBA shooting styles and impressions. The funny thing was I actually thought that I was doing a good job but in reality everything was just turning horribly wrong. And so the summer played out like this. We would all come into the arena with confidence and unwarranted arrogance before having it all taken away by the fire-breathing dragon that was Coach Chris and his verbal and heart-splitting attempts to gut us all alive.

I lost my confidence that summer and my offense soon faltered. I was not doing the things that I naturally felt comfortable with and began to do everything that Coach Chris wanted; the problem was I was not doing what he wanted right and for that, I became part of the bench mob. The guys that are simply on the team because you need at least ten guys to run practice. Every single practice was miserable and I was crawling into a shell. It was all terrible and it reached a point where I had actually wanted to go back to that free careless style of playing in middle school or better yet on the concrete floor of the outdoor courts.

The thing that made my freshman year on the team a bit better was the relationship that I got to develop with my teammates in a very unlikely but yet reasonable way if you think about it. We all hated each other in the first week but things changed when we found a common enemy in Coach Chris. We settled our differences and tried to push ourselves to survive each and every practice because everyone felt like quitting by the second or third week into pre-season. In all honesty, we were not a bad team but at the same time I do not think that any of us were playing basketball for the right reasons. We all played for the Coach and everyone was miserable. When we did things right, we were scolded for not doing them better and when we did things wrong, well that was something. This description fits into any great high school coach and in many ways Coach Chris was a passionate basketball coach who cared about the team and his job, but as freshmen, it was often hard to take his discipline for the better.

I think that we were scared to play for him because even when the bench got some seconds (yes, I said seconds) of playing time during the regular season, nobody wanted to step up. I remember the shivers that I got once he called my name to check into a game against Montebello, my feet did not want to budge.

Overall, the season ended in a 2-6 record in which I managed to play three minutes in a pre-season victory over Mountain View and a couple of 30-45 second games during actual season. Now with these numbers, it may seem like the whole season was a bust but it was not. Coach Chris made us all disciplined and given the fact that most of us did not quit the team, we really learned to persevere through though times in and out of the game of basketball.

Given the fact that I did not get much touches of in the offensive end, I lost much of my shot and did not have a naturally flow to my offense. At the same time, serving as a defender for the majority of our practices, I developed a liking to defending the best guys on the floor. You see defense can be played by anyone, it really is about one's effort and will to push and stay on your man. So I let out all my frustrations and tried to give the offense a tough time. If I could not play during the games and if I could not even play much offense during practice, why not help the team the best way I possibly could? The way saw it, I was helping them prepare for the games. I knew that other teams were quite aggressive on the defensive end especially the most elite in our Almont League such as Mark Keppel, our rivals. This was the best that I could do and fortunately my efforts on the defensive finally grabbed the attention of the other coaches, one of which was actually (and still is) San Gabriel's Varsity coach.

To Be Continued...

Welcome to Los Angeles Julius Randle!

Photo Courtesy of kysportsconnection.com

With the seventh pick of the NBA draft, the Los Angeles Lakers have chosen Julius Randle, the talented Kentucky power forward who has had a great freshman season under coach John Calipari. Randle had 24 double-doubles in the season, the second most in division one college basketball under Micheal Beasley's 28.

I was really looking at this pick given the fact that I am a huge Laker fan and there was just so many prospects that the storied franchise could have gone with. There was a lot of talk surrounding players like Marcus Smart and obviously Joel Embiid but Randle is clearly a pick that many thought would have gone fourth or fifth so nevertheless, the Lakers have done solidly.

Randle is not the most athletic of the bunch but he is an aggressive big man standing in at 6'9'' and weighing in at 250 lbs. With his size, he is able to do some damage in the paint but at the same time, he also has a decent jump shot that will clearly develop as he moves forward in the league.

Not to go too far but I think that Randle's game can be comparable to that of Memphis' Zach Randolph. Randolph also stands in at 6'9'' and only weighs about ten pounds more than Randle. Both players are very versatile as they can both take their defenders off the dribble, pound it into the paint, or sink solid mid-range jumpers. Not to mention, both forwards are clearly double-double machines.

Photo Courtesy of Andy Lyons-Getty Images

Photo Courtesy of Danny Johnston-AP Photo

 However the attribute that Randle possesses that makes him a standout is his known will to win and with that drive at such a young age, he is clearly a solid pick for a purple and gold team that is hungry to get back into playoff shape. Randle's competitiveness is impeccable and because of that, he has even garnered the praise and approval of Kobe Bryant, who we all know is unafraid to speak his mind.

