NBA East

The NBA regular season is just under way but already some interesting things are happening. The NBA season is looooooong, Take it from someone who knows both as a player and a coach. However there are trends already appearing. Number one is the Miami Heat. Just know that EVERY NBA team has talent, obviously some more than others and the Heat have the "Big Three". Wait a minute I thought Boston had the "Big Three" and won a championship with them? Or was I dreaming? (We saw the real big three the other night). But it takes more than just talent to win in the NBA. You have to have talent at ALL the positions. Not superstars but NBA quality talent, players that do what they are suppose to do when they are suppose to do it. On our board in the coaches office here with the Vipers we have written.

We do not want the 10 best players

We want the 10 best players that give us the best TEAM.

Miami will be a very good basketball team, no doubt. They have great players, a great organization, with Pat Riley at the top and a good coaching staff. They will figure it out. But it takes time to become a Team. They are 5-4 right now but they should be one of the top teams in the east by the end of the season. they will not win 70 games and blow away the league. Boston is the team too beat in the East right now. They have the "Big Four" now with Rondo passing out assists like they ate going out of style. the Celtics are a veteran team that also added the ultimate veteran in the off season in Shaq. They have been through the wars together and have one of the best coaches in the game today in Doc Rivers. Orlando is once again a very talented team that has not really figured it all out yet but if they do they can make another run at the NBA finals. Atlanta has talent and athleticism but not all the pieces in all the right places. They will be scary to face early in the playoffs but I don't think they have what they need to get farther than the second round. Milwaukee has Bogut back from that horrible injury and he is my new favorite player. He is old school physical and does all the little things. With Skiles as their coach they will play tough, physical basketball and could do some damage in the early rounds of the playoffs this year. Chicago is young and explosive with Rose running the show but a little too inconsistent for my taste. Those are my top 6 teams in the east with the other teams fighting for the last two spots in the playoffs and a quick first round exit.

The West is next.......................

Tryout camp

Sorry it has been awhile but I have been busy preparing for the RGV Vipers/Houston Rockets tryout camp this weekend. We will have 60-70 players from all over the country coming into McAllen, Texas to try and get an invite to the Vipers training camp Nov. 6th. We have been sending out info to agents and players and coordinating the logistics of having a quality tryout camp. We want to make sure that everyone coming to the camp gets a fair look by all the coaches. We will have drills that cover ball handling, shooting, passing and all aspects of offense as well as drills to see what kind defenders these players are. We will also give them a "beep" test to gauge their conditioning level. In this test players sprint 20 meters and back using a timer that beeps at the halfway mark and when they finish. It starts at 11 seconds and gets faster and faster. Sounds like fun but it is a killer. We will have them play 4 on 4 half court basketball to see who has a good basketball IQ. There is nowhere to hide in 4 on 4 basketball. We will have some controlled scrimmaging, as well as games with refs Sunday morning.

I have run many of these tryout camps over the years and it always amazes me the wide variety of players that show up. You will see a 6'9" player who went to a major college and plays overseas making good money on the same court as a former high school back up point guard who is a bartender at Hooters at night and plays at the local YMCA on weekends. When we say "open" tryout- we mean it! The cool part is everyone has a different story and for one weekend they are all playing on the same court. Basketball is truly a great game!

After this weekend is over and things quiet down a little, I will give you my predictions on the upcoming NBA season. NBA training camps are going on all over the country and every team is undefeated with visions of championships in their heads. But really. How many teams have a legit chance at winning the ring of all rings (that binds them all)? Sorry a flashback to the Lord of the Rings. Can the Lakers repeat? Are the Celtics too old? Can Lebron and Wade survive with only one basketball? Who would you want to take the last shot to win a game on that team.........Bosh? More to come, soon.

World Champs!

USA USA USA USA.......... This is a big deal! The World Championships just finished up and team USA came away with the gold. People here in the States don't know how big of a deal that is. To show where the USA sports fans minds are let me give you an example. The gold medal game of the Worlds between USA and the home team Turkey was played last weekend and was shown live on ESPN 2 at 1:30pm Sunday afternoon. My wife Linda, son Michael and I went to a sports bar in Padre Island to watch the game and get some Nachos and a burger. When we walked in the bar all the TV's, all 2o of them, were turned on to football or Nascar. We asked the manager if we could get one of the TV's tuned to the World Championship basketball game that team USA was playing in. They looked at us like WHAT?????? They had no idea the game was taking place. They were very nice about it, finding a corner of the bar where we could sit, eat and watch the game. After going through about 100 channels we found the game and settled in to watch what turned out to be a good but not too competitive game. What was even a more telling sign that America's sports audience doesn't get World basketball is during the 2nd quarter a guy comes over, stands next to our table for about 5 minutes watching the game and looks at us and asks. Is this live? We say yes it's the World Championships and USA is playing well. Then he says, "they should have picked a better time to play the game. Not during NFL football games." WOW! First, it is the WORLD games. Believe it or not the world does not revolve around what is on TV in America. Second, the game is being played in Turkey. It was 8:30 pm in Turkey. If we want to watch it live the time will be what the time will be here.

