Magic Johnson needs help; he requires help in defending his Laker legacy from Kobe Bryant. Magic is being challenged by Kobe Bryant or at least that’s the view of a national sports reporter. He hates on Kobe Bryant every opportunity he can. He’s stated on more than one occasion “Magic Johnson should go down in history as the all-time greatest Laker!” It all sounds well and good except it’s far from the truth for this reporter. For reasons not fully explained over the course of this writers career he's maintained a constant verbal and written attack on anytime the name Bryant is mentioned.  He's admitted he doesn’t want Kobe to receive a 6^th championship ring which in his view would eclipse Magic.  The public would then believe Bryant might be "the greatest Laker ever."  My issues with this reporter are clear; don’t embellish history to validate your negative opinions of Bryant.

I’m not sure why but this reporter decided to interview former SI NBA writer Jack McCallum. McCallum had written a story on the original Dream Team, naturally they discussed Bryant‘s statement regarding the original Dream Team. McCallum took time to school this reporter he said “Kobe Bryant was still the top shooting guard in the NBA at age 33.” Naturally the hater brought up the name of LeBron James (his boy) and Kevin Durant; reluctantly he had to admit both were small forwards. It was clear the reporter was attempting to name a better shooting guard; he first mentioned Manu Ginobili, then Dwayne Wade. McCallum said both were certainly good players but seem to sustain injuries almost every season. McCallum pointed out Bryant has played hurt through a number of injuries and has missed very little time during his career. The 2009-10 Bryant operated with a severely injured finger on his shooting hand he still managed to shot .451 from the floor near his career average of .453. Reluctantly and with hesitation the reporter acknowledged Bryant is still the number one shooting guard in the NBA, what a bitter pill for this reporter to swallow. As for me I thought it was funny, somebody finally schooled him!

I’ve stated on more than one occasion I have a “love/hate” relationship with Mavs owner Mark Cuban. This time it’s a hate issue if what I’m reading is true and he follows through on it. Cuban claims Jason Kidd’s jersey will never hang in American Airlines Center, he’s taking this stance due to Kidd signing with the Knicks in the off-season. Cuban claims “Kidd mislead me into thinking he’d resign with the Mavs.” Jason Terry who basically did the same thing (free agent signing with the Celtics) Cuban has no problem. He says “Terry was honest with him.” Here’s the way I see this, the Mavs would not have an NBA championship if not for Jason Kidd. I know Cuban paid him a salary but this is the manner you treat a star player. I read all sorts of stories that indicated he took care of Mavs players; I guess that only occurs to the ones who play for his Mavs with the exception of Jason Terry. As for other free agents remember the Mavs effort to sign Dallas native Deron Williams? Cuban on Fox Sports Radio claims “the team is actually better off with Williams not on the roster. In hindsight, I don’t know if I would have been happy.”

It seems such a short time ago I remember watching him play for the Oklahoma Sooners. He played basketball with passion, which was the game of Eduardo Najera the first Mexican born player to be drafted in the NBA. In the NBA he was never able to duplicate his collegiate numbers but managed a 12-year NBA career. The last several years’ injuries had curtailed his career, rather than resume playing he chose to retire. This 36-year old will become head coach and partial owner of the Texas Legends of the NBA Developmental League. I certainly have no idea what type of coach Najera will become or even his degree of success, for sure he will give the work 100% effort he did on the basketball court.

I have a thing about uncovering high school talent, at the same time I realize all prospects might not pan out in the future. There are a number of issues which might impact further development of an athlete. The competition they face might not always be top notch; in addition size certainly can be a factor with taller players. Years ago the Kansas City Star published an interesting story, the son of a
friend they wrote was “the best 8^th grader in the KC metro.” Devin played high school ball but
never reached the level the newspaper projected. He went on to college but wasn’t talented enough to even play at the collegiate level.  We are all sometimes guilty of over-projecting the skill level of an athlete; sometimes we should allow them to develop before making projections that might come back to bit you.       

“Jack Nicholson or Spike Lee seats” is the term commonly applied to floor level spectator seats. Its most closely identified with these two, if there is a Laker game at Staples Center or a Knick game at Madison Square Garden the two are usually in the house. They are not the only celebrities in attendance at NBA games and not the only celebrity season ticket holders. Actors Denzel Washington, Andy Garcia and Ice Cube can usually be spotted at Laker games. Comedian Billy Crystal and director Penny Marshall are usually at Staples Center but at Clipper games. None have the loyalty of Jack, television cameras focus on him during some portion of the game. It’s reported movie shooting schedules involving Nicholson are arranged around Laker games. How much does Nicholson pay for his seat, around $2,500 a game? Sometimes spotted at Celtic games is actor Matt Damon, he's even brave enough to wear his Celtic gear at Staples Center.

As an owner of the Cavs I guess singer Usher is required to appear at Quicken Loans Arena. New York and Madison Square Garden has it’s A celebrity list too. Comedians Chris Rock, Tracy Morgan and director Woody Allen and former tennis great John McEnroe are usually in attendance at Knick games. As for Spike Lee the figures I uncovered indicate he pays in the neighborhood of $1,900 for his Madison Square Garden seat. Lee’s wife can sometimes be spotted seated next to him; I wonder if he pays for two tickets? As for Miami the Heat have a number of celebrity fans as well. The television cameras routinely focus on singers Jimmy Buffet and Gloria Estefan along with actress Gabrielle Union. For purposes of space I've skipped a number of celebrity fans and arenas, those mentioned are but a handful of celebrities who are often in attendance at NBA arenas. None of the celebrities mentioned have the fan loyalty of Jack and Spike. If I were to arrange an order it would be Jack first and then Spike. Jack’s older and has been doing it longer so I will designate him celebrity fan number 1, Spike Lee has got to be 1a.

I think we might all be shocked if the Harrison twins chose to attend separate schools. The Harrison twins, Andrew a 6-5 point guard and brother Aaron a 6-5 shooting guard and are from Fort Bend Texas 40 miles from Houston. The brothers are Class of 2013 prospects, Rivals list Andrew as a number 3 prospect while Aaron is a number 4 choice. The prospect site MaxPreps list Andrew number one and brother Aaron number two in the Class of 2013. No skinny light weights for their 6-5 frames, Andrew weighs in at 205 pounds brother Aaron is at 210. The brothers have 10 schools on their list of choices and the usual heavyweights have offered scholarships. 