Randle is already eager to seek the advice of Bryant and become that team player that is necessary to win. Unlike Dwight Howard, I think that Randle is a player who looks for more than just playing the game; he understands that one must have a certain mindset and concentration in order to continue to compete and perform at a high level. During an interview with Lakers Nation during his pre-draft work out, Randle was asked what he looks forward to asking Bryant if he were to actually become his teammate. Randle said that he has always been a fan of Kobe and that he is excited to "pick [Bryant's] brain" because he wants to get into that same mindset and focus that the five-time NBA champion gets into.

Lastly, the young man is bold. In numerous interviews, Randle has made it clear that he is unafraid to express his confidence. He believes that he is one of the best forwards of the draft class and even had a message for the teams that had went on to draft others prior to calling his name.

"The teams that passed on me will regret it," Randle said to ESPN's Jay Williams after the Lakers had drafted him.

Randle is confident that he is the perfect fit for the Lakers and he really has the talent to prove it. I am hoping that he can bring some sort of moment to the team. He has proven himself on the collegiate level and now only time can tell if the Kentucky All-Star can make a name for himself in the NBA.

A Tale From the Sidelines Part Two: Rec Ball

(Continuing on from Part 1: Finding the Passion for Basketball)

My first ever organized basketball game came to me in the eighth grade, a year after playing and developing my skills on the outdoor courts prior to the building of our school gym. I could now dribble the ball efficiently and score at free will. Basketball was awesome during my seventh grade year, I mean, I was actually starting to become one of the best ball players in the school, it was incredible how one year and one whole summer could make such a difference.

 I spent plenty of time on those courts with my small group of friends; when lunch time came, we would all cram our lunches down our stomachs and hustle over to get the best courts. Our "team" was good and dedicated a lot of time to get together and play whenever we possibly could. We loved to play and it was an active hobby that got us excited everyday. It was only logical for us to try out the following year for the Rosemead city recreational team for our school, Temple Intermediate, and so we did.

What we did not know was the type of physicality and talent there were all around us. There were so many ball players with amazing scoring capabilities, it was astonishing how there were even any cuts that were made. Obviously as a 5'2'' Asian (yes, I have only grown about 2 inches), I knew that I had to prove my worth with my speed and ability to sufficiently lay-in the ball against any defender. My shot was on and off but I really had a knack for attacking the basket and scoring off of unorthodox hook and scoop shots. However, it always seems to come down to height and mine just did not cut it. On top of that, any one who has gone through middle school and high school knows that coaches have a sort of attraction to football players because of their natural athleticism and physical presences. During these days, if you were a football player, you almost had a guaranteed shot to make it onto the team, regardless of your lack of coordination on the court. Because I did not naturally have any of these attributes, I made it to the Temple "A" team which may seem like a good thing at first thought but ironically the Temple "A" team was really the "B" team, the team with the second-hand players that were slightly above par and a bit too good to be simply cut. Nevertheless, I was happy and glad to be part of an actual team. It was great to finally get a jersey and play with coaches and referees just like the pros. Boy, did it all turn out to be quite a different experience that I was going for.

First and foremost, I do have to say that I really do not regret trying out and joining the team at all. It was a blast and a huge opportunity to experience something that I have never done before and for that I am grateful. However, the season was quite a disaster. We had a coach that really did not care about the team, but who could blame him, it was a rec team playing in a rec league if anything it was our fault for looking into the NBA and expecting too much. When reality hits, it actually does hurt. Players in an amateur level do not care about the team, they all play individual in hopes of either getting themselves ready for the next level or really just garner the attention. I think that as young athletes, many are just naturally inclined to be a bit more selfish and really, there is no one to truly blame in these situations. This playing style, the infamous "iso" was something that I was accustomed to experiencing on the outdoor courts but I was really hoping for more out of organized basketball so in this sort of aspect, it was sort of sad. If rec ball was going to be exactly the same as street ball, then what was the point of having an organized league anyway? It was strange but I was already used it and simply let it go. In addition, the new gym had barely opened and it was very nice to play in. Any kid was fortunate enough to even get just a few minutes in it so we were all excited to have an opportunity to practice in it for two whole hours everyday.

After the first week, I rolled with it and I knew that I had to go out there and just play. I reminded myself that basketball has always been something I simply enjoyed to do and if I was not going to enjoy it, why would I keep playing it. So I worked and worked hard, I listened to the coach and by chance, I got a starting spot simply because I knew how to run the press break.

On the day of our first game, it was all a wreck. We were to play Duarte at home and it was not looking good. We were all individuals and we simply could not work together; other than a few guys that I had already played with before (including some of my close friends), most of our team really consists of people that we had not taken the time to really get to know at all. So what about that week we had together to get into shape and work on our game? Well, most of the guys used that week to try to impress the coach with their own athletic scoring abilities and no one cared to remember any of the fundamentals that we were being taught, including a simple press break. So, as I said before, with the chance of actually knowing how to run the break, I got to start.