Anyway.........USA won with a world class (young) team and a great coaching staff. They beat some very good basketball teams from around the world and qualified for the 2012 Olympics. That really takes the pressure off of USA Basketball for next summer. FYI Kevin Durant is becoming one of the best basketball players in the world. Yes even counting Kobe, Lebron and the other top NBA players.

International basketball

I hope everyone is watching the great basketball that is being played in the World Championships in Turkey this summer. Having spent the last 6 weeks with the British National Basketball team I have seen first hand the difference between basketball being played in the States (NCAA,NBA) and the international game. Watching the World championships you can see that there is quality basketball being played all over the world. there are some great games being played. On ESPN2 watched a great game between Spain and Serbia, two power house teams. Serbia had control of the game until the last 3 minutes of the game then Spain made a run and tied it up with 25 seconds left. It took a last second 30 foot shot from serbia to win the game! Team USA also had it's hands full against Russia but came away with a hard fought 10 point win. In the States we are use to a lot of spread the floor one on one, breakdown your man and get to the basket basketball. There is a lot of that in International basketball too but there is a lot more movement away from the ball. Cuts to the basket and flare (back) picks to get shooters open. That is a big difference in the two games. There are a lot more shooters (makers) on the court at the same time. It is very difficult to defend ball penetration when there are shooters all over the court, even the bigs in international play can shoot from the outside. It also helps those shooters when the 3pt line is so much closer in international basketball.

Another thing to watch when you watch the games this weekend (USA vs Lithuania and Turkey vs Serbia) is the FIBA refs. The international game tend to be more physical than the American game. They let the guards bang the player with the ball and it turns into a wrestling match in the post. There is also a lot of flopping (acting) going on during the games. If you are a basketball fan do yourself a favor and watch these games this weekend you will get a good look at a different kind of basketball. I know you will enjoy it.

Recap

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a summer! My 3 month, 90 day adventure, with the Jamaican and British National Teams kept me on the road for 88 days, with a 2 day turnaround at home to unpack, wash and re pack my clothes and get to the airport. It took me to 7 countries:

1) Dominican Republic

2) England

3) Israel

4) Hungary

5) Bosnia and Herzegovina

6) F.R.Y. Macedonia

7) Ukraine

Coached a total of 17 games

Jamaica 2-2 Wins vs British Virgin Islands and US Virgin Islands

Losses vs Dominican Republic and Panama

The 6 point loss to Panama cost us the Tournament of Americas next year

Great Britain 7-6 Losses vs Canada, Finland, Israel, Netherlands, Macedonia and Ukraine

Wins vs Belgium, Macedonia, Ukraine, Macedonia, 2 Hungary, 2 Bosnia

GB Finished 6-2 in group play, first place and qualified for next years EuroBasket Championships.

I had so much fun working with all the coaches and the players on both teams. After coaching the Jamaican National team last year and winning the Caribbean Championships I had a feel for international basketball but coaching in "Europe" really opened my eyes to another kind of game. Very Physical, moving pick setting, open court draw and kick playing, Seven footer 3pt shooting type basketball. In college, NBA Development League and the NBA basketball you usually have to defend against one, two or sometimes three, 3pt shooters on the court at the same time. In Europe, you often have to defend against four and sometimes five 3pt shooters. That combined with the closer 3pt line really changes way you you can play defense. You really have to "stay home" Be aware of the man you are guarding and can't help out your teammates as their men try to drive to the basket. The other thing that is really different is they let you set "old school" physical picks on the ball. This makes it very hard for the guards to fight through the picks so you really have to keep changing the ways you defend the P/R and keep the offense on it's toes. On the offensive end there is so much more movement especially off the ball. Players are constantly cutting, picking and moving. That, along with the good shooting really opens up the court. This is the type of basketball that Team USA will face in the medal rounds of the World Championship next week. They will also face a lot more zone defense which they are not use to seeing. That, coupled with the good shooters other teams will put on the court, is why sometimes even though US teams tend to be more talented than their opponents it's a struggle at times. And now the talent gap between the US and the rest of the world is not very wide any more. The goal of FIBA and the NBA is coming true. Basketball is truly a GLOBAL game. It is played all around the world and over the last few years I have seen it first hand. From camps in China to practice courts in Bosnia and outdoor courts filled with young players playing pick up games in Dominican Republic and the British Virgin Islands the great game of basketball is alive and well. All you need is a basketball and some kind of hoop and you have a game!

