Basketball from a fans perspective

Isaiah Austin
The news regarding former Baylor star Isaiah Austin is encouraging however there is a another side to consider.  The “clearance” to resume basketball activities comes from him no official word from his doctors.  I don’t believe he’d generate publicity just because its likely he’s been given an okay however there might be more to the story. How about Chris Bosh of the Heat although the conditions are different they both have heart related issues.  Bosh has gone to war with the medical staff of the Heat, they refuse to allow Bosh on the court despite assurances he is fit to play.  The same situation as Austin, Bosh is declaring he's okay to play but no official word from his doctors.   

As for Austin this writer is not quite as optimistic about his prospects as I was just a short 24-hours ago on hearing the news.  We need no repeat of Pete Maravich, Reggie Lewis or Hank Gaithers dieing on the basketball court, it’s just a game it shouldn’t be a matter of life or death.  I realize we take our life in our hands everyday driving the interstate to our place of employment but it’s not the same thing.  I would hope Austin’s mother or someone close to him has his ear.  We realize there are no guarantees in life however there is no requirement to put your life at risk for a game, life is much more important.

Philly fans
I’ve never visited Philadelphia, all I’ve ever read or heard since I was a child was the ruthlessness nature of Philly fans.  The most famous story is the one surrounding Santa Claus.  Approaching Christmas one year Santa shows up at an Eagles game and fans begin throwing snowballs and booing him.  Maybe they were just upset because the Eagles were either losing the game or had a bad season I don’t know.  

As for the NBA Sixers that’s a different story.  Only those in the metro can provide clarity on the basketball side however I’ve got to believe they must be the most patient fans in the world. Consider the play Warriors/Sixer fans have witnessed over the years.  Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Charles Barkley, Word B. Free, Bobby Jones you get the idea.  

Over the last several years the fortunes of the Sixers have been terrible.  How terrible you ask over the last three years the team is 37-199 while former GM Sam Hinkie accumulated draft picks.  During this time Sixer fans have continued to journey to Wells Fargo Arena despite the poor play of their team.  Hinkie’s response; “Trust the Process” which has been adapted by many Sixer fans as a theme.  The Sixers are still bad despite the emergence of Joel Embiid; they will continue to be dreadful even when Ben Simmons arrives.  Your patience has taken you this far there is no time to grow weary.  

It’s not fair
I stated on more than one occasion it’s unfair to compare Player A. with Player B. but here I go again.  He comes from the Pacific Island nation of New Zealand.  He is only the 4th New Zealander to play in the NBA but might become the best.  Steven Adams was one of those big men who might have developed further if he’d remained at Pitt a couple years more.  The 7-foot Adams left for the NBA after his freshman year and was drafted by the Thunder in 2013 with the 12th pick in the first round.  After two pedestrian seasons he managed to come to the forefront last year.  Whether it was just the opportunity to play regularly or the growth of his game he improved.  

So far in this short season he’s not going to shock anyone with his numbers (13 ppg 9 rebounds) it’s the other things he does.  Adams blocks shoots and does an effective job of clogging the lane; in addition his pick n roll game has improved significantly.  I’m not sure which announcer made the statement during a recent Thunder-Laker game but it’s was noteworthy.  (With no Durant) “If the Thunder must depend on Adams to be the secondary scorer well.”  I guess he didn’t check the final box score that witnessed Adams scoring 14 points and snatching down 12 rebounds. I almost forgot my comparison its Brad Miller who spent the finest of his 16 year NBA career as a member of the Kings.