A Delayed Debut

A fun graphic I put together.

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  A glance at the calendar tells me it's a little late in the year to be making debuts. But Saturday marked my 2013 basketball debut.

  Going into the game, I wasn't sure if it was going to happen. And if I did get into the game, I was even more unsure of how it was going to go. After missing my team's previous four games (because of a back injury) since the flip of the calendar year, I finally put on my uniform, and was able to compete with my teammates.

  All day Saturday, and leading up to tip-off, I was a question mark. I hadn't been in practice the two days prior, and the two practices I had participated in during the week, were touch and go.

  I thought I'd be okay to play. But your mind and your body are two very different things. Often times, your mind is willing while your body says otherwise.

  I just wanted to be smart, and do the right thing for my team and myself.

Differing Mindsets: Before, During, and After the Game
  It's interesting how different your approach, and mindset, is going into a game you are unsure you will be able to play in. When healthy/normal, you're focused on your performance and particulars about your opponent.

Team huddle, earlier in the season.

  When your 'form' is up in the air, your focus is solely on yourself. Will I be able to play? What will my body allow me to do? There are so many uncertainties that you hardly think of the people you are playing against.

  Will I be able to help my team, or will I hurt it? You always have to put the good of the team first (along with your own personal health, of course). If, when going through warm ups, I wasn't comfortable with my ability to move and play, I would have shut it down.

  Even after the game, my feelings were different than normal. We lost, and I was upset about that. But when your main concern is surviving the game uninjured, it gives you a slightly different perspective. Usually I'm very critical of my own play. When you've been on the sidelines for six weeks, and only practiced a handful of times in that time frame, you give yourself a little more leeway. 

Game action from earlier in the season.

Confident but Rusty
  I was able to play freely. But it was never far from my mind, that it was my first game in over six weeks, and first time playing an extended period of time.

  I wasn't as rusty as I thought I would be. But I was playing with no legs, and even less explosion than I'm used to, so that was a tough adjustment. It was a start, and I'm glad I got the first game back under my belt.

  As I've written before, you have to trust in your body, and have confidence that it won't fail when going up for a rebound, or driving to the basket. For the most part, I had that on Saturday. And as long as I continue to feel comfortable and confident, I'll be out on the court, doing my best to help my team win!

Time on the Sideline

Team sweats have been my uniform as of late.

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  I haven't written about my on-going season is quite some time.

  I initially stopped writing game recaps when I found myself frustrated with how my team's season was going. It was almost as if I felt like I was jinxing our team. The more I wrote about us, the worse we did. So I stopped.

  But by this point, nearly six weeks into our second half schedule, I thought I would be back giving you all game updates. I thought we'd turn our season around, things would start looking up, and I'd want to share that turnaround.

  And it's not that a turnaround hasn't happened -- we're .500 since resuming play. But I haven't been on the court much since the New Year. In fact, I have yet to play a game in 2013.

  I was bitten by the injury bug.

My Aching Back
  The injury that always seems to get me at one point or another during the year, my bad back, finally got me. It was nothing out of the ordinary, the same as what always happens. I'm usually out for two to three days, and then I'm back at it. But not this time.

  The timing of this back tweak couldn't have been worse. It was a few hours before we were to leave on a 17-hour bus ride. If there's anything that doesn't mix with back pain/injuries, it's a road trip -- and a long one at that. Knowing I wouldn't be able to play, I stayed home. I felt that would give me the best chance at a quick recovery.

I'll be back to this soon.

  Almost five weeks, and four missed games later, here I am still trying to get back on the court full-time.

  There have been four attempts, counting this week's, to get back into practice. The previous three all ended the same: with me on the sideline, frustrated and stretching.

  I think I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel (but I remember thinking that several weeks ago, only to have the tunnel go dark again).

No Playing 'Careful'
  Here's the thing about coming back from injury: you have to be comfortable, and you have to be 100% confident in your body to play at a high level.

  Last week was the first time I participated in a full practice with my teammates, complete with some five-on-five scrimmaging. My body felt insecure. I felt any wrong twist or turn would end in pain. Anything I did too quickly, I feared. I kept telling myself that I needed to be 'careful', and not get too carried away.

  I was neither comfortable, nor confident. In fact, I felt like a robot.

