His vocabulary
If you lived in the New York Metro you’ve been listening to Knicks broadcaster Walt Frazier for a number of years. Frazier played 10 seasons for the Knicks and was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987. At the time the NBA selected its all-time Top 50 Players Frazier was one of the honorees. Those outside the metro able to view Knick games on NBA League Pass or NBA TV are familiar with his broadcasts. During a portion of a recent Knicks game Frazier used the word sagacious (suh-gey-shuh s) in a description of game action. I had no idea of the definition nor do I remember hearing the word in the past. For dummies like me I decided to check the dictionary; “having or showing acute mental discernment and keen practical sense; shrewd” Thus ends today’s teaching moment from Walt Frazier courtesy of Larry Laker. (dictionary.com)

Am I a true fan?
Laker fans are certainly going to question my loyalty after reading this. I am disappointed the team has played so poorly this season but I didn’t have outlandish expectations. If this sounds as if it’s an excuse so be it. I thought the additions of Howard and Nash would improve the team, I hoped Meeks and Jamison would raise the level of bench play. I was questioned extensively by friends and acquaintances over the summer regarding Laker off-season moves. I told them “I thought the team had improved however I expected a championship the following season” (2013-14). Of course that observation was met with skepticism, “why wouldn’t you expect a championship based on the changes?” I am always on the side of caution; and there is a reason. I don't think anyone had a clue Nash would be unable to play his first regular season game in a Laker uniform until late December.   

I don’t think any of us had an idea the team would go 0-8 in the pre-season and Mike Brown would be fired after just the first 5 regular season games. Once Brown was fired we all assumed Phil Jackson would be hired in his place. Another bend in the road, Mike D’Antoni was named head coach and along with him a brand-new system. A new offensive and defensive scheme implemented without benefit of training camp. The key of course is the time it takes this team or any to gel; the Heat that first year certainly had bumps in the road and they didn’t change coaches. That Heat team eventually came together, they didn’t win a championship but they competed. Bottom line that’s all I wanted the Lakers to do this year, compete---next season hopefully a championship. If by some chance my team manages to win this year it’s just a bonus.

Re-inventing history
Kansas fans love them some Bill Self and they have good cause. Self’s won an NCAA championship and has continued the national spotlight that shines on the school. Allow a brief journey into the past back to a time when things were not so good in Lawrence Kansas. Coach Ted Owens (remember him) had come off of back to back seasons of 13-14 and 13-16 at the time Larry Brown replaced him. Brown led the school to a 135-44 record and an NCAA championship in 1988. Brown’s only problem has been the same throughout his career---staying in one place for any length of time, he left after 5 years. We know about James Naismith and Phog Allen of course, the modern day coach who placed Kansas on the national basketball map is one Roy Allen Williams. Hold on a minute Larry Laker are you promoting revisionist history? At the time he was hired the question was asked in this part of the country Roy who?

Williams became head coach at Kansas after serving as Dean Smith’s top assistant at North Carolina. During his 15 year tenure at Kansas the school registered 418 wins while losing 101 (.805 percentage). The one blemish if there is one many Kansas fans think he should have won a national championship. It’s my belief Bill Self and staff can sit in any family room in the nation thanks to Roy Williams. I know many of the Kansas faithful are still upset because he left to return “home” and coach North Carolina. Given the opportunity to return and coach at your alma mater who wouldn’t? Kansas State fans thought they had Bob Huggins for a considerable number of years. Less than a full year after the Huggins hire he was on his way to West Virginia his alma mater. I know a number of Kansas fans might not appreciate this, I’m sorry that’s the way I see it. Agree with me or not Roy Williams laid the ground work for much of your present day success.

This is a far different age
Imagine this story a newly hired coach registers a 38-47 after his first three years on the job. In the third year at the school the team finishes 11-17; you suppose that coach might still have a job? In this microwave/internet/twitter age we desire, no we demand instant results or answers. Depending on the state of a basketball program a coach must be allowed adequate time to recruit “his” players and implement his coaching philosophy. It’s possible the coach might be forced to cut players recruited by his predecessor (Larry Brown SMU). By the way the 38-47 was registered by Coach Mike Krzyzewski of Duke. Coming into the season Coach K’s won-loss record stands at 927–289; we could speculate what might have occurred if Coach K. had began his career in today’s highly volatile stage. The word of the day might be patience, patience and more patience.