Basketball from a fans perspective


Addendum 
Music legend Stevie Wonder provided Darryl Dawkins the nickname “Chocolate Thunder.”  I was mistaken believing Dawkins had anointed himself with the name.   Numerous NBA fans and players expressed their condolences.  I’d forgotten to mention Dawkins provided us names of all his dunks.  Just a few Dawkins named; “the Rim Wrecker, the Go-Rilla and the Yo-Mama.”

Baseball playing’ brother
Klay Thompson is one half of the Warriors tandem dubbed the “Splash Brothers.”
He and Steph Curry are not related however both have siblings.  Klay has a biological younger brother who plays for the Chicago White Sox?  Trayce Thompson was called up from the minors recently by the Sox and has been on fire.  He is a 6-3 210 pound right hand hitting outfielder and is batting at a meteoric .469 pace with 2 home runs and 6 runs batted in.  Klay’s younger brother certainly will not continue hitting at this rate, the larger question can Trayce become an everyday outfielder for the White Sox.

Inside Shawn Bradley
The seismic shock registered 6.5 on the Richter scale but was only those in New York City noticed the movement.  The seismic shift was based on the Phil Jackson comments comparing the Knicks first pick Kristaps Porzingis in the 2015 draft to Shawn Bradley.  Anybody besides me remember Bradley the second pick in the 1993 draft by the 76ers?  He stood 7-6 and weighed 276 pounds limited offensively was expected to clog the lane and grab rebounds.  Bradley left the NBA in 2005 after a rather unspectacular career, in addition to the 76ers he played for the Nets and Mavs.  His best year in the NBA might have been the ‘96-‘97 season when he played for the Mavs he scored 14.6 points per game and grabbed 8.7 rebounds.

Hollywood released a movie in 1993 titled “Inside John Malkovich” which wasn’t very good (I admit it I watched it).  The premise a person could crawl inside of Malkovich’s head and see the world as he saw it, see how silly this was.  I don’t remember much about the movie it should be available somewhere on video if you care to see it.  I wonder if we had the capability of crawling inside Shaw Bradley’s head what would be his world view.  Did he really love basketball or just played the game due to his height advantage?  Finally none of us can accomplish every task we attempt at a high level; did Bradley maximize his basketball talent in those areas he excelled in?

It’s all good---maybe
Have events in Sacramento mellowed over the last few weeks?  You might remember the reports indicating owner Vivek Ranadive after hiring George Karl was reported to be ready to fire Karl.  The coach has/had experienced problems with the teams’ talented center ‘Boogie’ Cousins.  I never read or heard any reports of a peace treaty but that appears to be the case.  Recently an event was held in Sacramento and a photo was taken with Karl displaying a Cousins jersey.

Training camp is several weeks away; the season is even more distant.  Has there been a meeting of the minds between Ranadive, Cousins and Karl?  Before I published this report came word the Kings signed 6-2 shooting guard Marshall Henderson.  What if the former Ole Miss player earns a roster spot?  Henderson wasn’t drafted after his senior year in 2014 and the answer might lie with his actions on and off the court.

Depends on your perspective
Kentucky’s John Calipari made news by stating; “I’m glad I didn’t take the Cavs job.”  Somebody looked at his comment as a negative considering the Cavs played for the NBA Championship, I didn’t take his remark in the manner several in the media did.  Consider this tidbit, Calipari was offered the head coaching job prior to LeBron’s return.  In addition David Blatt weathered quite a bit of grief for someone with his past coaching resume.  Reports last winter circulated at times Blatt was about to be fired, I‘m sure Cal would have taken all the rumors in stride.  Come to think of it so did David Blatt, we heard not one negative word that I remember from him while the vultures were circulating over his body.  

Another life destination 
Over the course of time Bulls management has often been at odds with its fans and the general public.  As example the “in-fighting” that occurred between former GM Jerry Krause with Phil Jackson and Michael Jordan has been documented by scores of the media, the latest might be the firing of Coach Tom Thibodeau.  There are probably other negatives but how about a time Bulls management did it correctly.  If you are unaware of his background you might not believe ESPN’s Jay Williams was once an outstanding basketball player.  Williams emerged from Duke with all the credentials to become an NBA super star.

An off-season injury would change the direction of his life.  He was riding a motorcycle (in violation of his Bulls contract) and had no proper license, Williams would crash and suffer devastating injuries.  He would never again don a Bulls jersey his NBA career ended before it actually had begun.  As for the Bulls they could have refused to pay him after all he violated his contract.  Guess what Bulls management did?  They paid the full amount of William’s contract something they had all the rights to not do.  Williams has become a valuable member of the media serving ESPN as a college basketball analyst.  Williams also provides insight during the NBA Draft Combine.

Basketball from a fans perspective

Diamond in the Rough
Video of Victor Uyaelunmo is available for your viewing and your assessment, who is he you ask?  Chinedu “Victor” Uyaelunmo attends Gulliver Prep High School in Miami although Uyaelunmo is actually from the West African nation of Nigeria.  This 2017 prospect is 6-11 or 7 feet depending on your sources and a slim 207 pounds.  I know your first thought; “He’s awful thin” you’re probably thinking.  I would agree however there are two points of view to consider regarding his weight.    

At the college level Uyaelunmo will have a spot reserved in the weight room.  The second view is he may never weigh 250 pounds or more Marcus Camby immediately comes to my mind.  The former UMass center/power forward was believed too small for the NBA by many (including me).  Camby did gain but never weighed more than 240 pounds; he managed a 17-year NBA career.  Whoa hold on a moment this is no preview of future stardom for Uyaelunmo just an observation.

Play for pay
Perhaps we must consider the source; Seth Greenberg is a college coach turned television analyst.  He made a comment recently and I’ll attempt to paraphrase it.  He said; “We should put in a 24-second clock and other changes and just call college players pro.”  Greenberg was referring to the proposal for paying college athletes.  He further stated; “I never treated my players as employees.”  My two cents worth, the NCAA is a multi-billion dollar industry and it is an industry.

A player’s likeness should never ever be used in the manner similar to what EA Sports did.  We cannot “close the barn door after the cow has escaped” but we must figure out an equitable manner to distribute funds.  The NCAA earns millions on athletes who don’t earn a dime.  I am omitting the dollar scholarships, am I in favor of play for pay you ask?  I have issues with paying athletes however the brains at the NCAA should come fully into the 21st Century.

We forgot him
Steph Curry and his 3-point shooting have been the talk of the basketball world.  The basketball world has forgotten one of the very first great 3-point shooters Louie Dampier.  Dampier played from 1967 to 1976 for the Kentucky Colonels of the ABA and after the NBA/ABA merger played three additional seasons with the Spurs once they came into the NBA.  The 6 foot 175 pound Dampier played his college ball at Kentucky.