  At some point during the practice, I forgot about thinking. Instinct took over, and I loosened up. Just as that happened, I drove baseline, twisted to the right, and laid a pass off to a cutting teammate for a layup. Good play, but it sent me to the sideline in pain. 

  Basketball is a game of reactions, your instinct will take over sooner or later, and you won't be able to 'play careful'.

Nothing to do, but cheer.

  If you have to think, you cannot play. If you're trying to protect yourself, or play cautiously, you cannot play. Yes, you can play. But not effectively. And that doesn't do your team, your teammates, or yourself, justice.

  Also, playing at less than 100%, is a good way to further injure yourself.

  When you've been on the sidelines for what you feel is too long, you start to doubt yourself. You think: Am I being too cautious? Do I just need to get out there? But at the end of the day, only you know your body. Only you know what you are feeling. You have to continue to listen to your body, and go with your instinct.

  At the time, I did not think that tweak five weeks ago would have kept me off the court for so long. But that's the way it goes sometimes. You cannot rush, and you cannot speed up recovery before your body is ready.

  It's definitely been a long five weeks -- not being able to participate in practice and games -- but I think I'm getting there. We have one more bye this weekend, so I am confident that I'll be on the court with my teammates come gameday next Saturday!

"When you win, say nothing. When you lose, say less."

vs. SIG 

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  Game Recap Monday is going on hiatus.

  There's a saying that goes: "When you win, say nothing. When you lose, say less." So after consecutive demoralizing blow out losses?!? As of now, I'm following that advice.

  I'm all for constructive criticism, and trying to improve. But that's been tried, over and over. And frankly, I'm out of good things to say. If you have nothing good to say, keep your mouth shut. Maybe that's a little harsh, but that's what the current situation is.

  So until we've turned things around, there won't be any game updates on Mondays from me. I'm tired of it. Tired of trying to find the bright spots. Tired of airing my frustrations about bad basketball. Tired of trying to figure out what's wrong -- why I'm on a team that is struggling this much, at this stage of my career.

  This year, and last, is the most I've ever lost as a pro. I've won an Italian Championship and Super Cup, played in EuroCup and the Polish All Star game, advanced to the championship series in Sweden (on a team that won 20-something consecutive games), and have been on a playoff team every season except last.

vs. SIG

  Winning is my habit. I'm not accustomed to losing week in and week out. And I never will become accustomed to it, nor do I want to be. It will never be acceptable.

  Part of the frustration comes because I'm doing nothing differently than I've done in those past seasons. My approach, my work, my play, my effort. Maybe that is the problem, who knows.

  Every athlete deals with failures and losing. You're never perfect, and your team is never perfect. Usually, you learn from the losses and mistakes. You and your teammates make adjustments and work harder -- to change the outcome, to improve the result. That's what separates winners from losers.

  Winners keep fighting, keep scrapping, keep looking for a way out of the hole. Losers quit.

  So I am at a loss for words.

  You don't want to get to the point where you're numb to losing. Where you don't feel anything.  Where the loss no longer stings, or puts a bad taste in your mouth. That's when you've given up, and you've accepted it.

  I'm not giving up, I'm just taking a different approach and re-evaluating.

  Whether I'm writing about my games or not, you can be certain that I will be working my tail off, no matter what, doing everything I can to turn this season into a winning one.

 

A Team Above All...

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  All it took was two wins, and we got complacent. Or content. We thought all we had to do was show up, and winning would 'just happen'. That, just because we were home, and we were supposed to win, it would take care of itself.

  That's the tough lesson we learned on Saturday against Strasbourg. After TWO wins.

  It's not enough to just hope, or want, something to happen. Or think something should happen. Winning does not happen by mistake. You have to earn it. You have to show up (in more ways than one: physically of course, and mentally), work your tail off, and do your job.

  Here's the thing about competing on a high level: your opponent believes they will/should win too. You have to out-work them, 'out-compete' them. Each and every play, of each and every game. And you rely on your teammates to do the same. Taking a possession or two off is not going to cut it. Teams are too competitive, and too talented.

  Instead of pushing our winning streak to three games on Saturday, we got a butt-whooping. We were never in the game against Strasbourg. And it's a shame.

  There's a saying that goes, "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard." And honestly, I think it's a shameful way to lose. Whether we were more talented than Strasbourg is an argument for another day. But there's no question which team worked harder, and more together.