I am one Laker fan who is excited for the future of Andrew Bynum. The 76ers secured a classic big man one they have missed since the days of Moses Malone. “Come on you must be kidding, Malone left Philly in 1986!”  Before you run off screaming NO please hear me out, the 76ers have certainly had a number of centers over the course of this time period however none matching Bynum’s ability and skill. I couldn’t remember all the names so I consulted basketball-reference.com. There are names, Samuel Dalembert, Shawn Bradley, Manute Bol and the “finger-waver” himself Dikembe Mutombo. Those are the names that standout, there were other players who occupied the center position but you probably wouldn’t remember them. Of course you’d remember their names if you were/are a 76er fan. Mutombo is considered the best of the bunch, good defensive player but a limited offensive game. Andrew Bynum is not close to Mutombo defensively but light years ahead of him offensively. Bynum needs to “grow” up; his can be called into question at times. I foresee a tremendous upset for him and barring injuries he should continue to have a fruitful and productive NBA career. I’m anxious to see how he will perform as the focus for the 76er offense, a feat he was never called on to perform for the Lakers. His 30 rebound game this past season for the Lakers proves he’s got skills. This Laker fan is excited with the coming of Dwight Howard but will miss Big Andrew.

I thought I’d share a story with you I thought quite interesting. A female friend asked me about my daily activities, I informed her I spend a considerable amount of time writing this blog. Her response to me, “it’s not basketball season what could you be writing?” I don’t remember my reply but reflected on what I’d written earlier. I’m not going to automatically assume she’s no fan I don’t really know that. Casual basketball fans tend to assume the season concludes in April with the NCAA championship or June when the NBA champ is crowned. Game scores are no longer the lead story on SportsCenter however the game still remains highly visible. I pointed out earlier last summer was unusually different; the Lockout prevented a number of basketball related summer activities from occurring. Since the middle of June 2012 we have witnessed the draft, NBA summer league basketball plus free agent signings and a number of player trades. In addition at the amateur level AAU basketball was in full swing, many of us had an opportunity to check out future collegiate and NBA stars in the making. Basketball action culminated with Olympic basketball as the world competed for the Gold. It might be noted all this activity occurred in the middle of the baseball season and the start up of NFL training camps.

Will Shabazz Muhammad be eligible to play this season at UCLA? I pose the question because Muhammad was unable to accompany the team on its trip to China. The NCAA is investigating if he received improper benefits while being recruited. My statement is a little absurd, considering the NCAA investigation regarding Mizzou’s Frank Haith remains unresolved you might see where I‘m going with this story. The investigating body began its investigation of Haith well over a year ago.

The basketball landscape is littered with the corpses of 7-footers who couldn’t play or 7-footers who were recruited strictly as projects. Recently Northwestern University announced 7-2 240 pound freshman Chier Ajou was declared eligible by the NCAA Clearing House. “There were questions back in June when Ajou committed to Northwestern as to whether or not he would be cleared due to concerns regarding his transcript.” The critical emails came flying in to ESPN once the story was published. “Ajou is originally from South Sudan and attended Culver Academies in Indiana for two years and went to St. Thomas More School in Connecticut last year.” I haven’t seen Ajou play so I too am in the dark about his ability but I‘m unsure if several of the comments are valid. Most revolved around his high school numbers, 14 ppg 9 rebounds and 2.6 block shots. Most questioned his competition; others pointed out it appeared he didn’t dominate his high school competition. Number one, he could be a late bloomer, that’s the case with big men. What type of offense did his high school team run, despite his height he might not have been the focus of the offense. Bottom line, allow time to see if can develop near the level of his famous cousin Bulls forward Luol Deng. (ESPN.com)

Before Laker fans get too full of themselves or too excited allow me to remind them and the media a little NBA history. In 2003 Gary “The Glove” Payton and Karl Malone both landed in Los Angeles to join Shaq and Kobe. Unlike the Miami Heat of LeBron James this was probably the first NBA team many pundits thought might conclude the season 81-1. In any event the thought was a 68 or 69 game regular season win total plus an NBA championship. Four perennial All-Stars in the lineup plus a worthy bench, few could see why this team would not succeed. Well a funny thing happened on the way to that perfect team and the perfect season, they didn’t win! They won a significant number of regular season games but an injury to Karl Malone plus stubborn play of Gary Payton and the Shaq versus Kobe feud. All those factors led to a dysfunctional collection of bodies and not a team. This “loaded team” was able to hid it’s warts during the regular season; they even managed through the early to late portions of the playoffs. This team managed to play for the NBA championship in 2004 but failed. They lost to a Detroit Pistons team certainly not as talented but with a key difference, they played as a T E A M! On paper the Lakers look as though they might be the team to beat in 2013 however as a reminder games on played on the court not on paper.

Ishmail Wainwright is not headed to Mizzou as was reported last year! In fact he remains uncommitted as this point to any school. Wainwright is a 6-6 210 pound forward from Raytown (MO) a Kansas City suburb. He’d verbally committed to Mizzou but later changed his mind. Although his was verbal Wainwright might have been the first Frank Haith commit. This Class of 2013 athlete can play as evidence by his 4-star rating by Rivals and ESPNU 4-star rating. “Effective on both ends of the floor” states slamonline.com regarding Wainwright’s game. Changing his mind on Mizzou wasn’t his only change; Wainwright left Raytown South High to attend Montrose Christian Academy in Rockville (MD) after his sophomore year. He indicated a desire to grow his game and felt the competition he faced in Kansas City was somewhat limited. Montrose does have a history of notable alumni in the NBA, the Thunders Kevin Durant and the Raptors Linas Kleiza. From all indications it appears he made the correct choice he’s reported to have had an outstanding junior season at Montrose, as for deciding not to attend Mizzou that’s a different story.

I’m curious if Mizzou’s Kim English makes the final cut and gains a roster spot with the Pistons. If so wonder if he gains serious playing time. The 6-6 200 pound shooting guard after experiencing an outstanding sophomore year slumped seriously his junior year. After scoring at a 14.0 ppg average he slumped to 10.0 during his junior year as his field goal percentage dropped to .366.  Under new coach Frank Haith English returned to his previous form, he didn’t raise his scoring significantly (14.5 ppg) but he shot a lights-out .521 from the floor.  His senior numbers and workouts convinced the Pistons, they drafted him in the second round of the 2012 NBA draft. At present the Pistons roster is three point guards, a number of small and power forwards and centers. Not a shooting guard in sight except Baltimore native Kim English. It might appear easy for English to make the cut but I doubt he wants the job by default. His work ethic at Mizzou proves he doesn’t want anything handed to him.

 
I have a question to pose for you? This morning I showered and dressed, I chose a Nike tee shirt and Adidas basketball shoes. Can I wear the tee shirt and shoes without getting in trouble with Phil Knight (Nike)?

As much as I’ve cried and moaned Kansas City is not the first city (and maybe not the last) to lose its NBA franchise, several cities spread throughout the nation have suffered a similar fate, we‘ll explore a few. On the other side of the state is St. Louis (MO). Although St. Louis was not the original home of the Hawks they toiled in the Gateway City from 1956 through 1968. In 1969 they moved to Atlanta where they have since remained. The Los Angeles Clippers are not located in the city of their founding; they no longer carry the original team name. This expansion franchise took up residence in Buffalo (NY) and played there from 1971-1978. They moved to San Diego (CA) in 1979 and were re-named the Clippers, San Diego remained home through the 1984 season, The team moved to Los Angeles for the 1985 season where they have since remained.

