Basketball from a fans perspective
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday---October through May published daily
SPECIAL EDITION
Game 4
It’s Friday morning about 9:30 a.m. ET in Cleveland Ohio as this portion of the story is written. There is dreariness hanging over the metro and it has nothing to do with the weather forecast. The hometown Cavs will face the Warriors about 10+ hours from now in a 0-3 playoff hole. Do the Cavs win this evening and extend the series at least one more game or do the Warriors prevail and sweep the series? We must wait until tonight to determine the outcome of the 2017 NBA Championship.
IF the Warriors win this should be retribution for Kevin Durant, remember all the naysayer’s of the past? Those years he struggled with the Thunder in the playoffs trying to climb that mountain. “He wasn’t clutch” or “He wasn’t tough enough” and there were other adjectives I cannot print. Some will claim; “He left the Thunder to win a championship.” My response would be didn’t LeBron do the same thing? We must wait till Sunday evening for the series outcome. The Cavs came to light blitzing the Warriors 137-116, LeBron, Kyrie and Love led the way to victory. Due to the schedule a special edition will be published when the championship concludes.
It only took four years
6-6 shooting guard Ronnie Suggs committed to Mizzou four years ago but changed his mind once Frank Haith left for Tulsa. Suggs had plans spending a year at Vermont Academy (prep school) and then enrolling at Mizzou. With the coaching change he decided in favor of Bradley where he played two years. Problems would cause him to fall into disfavor with the head coach. After little time on the court his sophomore year he decided in favor of Mizzou.
The Kansas City Star indicates sophomore Suggs is transferring to Mizzou as a walk-on since there is no scholarship available for him. In addition it’s likely he sits out a year unless he’s granted a waiver. As for the scholarship question if he proves to the coaching staff he can play I’m sure they will “discover” a scholarship somewhere for the St. Louis native. All I can say is welcome aboard Ronnie although you are four years late.
I understand
I believe I understand LaVar Ball that doesn’t say I agree with his over the top attitude allow an explanation. The Shoe-If Ball had brought out his shoe and priced it at $200 it wouldn’t be particularly noteworthy. The shoe would be marketed against Air Jordan’s, Durant’s, Lebron’s and Curry’s. Pricing the shoe at nearly $500 I’m talking about it you are talking about it everybody is talking about it if nothing else for the price.
The Market Plan-A rookie has never had a shoe not named Nike, Adidas, Converse or some other shoe in history. There is a huge difference LaVar is betting his son will be successful but that fact is not set in stone. All indications are Lonzo will be good but great is an adjective reserved for the future. Rhetoric-”You attract more flies with honey than you do with vinegar.” Somebody, anybody grab LaVar by the collar and tell him to calm the heck down. A number of people understand his attempt to market a shoe but the manner he goes about it is downright terrible.
The Patriots & Spurs
Is it the system or the athletes that make for an outstanding team? Many NFL fans claim the Patriots system (plus coaching) has allowed them to remain on or near the top of the NFL for a number of years. That’s not winning the Super Bowl every year but a constant playoff and potential contender for the championship. In the NBA we could point to the Spurs and their continuous run. Many believed once Tim Duncan retired this would change; well they haven’t won an NBA Championship yet but continue to effectively compete.
The Spurs are a playoff team with and without the Big Fundamental. In addition to having an effective system the aforementioned teams have Bill Belichick and Greg Popovich in place. Are the Warriors closer to the model established by the two teams than the Cavs? This is not true across the board the perception is the NFL Patriots and Spurs are built through the draft. Sure they sign free agents and make trades however the majority arrive with the team as draft choices. As for the Warriors and Cavs which team is nearer the established model?
