Basketball from a fans perspective
He ain’t going home
Paul George might be headed to Los Angeles next season; the same could be said for LeBron James. We cannot make that statement about Russell Westbrook unless it’s in the form of a trade. Westbrook from Long Beach and UCLA signed a 5-year $205 million dollar extension with the Thunder. There have been rumors circulating for quite awhile Westbrook would eventually be in a Laker uniform.
Thus far
Don’t read anything into this other than the words on the page, the list of schools touched by the Justice Department and FBI probe is:
- Auburn
- Miami (FL)
- Oklahoma State
- Alabama
- Louisville
- Southern Cal
“All parties are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law” is the legal statement. Will there be other schools and coaches added to the list, we shall see.
Beyond the Paint
NBA TV and Matt Winer profiled one of the great mysteries of the NBA. “The Legend of John Brisker” was telecast recently on Beyond the Paint. I once attempted to cover the man and could only provide a portion of the story. Brisker playing for the ABA Pittsburgh Condors and the NBA Sonics was as ready to toss in a jump shot as a right hook. Brisker had a reputation as a brawler but could back up any fight he was in. He would fall into disfavor with Sonic Coach Bill Russell and would be released. Brisker would soon leave the country and settle in the African nation of Uganda.
He disappeared sometime before or shortly after the revolution which drove Idi Amin from power in 1979. Some reports claim he’d become a mercenary for dictator Amin. With no contact over the years his wife had him declared legally dead in 1985. This is where the legend begins, Brisker’s former college coach at Toledo claimed Brisker had changed his name and returned to the U.S. His former coach died in 2013 so the story ends there since the coach was never questioned intently. Brisker owed the Internal Revenue Service and perhaps others so this account might appear credible. John Brisker was a brawler in basketball shorts but was actually a better player than most generally believed.
Bits n Pieces
Jamal Wilkes and Kareem Abdul Jabbar are on the way to my house, well that’s not quite correct allow me to clarify my statement. Neither former Laker is planning on visiting me in Kansas City I’ve ordered jerseys of each player. In addition to the jerseys I’m attempting to re-design my Laker Man-Cave. A former bedroom which is not small however wall space is the issue. My Kobe Bryant and Jerry West jersey are in separate shadow boxes side by side. Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O’Neal, Magic Johnson and Steve Nash are hanging on walls minus shadow boxes. My desktop computer occupies a corner of the cave so there is very little remaining usable remaining space.
Thunder Coach Billy Donovan indicates Carmelo Anthony will play power forward this season for the Thunder. Not real surprising news if official figures are accurate; Paul George is taller by an inch (6-9) over Anthony but loses 20 pounds in the weight department. I have questions about the cohesiveness of this lineup however they will only be answered once play begins, exhibition games will not paint a true picture.
SI.com contained a story titled “What happened to Superman?” I didn’t read the piece however Dwight Howard was the focus and I have questions. I too wondered why the promise of greatness we witnessed early remained unfulfilled. Injuries certainly impacted his career however it’s likely more involved. Somewhere between Orlando and the Lakers he seemed to have “lost his way.” This pattern continued in Houston and then Atlanta. On the downhill side of his career Charlotte should be his last NBA stop. Howard is an above average player however not the one we witnessed in Orlando.
Basketball from a fans perspective
The Fix
NBA Board of Governors has voted to address the complaints regarding the draft. For years we’ve heard complaints in a number of circles that teams were losing on purpose, losing to improve their opportunity to secure a high draft pick. I’m sure a devious mind will figure out a method to void the fix but I'm not sure how. In 2019 the three teams with the worst record will all have an equal opportunity to secure the top draft pick.
The dominoes begin falling
Remember what occurred with the Mizzou hire of Cuonzo Martin? The school hired Michael Porter Sr. as an assistant coach his son was the number one prospect in the Class of 2017. The son became the first domino and there after several other prospects committed to Mizzou. So there we have it dominoes that fell in place rebuilding Mizzou basketball. The recent Justice Department news has seen the opposite occur, players committed earlier are now backing out on their promise.
Rivals prospects Anfernee Simons (16) and Courtney Ramey (39) hearing the Pitino news de-committed from Louisville. In Alabama and Auburn University E. J. Montgomery (28) announced he’s no longer committed to the school. This Justice Department probe is wide-ranging so don’t be surprised if the number doesn’t grow, the three athletes mentioned are the first thus far however there will be other dominoes.
I‘ve changed my mind
Sometimes I can be easily persuaded to change my mind; this might be one of those occasions. If you’ve watched NBA TV over the years they profile each team prior to the start of the season. The 2017-18 Cavs are a veteran team and have a great deal of firepower in the starting lineup and off the bench. Much of the additions were acquired in the off-season.
Isaiah Thomas (out until January)
Derrick Rose
Dwyane Wade
Jae Crowder
Jose Calderon
Ante Zizic
The off-season acquisitions might comprise a starting lineup, most likely they will comprise a very deep bench. The Cavs have got to be the favorites for the Eastern Conference Championship. Beyond that who knows if they are capable of winning another championship.
“Death Penalty”
Tony Kornheiser co-host of ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption said; “I believe Louisville will receive the Death Penalty.” For those who might be unfamiliar with the term the NCAA has the power to shut down a sports program for at least a year. The last time the Death Penalty occurred in basketball was the 1973-74 and 1974-75 seasons. Southwestern Louisiana State (now the University of Louisiana-Lafayette) was the school cited.
Self imposed Death Penalties have occurred by the administrations at the University of San Francisco (1982) and Tulane University (1985). All this is just talk at this stage the Death Penalty has not been rendered although we can state with truth Louisville is a repeat NCAA violator excluding the latest incident. There is an outside chance the 2013 NCAA Championship might be erased from the record book although that might be unlikely. Syracuse was not punished for offenses occurring in 2003 when they won their championship.