After finishing college he was drafted by the NBA Cincinnati Royals (Kings) and the ABA Colonels which he chose.  If we just look at his numbers they are not eye-popping however he was a dead-eye shooter at the point.  He was an ABA Champion and 7X ABA All Star.  In the rush to include the ABA in the Naismith Hall of Fame Dampier was overlooked as player after player was accorded the honor.  In February Dampier was announced as one of those to be enshrined in the Hall in September.

The 'other' Kentucky school
We think of Kentucky basketball and the University of Kentucky Wildcats first come to mind.  Adolph Rupp and the rich winning tradition right up to the present with John Calipari.  Almost forgotten but a fact from 1970 through 1972 the best basketball in the State of Kentucky was a shared experience I’m referring to the University of Kentucky and Kentucky State University in Frankfort.  During those years mentioned Kentucky State was an NAIA powerhouse winning three consecutive national championships.  In 1970 they defeated Central Washington 79-71 finishing the season 29-3, the following year they vanquished Eastern Michigan 102-82 and concluded with a 31-2 mark.  The last championship would occur in 1972 as Wisconsin-Eau Claire fell 71-62 the Thorobreds finishing the season 28-5.  Kentucky State was led principally by two players who would go on to NBA careers, 6-7 sharpshooter Travis “Machine Gun” Grant and 7-0 center Elmore Smith.

Smith would be a first round pick by the Buffalo Braves (Clippers) in 1971 while Grant was a first round choice by the Lakers the following year.  Grant a renowned scorer (4,045 points in four years) was never able to come close to his NAIA numbers in the NBA.  Grant was dubbed “Machine Gun” because he lofted shots at a prolific pace all over the court, in addition this was before the NBA had a 3-point line.  Smith would have more success in the NBA than his former teammate averaging nearly 14 points and pulling down 10+ rebounds a game during his NBA career.  Smith was a master shot blocker leading the NBA in that category for two consecutive seasons.  He still holds the single game record with a high of 17 block shots set against the Blazers in an October 1973 game.  Years later Kentucky State would leave the NAIA ranks for NCAA Division II however those NAIA championship teams should never be forgotten.

“Chocolate Thunder”
Yesterday Darryl Dawkins died suddenly at 58 years of age; the former 76er was one of those individuals that always seemed larger than life.  He arrived in the NBA from high school the 5th pick in the first round of the 1975 draft a 6-11 251 pound force.  Dawkins would refer to himself as Chocolate Thunder and stated he was from the Planet Lovetron.  He had as many headlines as Dr. J., Andrew Toney and Doug Collins and other 76ers of the period.  Collapsible rims are standard on basketball courts around the world but few realize Dawkins was the driving force behind the rims being implemented.  He may not have been the first but he certainly gained the most notoriety when he took down a backboard in Kansas City against the Kings.  After he destroyed a second one the NBA begin plans to commission work on collapsible rims all due to Dawkins monstrous dunks. Many believed if he’d taken a more serious approach to the game he might have become a basketball legend. In a manner of speaking he did become a legend, R.I. P. Chocolate Thunder.

Basketball from a fans perspective


It’s true
His persona is the basis for my “man-crush” on Kobe Bryant and is perhaps the key for Kobe haters.  On his 37th birthday approaching his 20th year in the NBA ESPN reminded us of one of his many quotes.  “Friends can come and go, but banners hang forever.”  Five championships he’s been a part of and a challenge to his contemporaries.  Think about this point a moment how many active players have four or even three championship rings?  

NBA in Seattle
We’ll never experience an NBA team with Kansas City displayed across the front of the jersey.  Thus I will take up the cause of NBA fans in the Emerald City.  Allow me to first explain I’ve never traveled to Seattle, from all indications it appears to be a progressive city.  I cannot offer proof however I don’t believe Howard Schultz demanded the Sonics remain in the city.  I don’t believe the Starbucks CEO cared one way or another he wanted to sell the team.  Again I offer no proof but I believe Clayton Bennett’s group indicated to move the Sonics to Oklahoma City all along.  Absentee owners exist and many have a good relationship with the city although it’s not their home.

The NFL Chiefs might be an example; Kansas City has a 50-year relationship with the Hunt family who own the team.  The governor signed on the arena bill in Wisconsin which places the Bucks in place for years.  There were reports ownership was looking westward if the arena deal was not affirmed.  Adam Silver has already gone on record indicating there is no expansion plan for the NBA presently.  I will not talk about the Sacramento (Kings) to Seattle move which didn’t occur.  Unlike Kansas City there appears to be an owner with deep pockets willing to invest in an NBA team.  In fact Chris Hansen might fund an expansion team for Seattle if the NBA ever said; “Let’s do this.”

On Mizzou’s radar
Mizzou has failed to attract quality big men for a number of years its certainly not due to lack of effort.  Stephen Zimmerman (UNLV) and Thomas Bryant (Indiana) were just two of several with offers on the table from Mizzou.  Currently on the school’s radar (and several others) is Mohamed Bamba, the 6-11 Bamba from Harlem (NY) is a 5-star 2017 prospect and number four nationally.  He’s got a 7’ 8” wingspan and a slim 205 pounds.  With his shot blocking skill his future might lie at center rather than power forward.  Bamba attends Westtown School in West Chester (PA) located about 30 plus miles from downtown Philadelphia.  Keep an eye out for Mohamed Bamba’s future development.

Another talent
I laughed out loud when I read LSU football Coach Les Miles indicated he’d like 6-9 Ben Simmons to catch passes for him.  Miles was only half-joking about Simmons, we are unsure regarding the football talent of Simmons.  The number one high school prospect in the nation might be one of those athletes good enough to play another sport.  There basketball players who could have chosen another sport or occupation?  A few came to our attention in basketball first.  Tony Gonzalez was a 6-5 All-Pro tight end catching passes and blocking for the NFL Chiefs and Falcons.  I remember first seeing him on the basketball court playing for Cal a dual sport athlete at the school.

6-6 Dave Winfield spent considerable years roaming the outfield for the Padres and Yankees, he chose baseball over basketball which he played at Minnesota.  6-7 Frank Howard appeared on the basketball court at Ohio State prior to an outfield career for the Dodgers and others.  There are others omitted but just wanted to point out a few who might have excelled in basketball.  Prior to publication the 6-10 Simmons informed Coach Miles he can play wide receiver in addition he‘s available if the football team needs him.  

He’s up for the challenge
Roy Hibbert says “He’s up for the challenge of playing with Kobe. “  Kobe can sometimes be a difficult teammate, this occurs when he believes they are not playing to the level he believes they are capable of.  As for Laker fans don’t fool yourself you will never mistake the 7-2 Hibbert for Kareem or Shaq.  Hibbert is challenged offensively however he is close to an above average center defensively.  If Hibbert can manage to secure the paint block a few shots snatch a few rebounds we are likely to hear little from Kobe.  History indicates Hibbert has been an adept passer so that should work in his favor.  Hibbert might be complaining in January about the challenge of playing with Kobe, for the present he appears ready to face the Kobe test.

