Basketball from a fans perspective
He’s honest
This time of the year everybody and their brother is filling out a bracket sheet. We peruse all the information we can gather to make our “accurate” picks. On Monday I listened to a local sports talk radio guy who I believe was being very honest. He said; “Most of those in the media pretend to know all there is to know about college basketball.
I spend most of my evenings here on the night shift on the weekends I’m watching football. Many in the sports media provide us tidbits of information regarding each team giving us the indication they know college basketball.” The bottom line from my perspective these guys are hired to entertain so be it. Take the information provided with skepticism it’s not always “something regarded as true and implicitly believed. “
I don‘t know about you
It was no surprise to me Kobe Bryant defended Phil Jackson to the NYC media. That’s not always been the case with Kobe the coaching change from Del Harris caused problems for Kobe the first time around. Most of it I believe was based on Kobe being stubborn (triangle offense) and his youth. Phil’s second tour with the Lakers I don’t remember any issues, there may have been don’t remember them.
Remember when
Just winning 20 games was almost always a guarantee a team would receive an NCAA invitation, that’s not the case anymore. We could ask the question of Monmouth (27-7), Saint Mary’s 27-5, San Diego State 25-9 and Valparaiso (26-6). All these teams have received an NIT invitation, in my view for for the first time in quite a number of years the field will have several top-notch teams. As the NCAA Tournament has expanded a teams won-loss record is scrutinized more thoroughly than in past years.
“I Love L.A.” (maybe)
Songwriter Randy Newman wrote “I Love L.A.” and released the song in 1983. The tune extolled the advantages of living in Los Angeles over other portions of the nation. A significant number of players will become free agents this summer; one of the more intriguing players possibly searching for a new home is center Hassan Whiteside. Its possible Hassan Whiteside could be singing that tune later this year. According to Hoopshype Dwayne Wade must take a significant pay cut in order for the team to sign both players. The possible downside to this story might be Whiteside himself.
The 7-foot Whiteside has added a stellar year to his breakout of last season and he’s routinely been a double-double man. Despite leading the lead in block shots and near the top in rebounds maturity issues still exist. After he returned from an NBA mandated suspension he’s been coming off the bench. He was suspended for throwing an elbow at an opposing player; despite not starting his numbers have not dipped at all. Do NBA teams (including the Heat) pay Whiteside on his potential believing he’s not reached his ceiling and he‘s matured?
