Much has been made about the Miami offence, but the Big 3's defence has been the story to date.
So the Miami Heat seemed to have righted the ship after their opening night loss against Boston.
Miami has won three straight and with all the chatter about the Big 3 and how they would play offensively, it's their defence that has been impressive. There were questions when the team was assembled regarding how they would share the ball on offence.
But as they work that out, they are following the old adage: "You don't need the ball to play good defence."
No team, including Boston, has scored more than 90 points against them and twice opponents have been held under 80. The focus on the questions offensively has taken away from the fact that this has the potential to be a very good defensive team and so far they are living up to it.
Currently, the Heat is second in the NBA in opponents field-goal percentage allowing just 38.9% from the floor.
I'm sure you've now seen the new Nike commercial with LeBron James asking "What Should I Do?" and ending with the answer, "Should I be who you want me to be?"
It brings to mind something my dad, who regularly sent little brother, who now currently works for the world-wide-leader, and I, cryptic messages by speaking to us in Latin then translating it to English.
The phrase goes like this: "Non quo mo set quo modis."
The loose English translation is: "It's not what you do, but how you do it."
I'm surprised that "wise LeBron" didn't advise him on "The Decision."
The commercial was well produced, but what exactly is LeBron missing here? Does he not get it? There was no problem with leaving Cleveland and going to Miami; it was the way he did it.
I guess someone finally did get to him with this admission Sunday in New Jersey.
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Yesterday, Oct. 31st, marked an anniversary of sorts.
As a student of the game both technically and historically and spending many of my formative years on both sides of the border right smack in the middle of the time when the U.S. civil rights movement was front and centre all over the world, I found this story very interesting.
Read it for yourself and decide if the NBA dropped the ball with a chance to honour some of the pioneers who broke the colour barrier.
I wonder what kind of response you would get if you asked any of the current African-American players about Earl Lloyd, Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton and Chuck Cooper?
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The Raptors will be in Portland Saturday night playing in one of the best NBA arenas in front of one most passionate fan bases.
But the fans in "Rip City" will have heavy hearts as Maurice Lucas passed away on Sunday at the age of 58 after a long battle with cancer. Lucas was a key piece in the Blazers one and only NBA title in 1977.
"Luke" was my earliest recollection of what a power forward truly represented. He was big strong and he was skilled. And, after watching the coach of my one-time favourite team, Jack Ramsay of the Buffalo Braves, land in Portland I grew to appreciate the guys such as Lucas and Paul Silas who really revelled in doing the dirty work during a time when the game allowed you to do it your way.
