"The essence of knowledge is, having it, to use it." -Confucious
"We only have one life to live, and we must spend our lives trying, as Pat Riley once taught me, to leave footprints." -New Wolves GM David Kahn
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel has only 2 rules: 1. Hustle 2. Be on time
"Life is never either/or. Decisions are complex. Nothing is ever as straightforward as it appears. -Nelson Mandela
Happy Sunday everyone. I hope we all had a good productive week and a fun weekend. And if you didn't, today is a good time to get this week off to a good start.
Friday night was my buddy Danny's birthday. His sister got us a party bus, and we were able to make our way around the city. It was a really fun night. We drank and carried on until early in the morning. We got to a couple good watering holes. Made some new friends. Danced like no one was watching. Good times. I'll tell you what, the party bus business isn't a terrible business idea to get involved in from where I am sitting. I haven't really given it a ton of thought, but those things are great. And you can charge a nice price, because they are so worth it. No one has ever said "wow we shouldn't have gotten that 30 man party bus with all our friends, a bus that we can drink on, pull random skanks unto, carry on and play the music loud as hell, get dropped off and get picked up right in front of our destination, and have no worries about getting home." It's just a question of being in the right area. Just something to think about.
PEAKS AND VALLEYS
I read a neat book this week called Peaks and Valleys. It was written by Dr. Spencer Johnson, who also penned "Who Moved my Cheese."
It was the story of a young man who lives unhappily in a valley until he meets an old man who lives on a peak. And it changes his work and life forever. Through the stories and conversations with the old man who lives on the peak, the young man makes some discoveries of his own. He comes to understand that the old man's principles can help him through his good and bad times, and he learns to become more calm and successful.
Here are a couple takeaways from the book:
-It is natural for everyone everywhere to have peaks and valleys at work and in life.
-Peaks and valleys are connected. The errors you make in today's good times create tomorrow's bad times. And the wise things you do today's bad times create tomorrow's good times.
-The path out of the valley appears when you choose to see things differently.
-If you do not learn in a valley, you can become bitter. If you truly learn something valuable, you can become better.
-The most common reason you leave a peak too soon is arrogance, masquerading as confidence. The most common reason you stay in a valley too long is fear, masquerading as comfort.
-Whether you are temporarily up on a peak or down in a valley, ask yourself: What is the truth in this situation?
-A great way to get to your next peak is to follow your sensible vision. Imagine yourself enjoying your better future in such specific believable detail that you soon enjoy doing what takes you there.
NBA DRAFT
My second favorite day of the year came and went on Thursday. We had a bad storm on the west side, and it actually knocked our power out for a while. Luckily, I was DVRing it so I did not miss anything. Hey, the talent wasn't great in this draft, but it was still a solid night I thought. The draft came on the heels of a couple big moves in the NBA. Shaq got moved the Cavaliers, and Vinsanity was traded to the Magic. So in a year where there was only 5-10 really good guys it kind of took a back seat. Here's a couple takes about the draft.
-Ladies and gentlemen, please give a warm welcome to the artistic stylings of Mr. David Kahn. I knew who David Kahn was before Thursday night. Most of you didn't. But within an hour and a half of that draft, you knew him. He became a household name for a night. TALK ABOUT BALLS! The Wolves had 4 picks in the first round, including # 5 and #6. He took 3 point guards in a row and a shooting guard. Ricky Rubio, Johnny Flynn, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington. Awesome. There is a lot to hate about that draft. There is also a lot to like though and here's why. They didn't do what people thought they were gonna do. They didn't try to win the respect of the fans who don't know shit about basketball. They didn't try to win the press conference in some respects. They thought outside the box. They trusted their scouts and their analysis. They took who they thought were the best players. If you wanted to win the press conference, you take Stephen Curry and Ricky Rubio, and everyone loves it. And maybe they become the best back court of all time. Or maybe they stink. But they took who they wanted to take. They took who they thought were the two best assets for their team. Is Rubio ever gonna play for the Wolves? My guess is no. But he's not gonna come cheap. And whoever wants him, whether it be the Knicks or someone else is gonna have to pay a big price to the Wolves.
-I am shocked that Sam Presti and the Thunder let Rubio get by them. If I had made that bet, I would have lost. I guess they believe that Russ Westbrook is gonna be their point guard, and adding Rubio might have f'd him up. I don't love Harden. I think he's not a great athlete who needs time and touches to get his. But he is a strong one on one player, who can weigh on people and get his buckets and get to the line efficiently. He's gotta be ready to get in the back seat though, because they have a pretty good young player named Kevin Durant who is gonna get 25 opportunities a night. Would have loved to see Rubio here though.
-Johnny Flynn, like I wrote the other day, is gonna be a beast in my opinion. It was no shock to me that he went 6th. He's gonna struggle a little bit on both ends, but his presence, charisma, toughness and insane ability to play will make him a good point in this league, on a team on the rise.
-Can't wrap my head around the Tyreke Evans pick at 4. Unathletic, jury is still out on whether he is a 1 or a 2, he can't shoot, and he finishes below the rim. Can he play multiple positions and get to the rim at a high frequency? Yes. I think it takes him way too long to get where he needs to go. Generally 2 spin moves. A lot of dribbling. Bilas said he was ball dominant, which is another word for ball hog. But here's the gist: he's big enough, strong enough, and can help a bad team quickly. I just don't like his upside and don't like that he can't shoot. We'll see where is in a couple years.
