Rens, Spurs & Hoyas great unselfish, team play

I guess you could say I'm still amazed at the way the Spurs dismantled the two time defending NBA champion the Miami Heat in 5 games of The Finals. I compared the Spurs to the legendary Renaissance Rens during the Black Fives Era of black basketball. Hall of Famer, and legendary UCLA Coach John Wooden once played against the Rens and said, “To this day, I have never seen a team play better team basketball,” said legendary coach and Hall of Fame member John Wooden – who faced the barnstorming Rens often during the mid-1930s while a player with the Indianapolis Kautskys and other all-white pro basketball teams in Indiana – in a USA Today interview in 2000. “They had great athletes, but they weren’t as impressive as their team play. The way they handled and passed the ball was just amazing to me then, and I believe it would be today.” 

John Wooden would be saying the same thing about the team that won this years NBA crown, and I also like the Georgetown offense team play. When I see the Gtown offense ran smoothly its a beautiful sight to see. Players just keep moving and quickly move the ball - this drives your opponents crazy and makes them fatigue chasing the ball around a whole game. I love it! It's the way the game is suppose to be played. Care, share, consideration, thoughtful, trust each other and have each other's back. It doesn't matters who touches the ball. It's beautiful and amazing basketball played the way it was designed to be played. The right way. 

Great to see to see great team basketball being played the right way

Georgetown Passing Offense I counted 10 PASSES the ball only touched the floor ONE time! Good things could happen when you play basketball the right way! 

Georgetown Passing Clinic 

 When the big guy is calling for the ball that gives you the confidence to throw it in there especially when he dunks the ball this gives you even more confidence to throw it in there... - Jay Bilas

Remembering basketball's first all black team

The Harlem Rens were the "greatest basketball team you never heard of" for plenty of reasons. They compiled a 2,588-529 record during their 27-year existence, from 1922 to 1949. The Rens played basketball with what Abdul-Jabbar described as a "no-nonsense approach" -- quick passes, minimal dribbling, balanced scoring and "suffocating defense." And most importantly, the all-black Rens team helped spur integration by playing exhibition games against all-white teams.

After the championship victory, Douglas purchased jackets for the team celebrating the triumph. The jacket read: "N.Y. Rens Colored World Champions." When Isaacs saw the inscription, he asked to borrow a razor blade from Douglas and then proceeded to meticulously remove the word "Colored" from the jacket. Douglas responded, "You're ruining the jacket."…"No, I just made it real," said Isaacs.

This is a compliment from a Rens player,  "Wooden could “flat out play.” Rather than “flash and dash,” says (John Isaacs), Wooden preferred to “take it to the rack.”

There's a small clip of the Rens ball movement 

A "TEAM" that plays "BEAUTIFUL" and "UNSELFISH" basketball

Shout out to the San Antonio Spurs!!! Shout out to NBA Hall of Famer, Earvin "Magic Johnson for giving the Spurs crazy love on their team play. Shout out to coach Popovich too!

Watching them play is like watching poetry in motion, and yes the way the Spurs play is beautiful. Very. The Spurs play the game of basketball the way it was meant to be be played - together and unselfish. The have the best coach, the best point guard and a true legend in his own time, Tim Duncan. Manu Ginobliiii adds to the mold big time. The big three. Players are moving, players are passing the ball, and the ball is not even touching the ground is an amazing thing to see. 

I'm thinking back on how I coached my team's to play "unselfish basketball." I didn't like seeing my team play so selfishly and dribbling in one play, so I stop, the practice and told my team to start playing "unselfish", so I told my team no they'll be no dribbling is allowed. 

The looks on the faces where like, "coach, o_O at me, but I told my team, "your're playing selfish basketball, and standing around in one place dribbling the ball, and everyone is standing around watching you "trying" to do And 1 moves." We need to play team ball! The first couple of times my team didn't do so well, they dribbled the ball, so I said, "go back and try it again, you can do it, just try not to space too far from each other." It worked and I was watching the ball being without touching the court not one time. I was simply amazed at what I saw. My God. 

Lots of times during our games you would see the ball just flying up and down the court. I'd be yelling, "look up look up!" What a beautiful sight to see, I'd be amazed during and after games. After one of our games, a 60 year old man asked me, "how old are those kids?" I jokingly asked him did he want to see their birth certificates? I also mentioned to him that I prepared my team early on. 

