The Washington Wizards must show pride and determination in game 6

In athletics, every game matters. Every victory is uplifting, while every defeat is frustrating. Every game matters to the coaches and players who care about their craft. Every game matters to fans who identify with the team and sincerely want their favorite team to win.

So far, the Washington Wizards have had a disappointing season. Instead of earning s high seed in the playoffs, the Wizards received an 8th seed. Instead of being favorites to win an Eastern Conference championship, the Wizards became underdogs who lacked home court advantage. Instead of reaping the rewards of a rebuilding effort that began with the drafting of John Wall 8 years ago, the Wizards may be considering major changes.

Now, the Wizards have their backs against the wall, as they try to stave off elimination against the Toronto Raptors. They need to muster the pride to defend their home court and force a game 7 back at Toronto. Even in a disappointing season, a team can play with pride and conviction in an elimination game. Even in a frustrating season, a team can play with purpose and strength. The Wizards must show their fans and the NBA what they are made of. In game 6, the Wizards need to show determination and focus.

Many athletes have acknowledged that sport is a meritocracy. Everything must be earned. Nothing is given. An athlete and a team must earn respect. Credibility comes with victories and championships. Historical acknowledgement comes from substantive achievements. Teams must abhor losing and value winning.

Pride and effort manifest themselves in several ways on a basketball court. A determined team fights for every rebound and loose ball. A resolute squad plays help defense and contests every shot. A focused team shows good shot selection and makes the extra pass. Showing maximum effort involves running the fast break, creating turnovers and blocking shots. In a word, the Wizards must try and play a complete game.

The Wizards need to play better than they did in game 5. Washington needs to have fewer turnovers in game 6. Washington had 15 turnovers. Wall had 7 of those turnovers. The Wizards need to protect the basketball and avoid carelessness. Turning the basketball over makes it more difficult to beat a team as good as Toronto. Every team makes mistakes, but the Wizards need to limit mistakes.

The Wizards also need to create turnovers. Stealing the basketball can give a team a lot of momentum. Stealing the basketball can help Washington to score fast break points, which are necessary for a team that wants to beat a team as talented as the Raptors.

Additionally, the Wizards must shoot better from three point range in game 6. Washington shot a mere 19% from beyond the arc in game 5, while Toronto shot a very respectable 44%. John Wall, Otto Porter,jr, Kelly Oubre and Markief Morris shot a combined 1-16 from three point range. At least three of these players need to do better in game 6.

Despite the game 5 loss, the Wizards dominated the boards. The Wizards outrebounded the Raptors 50-35. Marcin Gortat finished with 12 rebounds and was a constant presence underneath the boards. The Wizards need to continue that dominance in game 6.

Washington also needs to create a balance between the interior and the perimeter. The Wizards, like most NBA teams, rely a lot on perimeter shooting, specifically three point shooting. However, a strong interior game is important, too. The Wizards need to work the ball into Gortat so that he can shoot short range shots.

The Wizards also need more scoring from Markief Morris. He needs to make mid range shots and become a better scoring option.

John Wall and Bradley Beal will need to play well. Both will need to shoot well and handle the basketball well. Both need to avoid turnovers and make their open shots.

The Wizards need to get position and fight for every rebound. They need to fight for every loose basketball and out hustle the Raptors. Washington needs to get ahead in transition and score fast break points. They need to have good shot selection and move well without the basketball.

The Wizards need to switch on defense and not allow the Raptors to get by defenders. The Wizards must not allow a clear path to the basket. In addition to avoiding turnovers, they must create turnovers. Stealing the basketball should lead to fast break opportunities and point in transition.

Game 6 is a defining game for the Wizards. Tonight's game will test their resolve and determination. Game 6 will show what the Wizards are made of. Are they capable of pushing the series to a game 7? Are they capable of defending their home court and forcing the Raptors to play a decisive game at home? In a disappointing season, the Wizards can have a signature win in game 6. The Wizards can play a game that they and their fans can be proud of.

