Nostalgia back in the 2013-2014 NBA Season

The NBA 2013-14 season had a ton of unusual events from The Celtics and The Lakers both missing the Playoffs in the same season for the first time in 20 years. Even The Knicks, Celtics and Lakers Missing the playoffs in the same season for the first time. Kevin Durant winning MVP the first of the former OKC Big 3 to win MVP. Brad Stevens having his 1st year coaching in the NBA with the Boston Celtics. And Doc Rivers coaching run with the Celtics officially ended and his coaching run with the Clippers beginning. Even Mid way through Season Phil Jackson for the 1st time becomes and executive for the New York Knicks. Even One of the biggest bizarre events was the 76ers Suffer one of the biggest losing streak at 26 where they were mocked all over the Sports entertainment and journalism industry.  Another thing is despite the disastrous season from the 76ers a fellow player on the team Michael Carter Williams wins rookie of the year.  And even Jimmy Butler gets a starting spot on the Chicago Bulls after trading Luol Deng. But The main story that has happened was the rematch from the NBA Finals from 2013 with the 2 same teams going into the finals in 2014.

  

 The NBA finals in 2013 was the match I was kind of hoping for and I remember a a while back I did a blog on the 2 big 3 NBA stars on their respective teams. The Team that is very well coached with the San Antonio Spurs, and The Miami That was very well coached but had some awesome talent especially with Ray Allen departing from his other Playoff bound, Champion Aspired Celtics, to join their fellow playoff rivals Miami Heat as their shooting addition. Well This has been a year removed from the Miami Heat winning their second NBA Championship alongside Dwayne Wade and Lebron winning his 1st. So they came off a Championship win over Oklahoma City Thunder as the San Antonio Spurs came off a year removed from Being eliminated in the Western Conference Finals after an impressive finish to the season connecting to their big playoff run. With them finishing 50-16 after their impressive 10 game run, and 10 game playoff run before losing their next 4 to he handed their playoff exit. The fact that the Spurs made their major bounce back to push their ticket to the NBA finals was extremely impressive.  So with the Spurs appearing in the NBA Finals and then facing the Defending Champion Miami Heat was great to see them trading blows, as each team won a game after losing the previous game and went down to the wire, except games 6 or 7 where Miami Heat won 2 straight games. As the Spurs faced the disappointing Side to the NBA Finals Finish.

https://renny80hdcali.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-best-nba-finals-so-far.html

How did the Spurs respond to the Devastating loss?

Well there was one good answer that no one would think would even happen. Which was fight their way back to the NBA Finals and win the championship. Seeing a coach like Gregg Poppovich who has been one of the most successful coaches in the NBA, and to hear from the players on how he rejuvenated the team to rebound and tell them this is a new season what happened before, happened before, and they seemed ready to play with energy and will and even returned to the NBA Finals. So the fact that they came into the season just storming and fighting for the playoff spot right from the get-go had a ton of desire and energy already shown in from of fans and basketball fans and the team as well. Well all I will say is Wow it was really amazing seeing how this team really bounce back and did a great job coming back to the Finals leading them to their first back to back NBA Finals Appearance and another team to win a championship after losing the NBA Finals the year before. I saw their hunger and desire even in the playoff run where they almost fell flat against the Mavericks when they were pushed to 7 games and then made their rebound in the later round storming their way into the Finals. And then when they lost game 1 in the NBA Finals it almost looked like it was going to be deja vu  all over again but good thing for the Spurs that was not the case. They bounce back in the next 4 games to avenge their loss and get their retribution with the Spurs and on top of that Kawhi Leonard making a major contribution in the finals earning a Finals MVP alongside the championship ring which was a great reward for his defensive performance against a strong Miami Heat high powered offense.

What was the point of bringing up this Moment in the NBA Finals?

