Basketball from a fans perspective
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday---October through May published daily
Finally……the game
Kyrie Irving has got to have the best cross-over since Allen Iverson. There may be someone I’m not thinking about or missing but he gets my vote. Game 1 started slowly both teams demonstrating days of no competition. Kyrie, Kevin Love and especially LeBron James attempted to keep the Cavs in the game but it was just too much Steph and KD for them. Although the Warriors had a half-time lead they really placed their foot of the accelarator in the third quarter racing out to 20 point leads at time.
At the beginning of the 4th quarter the Cavs had 16 turnovers to the Warriors 4 turnovers. The Warriors beat the Cavs to every loose ball hence they had numerous second shots. Does KD carry the ball might be the question as the camera caught him in one instance clearly with a carry, The Warriors appeared to be toying with them in the 4th quarter. A single game does not make a series, I expect the Cavs to come roaring back on Sunday in Game 2. Final score Warriors 113 Cavs 91, I didn't notice till after the game. Steph Curry wore his new Curry 4 shoes for the game.
In the hunt
Torrence Watson is a Rivals 4-star prospect in the Class of 2018. The 6-4 shooting guard from St. Louis is being recruited by 16 schools including Mizzou. Mizzou’s received no commitment from Watson as this is written why am I writing the story you ask? Mizzou is in the running for a prospect a number of other schools are recruiting something missing for awhile in Tiger Country.
He can’t fix the mess
Former player/coach and current analyst Mark Jackson said it. Jackson said “Phil Jackson has been a failure with the Knicks.” I’ve been very slow to respond because I’ve been a disciple of his for a number of years. My belief in the man is based on coaching rather than any previous front office experience. I believed when Jackson was hired the Knicks were a mess it would take time to change this team to a productive winning team
Early on I believe there was a problem, Jackson insisting on the coach run the triangle offense, and it was Derek Fisher then interim Kurt Rambis and now Jeff Hornacek. It seems the team’s had problems running the offense and it may have been better if Coach Phil Jackson ran the offense something President Phil Jackson was/is unable to accomplish. Whether we agree or not Jackson’s continuing “war” with Carmelo Anthony. Jackson is in year three it’s now time for positive results to become evident.
First shoe deal
According to news accounts former Kentucky Wildcat De’ Aaron Fox signed a multi-year contract with Nike. Technically he’s not the first rookie, we haven’t had any word from Lonzo Ball but we guess he’s got a deal on his shoe.
Swanigan remains in the draft
The “feel-good” story of the past college season will reach its conclusion on June 22, 2017. He won’t be the first pick or even the 10th however he will be drafted. Caleb Swanigan Purdue’s 6-9 center was testing the draft waters; he didn’t hire an agent so he could have returned to school. His 18.5 ppg and 12.5 rebounds may have been too much for him to not believe he was ready for NBA play. You remember the story; he was an overweight 300 pound high school youngster.
An unstable home life allowed him to be adopted by Roosevelt Barnes a former AAU basketball coach. He worked with Swanigan changing his eating habits and setting up an exercise program. How much distance did he travel, enough to be named Indiana Mr. Basketball in 2015? In the hotbed of high school basketball in the State of Indiana that’s quite an accomplishment. As for his weight he now packs around 250 pounds on his 6-9 frame. The journey from an unstable childhood to the NBA is quite a journey, a journey Swanigan is prepared to endure.
