Basketball from a fans perspective
Published Monday through Friday
“Can’t tell the players without a scorecard”
The headline above is a throwback to an earlier time in baseball. Vendors would scream and yell the phrase outside of stadiums in an attempt to hawk the sales of programs. We are past the timeframe of the sales pitch but the idea still applies in the NBA. I offer this next statement as evidence without proof. No sport contains the movement that of the NBA, between free agency and trades it’s a good idea to check your favorite team at the beginning of the season. Chances are good your favorite player might be playing somewhere else.
The new guy
Now that Phil Jackson is no longer calling the shots that responsibility will now lie with Steve Mills, Mills is not actually a new guy with the Knicks. He was named vice-president and general manager of the Knicks back in September of 2013. Not just a front-office guy Mills played college ball at Princeton and graduated with a degree in sociology. He’s held a number of positions mostly associated with the basketball since 2013.
Do they want to play?
A story on the ESPN college page prompted this report; Drake University has a long basketball history having begun collegiate play in 1906. The following year the Des Moines (IA) School began competing in the Missouri Valley Conference. Drake is one of the oldest Valley members remaining. Except for a few brief periods the Drake faithful have had little to cheer about their basketball program. Missouri Valley rivals have used the Bulldogs as doormats for years now.
Drake’s last NCAA appearance was 2008; the team finished 28-5 and 15-1 in the Valley and qualified for the NCAA Tournament. We must travel back in time to 1969 through 1971 to see competitive teams. Drake registered a 69-20 during that time period; the school was an NCAA Tournament team all three years. The 1969 team finished in third place in the NCAA Tournament. At that there was a third place game played which was later eliminated. With such a poor won-loss record over the decades it calls into question if the school intends to continue competing as a Division I program.
The words stung
“The Lakers need a true leader” or something quite similar elicits a response. Magic Johnson made this statement dispute mentioning any names. Its likely DiAngelo Russell took this as a pot shot aimed at him. Magic doesn’t escape criticism by me he could have been a little more diplomatic. He could have build up his guy (Lonzo Ball) without indicating the other guy (Russell) was not a leader. Russell’s said this; (Magic) criticism is irrelevant.” If I were the departed point guard I too might have taken offense to statement by Magic. The president of the Lakers believes his statement however next time he should attempt to be a slight bit more diplomatic.
Power drain
This is written early morning July 4 so this scenario could change. We could say “The West is the Best” that is Western Conference of the NBA. The guys moving from the Western to the Eastern is not balanced, the power still lies in the west. The Paul’s George and Milsap both move from Eastern Conference teams to the Thunder and Nuggets. That’s not all much of the movement was from Western Conference teams to other Western Conference teams.
An example would be Chris Paul from the Clippers to the Rockets. As this is written Gordon Hayward is still out there, does he sign with his former college coach now at Boston? Will Hayward return to the Jazz now with Rubio on the scene? Those questions and others will be answered before the end of July. NOTE: After this was completed Hayward announced he was headed to Boston and the Celtics
