"Around the NBA"

George Karl and the healing power of sports

I hope basketball can help Karl through tough times.

I was reading a Rick Reilly story today about George Karl’s fight to stay with his team while battling cancer.  To some people, continuing to coach might seem insane: Why would he ever want to coach, when it could potentially keep him fatigued and hurt his chances of recovery?

But me, I understand.  It’s hard to imagine my life without sports.  My relationships would all be different, and there have been times when sports have revealed a medicinal quality to heal.  Even during the few times sports have broken my heart, the heartbreak came after years of strengthening friendships and improving the quality of my life.

Here’s one story to demonstrate how sports can help the healing process.

I was in my dorm room at prep school, playing Madden with my roommate Alberto.  We weren’t allowed to be playing video games during study time, so we were worried about the normal things:  Would our dorm head come into our room and catch us skipping out on homework?  Could our teacher, who lived next door to us in an apartment, hear us?

As we continued our game, my cell phone rang.  I let it go.  I was playing Madden, damn it, the call could wait.  Seconds later, it rang again, so I finally picked it up, reluctantly putting the PlayStation controller down.

It was my mom.  My cousin Taryn, only a junior in college, was dead.

I didn’t know what to think.  I wasn’t even that close to Taryn, but she was my cousin.  We didn’t hang out much, her family lives on the other side of the state, but she was the first person I really knew who had ever passed away.  And she was only a junior in college.

The last time we’d been together, Taryn had been perfectly healthy.  She went away to Galway, Ireland for a semester abroad, and still showed no signs of illness.  While she was away, she contracted an infection.  Within days, she was dead, spending her last seconds in an ambulance on the way to the hospital, thousands of miles away from everyone who loved her.

I talked to my father, who was inconsolable.  His brother’s daughter, so sweet and fun to be with, was gone.  We’d never talk to her again.

I’m sure my dad wondered how he could have been a better brother, a better uncle.  I know I wondered how I could have been a better cousin.  We hadn’t seen her in ages, it felt like.  And now we’d never get another chance.

For Taryn to be dead was impossible.  Already, as a junior in college, she was a First Team All-American in field hockey.  She had fiery red hair, and always had a smile on her face.  She was indomitable on the field, and a bundle of fun off it.  She couldn’t be gone.

I called my basketball coach, and told him I’d have to miss practice the next couple days.  He was normally a stickler about missing practice.  He didn’t mind this time.

Two days later, I was a pallbearer in the funeral.  The day before the funeral, though, was the wake, and my heart bottomed out when I met Taryn’s boyfriend.  A semester away from his girlfriend was bad enough, but now?   I didn’t know how long they’d been going out, or if they’d ever spoken about living a life together.  I’d never even met him before.  But I did know he loved her.  That was evident in every tear streaming down his face, and in the way his hands trembled as he offered his condolences to my aunt and uncle.

The next day, the scene at the funeral was a combination of incredible love and intense grief.  I’ll never forget walking into the funeral, carrying Taryn’s body into the church. I didn’t know what to expect.  Looking around at hundreds of people standing in respect for Taryn, I cried every tear I had in my body, at the same time feeling a surge of pride for my deceased cousin.

In articles about her written after her death, Taryn was described as “an inspirational leader,” “the type of student who would often find themselves on the cover of brochures crowing about everything a college has to offer,” and “one of those people who probably had more friends on campus than anyone.”

I probably didn’t know as much about Taryn as the people saying those comments, even though I was her cousin. I never got the opportunity to become close to her. But, seeing how her hundreds of friends, bused from Bowdoin College to see her one last time, reacted to her passing, I knew everything I needed to.

I met her field hockey coach, who handled the situation as well as anyone possibly could have. She was strong, compassionate, and caring. She clearly cared for Taryn like a family member, and dealt with my aunt and uncle with the utmost dignity and delicacy. Meeting her and seeing her teammates, I knew the Bowdoin field hockey team would play the following season for Taryn.