The first game of the season was really the blueprint of our entire season: awkward. It was awkward because of the flow of the game and the sort of pace that we were playing. On the offensive, no one knew anyone's sweet spots or where we could do the most damage to score; passes were sloppy and half-hearted (if anyone even passed at all) and boxing out was out of the question. On the defensive, players would switch without telling one another and two of our guys would end up guarding the same guy. It was horrible.

Now I am not wronging the team and saying that I did not have any flaws because I did and I felt bad about them too. I actually fouled out of the game in the early third quarter, three of which I had picked up in the first half. Organized basketball is way more fast-paced than street ball so I happened to reach in during my attempts to stop guys, and I did it a lot. After being blown out by Duarte, I actually think that the loss did more good than bad. A lot of us decided that we may have been taking things a bit too seriously so we all just started to play to play. Ironically, with this new mindset of knowing that the season was a bust from the start, we all started to bond much more as a unit and we actually managed to pick up a single victory over the course of the season, a victory that we cherished and held onto.

At first, I was very frustrated in my experience playing rec ball but I realized that my frustrations would not do anything to help my team and myself. So I began to understand that these guys are going to want the ball so why not give it to them? I found joy on my own by not necessarily scoring the basket all the time but finding myself playing the assist guy or the pick and pop guy or the fast break guy at times. What I am trying to say is that I found certain ways to score when I felt that I had the best opportunity, I decided to enjoy playing for the sake of playing with others and being more social; if they wanted the ball they could have it and that was fine with me. Once I realized that I was taking the whole thing too seriously and lightened up a bit, I mean the whole experience was a lot better.

To conclude this segment-so to speak- I think that this early experience I shared with others was really the first time that I got to feel and understand the importance of getting everyone on the right page and understanding others. When I was very serious about the game, I mean that did not do anything because I really could not relate to my teammates and this actually took us apart more than it brought us together. They played for fun and played to score and I could not stand that, but at the same time I had to recognize it and understand it; once I did, the whole experience approached me from another angle.

To take from this, I think that it is pretty clear why I really dislike the idea that one man can drive everyone to a championship in the NBA. Those guys on our team who always wanted the ball and always wanted to score looked up to these players and they probably thought that they could do the same. The problem is, when you have five guys getting the same ideas, no one would ever pass the ball. Hence this sort of marketed stardom brews wrong ideas in the heads of players within a team sport on all levels. Do not get me wrong, watching these superstars score offers plenty of entertainment but not everyone can play like this and no one really sees the hard work that these players have to go through on their own before they can actually play to that degree. I did not buy into it because I got into basketball sort of later than most players would (as I have mentioned in part one) and already saw the game from a different angle. This is why I appreciate those who play for their teams and score when they can, when they are the best option on a play.

With all that I learned from watching basketball and playing on an organized team for the first season, I would go on to take all that I learned forward to high school, which was a completely different animal that was interesting, to say the least.

To Be Continued...

A Tale From the Sidelines Part One: Finding the Passion for Basketball

With all this talk about the past NBA Finals and upcoming draft season, I have realized that I have not spent much time talking about my own experiences with basketball and why I feel so passionately about this blog which essentially covers what the second unit can really do for any given team. Other than my Checking In post (which you could find on the side bar), I want to elaborate and give you all a better idea of what this is all about.

First and foremost, I am not a professional ball player nor do I intend to be. I'm just a short, 5'4'' 145 lb Asian who happens to love basketball. I first started to play when I was in the sixth grade, which is actually pretty late given the fact that many of my colleagues and former teammates had already started training in youth leagues by the time they could literally walk.

I was just never really the athletic type and often stuck to the classic playground games such as Tag and Dodge-ball. When things got way too aggressive with Dodge-ball and the staff decided to ban the game, my friends and I just started to go out on our own and find new things that interest us. Some decided to play soccer while some decided to hit up the courts; well, I just happened to go towards the courts.

In the "ancient" years of my playing, basketball was very frustrating to me because of the complexity of constantly dribbling the ball. Anyone who starts out playing knows how annoying it actually is to even attempt to gain some handles, and by that age in elementary, everyone was way too impatient to actually go through the fundamentals necessary to get those good handles. People just wanted to play, so, we just played. Nevertheless, the playground games were fun and even though there were a lot of carry-overs, traveling, and air-balls, no one really cared. It was a transition into something new and everyone was excited to take part, regardless of how ugly some of these games got.

I did not actually take basketball seriously until middle school when I started to find myself intrigued by the 2008 NBA Finals. The funny thing is that my entire family are and were already crazy Laker fans but I wasn't into it. I was part of a generation that still bought into the WWE and the great days where every single punch, body slam, irish whip, and piledriver seemed so authentic and real! However, I was growing up and wrestling was getting worse and worse. It was time to move on and there was just something about basketball that started to garner my attention.

