Basketball from a fans perspective

Friends
The headline is not related to the long-running NBC television series or the 1984 recording by the hip-hop group Whodini.  This is the Dwayne Wade/LeBron James friends bond that’s developed over the years.  The friendship of these two might have been established prior to them becoming teammates however I don‘t remember maybe you do.  Their friendship has continued despite the fact neither no longer plays for the Heat.   There are some who believe in “enemies” on the basketball court and that’s okay too.  

The question becomes what’s wrong with friendship, back in the day Piston Isiah Thomas and Laker Magic Johnson established a friendship bond.  It’s been reported Bill Russell would often have dinner with Wilt Chamberlain and vice versa the night before they battled one another on the basketball court.  The dinner tab would be paid by which ever player was at home.  These friendships are likely in the forefront because these are All-Star athletes.  I’d bet money (if I were a gambler) there are reserve players who have similar friendships.  Free-agency and trades have likely placed friends on opposing teams. 

‘‘Those Old Kentucky Blues’’
I attended a funeral which didn’t allow me to see UCLA-Kentucky from the beginning.  The Kentucky Wildcats had a funeral too only it wasn’t a death although it might have felt like it. The portion of the game I was able to see reminded me of a heavyweight championship fight. Every time UCLA delivered what they believed was a knockout punch Kentucky came roaring back.  Most interesting the game was played in front of 20,000 plus screaming, yelling Kentucky fans.  UCLA actually had more turnovers than Kentucky so it was poor execution by Kentucky that led to their downfall.  Number 11 UCLA traveled to Rupp Arena and won the heavyweight bout 97-92.

Bits n Pieces
The Lakers are considered a young team but are they really that young?  The starters (at least for now) are Nick Young aka Swaggy P who turned 31 in June is the shooting guard and 20 year old D’Angelo Russell at the point.  Luol Deng at the small forward is 31 while forward Julius Randle turned 22 at the end of November.  Starting center Timofey Mozgoz had his 30th birthday over the summer.  Williams (age 30) Clarkson (age 24), Ingram (age 19) Black (age 25) and Nance Jr. (age 23) are the top reserves. The players noted average 25.5 years of age which might be young compared to several other NBA teams.  The Lakers roster consists of several older players not factored in to our number however to date they haven’t played any significant minutes.   

You know I’ve complained loudly about what I believe was dysfunction in the Lakers front office. I’m unsure now if the Laker front office is moving in the same direction however I can point to at least one NBA front office worst than the Lakers.  Incidentally it’s in California too, from Los Angeles you travel up I-5 to the state capital city of Sacramento.  The Kings likely fail to place a name plate above the coach’s door they come and go so frequently.  Coach Dave Joerger is the 9th coach the team has hired since the 2005-2006 season.  At least one coach was an interim hire however that’s quite a list don’t you think?    

I’ve mentioned this previously but thought it was worth a re-visit.  We don’t allow athletes to be inducted into Halls of Fame until they retire.  Shouldn’t the same requirement be in place for coaches?  Please don’t consider this an indictment of the coach however the programs at North Carolina, Syracuse and Louisville have been under investigation for various infractions over the last few years.  Do these incidents reflect on the legacy of Coaches’ Roy Williams, Jim Boeheim and Rick Pitino?  Several coaches are in the Naismith and College Hall of Fame but were honored after their coaching careers.  Should they cease considering working coaches for Hall of Fame entry?  

On November 8th I wrote a report identifying Dana Altman as the “Invisible Man” of successful college coaches.  Victorious at Creighton and now Oregon, if given time by the forces at Kansas State Altman’s record while head coach there might have been much better.  In the latest news affecting the “Invisible Man” he was rewarded with a 7-year $18.45 million dollar contract.