You might remember at one time the NBA had two teams in Canada, the Toronto Raptors and the Vancouver Grizzlies. Like the Raptors the Grizzlies were also an expansion team, they began play in 1996 however the franchise moved to Memphis (TN) in 2002. The present day Washington Wizards once played as the Baltimore Bullets, they were located in this Maryland city from 1964-1973. In 1974 the team moved to suburban Washington D.C. eventually into the city itself in 1975. The last city to visit is Seattle (WA) this city has the longest history connected to the NBA than any other, 41 years. The fate of this franchise has been well documented over the past several years, the team moved to Oklahoma City (OK) in 2009 under new ownership. This brief journey into the NBA’s past does not begin to provide a true picture of franchise movement over the years. One area not fully detailed, the NBA began a movement from small town America in the late 1940’s and ‘50’s to larger metropolitan areas. As for basketball the college game had a larger imprint in the publics mind then its big brother the National Basketball Association. (basketball-reference.com)

During the Olympics I heard a national sports talk host formulate an erroneous statement. In describing Team USA and its Olympic results I heard him say the game (basketball) was invented here. That part of his story is correct, continuing his dialogue I’m almost sure in the next breath he said James A. Naismith was an American, my ears perked up at this point---wrong. Wikipedia describes him as a Canadian-American while Bio.com in the first few sentences states Naismith was a Canadian and American sports coach and innovator.“ I think you can understand the direction I’m going here, much as we’d like to think the game was invented by an American it wasn’t, Naismith invented the game in 1891 here but he was still a Canadian citizen.

“At Springfield YMCA, Naismith struggled with a rowdy class which was confined to indoor games throughout the harsh New England winter and thus was perpetually short-tempered. Under orders from Dr. Luther Gulick, head of Springfield YMCA Physical Education, Naismith was given 14 days to create an indoor game that would provide an "athletic distraction": Gulick demanded that it would not take up much room, could help its track athletes to keep in shape and explicitly emphasized to "make it fair for all players and not too rough.” There are several other facts to point out regarding Naismith, “he wrote the original basketball rulebook, founded the University of Kansas basketball program and is often credited for the first football helmet“ To settle the heritage issue he was born in Almonte Ontario Canada in 1861. For you history students at the timeframe of his birth Canada was a province of the British Empire and not the independent nation of today, Naismith became a U.S. citizen in 1925. One other note, Naismith was the first basketball coach at Kansas University and the only one with a losing record. (Wikipedia)

The Wolves have been treading water for a number of years it seems. Poor and even strange draft choices, sometimes even stranger trades. Has the madness or miss-direction of the Wolves concluded? I have no clue but it does appear change is evident. Ricky Rubio proved to me and others he could play at this level, an injury shortened his rookie season. He’ll return to the lineup in December but he might have to introduce himself to new teammates. “From Russia with Love” 6-6 shooting guard Alexey Shved and veteran 6-9 NBA forward Andrei (AK-47) Kirilenko, both played for CSKA Moscow last season. Kevin Love and the balance of the crew should make for an improved Wolves team. Love had stated during the summer the Wolves had cleansed the roster of “knuckleheads. “ Are they a Western Conference threat, not likely this upcoming season but the future does look bright and improved?

I’ve mentioned on several occasions my fondness for NBA mock draft sites. Over the years I’ve discovered several are accurate with their picks 1 through 10. We are no way near June 2013; the collegiate basketball season is yet to be played. Four of the seven mock draft sites picked Kentucky’s Nerlens Noel as the number one pick in the 2013 draft. This 6-11 216 pound center/forward would become the next one and done at Kentucky? Of course this is null and void unless he has a “Dwight Davis” year. This has nothing to do with Kentucky repeating as national champions. Noel must prove to NBA scouts he is ready to play at the next level. Why did I just use that cliché, “play at the next level” I hate that term plus everybody realizes it’s the NBA!    
　
Who buys $300 basketball shoes? Evidently from what Nike reports more people than I might have thought. The LeBron X will be available in the fall with a retail price of $315 but a model without the technology will be available for $180.

“According to the WSJ, Nike attributes the price hike to rising labor costs in China and a jump in cotton prices. Nike's basketball division saw a 17% increase in year-over-year revenue from May 2011 to May 2012. Nike footwear in North America saw a 15% increase in revenue in that same period. sneaker prices are up 9.4% across the board since this time last year, the WSJ reports, and people are still buying them. So it's only natural that Nike would test the $300 limit to see if sneaker heads will still bite.” (Wall Street Journal)

“What happened to PF Flyers? What happened to Chuck Taylors? What happened to the Shaq Dunkmans? What happened to the Starbury shoes? The $315 shoe will allow the owner to track quickness, vertical leap and explosiveness with sensors relaying the information. "How high you jump, how quick you are and how hard you play. So you can compete against your friends, your rivals and yourself, every time you play. Nike plus basketball allows you to see your game like never before.” (Scott Gleason, USA Today Aug 21, 2012)

I’m sure if you are gainfully employed, love basketballs shoes and have plenty of disposable income I can see this. Would any parent scrape money together to purchase these for junior? Buy Nike stock maybe?

The strange journey of Michael Jordan’s son continues. The University of Central Florida has been placed on
1-year probation for recruiting violations. Senior Marcus Jordan is enrolled at school however he’s not on the basketball team. The 6-3 Jordan was the second leading scorer for the UCF Knights last season, he scored at a 13.7 ppg average. Jordan could have gone the same route of Alex Oriakhi; UConn was placed on probation for academic reasons. NCAA rules now permit a student-athlete to transfer to another university if his school is placed on probation. In addition the player is immediately eligible to play no waiting period.

Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov intends to “own” New York City, he’s begun a war of words with Knicks owner
James Dolan. He referred to Dolan as “that little man” in a recent interview. I have no idea how tall Dolan is however Prokhorov is 6-8. This is the latest salvo in his attempt to win the hearts and minds of Knick fans. “In Prokhorov's introductory news conference in 2010, he said, "We will turn Knicks fans into Nets fans." Later that year, a billboard was erected right across from the Knicks' home, Madison Square Garden, with Prokhorov and minority owner rapper Jay-Z below "the blueprint for greatness.” It will be very interesting how this plays out on the basketball court, the off-season upgrades would appear to favor the Nets (Matt Ehalt ESPN.com)

I feel sorry for Greg Oden; he came into the NBA with so much expectation. One scout even went so far as to state “he might be the next Bill Russell.” You might say how in the world could someone miss (scouting report) the mark that greatly? It appears Oden is on the NBA scrap heap, the Blazers who drafted him in ‘07 having released him earlier this year. At one point I remember reading a report the Heat were looking at signing him, to date no such signing has occurred. Oden stated “he might be prepared to sit out this season” which might be his only course of action. He might be next spotted on a high school basketball court rather than an NBA court. He’s working on a degree which would eventually lead to becoming a high school PE teacher. 2007 seems such a short time ago at a time the Blazers were forced to make a choice for the number one pick.

