Basketball from a fans perspective
I missed this one
At some point this season I indicated Jimmer Fredette’s NBA career was likely over. He was headed to the Winchester (NY) Knicks of the D-League; this was after trials with the Kings, Bulls and Pelicans. Guess what unlike Jason Whitlock, Stephen A. Smith and others I will admit when I’m wrong. The Knicks (the team that plays in Madison Square Garden) announced they will sign him to a 10-day contract. Point of clarification I never believed he couldn’t play I was unsure at the NBA level. Secondly a 6’2” shooting guard in college converting to the point in the NBA is extremely difficult.
Ivy League basketball
As this is written Harvard is not experiencing a good season. Despite their current record the Crimson might be responsible for the increased competition and popularity of Ivy League basketball. Coach Tommy Amaker’s crew has won 20+ games for each of the last three seasons in addition they made the NCAA Tourney in each of those years. This year Yale is leading the conference and without a post-season tournament it’s likely the Bulldogs will be the conference representative in the NCAA tournament. If Yale continues to win it will be their first NCAA appearance since 1962, a 54 year drought.
Besides college basketball how else did we entertain ourselves in 1962? We watched the number one television program that year The Beverly Hillbillies; we drove to the movie theater to see Peter O’Toole in the top movie that year Lawrence of Arabia. This next bit of entertainment information will cause you to scratch your head and say; who’s that? The top selling recording that year was titled “Stranger on the Shore” by Mr. Acker Bilk. As for Yale hopefully this is the beginning of a trend and the school will return to another stellar season next season and not endure another 54 year wait.
Are you sure you want this job?
Since November 2015 four NBA coaches have been fired, its likely George Karl will become number five at some point. There may be more firings although I’m certainly not advocating termination of anyone. On the surface it would appear there is far less security as an NBA coach than any other professional sports. Last month ESPN reported; “Since Gregg Popovich was hired in ‘96-‘97 there have been 221 coaching changes in the NBA.”
A significant number of former coaches are probably in the category of Derek Fisher and Tom Thibodeau; they receive a salary while sitting on the sidelines. Depends on the contract but it’s likely the Bulls and ESPN are paying Thibodeau. Consider this additional bit of information it’s reported Fisher signed a 5-year contract and is in the second year. He’s got three more years at $25 million a year, that’s nice if your job pays that type of salary.
Is he a man of his word?
Laker part-owner Jim Buss said; “If I cannot turn this team around in two years I will relinquish my position as owner.” So said Buss in a similar worded sentence, the Lakers are not going to make the playoffs so their season ends in April. The win totals over the last several years have certainly not been reflective of past Laker basketball. The win total has slipped continuously the last three years, 27-55, 21-61 and it’s likely the win total might not approach last year.
This is an indictment of Jim Buss and his effort to re-build the Lakers team into a winner. All the blame for poor play cannot be placed at the feet of Jim Buss there is plenty to go around. I’m giving general manager Mitch Kupchak a pass for now, I believe (I could be wrong) he does not have a free-hand regarding free agency and the draft. I believed the Byron Scott hire was good at the time now I’m not so sure. Scott’s coaching might work best with a veteran team; he might not be the teacher/coach these young Lakers require.
