Suggestions to Odom to get back to being himself after a trade…

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Yeah you probably thought it would never happen to you..

Most professional athletes in general have a system, schedule a rhythm, a routine. Most media experts question our quirky superstitions. The fans love hearing what we do prior to games. We like to take naps at certain times, sleep in the same bed or the same spot nights before the game. We like to chill in our favorite chair or sofa after practice. We like doing the same things, and we like consistency.

We have certain places we like to go out to eat, the same restaurant, the same cafe for coffee or hot chocolate. Pre-game meals can only be prepared by certain folks or eaten at certain places. Even our special treats or deserts are from special spots to go to.

Put these memories away in a scrapbook

We have our seat on the bus, spot in the locker room, spot in the opposing teams locker room. We have our set time with the trainers and when you choose to get up shots, go in the weight room, stretch and get your body ready for the game. Our routine for most determines in some minds if it’s going to be a good or a bad day.

Odom the fans, the media, all see you struggling as of late. In your interviews you have been quoted as not feeling like yourself right now. From a professional athlete to another it’s understandable your routine just got all jacked up and that’s a fact ain’t no excuse.

In Tim MacMahon’s blog and other’s,  Lamar is quoted as saying ‘It’s not what you’re gonna do. It’s what can you do. What can you do? I have a few suggestions after going through a trade myself these are some things I wish someone would have told me.

What can you do Lamar?

1. Write down everything you hate about getting traded and not being informed you were going to be traded. Get it out of your system Write the GM a letter let him have it, but don’t send it to him.

2. Throw away all Laker gear.  Get rid of anything that reminds you of playing with  LA. Except the rings of course, gotta keep the rings that will always boost your confidence during slumps.

3. Don’t listen to sad love songs. Yeah it was hurtful the way L A did you but we can’t listen to Adele right now. Put some Young Jeezy in your rotation check out Nothing, Everything and Never Be the Same.

4. Ask your teammates the best spots to eat, get the do’s and dont’s with the new coach. Find out who gets taped early, late, who shoots first last and how you can accomadate your routine.

5. Gotta change your body language and you control that by switching up your thoughts. Take your finger and start pushing out any old thoughts of how you played in  LA, playing for Phil, the last role you played, and switch it to how I want to play now. Out with the old in with the new. (easier said than done, but practice makes perfect)

6. Realize that it could have been worse you could have been in New Orleans nothing against that team but your playing with the defending NBA Champions Dallas Mavericks. You also have one of the best owners in the league in Mark Cuban.

7. Erase all the I’s and Why’s. Man when I was, I can’t believe, Why did this happen to me, and why now? It’s negative just doesn’t help.

8. Keep Being yourself not to yourself. They loved you with the Clippers, Heat and LA. Your teammates will love you in Dallas. Don’t feel like you can’t bond with them or trust them. Your teammates didn’t trade you in LA Mitch did. Well I don’t know about Kobe Black Mamba, you can’t trust a snake. Okay I’m a Kobe hater…lol

9. This one is crucial right now limit your conversations with old teammates. It may be hard but you don’t wanna hear how good, bad, or ugly things are going on back with your old team. Just doesn’t help.

10. Last but not least don’t let this trade, the feelings of betrayal by LA, the new system, new coach, new role take away your confidence. You have to be patient in this adjustment period. Yeah I know being patient for a professional athlete is harder than any game we have ever played. Our confidence is our swag, determines how well we play and you can’t lose that. Like Jimmy V said “don’t ever ever give up”. Well I’m saying “Don’t ever ever ever ever lose your Confidence.”

Embrace your new team their gonna love you.

The media, the fans all miss the greatness of the most versatile power forward that’s you Lamar in the game. Your inspired play last season that helped you get sixth man of the year award with stats of almost 15pts and 9 rebounds a game are sorely missed by all, even LA.  Trades whether demanded or not, are just like unexpected events in life. You got thrown a curve ball. It happens, but your to great of a player to strike out, come on Lamar don’t strike out.

Durant needs Westbrook like Batman needs Robin

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The Guardian Of OKC Thunder is determined to defend his city.

We all know the comic story of Batman. He was born in Gotham city and after his parents murders he swore to defend crime in the city. Later on comic writers thought  Batman needed a partner and came up with Robin.