This is strictly my imagination at work and what might have occurred leading up to draft night. The Blazer front office including the coaching staff is trying to decide who to draft with the number one pick. One voice says, “do we draft Kevin Durant from Texas or Greg Oden from Ohio State? Another voice states Durant appears to be a prolific shooter but the guy is 6-10 and only 215 pounds, opposing players will break him like he’s a twig. Then a third voice pipes in, Oden has limited offensive skills but he’s 7-0 and 257 pounds, he could provide that defensive and rebounding presence we could use.” Of course you know the rest of the story, multiple surgeries and so many missed games it’s difficult to count. It might be pointed out his high school and college teammate Mike Conley Jr. was drafted as well. Conley has carved out a fairly decent career playing for the Memphis Grizzlies, no superstar numbers but he can play at the NBA level. Many (including yours truly) were unable to see the potential of this 6-1 185 pound point guard while at Ohio State, I thought he might be mistaken leaving early.

　
　
We have about eight (8) weeks left until NBA training camps open and approximately ten (10) weeks till Midnight Madness. The NBA, collegiate and high school season is almost ready to commence again, it seems such a short time ago we concluded the basketball season---well kind of. The NBA championship, draft, free agent signing, AAU and finally the Olympics, many of us have actually had almost a full summer of basketball.

　
I wonder if you agree with me, agree that sometimes polls serve no useful purpose? They reflect the views and opinions of a small percentage of the populace. I often wonder who these folks poll, I‘ve never been contacted for any type of poll. The latest poll I’m questioning is one commissioned by cbssports.com regarding collegiate coaches. In this poll North Carolina’s Roy Williams was chosen the most overrated coach in the nation. How can you refer to a coach as overrated with two NCAA championships on his resume? William’s won-lost record is 675-169 and at Carolina 257-68 however a critic said “it’s easy when you coach at Kansas at UNC.” A coach must secure talent but he must also know how to coach, that type of statement is ridiculous.

Rick Barnes at Texas finished second in this poll, Barnes has never won an NCAA championship however his coaching numbers are outstanding. Over his 25 year coaching career he’s only had one losing season, ‘91-’92 his Providence team finished the season 14-17. Barnes coached teams have won 533 and lost 262 games, at Texas he’s 333-130. I was surprised Duke’s coach K. was no place on the survey; I have come in contact with a significant number of folks who claim they hate Duke basketball and especially coach K., don’t count me in with that group. A secondary poll was conducted, it consisted of coaches who were considered underrated; in a real shocker (at least to me) Bill Self was named. Self wasn’t at the top of the list however please explain how a coach with an NCAA championship is underrated? At the same time ESPN’s Dick Vitale has been singing the praises of Self for years now, once you make Dickey V’s list it’s difficult to imagine him being grouped with a bunch of underrated coaches. Thanks to Dick Vitale the nation----take that back the world knows who Bill Self is, underrated I seriously doubt it.

　
The date Dwight Howard returns to the court varies based on your sources. I’ve read anywhere between November 1, 2012 up through January 2013. I claim no medical knowledge however one source with a medical background made this statement, “I’d rather deal with Howard’s back surgery than Bynum’s knee issues.” I hope your not thinking I’m glossing over the seriousness of Howard’s back. Whatever date Howard returns to the court he will need an adjustment period. New point guard (Nash) feeding him the ball, new players located on the perimeter, Kobe, Meeks, Jamison etc. I hope Laker fans don’t think Howard is really Superman, please allow him ample time to heal.

The Lakers should be able to make due with Gasol, Jordan Hill or rookie Robert Sacre sharing the center position until Howard returns. On a related note I hope you had an opportunity to hear or read the comments from former Magic coach Stan Van Gundy. He said briefly, “Howard was not responsible for me being fired!” He went on to state the Magic front office failed to follow through on some of the promises they made to Howard. So let’s see if we can understand this, Van Gundy once stated Dwight Howard wanted him fired; now he says Howard didn’t have anything to do with the firing. It’s a moot point at this late date; we can only conclude this is the final chapter on a rather strange and bizarre situation in Orlando.

　
Do you have a secondary team? I would guess most of you have a favorite NBA or collegiate team. A secondary team is one you casually follow however it’s never your main focus, you might even know the teams won-lost record the coach and several of the players. Sometimes your secondary team might even change from year to year; loyalty is almost never everlasting for a secondary team. I’ll provide you an example; at one point the Wizards were my secondary NBA team. They were not very good but I begin following them after they drafted John Wall. I enjoyed watching him orchestrate the offense for the Wiz. I’m unsure if I’m correct or not but Wall must be one of the fastest players in the NBA baseline to baseline. Prior to the Wizards it was the LeBron James Cavs, I followed them closely at every opportunity until Wall arrived in Washington.

A time ago when the Kings were still headquartered in Kansas City I had two secondary teams, the Milwaukee Bucks (Kareem Abdul Jabbar) and Lakers (Chamberlain). Once Abdul Jabbar was traded to the Lakers I ceased rooting for the Bucks. It was easy for me to attend games and root for my Kings, Bucks and Lakers at the same time. I think I mentioned this before it was easy because there was never a loser, it the Kings won I was okay, if either the Bucks or Lakers won I was still okay. I don’t have a secondary team however there are two teams I will almost always watch. The Warriors (always been a Mark Jackson fan) and the Knicks (cause they are the Knicks). I don‘t have a secondary college team although I have a casual interest in the Kentucky Wildcats. That‘s got to change now with Mizzou in the SEC too. As for the NBA do I need to provide you the name of my primary NBA, didn’t think so.

Derek Fisher should retire; I know without checking he wants to play at least another year and I’m unsure if that’s possible. He’s not presently listed on the Thunder or any other NBA teams’ roster. Fish just turned 38, never blessed with speed as a youth he’s slowed down even more. If he retired he could then be hired by the Lakers as an assistant coach or in some sort of front office position. I once wrote there were several Lakers I was happy to see leave Fish was not one of them. All of us who followed his career realize his game had limitations, like him or not we know he could always be counted on to give 100% on the court. Burned into my memory banks is the miracle three-point basket he scored against the Spurs in the playoffs. There was no time left on the clock but probably paramount in the mind of Fish, “get off the court as quickly as possible. “ Why give officials time to review game tape?