There are soooooooo many people I have to thank and I am going to try and thank them but if I miss someone don't be too mad at me you know I am getting older and my memory is not what it use to be.

Sam Vincent, Head Coach Jamaican National Team. A good friend who has given me many opportunities. He hired me as his asst. coach for the Charlotte Bobcats and although we were only given one year there it was a great year, being on an NBA bench and working for him was a thrill. Then 2 years ago bringing me on the staff in Anaheim (NBDL) and the Jamaican National team. Our 2 years with the Jamaican National team has taken it to new heights.

Ajani Williams, President of Jamaican Basketball. He took over the National Team two years ago and guided it to the brink of The Tournament of Americas where it has never been before. Thanks for having the vision and bringing coach Vincent and myself on board.

Chris Finch, Head Coach of the British National Team and the NBDL Champs Rio Grande Valley Vipers. It was a thrill to work with you at both places. Bringing a championship to McAllen and a first place finish in group B, qualifying for next year's EuroBasket Championships with GB Basketball, a step closer to the 2012 Olympics! I look forward to continuing our success and being a part of your coaching staff.

All the staff with GB Basketball:

Roger Moreland Chairman BPB. Thanks for all you do to bring British basketball up to the level it is and your continued effort to take it to the next level.

Chris Spice Performance Director. Thanks for all your work to get GB Basketball to the next level. I told you 6-2 would win the group. Lol

Ron Wuotila Team and High Performance Manager and do everything/get it done guy. Thanks for everything you do especially wheeling and dealing to get me emergency exit rows on all the flights! You made the travel for this 7 footer a lot easier.

Virginia Tuckey (Queen V) Operations Manager and maybe future daughter in law-lol. Thanks for making everything easier. Good luck in your new job this year. Show Michael the ropes when he gets over there in a couple weeks. Remember he is there to play basketball.

Nick Nurse asst. coach. Thanks for being a giver not a taker. Enjoyed your energy and your piano playing.

Monte Shubik Video and game plans. Hope you didn't get to wiped out in those hot, crowded gyms in Hungary, Israel and Bosnia. Remember those places when you are up until 3am at the Four Seasons getting the video ready for the coaches meeting with the Sixers staff the next morning. You did a great job.

Phil Waghorn Equipment. You know you are more than that. You were another coaches voice for us. Also the ever important carrier of the gum for the games.

Fraser McKinney Physiotherapist-We won a lot of games in the fourth quarter and OT because we were in better shape than all our opponents and you keep the team in top shape. Don't know if I could have made it through the trip without your work on my hip.

All the players on both teams that made it a pleasure to coach and be around them. National teams are different than all other teams. They are made up of players from a lot of different teams and different situations that are asked to come together in a short period of time and perform at a very high level to represent their country. All of them are stars on the teams they play for during the year and they are asked to blend into a team and a lot of time give up their starter spot to take a lesser role on the National Team. They are also asked to give up a lot of their off season to train and perform for the national team. All the players on both the Jamaican and British National Teams were very open to taking instruction and doing what we asked them to do. It was a pleasure working with all of them. Good luck to all of them as they go back to their college, overseas, NBDL or NBA teams.

It has been an unbelievable summer for me both on the basketball court and getting to see so many different parts of the world. It was a summer I will never forget. I hope you all enjoyed following me along on this journey. I would appreciate any feed back you would give me in the comments section. I am deciding if I should keep up this blog as I go though the next season in the NBA Development League. Thanks again for joining me on this basketball journey around the world. Coach Mo

I promised you pictures and I am working on it. Stay tuned.

Loss=Win?

When is a loss a win? Sometimes in FIBA play. We played Ukraine in Ukraine last night with a win assuring GB a first place finish in group B. It would give us a 7-1 record best in all three groups and a spot in the third tier in next years EuroBasket tournament in Lithuania (See last blog for more info about tiers). However Ukraine had others ideas as they were fighting to stay out of last place. They got up on us by 10 points at halftime and we had an up hill battle the rest of the night. We made a run in the second half cutting the lead too two points but we could never get over the hump. It was a tough loss, even though we had accomplished our goal of qualifying for next years EuroBasket we wanted to end on a high note and win our group.