Basketball from a fans perspective


I believe him
Seth Curry is now sporting a Kings jersey after an extended journey through the NBA and D-League.  To date Seth’s been unable to emulate the success of his older brother thus the number of stops in his pro career.  He hopes Sacramento will be his last stop, according to Google Maps point to point Sacramento and Oakland are approximately 100 miles apart.  That’s certainly close enough for the teams to be rivals and now the added ingredient sibling rivalry?  Someone must have posed the question to Steph regarding his brother; “I’d have no problem dropping 50 on him.”  Somehow I have no difficulty believing Steph’s assertion.  This upcoming NBA season should prove interesting in Northern California.    

Most overused phrase
You can stop reading if you’ve heard the sentence; “He (or she) has a high basketball IQ.”  I’m unsure when I first heard the phrase used can you?  I’ve come to the conclusion this might be the most overused sports cliché in existence at the current time.  The explanation is simple and easy to comprehend but what not use a simpler example.  Wouldn’t it be easier to say “________ understands all phases of the game?  He‘s always thinking ahead of the next move” or a similar type of pronouncement.  Maybe using IQ in the sentence makes the person described appear smarter or more into the game.  Who knows the true answer; I just want broadcasters, analysts and others to quit using the phrase.  This is just my desire ain’t gonna change anytime soon.

What do you think?
Michael Jordan is suing a grocery store chain in Chicago; they used his image without securing permission.  According to Forbes Magazine Jordan is now a billionaire which places him in exclusive company.  He and media mogul Oprah Winfrey are the only black billionaires in the nation.  An economist testifying for the Jordan side claimed in his testimony; “The fair market value of Jordan’s image in advertising is at least $10 million dollars.”  Finance is most likely the basis for the suit but just as important the fact management failed to secure permission.

Understand this Jordan’s agent testified his client’s net worth has increased since his retirement.  Bear in mind almost weekly we read or hear stories of pirated music and complaints from those in the music industry.  Artists have filed similar lawsuits to Jordan so he’s certainly not unique in that regard.  I’m not claiming my view is correct just my observation.  NOTE:  Prior to publication of this account the trial concluded with a judgment in favor of Michael Jordan, he was awarded $8.9 million dollars in damages.  

Renaissance Man
Webster’s Dictionary defines Renaissance Man “A man who has wide interests and is expert in several areas.”  That definition certainly fits former NBA player Bob Lanier.  An outstanding pro career with the Pistons and Bucks led his election to the Naismith Hall of Fame.  Prior to the hall selection at the time Lanier retired in 1984 he invested $50,000 and formed Bob Lanier Enterprises a promotional marketing company.  His marketing company continues to operate to date.  Lanier also found time to serve as head of NBA Cares which is the leagues global initiative focusing on education, youth and family development plus health and wellness.  This account is far too brief to address that Lanier is a diverse man involved in several enterprises and a True Renaissance Man.

Bits n Pieces
I guess by now you realize Kentucky and John Calipari might be my second favorite college team, as for the news of the day an earlier report has been confirmed.  7-foot 245 pound Isaac Humphries by way of Australia is officially a Wildcat.  He’s in the Class of 2015 which means he’ll join the crop of talented remaining roster members.  

I ain’t mad at J.R. Smith; he tried to maximize himself in free-agency.  He discovered there were no takers at the amount of money he was asking.  Smith announced on Instagram he was re-signing with the Cavs.  Without checking I believe Smith won’t be receiving the money he first requested.

Remember the 1993 movie Rudy; it conveyed the story of a good high school football player at Notre Dame not good enough to play.  In the closing scene of the movie his teammates determined to get Rudy in the game they violated the coaches play book.    Although supposedly a true story parts of it are disputed.  Before he died in 2002 Coach Dan Devine (1975-1980 at Notre Dame) claimed he didn’t remember the events depicted in the movie.  In a scene from the movie events paralleled the movie.  Casey Perrin a 5-9 walk on at Campbell University appears before his teammates and the coach announces he will receive a scholarship for his senior year.  He’s mobbed by his teammates who appreciate their teammate who’s scored only nine points in three years.

Basketball from a fans perspective


Update
If you check the Roll Tide story published on Wednesday it must be updated.  A portion dealt with Kobe Eubanks one of the basketball talents headed to Alabama.  As the story was published Wednesday morning a change regarding Eubanks was announced the same evening.  The NCAA Clearinghouse was unable to clear Eubanks and Coach Johnson says he will not enroll at Alabama.  The status of this highly talented 6-5 prospect is in limbo, unable to enroll at the school of his choice.  With such a short time period remaining prior to the start of school Eubanks only opportunity might be enrolling at a community college.

Big Blue Nation
6-10 power forward Sacha Killeya-Jones committed to Kentucky, the 4-star prospect is from Lynchburg (VA) and rated number 51 on Rivals Class of 2016 prospects.
Killeya-Jones stated Coach Cal was the reason he chose Kentucky rather than another school.  I’m unsure if this was covered earlier however there is another prospect headed to Kentucky.  Tai Wynyard also a 4-star prospect is a 6-9 power forward and the number 43 prospect in the Class of 2016.  Wynard hails from the South Pacific island nation of New Zealand.

Nacogdoches
Pronounced Nak-uh-doh-chuh z is a city of almost 33,000 Texans and is located about 140 miles north-northeast of Houston and 90 miles southwest of Shreveport (LA).  Nacogdoches is also home to a basketball power unfamiliar to most of the nation.  The city is home to the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks who compete in the Southland Conference.  After serving as an assistant at several stops he assumed the helm of the Lumberjacks in 2013.  His first team finished the season 32-3 18-0 in the conference.  Last season in the 13-team league they led the way last season with a 29-5 record 17-1 in the conference.

Both seasons the Lumberjacks were selected for the NCAA Tournament.  Underwood deserves credit for the school’s outstanding record but not completely.  The Lumberjacks last sub par season was 2006-07 when they finished 15-14 overall and 8-8 in the conference.  Because they play in a smaller conference the Stephen F. Austin doesn’t receive the publicity of Duke, Kentucky and others.  If we could fast forward to March of 2016 it’s likely we’ll find the Lumberjacks in the NCAA Tourney once again.

Better than expected
Almost everyone expected the Heat to fall in a hole; you know that huge gap after the departure of LeBron James to Cleveland.  They managed to finish the season with a
37-45 record despite injuries to key members.  Chris Bosh had to shut it down after playing but 44 games and Dwayne Wade missed 20 games.  Before he succumbed to injury the numbers Bosh put up were outstanding as he was no longer in the shadow of LeBron.  With these two missing so much time who would step into the void, I’m glad you ask the question.  Hassan Whiteside became Superman as he rushed to the rescue; the 7-foot center proved he could play after “drifting” around in a basketball waste land.

