​As I sit in the airport and in the air leaving Tel Aviv, I think about why I started to blog this year. I wanted to give y’all a look into my life. That also applies to the bad moments during the season. This is a bad moment. Only word to describe how I’m feeling is… FRUSTRATED!!!
 
This season has been a roller coaster of emotions and it’s only November. Coming into this season, I don’t think anybody had us 4-3 entering the 8th round of play. It’s frustrating knowing that we are usually the better team on paper but haven’t clicked yet on offense and most importantly defense. Other teams have been imposing their will on us and we have no answers. It’s frustrating knowing that we are shooting below 50% from the field as a team in EuroLeague. It’s frustrating watching film again and again and committing the same mistakes. So I sit back and most importantly look in the mirror and start with myself. What can I do to help the team more? What needs to be sacrificed to win games? What is going on with us?
 
We have to find a way. Whatever it takes. I know this season has been tough with the scheduling but there is no excuse when the other teams are playing a similar schedule. It is possibly a good thing that the league is now open because this start would hurt us in a group stage like last year. Of course, I think we will figure it out but I have to admit that it is tough going through this. 
Thanks to the new schedule, we play again tomorrow vs. Efes. We have to respond . They are a tough team and won last night. New opportunity for us and I know we will be ready for the challenge.

​“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” 
Maya Angelou

Respect

"Look me in my eyes, tell me what you see".....
​Scarface
Whatever this man/coach needs from me, he can have. Coach Obradovic has been a key ingredient into starting my fire back up again. Before I signed to play for Fenerbahce, i had no clue who this man was. I did not know about his playing career, early transition to coaching, championships, his practices and his status as the greatest coach of Europe. Let's just say i learned quickly. 

Since my first day in Istanbul we have been building a strong relationship. I have since studied him and I think you should too in order to capture a glimpse of his greatness. He has allowed me to be aggressive again and that has built up my confidence. I feel like I can play against anybody and hold my own. On the other side, he  is an amazing tactical coach. He might have the best playbook i have seen. If i become a coach, he will definitely recognize my plays. He is a fiery coach/leader, perfectionist, and after all that, a loving guy. As you can see in the pictures above, he is nothing to play with. Which is scary to some but loving to others. 

One of my old heads that I look up to is Caron Butler and he would always say, "Pay attention to what he/she is saying and not the tone". In my experiences, even when coach is yelling, he is encouraging. Kind of weird but it has helped me. There is no one I would rather play for (maybe my high school Coach Hardaker). Only the real basketball heads might know who Coach Obradovic is but best believe he is one of the greatest coaches of all time regardless of location. Hopefully, i will be able to have a "What A Day" post with him, so YOU can understand why he is so special to me and the basketball world.
Peace