I caught the little mishaps early and we fixed them, so by the time the season started my team was ready to play basketball. Why not give your all to your team. Your team will give their all, "unselfishly" with "sacrifice" too.

I didn't know what I was doing when I told them this, it was something that just came out of "instincts."  Life instincts roll over to basketball insticts of "unselfishness!" It's about WE not I. 

Watching this every game was amazing and my team went on to win a championship. I'm glad my son left me with his "unselfish team play!"

Good team play, RIP Point guard Chavis

Some similarities here between the Spurs and Rens, you think? (Haha) 

Remember this about the "Renaissance Rens?" "To this day, I have never seen a team play better team basketball. ... The way they handled and passed the ball was just amazing to me then, and I believe it would be today." 

-- John Wooden

Who were they? Remembering The Rens

NBA Honors Black Fives Era Pioneers

A SALUTE TO "TEAM BASKETBALL!" 

Pacers continue to have "inconsistencies" at getting the ball to their big man

Before the Pacers/Heat game last night I said to myself, "which Pacers team will show up tonight." Watching how "inconsistent" the Pacers have been in the last two series of getting the ball to their big man has been a problem. 

I think this starts in the huddle with Coach Vogel not telling his players to "consisently" pound the ball inside. I don't see this enough. If I have a true center I think I might want to immediately use his services by going directly to him. True point guards know exactly how to do this. They know the correct passes to throw into the post. I'd like to see more lobs to the basket where the big man can go and get it and finish strong. Throw some bounce passes into the post. Do whatever you have to do to get your big man the ball. 

This Pacer sometimes play "equal opportunity basketball." (Me & my turn)>>> 2007 Washington Post Sports article John Thompson Jr. once said, "It wasn't the time for equal opportunity basketball!" - John Thompson Jr. 

Below is Hibbert's shot chart. He made most of his shots in the paint and only missed two. 

Shot Chart for Roy Hibbert 

I remember Hill dribbling down the court to make a pass to David West in the right corner of the court, West then ...whoa wait...oh no he didn't ...smh...Roy wide open with his hands ready RIGHT UNDER THE BASKET and West throws a cross court zip pass right by Hibbert and I was like, "you've got to be kidding me did I just see this?!!?" Roy had his opponent sealed under the basket, and all West had to do was dip the pass in there for two. He didn't. George received the last pass and missed the ill advised jumpshot.

I think in the third quarter Hibbert may have had only one touch. 

I don't know what's going on, but the Pacers selfishness is causing "inconsistency" and losses which shouldn't happen. It's a total mismatch in the post, guard and teammates should whole heartedly and unselfishly change their mentalities to get their big man the ball at will. 

Let your center carry you, believe in him to the fullest, it's amazing how he believes in you as his teammates and thinks so highly of you, but do they think the same about him?

We know 90% percent of the game of hoops is mental, the other 10% is physical. 

RIP to my son. He was setting big men up in the post when he was a youth. I taught him at a very early age how to play the point guard position. His head was always up, saw the whole court, he knew his first pass was in the post or he'd attack and dish the ball. 

Chavis was a very unselfish player and could run a team. Check out his point guard skills from youth to high school.>>>Chavis Harris Highlights. 

Play basketball the right way can be a thing of beauty. Check out the new San Antonio Tribute video below narrated by Laker and NBA Hall of Famer, Earvin "Magic" Johnson.

Hibbert, in 41 minutes, shot 5-9, 12 points, and 13 rebounds. He was also 2-2 from the line. He altered shots, and played good defense Now, what does this tell you? This tells me to give my big man the ball a lot more. Roy did most of this on his own, but yet and still he helped his teammates when they need him too but didn't/doesn't get the same respect on a consistent basis.   

A Salute to a true D.C. forgotten hoops legend

The Godfather Of Go-Go Chuck Brown one Bootney Green's favorites

I've read many articles, seen many video's of legendary player's from different cities and even in different countries. Some of the best player's get left out of those conversations. Normally, it's the player's of the past. After high school, I moved into the Washington D.C. area, from Baltimore. Baltimore, by the way was one of my stops along the way being a kid of military parents we lived in many places here in the states and overseas. Although I was born in Roswell, New Mexico, I've always admired basketball hoops wherever I ended up living. Bridgeport, Connecticut, Goldsboro & Dudley, North Carolina, Suitland, Maryland, D.C. & New York. One thing I love in the summertime was basketball hoops and of course outdoor summer concerts.

