Basketball from a fans perspective

Published Monday through Friday

He led the way to victory
I’m unsure if the game was on television and I missed it.  Its been reported R.J. Barrett 6-7 small forward led the way to victory for U19 Team Canada over the U.S. Team.  Barrett attends Montverde Academy in Montverde (FL) some 25 miles or so east of Orlando.  The projections are high for the youngster as he heads to school in the fall for his junior year; he’s rated the number one prospect in the Class of 2019 by Rivals and several other scouting sites.  NOTE: He’s on Mizzou’s list although no offers been made as this is written.

Help wanted
The Help sign remains hanging outside Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena and Madison Square Garden in New York City.  Chauncey Billiups interviewed for the Cavs GM position but later withdrew his name.  To date no other name has been mentioned regarding the Cavs opening. Speaking of the Cavs their former GM David Griffin interviewed for the Knicks job.

Griffin would announce he and the Knicks couldn’t come to an agreement on his role, what is that sayin‘?  Both teams are likely to have a GM in place before the beginning of the season but exactly who that might be is the question.  The same for the Knicks other than Griffin’s name I’ve read or heard no others mentioned.  In the meantime the Help Wanted sign will continue to hang outside both arenas.

If you’re a certain age you….
Might be familiar with Diekembe Mutombo or his given name Diekembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacque Wamutombo.  If you don’t remember him as a player maybe your recognize his Geico insurance and Mobil 1 spots.  These commercials and others have kept the 7 foot 2 Mutombo on our television screens long after his 2009 retirement.  Mutombo began his basketball journey from the Democratic Republic of the Congo where he was born.

In 1987 Mutomobo began play at Georgetown University and would become the 4th pick in the first round of the 1991 draft by the Nuggets.  Mutombo played for a number of NBA teams during the course of his career concluding with the Rockets.  He was never much of an offensive center his specialty was his defense during this brilliant 18-year career.  In 2015 Mutombo was elected to the Naismith Hall of Fame.  His classic finger wag was banned by the NBA because it was deemed he was taunting opposing players.  He would block an opponents shot at or near the basket and then the finger wave.

Pure Speculation
I wondered about the impact of Jerry West as a member of the Clippers front office. I speculated whether Doc Rivers running everything would listen to NBA icon Jerry West. Sure West was an advisor only however he was the architect of the Showtime Lakers among other career highlights. The trade of Chris Paul was well yes a shocker. Reports indicate Paul met with management and a discussion ensued on next season and the future direction of the team.

Paul’s decision to okay a trade must have meant he wasn’t thrilled with the discussion or what he perceived to be the direction of the team.  I heard a reporter state something I hadn’t considered. The fact that Austin Rivers the coaches’ son was in the same locker room with his teammates. Could young Rivers be one of the contributing factors for the departure of Paul? We’ll probably never know the complete story after all this is “pure speculation” on my part.

Vegas?
Is Las Vegas ever a loser when it comes to gambling?  I cannot answer the question due to the fact I only pay a superficial amount of attention to odds from the gambling capital.  I pay attention when I read something surprising which is a recent occurrence.  Vegas odds makers have the Lakers finishing ahead of the Clippers, repeat the Lakers over the Clippers in 
2017-18.

The project is not overwhelming however the projection is the Clippers will finish with 34.5 wins and the Lakers 36.5, isn’t that interesting?  I remind myself over and over predictions are just that---predictions.  They don’t reflect reality, its real when you play the games and that’s the requirement for the upcoming season.  I still pose the question is Vegas ever a loser?