Basketball from a fans perspective
Tick….tick….tick
That’s the clock ticking the countdown to the end of Rick Pitino’s coaching career. Trust me his career is over this time around. As this is written I’ve read nothing official however this latest revelation becomes Pitino’s strike three…..and he’s out. Louisville announced Pitino is suspended but that's usually the first indication an employee will eventually be fired. First a number of you might remember me complaining about coaches being elected to the Hall of Fame prior to their retirement. NBA players must wait a minimum of four years I believe while a number of active coaches (including Pitino are already in the HOF). Pitino was enshrined in the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013. Pitino or anybody else cannot continue to “dance with the devil” without eventually suffering some form of punishment. Strike 1, the blackmail plot involving Pitino, it was confirmed the coach had sex with a woman in the restroom of a restaurant who later attempted to blackmail him. .
Strike 2, A Louisville assistant coach arranged for prostitutes to lure potential athletes to Louisville by hosting a party for the prospects. Strike 3 occurred on Monday with the revelation of alleged bribes by an assistant coach and the school receives a black eye. I believe myself to be one of the most forgiving people around however Pitino has reached the point he needs to remove himself from college basketball. I’m sure in time a professional team somewhere will offer him a job. Pitiono’s days coaching at the amateur level are over I believe. As for the Big Picture as a basketball fan I’m extremely disappointed. We realize schools must compete for talent; there are always winners and losers in this regard. To gain an advantage by paying is plain old fashion cheating. Winning by cheating is NEVER acceptable no matter if its Mizzou or one of the other 351 Division I programs across the nation.
Rose makes sense
Former NBA player turned broadcaster Jalen Rose makes sense. Rose says; “The only way LeBron leaves Cleveland is for a super team.” If we adopt the Rose view that means he ain’t leaving for the Lakers. Laker fans (including me) certainly desire the team to return to the championship level. LeBron could raise team play but not to that level in addition the downside. You really think Luke Walton is gonna sit down LeBron to play Brandon Ingram?
That’s been my issue all along adding veterans delaying the succession of several youngsters on the roster. We have no method to determine the intentions of LeBron until July 1, 2018, shopping for schools is certainly no key to his objective. He could easily move his family to Los Angeles and continue to play in Cleveland or elsewhere. If the truth were known he might not have made up his mind either.
It’s difficult to understand
Perhaps it was the time period Artis Gilmore played, The 7 foot 2 inch center emerged from Jacksonville State in 1971. Number 53 had a decision he could choose the ABA and Kentucky Colonels or the NBA and Chicago Bulls. Gilmore would prefer the ABA and was named ROY. Gilmore would go on to have several outstanding seasons with the Colonels and then came the merger.
The Colonels franchise was dissolved and he would move to the Bulls in 1976 and play with them for six years before being traded to the Spurs in 1982. After an 18 year career spent with the ABA Colonels and NBA Bulls and Spurs he retired from the Arimo Bologna in the Italian League. Number 53 was elected to the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2011 and the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.
A difference
Charles Barkley and Stephen A. Smith share a common trait; both are big mouths and just love to force their opinions on the public. Both are bullies behind their microphones, Barkley uses his bully pulpit on NBA games on Turner Network Television; Smith’s pulpit is on the First Take program on ESPN.
Key differences Barkley had a long career as a player in the league and later would become a broadcaster. On the other Smith played college basketball but unlike Barkley had no career beyond Winston-Salem State University, Smith would turn to journalism for his employment. Both certainly are entitled to their opinions however despite the position each takes I have the opportunity to disagree with one or both of them.
Basketball from a fans perspective
Re-united with his buddy
News reports indicate Dwayne Wade intends to sign with the Cavs, this certainly is not shocking news to many. Wade and LeBron have been long-time friends before Miami and now after Miami.
Every 15 years or so
For a variety of reasons college basketball cannot exist without a scandal. I’m not talking grades or student misbehavior but it does involve recruiting. Federal prosecutors announced fraud and corruption charges against 10 persons including several assistant coaches. Point shaving scandals occur every 15 years or so, this is not point shaving but almost as bad. High school players being guided to specific schools and assistants and other in line to receive payment. This is likely to be long and drawn out so we must wait for the outcome. Additional detail is available on a number of news sites.
Do you care, I certainly don’t
Daniel Starkland in Lakers Nation wrote a story indicating Lonzo Ball will wear his BBB brand shoe opening night. Guess what I don’t really care, here is my care list.
1. Lonzo plays good opening night
2. Lonzo plays good in his second game
3. Lonzo plays good in his third game
4. Lonzo plays good in game 30
5. Lonzo plays good in game 50
6. Lonzo plays good in game 70
7. Lonzo plays good in game 82
As you can see I’m being ridiculous in my assessment of Lonzo Ball however I hope you can relate to my point. As a Laker fan I’m more concerned about Lonzo’s production on the court rather than whose shoes he’s wearing. If he’s productive on the court it will be a plus for BBB, if not he and the family will be selling the shoes out of the trunks of their cars. As for Magic he says; "I'm only concerned how Lonzo plays."
This is real scary
The prospect of Joel Embiid on the court has got to infuse Sixer fans with enthusiasm for the upcoming season. In 31 games last season he clearly demonstrated he was talented. I mentioned earlier he was participating in 5 on 5 drills but that might be okay. Until the medical staff cleared him recovery from injury would be day by day. Now comes word that likely worries Sixer fans regarding Embiid.
In an NJ.com interview came these Embiid words; “I’ll be honest, I don’t think I’ll play 82 games this year. That’s not happening.” The road to recovery depending on the athlete certainly is grueling in addition one must regain confidence they won’t suffer the same fate again after several setbacks. How many games Joel, 70 or is it 50 or some smaller number? That’s the portion that’s scary to me when he sets a limit on the number of games he might play.