  After a game like Saturday's, you want a re-do immediately, but we all know that isn't possible. So there's nothing to do but to make sure it never happens again.

  It's my feeling that the team I play on is a direct reflection of me (and this is the case every season, with every team). Its effort, its attitude, its result on the court = me. You look up DMBC Dunkerque, you see my name on the roster, it's a reflection of me, and my work. It's my reputation. And frankly, I don't like being associated with losing and giving up.

  In team sports, you're reliant on the group as a whole for your success. You don't win alone, and you don't lose alone. That's what can make it incredibly frustrating, or incredibly satisfying.

  You're putting your trust into your teammates that they will be there when you need them. It's the sum of ALL the parts that either makes a team great, or makes a team fail.

  Yes, you have control of yourself.

  It's up to you to do everything you can to pull your own weight, do your job, and make sure the end result is something you can be proud of. AND HOLD YOUR TEAMMATES ACCOUNTABLE. It's only after doing your best, that you can have no regrets -- win or lose. And you rely on your teammates to have that same attitude.

  It's not happening again. Not for the lack of trying anyway. Not on my watch. 

Road Game in Paris

Picture day on the beach.

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  After securing our first win last Saturday, DMBC Dunkerque hit the road this Saturday looking for our first road win of the season. This time in Paris.

  You're never not excited to go to Paris. No matter the reason, no matter how short the stay. Just being able to say, 'I'm going to Paris' or 'we're playing in Paris' is fun. There's an extra buzz about it, and a feeling of excitement as the bus navigates its way through the city.

  A road trip to Paris also meant a shorter bus ride for us. Something that is always appreciated. For once we didn't have an overnight trip on the bus. So it was a different experience to wake up on game day in my own bed, and then travel to the game.

  We had INSEP (Institut National du Sport de l'Expertise et de la Performance) on the slate this time around. I compare INSEP to that of the college playing experience in the US. They live, study, train, and play together.

  An extremely young, athletic, and very talented team. INSEP features France's best and brightest from the younger generation. They're training to be France's next generation of stars. But until then, as a professional, you cannot lose to them. So the pressure's on.

Institut National du Sport de l'Expertise et de la Performance

  INSEP came out of the gate hot. They couldn't miss. Mostly due to our passive defense. But to give their young players credit, they were making and finishing plays. INSEP knocked down every thing they put up, and we were looking at a 10-point deficit right away.

  As we increased our defensive aggressiveness and intensity, we were able to slowly chip away at their lead. By being passive defensively, we allowed the INSEP players to be comfortable and play at their own pace. We couldn't allow that to continue. As a defender, you have to make the offense uncomfortable. Especially if they lack the experience, like INSEP does. Put pressure on their players, and make them play a little faster than they want to play.

  Though INSEP maintained a small lead, we kept our heads, didn't get down mentally, and were able to draw even towards the end of the first half. Eventually we took the lead, and never looked back, taking a four-point lead into the half.

vs. Calais earlier in the season.

  A four-point lead is nothing, so we needed to make sure we came out of the second half gate more focused, and more aggressive than we did to start the game. And we did exactly that. Gradually we were able to increase our lead by exploiting our advantage inside, sustaining defensive pressure, and knocking down open shots from the perimeter. 

  A double-digit road win -- you really can't complain! Everyone contributed, and every win is a good win, isn't it? We're progressing, and I feel our team getting better and better. And that's exactly what you hope for, week-by-week, as your season progresses.

  After a fun celebratory team dinner at a restaurant in Paris, we hopped back on the bus with our first road win in hand. Let's hope there are many more to come!

  Two wins is a start. But it's up to us to continue to work to improve because it's certainly not enough!

Knocking that Monkey Off My Back

vs. Calais last week.

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  My shoulders immediately felt 20 pounds lighter. Like that monkey who had been sitting up there for weeks, who was growing heavier and heavier each week, jumped off the instant the final buzzer sounded.

  A big sigh of relief. And an even bigger smile.

  That's what happens when you win. After six weeks of coming up empty.

  DMBC Dunkerque had a great week of practice. I was forced to watch from the sidelines for most of the week because of a nagging 'thing' with my foot. My teammates did a great job all week, playing hard and playing intense, getting ready for our upcoming game. Since I was out of practice most of the week, I was a little unsure how my foot would feel come game time. But I managed to make it through the game okay.

  With a great week of practice under our belts, we were ready -- and due for a win.