But wait...............There was still one more game to be played that night. Macedonia at Bosnia. If Macedonia wins they will be 6-2 just like us but because we had both beaten each other in group play the tie would be broken by the point difference in the Losses. We beat Macedonia by 8 point but they beat us by 18 points. They would win the tie breaker. Macedonia is a very good team so it was interesting to see them get behind to Bosnia while I watched on my computer in my hotel room in Ukraine. As the game went on the lead grew and by the end Bosnia had a big win and Great Britain was first place in the group! In FIBA basketball not only does one game make a difference but every point matters. On the last night of group play we were the only team with a spot for next years EuroBasket rapped up. One 3Pt shot, one tip in, one bad call and all your hopes could be dashed.

Here is how everything worked out:

Already in next years EuroBasket Tournament are the 10 European teams playing in the Worlds in Turkey this summer. In no particular order.

Spain

Serbia

Greece

Slovenia

France

Croatia

Germany

Lithuania

Russia

Turkey

Teams getting in from our group play:

First place teams in their groups

Belgium 6-2

Montenegro 6-2

Great Britain 6-2

Belgium and Montenegro get the top two spots over us because of "goal coefficient" what ever that is. I told you ALL points matter.

And the two top second place teams

Macedonia 5-3

Israel 5-3

Georgia 5-3 loss out because of the "goal coefficient"

Next year will be a huge year for GB basketball. Looking to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.

I have been on the road for 88 of the last 90 days and can't wait to get back to the good old US of A! Nachos, ESPN, my own bed. After I get back and catch my breath I will put together a re cap of this crazy summer. And hopefully if our son Michael helps me pictures. So stay tuned.

QUALIFIED!

Big,Big,Big...............Big win for GB basketball Last night! What turned out to be one of the most exciting wins for GB Basketball is one of the biggest wins for GB Basketball. Playing in front of a good home crowd that just saw the GB women qualify for next years EuroBasket play with a big win over Germany we were ready to roll. However we could never get total control over our game against Bosnia. Bosnia is a team fighting to stay out of the bottom of our group so it does not move down to a lower division next year. They have a tough team that never gives up and we had out hands full. Every time we made a run and got up eight or nine points they would come back at us hard and make a push to keep the game close. We did tend to shoot ourselves in the foot at times by making unforced errors. A silly foul here a bad shot there and even at times dribbling the ball off our own foot. Only monster games from Loul Deng and Pops Mensu-Bonsu who combined for 70 points and 35 redounds got us over the top in a scary overtime win. Sometimes you never know how you will win a game and this summer we have won games in a variety of ways. Tonight it took a missed free throw and an offensive rebound and foul to give Pops an opportunity to shoot two free throws to tie the game up. We have told the team all summer an opportunity means nothing unless you take advantage of it. And like all summer we did! Pops made his free throws, got us to overtime and we got another hard fought victory in the books. It has never been easy but we just keep fighting and find a way to win. That is a sign of a good team in any sport. With the win we are assured a spot in next years EuroBasket Championships and a chance to qualify for the 2012 Olympics! But first we have one more game to play. If we win we will be 7-1 in our group and get a better spot for next years play. Coach Finch will take it from here:

Sixteen teams from Europe qualify for next summer's EuroBasket Championships in Lithuania. The 16 will be comprised of the 10 European teams currently playing in this summer's World Championship which begin today in Turkey. Five more teams qualify from this summer's Qualifying Round which is what we are competing in and the final team gains entry after winning an additional qualifying tournament made up of the squads that missed out on qualifying this campaign. 10+5+1 adds up to 16 for next summer.

The draw for that tournament will be held in November and just prior to the draw FIBA Europe will rank the teams from 1 to 16 based on this year's performances. Those 16 will be divided into 4 tiers of 4 teams each. The 10 European teams from the World's Championships will be ranked 1 through 10 based on how they performed in Turkey. The top 4 will all be grouped into the top tier (Number 1 seeds), the next four (places 5 through 8) will make up the second tier (number 2 seeds) and the final two (teams 9 and 10 in the ranking) from Turkey along with the top two teams from this year's qualifying tournament (which is what we are competing in) will make up the third tier (number 3 seeds) and the remaining 3 teams plus the winning of next summer's additional qualifying round make up the final tier (bottom seeds).

What were are trying to secure is one of the two open spots in that third tier. The reason for this is because when FIBA Europe makes the draw to form 4 groups of 4 teams they will draw one team from each tier. Being ranked in the higher tier significantly reduces the chance you will draw the tougher teams. We learned this first-hand last summer when the draw gave us Spain, Slovenia and Serbia - quite possibly the toughest group ever to be assembled at the Euros. Spain won gold, Serbia won silver and Slovenia finished fourth last summer in Poland. So, as you can hopefully better see.....there is still a lot to play for tomorrow.

That explanation comes to you from our head coach, Chris Finch who has been through this many times before. Thank you coach. As you can see the higher seed you get the better chances you have of moving on next summer and getting into the 2012 Olympics.