A Big Man
The Kansas Jayhawks received a verbal commitment from 6-10 260 pound David McCormick over the weekend. The youngster from Norfolk (VA) is ranked the number 33 prospect in Rivals Class of 2018. McCormick has entered his senior year at Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson Virginia.
Basketball from a fans perspective
Catastrophic
Back to back hurricanes an earthquake in Mexico and tragic loss of life and property in the U.S., Puerto Rico and several Caribbean nations. The game of basketball has been affected too; The Paradise Jam Tournament pre-season tournament has been impacted by disastrous weather events. This basketball event held in the Virgin Islands has been moved due to damage sustained from two hurricanes. The tournament will be held in the continental United States at a yet to be determined location. In December the Heat are scheduled to face the Nets in Mexico City. The game has not been cancelled however there is a question if it will be played in Mexico.
Bits n Pieces
So there really is an injury issue regarding Isaiah Thomas. At first the word was the report was a non-issue now the Cavs have announced “Thomas will not be ready for play until January.” This is not devastating news for the Cavs but might set them back a tad bit.
Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook is reported to jokingly claim “I’m too busy to sign an extension.” Do you joke about something as serious as a new contract by claiming you are too busy? Sounds somewhat strange to me how about you?
All summer we’ve read reports Dwayne Wade might receive a buy-out from the Bulls. As fall begins that is likely the case, there are several teams that might bid for his services however they must consider “Flash” is 35 years old. Wade certainly can come off the bench and provide valuable minutes however his days as a significant commodity are likely over.
We live in a different age, critics didn’t like the idea of high profile prospects committing and then recruiting others. In the day of AAU basketball these youngsters become acquitted even if they don’t play on the same teams. That is the case for number 10 Rivals prospect Immanuel Quickley. The 6-4 point guard made a commitment to Kentucky and is now recruiting the number two prospect in the Class of 2018 Zion Williamson.
I find this most interesting; I now am acquainted with two Knick fans. That might not sound that unusual on the surface however both live in Kansas City. One grew up in New York but employment led him to the Midwest. As for the other acquaintance he’s like me and my allegiance to the Lakers. I’ve been a life-long Laker fan living in Kansas City the acquaintance has been a life-long Knick fan living here….interesting.
Promise unfulfilled
Periodically a player arrives on the scene and fails to fails to fulfill the promise. Injuries have curtailed some while personal demons have led to the downfall of others. Lloyd Daniels is one of those names that failed to reach his potential. Those who saw him play might say “If only he could have stayed out of trouble he might have been great.” In 1987 the 6-7 Daniels a guard was considered the most talented player from New York City since Kareem Abdul Jabbar. It was reported he read at a third grade level when preparing to enter college, Daniels played at 5 area high schools.
The late Jerry Tarkanian often recruited troubled athletes contacted Daniels and convinced him to enroll at a California junior college to improve his academics. Daniels would later be arrested attempting to purchase drugs from undercover law enforcement. UNLV revoked the scholarship and from that point on Daniels found himself in trouble with the law over a number of incidents. He was once shot several times but survived. I only had a brief glimpse when Tarkanian coached the Spurs for a brief period. Tark added Daniels to the roster and he managed to play for the Spurs 2 seasons. He would play a single season for another five NBA teams. Perhaps he wasn’t as good as many believed however he becomes another with promise unfulfilled.
Basketball from a fans perspective
The “New” New York Knicks
Knicks basketball will be far different this season, which could be a good thing or bad. The Carmelo trade leaves the team with Kristaps Porzingis as the potential leader whether he wants the responsibility is yet to be determined. Will this become a break-out year for Doug McDermott, the small forward nicknamed Buckets while at Creighton has yet to fulfilled the expectations many believed possible. He now has every opportunity to move into the vacated Carmelo spot. The other traded partner Enes Kanter will assume a reserve role. The balance of the roster has been set and is unlikely to change until perhaps a mid-season trade. How the Knick faithful feel about the Carmelo trade is yet to be fully explored.
The Cardinal
If someone mentions Stanford University my first thought is academics and not sports. Actually the Cardinal has been pretty good for a school with studies leading the way; I hope the statement is not considered a slam at other schools academic standards. The school began playing basketball in 1913-14 and the school had moderate success over the years but one hire would change basketball forever at the school. Mike Montgomery took over the program in the 1986-87 season and would remain until 2003-04.
During Montgomery’s tenure as head coach his teams managed to win nearly 400 games while losing only 167. During those 17 years the Cardinal earned a post-season berth every year except two. Although Trent Johnson and Johnny Dawkins have not remained in place as long as Montgomery they continued the winning tradition established by Montgomery. Change comes once again as former Kansas player Jerrod Haase became head coach. The Cardinal in the first season with Haase at the helm finished the season
14-17.
He was the precursor to Donald Sterling
If you are a certain age the name Ted Stepien might not register with you. This businessman purchased the Cavs franchise and was owner from 1981-83 not a significant period of time. Stepien was the “Donald Sterling” of the NBA prior to anyone knowing the name. The owner traded five consecutive first-round picks through 1985. One of the picks he traded was to the Lakers who would use it to draft “Big Game” James Worthy. During Stepien’s ownership the Cavs went 66-180 had five different coaches and $15 million dollars (1983 dollars) in losses.
Trading draft picks the NBA passed what would become the Stepien Rule which restricts how teams can trade draft choices. He once made a statement indicating “the NBA had become too black that it was a good idea if teams had an equal number of white players on the roster.” Stepien did not own the Cavs close to the number of years Sterling owned the Clippers. At the same time we can agree both owners ran notoriously poor franchises. What I find interesting in the case of Stepien and Sterling in the business world both were highly successful but failed to translate that success onto the basketball court.