*****

I drove back to school, arriving in time for my basketball game. Everything was a blur, but I played one of the best games of my life. I threw 13 assists that day, compared to zero turnovers. Somehow, after all the crying and grieving I’d gone through, basketball was just what I needed. The game was put into perspective by Taryn’s death, but it was just what I needed to keep my mind off the pain and heartache.

My parents came to my game that day, as they always did. Watching me play always brought them happiness, but that day was different. My dad seemed composed the entire game, with a calm exterior. But I walked over to him after the game, and he threw his arms around my neck, breaking down. He wept that day like I’d never seen him. They were tears of loss, joy, and pride. Being held by my inconsolable father, I cried too.

My basketball game didn’t bring Taryn back, and nothing could. But it helped heal a small part of the hole in our hearts, and to express our emotions in a productive way. Somehow, and I’m still not quite sure how, basketball brought us hope.

And Taryn’s field hockey team?

They didn’t end up playing the following season for Taryn.

No, with her initials etched into their jerseys and her memories forever marked in their hearts, they played with her instead.

(My thoughts go out to George Karl, his family, and everybody close to him. I hope that he can continue to have the strength to persevere, and that basketball remains a light of joy during these bleak times.)

Highlight Reel: Corey Brewer dunks on Robin Lopez

There was very little positive for the Minnesota Timberwolves to take away from last night’s 152-114 demolition at the hands of the Phoenix Suns.

But there was one shining moment, and it was Corey Brewer’s dunk on Robin Lopez’s goofy-haired head.

You might remember Brewer from this, and this.

Kudos to Scott Skiles

He’s got a point guard, probably his team’s second-best player, shooting less than 37%… for the entire season. His new best player, an Aussie big man, is best known as an NBA player for being chosen ahead of Chris Paul and Deron Williams in the draft. His old best player, a sharp-shooting lefty, has missed almost the entire season with injuries, and will miss the remainder of the campaign with a torn ACL. The rest of the team is a collection of has-been’s, never-were’s, and never-will-be’s. Somehow, the Milwaukee Bucks are in fifth place in the Eastern Conference and the hottest team in the NBA.

Scott Skiles, take a bow. Then another one. Keep going, you deserve all the applause we can give you.

Allen Iverson’s wife wants a divorce

Could anything else go wrong for Allen Iverson?

At this point, you have to start to feel for Allen Iverson.  No matter what you think about “We talkin’ bout practice,” or his sreet-cred-earning persona, you have to feel for a person whose life has come unraveled in every facet.

Everything for Iverson has gone south, all year long.  First there was Memphis, where the once-dominant guard was relegated to backing up Mike Conley (even after “God chose Memphis“).  Then there was his daughter’s illness, causing Iverson to miss games and tweet, “I need to be there to hold my little girl’s hand and encourage her to get better. I wanted her to wake up every morning and see her Daddy’s face, at least until she got better. Through God’s Strength, She Will Keep Getting Better!” After that, the 76ers cut ties with Iverson, perhaps ending his storied NBA career, and on a miserable note.

Now, his wife has filed for a divorce, leaving the struggling Iverson with a doomed marriage, failed tail-end of his career, and sick daughter.  (AJC)

A week after the Philadelphia 76ers’ Allen Iverson announced he was leaving basketball for the rest of the season to be with his sick 4-year-old daughter, the star’s wife filed for divorce in Fulton County Superior Court.

In the divorce petition filed on Tuesday, Tawanna Iverson said her 8 ½-year-long marriage to the guard was “irretrievably broken.” In the petition, Tawanna Iverson asked for temporary and permanent custody of their five children as well as child support and alimony.

She did not ask for a specific dollar amount.

Next thing ya know, a banana peel in the middle of the road will cause Iverson to crash his car.  That’s about the only bad thing that hasn’t happened to him yet.

