Nick has been a coach for over 15 years at every level between 5th and 12th grades. He served as a basketball manager at the University of Wisconsin – Madison under head coach Stu Jackson and Assistant Coaches Stan Van Gundy (Orlando Magic Head Coach) and Sean Miller (Arizona Head Coach). He is a basketball historian and has conducted extensive interviews about the history of the game with such luminaries as Pete Newell, Tex Winter, Dean Smith, Bill Guthridge, and Herb Brown. He is a triangle offense guru, having cemented a relationship with Coach Winter while coaching in the San Fernando Valley near Los Angeles.
Nick is dedicated to the notion that you can’t be the best basketball player you can be until you’re the best person you can be.
Coach Nick examines how the worst shooting night in the NBA since 1973 hurt the Heat when they needed it most. Derrick Rose continues to impress with his playmaking, Deng's hustle negated LeBron's big game, and Wade wasn't enough to eke out a win.
Mat MacDonald AKA The Rook -- He is currently enrolled in Human Kinetics atSt. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. A frequent contributor to all NBA and Raptors debates along with other sports. Witty, quick and never afraid of a challenge, Mat's here to talk hoops with you and dish out his two cents whenever!
Nick has been a coach for over 15 years at every level between 5th and 12th grades. He served as a basketball manager at the University of Wisconsin – Madison under head coach Stu Jackson and Assistant Coaches Stan Van Gundy (Orlando Magic Head Coach) and Sean Miller (Arizona Head Coach). He is a basketball historian and has conducted extensive interviews about the history of the game with such luminaries as Pete Newell, Tex Winter, Dean Smith, Bill Guthridge, and Herb Brown. He is a triangle offense guru, having cemented a relationship with Coach Winter while coaching in the San Fernando Valley near Los Angeles.
Nick is dedicated to the notion that you can’t be the best basketball player you can be until you’re the best person you can be.
Coach Nick breaks down a thrilling defensive struggle between the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics. In what is surely a playoff preview, both teams hounded each other into 42% from the field, and it took a special game from Rondo and Von Wafer to pull it off for the Celts.
Nick has been a coach for over 15 years at every level between 5th and 12th grades. He served as a basketball manager at the University of Wisconsin – Madison under head coach Stu Jackson and Assistant Coaches Stan Van Gundy (Orlando Magic Head Coach) and Sean Miller (Arizona Head Coach). He is a basketball historian and has conducted extensive interviews about the history of the game with such luminaries as Pete Newell, Tex Winter, Dean Smith, Bill Guthridge, and Herb Brown. He is a triangle offense guru, having cemented a relationship with Coach Winter while coaching in the San Fernando Valley near Los Angeles.
Nick is dedicated to the notion that you can’t be the best basketball player you can be until you’re the best person you can be.
Nick has been a coach for over 15 years at every level between 5th and 12th grades. He served as a basketball manager at the University of Wisconsin – Madison under head coach Stu Jackson and Assistant Coaches Stan Van Gundy (Orlando Magic Head Coach) and Sean Miller (Arizona Head Coach). He is a basketball historian and has conducted extensive interviews about the history of the game with such luminaries as Pete Newell, Tex Winter, Dean Smith, Bill Guthridge, and Herb Brown. He is a triangle offense guru, having cemented a relationship with Coach Winter while coaching in the San Fernando Valley near Los Angeles.
Nick is dedicated to the notion that you can’t be the best basketball player you can be until you’re the best person you can be.
Nick has been a coach for over 15 years at every level between 5th and 12th grades. He served as a basketball manager at the University of Wisconsin – Madison under head coach Stu Jackson and Assistant Coaches Stan Van Gundy (Orlando Magic Head Coach) and Sean Miller (Arizona Head Coach). He is a basketball historian and has conducted extensive interviews about the history of the game with such luminaries as Pete Newell, Tex Winter, Dean Smith, Bill Guthridge, and Herb Brown. He is a triangle offense guru, having cemented a relationship with Coach Winter while coaching in the San Fernando Valley near Los Angeles.
Nick is dedicated to the notion that you can’t be the best basketball player you can be until you’re the best person you can be.
Aly Somani is a student of the game of basketball and the business of sports. Originally from Toronto, Ontario, Aly decided to “take his talents” to New York City, where he pursued and completed his Masters degree at Columbia University in Manhattan. Aly has experience working with the National Basketball Players Association in a Career Development capacity with players and is now working on an entrepreneurial endeavor. He has a ‘Kobe’ like determination, and an immense passion for the game, we are delighted to have Aly join the NBA Breakdown. Check him out at http://www.alysomani.com/.
