Recruiting

This is the slow period for college recruiting however there is still news. The last uncommitted Class of 2012 player has announced his college choice. Anthony Bennett a 6-8 230 pound forward will head to UNLV in August. Bennett is the number seven player on RIvals list, Bennett is from Brampton, Ontario Canada. Cal's Mike Montgomery went all the way to Denmark for his latest commit, 7-0 Sami Eleraky signed a letter of intent and is headed to Berkeley (CA).

Be careful

The late newscaster David Brinkley said in 1961 "rock and roll is dying," he went on to explain to viewers how he'd come to this conclusion. Of course we know Brinkley turned out to be incorrect which leads me to this conclusion. One should be careful in making statements on issues beyond your control. This is written Saturday afternoon, I don't know if the Lakers will win or not tonight. Magic Johnson has gone on record indicating coach Mike Brown will be fired if the Lakers don't win game 7. Like Brinkley he gives us an explanation as to why Brown will be fired. I've made it known Brown was not my choice as coach of the Lakers however I accepted managements decision. Win or lose I'm willing to give Brown the benefit of the doubt, 1. no training camp and 2. change in system. The last piece the Lakers are gonna fire a guy they must pay $10 million for not coaching? Hey Magic didn't you say after they were swept by the Mavs "they need to break this team up." Records indicate you are still listed as a vice-president of the Lakers but have no official duties, where you speaking for ESPN or voicing your own opinion? One other point, I have no idea why Laker teams often play with no sense of urgency. Think it's Mike Brown, forget that notion the Lakers often exhibited this type of play while Phil Jackson coached them.

How about this

Last season ESPN added a column to their website and titled it Heat Index. The column details portions of the most recent Heat game and attaches a letter grade for individuals. After voiding the trade to the Lakers Chris Paul is later traded to the Clippers and they become Lob City, with Paul's ability to toss alley-oop passes to Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. If we listen to the opposition coaches perhaps both the Heat and Clippers should be dubbed Flop City. Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins has complained all this series about the Clippers (specially Chris Paul) exaggerating fouls. We could add the names Blake Griffin and Reggie Evans to the group of floppers. Turning now to the Heat coach Frank Vogel of the Pacers claims the Heat are "the biggest flopping team in the NBA. Every drive to the the basket, they have guys not making a play on the ball, but sliding in front of drivers." Are Hollins and Vogel playing mind games with the officials? (ESPN.com)

He can't be serious, can he?

After a stage left exit by the New Jersey Nets deputy commissioner Adam Silver made a statement which I will paraphrase, "I could foresee an NBA team moving to Newark at some future date. Currently there are no moves planned but Shaquille O'Neal talks about his desire to bring an NBA to Newark." This is not intended as a knock at Newark or the State of New Jersey but the question might be why? Newark and the surrounding area contain a large population base but that's no reason to place a team there, after all why did the Nets leave? If this is done it would place three franchises in the New York City metro while other parts of the the nation are ignored. Why would the NBA even look at Newark at the expense of Seattle, St. Louis or Kansas City which have all held NBA franchises at a point in time. If a team is placed in Newark we'd have the same potential situation that's brewing in SoCal, three teams in a densely highly populated metro area.

The next coach of the Knicks is _____________

Once again the Phil Jackson to the Knicks stories are circulating again. I hope I've made it clear in my mind Hall of Fame coach Phil Jackson is the greatest modern day coach. Sorry Red Aurbach and Celtic fans I happen to think the title belongs to Phil Jackson. Greatest from the standpoint of his accomplishments with the Bulls and Lakers. Early on both teams were comprised of talented players but had great difficulty focusing on the ultimate prize. Along comes Phil Jackson providing both teams directions fear would have attempted as coach, I'm referring to his Zen approach providing players motivational books to read. I didn't read the article in detail but the other day Kobe Bryant mentioned "how much of Phil Jackson has rubbed off on him." PJ is a players coach, despite being critical of his players at times I've never read or heard one former Bulls or Laker player publically critical of the man. I know you say he could have attempted to defuse the Kobe-Shaq feud but maybe he attempted to and neither party would agree to a peace treaty. Finally I think Mike Woodson should be the next head coach of the Knicks, remove the interim tag in front. Although the Knicks are not a good team they have played significantly better under Woodson than D'Antoni. In a rare case for me I'm in agreement with Stephan A. Smith, "Woodson given a full training camp might be able to work out the Anthony-Stoudemire issues." My only question is will Knick management allow Woodson the opportunity to mold this team.

Give him a chance

Finally I didn't intend for this edition to be all about coaches but that's exactly what it turned out to be. Patrick Ewing will interview for the Bobcats job, that's got to be the worst job in the NBA. Ewing wants an opportunity even though it's a very bad team. I know what you are thinking, "stars rarely become good coaches." The statement is certainly true however a few managed to bridge the gap between good player and good coach. I think he's paid his dues, he didn't retire from the game and immediately begin sending out resumes. He's spent time in the ranks as an assistant coach, he's served as an assistant coach of the Magic from 2007 to the present time. Many thought Ewing would find a place with the Knicks after he retired, for reasons unknown he was never hired in any capacity. At this point we have no idea how good a coach Ewing might turn out to be, he certainly deserves a chance.