I wanted to focus my attention on a D.C. basketball legend who played in the famous Urban Coalition Summer League at Dunbar High School in the district. A back in the day hoopster that really never got his props for representing D.C. hoops especially during the mid 1980's. Those summer month's were as they say, "SICK" for D.C. summer basketball. Clarence "Bootney" Green (Spingarn/Cheyney) was one of the best to ever get it done in the Urban Coalition Summer League. 

We've heard about the legendary D.C. hoopsters such as: Curt Smith, Greg Jones, John Battle, D-Nice, Steve Francis, Pep Tyson, and many more, but why haven't we heard about one of the best to ever do it in the nation's capital. The best one to light it up consistently on a hot summer's day at the Urbo. People need to know how it was back in the day at the Urban Coalition. Dunbar High School was an amazing place to be in the summertime with so may high school, college and professional hoopsters from all over. Muggsy Bogues, Sam Cassell, Penny Hardaway, Sherman Douglas, Darryl Prue (former Gtown Ass't/WVU/DunbarDC, John Battle, Curt Smith, George Lynch, Hubert Davis to name a few Bootney with and against. Those were the days! 

When you see the names of the player's Bootney has play with or against in this famous D.C. historic summer league your mouth will drop to the floor. You will be in awe of this man they call "Bootney!" "LOOK AT HIS NUMBERS AGAINST SOME OF THE BEST TO EVER DO IT ON THE HARDWOOD" in the DMV. Numbers Don't Lie! Check out the newspaper clippings. Bootney mentioned to me he didn't know his mother had kept these sacred articles all of these years and he almost cried when his mom gave these articles of the past to him. "Ok Kent I didn't know my mom saved all this she said asked me do I still have my old clippings I said naw, she well I have something for u and gave me a folder full. I almost cried!!!! - Clarence "Bootney" Green  

  

Here's Bootney after one his games (yes, he's still hooping) with his old high school coach John Wood who still has an impact on his life today! "My high school coach John Wood came out to watch me play today, it's amazing how much he has touched my life and still is a big part of it. Just want to say thanks for everything u have done for me, glad ur still in my life love u coach!!!!"

Salute to Clarence "Bootney" Green!!! 

Future Hoya & Whitney Young's Paul White to play in the West Coast All-Star Classic May 11, 2014

West Coast All-Star Classic 2014

Check out video highlights and a rundown by Michael O'Brien and Brian Chimino from the Young-Benet Class 4A state final

Ranked #1 IHSA Super 25 rankings

Hoyanation, future Hoya Paul White will be playing in the West Coast Classic on May 11. Paul White and his Whitney Young teammates have finished the season as the 4A Illinois High School Association champions. What a season! Go Dolphins! Salute to you Paul White & Hoya Saxa! 

Great article about the man behind the West Coast All-Star Classic

A great weekend for the Hoya faithful and the future

With the Hoya season over with there was some excitement this weekend from the future and the senior leader. Senior Hoya Markel Starks put his point guard talents on display in the 2014 Portsmouth Invitational Tourney in front of NBA and oversea's scouts. His team, Sales Systems LTD. team won the championship game on a Starks three pointer. Click video>>> Markel Starks game winning three pointer in the 2014 PIT.

I guess you could it was a hyped weekend for me and I know it was for you as well. I couldn't be more hyped for a new season already, and yes, it's already started. The future is NOW! Soooooo... 

COME ON!!! 

Click here>>2014 Portsmouth Invitational, Final Recap

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS ON A BASKETBALL COURT BEFORE? THIS WAS SICK!!! 

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Jordan Classic 3-D Projector

On Friday two future Hoyas' had all star games to attend to. L. J. Peak was soaring in flight mode in the 2014 Jordan Brand Classic. Click>>> L. J. Peak takes off. 

In the 2014 Kentucky Derby Basketball Classic future Hoya Isaac Copeland also put his talents on display in this game many dunks and winning the dunk contest!

