HoopsHype.com NBA Blogs - Julius Hodge

Hello everybody!

I just played against the Melbourne Tigers. We played really well, we battled hard, my mid-range jumper was working and we got a tough win.

Most importantly, my mindset while I’m playing here in Australia is that I look at the games to get a little more than the 25 points, double-digit rebounds and ten assists every game. My whole focus is not to drink the poison. I’m not going be the guy that drinks the poison. When I say that, I mean I’m not resting on my laurels, believing I’m really that good and I don’t have to continue to work hard and improve every day.

I’m out here working extremely hard before and after the game, before and after practice. I stay after every game and I make sure I do my five-spot shooting for about 40 minutes and then I lift weights for another 40 minutes.

Despite suffering a pair of narrow losses, I’ve averaged 26.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.0 steals and I was named NBL’s Player of the Week. Right now we are on two-win streak and hope to continue to roll…  And not drink the poison!

Let’s talk a little bit about the NBA now.

I’ve been impressed with the Celtics again this season. KG is still doing it, man. With the exception of Magic Johnson, I can honestly say I’ve never seen anyone in my life as emotionally involved in the game while on the court or on the sideline as Kevin Garnett. Every night, every practice. KG is obviously a Hall of Famer and probably one of the top ten talents ever to play in the NBA. It would be great to watch a Lakers vs. Celtics rematch, because the Lakers are playing great too.

And how about my Nets? Devin Harris… Oh my goodness! The numbers he’s putting up are crazy. I saw it coming during the preseason. The way he creates the shot off the dribbe, how quick he’s changing direction… Very few players do it the way he does it. He should be an All-Star this year.

On a different note, it’s going to be cool to have a baller in the White House. I’ve seen Barack Obama play and he’s got a nice J! Obama can shoot it. I don’t know about his handling, but he’s got a nice stroke. It would be great if I could meet him one day. I’ve been a fan of him for the last two and a half years.

By the way, my daughter’s first word was Obama. Can you believe that? I think it’s great for the U.S. to have somebody who can change things and help our economy because right now we’re in recession and people are losing jobs.

That’s all for now, guys.

Bye!

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Hi everybody!

Back in Australia… I had a number of offers in Europe, but the loyalty from the Adelaide 36ers‘ staff and the fans was tremendous and helped me in my decision.

I’m a man on a mission: I’m really appreciative of the opportunity the Nets offered me and I will love in the near future to be a part of their family. But if it’s not them, maybe another team in the NBA. You know at the end of the day, the goal is to be back there.

Here I am doing early morning cardio running alongside the ocean and I would say one hour and a half before practice, I work really hard in designed point guard workouts. My late nights? They just consist on overdoses of jumpers. Big fun, you see?

Just like a mad doctor in his lab, I stay in the gym.

Playing out here in Australia I want to be considered a ringer. It’ something we say in NYC. It means you play so well it looks like the other guys are from a younger age group.

After the season I will head to Europe and I will finish the year taking part in the playoffs for a European team.

While in Australia, I will try to get these guys a championship. We have good talent here in Luke Schenscher (who you may remember from Georgia Tech), Aaron Bruce and Adam Ballinger.

We have a new coach, Scott Ninnis, who is a very good guy, very easy-going and very intense on the sideline. He stresses defense… I love to play defense, so I think everything will go well.

Obviously I’m following the NBA season, especially the Nets. I think that Devin Harris is playing tremendous, and if he continues playing this good they will win a lot of games. You didn’t see that coming, huh?

Vince Carter is playing well too, but that’s the type of player he is… He can knock down shots and be a great leader. The sky’s the limit for them.

I’ve been really impressed with Rudy Fernandez so far. He’s such a young player and he’s doing crazy moves! I saw him in the Olympic finals against the USA… He was killing!

We play Friday on the road in Sydney and we come back and play on Saturday against the South Dragons, which are run by the Australian National Team coach (Brian Goorjian). They have a really good young player, Joe Ingles, who played against the U.S. in Beijing. I believe he can be a high pick in the NBA Draft next June.

Well, I must keep practicing.

Bye!

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