The Washington Wizards need to play better on the road if they want to advance into the second round of the NBA playoffs

If the Washington Wizards are going to advance into the second round of the NBA playoffs, they need to play better on the road. They must win at least one game on the road against Toronto in order to advance into the second round.

They play well at home. The Wizards have won 7 straight playoff games at home. Only the Golden State Warriors have won as many consecutive games at home in the playoffs. However, good teams win on the road.

John Wall, after the Wizards' game four victory at home, said that the Wizards do not give up, and that they play tough when their backs are up against the wall. However, they do not play as tough as they need to on the road. Teams that are truly resilient and tough play well on the road. It is easier to play inspired basketball when the home crowd is cheering a team on. It is much tougher to play well when a team is facing a hostile crowd.

The Wizards played well in games 3 and 4 as they evened their series with the Toronto Raptors at 2 games a piece. In both games, they played better as the game went on.

In game 3, the Wizards shot 55% from the field including 43% from 3 point range. They outrebounded Toronto 39-34 and dished out 9 more assists than the Raptors. The Wizards had 10 steals and 8 blocked shots. Additionally, the Wizards got 21 points off of fast breaks. The Raptors had only 10 fast break points. The Wizards clearly out played Toronto as they won 122-103.

However, even though they outplayed Toronto in game 3, the Wizards gave up 28 points off of turnovers. The Wizards cannot allow that to happen in game 5 at Toronto. The Wizards must take care of the basketball. Turnovers prevent a team from scoring and give the opposition a scoring opportunity. Additionally, turnovers take away a team's momentum and give the opposition momentum. The Wizards must avoid turnovers the rest of the series.

In game 4, the Wizards trailed 54-40 early in the 3rd quarter. However, they were able to erase the deficit behind clutch shooting by Otto Porter jr. who hit a couple of threes early in the quarter. This gave the Wizards some momentum. Additionally, Wall played well down the stretch. After Bradley Beal fouled out, the Wizards outscored the Raptors 14-6 to close out the game. Wall finished with 27 points, 14 assists and 6 rebounds. Wall needs to have a similar performance against the Raptors in game 5.

In game 1, the Wizards lost to the Raptors 114-106. The Wizards actually led this game at the half. However, Washington was outscored 59-47 by Toronto in the second half. The Wizards shot only 38% from three point range and had only 10 fast break points. In contrast, the Raptors shot a blistering 53% from behind the arc and had 6 more fast break points. If the Wizards are going to advance, they need to shoot a high percentage from three point range and get more fast break points. Additionally, they cannot allow the Raptors to shoot over 50% from three point range.

In game 2, the Wizards were outrebounded by the Raptors 55-40. Toronto outscored Washington 44-27 in the first quarter. The Wizards could not overcome their slow start or the outstanding shooting by the Raptors at the start of the game. Washington cannot start slowly in game 5. Additionally, the Wizards cannot be outrebounded on the road. Washington has to get position in the paint and rebound the basketball better than Toronto if it wants to win game 5.

The Wizards must avoid the mistakes of the fist two games in order to advance. They need to play a complete game in game 5 in order to win. They need to outrebound the Raptors. They need to score fast break points. The Wizards need to limit turnovers, make a high percentage of their three point shots, score points in the paint and play strong defense. Additionally, the Wizards need to start strong so that they do not have to overcome a huge deficit on the road.

Despite a disappointing regular season, the Washington Wizards can still advance in the post season

With a core of John Wall, Bradley Beal and Otto Porter, jr., the Washington Wizards have had high expectations. They had hoped to compete for an Eastern Conference championship. However, this current era has been disappointing for the Wizards. So far they have not lived up the expectations that have been set for them.

The Wizards are in the 8th spot in the Eastern Conference. They will play the Toronto Raptors in the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Making the playoffs is a minimal accomplishment in the NBA, where half of the teams qualify for the post season. In order for this season to be a success for Washington, they need to advance.

Despite their mediocre play this season, the Wizards have the talent to advance in the playoffs. However, several things need to happen for the Wizards to advance.