  After settling into the game versus Limoges, we slowly pulled ahead by 10-12 points. We were aggressive, and got Limoges into foul trouble. And we took full advantage as we maintained that lead into halftime. But when you've yet to win a game, no lead is comfortable. You're on edge, and you're focused til the game is in the books.

  I knew Limoges would not go away quietly. Their players were too talented to keep at bay the entire 40 minutes. As they shot lights-out (over 60% for the game), Limoges chipped away at our lead, cutting it to six or seven several times throughout the third quarter. We always managed to respond, and continued to keep them at a somewhat-safe distance.

At home vs. Pau, earlier in the season.

  Because of a couple injuries to our back court (one during the game, and one in a prior game), our bench was shortened. With no subs, our legs were weary by the time the fourth quarter rolled around. Limoges settled into a zone to protect their players who were in foul trouble, and to limit our scoring from the inside.

  With tired legs, and a score that was growing closer and closer, those shots from the perimeter got tougher and tougher to knock down.

  We struggled to score. Actually, we were ice cold, and didn't score for five minutes. So Limoges crept closer -- eventually taking the lead midway through the fourth.

  Maybe in prior games, this was where the game would take a turn for the worse, and we would fall further and further behind, eventually losing when the horn sounded. But not this time around.

  I can't help but think that extra bit of focus and effort throughout the practice-week came in handy when the game was on the line. Defensively, we made rotations we hadn't made earlier in the season. And we were patient on offense, searched to find better shots. And then knocked those shots down. Simply stated: we made the plays we had to make to win.

  And let me just say how great the feeling was to have a smile on my face when that final buzzer sounded. Onto the next one!

If It's Important, You Will Find A Way

DMBC @ Calais.

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  Part of my Sunday was spent browsing through my blog entries from the previous year.

  On occasion, I'll go back through older entries, looking to update them or revise them. It's also interesting to see where my mind was at, and what exactly I was doing just a short-year-ago.

  That's the cool thing about having a digital diary of sorts. You can go back through, any date, whenever you want.

  After another tough game on Saturday, I may have also been looking for something to fall back on -- a little encouragement, or motivation.

  One particular post I came across stuck out immediately. It addressed the following graphic, and dealt with motivation and our priorities.

    This graphic reminded me of a few valuable things:

• You can only control yourself, and the things you have the power over. Your effort. Your attitude. Your words.
• You cannot make anyone care any more, or any less about something, than they already do. As much as you may try, it's only going to be as important as it is to THEM.
• Excuses get you nowhere. They're a waste of time, and a waste of energy. They just hold you back from achieving what you're supposedly striving to accomplish.

 
  A 0-6 record is a tough pill for me to swallow. It's difficult enough just to think about, let alone write down, for all the world to see. But it's prime time to stop making excuses, keep a positive attitude, take a hard look at ourselves in the mirror, and start putting in the work to earn some wins.

Nice: Anything But Nice

DMBC at Nice.

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  When your team's win-less more than a month into the season, you have a sense of desperation. You don't know when that first win in going to come, but you want it, and you want it bad.

  For DMBC Dunkerque, we've had several games so far this season where a victory was so close, we could taste it. But so far, we've come up empty-handed. The only 'positive' about underachieving thus far, is the possibility of sneaking up on someone, and surprising them. Get a win over a team we aren't necessarily 'supposed' to beat because they're overlooking us.

  After a bus ride that took us from the northern-most point in France, to the south (16 hours, if you're counting), that opportunity was presented to us this past Saturday in Nice. 

  Nice was favored to win. They were a perfect 5-0 going into Saturday night's game, and atop the league standings. But that didn't mean I (and I hope my teammates too) went into the game expecting anything less than a win. A win over the league's top-ranked team would just be all the sweeter.

  Nice was a big, strong, athletic team, that would challenge us physically. They featured an inside presence and then some. But I think our team has a strong front court as well, so I was looking forward to the game.

  We started the game off strong. Played as a team on both ends of the floor. Moved the ball, and made plays for each other. We were tough defensively, and communicating. You could feel the momentum rolling in our direction, we just needed to sustain it.

First half action at Nice.

  Our start was, by far, the best start we'd had in the championship.

  But it didn't last.

  It's difficult to say what happened. Where we lost our crisp play, and thus, the momentum. Maybe we lost focus just slightly, and Nice was a good enough team to make us pay for our slip-ups.