In addition Goran Dragic stabilized the point guard position in my view; Mario Chalmers is strictly a reserve player.  They “stole” Duke’s Justise Winslow in the June draft, don’t expect eye-popping numbers from the youngster nevertheless he can play.  In addition there is veteran Luol Deng at the small forward who will enter his second year with the Heat.  There are several positives as the Heat look toward the 2015-16 season.  The return of Bosh, Dragic for the entire year the continued development of Whiteside sees where I’m going?  They need D-Wade to play more than 62 games.  This team will not win the 2016 NBA Championship but should compete for a playoff spot.  The Heat has one of the best basketball minds in Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra has grown in his role as head coach.

Basketball from a fans perspective


Donald Sterling
A year after the fact I continue to read letters from fans defending former Clippers owner Donald Sterling.  They have a common theme “His team was taken from him illegally” or
“How can they use a hidden recording against him?”  I was researching a story and came across a bit of information on Sterling I believed worth sharing.  Due to the nature of the article I wanted to double and triple check it, do so at your leisure.  I have no idea if a teams coaching staff is covered by a blanket policy or if coaches and the like are responsible individually.  Without any spin former Clippers assistant coach Kim Hughes was diagnosed with prostrate cancer in 2004. 1.  “In September 2004, while he was a Clippers assistant, Hughes was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He was premed at Wisconsin, so he had an idea what he was up against. His doctor told him that he could wait a few months for surgery, but the team was preparing for training camp and he didn’t want to miss a chunk of the season recuperating. So Hughes went for a second opinion and found a doctor that would do the surgery a week later.

But he wasn’t covered under my insurance plan,” Hughes told ESPNLosAngeles.com.
“We had a certain group of doctors we could go to. So if I elected to use him, it’d be out of my pocket. “[The Clippers] didn’t talk to me directly about it. They told, I believe my agent, that the reason they couldn’t pay for the surgery is if they paid for mine, if anybody else had a problem — head coach, secretary, assistant coach — if they paid for mine, the onus would be on them for everybody else. I said, ‘That’s fine. I choose to try and save my life, and if I have to pay for it myself, I will.'”  Then Coach Mike Dunleavy, who had recommended the new doctor, mentioned Hughes’ plight to some players.  Several players on that team — including Corey Maggette, Chris Kaman, Elton Brand and Marko Jaric — offered to help” Were Sterling and the Clippers correct in saying NO, if an exception was made would others come forward with requests for aid?  In this instance surgery was reported to be $70,000 dollars.
1.  Outside the Beltway March 15, 2011

Roll Tide
We’ve heard plenty of discussion regarding coaches who left the collegiate ranks for the NBA, how about the opposite?  Avery Johnson with several NBA coaching stops surfaced in April at the University of Alabama. How quickly could Johnson adapt to this new endeavor?  No question regarding his knowledge of the X’s and O’s of the game however recruiting is key to a successful college basketball program.  How would coach adapt to this phase of the game?  Well it seems he’s hit the ground running, Johnson hired in April received his first commit the following month.  Kobie Eubanks a 4-star 2015 prospect committed in May and indicated Johnson was key to his decision.

Imagine the surprise later this football school and a basketball power both vying for the same athlete and that athlete chooses Alabama over Kansas.  Terrance Ferguson a 6-6 180 pound shooting guard is Rivals number 11 and a 5-star prospect in 2016.  The Kansas City Star report indicates the Kansas coaching staff believed they were in the lead and Ferguson would commit to Kansas.  It’s a long way to 2016 Ferguson can always de-commit but if I were among the Kansas faithful I wouldn’t hold my breath.  The seismic shock we experienced was Alabama accomplishing an end run on Kansas a feat unthinkable in the past but now becomes reality at least for now.    

The Zen Master at work
Knick fans have done a continuous boil since June 25 when Commissioner Silver announced; “With the fourth pick in the 2015 NBA Draft the Knicks chose Kristaps Porzingas of Latvia.”  The New York media laid in on Phil Jackson and Carmelo Anthony was also reported to be displeased with the draft.  Since that evening in June bits and pieces of commentary have come forth from media and fans.  I searched for a comment from resident celebrity fan Spike Lee but was unable to locate one.  Should we suppose Lee is okay with the choice?  In any event Phil Jackson continues to stir the pot of controversy with his tidbits of information.  The latest regarding 1st round pick Kristaps Porzingas.

“Like Shawn Bradley, who was nevertheless a good player, KP almost might be too tall for the game.  What I mean is his core strength might never be good enough, and that might not be able to get low enough to get himself into prime defensive to body power rebounders or drivers.”  Porzingas is a slim 220 pounds and will gain weight in a manner similar to Bradley but it might not be enough based on his growth pattern.  Reports indicate Porzingas is continuing to grow and currently he‘s listed as 7-1.  This is all Knick fans needed to hear in order to create chaos once again.  I cannot address other media however it certainly became a topic of discussion on ESPN’s Around the Horn and Pardon the Interruption program.  Indications are Porzingas is more skilled offensively than Bradley but certainly must prove he can play at the NBA level.  

“Money to burn”
Those unfamiliar with the term it’s simply states you have no need to worry about finances.  You can spend and spend and spend with no concern of the outcome to your lifestyle, should we suppose this tune might apply to the 76ers?  Darren Rovell ESPN’s finance guy claims Oden has cost the 76er’s $9 million dollars in the two years he’s failed to appear on the basketball court.  Unfortunately Embiid appears to be following a trail blazed earlier by another 7-footer Greg Oden.  Following the leader is not good in this instance because its keeps Embiid off the court for the second consecutive basketball season.

Embiid and Oden were first round draft choices, Embiid number one in 2014 by the 76ers and Oden the number three pick by the Blazers in 2007.  In a manner similar to Oden the promise of Embiid appeared to be cut above ordinary.  Oden had shown promise in high school, with little basketball history nobody had an idea he would develop so quickly.  He would displace starting center Tarik Black, hopefully this latest surgery will allow Embiid to return to the basketball court and fulfill the promise he exhibited in college.

Basketball from a fans perspective


This is a change
The Jordan brand might soon spin off on its own, the shoes and apparel will continue to be manufactured by Nike.  The change will be the manner the brand might be marketed in the future.  Plans are in the works for a Chicago Jordan apparel store, why Chicago over some other city you ask?  The city is home to the Bulls and Michael Jordan where the modern legend began.          

“It’s all the Medias fault”
Devean George recently spoke before a national gathering of black journalists.  Among the topics he discussed was the Shaq-Kobe feud.  He said; “The media made the Shaq-Kobe feud bigger than it was.”  Many might be unfamiliar with George; he spent 11 years in the NBA with the Lakers, Mavs and Warriors.  He played for the Lakers from 1999-2006 and would have spent considerable time in a shared locker room.  George could be blowing smoke in our face but what does he gain at this point?  Point--he never indicated there were no problems he simply stated he believed the media was responsible for much of the dialogue.  

Not always the case
The Devean George story is a negative regarding the media.  “Hoof and Mouth” disease is when you stick your foot in your mouth.  No such case as the media “misquoting” you when it’s in the form of a tweet. “Straight up better than a lot of them dudes” was sent out by the Clippers Austin Rivers.  This claim was made in reference to the players trying out for Team USA.  Is there anymore to add to this quote?  NOTE:  Later Rivers would say he’s competitive and just wanted to share with others his belief he belongs on the court with the best.

