Bulletin
An account written earlier (below in Bits n Pieces) might be a portion of the basis for Doc Rivers leaving Boston. It’s been reported the Celtic coach is headed to Los Angeles and the Clippers. I was wrong, wrong and wrong; I thought tightwad owner Donald Sterling would never meet Rivers salary demands. In the past Sterling has been notorious for his failure to pay coaches.

Change is in the wind
The Heat are NBA Champs for a second season, they are to be congratulated for repeating. I had this thing all figured out, I said to several friends it would be a 7-game series. The only problem I picked the wrong team, I thought Duncan and crew had one more run left in them. Despite the playoff run the future might not be bright for the Spurs. The following is a projection for next season it’s only my best guess, trades or free agent signings could change the picture for each of the teams. Unless someone in San Antonio manages to inject “youth juice” into Manu Ginobili he’s through. He’s been an outstanding player for the Spurs franchise however it appears to be retirement time. “The Big Fundamental” Tim Duncan has one or two more seasons left. Tony Parker played at a high level should have several good years left. The balance of the Spurs team looks pretty average except Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green and Gary Neal. The question becomes can that trio become the new Big Three for the Spurs?

The Heat is NBA Champions however questions remain about them too. These questions have little to do with LeBron; he will play at his usual peak level. The supporting cast is my question. 0 points in a 7^th championship game for Chris Bosh ain’t gonna cut it. Based on his contributions he is overpaid, besides the fact he is not a center. As for Dwayne Wade has the grind of the NBA worn him down? Can he continue to play at a high level or only periodically? The Heat need a center as mentioned, they need somebody to rebound the ball and the bench needs improvement. I have no ability to peer into the future I can only reflect on the history. LeBron was quoted this championship was more difficult to win than last season, think its going to be any easier next season?

We never know playoff match ups until teams meet. The Heat faced the Bulls and Pacers which they were able to overcome; can they do it again next season? Next season the Bulls with a larger front line will have Derrick Rose in the lineup from day one. The Pacers who physically dominated the Heat with Roy Hibbert and Paul George will have a growth year behind them. It remains to be seen if 21 ppg (over the previous three seasons) Danny Granger is retained or traded. If the Pacers decide to keep George and Granger their bench becomes more potent. The young Pacer team should be even better next season. The Knicks, Nets or Hawks could be lying in the weeds waiting for an unsuspecting Heat team to take them too lightly. You state it will never occur, how about the 1994 NBA Playoffs. *“The biggest upset (in NBA history) came in the first round, when the Denver Nuggets came back from a 2-0 deficit to beat the Seattle Supersonics in game 5, marking the first time in NBA history that an 8th-seed had defeated a #1 seed.” *(Wikipedia)

Another NBA draft story
Drafted on potential and not actual play, it’s always easy when you are 7 feet tall. That is the case for Dwayne Dedmon of Southern Cal. His journey was profiled in Sports Illustrated, *“He was raised by a strict religious single parent mother.” It’s not the fact Dedmon did not make an effort he made his high school team every year but his mother forbade him to play. Finally at age 18 and a senior he played but rode the bench all year long. His high school point total 2 points.” After beginning as a freshman at Antelope Valley Junior College Dedmon is now a junior at Southern Cal, his numbers are only average however he’s grown to a height of 7 feet and weighs 239 pounds. A far cry from the skinny 6-10 190 pound high school body he once possessed. To top it off both draftexpress.com and NBADraft net have Dedmon on their list of draft potentials. Of course your name on a mock draft list guarantees nothing. A question might be when is the last time you’ve seen a 7 foot player with average numbers on the NBA’s radar? No response is necessary, thought so. (*SI.com)

Bits n Pieces
Read what you will into this, it’s reported Kobe Bryant claims the Lakers need to re-sign Dwight Howard. A number of stories circulated during the season regarding the two players, most of them indicating there was animosity between the two. So much for all the talk of them not seeing eye to eye, do we really ever know?

Here’s hoping Kansas guard Travis Reliford makes it to the NBA. This Kansas City (Mo) native has two qualities the NBA loves. He is big for a guard (6-6 210 pounds) and Reliford plays hard-nose defense. One of the barbers at the shop I get my haircut said; “I could see him being a Bruce Bowen type player.” He can shoot the ball he just sacrificed offense for the teams defensive profile. If he fails to latch on to an NBA team there is the possibility of a Euro career.

Remember the report of Celtics Rajon Rondo-Ray Allen feuding? That was the basis for Allen wanting out, now word of another clash. This time Doc Rivers and Rondo were about to go to blows after Rondo cursed at Rivers. No date and time but Rivers had to be held back from going after the point guard. This might be a reason Doc wanted out of Boston and we continue to hear Rondo trade stories.

Heat fans are coming from everywhere; it seems the nation has become obsessed with this team. I have a question, I wonder if many of these folks could be categorized as fans prior to three years ago? The franchise had won an NBA Championship in 2006 however it appeared they gained but a few fans. Are you familiar with the term “bandwagon”?