Basketball from a fan’s perspective
You got to be kidding
Once upon a time I held a great deal of respect for Doc Rivers, the more time passes the more my view of him has changed and not for the positive. Rivers tosses gasoline in the direction of a fire when it’s unnecessary. Last week he said; “The Warriors were lucky to win the NBA Championship, they didn’t have to play us or the Spurs.” We realize the Warriors didn’t play the Spurs but what about the Clippers Doc? Didn’t your team have 3 games to 1 lead on the Rockets and lose 3 straight? The Warriors had no opportunity to play your Clippers because they imploded something few teams have done with a 3-1 lead.
How do you Doc Rivers allow your team to lose 3 straight playoff games? This is a rare occurrence a team losing a series up 3-1. Warrior Klay Thompson’s reaction to the Rivers comment; “Doc sounds like a bitter man.” What about your thoughts, is Rivers trying to psyche his team up in preparation of the season? On the other hand he might be using the old Jedi------correction Phil Jackson mind trick. Before I could publish this narrative Rivers “clarified” his comments. "No, I don't think the Warriors were lucky to win, I think they deserved to win. I wish we could have played them.” Sounds like he’s back pedaling to me how about you?
Moving forward
The news caused me to check the date this project was originally announced. It was 2012 and May 22nd to be exact, on that date the Warriors held a press conference announcing the plan for a new arena. The arena to be built in San Francisco was bogged down by the first location chosen and the alternative site environmental issues were brought to light. The Warriors announced the purchase of 12-acres in the Mission Bay portion of the city. It appears a start date for the 18,000 seat arena and surrounding development is ready to proceed. Ground breaking for the arena is scheduled for yet to be determined 2016 date with a 2018 planned opening.
A name you should know
Bill Bridges died September 25th in Santa Monica (CA); Bridges is one of the historic figures of the past unknown to many of today’s generation. He left Hobbs New Mexico and headed for Kansas University, he arrived a year after Wilt Chamberlain left Kansas for the NBA. The 6-6 228 pound forward was a force on the boards, his numbers 13.2 points and 13.9 rebounds a game during his 3-years at Kansas. As for the 3-year totals freshman were not eligible during that period.
Bridges chose the Kansas City Steers of the American Basketball League rather than the NBA. The ABL is not to be confused with the ABA which came into existence years later. In any event Bridges role with the Steers was outstanding; he set the league single-game scoring record with 55 points. The ABL would only exist one and ½ seasons folding in 1962. Bridges would enter the NBA and play for a number of teams over a 12-year career. His pro career numbers were similar to those established at Kansas, 11.9 points and 11.9 rebounds a game. Bill Bridges died at 76, R.I.P.
3 names-----1 team
Wes Unseld spent his entire NBA career with one team however he experienced 3 name changes during his career. He would arrive in the NBA from Louisville as he became the second pick in the 1968 NBA Draft by the Baltimore Bullets. The Bullets would move to Landover (MD) and be re-named the Capital Bullets since the city is close proximity to the nations capital. Still later an arena would be constructed in the District of Columbia and this move the team would become the Washington Bullets. Of course later the Bullets name would be dropped in favor of the Wizards. Unseld was a master at playing center at 6-7 and 245 pounds, there may have been questions whether he could play the position at his height. Unseld used his bulk to carve out a spot around the basket and had an uncanny ability to gauge the direction the ball would bounce off the rim.
Unseld never ran the floor because he was so superb at rebounding the ball and whipping it down the court to a streaking guard or forward. Although he was a proficient scorer in college (20.6 ppg) he concentrated his efforts on rebounding and defense in the NBA. Unseld career numbers, 10.8 ppg, 14.0 rebounds and a sparkling 3.9 assist per game mark. He would become the leagues MVP in 1969 and his team would win the 1978 NBA Championship. In 1988 he was honored with a selection to the Naismith Hall of Fame and in 1996 when the NBA announced its 50th Anniversary team Unseld’s name was included. Unseld served as head coach and in the front office of the team before leaving to serve as basketball coach at Unselds School a coed private school located in Baltimore his wife had opened in 1979.