Did you hear?
Former 2007 number one draft choice Greg Oden is in the news once again.  Although playing sparingly over the years due to injuries he‘s still only 27-years old.  As for the history the promise of an NBA future the Blazers made him the number one choice rather than Kevin Durant.  It’s not the NBA this time Oden will being play for the Jiangsu Dragons of the Chinese Basketball League.  Since I’m geographically challenged at times I researched and discovered Jiangsu is an eastern coastal province in the Peoples Republic of China.  Oden’s played only 105 games since 2007 in fact he didn’t play in the NBA from 2010 through 2013.  If Oden can remain healthy he might become revered in China in a similar manner to Stephen Marbury, hopefully he can resurrect his playing career.

Best duo ever
Name the best duo of your favorite NBA team, there may have been several throughout time.  As for my Lakers one of their fan websites asked the question; “Which is the best Laker duo Shaq/Kobe or Magic/ Kareem?”  I thought I would attempt to see if I could answer the question so bear with me.  Athletically Kobe is way ahead of Magic and Kobe’s shooting skill surpasses that of Magic.  Better passer easy call, Magic much better although keep in mind we are comparing a point guard to a shooting guard.  Who was the superior defender, here I give the nod to Kobe although Magic certainly played good team defense.  The Kareem-Shaq match up is far easier to profile because both played the same position.

No one can deny Shaquille O’Neal was a force in the paint; few were willing to stand their ground when he spun toward the basket or was on break to throw down a furious dunk.  As a defender Shaq has a slight edge over Kareem although “Cap” could hold his own.  Sky hook is all I need to say, Kareem’s shot was unstoppable.  Centers of that period pushed and bumped Kareem all over the floor, once he went across the lane was his skyhook ever blocked?  I’m really unsure if I can choose one duo over the other because I see advantages for both duos.  The advantages are clearly not overwhelming which leads me in the direction of a draw.  You don’t like ties neither do I however I cannot declare a clear winner.  

There is no comparison
In the hearts and minds of sports fans the NFL ranks first, the practice of hiring is a far different story.  In April this year the NFL proudly announced they hired the first female official.  No doubt she is qualified and good for the league however they are tardy to the party; in 1997 the NBA hired Violet Palmer and Dee Kanter as officials.  Although Kanter is no longer on the job two female officials continue officiating NBA games, in 2014 Lauren Holtkamp became the third hire.  How about coaching staffs’, currently there are 0 female NFL coaches the NBA has two assistant coaches.

The Spurs Becky Hammon was hired last season by the Spurs and served as head coach during Summer League, the Kings recently hired Nancy Lieberman.  In the fall Nicki Gross will begin tenure as an assistant coach for the Iowa Energy of the NBA D-League.  An author offered us an explanation she said; “Woman play basketball, they coach it and officiate it naturally they benefit from this.”  I thought that explanation certainly makes sense to me.  The strides accomplished by women in all sports is to be applauded, it should be pointed out the NBA has often taken the lead.

Basketball from a fans perspective


Bits n Pieces
Kobe received plenty of negative commentary for “Not welcoming Hibbert, Williams and Bass to the Lakers.”  What does he think of the trade plus free agents and the maturity of Clarkson and Randle?  “Lakers can absolutely make the playoffs.”  Go ahead and laugh if you wish you are welcome the media on ESPN’s Around the Horn did.  Guess what I believe him; it’s got to be a near perfect season few team injuries.  The key might be who do they eclipse?

I guess when your favorite college team finishes 9-23 what you see is what you get.  That’s what occurred when Mizzou announced its non-conference schedule and it looks pretty “light.”  I wasn’t expecting Duke or Wisconsin would be on the menu however I was expecting a little more competition.  You can’t expect a team to become improved without playing stiff competition.  Mizzou will play Xavier, Kansas State, Arizona and North Carolina State.  In the CBE Classic they could be matched against North Carolina or Northwestern.

The Swoosh lost this deal because they decided to not match the offer.  Adidas was bidding for James Harden’s services; they offered him a $200 million dollar contract (no years specified).  Although the deal is not finalized its likely Nike will lose the Rockets sharpshooter to their business rival. NOTE:  Harden is now signed by Adidas.

Written earlier this week was a story titled; “Is this Sacrilege?”  I failed to include the name of LeBron James as the counterpoint to Larry Bird.  I did if half-joking because I’ve been accused of being a LeBron hater.  That view is far from the truth I believe once he returned to Cleveland I had no argument with him.  Was I rooting for him to win against the Warriors?  I had no preference who won the NBA Championship I just wanted a good well-played series.

Did you hear the latest news; Wisconsin’s Bo Ryan says “He might not retire at the end of the 2015-16 season.”  To me Ryan sometimes appears to be the last angry man in America but no doubt he can coach.  Should we suppose the loss in last seasons NCAA’s might have provided fuel for this I’m retiring talk.

Tell me
A few acquaintances sitting around and we are discussing NBA players.  We agreed LeBron James is a leader, one who is able to lift his team (Heat, Cavs) to play at a higher level.  Our discussion indicated it wasn’t necessarily scoring although at times although he does lead in that department.  Our conversation turned to point guards and I asked the question; “Is Chris Paul a superstar point guard?”  This is the response I received; “He’s a very good point guard however he’s held back, whether it’s the coach or his teammates.”  I thought to myself interesting response.  Rather than respond I asked about another player.

I said; “I believed when Deron Williams was a member of the Jazz he was on the road to superstar status.  I don’t think so now just look at this past season.  Williams went out with an injury and he wasn’t starting when he came back."  The coach had Williams coming off the bench and the Nets didn‘t miss a beat they still made the playoffs.”  We all agreed Magic Johnson was one of those who were able to lead teammates beyond their expectations.  There are players who likely don’t desire the pressure of leading.  I remember reading Bill Russell’s autobiography and a story I found amusing.  He said; “We had guys who complained all season about not enough shots or playing time.  Come playoff time and these same individuals would often have no desire to take a shot due to the pressure of missing the shot.”

In their backyard
The 2013 census says Eudora Kansas has a population of 6,211 souls; it’s located about 10 miles from the Lawrence home of the Jayhawks.  In truth we could say Eudora is “in the backyard of Kansas University.”  Eudora is also the home of Mitchell Ballock a 6-4 175 pound shooting guard, Rivals list Ballock as the number 33rd prospect in the Class of 2017.  That near to Kansas University theirs been plenty of opportunity for the Kansas staff to witness the youngster play.  We might guess he’s headed down the road to Lawrence, not necessarily so.  There are 8 schools besides Kansas with offers on the table for Ballock.  

Basketball from a fans perspective


Consider 
Dwight Howard was once projected to become the next great center in the NBA?  Somewhere in his NBA journey this conviction many of the NBA community never materialized.  Sure he’s a talented athlete but the best center in the NBA that’s certainly questionable.  6-11 265 Howard was drafted directly from high school and became the top pick in the 2004 draft by the Magic.  The raw talent he displayed early on never improved in the eyes of many.  Howard never managed to develop a low post offensive game.