  All I know is when you felt you've played a really good first quarter, and you look up at the scoreboard after 10 minutes, and the score is tied, you can't help but be a little disappointed. Especially when we held a 10-point lead just minutes earlier.

  The good thing about basketball though, is that it's a 40-minute game. We had 30 minutes to regain our momentum, and retake the lead when it mattered the most: when the clock hit 00:00.

  We put up a good fight, but came up short. Nice wore us down with their depth, and won the game by double-digits. So we're back to work this week, still searching for our first win.

  The thing about playing on a successful team (just like being on a team at work, I suppose), is that each member, first, needs to know their role, and then, needs to do their job each and every time they step onto the court. You don't need to do more. Just do YOUR job, and be content with that. Some people may have bigger roles than others, but each and every player, and their role, is just as important as the other.

The only thing that was nice: the weather and the beach views.

  If your role is to come off the bench and provide a spark, then that's what you focus on. If your role is to be a defensive presence, and rebound, then that's what you focus on. If your role is to be aggressive and make plays for yourself and your teammates, then that's what you focus on. And so on.

  When everyone succeeds, and does their job, the game is made easy. That's what makes it a team. It's the sum of each individual effort. Sure, sometimes you are out-matched by a more talented team, but that's just the nature of the game.

  We play another top team on the road next weekend, so the road to our first win doesn't get any easier. But if we focus on recreating our start against Nice, and sustaining it; doing our jobs as individuals, while playing as a team; there's no reason we won't be celebrating next weekend in Calais.

  I have to admit, I'm getting tired of writing about losing, and finding the silver-lining in each loss. We need a win. Period.

  We just have to find a way to get it.

Injury to Insult

Player introductions.

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  I don't quite know how to tackle this week's game recap. None of Saturday's game versus Reims went as expected. I guess that's what makes sports exciting, and always keeps us coming back for more.

  You can never predict how things are going play out. That's why we play. That's why we watch.

  As I sit here with an achy lower back and a feeling like I've been punched in the gut, you can probably determine how the game went on those words alone.

  Here are the quick and dirty details from the game:

  -We lost by 5.

  -I hurt my back at the end of the first half. After trying to loosen it up during the 15-minute halftime and the entire third quarter, I went back in for the fourth quarter. Bad decision.

Head up.

  Not that I hurt myself further. But worse yet, I didn't do my team any favors.

  The competitor in you always wants to test out an injury because you never know how it's going to feel when you're on the court, out there playing. Especially mid-game. That's what makes it tough. But it's definitely no fun not being 100% when it counts the most.

  After a great week of practice, it's even harder to swallow this loss. It was probably our team's best week since we've been together. After you have a good week of practice, of course you come into the game with a good feeling.

  It goes to show however, that good feelings and preparation don't get you anything. You still have to play the game to the best of your ability, and put the finishing touches on it.

  We, and I, have no choice but to bounce back. We have two very difficult road games looming in the following weeks, so we'll have to do it quickly. Outside of providing motivation and something to learn from, past games are just that, in the past.

  Summing up a Charles Swindoll quote: life is mostly how we respond to what happens to us. As bad as the taste I have in my mouth is, I must show my mettle and bounce back that much stronger.

Close, But No Cigar

Line-up introduction at La Roche.

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  Saturday night in La Roche Sur Yon (on the Western coast of France) featured a match-up between two win-less teams. Both 0-2. Both desperate for a win. After all, no one wants to be 0-3! 

  While DMBC Dunkerque (my team!) had played two quality teams (and one on a difficult road trip), we still were disappointed not to come away with a win in either of our first two games. 

  Our goal on Saturday was to be in the game after the 1st quarter, and then again at halftime. Since in our first two games, we had put ourselves in a giant hole the first 10 minutes of the game, it was important to get off to a good start. We knew La Roche was a tough team. Athletic and well-coached. But we had had a pretty good week of practice, so we were confident coming into the game.

  After a semi-slow start, we recovered quickly enough in the first quarter to bring La Roche back into range. Once both teams got comfortable, and got a feel for the game, you knew it was going to be a close match til the end. 

First half action.

  It's always interesting how the first six to seven minutes of a game play out. The two teams getting a feel for one another. The rhythm of the game, the pace each team likes to play with, and their strengths and weaknesses. It's where you set the tone for the rest of the game.

