Basketball from a fans perspective
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Game Four
With eager anticipation we await start of Game Four for the NBA Championship. The 15 point victory (104-89) by the Warriors in Game One has been the closet to date. The second game the Warriors blew the Cavs out 110-77 and the next one witnessed the Cavs returning the favor 120-90. If you remember prior to the series I predicted a championship for long-suffering Cleveland fans, at this point I have no idea who wins. The game was pretty even much more (in my view) than the other three. The Cavs held an eight point lead at a stage but couldn’t maintain it.
Steph Curry had a breakout game scoring 35 points and fellow splash brother Klay Thompson chimed in with 25. Kyrie Irving with 38 led the way followed by LeBron with 25 points 13 rebounds and 9 assists. Final score Warriors 108 Cavs 97, the “Fat Lady” is certainly tuning up at this stage. I realize I echoed the same theme during the Warriors-Thunder series. The Warriors looked in the mirror and saw themselves being eliminated and said no way. The Splash Brothers win tonight and their second NBA Championship in a row.
“Hello boys, I’m back”
You remember the line uttered by Randy Quaid don’t you? In the 1996 Sci-Fi classic Quaid piloting a fighter jet was attacking an alien spacecraft. The aliens’ had abducted him years previously. I’m unsure if Dick Vitale can fly an F-18 or if he’s ever seen a UFO however he is back. A great number of folks won’t be too happy with this news. ESPN announced the 77-year old Dick Vitale signed a one-year contract with the network number. I read the story on one website and of the seven responses to the news four were negative in tone toward this news. It might appear Vitale’s broadcast history might be older than him however that’s not the case.
This former college and NBA coach was first heard on ESPN in 1979; this was to be a “temporary” job while Dickey V. wanted on coaching job to open. The four mentioned earlier and several others will be really upset with this portion of the story. “My goal is to be the first announcer ever to call a game and say you’re awesome baby at 100.” We guess he intends to work until he’s 100 years so Vitale haters just chill for now. I believe him to be a man of his word health permitting I could see him sitting behind a microphone referring to some freshman as a “diaper dandy” or one of his other phrases he’s identified with.
On second thought
I thought I would leave this matter alone but it smacked me in the face again. I’m referring to the comment by the Warriors Klay Thompson after the second game during the press conference he said; “Were better than the Showtime Lakers.” Let me be forthright the Warriors have won exactly one (1) NBA Championship, they may win a second this season. I wonder if Klay can count the number of championships Showtime won. Point guard Steph Curry would run Magic Johnson crazy with his shooting however I could see the 6-9 Magic taking the 6-3 Curry on the low block and shooting right over top of him. At the center position Andrew Bogut plays a valuable role for the Warriors but you gonna take him over the offense and defensive prowess of the “Sky-Hook”.
Klay you sayin’ Harrison Barnes is better at the small forward position than “Big Game” James Worthy, power forward Draymond Green offensively is a cut above Kurt Rambis or A.C. Green. Rebounding the basketball both are on the same level of Green. We now arrive at the shooting guard, Klay Thompson and Byron Scott would likely neutralize one another. The Laker bench contained lock-down defender Michael Cooper along with Klay’s dad 6-10 Mychal compared to Brandon Rush and Marresse Speights. The teams played in different eras and this is just one man’s opinion. Hey Warriors win two or three more championships and then come see me.
Bits n Pieces
As I stated earlier Celtic GM Danny Ainge tries to disguise his player moves which is certainly his prerogative. First it appeared he favored Oklahoma shooting guard Buddy Hield. Much later it was 7 foot Dragan Bender from Bosnia & Herzegovina. Just this week the Celtics had a quartet of tall guys in town for workouts. 7-6 Mamadou Ndiaye UC-Irvine, 7-1 Thon Maker Canada, 6-11 Shawn Long Louisiana-Lafayette and 6-11 Stefan Jankovic University of Hawaii. Barring a trade the Celtics have three choices in the first round and five in the second and opportunity to draft a starting five.
It seems at times a number of stories in Words revolve around big men. The reason is simple the game is generally for players 6-6 and taller. Kay Felder had an impressive season, 24.4 ppg 4 rebounds and 9.3 assists. He played for Oakland University not located in California but Michigan. Mid-major school and one other issue Felder is only 5 feet 9 inches tall both work against him. He’s hired an agent so he won’t be returning for his senior year will he be drafted might be the next question. On June 23 a partial answer will be provided Felder may or may not be drafted. It might work out for him better if he is able to secure a free-agent contract.
Paul Pierce indicates its 50-50 on the possibility he returns to the Clippers. Pierce will be 39-years old by the time the 2016-17 season begins. On a part-time basis he also suffered his worst shooting percentage in his career .363. 6.1 ppg, 1.0 assists and 2.7 rebounds a game for a future Hall of Fame candidate. A number of brilliant athletes play one or two years too many, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant---do we add Paul Pierce’s name to the group? The old adage “Father Time remains undefeated" continues to ring true.
