So, the other day, I asked some friends to name their favorite basketball movie. My question received many different answers. Blue Chips, Love and Basketball, Sunset Park, He Got Game, Coach Carter and White Men Can't Jump each received serious consideration. However, the movie mentioned the most is Above the Rim. It is also my all time favorite basketball movie.
I still remember my first time seeing the movie. My mother took me to the movie theater on Reynolda Road in Winston-Salem to (Can't remember the name of the theater) see this movie when it was released in 1994. To provide some context for my love of the movie, I have to explain where I was mentally at that point in life. I was 12 years old and I had recently begun a life long love affair with the game of basketball. I started playing organized basketball in the 6th grade, which was about a year or so before this movie was released. I had hoop dreams and thought I would eventually play major college basketball. I knew it would require hard work and dedication. Kyle Watson, the extremely talented, yet impressionable, star of the movie faced many issues a top recruit faces. Honestly, I thought I might someday face similar challenges.
When I think about the great basketball movies that have been released over the years, Above The Rim has the most authentic basketball scenes. That probably has a lot to do with the players/actors involved in the movie. Duane Martin was actually an excellent basketball player who played for the New York Knicks for a short stint, before sustaining an injury that shortened his career. I believe Wood Harris or "Motar" can really play basketball. "Speedy" was also a really well respected playground basketball player in New York City's famed Rucker Park. Leon is also a really good basketball player. That distinguishes this movie from Sunset Park and Coach Carter. Although those movies are good, the star actors looked clumsy, and awkward during basketball scenes.
I was in the gym last night and I heard two guys debating about who they believed to be the best player in the NBA. One guy made a compelling case for Lebron, while the other guy made a life time achievement argument for Kobe. It was the kind of discussion that never leads to any reasonable conclusion because the Kobe fan refused to acknowledge obvious good points advanced by the Lebron fan. I digress.
Whether you like the Heat or hate them, you have to admit that they have been on quite a streak of late. Tonight, they won their 20th game in a row. That is tied for the third best streak in the history on the NBA. Some may say the streak does not matter; but, I would beg to differ. Sure, the playoffs are where teams succeed or fall short. But, the Heat really seem to be peaking at the right time. The excitement and momentum they have flowing right now will help them when the playoffs start in April.
During the 20 game streak, they have defeated many good teams. They have won blowout games, close games, overtime games and any other type of game in between. Lebron and Dwyane Wade have been playing excellent basketball. We must also acknowledge the fact that the Heat's best players have been healthy. Many people, including myself, had all but written D. Wade off as too old and a step slow. I think it is clear that he is still an elite player when he is healthy. This year, by in large, he has been healthy and he has put together an excellent season.
During the streak, the Heat beat the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers are likely the second best team in the Eastern Conference and will provide the toughest challenge to the Heat's playoff run in the Eastern Conference. The Pacers have size in their front court with David West and Roy Hibbert that could help them win the rebound battle. They also have two wings players that have enough athleticism to at least compete with LBJ and Wade. That said, I think people really gave the Pacers too much credit last year in the playoffs. Let's face it, Bosh was not playing and Spoelstra did not display his best coaching effort. I think the Heat are a much better team and they will be able to impose their will on the Pacers in the event they meet in the playoffs. I think Miami would win the series four games to one.
Peace
I have been extremely busy the past few weeks, so I have not been able to write much. The weekend before last, I went to Charlotte for the CIAA tournament. By the time I returned to the RDU area Sunday afternoon (Nas and DMX concert day), I was exhausted. I honestly did not know if I would be able to muster enough energy to enjoy the concert. Thank God I was wrong. I stopped at Starbuck's and purchased a grande refresh tea. I do not know what extra ingredients were included in that tea, but I felt revived after drinking it.
By the time I arrived at my boy's house, it was nearly 6:00 p.m. and almost time to head to the show. When we arrived at the show, the fact that I was about two see two living legends perform finally dawned on me. I thought about all the years I had listened to Nas and DMX, but had never seen either perform. Nas is in my top five emcees of all time. When I put it all into perspective, I knew I would be in for a great night. That said, I was a little nervous that DMX would not show up. His problems with drugs and the law are well chronicled.
DMX was supposed to perform at 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. came and went and DMX was not on the stage. My confidence in him was fleeting, but he ended up coming to the stage about 8:00 p.m. and absolutely tearing it down. His performance was exactly what I thought it would be like. If I had to describe his performance in one word it would be "ENERGY." He did not have a hype man; he came to the stage and controlled the crowd by himself. I think that is the true definition of an emcee. Someone who can move the crowd. He did songs from his first album, It's Dark and Hell is Hot as well as more current songs.
Nas was the headliner. Again, Nas is one of my favorite artists of all time. I hope he would perform tracks off of Illmatic. When he arrived to the stage, he was on his A-game. He performed songs from Illmatic to Stillmatic. He even performed his verse from the song of "Live from the BBQ." He performed for about an hour and his dialogue in between his songs was always relevant and interesting. After seeing him and Jay-Z perform, I cannot say who is the better performer. They are both great in their own right and I am glad I had the opportunity to see Nas perform for the first time. I hope to see him perform again on a bigger stage, such as New York.
Peace