-I dunno much, but those guys from Pittsburgh are gonna make a lot of people pay. I am just saying. Those two guys look like they keep a notebook of people who have wronged them. And it this case, 29 teams just got added to their books. I think both guys are gonna make teams. I think both guys help a team this year. DaJuan Blair, I have a soft spot for him. He might help the Spurs right? Coach Pop might find a roll for him. TD is getting old. Blair could help him by cleaning house around the rim a little bit. I mean Blair is spectacular. He's an offensive rebounding assassin. There's a roll for guys who get 20+ rebounds in a 40 minute game in the NBA. Blair did that every third game. I get why he fell though. NBA teams don't give guaranteed money to guys with bad knees. And D Blair does not have ACLs. Sam Young is a little older, but watching him fall was a little surprising. He has a big body and really good hops. His J is ugly but it found the bottom of the rim enough. And he's a warrior. He was working out for a team, I forget who and cut his arm very badly during a drill. It was gushing blood and they couldn't stop it. They said, "hey man, you gotta get that stiched." But he taped it up and kept playing in the workout. He's tough. Didn't anyone else in the league here that story? I want a guy like Sam Young playing for my company.
-Sad to see Stephen Curry wind up in GS. That's probably the worst spot he could have gone. It's a terrible environment for a guy like him to develop in. I really hope they pull the trigger on this Amare trade, and Curry can get outta there and possibly into Phoenix. It sounds fun. Curry in Don Nelson's system. And it probably will be fun if things stay the way they are. But there are just so many toxic guys on that roster. Big ego guys. Guys that would retard Curry's development. Monte Ellis has proven to be kind of a jerk. And he's not playing second fiddle to anyone. GSW has committed a ton of money to him. And he's gonna dominate that ball and get his looks and points. Captain Jack is a good guy. A warrior. But he's not exactly the guy I would hand pick to take Curry under his wing. I dunno, maybe I am thinking about this wrong. Maybe Ellis and Curry become friends. Maybe Ellis is just in constant attack mode as a slashing 2 and Curry is a catch and shoot point guard. Maybe that's a great combo. But for me, I would rather see Curry traded to Phoenix, where he can learn from Steve Nash until he retires and become the second coming of Steve Nash.
-I was so pleased when Tyler Hansborough got picked 13th. It was a great moment. And in all honesty, I think that is a fair place for him to go. He's definitely a great player. And he's definitely gonna play a nice role in the NBA. He measured taller than Blake Griffin. He's 6'10 in shoes, 6'8 in socks. He was more athletic than the scouts anticipated him to be. I think he is gonna be a good piece for the Pacers. His motor and energy are second to none. He's gonna be a screener and a popper. He has a great midrange J. He's a great free throw shooter. Yea, he has a lot of junk shots. That side arm shot put shot, that contributed about 1200 outta his 2500 college points--that's gonna get blocked most nights. He's gonna have his struggles but his energy and focus are gonna carry the day for him.
-Brandon Jennings went a little high, but I think he'll come in and make an impact. Guys just won't be able to stay in front of him. He's got a great handle and quicks. And just by the fact that he'll be playing PS3 with his boys instead of being locked in a one bedroom flat overseas will help him tremendously. Expect him to do whatever he wants on a bad team sooner rather than later.
-A lot of people upset about the Cavs selections. I dunno what to tell you. They needed to draft a couple guys that were not gonna take up roster spots this season. They need those roster spots open to add free agents and veteran players. They guy they took at 30 is a high ceiling player. He's long, athletic and a good defender. He's the kind of guy who can check that Rashard Lewis type hybrid player. He's still a few years away though. He will be part of the Cavs plan in several seasons. It's a good thing to accumulate high ceiling assets and stash them overseas for a couple years. I don't really have a problem with the pick, I just think you could have gotten him at the 46th pick. When you brought in Shaq, I think it eliminated a lot of possible guys that they would have picked at 30. A guy like Sam Young just didn't fit the model anymore. Everything you do changes when Shaq is on your team. Offense, Defense, Special teams.
This week marks the start of free agency in the NBA. I am hopeful that it will be an exciting time around the league. The Cavs have a couple moves to make, along with many other teams. Here are a couple things to look for:
-Are the Bucks committed to Charlie Villanueva? If they are not, is he gonna be happy playing for the mid-level exception (5 years approx $28mm)? Because, that is what he is gonna have to play for if he wants to play in Cleveland.
-If I had to bet, I would guess the Pistons are gonna target Hedo Turkuglou and Carlos Boozer. Let's say they add them. Where does that put them in the east? (Turk, Booze, Rip, Prince, Stuckey, McDyess, Walter Herrman)
-What are the Celtics gonna do? Have they put themselves in a bad spot with the Rondo rumors? Is Rondo gonna move? The Celtics have to be worried about resigning him. They made their bed in the sense that they are so committed to KG and PP money wise, that they might be able to pay Rondo's freight, which is gonna be $80 million easily. Stay tuned on that.
-Amare to the GSW. That would be a good game to go to when they are in town if that happens. Ellis. Captain Jack. Maggette. Anthony Randolph. Amare. Tough lineup. It's just a question of whether the GSW think that 1. is this guy gonna be healthy long term? 2. can we resign him next season?
-Are the Lakers gonna resign both Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza?
-Is Rasheed Wallace gonna sign with the Magic, and if so, how much does he have left in the tank?
-How far are the Cavaliers willing to go to try to make this happen in 2009?
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