Batman never wanted a partner and never really seemed to get along with Robin, but they went on to be known as the Dynamic Duo.

OKC just inked their  Batman and Robin with Kevin Durant being Batman and Russell Westbrook Robin for five years.

Batman was a quiet and low key character. He didn’t haven’t a big personality and when seen in movies seemed kind of nerdy. If we watched Kevin in the post-game interviews last season he wore his shirts buttoned all the way up (known as a nerdy look) and of course we all know what he was carrying in the that book bag besides his i pod and bible (his batman suit). Kevin when in uniform just like Batman when he puts on his suit becomes very intimidating.

Russel Robin on the other hand is full of personality and never  afraid to speak his mind. Instead of a regular book bag on his back he had a Gucci bag. He’s full of emotion and passion on the court after a big three, or a boisterous dunk. He is totally opposite of Batman’s always calm composure.  He understands Durant is the Guardian of the city but he knows he’s next in line to defend when necessary. He  has proven he has big enough shoulders to take over when necessary.

Batman and Robin together and on the same page give OKC hope for the next five years.

Together this dynamic duo may be more potent then the villains they will have to defeat to put make their city safe at number. Some of the likely foes will possibly be the  dynamic trio Chris Bosh, Lebron James and Dwayne Wade.  Also waiting out in Dallas is Dirk waiting to kill em off of one leg. The list goes on and on but their biggest nemesis wears purple and gold.

Last but not least Batman’s adversary is not going down without a fight and he is the one that has hurt him the most. We all know who I’m talking about the Joker. The Joker being Kobe Bryant. The Joker is the only villain that has gotten the best of Batman but now that Batman and Robin are partnered up and seemingly happy and getting along maybe just maybe the Joker can be defeated. If that happens Oklahoma City may just be the safest city in the NBA for the next five years.

What do you think Kevin Batman and Russell Robin can they defend their city and bring home the trophy? Tweet me @chasitymelvin and let me know what you think.

Kobe or Lebron in the 4th?

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So excited about the  Lakers matchup against the  Heat tonight on TNT.  I mean who wouldn’t be excited to see what Ernie, Kenny, Charles and Shaq have to say..Seriously everyone is ready for the Kobe versus Lebron matchup tonight. Which brings me to my next question, ” who is better in the 4th Lebron or Kobe?” Who would you take in the 4th quarter?

Just from watching the different games and watching Kobe and Lebron in the 4th quarter of games there is really not that huge of a difference in who closes better. In watching old game tapes and sportscasters dissect both their games in the 4th you see they both take bad shots at key moments.The majority of the time they miss the shots and complain of phantom fouls.

Kobe has never killed my hopes like Robert Horry maybe because it was so unexpected.

Kobe probably gets the vote of best closer by many because he has taken more critical shots in the 4th then Lebron. It is a fact Lebron tends to disappear into oblivion in the 4th quarter more than once or twice in a game. Kobe will never shy away in the 4th quarter even if it means shooting one or two air balls.   This is one reason why many view Kobe as the best closer because he will never ever fade away into oblivion in the 4th. He lives to take the last basket or critical shot and more than Lebron has made them.  So who would I go to in the 4th. I wouldn’t go with Kobe or Lebron.

Derrick celebrating another one of his many cruical shots in the 4th.

I would have to go with three people and one I would have to bring out of retirement. First Big Shot Bill Chauncey Billups, second Big Shot Fish Derrick Fisher, third and coming out of retirement Big Shot Rob or Big Shot Bob Robert Horry.These guys have sent me to bed upset a many of nights. Their shots killing my hopes of my team winning that night.  Personally these three guys have crushed my hopes more than Lebron or Kobe in the 4th quarter. So yes I’m just saying that’s who I would take in the 4th. How about you?

Which NBA teams will sign free agents or free amnestys?

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So I’m reading my twitter timeline and I keep seeing players getting waived because of the new Amnesty Clause in the NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement. I see that Vince Carter was waived by the Phoenix Suns, Glibert Arenas has been waived by the Orlando Magic and from what I’ve been reading there is more to come.

So what does the Amnesty Rule mean? I’m glad you asked because I was wondering the same thing. After much researching I learned its much to do about something. If I were to write an idiot’s guide to learning about the amnesty rule it would go something like this.