The forgotten Laker
For a number of reasons many Laker fans seem to have forgotten Elgin Baylor. They fail to realize Baylor was the “bridge” between the Minneapolis and Los Angeles Lakers. Home for him was Washington D.C. however Baylor would play his college ball at NAIA College of Idaho and finish at Seattle University. With the number one draft pick the Minneapolis Lakers would draft the 6-5 225 pound Baylor he would become NBA Rookie of the Year in 1959.
Despite the gaudy numbers Baylor was unable to save the franchise and it would move to Los Angeles for the 1960-61 season. In this day it might be difficult to understand the 6-5 Baylor playing small forward however his leaping ability and his shot making ability allowed him to excel for the position. At the time of his retirement in 1972 he would leave behind outstanding individual numbers. 23,000 plus points and a 27.4 ppg average along with 13.5 rebounds per game. Those are but a few of the honors Baylor accumulated over his NBA and college career check him out look up the accolades. It should be of note he’s been enshrined in the Naismith and College Basketball Hall of Fame.
Basketball from a fans perspective
The lead story
Everything has changed; the fourth story below has now been removed. It was an account involving Carmelo Anthony and his current status. Larry Laker made the statement "When training camp opens he would be in the Knicks training camp." In the middle of the day on Saturday came a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wornjnarowski with the bombshell news. Carmelo had been traded to the Thunder, the Knicks would receive center Enes Kanter, forward Doug McDermott and a 2018 draft pick.
Can this “new” team of Westbrook, Paul George and now Melo mold themselves into a competitive team? My belief is yes however the downside is far how long? George and Melo will become free-agents next year and Westbrook has yet to sign an extension that’s been placed in front of him. I owe an apology to GM Sam Presti; I made some disparaging remarks regarding his effort to build his team. We shall see what 2018 brings about for the Oklahoma City Thunder and their new lineup.
Wouda, Shouda……Coulda
How about this bit of history that might have occurred. Adrian Wojnarowkski of ESPN claims in 2011 several teams wanted Chris Paul however it was only the Lakers or Clippers. Wojnarowski reports Paul wanted the Lakers in order to team with Kobe; the potential of Andrew Bynum would not have been included in the Paul trade so there you have it. We know the eventual outcome; Stern vetoed the Paul trade the key to the trade. Despite showing vast potential Bynum’s career went off the tracks due in part to injury and attitude.
Lamar Odom who would have left in the trade was returned but later traded in another account Odom claims this derailed his time in the NBA he would never again play up to his Sixth Man of the Year level. The Lakers would acquire Steve Nash and Dwight Howard….Nash played parts of two years and retired. Howard left for the Rockets after one season in a Laker uniform. I know what you are saying all this is wouda, shouda…..coulda. Well that’s exactly what it is however the Lakers might not have experienced such a significant drop if a couple of these moves had panned out.
“One of the best in the whole world”
That’s the word from Heat guard Goran Dragic regarding his fellow countryman Luka Doncic. Doncic a 6-8 228 pound small is projected a high first round draft pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. We have no idea if Dragic’s view rings true however it appears the youngster has the tools required to play in the NBA. If we check the mock sites nbadraft.net indicates he could become the number five pick while draftExpress.com has the youngster at four. NBA Insider says Doncic might even move up to become the top choice in the 2018 draft. Whatever position he’s drafted it appears he’s got the skill to play in the NBA. I wonder about the response from Stephen A. Smith should the Knicks draft him.
My fear has subsided
Although I expressed no concern at the time I was anxious. The NBA announced teams would be allowed to place ads on their jerseys. My first thought was a gigantic logo, companies spending millions want their product advertised. My concern proves unfounded at least to this early date. I’ve seen on television or on the net the new jerseys. The ads placed on the left upper portion of the jersey are non disruptive, my early fear has subsided.
Basketball from a fans perspective
Greatest amount of pressure
At the dawn of the basketball season which Ball brother faces the greater amount of pressure? Is it oldest brother Lonzo attempting to prove he belongs in the NBA? How about Melo Ball the “baby” brother who scored 92 points in a game last season. Then there’s the guy facing the greatest amount of pressure….LiAngelo. This is certainly not official only an observation, scouts claim unlike his older brother the middle brother is not ready for the NBA.
If LiAngelo doesn’t perform at the level daddy Ball believes or thinks his son is not being properly utilized or coached will LaVar Ball have something to say? Will he openly criticize UCLA Coach Steve Alford and the team? We have no idea at this point until we arrive at season play however there is an interesting twist. The son’s appear to be quite different from their father, we’ve witnessed a little “hot dog” in the youngest son Melo but all appear to be well grounded. Perhaps it’s the influence of the mother who provide grounding. .
Am I concerned?
Of course I am, it’s late September and word comes Joel Embiid is yet to participate in any 5 on 5 drills yet. I’m no medical or orthopedic specialist so perhaps this is the best method to prepare Embiid for the rigors of NBA play. Sixer fans cool it all I’m doing is reporting the news and expressing a concern there is no indication as this is written Embiid will not be reading opening night.
A new home
I believed for a number of years the McDonald’s All American Game had found a home in Chicago. The first game played in Philadelphia’s Spectrum Arena (now closed) in 1978 witnessed the West squad beat the East 94-86. After the first game the event was moved from arena to arena throughout the nation (including 1989 in Kansas City). In 2011 the game was moved to the United Center in Chicago where it remained for the next seven years, it appeared the Windy City was going to remain the permanent home. The 2018 game will be played in Atlanta and the move appears to be permanent for the foreseeable future.