Wall, the team's point guard, needs to fully recovery from his injury and play well. Wall is one of the best passing point guards in the NBA. He is fast, skilled and athletic. He needs to create opportunities for his teammates by driving into the lane and dishing off to teammates.

Secondly, Wall needs to limit turnovers, While he plays quickly and athletically, he needs to play within control of himself. He needs to make good decisions with the basketball. His assist to turnover ratio needs to be good in the playoffs.

Additionally, Wall needs to make his jump shots. When Wall entered the NBA, he was not a good jump shooter. He worked on his game and developed a decent jump shot. Wall needs to shoot a high percentage in the series. He needs to make opposing defenses respect his ability to drive and shoot.



Beal, one of the best pure shooters in the NBA, needs to be on his game. Beal needs to come off screens and hit open shots. He also needs to create his own shots. He needs to be consistently good in the playoffs.

Porter, Jr., needs to be good from beyond the arc. His ability to hit three point shots stretches the defenses of the Wizards' opponents. Porter's three point shooting adds versatility to the Wizards' game. Porter's ability to make three point shots means that Washington does not have to exclusively rely on Wall and Beal for offensive strength.

Marcin Gortat needs to make shots close to the basket. Gortat also needs to be a force on the offensive and defensive boards. He needs to rebound the basketball and give the Wizards second chance opportunities and limit the Raptors' second chance opportunities.

Gortat needs to be a strong interior presence for Washington. When the Wizards play well, Gortat seems to be a big part of their success. While there is great emphasis on the perimeter in today's NBA, a team's interior play can often make the difference between winning and losing.

Wall and Gortat could also implement the pick and roll, which is a play that they run very well. This is an effective part of their offense and it gives the Wizards an important option in their half court offense.

In this scenario, Gortat sets a pick for Wall, who often draws a double team. When a team double covers Wall, Gortat is open. Sometimes Gortat moves towards the basket and Wall throws it over the defense, so that only Gortat can get it. At other times, Gortat trails Wall and gets the pass and then drives to the basket and finishes strong.

The pick and roll is difficult to defend in part because the defense does not know where Wall will dribble to and where Gortat will be. The Wizards run variations of the play which keeps the defenders guessing. In any event, it is a very effective play, and the Wizards need to run it well in order to advance in the playoffs.

Additionally, Gortat needs to be a strong defensive presence in the interior. He needs to play tough defense and get his share of offensive and defense rebounds as well.

Marquis Morris can make mid range jump shots. He needs to be a consistent option for the Wizards in this area. He needs to be able to move to the area around the foul line and consistently make jump shots. If he can be consistent in this area, then the Wizards can have another option to go along with Wall, Beal, Porter and Gortat.

Ian Mahinmi can make a difference off the bench as well. He can score close to the basket. He is adept at scoring with his left or his right hand close to the hoop. His rebounding ability can help the Wizards' second unit. If Mahinmi can rebound and score off of misses, that will help the Wizards' bench to be competitive. Additionally, Mahinmi has a strong move to the basket and can dunk well. Also, if Mahinmi can play well, that will allow the Wizards to rest Gortat.

Kelly Oubre can also provide help off the bench. Oubre is athletic and he can shoot well beyond the arc. He is also good in transition. Oubre needs to be a dynamic presence for the Wizards' second unit. If he plays well, that would allow the Wizards to rest Porter, jr. at times.

Additionally, Tomas Satoransky can lead the second unit as a point guard. He's an adept handler of the basketball with passing skills. If Oubre, Saroransky, Mahinmi and the other reserves play well, then the Wizards will be able to maintain leads when the starters are resting.

Playing good defense will also be key. Each Wizards' player needs to play tough defense for the entire game. They need to observe the fundamentals of strong defensive play. They need to stay between their man and the basketball, deny passes to the interior, constest shots, play with grit and toughness and be in good position to get offensive and defensive rebounds. There is simply no substitute for strong defensive play.

The Wizards also need to do their best to not allow points in transition. Wall, because of his quickness, can get back in transition. His speed even allows him to block lay ups during a fast break. It's essential that the Wizards do not concede points. Every shot must be contested.