Highlight Reel: Suns simply can’t beat Spurs

Jason Richardson found out the hard way; the rim can be just as effective as any defender.

Can anything else happen to keep the Phoenix Suns from beating the San Antonio Spurs?

After being owned by the Spurs for many years, Phoenix was finally going to get a break to go its way.  A late and careless turnover by San Antonio left Jason Richardson with a wide-open dunk.  But — in the name of Tim Duncan three-pointers and Robert Horry clotheslines — Richardson’s dunk just wasn’t to be.

Don’t worry, Jason.  As Ball Don’t Lie’s Trey Kerby points out, even your missed dunk would have won this year’s dunk contest.

Richardson should have taken a lesson from teammate Amare Stoudemire.  Dunk the damn thing.

Highlight Reel: Penny Hardaway in his prime

There were three stages in the career of Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway: Star Penny, Lil’ Penny, and Washed-up Penny.

This video is from back in the Star Penny days.  Back when you couldn’t guard Penny.  Back when the secret service couldn’t even guard Penny.

UPDATE: Weird coincidence: Basketball-Reference just posted a piece about just how good Penny used to be. Definitely worth the read. (h/t Ball Don’t Lie)

Cavs pick up Antawn Jamison, cement top-dog status

The Cavs must be as good salesmen as Antawn Jamison.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have completed a three-way trade with the L.A. Clippers and Washington Wizards to bring Antawn Jamison to Cleveland. The trade is as follows:

• Cleveland gets Jamison, Sebastian Telfair; gives up Zydrunas Ilgauskas and 1st-round pick.
• Clippers get Drew Gooden; give up Sebastian Telfair, Al Thornton and Brian Skinner.
• Wizards get Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cavs’ 1st-round pick, Brian Skinner, and Al Thornton; give up Antawn Jamison, Drew Gooden.

There has been chatter that Zydrunas Ilgauskas will be bought out and return to Cleveland after thirty days.  If so, the Cavaliers just got Antawn Jamison — and Bassy, of course — for nothing but a first-round pick that will likely be the last in the round.  Mind-boggling.

On the bright side, Jamison’s addition might not help the Cavaliers all that much.  He will take time away from J.J. Hickson and Anderson Varejao, both of whom have been playing great.  Actually, you know what, screw it:  I can’t even try to convince myself that this trade puts Cleveland anywhere but in the absolute driver’s seat for the Eastern Conference title, if not the NBA title. 

Antawn Jamison for nothing but a first-round pick.  Wow. And the Celtics are just trying to make the salaries match to pick up Nate Robinson. 

Sweet, dude.

East wins All-Star game in front of record crowd

A night after an incredibly weak NBA dunk contest disappointed all of Western civilization, two Chris Bosh free throws with 5.0 seconds remaining gave the Eastern Conference All-Stars a 141-139 victory. A record crowd of 108,713 fans watched the game, held in the new Cowboys Stadium.

Kobe Bryant gets verbally smacked by Smush Parker

(Note: This interview is from last year. But Dime Mag just published it today, and it was news to me.)

Smush Parker is far from Kobe Bryant’s biggest fan.

Okay, okay. Who the hell is Smush Parker to say anything about anybody? But he was Kobe Bryant’s teammate for two seasons, and absolutely hated the guy. Still, I’ve got to say…

Kobe’s certainly had the last laugh.

Highlight Reel: Hickson turns tables on Wade

Almost a year ago, J.J. Hickson was a rookie getting spot minutes for Cleveland.  He went up for a dunk and Dwyane Wade denied him.  Embarrassed him.

Now, Hickson’s a starter. And he wanted Wade to realize how much he’s improved. First, there was the dunk. No more Mr. Weak Stuff. Hickson damn near dunked Wade’s hand through the rim.

Then, there was the block. Wade went up for a dunk, and there was Hickson. No, no, no, no, no!!! Get that weak stuff outta here. Anything you can do, I can do better.