　




　
　

Anybody remember Scottie Pippen’s statement “LeBron might be better than Michael Jordan?” The basketball universe erupted, critical comment after comment rained down on Pippen for his bold statement. How could Pippen come to this conclusion, its basketball heresy to state LeBron could have superior game to MJ? The next day or so Pippen was “forced” to retreat from his statement, the basketball world then relaxed-----at least for a brief period. Enter stage right Jim Boeheim Syracuse coach and Team USA assistant coach. Boeheim made essentially the same statement as Pippen but guess what? I haven’t heard near the criticism of Boeheim as I did Pippen, I think the whole argument is stupid! Why must we continue the debate on who is superior especially athletes from different eras, this is one dispute I refuse to join.

I was discussing the upcoming SEC basketball season with a friend and Mizzou‘s move to the SEC. I informed him of the ESPN column Doug Gottlieb wrote, you remember the one he predicted Mizzou could win the 2012-13 SEC conference. I related the same story I’d written last week to my friend the fact that “Gottlieb must have fallen and bumped his head.” I further stated “Gottlieb must have forgotten Kentucky and Florida are in the SEC.” I really don’t like to project or predict future events however maybe Gottlieb might not be too far off base. Early in the conversation I informed my friend coach Calipari had a dynamite incoming freshman class. I then reflected on last season, “Cal had a group of freshman who might have been a once in a lifetime group.” This group of freshman in addition to being very talented responded well to Cal’s coaching. We know the end result, an NCAA championship. Bernard stated “it might be possible for Mizzou to win.” He said “the 2013-14 season Florida would be completely reloaded (ESPN rates their incoming class #1) this upcoming season might be totally different, they will be good but not necessarily conference champ level. Last season was indeed a perfect storm for Kentucky. Despite the corps of incoming freshman this group might not be talented enough or respond in a similar manner as the prior freshman team.
　
KU fans make me laugh out loud at times; they continue to harp on Mizzou winning in the SEC doesn’t matter if it’s football or basketball. Honestly I don’t understand how any KU fan could begin debating Mizzou football, basketball is a different story but football? They also entertain potential recruiting problems in SEC territory. How come KU folks venture into worlds yet to occur? Everyone can certainly recognize the landscape has changed in relation to recruiting; to state a kid from other SEC state couldn’t be recruited by Mizzou is ludicrous! Quality programs attract kids from all over the nation; all that’s required is for these KU folks to check out their own basketball roster. Few of the athletes recruited to play at KU are from Kansas; they are attracted to KU by a good coach and the winning tradition of the program. To simply state Mizzou will have trouble recruiting is untrue and a statement ripe in error, winning programs football or basketball will always attract the top notch athlete. I might pose this question to the KU faithful; Missouri borders the SEC states of Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee. Where is West Virginia on the map in relationship to other Big XII schools?

Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon has become a tutor to the stars since his retirement. Several years back Kobe Bryant spent a portion of his summer working with Olajuwon. At the conclusion of the summer Kobe indicated how much the tutelage of Olajuwon improved portions of his game. This summer a new student is in Houston to learn the “Dream Shake” and other offensive moves perfected by Olajuwon. Knick power forward Amar’e Stoudemire is the latest player to be tutored by Olajuwon and he’s now pronounced himself ready for NBA action. I don’t think anyone ever questioned Stoudemire’s offensive game it’s his defense that appears to suffer at times.

Bits n Pieces
Last season was disappointing to fans of the Chicago Bulls, the season came to a screeching halt with the devastating injury to point guard Derrick Rose. The Bulls had come into the Lockout shortened season with a deep maybe the most talented bench in the NBA. The Heat had played for the championship but this was a new year. Many thought their depth and Derrick Rose would over power the Heat with their talented trio but limited bench, of course this view changed after Rose was injured. Over the course of the summer free agency has changed the team over last season; six players who played prominent roles will now draw paychecks elsewhere. Even more dreadful it’s reported Rose might not return before late March or April. Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf says there is no rush to get Rose back into the lineup. He claims he’s not going to allow Rose to return until the doctors give the okay. That’s interesting because over the years Reinsdorf has been painted as a less than enthusiastic owner. I remember him being interviewed after his Bulls had won one of their championships. The first words out of his mouth “I wonder how the White Sox (which he owns) have done?” Your basketball team has just won an NBA championship and the first word from you is whether your baseball team has won that evenings game. I think anyone could have understood Reinsdorf if this were near the end of the baseball season, it was the middle of June!

We should always be open to change, even if the change involves basketball rules. The change this person is suggesting is not a fix in my view. Many of you might remember the story I writer earlier this year regarding Mamadou Ndiaye. For those of you who didn’t read the story Ndiaye is a 17-year old high school senior who originally hails from Senegal. He’s enrolled at a small private school in Southern California. Ndiaye is 7-5 inches and 310 pounds; he’s the tallest high school player in the nation, in fact he is taller than any present NBA player. Although Ndiaye is a raw talent (his coach’s statement) he towers above his high school opposition. 22.9 points per game and 13.2 rebounds a game and naturally 7 block shots a game provide evidence of his junior year numbers these numbers with limited offensive skills around the basket. After reading the story several respondents wanted to voice their view of him and the game. This letter was probably the strangest I read, “Time to change the rules of the height of the basketball goal, or have height of players within six inches of each other, regardless of particular height. Ever heard of level playing field.” I’ve voiced my opinion regarding changes in the game and especially how height has become a key element. Ndiaye’s coach thinks he’ll play professionally somewhere in the very near future. (cbssports.com)

This time Jalen Rose is correct at least in my opinion, media “borrowed” the term Fab 5 which is proof a number of their membership is indeed lazy. That’s the claim of Rose, rather than search for an alternative name for America’s gymnastic team it’s far easier and more convenient to recycle a name. Rose was upset several in the media have dubbed America’s gymnastic team “the Fab Five.” For those unaware the name was first coined for the 1991-93 Michigan basketball team, a team of Rose and other youngsters. A response to the story from another reader stated, “maybe that’s why Pat Riley trademarked the term “3-peat.” Rookie Hornets forward Anthony Davis indicated some weeks back he might trademark unibrow. Based on the lazy media it might be a good idea if he intends to be paid he needs to take legal action as soon as possible.

