If you've been wondering. CD = Chuck Daly

If you are anything like me and have been wondering what in the heck those badges/pins are that the coaches and broadcasters have been wearing throughout the Playoffs this will help.

I certainly didn't know, and was sick of people asking me.

Here is the answer:

The National Basketball Coaches' Association announced that they were dedicating the 2009 playoffs to Hall of Fame coach Chuck Daly, who died of pancreatic cancer on May 9, 2009, aged 78, and they're honoring him by wearing a lapel pin featuring his initials.



Bio:

Charles Jerome "Chuck" Daly (July 20, 1930 – May 9, 2009) was an American basketball head coach. He led the Detroit Pistons to consecutive National Basketball Association (NBA) Championships in 1989 and 1990, and the Dream Team to the men's basketball gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics. He had a 14-year NBA coaching career.



Coached back to back NBA championship teams

One of only 7 coaches to win back-to-back NBA championships.

Elected to the NBA Hall of Fame

Coached a total of 14 NBA seasons

Pistons registered five 50-plus win seasons

Won three Central Division titles

Winning record is 13th best among all coaches and ninth best by percentage

Playoff record is fourth best in NBA history by wins and eighth best by percentage

14 year NBA coaching career

Coached U.S. to Olympic gold medal (1992) with the first "Dream Team"

Only Hall of Fame coach to win both an NBA championship and an Olympic gold medal

Compiled a 151–62 record in eight college seasons

Guided Penn to four Ivy League championships

Four straight 20-win seasons at Penn

Ball Keeps Bouncing

Ball Keeps Bouncing

By Ryan Mobilia



Michele Timms, two-time Olympic medallist, has experienced basketball throughout the world and believes the community level of the sport in this country is as strong as ever.

Melbourne’s Federation Square hosted a World Record attempt on April 7, 2009, which required 1,289 people to bounce a basketball for five minutes.

The attempt was organised by Basketball Australia in an effort to help the governing body of the sport reconnect with the community.

Despite failing to break the world record and with many of the teams in the national competition struggling financially, participation in the sport is thriving.

The problems of Basketball Australia and the National Basketball League are not reflected at the community level.

“I think our grassroots is probably one of the best in the world. Said Timms.

“A lot has been said of the past few years about the elite end of the sport, but it hasn’t in anyway affected the grassroots… it’s up there with soccer as the most participated sport being played by kids, boys and girls.”

Where the link does become more noticeable, is a shared problem of lack of money and resources.

This is widely believed to be the major reason behind the failed connection between the NBL and community levels of the sport.

John Matthews, former long time Operations Manager for the Eltham Wildcats Basketball Club, sees the lack of proper funding and minimal community engagement at the heart of the issue.

“While they were in survival mode they really didn’t come out and do the community stuff.”

He compares the AFL and their range of resources, to explain the different mindset when ensuring their game flourishes at all levels.

“When they identify a problem, they say ‘well, we think we need three people, lets hire five.’ Basketball says, ‘we need three people. Let’s get one and a half’.”

Timms says, as for basketball in Australia and the direction of the national league, all is not lost.

“I’d like them to take the season off, refine themselves or rebirth and then come out with a whole different name to their league… so we can start again, try again.

“I think it’s necessary for the rebirth of the sport at the elite level.”

Matthews agreed.

“Basketball will keep evolving, it has to. It’ll find a niche, hopefully the NBL works.”

And as for the World Record attempt, both Timms and Matthews believe not breaking the record had more to do with timing rather than lack of interest.

Of the lack of attendance by her club the Bulleen Boomers, Timms explained,

“It was good it was on a school holiday, but… that’s when the clubs try and make their money, out of doing clinics and offering that service to the community, so we were all tied up here doing basketball clinics.”

Timing was a similar problem for the Eltham Wildcats Basketball Club.

“Our last newsletter was the last week of February, so effectively you’ve got about a five-six week period where no overwhelming news goes out to our junior club members, the people they are aiming it at.” said Matthews.

LeBron James Block Party, Howard Not Invited.

On the eve of the Eastern Conference Finals, just when everyone is celebrating the 2009 Defensive Player of the year, Orlando player Dwight Howard, and his Magic team for knocking off the Celtics on the road in Game 7.



Espn.com has put together a feature video about the defensive ability and some of the amazing blocks of LeBron James, including a classic versus the Suns and Jason Richardson this season.

I think it's a great video, and interesting they would choose to highlight it now, as Bron Bron goes up against Dwight 'Superman' Howard, an obvious shot blocking beast!

I can't wait for this series to begin, all I know is there will be many more highlights to come!

It's Amazing...