Perhaps, above all, the Wizards need to be mentally strong. They need to play hard on every play and limit their mistakes. They need good shot selection and a strong commitment to offensive and defensive rebounding. They have to avoid mental lapses and they have to give maximum effort on every play.

During the playoffs, a team shows how much pride it has. The playoffs reveal how badly a team wants to win. The playoffs show the character of a team.

Some announcers capture the moment perfectly

As the clock ticked down in the 1980 winter Olympic semi final hockey game between the United States and the Soviet Union,broadcaster Al Michaels perfectly combined the ticking down of the clock with the amazement of the moment. Michaels enthusiastically proclaimed "4,3,2,1...Do you believe in miracles? Yes!" Michaels portrayed the excitement well by implying that the United States' victory was miraculous.

Few events capture the imagination quite like miracles. In sports, unexpected occurrences are ofen seen as miracles or events which defy expectations or cause us to suspend belief. Sometimes announcers capture amazing moments very well. In this case, Michaels captured the moment very well by announcing naturally what came to his mind. The call did not seem rehearsed, but rather seemed natural.

A good sports announcer realizes that the event is about the teams or athletes in the event. A sporting event is not about the announcer. A good announcer helps the television or radio audience to focus on the moment and to appreciate it more. The best calls are natural and unrehearsed. The best calls capture the excitement of the moment.




In game 1 of the 1988 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Oakland Athletics, Dodger Kirk Gibson hit a dramatic game winning homerun. Gibson had been injured for much of the season, and he was not expected to play in this game. However, now he was entering the game as a pinch hitter with a chance to win the game against Dennis Eckersley, the game's best closer. Don Drysdale, Vin Scully and Jack Buck all called the game for different outlets. All three made memorable calls which captured the majesty of the moment.

As Gibson's home run sailed over the wall, Drysdale said "And a drive into right field. Way back! The ball is gone!" After pausing for several seconds as the crowd cheered, Drysdale said "This crowd will not stop...They can't believe the ending. And this time, mighty Casey did not strike out!" Drysdale's call showed apppreciation for the crowd's response and alluded to a famous poem about baseball. Most home run calls do not include a literary allusion. However, in this case, Drysdale's allusion and his call fit the moment.

Scully, the long time Dodger radio announcer, also gave a memorable call. As Gibson hit his homerun, Scully said "High fly ball into right field.She is gone." A simple description of the homerun, which did not overshadow the moment. Then after being quiet for a moment to allow the crowd noise to be appreciated, Scully said "In a year that had been so improbable, the impossible has happened." Scully put Gibson's home run within the context of an improbable season for the Dodgers- a team that was not a World Series favorite when the season began.

Buck's call is also memorable. As Gibson's home run cleared the right field wall, Buck said "Unbelievable! A home run for Gibson, and the Dodgers have won the game 5-4. I don't believe what I just saw!" Buck expresses incredulity about the memorable moment. By doing so, he joins the disbelief of the crowd and television and radio audience. In this instance, the broadcaster and the audience achieved a unique and memorable kinship.




When Joe Carter hit a home run to win the 1993 World Series for the Toronto Blue Jays against the Philadelphia Phillies , Scully did the game for NBC sports.

As the pitch was hit by Carter, Scully said "Fast ball is hit to left field, down the line and in the corner. Home run!" Then Scully remained silent for about a minute as Carter circled the bases and got mobbed by teammates. During this time, the camera showed the jubilation of the Blue Jays and the dejection felt by the Phillies in their dugout. No words were necessary at this moment. The scenes of both sides told the whole story. If a person tuned in at that moment, he or she would realize that the Blue Jays had won the World Series.

After the minute had passed, Scully re entered the scene. Scully said "Joe Carter, who took a 2 and 0 pitch right down the middle, hits the 2 and 1 pitch over the left field wall and the Toronto Blue Jays come back with 3 in the bottom of the 9th inning to become the World Champions yet again." After a minute of silence, Scully recapped what had happened against the backdrop of a jubilant Toronto crowd.



