Basketball from a fans perspective

Post Jimmy Buss????
It’s been reported Laker co-owner Jeannie Buss held a dinner meeting with Magic Johnson and his business partner Lon Rosen along with Linda Rambis Lakers executive on Tuesday.  Allow my imagination to run wild a minute, at the close of the 2016-17 NBA season time is up for the promise of co-owner Jim Buss.  As a reminder Jim Buss stated and I paraphrase; “If I can’t turn this team around in 4 years I’ll resign.”  Hint; hint this is the end of the fourth year just in case you missed that.

Truth is the Lakers have improved but only slightly, they are not playoff bound this year or next. The demise of the Lakers cannot all be placed on the shoulders of Jim Buss however he’s played a significant role because “he’s driving the bus.”  At the same time I could pose the question to Laker fans could a Magic Johnson aid in returning the Lakers to the glory days of Showtime?  Nobody really knows however I certainly would be far more comfortable with Jeannie Buss running the team and Magic in an advisory capacity over the present arrangement.    

The best of the best
We tend to see what’s in front of our nose and that might be the case regarding outstanding athletes.  If we held a discussion on exceptional Kansas players through the years whose name is mentioned is it Clyde Lovellette, Jo Jo White or someone else? Danny Manning would certainly be mentioned; he led “The Miracles” to the 1988 NCAA Championship.  The name Paul Pierce is also mentioned, in recent years the focus might be on Andrew Wiggins and now the potential of Joel Embiid.  In recent years the task of assessment has become more difficult with many talented athletes only remaining in place for one year.  

Most of the Kansas faithful forget “The Dipper” because he played before many were born or they may have been too young to know his name.  The late Wilton Norman Chamberlain became a mythic basketball figure.  We are more aware of his NBA exploits than his days at Kansas.  At the time Chamberlain arrived at Kansas in 1955 freshman were ineligible to play varsity sports.  Wilt’s freshmen Jayhawks team was matched against the varsity Jayhawks in his first game.  Wilt scored 42 points snatched 29 rebounds and had 4 block shots against a varsity team that was expected to win the conference.

That was only the tip of the iceberg for the 7-1 giant from Philadelphia; in his first varsity game against Northwestern Wilt scored 52 points and had 31 rebounds.  There was no shot-clock in those days teams began stalling tactics against Kansas rather than deal with the scoring, rebounding and shot blocking of Wilt.  He would leave Kansas after his junior year tired of the stall tactics and triple-teams he dealt with.  Wilt played a year for the Globetrotters before beginning his legendary NBA career.  Wilt “The Stilt”, “The Dipper” or whatever nickname was the BEST to ever play at Kansas.

Change
The news was not released by the NBA however the announcement affects its teams across the nation.  The Bulls have endured the annual ‘circus trip’ every NBA season at the time Ringling Brothers occupies the United Center floor.  Over the weekend came word the circus would be closing its doors in May after 100+ years of operation.  I’m unsure why the focus has always been on Chicago perhaps they have the longest period away from home. I checked the schedule for the balance of the season and the circus visits several other NBA cities besides Chicago.

Undefeated
If you were asked to name the best coaches in college basketball you are likely to hear Roy Williams, Rick Pitino, Jim Boeheim or Bill Self mentioned.  I seriously doubt Gonzaga’s Mark Few might even be part of the discussion.  As this is written the Spokane (WA) school is 17-0 and the only undefeated team in the country.  Why is Mark Few excluded in the discussion of great coaches?  

His Gonzaga teams have played in the NCAA Tournament every year since the 1999-00 season.  His teams have twice won 30 games and his lowest win total was the 23-11 record registered in the 2006-07 season. There are probably two reasons Few’s coached in obscurity.  1.  Playing in the Pacific Time Zone most of us in the Midwest and east coast are in bed when Gonzaga is playing. 2.Two years ago Gonzaga advanced to the Elite Eight which is their highest position ever.