Once I was into it, there was no turning back. I soon found myself yelling and screaming at the top of my lungs in the living room alongside my relatives as I learned the names of the players that my parents had already known years and years ago; I studied the game and picked up the rules quite quickly but still as an outsider looking in, I did not necessarily jump on the bandwagon and cheer for the Lakers' starters, but rather the players that intrigued me the most. I am naturally a very curious person and I was then, so the most unorthodox players or the ones that rarely got playing time seemed to grab most of my attention. Surprising to many, but not really surprising to any of you all given that I just told you these circumstances, my very first favorite player of the Lakers at the time was Sasha Vujacic. Yes, that is right, the Machine! Mr. Sasha "drain-it-in-your-face-from beyond-arc-and-off-the-bench" Vujacic! There was something about his charisma and energy that I liked in a player, especially a player that was only looking at 20 to 27 minutes max each and every night; I mean those are the guys who are pretty cool. Right? Well, to me that was awesome and is still awesome. I thought that it was pretty cool to see those guys who actually seemed excited to play and work themselves to the limit all for their team. I mean they would do anything in the little time that they have on the floor and that is great to see.

After a devastating loss to the Celtics, I felt the pain that the Lakers felt in losing out on the finals that, according to many of relatives, they had worked so hard to reach all year long. I was now completely sucked in. I got all the NBA video games for my PSP (that is the first ever Playstation Portable, the hottest portable gaming console at the time) and started to do some research. I began to go way back into the Purple and Gold's franchise history; watching old clips of Magic, James Worthy, and Kareem, the Showtime Era as well as the Shaq and Kobe Era; I started to ask relatives about certain players and what they were all about, what were they good at and how did they get there. I was just spending that entire summer soaking in the history and the game itself; it was fun and it was something that would stick with me for quite some time.

When the '08-'09 season began, I was locked in and ready. I knew all the teams that the Lakers had to beat in order to climb the tough mountain and go back to the Finals; I knew the teams that would be a breeze to them and the squads that would pose a bit more trouble, and yes, my favorite player was still Sasha. If your a Laker fan, you know what this season meant to the City of Angels and boy what a season it was! But let's be honest, Kobe did not win the championship in this year of redemption alone, he never won any of his championships that way. It was the other guys like Pau Gasol, Trevor Ariza, Sasha Vujacic, Josh Powell (who did phenomenal on the squad that season), and Jordan Farmar who brought the trophy home. This is what I loved the most about the Lakers: the team works collectively and that is what brought the comeback into fruition. I actually hated Kobe when he ball hogged because I felt that his own frustrations got the best of him and he hurt his team when he tried to do everything alone. I noticed that when he scored 35 points a game, it was amazing but at the same time it spelled trouble for his team because this meant he was or felt inclined in some way to do all the work offensively. Sorry Kobe, but there are five guys on the floor for a reason other than clearing them all out.

When you play as a team, you are at your very best and the Lakers proved that again the next year when they won yet another championship with the help,once again, by the supporting cast. It was Metta World Peace's (formerly Ron Artest) defense, Sasha's clutch free throws, Kobe's willingness to trust in his teammates and find them open. It was all these things and more but it felt good to beat Boston on the NBA's grandest stage: a game 7 victory to pull it all out...Yes!!!

You see, it was this early outlook that I had for the game that already drove me to enjoy cheering for the underdogs, those who worked extremely hard to win, not for themselves but for the team and I feel that the second unit whole-heartedly does this on a consecutive bases, a thought that I keep and kept in mind as I started my first season in middle school, on my own basketball journey...

To Be Continued.

  

Throwback Thursday: Kurt Rambis and his role as a supporting cast member of the Showtime Era

Photo Courtesy of hoops-nation.com

Long before his days as an assistant coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, Darrell Kurt Rambis was known as a gritty power forward from Indiana who awed everyone with his hustle plays and signature look: the thick mustache which was complemented by his thick black-rimmed glasses, a look that earned him the nickname "Superman" from the great Chick Hearn.

Rambis was a huge part of the Showtime Lakers and was often the enforcer who was not afraid to do the dirty work for the team. He played extremely physically, fighting for the loose boards and pushing opponents out of the key. His scuffle with Kevin McHale which lead to the infamous "clothesline" incident highlighted Rambis' entire hard mentality because he had to fight for every minute he was on the floor. He was not a great scorer and was a decent defender but one thing was clear that all of his opponents understood: If you are going to step on the court against him, you are definitely in for a showdown.