New Hoya
There have been 17 head coaches in the 110 year history of Georgetown basketball. When the season begins this year the number 18 head coach Patrick Ewing will be seated in the first chair. The former Hoya and NBA center has served as an assistant coach for several NBA teams since his retirement. This is no slam at Derek Fisher but he was hired by the Knicks with no head coaching experience. On the other hand we can state Ewing has experience just not that of a head coach. For unknown reasons Ewing was unable to secure a head coaching job in the NBA, maybe he just didn‘t interview well.
On April 3 Georgetown after parting ways with John Thompson III hired Ewing as head coach. This coaching job will be far different for Ewing, sure it’s teaching his offense scheme and team defense however the other issue…..recruiting. Ewing’s assistant coaches will handle a great deal of recruiting but often the head coach must secure the deal. Ewing must become comfortable sitting in a prospects living or family room discussing the role you see for their son. Despite the pitfalls of serving as a college head coach Ewing appears to up to the task. Here’s hoping he succeeds, Ewing has wanted this job for a great amount of time.
Basketball from a fans perspective
Win a championship first
It appeared former Clipper owner Donald Sterling was comfortable racking in the money as an NBA owner it appeared to be the other part he wasn‘t too concerned about. That other part was placing a competitive team on the court, the Clippers only became competitive the last 3 or 4 years he was owner. Sterling purchased the team in 1981 if you are keeping track as for Steve Ballmer it’s a different situation. Perhaps it’s a Microsoft thing but Ballmer doesn’t appear to be comfortable finishing in second place. In the hearts and minds of most in Southern Cal you say NBA basketball and the first words are Lakers.
Despite a number of down years the Lakers continue to be the gold standard in Southern Cal. Winning is the basis for this loyalty plus they were first arriving from Minnesota in 1960 the Clippers were late and arrived “unannounced.” Don‘t just take my word research, Sterling move the team from San Diego to Los Angeles without NBA approval. In today’s NBA that couldn’t occur yet Sterling did it and was likely unchallenged. Did I forget 16 NBA Championships, somebody said; “You live in the past talking about past glory.” Maybe so however I wonder if they can point to any past glory regarding the Clippers. I could be off base however I doubt it; I don’t think the Clippers will ever move into the upper echelon with fans even winning an NBA Championship.
On second thought
I posed the question earlier why the Cavs would consider drafting Mizzou’s Michael Porter Jr. I mentioned Jr. would be playing behind LeBron James so he might not receive much playing time. All that’s out the window due to the fact I failed to look at free-agency. In June 2018 with the Nets pick the Cavs could chose Jr., three weeks or so later free-agent James exits Quicken Loans Arena.
The next time Cleveland fans see LeBron he could be wearing the jersey of the “enemy” and dressing in the visitors’ locker room. It’s possible with no LeBron in the lineup Jr. might find his way into a starting role with the Cavs. I believe Jr. is a better player than Kyle Korver, Richard Jefferson and Cedi Osman. Jr. lacks their NBA cred however his talent is above the aforementioned trio. I ain’t saying it’s going to happen however it just might. In between now and the June draft the Cavs could actually make a trade and add someone.
They made a valiant effort
From 1967 up to an unspecified date the American Basketball Association was strictly minor league. How minor you say……I have no method to prove this statement however G-League level. For college players of that era had a choice of which league they wanted to choose. Naturally the majority of talent continues to sign with the better established NBA. The landscape begin to change the ABA began drafting players with less than four years of college. As for the NBA this was strictly a no-no, years earlier prior to the formation of the ABA the great Wilt Chamberlain played for the Globetrotters one year. Chamberlain left Kansas after his junior year of college but couldn’t play in the NBA due to its rules. The ABA did what it could to level the court so to speak even adding a “hardship clause.”
If a player could prove family poverty he could petition the ABA for inclusion. How closely were these cases investigated we really don’t know the rule allowed a number of talented players to be drafted into the ABA and the NBA had no say so with its four year rule in place. We cannot pinpoint the date however the tide changed and the talent pool eventually evened out. Spencer Haywood, Charley Scott, George McGinnis, Dr. J. and others who began life in the ABA would later become NBA All Stars once the two leagues merged. With no network contract and often operating in a deficient at the box office the leagues discussed merger. August 5, 1967 would witness the leagues merging; four teams the Spurs, Nuggets, Nets and Pacers would become NBA franchises. Talent from disbanded ABA teams would be absorbed by existing NBA teams.
You can understand why the excitement
Sixer fans look toward 2018 hoping Joel Embiid is prepared to play. As you realize Embiid drafted in 2014 as the third pick has been more visible on the Sixer bench than on the court. An assortment of injuries kept him sidelined until last season, for 31 games he provided evidence of the skill that made him so highly touted.
The Big Man from Cameroon (7-1 250 pounds) by way of Kansas University provided just a glimpse of his potential last season. The website basketball reference.com measures production per 36 minutes and Embiid’s numbers are outstanding. 28.7 ppg, 11.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting .783 from the line. As you might note based on Embiid’s numbers in a short season once again there is reason for optimism in Sixer Nation.
Basketball from a fans perspective
The shoes
Adidas reached a milestone according to Darren Rovell ESPN writer. Shoe sales have allowed them to move into second place ahead of the Air Jordan brand. Nike continues to remain number one in sales followed by Adidas and in third place Air Jordan. The sales are reflective of shoes only and those in the United States the news does not include the Air Jordan apparel line.
Remember my statement?
I’ve said on more than one occasion in the past my belief in the financial viability of the NBA. My view is certainly not based on any inside information rather the length of time NBA teams are on the market. I believe my view is correct however there is dissent, a media site (unnamed for now) indicates half of the NBA teams “are losing money.”
