‘Keeping them Focused’ (Doug Pensinger - NBAE/Getty Images)

The last two weeks have been quite a challenge for this florist turned blogger. It feels good to be back in the blogosphere; it’s even better to be back in the basketball world again. Because of the demands of my job in February, my ability to participate in anything not related to something with petals or leaves is greatly diminished. I’m now feeling the effects of some serious basketball withdrawals.

I must admit that I watched parts of the All Star Weekend, including some of the actual All Star game, the slam dunk contest, and the skills challenge. While I found the competitions to be kind of the same as always (albeit with quite a few highlights); I found the half time show to be very entertaining. By the time this post is published, the Jazz will have started the second half of their season. Until then, I have found an excellent remedy for basketball withdrawals. Before I share this remedy with all of you, I’d like to comment on something I heard one of the Jazz players say just before the All Star break.

I don’t recall which player it was, but he mentioned that it would be difficult for some players to keep their focus during the break. In fact during a sports radio discussion, I heard a former player talking about how difficult it might be for some players to keep their focus for the last game before the All Star break. One game–certain players might have trouble keeping focus for one game? Beyond that; another former player talked about the way Coach Sloan, and other coaches as well, need to ask their players to at least read about basketball in the papers, etc. during the break to keep their mind on the job. Wow. If I get a chance for a small break from work; it’s all I can do not to think about the job, even while I’m sleeping. Of course, I’ve got a completely different view to the matter. In preparing to leave my business for even a day or two, I’m working to the very last minute, the day before I leave to try and make it possible to get away.

From my perspective, I’m a professional in my chosen field. I expect nothing less than trying my best every day at work, whether I’m looking forward to a few days off, or looking ahead to an extremely busy holiday. I’m not saying I always perform my best everyday, but I do expect myself to try to do my best every day. These guys are professionals too. So, not withstanding the disheartening comments from former players as to the difficulty some of these professionals have in doing their well-paying jobs; I’m expecting big things from the men in powder blue for the second half of this season.

Now, for the remedy to basketball withdrawals: this time of year marks the start of high school basketball playoffs in Utah. For a big injection of basketball, there’s nothing better than high school playoffs. The excitement and passion for the game is all there; no contracts, trades and huge paychecks, just pure basketball joy.