"I Had to Be All-In"

Good article from Peter King of Sports Illustrated on the resurgence of Jets RB Ladainian Tomlinson

For 13 weeks this offseason, LaDainian Tomlinson got his mojo back while working out in the pastures of New Jersey That's where Tomlinson spent about 13 weeks this spring, getting his strength and explosion back after nagging toe and high-ankle-sprain bothered him for the last two years.

"I lost a lot of strength in the past couple of years with those injuries, and when you lose strength, you lose explosion," Tomlinson said from a very happy team bus after running for over 100 yards in defeating the Bills 38-14. "So the only way I was going to get back to where I needed to be was to be all-in to the offseason program. I moved to New Jersey and was there the first day of the program and stayed all the way 'til the end in June. If I'd stayed on the West Coast (where is home was), I'd never have been able to build the kind of chemistry I've built with these guys right now.

Learning how to practice

"Right now the primary focus is on those things you really can't measure. I've talked about that before — the team chemistry, the unity. I'm always pounding that. I'm always talking about how efficient they have or have not been on the practice field. ... I said this way back in the first minicamp (in April) that it was a lot about learning how to practice. I think they've got it now."

-Steve Spagnuolo
St. Louis Rams Head Coach

Game 1: Lakers 100 Magic 75

A couple of quotes from last night's Lakers victory:

Lamar Odom on team chemistry: "As our camaraderie off the court picks up, we start to push each other more on the court."

Kobe Bryant: "I just want it so bad," Bryant said. "That's all. I just want it really bad. You just put everything you have into the game and your emotions kind of flow out of you."

"It's a great opportunity. Last year was a great opportunity to get it done too, and we just weren't tough enough to get it done. I think this year we're a tough team, as we proved the first three rounds. This round's going to be about execution, defensive execution. Offensively, we can score with the best of them."

Learning from other teams on how to work together

Interesting article on how Cleveland Browns Pro-Bowl kick returner Josh Cribbs has been attending Cavs games recently. He is looking to find the intangibles on what it takes for a team to be successful and have a tight bond.

"I went to grab that atmosphere, to see what it took and to see how I can implement it with our team," Cribbs said.

"It's something I appreciate so much that I'm going not only to enjoy the game and support them but I'm going to grasp the atmosphere, to actually see how they mesh together as a team, how they're getting through it when bad times during the games occur, how they talk as a team and communicate," Cribbs said. "Do they get on each other when something bad happens? Do they argue, fuss and fight? There's something that's happening to them. They must have what it takes -- and it shows.

Cribbs imagines himself passing on the lessons he has learned watching the Cavs.

"I can explain what it takes from looking at them -- what to do and not do, how they prepare to play the game and then go out and have fun," he said. "They have a focus about them. They're focused, but they're having fun. They're not uptight about it. It's like, 'OK, we have a job to do and we're going to do it and occasionally we're going to have fun because it's a game.' It's evident every time they're doing well, they're able to have more and more fun.

"So what I can explain to my team is you prepare for the game, you practice and then you take it to the court. Then you'll be so focused and so full of your job that you'll feel like it's coming easy to you. It seems like it's coming so easy to them. They're working as a team. It's not just one person. They're allowing everyone to work for the team. They're getting the ball to their assets, and they're all working toward one goal -- to win. Everybody is doing their little parts to have a big outcome, which is winning. They know their jobs. They don't have too many distractions. No one's acting up on the team. They're meshing."

From his perspective, the Cavs are a championship team this season.

"They have 'it' this year," said Cribbs, who credits Cleveland fans for helping his team as well as the Cavs. "The only thing that would stand in their way is if they lose that focus, or another team comes in and you have an off game. Other than that, there's no reason they shouldn't go all the way."

The Rockets have Chemistry

Nice win for the Rockets last night over the Lakers in Game 1. Here are some quotes from the game.

Said Yao Ming:

"Besides Tracy McGrady on this team, we don't have a guy you can call a 'talent player,' like a Kobe, McGrady, LeBron, that type. We have to trust everybody, play together, play tough and unite together."

Coach Rick Adelman:

"We found out we had a group that played their tails off every day. They came together as a group. We had a regular rotation we didn't have before and we had young guys step up."

And it's not just Adelman, a veteran coach of 18 seasons, that sees something special in this team.

Ron Artest:

"It's weird because every other team I've played for in the Playoffs, players or coaches or whatever change their whole attitude or maybe become even more focused or more edgy. But this team, we played hard during the regular season and we want to play the same during the Playoffs."

Shane Battier:

"Honestly, the first thing we said when we came into the locker room was OK, good job guys. Now, let’s get a good Game 2, too."

Also, I found that Battier had this to say before the season:

Well, it starts with the coach and we have an outstanding coach. If there's one strong suit of coach Adelman, it's developing chemistry. We had amazing chemistry last year that was evidenced in the 22-game winning streak. And we have good guys who want to win. And as long as you have those things, the chemistry will come. Now if you win a few games, chemistry seems to come a bit easier. So it's on us to win a few games and find our identity as a team. But I'm confident that we have the coaching staff in place that will develop us and bring us closer together as a team.

Team Attitude

"I think the guys on this team have been extremely tough and played through injuries," Pritchard said of the root of the success. "That's No. 1. No. 2 is the character of our team. Everybody in this locker room is a good guy. It's off the charts. Are there small things? You bet. But never has there been a big issue."

-Portland GM Kevin Pritchard on Portland's success

Notes From Billy Donovan

Role Players:

*Never underestimate how important role players are

*Stars will get the pub, it's the role players whom you need to make sure feel appreciated

*Stars must endear themselves to those role players. Garnett offers anyone a free meal with him on a road trip

*Building chemistry isn't all on the coach, your best players have the best chance to improve chemistry

Approach /Avoidance goals:

*Approach Goals: things the team wants to see accomplished

*Avoidance Goals: things the team is hoping to avoid

*Focus on approach goals. Avoidance goals are too negative, makes teams play to not lose rather than to win

Talent doesn't always equal championships

As I am watching the Eagles crushing the Cowboys and being disgusted by the drama that the Cowboys seem to love, I heard a great quote from former Cowboy Troy Aikman:

"Talent doesn't always equal championships and a talented team doesn't always mean you are a team"

It is disgusting the amount of bickering that takes place on this team. If they lose, blame is spread throughout. If they win, then someone is mad they aren't getting the ball enough. How is it even enjoyable to win when not everyone is enjoying the victories? Yes the victory is nice, but personally I get the most out of a victory when I see everyone around me enjoying the win.

It will be interesting to see what happens after this loss and if the blame game starts to take place. After all, they are champions in that category.