Basketball from a fans perspective
The season
The NBA tipped-off its 69th season in Atlanta, Chicago and Oakland last night. The beginning of the season is always an exciting time for fans, many believe this is the year their team turns that corner that’s eluded them. That “corner” turn could vary depending on the team. Which teams make the playoffs? Who’s going to lead the NBA in scoring or become MVP? What team will surprise and exceed the expectations of the media and its fans? As for the NBA Champion will it be a Warriors repeat or some other team awarded the crown? Those questions along with others will not be answered until June 2016.
Sad news
On Sunday Wolves management announced Flip Saunders had died of Hodgkin’s lymphoma he was 60 years old. Saunders had taken a leave of absence seeking treatment in June; the belief was he would return in time for the start of the NBA season. Sam Mitchell assistant had been named interim head coach in anticipation of Saunders returning. Although he coached the Pistons and Wizards his name has been forever linked to the Wolves. Saunders served as Wolves coach from 1995-2005 and then coached the Pistons and later the Wizards. Saunders returned to the front office of the Wolves in 2013 and in 2014 he returned to the bench serving the duo role of President of Basketball Operations and head coach.
Good to go
Highly touted freshman Skal Labissiere has been cleared by the NCAA. If you remember the story he was enrolled at Kentucky but was not eligible to play. Questions regarding his guardian rather than grades were being investigated. If you remember the story 6-11 Labissiere is from Haiti but came to the U.S. after the tragic 2010 earthquake that prompted the loss of life and property in most parts of the nation.
It’s likely the coaching staff has spent a great deal of energy for an athlete whose libel to leave after his freshman year. I checked seven 2016 NBA Mock Draft sites and he’s listed as the number one or two on all except one. One mock has him listed as the number three pick in its draft. I hope I’m wrong for a variety of reasons I’d like to see him and Ben Simmons (LSU) remain in school but I probably am hoping for the impossible.
“Just do it”
Nike once used “Just do it” as a theme for their television and print ad commercials. The media predictions for the 2015-16 season have the Lakers missing the playoffs as for these former Lakers that’s another story. I believe it was Hall of Fame Laker Jamal Wilkes who first voiced the opinion the Lakers could make the playoffs. Wilkes statement would be affirmed by another Hall of Fame player Magic Johnson. The latest name added to the growing chorus is General Manager Mitch Kupchak. Finally Metta World Peace is the latest to affirm playoff possibility for this team. This Laker fan would love if they made the playoffs however there is more to advancing than simply stating it, they should Just do it.
NCAA Champion coaches
How many active NCAA championship coaches are there you suppose? There’s Larry Brown at SMU (Kansas), Louisville’s Rick Pitino, Roy Williams North Carolina. Also in the number are Coach K. Duke, Kevin Ollie UConn, Tom Izzo Michigan State, Jim Boeheim Syracuse, John Calipari Kentucky and Bill Self Kansas. We can’t count Billy Donovan who is a two-time winner; Donovan is now in the NBA but did win back to backs while at Florida. One more coach likely missed in your count is Orlando Henry Smith nicknamed “Tubby”; he won the 1998 NCAA championship while coaching the Kentucky Wildcats. 10 active coaches with title holder on their resume and there are roughly 400 or so Division I programs throughout the nation.