Well the point is that we are not perfect! Especially myself, and apparently we all have our shortcomings and even have our struggles. The real question also is How do we rebound from our shortcomings do we mope around about it or do we figure out how to rebound and when we get the opportunity do we take the golden opportunity and take advantage of it. Well it is always good to shake it off and then move on and stay focused. And for my experience that is what I am working towards especially when I deal with my weakness like not eating right and there are times when I am mad about how undisciplined I am but I continue to stay focused and figure out how to keep my eye on the prize and not give up, meaning continue to do what you are doing, and just learn to make changes and continue to be hungry for it and even how to keep fighting and take the brass ring and grab it when there is an opportunity.

   

Defense Wins Games

There were some insane games on Week 4, so far the Patriots in the last 3 games their offense has dominated, and really seems like they were set to run over another team. Despite the clash of the undefeateds, the Bills seemed like the heavy underdogs, and the most overlooked 3-0 Team thinking The Patriots are going to have another easy win. Believe it or not I did not take the Buffalo Bills defense lightly like not at all, I knew the Patriots were going to be in for a real fight, even though they always find other ways to win. Well the game did happen and man the game was very close and on top of that it was quite a nail biter and the Patriots won despite Tom Brady being manhandled by the strong defense Buffalo Bills, and more thanks To The Patriots' defense and special teams and thanks to even the Coach Bill Bellichick. My perspective of the game well has been great to see defense make stops and carry the game and even have them determine the game because you have to prevent a score from happening to help your team win and that is a very important position you definitely can not forget about and there were 2 big games that did determine how the defense really helped the game.

When I saw the New England Patriots vs The Buffalo Bills well it was quite a game and after 3 long games of blowouts we finally had a heck of a game. 16-10 really told the story. It was such an intense game on the Defense and seeing how the Bills Defense were not intimidated by Tom Brady and the offense really spoke a ton of volumes. The lack of intimidation really was displayed on the field as the D showed intimidation of their own. Seeing how the Bills played great defense, the Patriots Defense were no where inferior either. They made some great plays on defense and especially Devin Mccourty going on his 3rd straight game with an interception.  Phenomenal game to watch displaying loads of intensity like I said and even a neck and neck battle I kinda expect but did not expect this much.  So great gritty defense and seeing the display of intensity where the defense had to do the work to help The Patriots get the win.

Another defensive action well I will say this The Saints vs The Cowboys also had great defense action where the game was won in alternative ways instead of just relying on the offense, especially relying on the quarterbacks where almost every game where they control the offense or even where also they had to rely on them scoring as well. Well Lucky enough those fortunes have changed pretty well and the good thing about that is well The Saints who lost their All-Pro Quarterback well they had a good backup quarterback and they did enough to help their kicker get in range to help them do enough to win the game. Both defense played very well and on top of that they did a great job slowing down both offenses especially where the Saints defense stopped especially the Cowboys high powered offense it spoke a ton of volumes I can tell you that. The fact that it led to the Saints just kicking 4 fiend goals it was quite good to see they did not had to just lead on touchdowns. So it is also good for the game to be led by other weapons and even the defense being rewarded for even where the game was called for an important victory especially from one of the star corners.

I remember in my earlier blog post mentioning how defense wins championships, when I was talking about Super Bowl 54 Where The Patriots beat the Rams 13-3 and yeah you can say it was a boring game but however there was some defense intensity. Every position in defense in football has value and especially where they play a role, and which I indeed mention. Another piece I can mention and even take a quote was, "Most Importantly you got to play shutdown on Negativity and Doubt and even obstacles and stuff that tries to make you feel defeated, and tells you, you can't do it once you shut that down, you will execute and not let anything get past you or even turn it around especially try to intercept anything going against you and make the execution on you and make things go in your favor."   I even Remembered mentioning each position where Like a Shut down Corner back or Safety you got to man up to drama, problems or any type of adversity, and shut that down and stay on it and not let it go past you or even get any execution on you, should not be allowed. Or even Run and sack any laziness, or any controversy trying to score and bring you down which shouldn't not be allowed oh definitely not. Defense does win games and even help offense with their confidence and It brings some intensity like I said before!