Basketball from a fans perspective
He’s a winner
It’s been almost four years since Steve Alford left New Mexico, by now the Lobo faithful may have forgiven him. They were very upset with Alford signing an extension and then departing within a short span of time for UCLA once there was a job opening. Alford was an outstanding player in college but was unable to transfer his skill to the NBA level. Alford would make his mark coaching the game rather than as a player. He‘s managed to become a winner at every coaching stop. In 1991-92 Manchester (Division III) finished with a 4-16 record.
He followed up that losing record with 20-8, 23-4 and 31-1 before he departed for Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State). From Missouri he moved to Iowa of the Big 10 and a 14-16 finish his first year the following year it was 23-12. The New Mexico Lobos were his next move, Alford’s lowest win total in six years coaching was 22 wins and he did that twice. A winning record his first two seasons at UCLA was followed by a 15-17 record last season. If the past is any indication expect the Bruins to be competitive on the basketball court this upcoming season.
Did he hear this?
George “Ice Man” Gervin said it and I read it. Any discussion on shooting must include the man who shot 51 percent and scored over 26,000 points. Gervin says; “These guys need 30 shots to score 30 points, I needed 15 to do that.” Naturally his comment brought bunches of hate mail from fans who believe he’s exaggerating or as one stated; “Just another old man".
Statements like this place me in the middle of this argument. I didn’t see Gervin play at the beginning of his career but witnessed the middle portion up to the time he retired in 1986. I have no method to determine the age of the letter writers but I believe they might have only witnessed Gervin highlights.
I hope it’s not me
As a writer of this blog almost every publish date I’m providing you my opinion of a subject or an individual. I’ve done this in agreement with some while voicing option with others. Max Kellerman of ESPN while in a debate said; “If Durant had more Westbrook in him he would be a champion.” On the surface that might sound innocent enough however let’s look beneath the surface.
Kellerman is informing us the primary reason the Thunder have failed to advance to a championship in the past is Durant doesn’t have a championship mindset. Kellerman must have completed a “mind-melt i.e.” reading Durant’s mind. Next May well have an opportunity to determine if Russell Westbrook is truly a champion. He will longer have to take up the slack for Kevin Durant.
Did you know?
The NBA draft once consisted of Territorial Picks; owners believed to build a team’s fan base a team would draft a local. Remember the early NBA was minor league by comparison to baseball and the NFL. The league was still operating from many smaller cities throughout the nation. In any event a territorial pick meant;“A team could forfeit its first round pick and select a player within a 50-mile radius. Territorial picks were eliminated when the draft was revised in 1966.” The site contained several notable territorial picks and the year they were drafted, just a few are:
*Wilt Chamberlain-Kansas, Philadelphia Warriors 1959
Bill Bradley-Princeton, Knicks 1965
Gail Goodrich-UCLA, Lakers 1965
Tom Heinsohn-Holy Cross, Celtics 1956
*The rule was originally intended to impact players who played in a local school, the Warriors argued Chamberlain should be a territorial pick because he was born and raised in Philadelphia despite playing his college basketball at Kansas.
*Basketball Wiki