  • Owners are now able to waive one of those crazy over the top contracts but out of the million that are out there it can only happen once a year.
  • They can waive the player but can’t waive the salary. Interesting
  • The owners are hype because they get if off their tax books so now they don’t have to pay the Luxury Tax.
  • Luxury Tax well only Uncle Sam knows what that really means. It has to be pretty expensive though if your willing to waive a player and give him a paid vacation over paying  a tax. I’m just sayin
  • Now players  don’t  get to excited you may get the rest of the money but it can be paid within 5-10 years or as the owner chooses.
  • So you want get waived and be  cashing a big time lottery check tomorrow.
  • You will get to sign with another team  and that is a plus.
  • The negative side of that is  you don’t have a say in where your going. Free Amnesty not a Free Agent
  • Yes you are waived but not free you have to go to the team that bids the highest for you as long as they are under the salary cap.
  • It sounds good right unless your trying to sign with a championship team that doesn’t have the money to bid with other teams for you.
  • Only if a player Amnesty  is not picked  by a team under the salary cap within in 48 hours  can he then become a free agent. But then they would have to also pick up his prior contract
  • What NBA team is going to do that?

Hey don’t sleep  on the Amnesty players they have more to prove than the free agents. The free agents already proved what they could do.  The Amnestys are out to prove what you said they couldn’t do.

Give me free agents or give me amnestys which one would you sign?

Guess Who’s Back

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Guess Who’s Back Guess Who’s Back NBA’s back NBA’s Back

LBJ dunking on Kevin Garnett no  LBJ dunking on any and everybody.  How about Grant Hill showing  everyone that vets can still play. Can’t wait to see  Steve Nash dropping dimes and Kevin Durant unconscious from the 3.  How about D Wade falling seven times and getting back up. Love to see Dirk Nowitzki  shooting off of one leg. Will I still be  crossing my fingers everytime J Kidd shoots the three. Yeah I heard a rumor  Blake Griffin is planning to dunk over a Mac Truck this season at All-Star Hrrrrrrrrrrrrr. NBA’s back.

Ernie orchestrating TNTs musical studio chairs  with Shaq, Kenny, Charles, Steve Smith and C Webb. NBA on TNT is back!!!!  So now we can see Derrick Rose killing in the open court and draining the  jumper.Can he win MVP a second season?

Kobe the Black Mamba should have nicknamed himself the Black Hawk.   The Attitude we hate to love and loves to hate. He will be back with a vengeance this season after getting mollywhopped in the playoffs last year by Dallas.  Mark Jackson will suit back up this season off with the headphones on to the coaches box.

Boston Celtics All-Star  Veterans always come back playing like age ain’t nothing but a number.. You know you can’t wait  to see Miami’s  Wade, LeBron and Bosh bring the heat and argue with your friends over  “who should carry the torch?” I hear they are running out of Kryptonite in Orlando. Orlando better load up on some Kryptonite they don’t want to see what will happen if they let Dwight Howard Superman go.

The Wizards in the throw back colors this season they may not win but at least they will look good. Will John Wall have a new dance this season.  Brandon Jennings  Mr. Under Armour needs to redeem himself from last season. He’s gonna need it Pt Guard game will be out of sight this season.

Chris Paul and Deron Williams will be playing their way to a bigger contract next season. DJ Austin and Kemba Walker pairing up in the back-court for Charlotte. Minnesota has finally gotten Rubio and Golden State isn’t letting go of Stephen Curry.  We are all waiting for some amazing to happen. Leeegggggggggoooooo!

Phily Phily gotta send you some sisterly love. If  Sweet Lou gets healthy and Elton Brand gets his brand back. Then maybe they can  make Iguodala happen.. Shot out to Toronto hope they take advice from Canada’s biggest start  Drake and be ON ONE this year.

Now is it New York or LA  where dreams come true?  I believe its’ whichever one  gets  Chris Paul from New Orleans. Which ever team lands CP3 will be like a dream come true and a nightmare for others.

Oh and I can’t forget we gotta  do San Anton. Gotta do San Ann now.  Tim Duncan still has some gas left in the tank.  He just needs to stay healthy and get some more touches this short season.  He won a championship in the  last lock-out season.  Maybe this sesaon he can do it again. ….Okay so that’s a long shot, but so was the possibility of having an NBA season.