Howard’s defense and rebounding have remained steady and are unquestionably above average.  Many questioned why Howard would leave the Lakers; I will repeat my earlier statement.  It was an easy choice for him to join the Rockets.  Howard would have far less pressure he wouldn’t be expected to be the man in Houston.  As for his status Bleacher Report’s Adam Fromal provided his list of top players at each position beginning with the center, power forward, small forward, shooting guard and point guard.  As for the centers Howard comes in 5th place on Fromal’s listing.

Is this sacrilege?
Was former Pacer and TNT analyst just running his mouth (as usual some might say).  In an interview on Dan Patrick’s Show he claims a hypothetical draft “I'd take Larry Bird over ___________.”  I’ve stated on more than one occasion it’s foolish to compare athletes from different eras.  I didn't start this Reggie Miller did so look at the numbers.  Bird played from 1979 to 1992 and “He whose name shall not be spoken” was drafted in 2003.  Bird is a little taller (6-9 versus 6-8), Bird played at 225 pounds compared to 250 pounds for “He whose name.”

If we just look at player stats they are closer than most might first believe.  It would be foolish to compare NBA Championships because there are other factors that might impact winning as opposed to losing.  The area most interesting for me was assist numbers, for his career Bird was 6.3 a game and two seasons he was 8.6.  As for “He” the career number is 7.1 slightly higher but he’s only been at 8.6 once.  We might be led to believe “He” was a superior passer.  We might assume “He” would rebound the ball better again not so; Bird for his career was 10.0 while “He” is 7.1.

I’m curious
The basketball world is wildly excited about Thon Maker despite the fact there is no guarantee of future success.  At 7 foot and a razor-thin 218 pounds the youngster appears to have all the tools and colleges are salivating waiting intently on his declaration.  I was checking ESPN Recruiting Nation and discovered what I believed was an unusual occurrence.  Maker is listed as a 5-star prospect and honored with a 97 grade (the highest grade they award) yet he shows up nowhere on their 2016 Top 100 prospects.  The crossover I wrote of on the July 29th edition the writer says it was Iverson worthy.  Check it out for yourself on YouTube or some other site.  Other scouting sites list his name and ranking in the class so my curiosity was peaked.  I wondered if the issue existed because he’s not playing basketball in the U.S.

He and his brother began their basketball career in Australia the Makers’ emigrated to the U.S. and continued play.  In 2014 he and younger brother Matur (6-10) enrolled at the Athletic Institute Basketball Academy in Orangeville Ontario Canada.  I’m going to give ESPN Recruiting Nation a break, perhaps with all the youngsters playing basketball it might be too difficult to grade all especially those outside the continental U.S.  I just hope we are not disappointed by Thon‘s continued development.  Recently I read a comment which almost floored me; “He’s (Maker) a 7-1 Kevin Durant” which is a very powerful statement.  Up to this point I’d never read any comparisons to an NBA player.  I’d almost rather an athlete do a Scottie Pippen or Damian Lillard on me, emerge as an unknown commodity and then became exceptional in the NBA.  I don‘t know about you maybe it‘s only me.    

Bits n Pieces
Until I hear the words come from his mouth I don’t know what to believe, I’m referring to the Knicks Carmelo Anthony.  One report states “He’s upset with the Knicks draft selections.”  The next one says “that’s untrue.”  Now the latest revelation through former Knick and current broadcaster Walt Frazier; “Carmelo is not happy with Knicks
off-season.”  Finally new (and former) teammate Arron Affalo says “He believes Anthony is optimistic about this season in New York.“  Stay tuned for further developments.

Ray Allen age 40 claims he’s not retired after sitting out last season.  There were reports he intended to play after the All-Star game but those proved to be incorrect.  I think we all can agree training camp can be a grind and maybe he’s not up to that.  Could a February 2016 return be in his future?  Don’t you imagine the Cavs could use a sniper off the bench to replace the mercurial* J.R. Smith?  *changeable; volatile; fickle; flighty; erratic are several the definitions for the word by Dictionary.com

I question this move although it’s clearly on UCLA more than the athlete.  In an earlier account I reported on the Ball brothers, 13-year old LaMelo has “verbally” committed to UCLA.  Okay both older brothers are headed to UCLA we get that but one is a senior and the other a junior in high school.  This has nothing to do with the youngsters’ skill level it’s more on UCLA.  You history buffs are going to inform me in 1986 Indiana’s Bobby Knight recruited Damon Bailey when he was in the 8th grade.  Guess what that was wrong as well.  

Basketball from a fans perspective


The Departure
Sometimes there are sports stories unrelated to basketball.  Sports stories that day after day week after week seem to dominate sports talk.  That is the case with De-flategate the never ending account of under inflated footballs.  It seems within weeks of the February Super Bowl the story of under inflated footballs and the Patriots first surfaced.  “De-flategate” as it was termed began during baseball spring training and continued through the opening weeks of the baseball season.

The conversation was unrelenting all through the off-season training regiment of NFL players.  It was persistent all the way through the middle portion of the baseball season up to baseballs All Star Game.  Its early August NFL training camps have opened again and dialogue around Tom Brady and the Patriots continues own with no ending in sight.  I’m at a point I don’t care if Brady is guilty or not sports media close this frigging matter, please find something else to discuss.

Bits n Pieces
A plethora of pre-season Top 25 basketball polls exist for us.  ESPN surprised (are shocked) many with their choice at the top.  They have the Maryland Terrapins number one in their poll.  We all realize polls are about bragging rights and really offer no proof.  They continue to please fans (me included) of the program they boost.  

What’s up with Kansas recruit Cheick Diallo, the Big Man from Mali by way of NYC is yet to be cleared to play?  He’s still waiting on NCAA clearance which is a mystery.  Athletes
re-classify to move into an earlier class are cleared more rapidly than this, Diallo was a Class of 2015 prospect.  What goes here NCAA?

I cannot foresee “one and done” going away anytime soon.  It’s my belief the NBA Players Association is in charge of this issue rather than management.  The association has remained none committal every time it comes under discussion.  Is there a concern for job security regarding that 13th and 14th player on the roster?

I know it’s just me so I offer no excuses for my view.  Recently the NBA page of ESPN.com contained a story on new Laker Roy Hibbert; I stopped by to check it out.   The video was from the His & Hers program on ESPN, host Jemele Hill and guest co-host Michael Rapaport.  They were interviewing comedian Mike Epps originally from Indianapolis.  I actually like all three however I take exception to Rapaport and Epps knowledge of the NBA, Rapaport is an actor and Epps is comedian/actor.  Views expressed by the two are those of a fan and that’s all.  

