What is defense, exactly?

So the other day, in the midst of six tabling micro sit n goes, I happened to catch the ending of the Miami Heat/Dallas Mavericks basketball contest via internet stream.  Although I hate to relish in the downfall of other human beings, the sadistic side of me finds it hilarious when the Heat lose.  Not even because it's fashionable to hate on those guys, but  more because you never know what kind of ignorant post-game quote you will get from one of their Big 3.  So with about a minute or so left in the game, I caught a break from poker to focus in on a play, Jason Kidd had the ball on the left wing  and Caron Butler cut right across the middle of the paint from the opposite elbow, caught the pass and made a lay-up to extend the lead.  The importance of this was King James happened to be chasing behind him, completely out of position, when Butler made this uncontested lay-up.

The first thing that came to my mind was, "I'm glad I don't coach that team, he probably would have knocked me out for all of the expletives I would yell at him after he let the dude get a free lay-up."

The second thing that came to my mind was, "Does this guy understand anything at all about off the ball defense?"

The third thing that came to my mind was, "I feel bad for Erik Spoelstra, not only does he have to manage all of these egotistical sub-mentals, but he has to teach NBA players how to play proper off the ball defense, they should learn that in eighth grade."

To put it plainly, his defense on that play was atrocious.  It's not like he got out muscled, outwitted, or somebody set a pic on him, Lebron pretty much watched the dude cut right in front of him, seal off his body, catch a pass and make a lay-up.  Isn't one of the main tenets of defense to stay between your guy and the guy with the ball?  Maybe the 'King' has his own idea on what effective defense is.  I must say it's ironic that his idea of defense goes hand in hand with what David Stern wants the NBA to be, no substance, all flair, a league run by the superstars.  How else can one explain a guy getting beat on routine plays like this one being a multiple all-defensive pick.  I'm sure it has a lot to do with his highlight come from behind blocks that he gets once a game.  I bet those blocks are set up off the transition opportunities the opposing team gets from one of his ill-advised 25 foot jump shots he throws at the rim.  Yeah the dude might make a miraculous out-of-nowhere block once in a while, but does that make him a great defender?  No, it doesn't.  To refer to Lebron as a Blue-Collar defender, like I've heard a few times is blasphemous at best. 

So if you don't believe me, look for yourself at about the 2:00 minute mark is the play in question.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCcK-KgYwXE

While I am being critical what happened at the :47 second mark when his defensive rotation was to slow to seal off Shawn Marion from getting an easy put back? How about at the 1:18 mark when he took a few seconds admiring his brick that he couldn't get back on defense to stop Caron Butler from getting a lay-up?  These points add up!!  1:33 good close out on the shooter!!  I feel bad for the people out there that think he's a good defender, there's a few of you.  Then again, the stats don't support my feelings on his defensive ability, or lack of. But, as the axiom goes, "numbers don't lie."  Or do they?  I'm sure I'm the crazy one here...

PS:
I'm curious as to what would happen if you put Lebron with a defensive coach like Greg Poppovich?  Would he learn all the finer points of defense, as well as still be able to make the highlight-reel plays?  Or would he do the same thing he did in Cleveland with Poppovich's protege and not listen to him?  I guess this is the problem with naming somebody the 'King' before they finish puberty, as my man Deuce would say "can't tell him shit!"
PS*2:
I think it's time to admit, the game of basketball is deteriorating.  I think Jordan might have punched one of his teammates in the face if they played defense like that.  Where was Bosh to smack Lebron?  Oh, I forgot, Bosh can't even stop Rajon Rondo from dunking on him, quite the inside presence.

Matt VS Food!!

Dedicating this blog to my everlasting love for food.  The great philosopher, Divya Rao, once said "some people live to eat, others eat to live, I do both!"  Finding a balance in food can be one of the single hardest things for a person to do, I myself once adhered to a Vegan diet for roughly a year and a half.  For a few reasons, I am no longer as rigid in my dietary practice but I still enjoy healthy wholesome food.  I believe that one can both, live to eat, and eat to live at the same time. 

After I finished the Master Cleanse this weekend, I knew I would need to fill my body with nothing but nutrient dense foods for a week or so, thus no meat, dairy, or sugary snacks.  Since I work Monday - Friday, I wanted to make something that I can have for lunch the whole week.  After a little deliberation I decided to make a salsa that I can put over rice.  This would be easy, and efficient.  The recipe was taken from the "Complete Vegan Cookbook" by Mindy Toomay, with my own additions.

Ingredients used:
6 Tomatoes
1 Onion
1/4 cup minced cilantro
2 cloves minced garlic
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 can of corn
2 avocadoes (my addition)
1 can of black beans (my addition)

I made this, as well as two cups of long-grain-jasmine rice.  It should cover my lunch time meal this week, and save me the monotony of five dollar foot longs at Subway...

11-3-10

I realized how hard it is to manage this blog; no updates in two weeks leaves me pondering all of the subtle changes that have happened in my life during that time, wondering which one's are even worthy to note.  To start off, I got sick last week, first time in a few years it seems.  When I started getting a little better I decided to start the Master cleanse, this is my third time doing it, I am currently in my sixth day debating if I should stop after tomorrow or not depending on how my supplies look.  One of my favorite things about doing the cleanse is the anticipation of eating again.  This weekend I plan on going through my vegan cook book and making some interesting, healthy food.  Of course coming off of the fast is very important, last time i don't think I eased the transition from liquid to solid foods as I should.  Either way my body feels good, and I'm looking forward to getting back to weight lifting and having more energy.  I realized tonight that I feel good, but not good enough to play a competitive basketball game.  Hopefully, coming off of the cleanse my body will feel a lot better and my energy will be better.

 A bigger occurrence in my life over the past few weeks is me being let go from my backing arrangement.  I was told it was completely a business decision, which is understandable.  I have always done what I could to keep a positive relationship with anyone backing me, after being let go a few times I was always able to find someone else willing to back me.  I realize I'm at a point in my life when things have to change.  I'm not sure what kind of a role poker will play in my life, but I've decided that I would not seek any more backing arrangements for poker.  It's time to change things around completely in my life, I am excited to have more time to do things I want to do.  Eventually I might put some money online and try to grind out a bankroll, but right now I'm considering finding a second job to earn more money. 

With all of the things that seem not to be going my way the last few months my spirits are high, as cliche as it is, when one thing ends it's the start of something better.  I'm happy to be in this moment, which is well past my bedtime, but this time of the night will always have good west coast NBA basketball.  My favorite team to watch, the Phoenix Suns, just lost a well-fought game to the Spurs.  Now I'm watching a little bit of the Lakers Vs. Sacramento before going to sleep.  Hopefully, next week I will have more positives...