Basketball from a fans perspective
You believe this?
Remember the Boogie Cousins tweet draft night? After the Kings selected a player he tweeted; “Lord give me strength.” Cousins claim the tweet was not aimed at the Kings selection he says he was in a hot sculpting class and now he’s busted.
NIBL
The National Industrial Basketball League was founded in 1947 by those choosing another path. We discussed previously two leagues the National Basketball League and the Basketball Association of America merged to become the National Basketball Association. There were a number of NBL teams who chose not to merge and formed a new league which became the NIBL. The “Industrial” was included in the league name because corporations sponsored these teams. The league had five teams that first year among them the Akron (OH) Goodyear Wingfoots, Fort Wayne (IN) General Electrics and Peoria (IL) Cats.
Goodyear Rubber, General Electric and Caterpillar Tractor sponsored the aforementioned teams. The 1960-61 would witness the last season of the NIBL, many reasons chief among them, salaries rose significantly for NBA players. Keep in mind the NBA was in competition for the same players and salaries were the only method to compete. Two teams would leave in 1961 joining the American Basketball League the new league would fold after one and a half seasons. My hometown had a team in the league the Kansas City Kaycees played one season 1957-58. With a 2-28 record it’s easy to see why they only lasted that one year.
“small” Ball
The Warriors have specialized in “small-ball” over the past two seasons. Have they changed their mindset about this type of offense after losing the championship? First they draft 7 foot 244 pound Damian Jones from Vanderbilt. A day later they announced the signing of Mamdou Ndiaye the 7 foot 6 inch 300 pound giant from Senegal. The Warriors indicate Ndiaye was signed to play on their summer league team there is no guarantee he makes their roster.
This is an interesting move on several levels; the Warriors might be looking at possibly losing three free-agent centers on their present roster. This says to me despite the fact we feature an up-tempo free-flowing offense we still need big men. After the Cavs punished them perhaps the Warrior thought process has changed. In any event this is interesting news.
A dilemma
“Darlin’ you got to let me know
Should I stay or should I go?
if you say you are mine
I’’ be here till the end of time
So you got to let me know
should I stay or should I go?”
The opening line from the 1982 hit by the rock group The Clash; “Should I stay or Should I go” could easily be guard Jeremy Lin. Free-agent Lin has made it clear he wants to remain in Charlotte the Hornets don’t appear willing to re-sign the 27-year old. This appears to be a money issue only based on what is reported the Hornets indicate they can pay him. Can Lin play at the NBA level might be the larger question this is NBA team number five.
They have money
$65.8 million dollars is the reported amount the Lakers have available to spend on free-agents. Kobe Bryant and Roy Hibbert’s contract roll off the books according to reports. A number of potential high value free-agents could be attracted to the Laker brand. We can forget about Kevin Durant, LeBron James or Dwayne Wade heading for Southern California however there are other potential free-agents and not in any order.
DeMar DeRozen
Hassan Whiteside
Al Horford
Joakim Noah
Festus Ezeli
Where are they?
Buddy Hield was the 6th pick by the Pelicans and Taurean Prince was number 12 by the Jazz (rights traded to the Hawks). They fit a rather unique profile both were seniors a rather rare commodity more and more in the NBA Draft. If we exclude international players there were only 15 seniors drafted from a list of 60 players. Even worst I’ve read reports “X will be 24 years old before the season starts” and NBA teams indicate a reluctance to draft an “old-timer.” The growth of the international game has been a contributing factor to fewer seniors being drafted.
No more super teams anymore because the best players leave school early. Kentucky’s freshman team of 2015 might come nearest to being a super team losing in the semi-finals finishing 38-1. The risk of injury haunts outstanding players and they leave. I remember several years ago Colorado had an outstanding player his name popped up on several mock sites. He sustained an injury missed his junior year and returned as a senior a shadow of his former self. Mizzou also had a player who suffered a serious injury he too returned but was never able to return to his previous form.
