Thursday, July 28, 2011

LV fab 48 Day 3 & 4

Day 3 of the tournament was the beginning of the playoffs. Both the Ballers 16s & 17s started the playoffs after finishing 2nd in their pools. That meant that both teams would face a 1st place finisher from another pool. The 16s started the playoffs against team Philly which had a lot of size up front. I truly believe that some of these kids playing in the 16u division aren't truly 16. I'm pretty sure I heard a little baby look at one of these so called 16u players & called him grandpa..lol. Despite being undersized the 16s were tied with team Philly at half. Team Philly's size wore down the 16s in the 2nd half and the 16s lost by 10. One of the best things about the 16s the compete every time they step on the court.

The 17s started the playoffs against Texas Cager & they were big & athletic and they just new the were going to give us a beat down, but as the saying goes never judge a book by it's cover and that is exactly what the Texas Cagers did against us. We started off the game on fire & continued that way the whole game. We played great defense and Texas Cagers didn't know what to do. Seth got his 1st dunk in a game in America...it was a pretty nice dunk. We beat the Cagers by 22 & it felt so good because they just knew it was going to be an easy game...which it was just not for them. Next up at 9:45pm that night (yes they play games that late..lol)was the Iowa barnstormers. I'm pretty sure the barnstormers shot about 70 percent in the 1st half..they had this one kid who just didn't miss. We were able to slow in down in the 2nd when Stephen stepped up & said Nel got him. We came out of normal match-up zone & played man. The 2nd half was great the lead went back & fort. It was tied with 20 second left in the game. We ran our normal offense but as the clock ran down Gokul called a clear from the top of the key & proceeded to go to work. He made a great move to create some space from myself & he buried a 3 with only .04 left on the clock to win the game. We all went crazy after the game because we won & that put us in the quarter finals & that also meant a rematch with the Houston Lynx the team that beat us in pool. We want to go James Brown on the Lynx (big payback)(google the song if you don't know it)

Day 4
The big payback..the rematch game against the Houston Lynx and this time we were super ready with a chip on our shoulder & a newly found swagger. We beat the Lynx by 12 pick to advance to the semi-finals. Buddy was killing the Lynx with his baseline jumper & was again Gokul was on fire from 3. The Lynx also didn't have answer for Seth who basically shredded their defense getting to the basket the whole game. We meant up with Deron Williams Elite in the semi-finals & that game was really good. We held the lead most of the game but missed lay-ups & free throws helped them get back in the game. The game went to overtime & Gokul had a great look from 3 as time was running out to send it to double overtime but it fell a little short & that ended our great run in the tournament with that 3 point lost. I was & am so proud of all my boys. We played so well during the Vegas trip. Well I need to get some things done..the best of Summer tournament is coming up & I will have more to write about.

Take care
Go Ballers

Monday, July 25, 2011

Day 2 LV fab 48

Day 2 worst that great for either team. Both teams lost by 4. Ballers 16 lost by 4 in double overtime. They had a couple of chances to win in regulation & the 1st overtime. The Ballers 17 lost in regulation after blowing a 9 point lead late the game. The 16s lost to Deron Williams Elite & the 17s lost to Houston Lynx. Both teams had a chance to win their pool but with the lost both teams finished 2nd in the pool with a 2 -1 record. Day 3 starts the play-offs. I will blog after the playoffs...I will give you a hint..it's exciting news.

Go Ballers

Friday, July 22, 2011

LV fab 48 1st day

The 1st day went well for both teams. The 16s played at the same time as the 17s at a different location. All I know is that Brain has continued to be a beast on the boards and that they won both games today. The 17s won both games today as well. The morning game was very good. They played very well defensively. Gukol, buddy,Jarod & seth played well. The 2nd was ugly but we got the win. Both teams play to win their pools tomorrow @ 3:30. I will write more tomorrow.

Go Ballers

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Day 2 Cream of the Crop

Day 2 and the final day of the Cream of the Crop went well for both teams.

Ballers 16s
Went 1 - 1 on Friday.  They lost the 8:50am game and then came back and won the 11:10 game by 19pts after being down by 12pts at half time.  Brian Kaestner was a beast on the boards all weekend.  Creighton and I may get in trouble for child labor laws the way we had Brian working.  Nick Wang was good all 4 games as well. Connor "Beige" Smith saw his first real action in a long while and he did well.  Connor struggled with his wind at times but when he push through the fatigue he was fine.