This report intends to inform us 15 of the 30 teams are losers at the box office. Is this official certainly not however I find it difficult to believe for at least one reason? Besides the honor of being an owner what purpose is served owning a team or any business for that matter which is a loser? I’m still scratching my head over this one, what do you think?
Interesting
No NBA fan is ever going to mistake Andrew Bogut for an NBA All Pro, I found this news interesting regarding the team’s newest Laker. Consider this fact the Lakers won a grand total of 26 games last season, the only “losing” team bidding for Bogut’s services were the Wolves. The Wolves won 31 games last season as for the others the Celtics won 53 games during the regular season but lose in the playoffs to the 51 win Cavs. The Cavs of course would play for the NBA Championship; do you sense a theme? Bogut might have been guaranteed playoff money signing with the Celtics or Cavs, the Wolves will likely make the playoffs before the Lakers.
Carolina basketball
All major sports are played in the State of North Carolina, baseball and football however they love their college basketball. It’s easy to understand when you have some of the best basketball in the nation played within its borders. You have the North Carolina Tarheels in Chapel Hill 15 miles away in Durham are the Duke Blue Devils and North Carolina Central.
In Raleigh we find North Carolina State University and Wake Forest and Winston-Salem State in Winston-Salem and North Carolina A & T in Greensboro are just a few of the schools. These schools have sent a multitude of players to the NBA and other professional leagues over the years. Sam Jones, Michael Jordan, James Worthy, Earl Monroe, Kyrie Irving and Grant Hill are just a few of the players who honed their skills at schools in North Carolina.
Basketball from a fans perspective
He wasn’t selected a starter
Jerry West was omitted from the starting lineup. Newarena.com compiled its
All-Time NBA teams for each franchise. It was interesting in that players from different eras were combined to form a starting five. Naturally assembling an all time team would entail some players switching positions. As for the teams themselves the Lakers finished in first place the Celtics second. Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant comprise the backcourt, James Worthy at the small forward with Shaq and Kareem rotating at the center/power forward position.
Jerry West would come off the bench as the 6th man, where’s Wilt Chamberlain you ask? He’s a member of the Warriors franchise team. As for the Celtics they had the legendary Bill Russell at center and Kevin McHale at power forward. John Havlicek or Larry Bird would be the shooting guard with one moving to the small forward, Dennis Johnson at the point. Paul Pierce makes the team as the 6th man. I know what you are thinking where is Bob Cousy, good question they omitted the Celtic point guard. I thought this was an interesting twist and certainly interesting.
He laid it out before us
It should be clear to all Kyrie Irving might be an excellent poker player. I didn’t watch the entire program however he was on ESPN’s First Take on Monday. He answered every question directed at him by co-host Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman. Whether we agree or not Irving never gave any indication of a problem between him and LeBron James. He made it clear it was time for him to provide leadership for his “own” team. At this point that team would be the Celtics.
One of the greatest ever
This past Monday you read of NCAA Championship games held in Kansas City, perhaps one of the greatest ever might have occurred in 1957. The North Carolina Tarheels faced Wilt Chamberlain and the Kansas Jayhawks, the game would become a triple-overtime thriller with the Tarheels eventually winning 54-53. Entering the game North Carolina had a 29-0 record while Kansas was 24-2. Despite being double and tripled team most of the game Chamberlain’s offensive and defensive presence almost overcame a stifling North Carolina team and his Kansas team almost won the game. Chamberlain would score 23 of his teams 53 points while pulling down 16 rebounds.
Chamberlain a notoriously poor free-throw shooter was 11-16 from the line .688. Lennie Rosenbluth a 6-5 small forward from New York City led the way for North Carolina scoring 20 points. In the NBA the careers of Rosenbluth and Chamberlain were polar opposites; despite All American accolades Rosenbluth drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors played but two years 1957-1959. He was unable to translate his collegiate success to the NBA level. As for the late Wilt Chamberlain he would become twice NBA Champion, MVP four times. His scoring and rebounding records are far too numerous to mention them all. In 1979 Chamberlain would be enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame. In 2006 he would be honored in a similar manner by the College Basketball Hall.
My we’ve come a long way
The 1946-47 Basketball Association of America predecessor to today’s NBA witnessed the Washington Capitols finishing the season in first place in the Eastern Conference. The Western Division winner was the Chicago Stags. The Warriors would defeat the Stags 4 games to 1. Some of the other teams in the BAA were the Providence Steamrollers, St. Louis Bombers, Cleveland Rebels and Pittsburg Ironmen. Never heard of those teams I would guess, the early NBA would see a number of teams begin play and either move or cease operations. The Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Philadelphia Warriors are the only teams remaining from the inaugural season.
The Warriors would later move to San Francisco and later Oakland becoming the Golden State Warriors. The National Basketball League had begun play in 1937 over the course of its history 38 teams once played under the banner. Several of the NBL teams would merge with the BAA forming the National Basketball Association. A number of the NBL teams would continue the Detroit Gems would move to Minneapolis and changed the team name to the Lakers. The Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons would later move to Detroit and the Rochester Royals would move to Cincinnati and then Kansas City and finally Sacramento.
Basketball from a fans perspective
Bits n Pieces
The NBA expanded in 1989 and the Minnesota Timberwolves came into existence. It’s possible a child born in the twin cities in 1961 might have never realized an NBA once represented the city. The Minneapolis Lakers franchise represented the city in the NBA from 1947 to 1960. Several of the NBA’s first stars played for the Lakers before the team moved to Los Angeles.
Louisville Coach Rick Pitino claims the NBA will change its policy within two years. He indicates high school players will be allowed in the league again, his belief is based on the commentary of Commissioner Adam Silver. I’ve made my feelings known for quite awhile, I believe in student-athletes with the emphasis on STUDENT. Those who are only enrolled in college awaiting entry to the NBA should not be forced to attend college.
