BASKETBALL FROM A FANS PERSPECTIVE
Coaching high school?
There was a Country & Western hit tune “I’ve been everywhere” made popular by the late Johnny Cash. One of the lyrics says; “I’ve been everywhere, man I’ve been everywhere, man crossed the deserts bare, man I’ve breathed the mountain air, man travel I’ve had my share man, I’ve been everywhere.” That could just as easily be the theme song adopted by Larry Brown over the course of his coaching career. 14 coaching stops count them, he’s coached 2 ABA teams, 8 NBA teams and 4 college teams (North Carolina assistant, UCLA, Kansas, SMU) and next up high school.
The high school position is yet to be confirmed by the school or Brown however check this out. When we last checked in with Brown he’d stepped down as head coach at SMU in July. Brown informed the Kansas City Star newspaper there is a high school in East Hampton (NY) needing a head coach. East Hampton is about 120 miles from Brooklyn the borough where Brown was born and first came to basketball prominence. Teacher that he is never mind Brown just turned 76 he wants to continue to coach (and teach) the game he’s loved all these years.
What now?
76er center Jahlil Okafor had a first-rate rookie year, nearly 18 points and 7 rebounds a game. For the 6-11 youngster with but one year of college basketball under his belt proves he can play. The downside is a tinge of immaturity on Okafor’s part. Injury forced him to the sidelines but he should recover in time for the 2016-17 season the question in whose jersey? All summer long rumors have run rampant with stories of the 76ers attempting to trade him.
The most likely destination mentioned in most of the rumors is the Celtics. Part of the problem facing the 76ers is Joel Embiid you remember him don’t you? The 7 foot Embiid came to the forefront quickly playing at Kansas despite a limited basketball background. An injury had curtailed his freshman year and then another and another. The 3rd pick in the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft has never set foot competitively on an NBA court. The 76ers are reporting Embiid is ready for action. You don’t pay a back-up center the type of money Okafor and Embiid are being paid.
Bits n Pieces
The Lakers hired Coby Karl as head coach for their D-League team the Defenders. Karl played for a number of teams including the Lakers as a reserve. My chief concern he doesn’t try to replicate dad’s coaching manner I must admit I‘m not a fan of George Karl.
He’s got the same name of another athlete, the difference between the two one played baseball this Reggie Jackson plays for the Pistons. This Jackson had outstanding numbers last season, his team was only slightly above .500 so that might be the reason few know this Jackson‘s name. This season might be different now that the 26-year old will be starting his second year as the main man at the point.
Lighting rod is the term I would apply to Fox Sports 1. Other than the games (football and basketball) I cannot stomach Clay Travis, Colin Cowherd and Jason Whitlock along with Skip Bayless. I must be paid large sums of money to sit in front of my television to view any programming consisting of the “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.” I guess Fox Sports management believes “the more controversial we are the more viewers we‘ll be able to attract“. That might work for some folks not for me.
“Karl-Anthony Towns is the new future of the NBA” is what the headline for Slam Magazine read. It could be correct for starters we had no idea how the former Kentucky center would adapt to the NBA. Calipari’s platoon system indicated he might be able to play but 10.3 ppg and 6.7 rebounds are not earth shattering numbers. Playing full-time in the NBA his scoring increased to 18.3 ppg and 10.5 rebounds. He was named Rookie of the Year; the Wolves center just might be the new future of the NBA.
