IMPROVING BASKETBALL--PROGRESSIVE TEAM-SPORT REGULATIONS

IMPROVING BASKETBALL—PROGRESSIVE TEAM-SPORT REGULATIONS

I mentioned in a previous article that a worthy goal should be a .500 average for every team in the league, because worthy opponents create more competitive and exciting environments for players and fans and generate greater interest and team profits at the box office and concession stands.

Everyone will reap the benefits and rewards of more balanced competition, so why not begin to even the odds by increasing team-size, limiting players to 16 minutes per game, and requiring that every player who is not sick, injured, ejected or serving a suspension play a minimum of 12 mpg? In the NBA, this would mean increasing the average team size from 13 to 15 members, just to accommodate the 48-minute game total, plus the necessary substitutes for injuries, fouls and ejections. Overtime minutes would also need to be rotationally shared and limited. The net effect of these changes will be to level the talent pools available on the floor at any given moment, whether through the rotation of 5-man units or another substitution strategy which suits the coaching staffs’ preference.

This will have the added benefits of increased levels of game-play, morale, and skill- development for substitutes, the ability to include more high-speed offensive game techniques, full-court press defense, and other methods which previously had limited use to avoid player fatigue. By limiting game-time for regulars and increasing minutes for substitutes, more realistic and balanced demands per player will mean lower stress and injury averages and potential career-extensions for players, more options for coaching staffs and management, and an overall increase in fan support and interest. Additionally, rookies will immediately see service, resulting in accelerating their learning curves, to the advantage of both these new players and their teams.

As a team sport, basketball has proven to be highly successful, primarily because of the emphasis placed on offensive and defensive strategies, assists, rapid-response maneuvers and other team-generated efforts. Predictable objections may include those who fear that lowered stats for regulars will result in the inability to compare year-by-year stat totals, but these can be overcome by the increasingly favorable stats compiled by the entire team. Lowering yearly output-per-player may also extend careers which might otherwise be cut short by depending too heavily on massive short-term production by the regulars, and increasing the chances for fatigue-related injury.


More than any other reasons given, this is an idea worth trying in order to boost every team’s chances to make it to the playoffs, the benchmark by which success in the league is measured, and thereby increasing fan interest and support and ultimately benefiting the entire NBA organization.

Mark Overt Skilbred

NBA STANDINGS FOR DECEMBER 2, 2009

NBA STANDINGS FOR DECEMBER 2, 2009

1. Los Angeles Lakers .824
2. Orlando Magic .789
3. Boston Celtics .778
4. Dallas Mavericks .737
5. Phoenix Suns .737
6. Atlanta Hawks .722
7. Cleveland Cavaliers .722
8. Denver Nuggets .722
9. Portland Trail Blazers .600
10. San Antonio Spurs .600
11. Miami Heat .588
12. Utah Jazz .588
13. Houston Rockets .556
14. Oklahoma City Thunder .556
15. Milwaukee Bucks .529
16. Sacramento Kings .529
17. Chicago Bulls .438
18. Los Angeles Clippers .421
19. Charlotte Bobcats .412
20. Washington Wizards .412
21. New Orleans Hornets .389
22. Indiana Pacers .375
23. Memphis Grizzlies .368
24. Golden State Warriors .353
25. Toronto Raptors .350
26. Detroit Pistons .333
27. Philadelphia 76ers .263
28. New York Knicks .211
29. Minnesota Timberwolves .111
30. New Jersey Nets .000

As December begins, the Lakers are all alone on
top of the NBA, followed by Orlando in second,
the Celtics in third, Dallas and Phoenix tied for
fourth, Atlanta-Cleveland-Denver tied for fifth,
Portland and San Antonio tied for sixth, Miami
and Utah tied for seventh, Houston and Oklahoma
City tied for eighth, Milwaukee and Sacramento tied
for ninth and Chicago in tenth. All of these top-level
teams except Chicago are averaging over .500.
There is no real surprise with the first three positions,
but there is still lots of room to maneuver as we get
closer to the first quarter-stop of the season.

Mark Overt Skilbred

DETOXING THE SYSTEM--FOCUSING ON CURE INSTEAD OF SYMPTOMS

DETOXING THE SYSTEM—FOCUSING ON CURE INSTEAD OF SYMPTOMS

The problem with many addictions and unhealthy lifestyles is that too often we become so preoccupied with the problem that we lose perspective on the solution. The body is frequently cheated of nutritional and exercise necessities which then leads to unhealthy cravings and contributes to further bodily dysfunction. By focusing on ways in which we are able to contribute to our health rather than continuing in an unhealthy lifestyle, we will make changes in our diet and exercise programs and in our entire mental and social attitudes which will support our goals. If you are one of the many in society who feel powerless to meaningfully change the negatives which directly or indirectly contribute to your addictions, what is needed is a methodical transformation of your customary routine.