  At halftime, not only were we in the game, but we had the lead. Our first halftime lead of the season. Question was, could we hold on for another 20 minutes, and eke out our first WIN of the season?

  Right off the bat in the third quarter, we gave up our six-point halftime lead, and were faced with a three to four point deficit less than five minutes into the 3rd quarter. But never the less, we regained our composure, and stayed in the game. 

  That's one thing I can say about my team this year, is that we don't give in. We may give up a 10-0 run a little too often, but we always fight back. There's a lot to be said for a team with that spirit. If we could only learn not to give up those runs. 

  Continually being in a hole is tough to come back from, and requires a lot of energy. So if we can avoid deficits to battle back from over and over again, we'd be much better off.

  Mid-way through the 4th quarter we found ourselves down several baskets. But we scrambled defensively, and made a few plays to get the game back even with just over a minute to play. It was then we made one too many mistakes. A turnover, missed free throws, missed open shots, and giving up multiple offensive rebounds was too much to overcome against a good team down the stretch.

First half action.

  On one hand, it's a good feeling to have been in the position to with the game against a talented team, on the road. But it's also incredibly frustrating to think about the many things you could have done better, or differently, to affect the outcome of the game. 

  One more play here, one more defensive stop there, we might be looking at a close victory instead of a heartbreaking four-point loss. 

  Going on the road, sleeping overnight on the bus, and then coming up just a few points short, for our third consecutive loss, is extremely disappointing. But let's hope we learn from our mistakes, continue to work in practice, and come out on the winning side next week.

  If our team spirit wins out, I have no doubt we'll do just that. One thing's for sure, I can't wait to get back on the court. Nothing cures a loss faster than getting back on the floor, competing, and winning! 

  So stay tuned for next week!

Off to a Slow Start

DMBC team huddle.

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  Two regular season games in the books. Two slow starts. Two losses.

  Not exactly how I wanted my team to start the 2012-2013 basketball season. But that's the reality we're faced with.

  In both of the games, DMBC Dunkerque (my team, in case you forgot!), was slow out of the gate. Lacking aggressiveness and being passive defensively, which quickly led to a double digit deficit by the end of the first quarter.

  In the season opener, at home against Pau Orthez, we worked our way back into the game. Even though we trailed by as many at 16 points, we scratched and clawed our way back to take a one point lead midway through the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, we weren't able to build on that lead, and lost by six.

  Our first road trip of the season (was a long one -- 10 hours on the bus overnight) to Laveyron resembled the previous week, almost to a T. Slow out of the gate. No defensive energy as our opponents racked up easy basket after easy basket. We didn't seem to get into the game, mentally and physically, til well-after halftime. We kept the score respectable, but never truly made it a game -- losing by 16.

  The LF2 league is too difficult to spot our opponents a 12+ point lead, and expect to win any games. Only playing 20 to 30 minutes of a 40 minute game, is a surefire way to chalk up the notches in the 'L' column.

  After game one, I attributed our early-game timidness to first game nerves. Being a bit unsure of our opponent put us on our heels. That was all. But after a second consecutive game, you have to think it's a pattern.

Games haven't been all smiles, so far.

  So now we're searching for a solution. We need a different approach to the game. Because once we really start to play, we compete and we succeed. But we need to do it for 40 minutes.

  Whenever there are struggles in games, I go back to practice. You play how you practice, and you should practice how you want to play. Practice needs to prepare you for games.

  The speed, the tempo, the physicality of games, MUST be matched in practice to succeed come gameday.

  I've never been a player who could turn it off and on, so to speak. Some players are blessed with that ability to turn it up a notch when it's gameday, but not me. I rely on practice to help me develop a rhythm and a feel for the game throughout the week.

  Maybe it sounds silly. We've all played hundreds, if not thousands, of games. So we should be able to adjust quickly, right? But your body gets used to certain things, and we develop habits quickly. Practice is the place where you should encounter the difficult situations day after day, so you adapt, and solve them there. And are not seeing them for the first time come gameday. Practice helps you push through the difficult spots when they arise during the game.

  My teammates and I have to work to develop this atmosphere in practice, so we aren't finding ourselves on our heels the first 10 minutes of every game. Adjusting to a new intensity level when Saturday night rolls around, and we're tipping off against a quality opponent, is no way to chalk up notches in the RIGHT column -- the win column!

