Five BasketBall Hidden Gem Films

 

The NBA season officially kick's off this week and to celebrate the spirit of alley oops, jump shots, and slam dunks. I figured why not write about some basketball movies. There's classics like Hoosiers, White Men Can't Jump, Above The Rim, Coach Carter, He Got Game, and Love & Basketball. Then there's the not quite classic tier but good films the Blue Chips, Glory Road, and Sunset Park of the world. The list goes on until you get to the one's you either never heard of or forgot about. 

I'm here to educate and refresh your memory about those films. Here are five hidden gem basketball films you may like. 

5. Eddie

This 1996 film followed the 90's film trope of a average joe becoming the head coach of a pro team and uses unconventional methods for winning results. Whoopi Goldberg stars as a New York Knick fanatic named Edwina better known as Eddie, she wins a contest to become the assistant coach for a half and leaves such an impression. She is selected to become the head coach (mainly as a publicity stunt by the owner). Unsurprisingly in the film world, she rejuvenates the Knicks to make the playoffs, and help's many players learn more about themselves along the way.

Eddie isn't available on any streaming service. There are a few rips uploaded to YouTube though.

4. The Winning Season

This 2009 film definitely flew under the radar of basketball films, it stars Sam Rockwell as Bill Greaves a borderline acholic busboy who is spinning his wheels in life. A friend of his who now is the principal at a high school, hires him to coach the girls varsity basketball team. Bill is a bit in over his head, and the girls give him a run for his money. Eventually he help's them through their own personal struggles, while they alley oop in helping him rebuild his relationship with his daughter. The film also stars a young Emma Roberts and Rooney Mara, and actually has plenty of heart.

The Winning Season is available on Tubi, Pluto TV, and The CW app.

3. Hurricane Season

Another film with heart is 2009's straight to DVD film Hurricane Season starring Forrest Whitaker. Also starring Tajiri P. Henson, Lil' Wayne and Bow Wow the film is based on the true story of high school coach Al Collins and his team. After Hurricane Katrina devasted New Orleans and the surrounding communities, Al assembles various players from different high schools in the area to assemble a team. They head out to the road of winning the state championship, giving the area something to smile about and rebuilding their respective communities. 

Hurricane Season is available on Peacock, Tubi, and the CW app.

2. Celtic Pride

Boston Celtics fans have a reputation for being quite fanatical. This 1996 film exaggerates that claim feeding into that reputation. The film stars Dan Akroyd and Daniel Stern as two Celtics fans who lives pretty much revolve around the team. As the Celtics are poised to lose the NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz, the two come up with a scheme to kidnap star player Lewis Scott (Damon Wayans) until after game 7. Effectively guaranteeing Boston will win, that is until Lewis blackmails them into choosing prison or The Celtics. One of Judd Apatow's earlier films, it is not for everyone but if you just need some mindless entertainment this one's for you.

Celtic Pride currently isn't available to stream without renting. I have seen it on tubi quite a few times, so it should cycle back on it soon.

1. Rebound: The legend of Earl "The Goat" Manigult

Legend has it Earl 'The Goat" Manigault is one of the best basketball players that never was. This 1996 HBO original movie starring Don Cheadle and directed by Eric La Salle helped tell his story. Earl was a playground legend on the streets of New York in the 60's. He had an amazing leaping ability and was highly sought after in high school and college. Yet, he succumbed to the allure of drugs and eventually hit rock bottom. This film follows his life up to him turning things around, it makes you want to learn more about the goat. As well as think about other legends who never made the NBA who stories deserve to be told. 

I don't believe this film has ever been available to stream. If you want to see it there are rips uploaded to YouTube, quality isn't the best but gets the job done.

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Too much emphasis on Coaches?

The Orioles abysmal season of 47-115 has come to an end. With half the roster gutted during the midseason trade deadline,
Adam Jones likely playing his last game as an Oriole. Buck Showalter and Dan Duquette statuses up in the air, with one likely done or both.

  Often when teams collapse like the Orioles did, someone has to be the sacrificial lamb and that often is the manager.
Hired to lead the team managers get all the praise and all the blame depending on which way the wind blows.
When managers are released the reason often given is their “message” has gotten stale.

  While it may be true that after so many years especially on teams with veteran players, they may get tired of hearing the same thing.
The philosophy of the coach may sound like a parent repeating themselves.
Or as the generation gap widens between coaches and players, they may find they cant relate to the players.

  Now for all of the blame managers get when things go south real fast, there's one tangible managers don't do. That's play on the field and produce. At the end of the day if a team is not equipped with stars who produce, they may not get very far.      
 Coaches defined as the greatest ever often had power players on their team, that’s not to take away from their style or philosophy. At the end of the day their style and a roster of play makers made for good managers.

The Bill Belichick's of the world, Bill Parcells, Phil Jackson, Joe Torre, Pat Riley, John Madden, Vince Lombardi and so many more. Yes their great coaches but put them with a D league roster and let’s see how far their philosophy will take them.

          That raises a question, is too much emphasis placed on head coaches or not enough emphasis? Yes their paid millions of dollars to lead the team, but their also field generals. Often not having much say in decision making and one way or another being told to get it done with what they have. Come of think of it their often given directives that regular folks experience just making way less money.  Coaches can raise trophies or head home into oblivion, either way I think the amount of emphasis placed on head coaches is sometimes unfairly just right or wrong.

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