Drafted by the New York Knicks with the 58th pick of the third round in 1980, nothing about Rambis' career was solidified. Soon enough, the Knicks released Rambis before the start of the season, leaving the 6 ft 8 forward to cross the seas to play in Greece for the AEK Athens ball club; that ball club would go on to win the championship in the Greek league a year later.

During the off season, Rambis made a return to New York but after being held out of every single game with the Knicks, he was eventually signed by the Lakers where he would help the squad bring four championships in 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988. Kurt found a home in the city of Angels, a city that finally appreciated his scrappiness on the boards and the hustle he provided as the ultimate team player.

Rambis never really had plays run for him, his efficiency in field goal percentages all spawn from his willingness to fight for offensive rebounds and subsequent put backs. He never averaged more than 13.4 points per game in 36 minutes of playing time, however he was averaging huge numbers on the rebounding column. Rambis averaged a whopping 12.9 rebounds in the '83-'84 season and consistently racked up huge numbers for the majority of his career. His career totals are quite astounding with a field goal efficiency of .689, 11.0 TRB (Total Rebounds Per 36 minutes of playing time), and 10.2 points per game.

So yeah, he may always be known as the guy who got clotheslined but that was what made Rambis such a significant player; he did the sort of things that no body else wanted to do which is really what a coach wants in a team player. Rambis never had it easy in the NBA and he had to earn  all the respect that he had garnered within his 14 years of playing professionally, from the day he got drafted to his eventual retirement in 1995.

Photo Courtesy of www.china.org.cn

After Rambis retired, he became a huge member of the coaching staff under the Phil Jackson Era before leaving Los Angeles for the Minnesota Timberwolves for a head coach position in 2009. However, on July 29, 2013, Rambis officially returned to Los Angeles where he, once again, became a member of the coaching staff.

Currently, Rambis is still the assistant head coach of the team that gave him his biggest break. He continues to show his extreme dedication and work ethic to Los Angeles, the city that adored him and still continues to adore him as he tries to help the Lakers win yet another championship from the sidelines to the court.

5 second round draft picks who proved their skills

With the NBA draft approaching, many have drawn their attention to the early prospects that will take the top ten spots in the first round, changing the course of the game and league with their talents in the many years to come. Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, Marcus Smart, and Julius Randle are only some of the more noticeable names that make the headlines as of late. However, history has proved that there are plenty of current players that have proven to be worth much more than what many may have thought.

In fact, there are athletes in the league who have become intricate parts of their respective teams and have made names for themselves, stretching their own charisma and exuberance on the court to the point where people have completely forgotten how they have even made their way into stardom

Here are five second round draft picks that have done more than just open the eyes of analysts, fans, and coaches alike. They have proven that anything can happen, that the number in which their name is called does not matter but rather what is done once they are given the opportunity to play ball.

(The following list of players does not account for retired players as this list would simply go on and on and on if it had. In addition, there are plenty of current players that are amazingly athletic and do much for their respective teams, I just feel that these players have simply established a sort of fan base and reputation for dominating the game now to the point that many would be delightfully surprised to find what number by which they were actually drafted) 

5. Rashard Lewis (No.32-1998)

Photo Courtesy of Otto Greule Jr.

Although Rashard Lewis has already been traded numerous times in his career, it cannot be doubted that he has made every squad he has played for better. Lewis is an exceptional defender but his strength comes in his ability to drain threes. Primarily as a role player, Lewis' range puts plenty of pressure on the defense and allows the offense to spread the floor. As a member of the Orlando Magic, he quickly earned himself a spot on the starting line-up and was an intricate part of the team in the post season. Now as a veteran, Lewis is currently part of the Miami Heat where, along side Allen, he has found yet another team in need of his three-point expertise.   

4. Monta Ellis (No. 40-2005)

Photo Courtesy of Danny Johnston

Before the likes of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson took over the Golden State Warriors, Monta Ellis was the brand name and center piece of the team. In the 09-10 season, Ellis was playing extended minutes, averaging 41.4 minutes per game. With that time, Monta was scoring 25.5 points per game and 2.2 steals per game. Ellis' scoring capabilities were never doubted as he still continues to prove his worth for the Dallas Mavericks today. Many thought that Ellis lacked the proper maturity and was too selfish to be a great basketball player but he has proved his critics wrong by helping a struggling Mavericks squad make it into the Finals this past year. With more time, it is sure that Ellis will continue to improve and help Dirk carry the load on the offensive and defensive end. 

