Basketball from a fans perspective
The season is upon us
We are almost there, NBA training camps open September 29th. Teams participating in the Global Games have already begun training. October 4th the Clippers play the Raptors in Vancouver in the first game of the 2015 NBA Canada Series. On October 6th Olimpia Milano plays the Celtics in Milan Italy.
Why don‘t you
I have a friend originally from Denver but now lives in the Kansas City Metro. Denver. Despite all those around him Dave continues to root for his Denver teams, the Broncos especially and the Nuggets. I haven’t asked but it’s likely he favors the Rockies too. Dave’s never asked me but might wonder why I hardly ever write about the Nuggets. There’s really no reason in fact I like the Nuggets except when they play my Lakers. The former ABA franchise founded in 1967 actually belonged to Kansas City. For reasons that remain a mystery to me adequate dates could not be secured for Municipal Auditorium. The building was the only arena available at the time, Kemper (1974) and Sprint (2007) would open much later. The scheduling problem caused the franchise to be awarded to Denver interests and Kansas City would bow out. Recent Hall of Fame inductee Spencer Haywood had already made a name for but bloomed in the rarified Denver Air.
In the 1969-70 season the 6-8 Haywood would lead the ABA in scoring (30.0) and rebounding (19.5). Unseld would be named ABA Rookie of the Year and ABA MVP a rare feat only Wilt Chamberlain and Wes Unseld have ever accomplished. In 1974 the franchise name was changed from Rockets to the Nuggets. Fast forward to the
ABA-NBA war as the leagues fought over college players. It would conclude in 1976 with four ABA franchises folded into the NBA with the Nuggets one of that number. We then had the Alex English years when the smooth shooting forward was a key feature for the Nuggets. Fast forward again to the Carmelo Anthony and company who would later be joined by Allen Iverson. The 2013 Nuggets would win 57 games a mark they hadn’t reached since their ABA days. The last two years the team’s played below .500 basketball with the hire of Coach Mike Malone maybe the light might be the end of the tunnel.
“I’m back”
With the above statement Michael Jordan announced he was returning to the Bulls. He would end his nearly two year retirement and return to the game that made him a superstar----basketball. You remember he abruptly retired after winning a championship with the Bulls and later announced he was going to play baseball. His financial clout did not aid Jordan in hitting a curve ball even in the minors. There was no announcement this time around and the player involved is nowhere close to Jordan in skill.
Metta World Peace aka Ron Artest is headed back to the Lakers; you remember the mercurial forward played a vital role in the Lakers 2010 NBA Championship. After playing several years in China and Italy he’s returning to the team on a 1-year non-guaranteed contract. Laker fans don’t expect the 2004 NBA Defensive Player of the Year or the 4X All Defensive Team member is now 35 years old. I believe the hope is he will mentor Julius Randle and other front court players on playing defense.
Bits n Pieces
The majority of time a discussion of professional basketball occurs the conversation focus is the NBA. It ain’t exactly the NBA however a large number of teams “play for pay” throughout the nation. If we exclude the NBA and its D-League affiliation there are 12 leagues playing basketball throughout the country. A number play a spring schedule while others adopt a more traditional winter-spring format. The leagues are small as the 4 team American Basketball League and as large as the 68 team American Basketball Association which has no connection whatsoever to the original ABA.
The Spurs struck it rich in free agency; we have no idea if they win the 2016 NBA Championship. They are defiantly on the road with the players they signed but success is likely based on a hold-over. Coach Pop, David Robinson, Avery Johnson, Tony Parker and Manu have contributed to the Spurs achievements over the years. Other than the coach it’s been “The Big Fundamental” or Timmy who’s been a key to Spurs victories. Tim Duncan is 39 and will have another birthday before the end of the
2015-16 season. In 1927 one of the songs written for the musical “Show Boat” was titled Ol’ Man River. One of the lines from the song; “But ol’ man river He jes’ keeps rollin’ along.” That’s Timmy or the “The Big Fundamental” he just keeps rolling along eventually into the Naismith Hall of Fame.
The Wisconsin senate passed the funding bill for Milwaukee’s planned arena. Passage ensures the Bucks will remain in the city for now and into the future. Once upon a time cities began building arenas and stadiums in the suburbs however that view no longer exists. This arena in the manner of others will be constructed in downtown Milwaukee. The design team will be led by Populous a Kansas City based architectural firm. I once made a statement economic times would dictate no more stadiums and arenas built with public funds. Thanks Milwaukee for making me wrong once again.
