Basketball from a fans perspective

This is huge
Laker fans and the entire world believed change was forthcoming.  We believed the season would conclude and then front office changes would be made.  Nobody believed the change would occur on February 21 two days after the All-Star break.  The promise of Jim Buss has been echoed time and again in this blog, the promise the Lakers would be a playoff team at the end of the 2016-17 season.  Despite acquiring valuable pieces in the draft they have been unable to attract quality free-agents as they once did.  A series of blunders by Jim Buss was made in coaching hires and acquiring personnel.  Mike Brown, Mike D’Antoni and Byron Scott were all Buss hires.

Phil Jackson was ready to return and Buss decided in favor of Mike D’Antoni.  To be fair Buss hired Luke Walton as well, the team has improved it remains to be seen if he can continue the upward trend. Mitch Kupchak might just be collateral damage as general manager, we have no idea how much his hands might have been tied in reporting to Buss.  The news just broke so I’ve read nothing but the statement Jeannie Buss issued to the media.  Magic Johnson has been named President of Basketball Operations, how will this impact his role as Dodger owner?  Magic was originally hired to be a consultant so the question remains unanswered as this is written.  Jeannie Buss as owner and NBA Governor assumed command of the Starship Laker on Tuesday.

Who knows except him?
The day after the blockbuster trade the stories have begun, the report of John Calipari leaving Kentucky for the NBA.  Calipari has said over and over he is happy coaching Kentucky basketball and is likely telling the truth.  Coach Cal recruited and coached Pelicans center Boogie Cousins, Coach Cal recruited and coached Pelicans power forward Anthony Davis.

Does the coach leave the Bluegrass of Kentucky for the Big Easy and a huge payday?  He coached in the NBA previously and like many successful college coaches had difficulty.  His record as head man with the Nets from 1996-1999 reads 72-112 nowhere near his stellar college record.  No longer responsible for recruiting in the NBA he takes on the task of managing NBA egos.

Couldn’t take it
I didn’t make a great deal of Anthony Davis breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s All-Star scoring record.  It was evident by the middle of the second quarter there would be little if any defense played.  I believe we all realize players don’t want to get hurt but to play nothing resembling defense caused me to quickly lose interest in the game.  I changed channels a couple of times going back periodically to check on the score.  I had to see the play on the highlights; Westbrook shoveled a pass to Durant so the world is at peace.  Seriously folks I enjoyed The Skills Competition and Slam Dunk contests much more than All-Star Game play.  

It might work
A few weeks ago I wrote Kansas City (movers and shakers) have expressed no public interest in the NBA returning here.  Last week I wrote the NBA D-League was to undergo a name change; in addition it would eventually become a 30 team league.  I contacted the Greater KC Sports Commission to see if they have any related news, I will keep you posted with their response.

Lords of dysfunction
Laker fans have long complained about the dysfunction in the front office however they have company.  All we need to do is travel I-5 north some 384 miles and we’ll find ourselves in Sacramento capital of the State of California.  In addition to the state capital the city is also home to a dysfunctional NBA front office in the Kings.  After the recent NBA All-Star game was still fresh on the minds of NBA fans the Kings traded their NBA All-Pro Center Boogie Cousins for a box of cracker jacks.  GM Vlade Divac said; “We could have made a better trade two days ago.”  Did we say confusion and dysfunctional?    

Boogie has driven Kings coaches and the front office bananas over the years with his temper tantrums and technical fouls.  Despite this flaw the guy is talented, he scores out to and including the 3-point line, Boogie rebounds and blocks shots.  It’s difficult to fully access talent without allowing that talent to develop.  That might be the case for Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas and Heat center Hassan Whiteside.  Thomas and Whiteside had to travel to other locals in order to secure a berth in the NBA.  Unlike the example of those two Cousins drafted by the Kings too was placed in the lineup but he too is now gone.