Scully also called Hank Aaron's record setting 715th home run in a game between the Atlanta Braves and the Dodgers. Once again, Scully did the game on radio so he had to be very descriptive. As Scully called the pitch and the home run, Scully said "A fast ball is a high drive into deep left center field. Buckner goes back to the fence.. and it is gone." Aaron circled the bases and was mobbed by teammates.

After Aaron finished his home run trot, Scully resumed talking. Scully put the moment in context by saying "What a marvelous moment for baseball. What a marvelous moment for Atlanta and the state of Georgia. What a marvelous moment for the country and the world. A black man is getting a standing ovation in the Deep South for breaking the record of an all time baseball idol. And it is a great moment for all of us and particularly Henry Aaron who was met at home plate not only by every member of the Braves, but by his father and mother." Scully did a very good job of describing the scene for the radio listeners and referring to how it seemed to symbolize racial progress in the United States. He also made the radio listeners believe that it was a good moment for them as well.




In the 6th game of the 1975 World Series between the Cincinnati Reds and the Boston Red Sox, Carlton Fisk hit a game winning home run in the 12th inning to give the Red Sox the win. The home run became famous for Fisk's attempt to motion the ball fair. After Fisk hit the ball down the line in right field, the only question was whether it would be fair. It had the distance to be a home run, but no one knew if it would stay fair.

Fisk extended his hands over his head and waved his arms back and forth as if to motion the baseball to stay in fair territory. He watched the flight of the baseball as he glided up the first base line. When the ball hit the foul pole, which made it a home run, Fisk extended his hands one last time in jubilation. The Red Sox had won game 6 with a walk off home run.

Announcer Don Stockton called the game for CBS television. As Fisk hit the ball, Stockton said "There it goes, a long drive. If it stays fair...home run!" Fisk circled the bases as the Reds walked off the field. Fans ran on the field. Fisk jumped on home plate with both feet as his teammates met him at home base. As he jumped on home plate, the crowd got even louder.

After Fisk jumped on home plate, Stockton resumed his call by saying "We will have a 7th game in this 1975 World Series. Carlton Fisk becomes the first player in this series to hit one over the wall, into the net...Red Sox win it, 7-6 in extra innings." Stockton framed the game within the context of the series. He pointed out that the home run extended the series and made a 7th game necessary. Unfortunately, for the Red Sox and their fans the Reds would win game 7 and the series. Nevertheless, Fisk's home run was a memorable moment for the Red Sox and their fans.

The footage of Fisk skipping down the first base line became the opening for the television show "This Week in Baseball", a weekly program narrated by Mel Allen. May baseball fans in the 1970s and 1980s saw this footage every week. The replaying of this moment made the moment even more memorable.




In game 5 of the 1985 NLCS, Ozzie Smith, of the St.Louis Cardinals, hit a game winning home run against the Dodgers. Smith, a switch hitter, was batting left handed against Dodger pitcher Tom Niedenfuer. Smith, who had 3,009 previous at bats as a left handed hitter, had never hit a home run from the left side of the plate. Right before Smith hit this home run, the television screen gave the viewer this information.

Scully called the game for NBC sports television. As Smith hit the home run, Scully said "And that's driven to deep right field, back goes Marshall...game!" As Smith circled the bases, neither Scully nor commentator Joe Garagiola said anything. As Smith approached home, he leapt towards home plate where his teammates were waiting for him.

Then Scully said "The lite beer from Miller MVP needless to say is Ozzie Smith. For Joe Gariagiola, Vin Scully, we'll see you at Dodger stadium, Los Angeles." A simple way to end the telecast, but it set the scene for the next game effectively.

Scully, despite being the Dodger radio announcer, gave a very objective call. Jack Buck, doing the game on radio for KMOX, a St. Louis based radio station, was more partisan. Doing the game for a local radio station allowed Buck to be more emotional and fan friendly. As Smith hit the home run, Buck said "Smith corks one into right, down the line! It may go! Go crazy folks! Go crazy! It's a home run! And the Dodgers have won the game...by the score of 3-2...on a home run by the Wizard! Go crazy!" Smith, known as "the wizard" because of his defensive wizardry at short stop, had won the game with his bat and sent the Cardinals' crowd into a frenzy. Buck captured the moment perfectly.