  We'll see how we develop in the weeks to come. We have a bye, so no game this weekend. But we do have a practice game midweek that will give us a chance to work on the things we've been struggling with in a game-like scenario.

  I'll keep you updated!

Season Nine's a Wrap...Number 10 on Tap!

Out seeing some sights in Strasbourg.

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  We can finally tie a big bow on the 2011-2012 basketball season -- cause it's a wrap! I feel like I've been talking about the approaching end of the season for weeks, but Saturday night versus Strasbourg (a game that we won!) finally was the last game of my ninth season in Europe.

  While this has been one of the longest seasons I've taken part in in those nine seasons (actually, at eight months, I think it was THE longest season), my time in Dunkerque has gone extremely fast. I think this blog has a lot to do with that, but that's another topic for discussion.

  I re-signed in late-March to come back to Dunkerque next year, so I'll be back with DMBC for my 10th season come September! It's nice to have that decision behind me. And I'm looking forward to a stress-free, enjoyable summer (not having to wait around for the phone to ring with offers from teams, etc...).

  DMBC Dunkerque finished the '11-'12 campaign 8th out of 14 teams in LF2. We were two wins out of contention for a berth to the Final Four weekend. For me, that's encouraging. Even though it was a difficult year record-wise, we definitely left two (or more!) win-able games on the table. So I'm looking forward to possibly taking one of those Final Four spots next season. Definitely should be something we strive for.

  LF2 is a difficult, competitive league. Each and every game you have to come focused and ready to play. ANY team, from top to bottom, can beat anyone else on any given night. That makes for a great championship, and close games most of the time. That differed for me from years past.

Strasbourg is like little-Germany.

  In other leagues I've played in, there were always two to four teams you could count on for an easy W. Making the league a little less-draining mentally and physically. Many times, leagues will have three or four really strong teams, and the rest are less-than-stellar.

  For example, last season in Sweden, my team had several 40-plus point victories. Playing in a 40 point blowout is smooth-sailing in comparison to games that go down to the wire. Here in France, there are no weekends you can take off, per se. Having 13 fairly strong teams, from top to bottom, to compete against week-in-and-week-out makes the season that much more demanding.

  But now the off-season is upon us. It's important to give your body time to heal up, and recover from the every day pounding it took throughout the season. Thankfully I didn't have any injuries that kept me off the court for a prolonged period of time. But there are definite aches and pains: sore feet, achy knees, tired legs. That's normal!

Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-Strasbourg

  I always have a hard time taking too much time off. Mostly because working out and training is the habit I've developed over time. And it physically makes me feel better. So I have a hard time sitting still for too long (not to mention I get bored!!).

  I do like to change things up, and give my body a break from pounding on the basketball court. I'm thinking about starting up yoga again (I did yoga fairly regularly after my senior year at Colorado). But starting something new, and little bit unusual makes me nervous. With my back history, I don't want to do anything that might mess things up. So we'll see what I come up with to challenge my body this off-season.

  Since I'm going home soon, the packing can begin. Time to jam everything in those two bags, and make the trip back across the Atlantic! The fine science of not wasting any food, but not running out too soon begins as well. You have to think ahead, to how many days remain and go from there. I usually over, or under estimate by a bit, but nothing too bad.

Fun summertime things on tap!

  I think it's also important to leave your apartment in the same state you found it. I tend to keep my place pretty clean over the course of the year, so it's fairly easy to give it one last cleaning before you leave.

  Since I know I'll be back in Dunkerque in September, I don't have to bring EVERYTHING back home with me. For just the second time in my career (my rookie season in Italy was the first), I'll be headed back to the same place. It's nice not to have to pack up clothes and shoes I won't be needing while I'm in the US during the summer. Makes my journey home a bit easier (I just need to remember what I leave here, so I don't pack even more next time around!).

Breckenridge with the Buffs!

  The end of the season, and the start of the summer is always an exciting time. I know I get to be back home for the summer, and spend quality time with my family, and visit friends that I don't get to see very often. It's always my favorite time of year!

  But sure as can be, before I know it, September will come back around and I'll be getting on that plane to return to France. When that time does come, I'll be excited as well -- and looking forward to building a stronger team, and having a better season than this one. But not until AFTER I've enjoyed my summer with my family and friends!