It’s likely there will be five NBA games played on Christmas Day December 25.  The complete schedule is yet to be released however two games are rumored.  Bet you can’t guess, okay I’ll help you with the first one in case you didn’t want to guess.  The defending Eastern Conference Cavs will fly west for a match against the NBA Champion Warriors.  As for the other game it appears the Lakers will host their Staples Center co-tenets the Clippers.

Basketball Brothers 
A number of basketball playing brothers have come forth over the years several have made it al the way to the NBA.  In the Kansas City metro we are familiar with the Rush brothers, Jaron, Kareem and Brandon with the Warriors.  Certainly more noteworthy are the sons of former NBA great Rick Barry.  Brent, Jon, Drew and Scooter Barry all had NBA careers with the exception of Scooter.  There are others however the Rush and Barry brothers come to mind as this is written.  Chino Hills is in the Greater Los Angeles metro and also home to the Ball brothers.  Lonzo is a 6-5 guard and 5-star prospect, this 2016 prospect committed to Steve Alford’s UCLA Bruins.

Entering his junior year is 6-5 LiAngelo, at 220 he’s a little bigger than his older brother, and his projected position is small forward. The younger brother has verbally committed to UCLA too.  LaMelo is not only the youngest brother but also the smallest.  This 13-year will be a freshman when school starts; he’s 5-8 and 120 pounds.  Don’t allow his size to fool you he can ball, in addition it’s likely he will continue to grow in height and weight.  Naturally this is written with a disclaimer, this is no declaration of future success on the basketball court.

Peanuts
Remember the Charlie Brown Peanuts cartoons?  Did you take into account you never saw any adults in the cartoon series just the Peanuts gang.  Whenever the kids were at school or talking to an adult they didn’t talk they just went wah, wah, wah, wah.  Adults were never visible and when they did talk the wah, wah was all the audience heard.  That’s the problem with many in sports media today they are talking but you cannot understand sometimes their true intentions, is it to be controversial or is the opinion expressed truthful?  

I’m sure they have a point to express but so often they allow their bombastic rhetoric to take over and they begin to sound like the Charlie Brown adults.  In first place and holding a slight lead is Stephen A. Smith, in second place but steady climbing is Skip Bayless both of ESPN.  In third place and gaining on Bayless is Mike Greenberg also of ESPN, in fourth place also rising is Chris Broussard.  In fifth place is Doug Gottlieb of CBS, interesting that Gottlieb is the only one of the mix to have played basketball professionally.  Stephen A. played in college however I’m not sure about Bayless or Broussard‘s athletic prowess.            

Basketball from a fans perspective


I ain’t mad at him
The Bulls Derrick Rose is skipping the Team USA trials this year; after missing parts of four seasons can you really blame him?  I’m sure there are some folks upset with him but don’t include me in the count.

His announcement
Kameron McGusty is a 6-5 guard and Rivals number 36 prospect in the Class of 2016.  A few details regarding this youngster, he’s from Katy (TX) 30 some miles from downtown Houston.  Oklahoma might have been his choice all along however it was a little surprising.  I believed with Shaka Smart at Texas the new coach would not permit talent from the State of Texas to “escape.”  McGusty announced his college choice in a tweet today’s method of communication by this generation.

They don’t hold bitterness
November 23rd Mizzou will face-off against Kansas State in the CBE Classic, last season Oklahoma State met Mizzou in Sprint Center.  Where am I going with this account you ask?  Former Big 12 rivals have no problems competing against SEC Mizzou.  Interesting in that Kansas appears to be the only Big 12 school with a problem playing their former rival.  I guess it’s not important there was a Colorado-Kansas in 2013 despite the fact Colorado left the Big 12 a year before Mizzou.  Was the match against Colorado due to Tad Boyle’s connection to Kansas?

I cannot answer the question I can only state its apparent Bill Self continues to hold a grudge against Mizzou.  Even more interesting it was revealed recently Kansas too was exploring leaving the Big 12 as late as 2010.  For those unfamiliar with the geography Kansas and Missouri share a border, the rivalry is ancient and it goes far beyond basketball and football.  Mizzou along with Texas A&M, Nebraska and Colorado made moves that benefited their institutions financially.  If the roles had been reversed you suppose Self would continue his same stance?

Shhhhhh please---don’t tell anyone
Years ago I purchased an Andrew Bynum jersey 17 to add to my collection of Laker
memorabilia.  Of course in 2012 Bynum was traded to the 76ers along with a number of other players.  Although he’d played well the Lakers believed the opportunity to obtain Dwight Howard was an overwhelming factor.  I refused to throw the Bynum jersey in the trash I paid nearly $100.00 for it.  It remained in the closet although Jeremy Lin wore the number when he played last year.  Somehow I felt the Lin move might not be permanent and I was proven correct.  The alternative it would remain in the back of my closet, it would never see the light of day again or at least that’s what I believed.  In July the Lakers acquired Roy Hibbert in a trade with the Pacers.

For his brief NBA career the only jersey I’d seen Hibbert wear was number 55, I guessed he would wear that same number with the Lakers since it wasn’t retired or in use I believed.  Imagine my surprise when the Lakers held the introductory press conference for Hibbert, Lou Williams and Brandon Bass a photo was provided with each displaying their jerseys.  There stood Hibbert all 7 feet 2 inches of him holding a Laker jersey with number “17” across the front.  I thought immediately “I’ve got a number 17 Laker jersey in the back of my closet.”  Bynum’s name is on the back of the jersey however I could display it from the front and no one will be the wiser.  If visitors inquire about the jersey I can state with a degree of confidence; “I’ve got a Roy Hibbert jersey.”  There’s only one problem you can’t tell anyone the truth you are sworn to keep my secret.

Talent escaping
Jayson Tatum Rivals number three prospect in the Class of 2016 made his intentions known.  The 6-8 205 pound 5-star prospect from St. Louis decided on Duke as his school of choice.  Michael Porter from Columbia (MO) is the number two prospect in the Class of 2017; and is also a 5-star recruit.  The slim 6-8 prospect remains uncommitted as this is written however his younger brother is a different matter.  Jontay Porter a 6-9 sophomore power forward announced his intention to head to the Pacific Northwest.

The younger Porter intends to play for Lorenzo Romar at Washington.  Three years is plenty of time for Jontay to change his mind but the chief concern talent escaping from Missouri.  I was critical of a local sports talk show host when he indicated Mizzou had done a poor job of in-state recruiting.  The disclaimer says there is no guarantee these athletes are guaranteed success at the next level but you hate to see them leave the state.  It seems high profile athletes want to get away.

Basketball from a fans perspective


Happy birthday
By sports standards the NBA is juvenile by comparison to the National Football League or Major League Baseball.  The NFL turned 95 years old last spring while baseball is much older.  The American League was founded in 1901 while the National League began play way back in 1876.  As for the NBA the league turned a youthful 66 years old on August 3rd.  On this date in 1949 the Basketball Association of America and the National Basketball League merged to become the National Basketball Association.