There have been many memorable games through the years. The players, teams and fans make the games memorable. However,when an announcer captures the moment well, the game seems even more memorable.

Tanking poses a problem for the NBA

The NBA has a problem with tanking. Some organizations who are out of the playoff picture purposely send out an inferior lineup so that they can lose. Each loss improves a team's chances of securing the top pick in the NBA draft.

The players do not try to lose, but the organizations employ subtle tanking techniques. Coaches may decide to rest a starter who has a minor injury or teams may acquire players from the D- League that they can develop and give playing time to. Organizations may trade good players in exchange for players with expiring contracts so that they can have more cap room for the following season. In an odd twist of fate, organizations actually purposely try and get worse.

Tanking cheats the fans who want to see a good and competitive game. However, on the plus side tanking may help a team get better in the future if they can acquire a higher draft pick. Fans can tell themselves that losing is worth it in the end.

NBA teams want to be really good or really bad. The worst place to be is in the middle. If a team is really good, it can contend for a championship. If a team is really bad, it can contend for a high draft pick. If a team is in the middle, it is stuck in mediocrity. A high draft pick gives a team hope that it can one day contend for a title. So, the temptation to tank is understandable. It's an attempt to build for the future, which sports teams all have to do.

The Philadelphia 76ers have just completed a 4-5 year process that many saw as tanking. Sam Hinkie was hired as the team's general manager in 2013. He told the team's ownership that the 76ers were a long way from winning. He believed that the 76ers should rebuild through the draft. Hinkie opted for a long range plan instead of a short range one. He was willing to sacrifice winning a moderate amount in the short term so that the team could be a championship contender in the long term.

Dan Kopf, writing for Quartz Media, says "Hinkie traded the team's best players and made no attempts to acquire players that would make it better." From 2013 to 2016, the 76ers were the worst team in the NBA. It was obvious or everyone that the team was trying to rebuild for the future. The other owners of the NBA were concerned about this approach and they put pressure on the team's ownership to change course. In response, the 76ers' ownership demoted Hinkie to an assistant and hired another general manager. Eventually, Hinkie resigned.

The 76ers' decision to tank produced four high draft picks. Joel Embid and Jahlil Okafor were taken third overall in two different drafts. Ben Simmons and Markell Fultz were chosen first overall in two separate drafts. Simmons and Embid have become two of the best players in the NBA. Okafor did not work out and is now with the Brooklyn Nets. Fultz was injured his entire rookie season, however some NBA observers believe he can be a good point guard.

Currently the 76ers are one of the best teams in the NBA's Eastern Conference. So, Hinkie's plan helped the 76ers become a better team.

Many have given a simple solution to the problem of tanking: Instead of rewarding the team with the worst record with the greatest chance of getting the top pick, give the top pick to the non playoff team with the best record. This format would create an incentive for teams to do their best. A team could try to make the playoffs, but if they did not make the playoffs, then at least they could earn the best pick or another high pick.

Or, all 32 teams could have an equal chance of getting the top pick. The current draft lottery rewards failure and penalizes success. However, if all 32 teams had an equal chance of receiving the top pick, then good teams would not be penalized with a lower pick. Also, this would reduce the temptation to tank.

A general manager needs a long range plan for rebuilding a team. It's understandable that some teams would sacrifice the present in order to be better in the future. However, it cannot be done at the expense of fair play. Teams have an obligation to send out their best lineups and to acquire the best players available for their team. Teams need a long range plan that does not include tanking.

Tom Ziller, of SBNation, makes a distinction between institutional tanking and situational tanking. Ziller says "What we have is a mix of situational tanking (what Memphis, Dallas, and Orlando are doing after falling flat on their faces early this season) and institutional tanking (what Sacramento, Phoneix, Atlanta, and Chicago came into this season doing). Add in the perennially leveled Nets and you have a nasty brew of losing." So, some teams ended up tanking because they did worse than they thought they would do. Whereas other teams knew they would struggle before they entered the season.