3.Goran Dragic (No. 45-2008)

Photo courtesy of Christian Peterson

Known as Steve Nash's back up point guard off the bench, Goran Dragic immediately caught the attention of Phoenix fans once he saw to some play time. The Slovenian native ball player has an edge to him that is makes him quite a pesky guard to defend. With his crafty lay-ups and on point passing, Dragic proved that he can be an effective starter once Nash headed to Los Angeles; furthermore, Dragic began to show hints of his own skills that emulate much of what Nash had done for the Suns. It is clear that Goran has spent much of his time observing and listening to his coaching staff as he consistently approves each and every year. This past season, his numbers have spiked as he is averaging 20.3 points per game and 5.9 assists per game in 35.1 minutes per game. Dragic is currently 28 but he still has plenty of time to continue to grow and develop with is Phoenix Suns squad that is slowly rebuilding itself.

2. Manu Ginobili (No.57-1999)

Photo Courtesy of Dave Einsel

Four-time NBA champion, two-time All-Star, Former sixth man of the year, what more can go on a player's resume. Well, how about FIBA Americas Championship MVP, Euroleague Champion and Finals MVP, two-time Italian league MVP and much, much more. Ginobili has electrified the game of basketball, bringing his famous euro-step move to the NBA and in the process, helping the Spurs capture four championships across three decades of basketball. The man has driven his coach crazy plenty of times but he has also solidified his career as a solid reserve player that will forever be part of San Antonio's big three from 2002 to present day. What more can be said but what Charles Barkley has always said: "Ginobillliiii!"

1. Marc Gasol (No.48-2007)

Photo Courtesy of Matt York

Marc Gasol proved that he will not be known only as the brother of Pau Gasol right when he stepped foot on to the center stage of the NBA hardwood floor. Marc has proved his worth in the past years has he continues to develop into one of the most elite big men in the league. Many say that Dwight Howard is still the best at his position but Marc is right behind him. He has the strength in the low post that his older brother has been criticized for lacking and he also has a great flat-footed jumper that consistently falls as well. Moreover, Marc is more than willing to play defense. Due to his ability to alter shots and play excellent perimeter defense, Marc earned himself the defensive player of the year award last year. As he continues to develop his offensive arsenal, Marc is going to be one of the best centers in NBA history, and he is just getting started.

So there you have, here are five more than capable athletes who so happened to find their way in the NBA later in the draft than others. As history has proven, even the best prospected players could turn into busts and even the last pick of the draft can make a huge impact on a team. In the end, nothing is really certain until the start of the season where these young athletes will have the opportunity to let their game to the talking.

The Draft will air on June 26, so see ya soon!

Kawhi Leonard: The Truly Deserving Finals MVP

Photo Courtesy of Brace Hemmelgarn-USA Today sports

During the start of this year's NBA Finals, no one would have ever figured a 22-year old soft-spoken forward could ever be the x-factor of the Spur's offense and defense; three games later and no one would have an ounce of doubt in it.

That's right Kawhi Leonard, out of San Diego State, is your 2014 Finals MVP and deservingly so. Leonard has had quite a career thus far in the NBA but has not been given the type of credit or recognition that he really deserves. Perhaps it is his will to play hard-nosed defense over aggressive offense, perhaps it is his tendency to let his skills on the court do all the talking for him, perhaps it is his goal to play for the brand of basketball that is not doesn't give him the opportunity to make the flashy plays; who knows? However, what has always been clear is Leonard's maturity and ability to play with a poise that many young athletes are unable to match in this day and age.

Leonard is the classic player that responds to the needs of his team and he has proven that he can step up his game when in areas that he needs to. When Gregg Popovich challenged Leonard to get himself involved in the offense prior to game three, he simply did. Leonard scored a mere nine points in the first two games of the series before breaking out with 29 points in game 3, 20 points in game 4, and 22 points this evening. He has literally let his numbers speak for him as his statistics have blown out of the charts in these past three games.

Moreover, Leonard's defense on LeBron James was absolutely phenomenal. He played James so well, I am quite sure that even Metta World Peace would be proud! Leonard's pesky on-ball defense frustrated James on numerous possessions by forcing him to to constantly put the ball down on the floor and change directions. With a player as skilled as James, the two-year small forward had a tough assignment and he handled it better than any would have ever imagined. Although James still managed to score 31 points for the night off 10-21 shooting, anyone who watched the game saw the how hard it was for the four-time mvp to score each and every basket when Leonard was all up on him.    

Due to his tremendous scoring improvements to supplement his ecstatic defense, it is clear that Leonard seriously has quite a career ahead of him. He has not been able to really showcase his talents let alone grab the attention of the array of NBA fans as Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, or James has but now that he has our attention, perhaps the tide will turn on the long run as it has during these finals series. 

If Leonard keeps it up, he will probably be seeing less and less time on this blog since he is slowly but effectively changing his own history, from being a role player in San Antonio's squad to an intricate part of the bigger picture. It is safe to say that there will probably be a huge hike in his jersey sales next year.