Celtics’ situation similar to that of Heat

A three-games-in-four-days stretch against playoff teams, and a couple championship contenders. Sounds eerily familiar, huh Celtics fans?

Tonight’s game against the Boston Celtics starts a three-game road swing for Miami that will be as true a test as any as to where it stands within the Eastern Conference. Boston’s own recent three-game test was to see whether it is ready to be a legitimate contender, but Miami’s is to see if it can merely stay afloat. By the time their road trip against Boston, Cleveland, and Chicago has finished, the Heat could conceivably be behind Chicago and Milwaukee, on the outside of the playoff situation looking in.

Still, even knowing they aren’t a contender, Miami’s situation sounds a lot like Boston’s.

“This is the toughest part of our schedule,” Erik Spoelstra told the Miami Herald. “I saw this in August when I got the schedule. Now, more than ever, we have to be together. We have to get tougher mentally and respond to adverse situations. We’ve got to fix it.”

The Celtics may be over the toughest part of their schedule, but – much like the Heat — still have problems to fix. Rajon Rondo spoke about a Celtics locker room lacking a common goal, and Danny Ainge echoed his sentiments.

“This year I think there has been a little bit of [rumbling], ” Ainge said. “I still think it has more to do with, what Rondo was saying, it’s just the attitude and [whether it is] a priority for each player to win a championship.”

He continued, “Do [All-Star appearances, future contracts, minutes played and the amount of shots taken] matter, or is the only thing that matters winning an NBA Championship for every single guy?”

While the Heat may suffer from a schedule and inability to respond to tough situations, a la the Celtics, things for them remain quite different.  As much as Spoelstra and Dwyane Wade would like to think otherwise, they aren’t chasing an NBA championship.  Instead, they’re just trying to earn a playoff berth — preferably as high a seed as possible — and win enough games  and inspire enough hope to keep Wade in Miami for years to come.  Anything else, including even a first-round playoff victory, would be gravy.

In fact, Miami losing all three games of their upcoming road trip is almost expected.  For Boston, losing all three games of their own was the end of the world.

But even with those losses hardly faded out of the rearview mirror, the Celtics can look across the court tonight at Miami and take solace in at least two things.

One:  They are fighting for something far greater than just a playoff berth.

And two:  That goddamn stretch of brutal schedule is mercilessly behind them.

*****

Three things to look for in tonight’s game:

1. Tony Allen starting? – With Paul Pierce likely to miss tonight’s game with a strained mid-foot, Allen will likely get the starting nod.  Allen has played well recently, and has finally patched together some consistency for Boston.  With Pierce hurting, the Celtics will need it.
2. Rafer Alston vs. Eddie House, round two? – Watch yo’ back, Eddie. Or, more specifically, the back of your head.
3. Rajon Rondo should have his way- The fact that Rafer Alston starts at point guard for Miami doesn’t simply mean a reunion with Eddie House.  It also means Rajon Rondo should have a big day.  Correct me if I’m wrong, but Rondo should be just a little too speedy for Alston to stay in front of.

Video: Lebron blocks O.J. Mayo

Normally, Lebron James catching someone from behind is nothing to write home about.  (Hold the “That’s what she said” comments, please.)  He does it about as often as Rasheed Wallace says something to the referees.

But this block was especially sick.  He catches up to O.J. Mayo, an athletic player, after being as far behind him as Michael Sweetney tends to be in preseason sprints.

Kobe Bryant prevented me from the perfect day of basketball

I woke up in the morning with a grin on my face and a pep in my step; gone were the nightmares of Jamal Crawford.

I was prepared for a super day of basketball.  First, I was going to see my best friend, T.J., try to score his 1,000th point for Brandeis University.  Then, it was time for Celtics-Lakers.  Does a day get any better than that?

Jamal Crawford, the thorn in Boston’s side

Before the game, Kendrick Perkins admitted the Boston Celtics had “put a hit out” on Jamal Crawford.

Talk about one of your all-time greatest backfires.