The merger brought together many of the franchises that remain intact today though home is no longer the one they first began play.  As an example the Knicks and Celtics members of the BAA remain in New York and Boston respectively.  As for the Minneapolis Lakers and Fort Wayne Pistons formerly NBL members the Lakers would locate to Los Angeles in 1960 and the Pistons to Detroit in 1957.  The spirit of the Syracuse Nationals and Tri-City Hawks are but a distant memory today.  

No run of the mill writer
The ESPN NBA page has contained several ongoing accounts titled “The Phil Files” regarding the  Knicks and Phil Jackson.  The journalist is Charley Rosen; if you are unfamiliar with his name you might believe he’s just a “beat writer.”  Far from it, the 74-year old Rosen stands 6-8 which might give you an idea of the sport he once played.  He played at Hunter College in NYC and had a career in the old Eastern League a defunct pro league.

Rosen once served as head coach in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) and for a time as Phil Jackson’s assistant with the Albany Patroons (CBA).  A prolific writer Rosen has written 15 books on the sport he loves.  When he is critical of Phil Jackson he doesn’t do it for style points as a number in the media do.  Rosen has credentials to backup whatever basketball discussion he chooses to delve in and that includes Phil Jackson.

Go ahead and get mad
John Calipari does it once again; he adds another “Big Man” recruit.  This time he reached across the Pacific Ocean to Australia.  Well that might be a little exaggeration Isaac Humphries actually arrived on our shores last season.  He was enrolled at La Lumiere a prep school in La Porte (IN) and although originally a 2016 prospect will re-classify into the Class of 2015.  Humphries is a 7-foot 245 pound power forward and is a 4-star prospect by Rivals.com.  Although yet to be confirmed as this is published the move is very likely to occur.  As for those Calipari/Kentucky haters out there get over it, Cal does what Cal does.

Is he ready?
The Nuggets made 6-5 guard Emmanuel Mudiay the 7th pick in the 2015 draft.  You remember the story on Mudiay, originally headed to SMU to play for Larry Brown.
Mudiay born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo moved to the U.S. as youngster.  As for college he changed his mind signed a pro contract and begins his pro career playing for the Guangdong Tigers in China.

Most of the pre-draft information listed the 6-5 Mudiay as a combo guard equally adept at play at either guard position.  NBA Summer League is proof of nothing however Mudiay exhibited notable play.  As for the Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson was traded to the Rockets earlier in the month, who plays the point?  The roster contains 2nd year point guard Erick Green and the veteran Jameer Nelson.  Training camp should be interesting to determine whether Mudiay remains a shooting guard or inherits the point guard slot.

“It must be the shoes”
Remember Spike Lee’s alter ego Mars Blackmon?  He was the face behind all those Air Jordan commercials in the ‘80‘s, well to borrow his theme “It must be the shoes.” This time it's more than the Air Jordan or Nike brand another player is in the picture.  As for the Nike news the company announced the signing of of the top two choices in the 2015 NBA Draft.  Karl Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell were signed with no dollar amount mentioned.  The veteran James Harden was also in the shoe news, his Nike contract has expired and Adidas is on his trail.  It’s been reported Adidas has a $200 million dollar offer on the table for him, “It’s got to be be the shoes.“

The Usual Suspects
MGM released The Usual Suspects a crime drama movie in 1995.  We could consider the 2015 basketball suspects as North Carolina, Duke, Kentucky, Kansas and Wake Forest.  I know Wake Forest is not usually associated with the aforementioned schools.  Evidently Danny Manning has made recruiting inroads because Wake Forest is usually not on the radar of 5-star prospects.  I’m referring to Harry Giles number two prospect in the Class of 2016.  Giles is a 6-10 220 pound forward and attends Wesleyan Christian Academy located in Winston-Salem North Carolina.  Giles reduced the number of schools on his list to those listed above.  Stay tuned to learn his school of choice

Basketball from a fans perspective

　

Choose the correct answer
New Clipper and former Celtic Paul Pierce was given the honor of tossing out the first pitch at a Dodger baseball game. He received a hearty round of boos from the stadium crowd.

A. Pierce is still hated as a former Celtic
B. His pitch bounced in front of home plate.
C. Los Angeles remains a Laker town
D. The wheel chair game*
E. None of the above

*Game 1 of the 2008 NBA Championship Pierce would sustain a leg injury. Lying on the floor writhing in pain he was “unable” to walk and was carried off the floor and placed in a wheel chair. As the second half began he returned to the court under his own power and played the balance of the game. Laker fans have never forgotten or forgiven the drama. Google the video and make your own judgment.

She’s a King?
The Sacramento Kings hired Nancy Lieberman as an assistant coach; Lieberman will join the Spurs Becky Hammon and become the second female assistant coach in the NBA. She has an extensive resume as a player, front office executive and head coach.  Lieberman is also enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. She became head coach of the Texas Legends in the NBA D-League November 2009. Lieberman leaves her position as assistant GM of the Legends to serve on the Kings staff. Although she was at the D-League level Lieberman preceded Hammon in coaching a men’s team. As this story was being finalized the Iowa Energy of the D-League announced the hiring of Nicki Gross as an assistant coach.

“The Incredible Shrinking Man”
A 1957 science-fiction movie was titled “The Incredible Shrinking Man; in 1981 there was a comedy remake with a title change and Lily Tomlin in the lead role. In life we might state the term applies to Laker Tarik Black. I remember at Kansas he was listed as 6-9 although he played the center position. Once he arrived in the NBA he “grew” two inches to 6-11. Boys continue to grow through their late teens and it may last through their early 20’s. The revised listing has Black at 6-9, either he was measured incorrectly or the practice of boosting a player’s height continues to be prevalent with teams.      

They played
NBA Africa Game 2015 was significant in several ways, it was the first sanctioned game held on the African continent. The game held in Johannesburg South Africa also saw the return of a couple of basketball legends. In a highly spirited game the world was witness to the return of “The Dream” and “Mount Mutombo. “ In the second quarter Hakeem Olajuwon and Diekembe Mutombo both entered the game, Hakeem age 52 and Mutombo who just turned 49 in June both showed up in their retro Rockets and Nuggets jerseys. Both labored up and down the court and only played briefly however the crowd roared their approval. Team World would overcome a deficient and beat Team Africa.

Upstate team
The death of Bob Kaufmann on July 26 is the basis for this story. Unless you are a student of the game or old enough his name might be unfamiliar to you. Kaufmann was the first true star of the NBA Buffalo Braves. The team would move to San Diego becoming the Clippers and later on to Los Angeles. The Braves were one of three expansion franchise beginning play in 1970; the others were the Cavs and Blazers.

Poor play along with low ticket sales eventually caused the owners to swap franchises something unheard of previously.  The owner took over the Celtics and the “new” owner of the Braves would ask permission to move the franchise. In addition to Kaufmann there were other outstanding Braves players among them Bob McAdoo and Randy Smith. The Braves acquired Moses Malone however he would be traded after but two games. Jack Ramsey and Cotton Fitzsimmons both deceased were two of the more notable coaches in the teams eight year history in Buffalo.