The large number of poor teams in the NBA this season is unprecedented. The league has never seen so many teams that have had poor seasons. Ziller says "We currently have eight teams on pace to win fewer than 30 games. That has never happened in an 82 game - NBA season." These teams are all trying to rebuild for the future, while trying to be somewhat respectable now. However, all of these teams know that the only way to truly rebuild is through the draft. Therefore, the more games that a team loses, the better chance that a team has of securing a top pick.

Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, was recently fined $600,000 for publically suggesting that the Mavericks were tanking. The league responded by fining him and issuing a memo explaining the reason for the fine.

In the memo, NBA commissioner Adam Silver made a distinction between rebuilding a team and trying to lose on purpose. Silver emphasized that the rebuilding process is "legitimate", but that tanking "has no place in our game." Furthermore, Silver warned the teams that the league would take action against organizations that tanked. Silver said that the league "will continue to monitor closely the play of all teams during the remainder of the season." It will be interesting to see what effect Silver's memo has on the league.

Silver's memo left no doubt about the league's opposition to tanking. Now, the responsibility is on the different organizations to field the best team possible and to implement a rebuilding plan that does not involve tanking.

The Cavaliers and Lebron James get ready to make a transition

Entering this season, Lebron James had already played more minutes and more games than Michael Jordan. James has played in the last 7 NBA finals- the last 3 with Cleveland and the previous 4 with Miami. He also lead Cleveland to the 2007 NBA finals where they were swept by the San Antonio Spurs. Since 2005, James has played in 217 playoff games which is the equivalent of more than 2.5 regular seasons. He will not be able to carry a team to the NBA finals much longer. He will probably not be able to carry this Cavaliers team to the finals this year. Additionally, James is a free agent after this season.

For one of the first times in his career, James' team is not a top 10 team in the NBA power rankings. The Cavaliers, without Kevin Love, do not seem poised for a title run. James and the Cavaliers appear to be in the middle of a transition.

Recently the Cleveland Cavaliers have been criticized for playing poor defense. The criticism reached it's crescendo when the defending Eastern Conference champions surrendered a whopping 148 points to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Actually, within the last three weeks the defensively challenged Cavs have given up a lot of points.

The Cavs need to return to basic defensive skills. They need to play help defense, stay in between their man and the basketball and get back more quickly on defense. They need to play better half court defense and better transition defense.

Playing defense involves pride and effort. Players should give maximum effort on the defensive end. Playing offense may be more exciting, but making a good play in defense is just as important as doing well on offense. Cleveland's coaches should emphasize the importance of defense during practices and film sessions. Cleveland's coaches should highlight players who make good defenseive plays. Additionally, the coaches should encourage James to set a good example by giving a good effort on defense.

Due to this year's struggles, the Cavaalier organization needs to consider it's long term plans. Barring a dramatic improvement in play, which seems unlikely, the Cavaliers will not make their fourth straight finals. James will not make his 8th straight finals appearance unless he is traded to a contending team. So, both James and the Cavaliers must consider their long term future.

Since bringing back his talents to Cleveland after spending four years with Miami, James has always had one foot in and one foot out with the Cavaliers. He wanted to win a championship with Cleveland, but he also wanted to make sure the organization was headed in the right direction. He also wanted to influence the direction of the organization, which is part of the problem. While James is one of the NBA's best players, he is not necessarily good at evaluating personnel.

The Cavaliers made moves that they thought James would be happy with. Nate Scott of Foxsports says "When James expressed concern about the team's depth early on, the Cavaliers went out and got J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert and Timofey Mozgov. It was all done to make the team better, yes, but it also was done to make the team's superstar happy." Scott also emphasizes that the signing of James Jones was influenced by James. Additionally, the Cavaliers' decision to give Tristan Thompson a lucrative contract came about in part because Thompson and James have the same agent.