The next time you are participating in an unhealthy lifestyle, or reaching for alcohol, nicotine, or any other addictive drug, try eating and drinking some of the many nutritionally-helpful foods which will repair damage done to your system. You will be rewarded with actual improvements in your health, which will lead to further progress in your physical and emotional health. It was a step-by-step process which led to your addiction, and it is step-by-step development that will lead you to good health. It is these small changes in habit that will add up to the winning lifestyle you are seeking.

The world is also full of solutions, just as it has been full of problems, when we are willing to seek help. You know that your attitude affects your health, but did you know that your health affects your attitude? When you make those one-step-at-a-time changes in your lifestyle, you will be amazed at the improvement in your whole outlook on life. There are many who will help you attain your goals when they see that you are willing to make the changes that lead to good health. I recommend seeking those who are already well-on-their-way to a healthy lifestyle, such as nutrition and health spa instructors and mentors, life coaches, and workout partners who will be patient with your development.

As you know, negativity is all around us, and can easily lead to self-doubt and attempts to sabotage all of our efforts to improve. Usually the negativity focuses on large, impossible tasks such as trying to change the past, instant transformations, impossible expectations, and other large and difficult solutions. In order to reclaim your progress and stay focused on the goals which lie ahead, you must always do the little, methodical things which lead to good health, by asking yourself, “What can I do today to help myself to get healthy?” Then simply do those daily diet and exercise routines which support a healthy lifestyle.

Accept the challenge to transform your life by taking the small steps that are needed to bring about this change. Start making the small daily changes which lead to good health, and stop worrying about all the other stuff which has kept you a prisoner of your own self-doubt. You will discover that many of your problems are smaller than they were before and that you are no longer bothered by their solution. Just live your life and be grateful for that day’s accomplishments. I and many others send our best wishes!

Mark Overt Skilbred

BASKETBALL--WHO IS USING THEIR BENCH TO FULLEST ADVANTAGE?

BASKETBALL—WHO IS USING THEIR BENCH TO FULLEST ADVANTAGE?

With nearly 20 % of the season over, the Lakers are in a 4-way tie for 1st place with Atlanta, Orlando and Phoenix, followed by a 4-way tie for 2nd place between Boston, Cleveland, Dallas and Denver. It looks like the season is off to a great start with lots of competition to keep our skills honed. The Lakers are scheduled to play at Golden State Saturday night. Currently, the Lakers regulars are averaging 29.33 mpg, and the subs are averaging 9.72 mpg, compared with an NBA regulars average of 28.37 mpg and NBA subs average of 9.21 mpg. Golden State is averaging 26.16 mpg for regulars and 14.65 mpg for their subs. Since the Lakers regulars average playing over 3 times as many minutes as Lakers subs do, there is plenty of game time to be shared. Now would be a great time to increase playing time for our substitutes, so they have a chance to develop their game early in the season. The playoffs will be here before we know it, and we’ll need all the help we can get.

Mark Overt Skilbred

(Source: NBA team stats from 11-22-09 and available standings from 11-24-09)

OVERHEARD ON C-SPAN ON NOVEMBER 10, 2009: CONGRESSIONAL BICKERING HAS GOTTEN THE WORLD'S ATTENTION

OVERHEARD ON C-SPAN ON NOVEMBER 10, 2009: CONGRESSIONAL BICKERING HAS GOTTEN THE WORLD’S ATTENTION

Senator Kent Conrad, D-ND, and Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee says that we need to appoint a bipartisan “special process” panel if we are to avert an imminent and catastrophic budgetary meltdown. Estimates are that we are currently collecting only 76% of the necessary revenue to maintain our current budget, and if remedial efforts are not begun quickly to reduce spending and raise needed taxes, we will ensure our further decline and inability to respond economically or otherwise as a nation.

There was a recent comment overheard in Chinese government circles to the effect that leadership in the United States is now too dysfunctional to prevent us from becoming a second-class nation. Chairman Conrad acknowledges that there is some truth to that rumor, because there is increasingly less hope for congressional agreement on key issues which affect our current budget and our status as a nation.