　
I’ve stated previously a significant number of Laker fans are spoiled and even arrogant. These fans have come to expect the best from the team and its front office. There are two individuals who operate under the microscope of Laker fans, they certainly have been scrutinized and criticized by Laker fans and interesting neither is a player. Jimmy Buss the owners’ son and general manager Mitch Kupchak, both have been targets for the ire of Laker fans. I’m going to give both a shout out for their efforts this summer. Dr. Buss while remaining in place as the owner turned over most of the day to day operations to son Jimmy. Laker fans were very critical of Jimmy right from the start not allowing him an opportunity to gain work experience. I remember reading stories “the spoiled rich son of the owner.” As for Kupchak he served under the tutelage of Jerry West who was the master at analyzing talent and making trades. Kupchak too suffered significant criticism from many of the Laker faithful due to his apparent “lack of action” by many Laker fans. Since free agency started July 11 the Lakers have been one of the most efficient and effective teams in the NBA, this team has been almost totally re-tooled.

With salary issues staring the team squarely in the face Jimmy Buss gave general manager Kupchak carte blanche to improve the Lakers. The team signed free agents Steve Nash and Antawn Jamison, and then resigned their own free agents Jordan Hill and Devin Ebanks. The trade was then concluded sending Dwight Howard to the Lakers in exchange for Andrew Bynum. Josh McRoberts and Christian Eyenga were included in the Howard trade, arriving from the Magic was Chris Duhon and Earl Clark. Friday afternoon when the Howard trade was officially approved Kupchak announced the signing of 24-year old free agent shooting guard Jody Meeks to this mix. Both Buss and Kupchak deserve praise for their proactive efforts this summer, other than Laker fans Pau Gasol might be happiest of all. All summer I’d been reading reports that indicated he didn’t want to leave the Lakers. Prior to the completion of the Howard trade there was a report he’d contacted Kobe, he was supposed to have been assured by Kobe “as long as I’m here you’ll be here!” It’s now up to Mike Brown to prove he can coach this talented assembly of athletes.

Bits n Pieces
Well the Yankees----opps Lakers have done it again! They managed to steal the sports headlines on a night the NFL pre-season started and the Olympics were primetime on television. The trade of course was acquiring Superman II, that’s what I will use to describe Dwight Howard because Shaq was the first Superman. The haters have emerged already; I read an early comment “its okay for a player to move to another team as long as he doesn’t announce it on television!” We all realize this was a veiled reference to “LeBrongate” three years ago but there is a difference. Despite the writers view (and maybe others) this was a trade, it might have been orchestrated by the player however Howard was not a free agent.

This is going to sound arrogant but it’s the truth, the Lakers are an aggressive organization. They have a winning tradition and winning is key for this franchise. You will never hear the Lakers described as rebuilding; no five or even three year plans---its winning and it’s winning right now! Are Laker fans arrogant, yes a number of them are. Are Laker fans spoiled; of course they are, winning begets a brat mentality to a significant number. In the recent past I expressed my concerns on this trade because I’m a Bynum fan. I thought (and still do) Bynum in certain areas is on the same level with Howard. A healthy Howard is certainly the superior defensive player and rebounds better. Bynum shoots free throws and has better offensive skills around the basket. On paper this new and improved version of the Los Angeles Lakers is certainly superior to last season however games are not played on paper.

As for the bench it’s become younger while retaining a veteran presence, newly acquired free agent forward Antawn Jamison and veteran guard Steve Blake represent the only members of the bench over age 30. Jordan Hill 25-year old forward-center provided a spark off the bench last season; he chose to resign with the Lakers rather than sign elsewhere. It should be noted in the Howard trade the Lakers received two veteran players, 29-year old point guard Chris Duhon and 24-year old forward Earl Clark. In addition they added 24-year old shooting guard free agent Jody Meeks late of the 76ers. The bench has improved considerably while actually becoming younger. We are months from training camp; the composition of the team could possibly change later. Perhaps the two remaining question will Howard’s surgically repaired back be ready in time for opening season?  Can Mike Brown coached this assemblage of talent? 

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons are headed north to play exhibition games against two Canadian schools in October.  I wondered if any NCAA school had ever played a regular season game against Canadian competition. After researching the question I discovered Simon Frazier University in Burnaby British Columbia is an NCAA Division II member. “On Friday, July 10, 2009, the NCAA announced that it has accepted SFU as a Division II member that will begin after a two year transition period. SFU will compete in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. It is the first Canadian university to be accepted as a member of the NCAA at any level.” To date Simon Frazier remains the only NCAA Canadian school, it should be pointed out there are three Canadian NAIA members. The Great Northwest Athlete Conference is comprised of 10 member schools; naturally the schools are primarily located in the Pacific Northwest region. Montana State University, University of Alaska Fairbanks and Central Washington University are several of the conference members.  Just thought the
information might be of interest, I know it was to me.  (Wikipedia)

Mizzou's Marus Denmon probably caught most of the Mizzou faithful off-guard with his latest move.  After an outstanding senior season the Spurs made him the 59th pick in the second round of the 2012 NBA draft.  As a second round choice and with a number of guards already on the Spurs roster Denmon would have difficulty gaining playing time.  He might have landed with their D-League afflitate but that might not have been as benficial to grow his game.  He and his agent decided France and Chalon-Sur-Saone might be a better option, it might well be.  The deal is only 1-year and the Spurs will retain his draft rights.

The Dallas-Fort Worth metro population contains nearly 6.5 million folks, with numbers that large you can understand how the metro produces its share of basketball talent.  The latest talent to stash in your memory bank is Kendal Harris.  Harris is a 6-4 195 pound point guard attending Bernker High School Richardson Texas.  He's a Class of 2013 prospect; he is still undecided on a college choice however Mizzou is one of several schools with an offer on the table.  As for his prospects ESPN and Rivals award him 4-stars while Scout.com rates him a 3-star prospect. 


  
 

Bits n Pieces
This story broke late last night---the key players Dwight Howard to the Lakers, Andrew Bynum to the 76ers. More details later.

The Magic hiring former Spurs assistant Jacque Vaughn as head coach allows me to explore a topic I’ve wanted to discuss for a period of time. The topic is hiring employees and a commitment to diversity in hiring. The NBA player base is 78% African American; do you have any idea of the NBA’s coaching ranks? Vaughn's hiring brings to 14 the number of African American head coaches in the NBA. Of the NBA's 30 franchises African Americans comprise nearly 47% of its head coaches. By contract if we check the NFL 66% of its players are African American. The 32 NFL franchises have but 5 African American head coaches. This is no attempt to call out the NFL on it‘s hiring policy, it just points out the NBA has done a superior job across the board in filling it’s coaching ranks. I only focused on one area that of head coaches. Read the entire report, you will discover the NBA has made a commitment to diversity in its hiring practices. Women and minorities are visible in the league office and management positions throughout the NBA.

http://www.tidesport.org/RGRC/2012/2012_NBA_RGRC[1].pdf

ESPN’s Doug Gottlieb has never been one of my favorite writers or analyst. For those who might be unfamiliar he played basketball at Oklahoma State and for several years in Europe and Israel. He began a second career as a collegiate basketball analyst and broadcaster for ESPN in 2003. Although Gottlieb has been critical of several programs over the years it seemed (my imagination maybe) he was particularly critical of Mizzou. Mizzou has changed coaches since Gottlieb retired but it appeared to make no difference in his outlook, Quin Snyder, Mike Anderson and current coach Frank Haith all suffered Gottlieb’s barbs. With this issue explained up front imagine my amazement, no I’m going to say shocked when he picked Mizzou to win the SEC crown this upcoming season.  I wonder if Gottlieb forget Kentucky and Florida play in the SEC too? I’m no ESPN Insider; I was unable to read his and other Insider stories. Of course I was pleased with his view of the SEC race, I have no idea what convinced Gottlieb Mizzou would rein supreme.