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Is Erik Spoelstra Ready To Lead The Heat?
In his third year as an NBA head coach, 39-year-old, Erik Spoelstra has been blessed with every head coach’s dream, three superstars on one team. The offseason signings of LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade to the Miami Heat, gave Spoelstra an instant championship contender.
In the last year of his contract, Spoelstra has received the backing of NBA legend and Heat President, Pat Riley, along with the “big three” of James, Wade and Bosh. Spending the last 15 seasons with the Heat moving through the ranks, beginning his career as a video coordinator to assistant coach to his current role, it was only fitting that the Heat organization, which preaches loyalty and family, gave Spoelstra their support.
Despite the endorsement, many question Spoelstra’s ability and experience as the coach to lead this team of superstars to the promise land. Juggling the ego’s of three supremely talented prima donna’s, will be no easy task.
Consider for a second, the soft-spoken Spoelstra telling LeBron James what to do, doesn’t sound plausible does it?There is a short list of coaches in the league who have that ability, Lakers coach Phil Jackson and the current President of the Heat, Pat Riley, are on the top of that list.
Aside from managing the off-court attention the team will garner, Spoelstra, who is in the final year of his contract, will have to prove naysayers wrong, many of whom have criticized his late game decision making abilities. Given his short, but relatively successful track record with a sub par team, highlighted by Wade, Spoelstra won 47 games and a trip to the Eastern Conference playoffs.
However, the Heat have new talent, known as the “Kings of South Beach”, and they are all highly motivated to make their own mark in the history books. Thus, one can safely say that anything less than a nail biting loss in the Eastern Conference Finals or a trip to the NBA Finals, if not a championship, will be considered a failure.
Pressure aside, Coach “Spo”, as his players refer to him, is known league wide as a “player’s” coach, with a defensive mindset and a knack for focusing on the details that make teams successful, all of which are vital traits for a coach looking to lead a team to an NBA championship.
As with any professional sports team that underachieves, the first person to go is usually the head coach, which makes you wonder, if the Heat falter will Spoelstra be around next year or even in a few months? The true test of his abilities will come in close game situations against the leagues elite teams. Regardless on how well the Heat perform; I have a suspicion that we have not seen the last of Mr. Slick-back Pat Riley behind the Heat bench.
Nick has been a coach for over 15 years at every level between 5th and 12th grades. He served as a basketball manager at the University of Wisconsin – Madison under head coach Stu Jackson and Assistant Coaches Stan Van Gundy (Orlando Magic Head Coach) and Sean Miller (Arizona Head Coach). He is a basketball historian and has conducted extensive interviews about the history of the game with such luminaries as Pete Newell, Tex Winter, Dean Smith, Bill Guthridge, and Herb Brown. He is a triangle offense guru, having cemented a relationship with Coach Winter while coaching in the San Fernando Valley near Los Angeles.
Nick is dedicated to the notion that you can’t be the best basketball player you can be until you’re the best person you can be.
Regardless, Seikaly would have a solid career and nowadays he's enjoying the good life. This Sunday at 9pm Eastern, you'll hear him speak about his time in Miami, his thoughts on the all-star trio in South Beach and what he's up to these days.
The Rook is currently enrolled in Human Kinetics at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. A frequent contributor to all NBA and Raptors debates along with other sports. Witty, quick and never afraid of a challenge, Mat's here to talk hoops with you and dish out his two cents whenever!
On the eve of the NBA season and the eve of a new era in the NBA no one could have asked for a better present. Just when you thought all the hype was over about LeBron James and his image, boom...think again.
If you havenʼt checked the latest LeBron commercial, youʼre missing out. When I say missing out, youʼre oops I missed my high school graduation missing out. If you didnʼt miss your high school graduation, make your cousin, sister, brother, friend...hell, make anyone miss it. LeBron James and Nike just took another step out there and said, ʻHere I am!ʼ
A month ago people debated about LeBronʼs comments regarding race and how he believed some of the hate directed as his decision was based primarily on issues that have haunted some cultures for decades. James followed through with his comments by hitting up Twitter and re-tweeting all of your favorite racial slurs and comments shot his way. If you think he isnʼt making a list and checking it twice, then youʼve obviously missed out on LeBronʼs way of thinking this summer - this league is his.