Congrats Kawhi Leonard, you have shown the world what hard work can bring back to an already storied franchise and restored the genuine meaning of being the perfect team player that does not necessarily have to do all the flashy moves or market much. You have shown many young aspiring athletes that  all they have to do is just to perform at their own highest potential, to help the people that should matter over the press, the commercial shoe manufactures, the expensive and greedy sports endorsers, because at the end of the the day, as a basketball player, one should only worry about helping out one group: the team.   

NBA Finals: Every single player on the Spurs' squad scores

Photo Courtesy of Darren Abate-AP Photo

It is difficult not to keep talking about the San Antonio Spurs bench, especially in a game where the entire team is able to score. Game four of the NBA Finals was a direct example of teamwork in its purest form as the Spurs have earned themselves a 3-1 series lead over the defending champs, a feat that was done with a collective effort; the last time I checked, basketball was a team sport and the Spurs are reminding the Heat of that in every single game that has been played thus far.

When a team is able to come back from a huge 19 point victory in game three (which snapped Miami's undefeated home streak during this year's playoffs) with a 21 point victory in the following game and in the very same hostile arena, then one has to consider something is either really wrong with Miami or something is seriously exploding in San Antonio's game.

Through the likes of the production of the Spurs, I have to say that there is no doubting the latter.

Point Guard Patty Mills showed up to play and continued right where he left off with 14 points and two assists in 16 minutes of action. Manu Ginobili had a quiet scoring game with seven but helped spread the floor with his ability to create some plays for his teammates; he was part of the huge scoring run during the late first quarter and early second quarter mark.

Former reserve man Boris Diaw is having the series of his career. The last time he was off the bench, I had already felt that he was making a huge difference in the series and given Popovich's decision to start him in these last two games, it is clear that Miami has not found an answer for the 10-year veteran. Diaw scored eight points and grabbed nine boards for the night but his strength continues to be his ability to find open teammates consistently off the dribble. Diaw is unique in that his initial intention when he drives to the basket is not to necessarily score but to find the open man, whether it is an extra pass for a dunk by Duncan or an open jumper for Parker or a behind the back dish to Tiago Splitter for an easy lay in. The guy is just straight up crafty.

 Courtesy of NBA via YouTube

Another key period to look at in the game is the time that most commentators would call "Garbage time." To most, this is the time when there is an obvious blow-out game ensuing and both teams decide to clear out their benches; however, I think that "Garbage time" is actually a period where one could actually see the discipline, the will, and the standards that the organization has opposed on its players. While the San Antonio Spurs reserves, players that really do not see to any playing time at all, were continuing to play organized, the Heat players were slowly falling apart. Out of the bunch, hot-handed James Jones of the Miami Heat lead with an impressive 11 point outing with only 3 minutes of playing time but really this is the flaw of the entire Miami squad. They invest too much on single players that are eager to find their own and not look for their teammates. Matt Bonner, Cory Joseph, Marco Belinelli, Aron Baynes, and Jeff Aryes all scored less than 5 points but the point is that they all, nevertheless, scored, which means that the ball was moving even during a period where most reserve players would look to "wow" the crowd or impress their teammates with their own individual talents.

As stated before, The Spurs proved in game four, all the way to the end of the game, that they brand their organization with the true nature of a team oriented goal to win the championship collectively. It is nice to have a franchise player like LeBron but San Antonio is proving that there are five guys on the court for a reason. 

NBA Finals: Patty Mills!

Patty Mills hustles down to the defensive end and guards LeBron tightly before getting knocked to the ground. When he sees the ball fumble out of the former MVP's hands he gets up and dives for it, knocking it forward to Manu Ginobili and away from the outstretched arms of Chris Bosh before taking yet another tumble.

Courtesy of G4NBAVideosHD2 via YouTube

What more could you really ask for in a player who saw to almost no playing time in the previous year? Mills had only played 15 minutes during this evenings game three of the NBA Finals but the crafty and speedy back-up point guard still managed to score five points and dish out four assists.

Mills may only have a handful of minutes during these finals but his speed puts plenty of pressure against the Miami defense. He has the ability to channel his inner Tony Parker at times by pulling up for open mid-range jumpers or taking it all the way into the hole.

Most importantly, players like Mills are willing to do anything that they possibly can to help improve others on their squad. He is not really a player that comes into the game and immediately looks for his own touches, he is actually quite patient on the offensive end (when he is not doing his quick transition breaks or driving hard into the paint) and willing to take the hits on the defensive end as he had done when he took the charge on Mario Chalmers in the fourth quarter of the game.

With San Antonio up 2-1 in the series after a 111-92 victory today, Miami must regroup and hopefully see to much better bench production from their reserves.