I have long held a view I’m sure many of you share with me. Height is everything in the game of basketball. How many 7-footers have you read or heard of who was classified a “project?” Allow me to introduce you to Joel Embiid from the nation of Cameroon; Embiid who is 7-1 according to cbssportsline.com had never played the game. He’d never played prior to 18 months ago; he’s attending high school here at Montverde Academy (Fla.). “He's got untapped potential, when he figures it all out," one Division I assistant coach said. "In two years, he's going to be really good for somebody.” (cbssportsline.com)

The role of the sixth man was always an important component of any NBA team. The sixth man is a player who is the first player off the bench; he was to provide a spark defensively or offensively for his team. The role of a sixth man was generally reserved for a player talented enough to be a starter. The first NBA player of note to assume this role was the Celtics John Havlicek; drafted in 1962 he remained an integral part of the team until his retirement in 1978. The Celtics were so deep at his small forward/guard position he couldn’t displace any of the starters. Coach Red Auerbach utilized his defensive and offensive talents as the first substitute from the bench. During the “Bad Boy Days” of the Pistons, shooting guard Vinnie Johnson was the offensive spark for the starters. Johnson was soon given the nickname “microwave” because he was instant offense.

Michael Cooper served as sixth man for the Showtime Lakers; this slender 6-5 170 pound athlete was often counted on to guard the opposition’s toughest player. Cooper often was matched against the taller and heavier Larry Bird. Bird said Cooper was “one of the toughest opposing players he faced.” Eventually Cooper was to become known just as much for his offensive skill. The last two years the Lakers Lamar Odom and the Thunder’s James Harden were chosen sixth man of the year. As kids we are led to believe the importance of being a starter. This view often prevails throughout our high school and college years but that view is flawed, it fails to point out the value of a sixth man. You might have heard the statement, “it’s not important who starts the game, it’s more important who’s on the floor at the end of the game.”

Bits n Pieces
I think many of us live in an unreal world; we believe our favorite university’s basketball program is squeaky clean. We are in a state of “shock” when evidence of cheating or improprieties is revealed. Listen to Tom Izzo Michigan State coach, “I am not saying that cheating is 80% of the game,” Izzo told USA Today. “It’s probably 20%. But it’s probably 70% of the top 20% (of player recruitments). College basketball is a business. This (recruiting) is a business now because it leads to ours.” We must consider cheating goes far beyond the issue of grades or eligibility. An example often is the wrong doing is that of a college booster. When a gaffe occurs don’t act surprised, do you here that KU faithful? This short paragraph certainly is not intended to detail the issue simply point out cheating does indeed exist.

How difficult is it to tape or DVR a basketball game intending to view it in its entirety? In this instance the discussion on The Dan Patrick Show surrounded Olympic results but it could easily apply to any sporting event. Been there done that, I cannot detail how many occasions I've glanced at my cell phone to check an NBA or collegiate score. If you arrive home before the conclusion you cannot tuned in to ESPN, Fox Sports or any sports channel. Most times these channels contain a crawl at the bottom of the screen providing a score update or the final score. In addition in this day of Twitter how in the world do you not know the final score of the game? There is one solution, avoid viewing any of the sports channels and don't you dare touch your smartphone or tablet. I don't have a Twitter account so I have no conception of how it works; all I can say is no tweeting. Even when I've used my DVR I've failed, in all honesty I'm the worst offender because of my desire to know the outcome. I began viewing the game as if it's live, at some point usually the second quarter I fast-forward to the end of the game for the final score.

Andrei (AK-47) Kirilenko has returned to the NBA, in a surprise to many of you (me included) it's not the Brooklyn Nets. After spending vast sums of owner Mikhail Prokhorov's money they were unable to meet Kirilenko's salary requirements. The 6-9 225 pound power forward is headed to Minnesota and the Wolves franchise. During last season’s lockout Kirilenko returned home to play in Russia, he played for CSKA Moscow. Signing Kirilenko is part of a continued off-season effort to improve the Wolves clubhouse; earlier Kevin Love had gone on record with a strongly worded statement. Love indicated the Wolves were clearing out the malcontents, he provided no names might he be referring to former Wolves forward Michael Beasley? At age 31 Kirilenko is still a talent and very capable player, he should prove to be beneficial to the Wolves and will provide the team a veteran presence.

Ken Berger of cbssports.com has provided us the proper title; he refers to it in a recent story as "Dwightmare!" If Dwight Howard should someday become a Laker I'll still remain a fan of the team. If Howard arrives that translates into Andrew Bynum leaving, Bynum has been one of my favorites despite his baggage. I wanted to clarify my earlier position; I'd gone on record earlier indicating I thought portions of Bynum's game were superior to Howard's. I stand by that statement but that doesn't translate to "I'm going to root for another team once they trade Bynum!" Over the years several of my favorites have worn purple and gold and been traded, although I was upset I reasoned the team would ultimately be improved. This is a short list of players the Lakers traded which upset me at the time. The first name on my disappointment list belonged to a member of the Showtime Lakers, point guard Norm Nixon. Nixon was drafted in 1977 but Magic Johnson was available two years later, both played the same position point guard. They were in the backcourt at the same time but eventually one had to leave and that someone became Nixon. Remember "Nick at Night" Van Excel? He was a truly exciting combo guard, that's what I'll call him. Nick Van Excel was the 10th pick by the Lakers in the second round of the '93-'94 NBA draft. He burst on the scene that year scoring at a 13.6 ppg clip while dishing out 5.8 assists. The last player is Eddie Jones, a 6-6 190 pound guard/forward defensive specialist. Jones known more for his defense could also score, he learned to play lock-down defense honing his skills at Temple University playing for the legendary John Chaney. At the same time I didn't shed a tear at the time Kwame Brown, Vlade Radmanovic and "Smush" Parker left Staples Center.

Bits n Pieces
On second thought maybe I only needed a couple of weeks of R n R, relax and recreation. There is far too much basketball news for a September revival of Words. With that statement I’m borrowing this line from Michael Jordan; he issued this after he retired the first time, “I’m back!”