Sure I could sit here and talk all about everything I hated during the summer and LeBronʼs decision. I could be one of those people that overkills the topic, and sure at times - like right now - I am without a doubt. But did you see LeBron James that night he went on national TV and announced heʼd be kicking back with Dwayne and Chris in South Beach? Did you see the glare he had in his eyes? Maybe not. Did you catch it when the scariest threesome since a Jenna Jamison flick was introduced in front of a rave-ish crowd in Miami? Did you see it? Maybe not. Did you ever see him fight back at all of those who said he did wrong, all of those who said he was a traitor, a villain, a foolish individual, a follower? Never. Now with this commercial, you get to see his true face.
Put yourselves in his shoes. Youʼre working and you want a bonus but your boss just wonʼt give it to you. You get perks here and there like the Jamisons and Williamsʼ cups of coffee, but you never get the big pay raise, you never get those Dwight Howard size raises. Until one day youʼre given an option; Come back and be in the same situation youʼve always been in and hopefully youʼll enjoy your time and something good will happen one day...or move on. Move on to something that you like, something that makes you wake up in the morning with a smile on your face. Sure, you wonʼt make the same type of money you made at your old job, but would you sacrifice that for more perks, bigger bonusʼ, more time off, more cups of Wade and Bosh? I donʼt know about you, but Iʼm with LeBron. I want a cup of D-Wade every day at work with a side of CB4, Iʼm tired of the Mo-doughnut and the Delonte disease.
Put yourselves in his shoes.
Now the bigger issue - and yes, itʼs an issue. Iʼll touch it, Iʼll talk all about it.
Race.
For DECADES race has been a part of all sport. Who are we kidding? Race has been a part of life forever. It doesnʼt matter what race you are, thereʼs somewhere in the world youʼre being ridiculed against and there are people everywhere you go that hold prejudice. That will never go away. Is that right? No way, but it happens.
I was lucky to grow up in a family that had racial diversity. When I was younger I didnʼt see it as a big deal at all, and as Iʼve grown older Iʼve seen it as a great learning tool and an amazing experience. Iʼve been on teams that certain players have been pulled out because of their race. Iʼve witnessed some of my best friends face the toughest adversity in the world because of their race.
So does race play a big factor in this?
Letʼs see. Would you have been upset if Troy Murphy decided he wanted to have a one hour special to tell the world where he was planning on playing? Probably not. I mean hell, no one wants to see his face on TV for longer then a minute but still, I wouldnʼt hate him for doing it. Did the Green Bay faithful get mad when Favre decided to come back in the NFL and play for the Jets? Sure, they were in shock for a bit because he was Mr. Packer, but when the season started, the Green Bay fans were Green Bay fans and the Jets fans were Favre fans. When Favre returned he was welcomed with open arms. Now does retiring and coming back in the game three times piss a few people off? Sure. Look at Jordan, look at Favre. Arguably the two most iconic figures in their sport over the past 15 years both did their retire-return routine and both were welcomed back with open arms.
So tell me again, why are you using the race card?
Some of the biggest figures in sport have been a different race than caucasian. In baseball Albert Pujols, Derek Jeter, Jackie Robinson, the list goes on and on. In the NFL players like Walter Payton, Barry Sanders, and Tony Gonzalez shaped the offensive game. And the NBA? Of course you have your Larry Birdʼs, John Stocktonʼs and Pistol Peteʼs. But could you argue and say that in the last 20 years the face of the NBA hasnʼt been someone of another race except caucasian? MJ, Vince, Shaq, Kobe, LeBron, Durant? The list goes on. So why are you really mad?
Are you mad that he left the city that he gave seven years of blood, sweat and tears to? Are you mad that he went on television to tell everyone at once? Are you mad that he didnʼt come to your city? Are you mad that heʼs added himself into one crazy picture in Miami? Are you made this decision could have ultimately saved the NBA? Or are you just using the race card because all of those reasons arenʼt really something you can be upset about?
Whatever you decided realize at the end of the day thereʼs millions and millions of people looking down on one man, staring at him, waiting for him to make his next move. Thereʼs never a moment off, a moment out of the spotlight that is LeBron James. It doesnʼt matter the color of his skin. None of that matters. Itʼs about what heʼs done on the court night in and night out. A two time MVP, soon to be a three time and soon to hopefully bring a ring to Miami.
So is there anything else? Just ask LeBron, he wants your input. Heʼll just ask you too, “What should I do?”
Shout out to Charles Barkley and everyone else for lighting the fire under LeBron that didnʼt need to be lit.
You said heʼs not a role model. You said heʼs a villain. You said he canʼt win it alone. You said he has no heart. You said heʼs lost his shot at being put above everyone else.