KDFBC GREEN TEAM MVP! 

Check out the video at 2:01

Click here>> 2014 Kentucky Derby Classic Standouts

Jordan Classic salute to future Hoya L. J. Peak

Hoyanation, I would like to give a shout out to our future Hoya and Gaffney High School's L. J. Peak on being named SCPrepNation State Player of Year! 

Here are a couple of tweets from I picked up from the Jordan Classic and L.J. Peak's Twitter below: 

@JordanClassic Mar 10

#TakeFlightJBC National Team #EAST Announcement – LJ Peak (@LJPeak1) 6-4, SG from Gaffney Senior H.S. committed to #Georgetown

Retweeted by Jordan Brand Classic

Hoya#0 ‏@LJPeak1 Mar 10

blessed to be apart of the @JordanClassic #blessed

Here's a story bidding adieu to Gaffney Indian's and future Hoya L. J. Peak courtesy of The Gaffney Ledger. Click here>>>Ledger Live Bidding Adieu to L. J. Peak

A final look back at LJ Peak's time in a Gaffney uniform! Enjoy the video of the ‪#‎PeakShow‬ Click here>>>Future Hoya L. J. Peak! Simply Amazing! Hoyas' fan's on the Hilltop and abroad stay tuned for the #Peakshow. Coming in Fall of 2014! 

Click here>>>Future Hoya L. J. Peak scores 51 points in a high school game

Click here>>>At the "Peak" of his game

Click here>>>A Hoya and Gamecock

The Jordan Brand Classic will take place on April 18, 2014, 7:00 p.m. on ESPN.

Will "yoga" be a part of the Hoyas regimen?

While watching the March Madness game Wisconsin vs. Arizona and I was on Twitter, I saw this cool photo of future Hoya Isaac Copeland and some of his teammates doing some yoga at his school (Brewster Academy, Wolfeboro, NH). The Bobcats high school winter prep basketball season is over so now spring sportsand yoga are going on. I thought is was an amazing to sight to see one of our own doing something different and creative such as yoga. I think this would be a great idea for Isaac to bring his yoga to the Hilltop for his teammates and staff. How about it Hoyanation?

#11 Future Hoya Isaac Copeland championship highlights

It's been known for some time that Georgetown Hoya great  and NBA Hall of Famer Alozonz Mourning practices yoga, "I truly think that yoga is the fountain of youth. I really do." Click here for Alonzon's story>>>Young Warrior.

Even basketball teams get in the mix doing yoga! Click here>>>Baseball teams such as the Athletics take the yoga approach

A shining moment for me in the historic & classic ESPN 30for30 film "Requiem For The Big East"

The Message... Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five 

photo credit: Raymond Hatcher

Check out my Vine on>>>Requiem For The Big East  

What a story this would be! I thought I'd write in my blog about this dramatic & magical experience. Ever since the announcement of the airing of the new ESPN 30for30 film "Requiem For The Big East" I've watched a couple of trailers on Youtube before the show aired. While watching this unique, historic and classic film on ESPN, I was "shocked" to see myself on my television screen during this Big East classic and historic film. I was already filled with mixed emotions about this film because I lived through this great era of college basketball during the 80's. Definitely a big shout out the producer, a true Hoya fan, Ezar Edelman. Thanks Dan Steinberg for this great article! Click here for Dan Steinberg's article on 30for30 Requiem For The Big East's Ezra Edelman

I've never would've thought I get a clip in thiis historic film on ESPN. Well, least to say I a ton of emotions hit me unexpectedly because I was a big fan of Georgetown in the 1980's. I remember a lot of those great games played on Channel 5 in Washington, D.C. 

On nights when the Hoyas played you knew you were in for a treat, you also knew you were in for a battle. I've never seen a college basketball team as dominant and fierce as the Hoyas were back in the 80's. Team's had a major fear of playing the Hoyas, and I could see this in their eyes and body language in those games. 

Seeing the beginning of the Big East form and the games played all the way up until the end was SICK! The last game played of the old Big East Tournament at "The Mecca" in The World's Most Famous Arena, Madison Square Garden on ESPN's 30for30 "Requiem For The Big East" was all of it. 