Now look  the NBA is back. The NBA is back, back to where Amazing Happens!


 

It’s DejaVu all over again.

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Hey everyone, it’s been along time I shouldn’t have left you without a blog to read through. Well I’m back! I had a great five or six months off away from the game. I learned some new things about myself, gained some friends, lost some friends. It’s a new season for me a new chapter in my Life. I learned some hard lessons about this game I love but I also learned that I was right where I needed to be at this point in my life. I knew I wasn’t done with this game called Basketball, but you know what they say too much of anything is bad for you. So the break I had away from it was good for me. My bubble got burst and I turned a negative into a positive and its all Good!!!

So anyways I’m back at it again playing this game I love. I’m currently playing for Tarsus Bid in Tarsus Turkey.  I played for Botas Spor in Adana two seasons ago so being here in Tarsus is like DejaVu all over again.

The competiton  is deep over here in Turkey with every team having at least  four or five Americans.  My team is getting better each week and I’m getting my timing and rhythm back slowly but surely.   So I’m balling over here enjoying where I am on the way to were I’m going. Stay tuned for more blogs about basketball and life overseas..

Make sure you follow me on twitter @chasitymelvin and check out my ChasityMelvin #44 Fanpage on Facebook.

Twin Cities or Twin teams in the WNBA Finals.

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Marynell Meadors wants that WNBA Finals trophy to add to her hardware.

This years WNBA Finals will consist of two teams that are very similar in the way they like to play basketball. Marynell Meadors who has been around the league since it’s conception, has her Atlanta Dream team back in the Finals for the second time in two years.  It is not typical for any of the new franchises in the WNBA  to make it to the playoffs much less make it to the finals for two straight seasons. Coach Meadors has learned the do’s and don’ts  from  her past experiences with the former  Charlotte Sting and the  Washington Mystics. From her experiences she  has mastered what it takes to build and have a good team in the WNBA.  Hopefully Coach Meadors will take what she learned from  last year’s lost in the Finals and win her first WNBA title.

Will Cheryl add another Finals trophy to her collection as a Head Coach?

Cheryl Reeves has also been on a similar learning curve, started out in Charlotte and Cleveland and went on to learn under the  infamous Bill Laimbeer with the former Shock. team.  She knows what type of team is needed to make the playoffs and what you need to do do to win when you get there.  Many  players enjoyed playing for Bill Laimbeer saying he was a players coach. I think Coach Reeve may have picked up some cues from him. With  her all-star studded team, a players coach is instrumental in keeping egos satisfied and the team together.

These coaches both implore a run and gun type of game style but will also slow it down and play a half-court game by pounding the ball inside. It is great to have two women coaches whom have worked their way up in the league in the WNBA Finals.  To bad their can be only one winner.

Which Lindsey or Say gets to the paint the most will determine alot.

These coaches must really be excited  going into the Finals with  two great players at the  most important position on any team (pt guard position). In Minnesota their is Lindsay and in Atlanta their is  Lindsey and although it sounds the same (Say or Sey) will be the X Factor in who’s team wins the trophy. Lindsay has gained more confidence in her shot. Long gone are the days of her not taking the wide open shot, she is now shooting the ball well and hitting game winners.

The other  Lindsey has learned that it’s not all about scoring as she did in DC, but getting the players on her team the ball when they need it. I think Lindsey has improved on her decision making, like when to drive and when to set up the offense. It will be exciting seeing both of these guards getting in the paint and finishing their unorthodox lay-ups. They also both have great court vision and will find players cutting to the basket.

Okay okay I know everyone is saying what about Moore, McCoughtry,  Agustus, Castro, Wiggins, Price and all these athletic guards in the WNBA finals. Well as a player  I know these guards will cancel each other out. These guards are so athletic and talented they are going to do their things and it’s just going to be so exciting to watch.

Now for the ladies that  I had to personally battle against McWilliams-Franklin, De Souza, Lyttle, Brunson. Well these ladies are going to  go hard in the paint. They have great pt guards to find them in the right positions and they are going to be battling hard on the boards. Which duo wins the battle of the boards will give their teams the edge in the series.