Ballers 17
Went 1 - 1 on Friday as well after going 2 - 0 on Thursday.  They lost the 8:50am by 5pts because they didn't play hard or together for much of that game.  They had a chance to cut the lead to 3 or 2 pts but missed shots and turn over hurt them in the morning game.  The 12:20 game was a different story..the boys were awake and they got it rolling.  Seth Turner who filled in the starting line up for Momir who badly bruised his heel in the very 1st game of the event.  Seth played well on both ends of the floor.  Ashonti and Jared were very solid on defense and offense.  Both hit 3 3pters apiece,  Stephen was very goo the 4 games as well and the biggest news about Stephen Grosey is that he can actually talk..for awhile we weren't sure about that.  Buddy got it rolling in the 4th game with some jumpers a few post moves and a nice dunk.  Gokul was up and down during the 4 games but he a some really good moments.  Victor learned a lot and I'm sure he will be even more ready when we are in Las Vegas.  I'm super proud of James..he is playing a new position and in a new role and he has embraced it and he played great.  Well I need to get out of here.  Take care and I will write more soon.

Go Ballers
Big Nellie

Friday, July 15, 2011

Day 1 Cream of the Crop 2011

Bay Area Ballers 16s:
 had a pretty good 1st day at the Cream of Crop.  They won their 1st at the buzzer by Brian who made a putback lay-up as time expired.  The 2nd game was a lost to a very good team..but the boys played really hard.

Bay Area Ballers 17s:
Won their 1st game by 5pts in overtime as well.  The boys played really well against a Las Vegas team that has 1 of the best post players in the country.  We did a very good job shutting him down, which resulted in a win.  Game 2 resulted in a win against Team superstars.  We won that game by 2pts..but we left big leads in both games get away from us. Stephen Grosey played well in both games.  Ashonti Hunter has become a very good defensive player.  Seth has played hard and has made some big baskets for the Ballers during each game.  Momir Gataric hurt his ankle during the 1st game and we had to play the 2nd game without him and we did really well.  We have to play 8:50 in the morning and I'm falling asleep while writing this so I'm going crash.

Peace & Love
Big Nellie

P.S.I need to add a few things about my 1st trip to Australia.  I stayed with the Tueta family and they are all amazing.  I love you all

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Don't call it a come back part 2

Like the title says "Don't call it a come back"... just say I'm back "Baby". I know it has been over 18 months since I lasted blogged and there have been a ton of things that have happened during that time, but we are going to focus on the most recent activities. June 24 - July 4th I was in Australia running basketball camps and it was amazing. I really enjoyed the people and my time there. I had a blast running my camps and working with the kids there. I just wish I had more time to work with them all. There were a few kids that stood out and the one who stood out the most was a 6'6 15 year old kid by the name of Eric Morgan. He has a chance to be a beast on the court with a little more time. He's hungry and he already has a little swagger to his game, which is what every ball player needs to have if they are going to be great. My friend Jodi Page has a 16 year old daughter who has Maya Moore type talent. Working really hard to get her over here to play high school then college ball here in the States. Eric is coming over to run with my Bay Area Ballers 16s squad..which will be great. I also have another Aussie playing for my Bay Area Ballers 17s team and his name is Seth Turner. Seth is a about 6'3 and he is a very good player and a great kid. Seth will make our team even better.
The Bay Area Ballers getting it rolling on Thursday(July 14-15) at the Cream of the Crop in Long Beach. We are looking to do big things and kick off our July season the right way. Well I have to roll. It feels good to be back and I promise to try and not be gone so long.
Later
Big Nellie

Don't call it a come back

It has been a little over 18 monts since I lasted posted anything and what I did post took a lot out of me. Well like the title says "Don't call it a come back"...I'm just back "People". I'm writing you from the land down under..that's right Australia. I'm heading home in the AM, but the trip was a huge success. I was here doing camps in the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane area. The Brisbane camp didn't happen so I will have to come back and hook up with them on the next trip.
I ran camps on three separate days at M'Dore in the Sunshine Coast and can I just say I had a blast. Anytime I can be in the gym coaching I'm a happy person..well at lease most of the time..lol I met and worked with some pretty good young Aussie talent and I'm going to have a couple of them playing with the Bay Area Ballers this July. Shall I remind you how we gave people the business the last time I had Aussies on my team. If, you've forgotten check the Blog 2009 summer. That group was bad ass for real. Handing out beat downs left and right. Ok, back to the camp.. I was lucky to work with my friend Jodi Page's daughter Soraya who has a chance to be Maya Moore type good. I'm hoping to get her over for high school this year and that way I can work with a her ton. I also met Eric Morgan who is a 6'6 15yr old Soph. who has a chance to be a beast. As long as Soraya and Eric put the work in..there shouldn't be anyone or anything stopping them from acheiving big things in the States playing hoops.
The trip it self has been amazing..I have rediscovered why I love coaching so much. This trip has really recharged me..I get a little down at times with the everyday struggles with running the Ballers and this trip has showed me how worth it is and that I'm good at what I do. Well its kinda late here..but not really..its only 8:30pm sunday but I'm still on Cali and its 3:30am sunday AM according to my body...lol I will try not to have so much time between post.
later
Big Nellie