I checked the date believing I was reading a rehash of the earlier story. The Bleacher Report headline read; “5-Star Center Mitchell Robinson to Skip College, Focus on 2018 NBA Draft.” The article had a September 17 date so it had to be new. Remember the last time we heard from the youngster he’d returned to Western Kentucky. Apparently that is not the case now the 7-foot center could sit out the year and enroll at another college but that’s highly doubtful at this stage.
He hate me
The short-lived United States Football League once had a player who placed “He hate me” on the back of his jersey rather than his name. The Sporting News compiled an account titled “The 16 most hated College Basketball Players of All Time.” For me I think of NBA players over those in college because at most we are talking four years often less than that. The number one was Duke’s Christian Laettner; Jalen Rose Michigan was chosen number two.
Marshall Henderson Ole Miss (2009-14) made the list at five. Many of the remainders caused me to scratch my head wondering what they had done to place them on this list. Larry Johnson UNLV, Allen Iverson Georgetown were just a few of the names. Laettner relished in creating controversy, Rose was a leader of the Fab Five which rated negatively with a number of college fans, coaches and players. As for Henderson I could only think think “Hot Dog.”
A Missouri State Bear in the NBA?
Who is Alize Johnson you ask, well he’s a 6-9 small forward from Williamsport (PA), and somehow he found his way to Missouri State University in Springfield. You might be surprised Johnson a senior is projected to be drafted. Two mock sites nbadraft.net and draft express.com have him listed one as a late first round pick the other in the second round. Mock sites are just those projections that might be drafted in the NBA. We shall see if this senior year turns out to be good enough for Johnson to be drafted.
High yield low risk
That's the call of Clutchsports.com in the latest signing by the Lakers. I was about to publish the Tuesday edition of Words when it was announced the Lakers signed Andrew Bogut to a
1-year deal. The 32-year old veteran proved his valued during the Warriors record breaking season of 73 wins. Last season while a member of the Cavs Bogut broke his leg, he was released by the Cavs in March.
Basketball from a fans perspective
“You still here?”
I wrote of this a week or so but thought it worthy of a repeat. I read a letter regarding the Knicks and a fan wrote; “Carmelo Anthony is still here.” I’m not sure when the stories began however during the summer months we heard. Carmelo was headed to the Cavs, it was the Celtics, then it became the Rockets and I even heard the Clippers.
The media and the letter writer forgot a key issue…..no trade clause. Despite all the stories of possible destinations Carmelo must sign on any possible deal. To date it appears that is not the case; at the end of the month expect him in training camp wherever the Knicks hold it. This is not intended as a slam at Carmelo he remains one of the NBA’s best however it “appears he wants out of New York” perhaps feeling disrespected by the departed Phil Jackson.
City of Fountains Basketball Champions
It’s often been stated Kansas City is The City of Fountains, without checking figures I have no idea the total number of fountains however it’s quite significant. Kansas City might also be considered the City of Basketball Champions having served as host for more NCAA and NAIA Championships than any city in the nation….surprised by that fact? The NCAA run began in 1940 with the last championship being played in 1988 between Kansas and Oklahoma. By this time the NCAA decided its Final Four and championship should be played in domed football stadiums. Although Kansas City continues to serve regional series an NCAA Championship will never occur in Kansas City because of the lack of a domed stadium. Below are dates the championship event was held in Kansas City.
1940, 1941, 1942, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1961, 1964 and 1988
As for the NAIA Tournament its championship series was first held in Kansas City in 1937 and it ran in the city through 1993. It was moved to Tulsa Oklahoma for several years but returned to the city in 2002. Municipal Auditorium was the venue from 1937 through 1975 after Kemper Arena was opened it became the site until 1993 when it was moved to Tulsa. Once the tournament returned to Kansas City it was held in a refurbished Municipal Auditorium where it’s remained since. There you have it, a quick glance provides you proof Kansas City just might be the College Basketball Champion City of the nation. This might be a clue why the College Basketball Experience and Hall of Fame was built in Kansas City.
Showtime too
If we begin discussing the Showtime Lakers a number of names come to mind. Naturally the architect Magic would be mentioned but how about “Big Game” James Worthy or Kareem. We cannot exclude shooter Byron Scott or Klay Thompson’s dad Mychal. Michael Cooper is often overlooked and it’s easy to see why. He was never the top scorer nor had the rebound totals of Kareem, Worthy or others. Cooper had only 170 pounds on his 6-5 frame but don’t allow the slim figure to fool you.
The great Larry Bird claimed “Cooper played the toughest defense of any player on him in the NBA.” That was Coops claim as a player tough-hard nose defense, his 8.9 ppg, 4.2 assist failed to paint a true picture for number 21. Even more interesting was his draft history, Cooper was the 60th pick in the third round of the 1978 NBA Draft. He would play for the Lakers through the 1991 season at shooting guard and small forward before concluding his career in Italy. Cooper’s held a number of coaching jobs since his retirement and currently is head coach of the Atlanta Dream of the WNBA. Michael Cooper was Showtime too although few remember his name.
Big Men
This is an interesting observation from former Rocket center Hakeem Olajuwon. Olajuwon said; “Small Ball won’t eliminate Big Men.” I’ve long held that belief however I’m a party of one you won‘t listen to me, Olajuwon‘s words carry far more mileage than my commentary. “In my mind the biggest thing (small ball) has done is to liberate big men from their traditional duties. They are no longer stuck in the paint” said Olajuwon.
You read earlier the Heat are pleased with the development of Hassan Whiteside and there are others. In Milwaukee It’s difficult to believe Giannis Antetokounmpo is 7 feet tall due to the manner he handles the ball and moves up and down the court like a gazelle. His teammate 7-1 Thon Maker has some of the same skill as Giannis. At the high school level we witness the development of 7-1 Bol Bol and often see him move out to the 3-point line to take shots.