I've never been a gambler, only journeyed to Las Vegas once in my life and that was for a wedding. I’m explaining why over the years I've paid little if any at all attention to Las Vegas sports odds. I did find it amusing reading a Los Angeles Times story on the Lakers, the short version Vegas has the Lakers on a roller coaster. The up and down odds are based on the Lakers with or without Dwight Howard. This quote jumped off the page at me from RJ Bell of Pregame.com. He said "Vegas probably does not value Howard as highly as the public does," Bell said. "Vegas values Bynum slightly higher than the public does." A Laker fan questioned how Bynum might play this upcoming season with all the off-season trade rumors.  None of us can truly answer the question only Bynum, I understand his point but we have no method to determine an answer.  (Los Angeles Times)

Why not take into consideration the entire works of a person’s life rather than just bits and pieces? As an example a player could have an excellent collegiate career and a so-so NBA career, i.e. Bill Walton and Ralph Sampson. Both Walton and Sampson were outstanding collegiate players; injuries curtailed their NBA careers. A player can become a great coach regardless if we like them or not, example Bobby Knight. It was announced Knight will be inducted into the Ohio State Hall of Fame; he was selected to the hall as a player not as a coach. A writer's email failed to take this fact into consideration, he reminded us of Knight's temper tantrums and the fact he bullied his players. The writer was correct in his assessment, he failed to take into account the selection was Bobby Knight the basketball player not Bobby Knight the coach.

The first regular season NBA game held at Barclays Center will involve the Nets and the visiting Knicks, are you surprised? “We asked the league to give us the most dramatic game to open the season. I was obviously for playing the Knicks. I thought it would make for a compelling moment here in New York sports and thankfully (the league) agreed and felt the same way. And here we are.” This was Nets CEO Brett Yormark statement at the time he was questioned.  Once the date was secured the Nets added an promo of the game on their website.
Veteran broadcaster Marv Albert’s pre-recorded opening night intro is recorded as if the game is tonight not November 1, I'm sure you can locate it on You Tube. For those unfamiliar with the date it was the last year the Dodgers played in Brooklyn, the team moved to Los Angeles the following year. The baseball team of Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider and Johnny Podres and others left Brooklyn for the greener pastures of California. Many in the borough longed for a team with the name Brooklyn emblazoned on the front of the jersey since that time period. New York City seemed to embrace the Knicks, didn't matter what borough you might live in that might soon change maybe. The Knicks number one celebrity fan Spike Lee claims the Knicks will "always' be New York's team.” So stated Lee who is actually from Brooklyn originally. The Nets have been generally ignored by the bulk of the sports populace while in New Jersey, this despite the fact the Nets have advanced further in the playoffs even playing for the NBA Championship in 2002. A reporter from Kansas City covering the series claimed he couldn't locate any Nets apparel in Manhattan, how far he journeyed around the city or the number of apparel shops wasn't ever made clear. With the Nets now secure in Brooklyn should we suppose the role of outsider will change? (www.nj.com)

Bits n Pieces
Has the NBA landscape changed permanently? Should the credit or blame depending on your perspective be heaped on LeBron James and Chris Bosh? These two left their respective teams to hook up with the Heat and Dwayne Wade. The first year this combo played they were good enough to earn a trip to the NBA finals, they lost to the Mavs. Of course we know 2012 turned out completely different as the crew from South Florida won its first championship. Not willing to rest on their laurels the Heat began retooling their bench over the summer signing sharpshooter Ray Allen from the Celtics and forward Rashard Lewis. Will this trend continue in the future for the Heat and other teams, rather than drafting and developing talent NBA teams will simply comb the free agent market to build or re-stock their team?

　
Scout.com list him number 9 in the nation, Rivals has him at #25 and ESPN has him at #11. Although these numbers have been in flux they reflect the latest available. This Class of 2013 prospect Kuran Iverson, how about the name Iverson? Sound familiar to you, this Iverson is a second cousin to Allen former NBA player. Kuran is still in high school but there are other differences between him and his more famous cousin. Kuran is a small forward at 6-8 but only 185 pounds, his cousin was a shooting guard barely 6 feet tall and no more than 150 pounds. Kuran’s made no decision on his college choice for next fall; we know for sure he'll be a regular in the weight room. At 6-8 (or 6-9) depending on the publication Kuran probably needs to add a minimum of 30 pounds.

　
There is no doubt the Lakers will be a superior team offensively in the upcoming season. Will they be able to dispose of the Heat or even the Thunder to win a championship, its way too early yet for that answer? Adding Steve Nash to the mix the Lakers offense shouldn't bog down like it did at times last season. I have no concerns about Nash's offensive skills my concern is his defense. Throughout his career Nash has never been a defensive standout, at 38 he's even more of a liability. Mike Brown's key mission; design a defense that allows Nash to "guard" Russell Westbrook, Tony Parker and other speedy point guards. I might be proven wrong but I think watching Nash play the point will be beneficial for 2nd year man Darrius Morris.  Morris has size (6-5) and can pass the rock; he set a single-season assist record while at Michigan. For a rookie NBA player the two most difficult positions on the court are center and point guard. Given time the tutelage of Nash and his adjustment I believe Morris's talent will be revealed to all.

Maybe it's only me; I don't ever remember summer NBA news dominated the sports headlines in this manner. All the continuing stories smack dab in the middle of baseball season and with NFL football training camps opening. NBA player movement continues to be one of the leading nightly news stories, certainly the saga of Dwight Howard is the principle reason but there are other reasons. The Olympics team has allowed us to focus on the U.S. entry comprised of NBA players, but that's not all several of the world's nations have NBA players on their rosters. In addition we might forget there was no NBA Summer League basketball last July due to the Lock-out; this also meant no Board of Governors meetings. NBA news will slow but there are a number of quality free agents yet to sign contracts. This has not been a normal NBA summer.

This is old but still funny! For any youngster reading this and fail to recognize the guy at the end of the commercial he’s Yogi Berra, former Yankee great and Hall of Fame catcher. You know what to do, cut n paste.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vnz9VAmS_A

　
The NIT and Madison Square Garden are historically intertwined, in all likelihood the NIT Tournament will never move to Barclays Center or anywhere else for that matter. 1. "The NCAA, the NIT and the Madison Square Garden Co. announced a three-year agreement to keep the NIT Season Tip-Off semifinals and title game at the New York arena along with the season-ending tournament in April." The nation's second oldest basketball tournament (1938) was played a year prior to the first NCAA Basketball Tournament; in 1985 an annual pre-
season tournament was held for the first time. The NCAA Tournament began in 1938 and continued to expand the number of participating teams every few years. Schools once considered automatic locks for the NIT began to politic for the prestige of the NCAA tourney. In the eyes of the public the NIT post-season tourney began to lack the luster of the NCAA tourney with it's smaller and less attractive number of schools.  (1. Associated Press)