Basketball from a fans perspective

R.I.P.
I struggled to locate my account but publishing Words three times a week proved too much, I‘m sure I wrote of former Pacer Mel Daniels. The Pacers announced last Friday the former center had died at the age of 71. Much of the foundation of success of the ABA Pacers could be laid at the feet of the 6-9 center. In the 1967 draft he chose the Minnesota Muskies over the NBA Cincinnati Royals (Kings). After a season Daniels was traded to the Pacers where his career blossomed.

Daniels was key to the three ABA Championships won by the Pacers (‘70, ‘72 and ‘73). We never had an opportunity to witness his play in the NBA the merger occurred in 1976 the year he retired.  Daniels would play only 11 games that year as his career was winding down.  In 2012 Daniels joined several other former ABA players in the Naismith Hall of Fame. It‘s too bad unlike the NBA with its vast film and video history we have little evidence of Mel Daniels and other ABA giants.  Mel Daniels.is one of a number of former players we've lost this year R.I.P. 

What!!!!
I had to check my hearing aid after the Stephen A. Smith comment I heard. Just kidding folks I do not use a hearing aid nor do I have any difficulty hearing. When you hear a statement by Stephen A. Smith you agree with it causes you to say WHAT! The shorten version of his statement and I paraphrase it; “Despite the Clippers success under Doc Rivers the Lakers still remain more popular in Los Angeles.” Kinda connected to this story is one I read on ESPN’s NBA page; “Time for younger Lakers to call the shots”. That’s a Kobe Bryant quote and he is correct, that entails a bumpy road for Laker rookies and younger players. You can’t learn how to play in the NBA sitting on the bench.

Bits n Pieces
There are times it might work out better to not say anything. I have no issue with LaMarcus Aldridge he should spend his money on things he desires. He made news announcing he was building a “house to hold his shoes.” I guess with 150 pair of athletic shoes he must have run out of space inside his house. This announcement opened the door for his critics to emerge. As I stated earlier I have no problem with this but its obvious several in the media did.

What do I do is my question, my Man-Cave is decorated with Laker gear top to bottom. I want to add a Kings jersey not the purple and black or even the powder blue they wore in the early days in Sacramento. I speak of the white with red trim jersey they wore in Kansas City. I located an economically priced jersey but here is the dilemma, it’s a Chris Webber jersey. Webber never played for the Kings in Kansas City.

Kansas received its first 2016 commitment, Mitch Lightfoot is a 6-8 210 pound forward and is a Rivals 3-star prospect. Lightfoot is from Gilbert Arizona about 24 miles (as the crow flies) from downtown Phoenix. He was born in Kansas City but his family relocated to Arizona. Lightfoot claims he became a fan of the program at an early age.

"If you tell the truth, your problems become a thing of the past. If you lie, they become your future." That quote comes from Rick Pitino Louisville coach, the question becomes do we believe him? He claims he knew nothing about the activities of his assistant coach involving the parties and women used to lure athletes to the school.

I’m viewing the Knicks-Hawks game and we could refer to the Knicks as “Lakers East.” The camera focuses on President Phil Jackson and then head coach Derek Fisher. Sitting on the bench are assistants Kurt Rambis and Jim Cleamons. On the floor at MSG is guard Sasha Vujacic.

How did he do it?
During his illustrious NBA career Kareem Abdul Jabbar became the leagues all-time leading scorer. He scored 38,387 points the majority of which came by way of the sky-hook. The most indefensible shot in basketball, how did you stop him from scoring? Although Kareem stood 7-2 he tipped the scales at a slim 225 pounds. Now contrast his weight with two of his rivals Wilt Chamberlain (275) or Utah’s Mark Eaton (291). They pushed and pushed against him on the low block attempting to keep him from going across the middle of the lane or dislodge him from his position. Chamberlain and Eaton were similar in height however smaller centers presented problems as outside shooters.

Examples might be Dave Cowens (6-9 229) and Willis Reed (6-9 235) presented the most problem for Kareem. Kareem once stated Nate Thurmond was the greatest defender he ever faced. The comment is noteworthy on several levels Bill Russell retired a year before Lew Alcindor would begin his NBA career. We have no idea how Russell would have defended him or vice-versa. Kareem’s NBA career ran from 1969-1989, he faced Chamberlain and Reed early in his career then Bill Laimbeer and Robert Parrish near the end. Were all the opposing centers Hall of Fame quality of course not but unlike today play at the center position was far superior to today.