Our nearly-insurmountable debt-load now amounts on a per-family basis to over ten times what the average family earns per year, and it strains credibility to believe that we will be able to legislate our way out of this crisis. The suggestion of the Senate Budget Committee is that we grant special emergency powers to a bipartisan panel which is granted the ability to act for and with the full support of the congress to reduce budgets across a full spectrum of government services and to increase taxes as needed.

I applaud Chairman Conrad and the Senate Budget Committee for saying what needs to be said regarding the level of dysfunction in Congress. Do we really need to wait for the world to tell us that it is our inability to agree on important issues which is causing the further collapse of our system of government? I will go one step further and say that if Congress cannot find a way to agree and move towards a workable solution that they should all resign and go home and let a special bipartisan commission be appointed to do the job that they were supposed to do. Further, I suggest that Chairman Conrad and the current Senate Budget Committee BE THAT COMMISSION, and be granted all of the necessary powers to accomplish this task.

Mark Overt Skilbred

BASKETBALL MPG--HOW MINUTES PER GAME CAN IMPROVE AVERAGES

BASKETBALL MPG—HOW MINUTES PER GAME CAN IMPROVE AVERAGES

A quick glance at today’s NBA player statistics for the Lakers shows that Shannon Brown is averaging 16 mpg, which is the perfect average mpg per player for a 15-man team. This roster currently shows only 13 men, but it could show 15, and the 16-minute average would then apply. The starters and regulars who average greater than 16 mpg and the substitutes who average less than 16 mpg have similar stats in many respects, but the one we will concentrate on for the moment will be mpg.

The closer a team gets to an average player mpg of 16 minutes, the more experience that team will be able to present to an opponent, and the entire team will be stronger as an offensive and defensive unit than a team with lopsided player mpg averages. Players who observe their opponent from the sidelines are able to bring that knowledgeable response to the court when given an opportunity to increase their mpg to a more equitable average.

Adam Morrison currently has the lowest mpg for the Lakers, which I believe is going to be increased throughout the season, as he works into the rotation. We expect great things from this young player, as he showed great promise in the Las Vegas summer league as well as a fabulous college career at Gonzaga.

I believe that increasing average mpg for reserve players will greatly improve the ability of the entire team to function as a cohesive unit and present a more formidable offensive and defensive capability to opponents. Some will worry about the effect this will have on individual and divisional standings, but I think this strategy is worth the effort, despite the initial reaction that may result from its implementation.

When fans realize that the goal is building a better team which is more experienced and better prepared to defend our national title, they will enthusiastically support the coaches and team as they increase the average mpg of the reserves, thereby improving the Laker’s chances to repeat as NBA champions in 2010. Let’s all work together to make it happen!

Mark Overt Skilbred

GLOBAL WARMING--LOGICAL CONCERNS AND RESPONSES

GLOBAL WARMING—LOGICAL CONCERNS AND RESPONSES

Scientists, politicians and citizens disagree about many aspects of the current global warming debate, but there seem to be some areas of commonality that allow for a constructive and progressive timetable. There are those who deny that carbon emissions are responsible for polar ice melt and various climate changes, but who support efforts to clean up the environment and various clean air initiatives. Although we may not agree on all of the possible causes, consequences and timeframes of environmental degradation, the world agrees that united efforts to improve overall air quality and the environment as soon as possible are a very good idea. In many ways, regardless of the outcome of current debate, we are all better off because of the attention given to global warming.

In seeking to pinpoint causes of environmental changes and their various consequences, we frequently lose sight of opportunities for meaningful improvement in our ability to cooperate environmentally with each other in all of our various interactions. How can we make meaningful progress which will avoid the unproductive debate over contentious issues that have little to do with real solutions for environmental degradation?

All of us face health risks associated with the quality of the air we breathe, whether or not air pollution ultimately results in catastrophic polar melting. Given the sense of urgency associated with real and perceived dangers from global warming, this is a perfect time to get our environmental houses in order and to focus on the prevention of future pollution through proactive legislation and agreements which call attention to various obstacles to a clean environment for us all.

By calling attention to pollution and environmental issues through various educational programs, we can teach our fellow citizens much that has already been discovered about the prevention of environmental degradation and about the many improvements which are now possible. By working together as citizens and nations of the world, we can pass along a cleaner and environmentally safer world to our grandchildren with much greater authority, by building on the knowledge and experiences we have already encountered.

Mark Overt Skilbred