  I still have a few things to wrap up here in Dunkerque, and a little traveling to do before I go back to Oregon! I'll be sure to let you know when I'm headed back across the pond! 

Learning from Losing

A game earlier this season.

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  For just the second time since the turn of the new year my team, DMBC Dunkerque, celebrated a win Saturday night. Two wins in three months -- yikes! To be honest, I'm a little surprised I haven't been stuck in a deep depression from all the losing. It got me thinking about how I've changed over the years in regards to how I handle losses.

  While my uniforms and teammates have changed drastically over time, my reasons for playing haven't. At first, when I was a kid, I played strictly for fun. Over the course of years and years of practice, it eventually became my job.

  Though, for whatever reason, it's never felt like a job to me. Probably because basketball has never stopped being fun. The work can be hard, both physically and mentally (you do the work to be your best. To me, meaning, to win). And yes, it can be frustrating when things aren't going your way. But when it comes down to it, I STILL find great joy when I step onto the court. And it still is where I feel I am at my best -- in my realm.

One Bad Loser
 

My motto...

  One thing I've learned is that losing never gets easy. Though I think I've gotten a little better at it over the years. When I was in high school, if we lost, I would never be able to sleep. I would literally replay every moment back in my mind: Every shot I took and missed, or every turnover I made; every play that went awry, and wanted to have back, was running in my mind while I tried to sleep.

  The constant game film replaying in my head usually resulted in me tossing and turning the entire night. I would fall asleep at some point, and wake up the next morning in an awful mood, not wanting to go to school. You can bet, nine times out of 10 I was in class the next day. Though I didn't give in without a fight. ;)

  So you can say I didn't handle losing very well as a teenager.

Learning to Adjust

Winning is fun...

 
  I don't want to say I learned how to lose my freshman year in college. But it's safe to say I learned to cope with it better. Point blank: we weren't very good my first year at Colorado.

  We were young, and inexperienced. And that was NOT the recipe for success for competing in one of the toughest conferences in the country.

losing isn't.

  Our team consisted of one junior, six sophomores, three freshmen and a walk-on. Tough to win in a conference like the Big-12 with a line-up like that. As a result, we took our fair share of bumps and bruises along the way.

  Early on my freshman year, I reacted to losses in a similar fashion. By tossing and turning the entire night, beating myself up, and replaying what I could have done better to help my team win. Eventually I guess I learned how to put the loss aside, long enough for my mind to quiet down, so I could get some all-important sleep.

  As my team at CU got better and more-experienced, winning became the norm again. So thankfully I never accepted losing.

Re-Adapting as a Pro

  As a professional, I've always been on winning teams. Teams that have made the playoffs, and had successful seasons, record-wise. This season, however, has been the losing-est season I've had in a long, long time. I've never had a season in Europe where my team finished below .500.

Celebrating a win in Germany.

  It's definitely not something to be proud of, but I guess it goes to show that I've grown up a bit in that regard. The fact that I am enjoying my time in Dunkerque, even with all the losses, says a great deal. There are definitely still times when I'm not-so-happy about how things are going (usually on Saturday night and Sunday morning after a loss).

  But life goes on, and you learn from set-backs. A couple things I've learned along the way:

• You learn what you really value in life. Things outside of the game that bring you joy. 
• You learn how to persevere. Life will never be easy for us ALL the time. It's important to take the bumps, learn from them, and keep moving!
• You learn to rise above negativity. Losing equals a lot of negative thoughts (your own), and negative things (maybe attitudes, words, actions) around you. You learn not to give into the negativity, and hopefully turn it into something positive for yourself.
• You learn to handle your emotions, and not let them control you. 
• You learn there is always another game, and another chance to redeem yourself. So you have to prepare yourself when that time comes!

  I will never accept losing as the norm. Because losing is not fun. And that's why I play!

Celebrating a big win in Italy.

  You'll never find me cheery and chatty after a loss. To me, the day you're okay with losing, is the day you should stop playing. When you're okay with losing, that means you've stopped caring, and stopped competing. If you don't care, it's time to get off the court. Simple as that.

  But finally I've learned that you can get something out of an L as well!

  With our win over Laveyron on Saturday, DMBC Dunkerque officially avoided relegation (for more about that, read: Avoiding Relegation). Three games to go, and it's clear sailing! Here's to three more wins to finish the season!