So who will win the Finals this year. I like Atlanta and I like Minnesota and it really doesn’t matter to me who wins. With that being said, I still believe that  the Veteran  Taj McWilliams-Franklin  will lead her team to a championship and win for the second time in her  career.

Life is a HWY and I’m gonna drive it…

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I'm ready to go....Lol no room for anybody on this trip...I hope it doesn't get cold..

The past few months I’ve learned that Life is a Highway and I need to stop cruising and just drive it..I have learned that I need to stay in my lane when needed, but also  know when to speed up and pass. If I don’t pass I could miss great opportunities at my next destination. I also must pay attention to all the signs especially the one that says dangerous curve ahead.. Some curves I’m familiar with what’s ahead but many of them I’m not…When I see a STOP sign I shouldn’t just slow down but STOP and look both ways. That way I can avoid having to make any illegal U-turns.

One of the most important things I’m learned is to leave the backseat drivers out of the car. There the ones always telling you how bad your driving, when to hit brakes, when to speed up and are never thankful that you helped get them to their destination. It took a few bad trips to learn that those backseat drivers don’t  have the same road trip in mind that I have. Only I know how I want my trip to go and only I know when and what type of driving it will take to get there. Life is a Highway and I’m gonna drive it despite all the traffic, the accidents, roadblocks, stop signs, intersections, one-way streets,dead end roads, dangerous curves, and mile long bridges and tunnels, I’m gonna make it to my destination. It may take a minute so I’ve learned to just enjoy my way on my way to where I am going, and never ever ever  run out of gas.

Congrats Teresa Edwards on being inducted into the Hall of Fame.

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Tonight the Naismith Hall of Fame will induct the best guard that I’ve ever played with in my professional career and that is T  Teresa Edwards. I first remember T when she was a guest speaker at an AAU tournament I played in. She said in her speech with her gold medals wrapped around her neck that it doesn’t matter if you come from a small town as she did,  you can still reach your dreams. That really stuck with me because I had big dreams and I was also from a small town.

I got a chance to play with her my first year pro in the ABL with the Philadelphia Rage. T Teresa Edwards took me under her wing and always taught me the little things that could help me be a better player. In practice I would just watch as T shut down anybody she guarded. T was just as persistent on offense as she was on defense. She was a workaholic and the  passion and energy she played showed each and ever game.  Playing with T was the first time I had met someone that hated to lose more than me.

In practice and games I often caught myself watching her and even though she was doing everything on the court she would catch me and say “YO Baby Steps (her nickname for me) Wake UP!” I used to get picked on by the other rookies on the team because T was always pulling me to the side to get on me or tell me little things. I remember she had me on the sideline one day just  trying to get me to  make harder and more crisp passes. She taught me that my follow through on my passing was just as important on my shot.  T stayed on me and taught me alot and I know I became a better player for it.

I’m excited to see her get inducted tonight and it was a blessing to play with her.  The media has been saying her name is one of the lesser known names to be inducted tonight  but for me it’s the most well known. Teresa Edwards set the standard for women’s basketball she was one of the most fierce players to ever play the game and an even better leader. Congrats T Edwards!

Waiting on what’s next….

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The last two weeks I have been in a place that I wasn’t at all too prepared for. I came into my 13th WNBA season healthy and ready to go with the Washington Mystics but before I knew it I  was no longer a player for the Mystics.

The Mystics decided that they wanted to go younger and we mutually agreed to part ways. Of course naturally I was really down about what happened but fortunately for me my sister was getting married the very next day and I was really happy to see her so happy on her special day as I stood next to her as her Maid of Honor.

My sister's big day helped me get through a trying moment. She was beautiful and it was a beautiful weekend.

Now after praying and giving everything over to God I am at peace and ready for a great summer “what ever come what may”.

I’m still in great shape and I have no serious injuries and hopefully I will continue to play  basketball this summer. Thanks  to everyone who has sent an email, text or phone call to check up on me and see how I’m doing.   I’ve been spending the time working out and and patiently waiting for whats next and of course watching the game I love . .

I also want to send a shout out to the Mystics Fans and all my other fans as well. Thank you all for your continued support. You guys are the best and hopefully you haven’t seen the last of me!

To everyone else wondering what my next move will be I’ll keep you posted! (no pun intended) . Since I’m not playing with any team right now.  Go Heat! :) I love this game!