NBA Finals: San Antonio's bench outscores Miami in 98-96 loss

Photo Courtesy of Edward A. Ornelas-San Antonio Express-News

Although the power houses of the Miami Heat dominated game 2, tying up the series 1-1, the San Antonio Spurs' bench mob has really proved its worth in these series thus far. As compared to a combined scoring total of 12 points for Miami, the Spurs' reserve players outscored their opponents by 25 points with 37.

Forward Chris Anderson and shooting specialist Ray Allen were the only members of Miami who actually put up numbers with their roles off the bench. Long forgotten shooting guard James Jones saw to some playing time put nothing but a personal foul. Forward Udonis Haslem played 46 seconds and also managed to pick up a foul with his time on the court.  

San Antonio's bench consisting of Marco Belinelli, Boris Diaw, Manu Ginobili, and Patty Mills all stepped into the game and contributed early on, leaving only Matt Bonner (who played only 1:05 minutes) the odd one out of the scoring group who, like Jones, had only committed a personal foul.

Diaw had another fantastic game and almost had a double-double. His production continued when he came off the bench this evening by grabbing 10 boards, dishing out five assists, and scoring seven points in 32 minutes of action.

Ginobili is considered part of San Antonio's big three which means that his production is never really much of a surprise. He topped all reserve players with 19 points on 7-for-15 shooting. As what the great Charles Barkeley says Ginobili always plays like...GINOBILLIIIII!

Point Guard Patty Mills gave Tony Parker a couple of minutes to recover, picking up the tempo and pace of the game by running the ball to break open the Miami defense with his speed and ability to ignite a quick break off turnovers. Mills scored eight points off 3-for-7 shooting.

However, with a game where LeBron James is able to grab 10 boards along with his 35 points, it is quite difficult to beat the Heat. The Finals will resume on Tuesday, June 10 on ABC

See ya then!    

  

NBA Finals Spotlight: Boris Diaw

Photo Courtesy of Keith Allison/ CC BY

San Antonio Spurs foward Boris Diaw may had only scored a mere two points last night in game one against the Miami Heat but that does not discount for his 10 rebounds and six assists within 33 minutes of play.

The 32-year old veteran reserve gave a much needed spark for his team off the bench, fighting reluctantly for offensive and defensive boards while bolstering much of the assignment to guard LeBron when Kawhi Leonard was dealing with early foul trouble.

Diaw had only a single turnover and personal foul throughout the course of the entire game while limiting James to only 25 points.

Diaw is coming off quite a productive post season. Last year, he only played 17.1 minutes per game and only attempted 3.4 field goals of which he averaged 4.1 points a contest. This year, he has already doubled his field goal attempts and scores roughly 9.6 points per contest. His confidence has soared and because of it, he is shooting at .405 from beyond the arc and .523 in all which is the best production he has had as a member of the San Antonio Spurs given the larger number of attempts he is beginning to take (he took a total of 70 shots back in 2012 and 54 last season) with 132 this year.

With the match ups against Miami's forwards, Diaw has proven through this opening game of the finals that he is a valuable player off the bench and is capable of causing a lot of trouble for the Heat if they do not adjust to match and guard his versatility. His size allows him to beat forwards like Chris Andersen off the dribble and consequently, allows him to draw in the help side defense, leaving Tim Duncan wide open for an easy jams or lay ins. This simple play evidently tore Miami's defense apart yesterday night, given the fact that the Heat constantly had to rotate around the ball so many times.

As the series progresses, look for Diaw to make some valiant efforts to go out and grab loose balls and rebounds. Look for him as he slows down James by pushing him further away from his comfort zone in the low post. Diaw is no all-star but his ability to dish out the ball off the dribble or in the post as well as his ability to spread the floor with his long range jumpers makes San Antonio just a bit better every game that he sees to some playing time.    

   

Checking In

In the game of basketball, there is always that player who sets just the right pick for the guard to drive directly to the basket; the one who boxes out and cleans the glass; the one who locks down their defender and forces him to go 0-7 in consecutive possessions.

During my high school basketball career, I was that one player.

Sure, I only played about seven to 15 minutes a game but at the same time, I played the role well and did the scrappy things that most did not want to do. I am a 5 foot 5 Asian so during my time on the team, I happened to guard giants but I worked hard day in and day out to perfect my defensive slide. I did not mind that my name never really got in the books and I was never a scoring champ, yet I was happy to be part of my team, to help in any way that I possibly could.

However, between the humbleness and "quiet" production of these role players and the mass attention that the household names already receive, I think that there is a silver-lining that is present and this blog serves as that sort of silver-lining, a reward to those who stay humble, know their roles, play the game for what it is and may not even want to be recognized...but should be.

Nevertheless, this blog is for those who may not start any of their games or may not have their names repeated by children and adults watching from the comfort of their homes, but rather start each contest by sitting on the sidelines, waiting for their opportunity to come off the bench.