Furthermore,signing Derrick Rose and Dwayne Wade were questionable decisions. Both decisions were made in part because of James' influence. So, personnel moves were influenced or ratified by James. At times, the organization showed deference to James. This created an imbalance within the organization. While James is a very good basketball player, he does not necessarily have the perspective of a general manager. He may also not understand the way that free agent signings effect a team's salary cap.

Scott emphasizes that by building around James with a "win now" attitude, the team has put off any kind of youth movement. Scott points out that their current approach has cost the team young assets and draft picks. The current approach has also put the Cavaliers over the salary cap. Building around James is good if the Cavaliers are a contender, but it is not a good approach if the Cavaliers cannot contend.

Not only are the Cavaliers poised to make a transition, but James must make one as well. At age 33, in the middle of his 15th NBA season, James will soon be a complementary superstar, rather than a superstar. Instead of being a player that teams can build around, he will soon be a player who can complement a superstar. He will be a player that a team can acquire to supplement another top notch player. It's essential that James recognizes where he is in his career. He cannot influence a team's decision of who to acquire. Instead, he must defer to an organization's general manager.

Transitions are always difficult in sports. They are difficult For individuals and teams. It's tough for individuals to realize that they are gradually declining athletically or will be soon. It's difficult for a player who has been a focal point to transition into a complementary role. However, such transitions are necessary.

Sometimes a player may be given a reduced workload. The player may play fewer minutes. In some cases, a basketball player may not be able to play on consecutive nights. Or a player may lose the quickness that is necessary to drive to the basket or create his own shot. At the end of a player's career he may have to take more jump shots if he lacks the quickness to go by the defensive players or create on the offensive end. Also, a player may have to refine his passing skills and his ability to facilitate for his teammates. In any event, James may have to adjust his game and expectations after 15 years and 217 playoff games.

Likewise, teams have to also go through transitions. Teams must evaluate themselves. They must know whether they are contenders or not. If a team knows that it needs to rebuild, then it needs to undergo a youth movement. For instance, the Philadelphia 76ers have tried to rebuild around Ben Simmons, Joel Embid, Dario Sarik and Markelle Fultz. They have tried to build around lottery draft picks. The 76ers got real bad before they could get good. They had a plan that involved building almost exclusively through young players and draft picks. They followed that plan, and now they are experiencing some improvement.

The Cavaliers are still one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference. However, they are probably not a contender anymore. Soon they will need to transition to a rebuilding phase. Lebron James helped bring the Cavaliers an NBA championship and four Eastern Conference championships. His tenure in Cleveland has been successful. Soon it will be time for a new beginning for both James and the Cavaliers.

Being pro life

There is a place for everyone in the pro life movement. Whether we are parents or not, we have an important role in the pro life movement. Everyone can make a positive difference by respecting the unborn and honoring the role of parenthood - specifically honoring the sacrifice that mothers make. Basically, we need to respect the unborn, support pregnant women and offer forgiveness to women who have had abortions.

The first element is respecting the unborn child. Life begins at conception. This is a scientific fact which is reinforced by the Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church, Orthodox Judaism and the Muslim religion. All three monotheistic religions believe that life begins at conception. All three monotheistic religions respect life from the moment of conception. Through the technology of ultra sounds, we can observe the life within the womb. We can see the baby moving and growing in the womb.

Supporting pregnant women is also important. Some women may choose abortion because they do not sense that they are supported by their husbands or boyfriends . They also may not sense support from society or the Church. Women deserve support. Pregnant women deserve support during their pregnancies. Carrying a baby for nine months is a sacrifice. It is heroic. It requires courage and strength. Women deserve support during their pregnancies and afterwards. This basic point needs to be continually reinforced. Women should never feel alone during their pregnancies. God is with them. Their family needs to be with them. Also, as members of the Church and of society, we also need to be with them.

A third element is forgiveness. Women who have had abortions must not be condemned. They must be forgiven and respected. The Catholic Church believes in forgiveness. All Christian communities believe in forgiveness. We know that Christ forgives us when we turn to him. In Jesus Christ there is forgiveness and healing. This is true for all of us. We need to extend that forgiveness to others.