I just want to say thanks ESPN and ESPN 30for30 for showing that clip of me in this classic film.. It meant the world to me. I don't know how it ended up like that that but man what a story. That's a special moment I would've wanted my son to see so we could laugh so hard until our stomach hurts. What an amazing and stunning moment, sort of like seeing a dream on a screen. The new Big East is here. Thank you Dave Gavitt. Thank you coaches of the old Big East you made it what it was. REAL RIVALARIES! Hoya Saxa! 

My story>>>Georgetown Die Hard Integral Part Of Fan Base Thank you Kevin Wessel  ...While working at "The John Thompson Basketball School" I dedicate this basketball to my son every summer. Hoya Saxa! 

Check out this story, sometimes these stories never die>>>http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/ncaa-tournament-2012-marylands-lynetta-kizer-dedicates-career-to-fallen-friend/2012/03/23/gIQAwhwoWS_story.html A big shout out to Gene Wang, Post Sports for this story.

Clap it up Hoyanation! 

It will be fun playing in here tomorrorw.night.Hoyas vs. West Virginia, a classic 

I'll be clapping it up for my Hoyas tomorrow night in the lengendary and classic McDonough Gymnasium

photo credit: Christine Burns 

Clapping it for you son! 

The little guy with the big heart with the ball his freshman year of high school (Mount Vernon, VA) 

This past summer I caught the legendary Reggie Williams peeping his 1984 National Championship memories out, this was classic! 

 1984 National Champions! Hoya Saxa! 

CLAP IT UP HOYANATION! 

The New Big East Tournament is here

My theme song... "Leave all your troubles behind & GLIDEEEE"

It's a new season! It's officially here. The Big East Tournament is here! Yes, it's different. It's a new conference. A pretty good conference and a competitive one as well. Although Louisville, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Notre Dame, South Florida, Connecticut and of course one of our biggest Big East rivalries in the history of college hoops, the Syracuse Orangemen have went onto difference conferences, (American Athletic Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference) and the new Big East has move forward and know we're here.

With Selection Sunday a few days away the Hoyas know they need a good showing in the BET. The Hoyas have had an up and down season, but has always figured out a way to bounce back and win. Hopefully this will be the case tonight when the Hoyas meet the DePaul Blue Demons for the third time this season winning both home and away games. 

This is a tournament and we all know how unpredictable things can get. One team is playing with nothing to lose, and one team is playing for a chance to go to March Madness. I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to winning these tourney games and moving forward one game at a time. We mustn't look beyond DePaul. The Hoyas know with a win tonight they'll be moving on to play Creighton. This is a fact, but the focus is on what the Hoyas have to as a team to stop DePaul, that's the plan, and nothing else.

No so called "trap game" here folks. I think our team just needs to go out and have fun most of all. Of course they need to play hard and smart, but most of all have fun. I think in some of our road games this season, the Hoyas have been tensed up pretty much, I don't know for sure, just my observation on a couple of road games I've been too, but I do know sometimes the pressure can get the best of you on the road if you let it. You have to always step your game up especially on the road. You have to be just as aggressive because some of those calls that you may have gotten with at your home venue you may not get in road games, but one thing for sure the Hoyas consider the world's greatest arena their other home as well. Let's get back to our winning ways Hoyas one game at a time. 

UPI's 2014 Big East Preview click here

Things to do:

Before the game "visualize" what you're going to do.

Come out attacking the paint or immediately give your big/bigs the ball in the paint.

Cut down on early turnovers and fouls, count down on turnovers, period! Don't give the game away! 

Communicate and point communicate especially on defense (very important) 

After a shot, follow your shot

Keep moving without the ball

Stay low on defense, slide your feet, hands out

Shooters stay in triple threat before you received the ball so you can look like a threat and/or be a threat 

Be aggressive, go and get the ball, it's your's 

Play smart, play hard, and have fun

Good to see my high school, friend and JV football teammate and Georgetown Alumni David Wingate in NYC for the 30th anniversary of Gtown's 1984 National Championship. Reggie Williams, a Georgetown great is on the right of this photo. 

Earlier this season inside of the McDonough Gymnasium I took a photo of Reggie Williams looking at his 1984 National Championship trophy case, this was a sight to see, I'm just glad that I caught this shot. It was simply amazing

Don't forget to watch this ... 

BEAT DEPAUL!