Basketball from a fans perspective
His schedule
The number one basketball prospect in 2018 R.J. Barrett has scheduled his NCAA visits. Barrett’s list consists of Kentucky, Duke, Arizona, Oregon and Michigan. The 6-7 shooting guard is enrolled at Montverde Academy in Montverde (FL). It’s been mentioned previously Barrett hails from Metro Toronto Canada. I’d mentioned earlier the list should provide us a clue of the future destination of many of these high profile prospects.
YouTube king
Zion Williamson the number two prospect in the Class of 2018 has scheduled four of his five visits. The 6-7 230 pound Williamson is scheduled to visit Kentucky, Kansas, UCLA and Duke. He’s yet to reveal his last official choice, as mentioned earlier a prospect can schedule as many “un-official” visits as they desire. Beginning last Thursday the reported likely destinations of the top three prospects is now complete. R.J. Barrett, Williamson and Bol Bol have made no choice however the list of visit might provide us a glimpse of an eventual destination.
15 minutes
You’ve heard the old adage; it goes something like this; “Everybody has 15 minutes of fame.” Those of us who are not celebrities only have fleeting fame thus the 15 minute saying. LaVar Ball’s 15 minutes were up about 6 months ago in my opinion. The amazing part to me the media doesn’t get it; he’s become famous for “doing nothing.” Well that’s not quite true; his son Lonzo is likely to be an outstanding NBA player.
As for the other two offspring the jury is still undecided at this point. Spotted in Adidas rather than his BBB brand LaVar commented; “I always wear these when taking out the trash.” You might also remember the profanity laced tirade regarding the NCAA. The elder Ball had been questioned on possible eligibility issues facing Melo due to a signature shoe. Now LaVar is singing another tune when questioned on eligibility issues he now says; “Maybe Melo will skip college.” This is certainly a change from his earlier profanity response.
Continue to step up his game
Hassan Whiteside has seen his numbers increase each of the last three seasons. It’s all due to hard work and the opportunity to play as a regular. 11.8 ppg and 10 rebounds a game in 32 games as a starter in the 2014-15 season. The following season it was 14.2 ppg and nearly 12 rebounds in 43 games as a starter. In the middle of this season he would become the full-time starter at center.
Last season was a break-out season; Whiteside would lead the NBA in rebounding with 14.13 per game. In addition he managed to increase his scoring to a career high 17.0 ppg while finishing 4th in blocked shots at 2.10. Its likely number 21 will experience an improved season although his numbers might trend slightly downward. The Heat have made improvements and after finishing 41-41 the expectations are for a playoff berth and plus .500 season.
Basketball from a fans perspective
Your view please
It’s often been stated the NBA requires winning and successful franchises in New York and Los Angeles. We never hear the NFL or MLB being discussed in the same manner. Let’s check the big picture, for this purpose the Nets will be excluded because they only moved into the city in 2012. When’s the last time the Knicks made the playoffs? In 2011 they finished two games above .500 and were swept in the first round by the Celtics. 2012 lost again in the first round losing to the Heat 4-1. 2013 saw a slight improvement, they won in the first round over the Celtics 4-2 but lost to the Pacers 4-2. Since that period the Knicks experienced four consecutive losing seasons. Out West the Lakers in 2011 won over the Hornets (4-2) and were swept by the Mavs.
2012 witnessed the Lakers winning against the Nuggets (4-3) but losing to the Thunder (4-1). The next year they were swept by the Spurs in the first round. The Lakers have also experienced four consecutive losing seasons. Has placing a poor product on the court affected the Knicks and Lakers….probably? How about the value of each team? Consider this fact the Rockets were sold for $3.3 billion dollars in August of this year. Forbes in their February 24 edition this year claims the current value of the Knicks to be $3.3 billion and the Lakers $3.0. The same edition claimed the net value of the Rockets to be $1.65. Imagine the riches James Dolan and Jeanie Buss might command if they decided to sale their respective franchises. What do you think, is losing really hurting the two storied franchises?
Work out
This is minor news however it’s interesting none the less. Laker rookie Lonzo Ball announced he’d been working out with Steve Nash and Kevin Durant. Lonzo went on to state he learned a great deal regarding the pick and roll from Nash. Former point guard Nash was a master of the pick and roll during his time with the Mavs, Suns and Lakers.
Bit n Pieces
How about this bit of trivia thanks to ESPN, Tracy McGrady was a member of the latest class to be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame. McGrady played for seven NBA teams and not one of seven has retired his number. Points to a fact many of us haven’t considered is your jersey hanging in the rafters’ proof of your value as a player?
After the season I pronounced the Thunder a contender but unlikely NBA Champion. I question the reputation of GM Sam Presti, the GM made a key move acquiring forward Paul George from the Pacers. In the draft they chose 6-7 guard Terrance Ferguson who skipped college for the Australian pro league. He became the 21st pick in the first round by the Thunder but he‘s a rookie. Unless I’m surprised the crew of Westbrook, George and company will be competitive and be playoff bound baring injury. As for NBA Champion I doubt that will occur in 2018.
I hope to not mention Seattle in conjunction with the NBA anymore. I just read an Associated Press story regarding Chris Hansen and Key Arena. The letters begin flying in about half opposed to anything Seattle does and the other half in favor of a new Sonics team. I’m unsure how many of the writers live in the Seattle Metro and I make the statement for one reason. The residents of a municipality are really the only valid voices. They often pay the taxes that building the entertainment houses for sports. We might have a thumbs up or thumbs view of Seattle but that would be the extent.
ESPN makes a valid point regarding tampering. I’m making no excuses for the Lakers guilt in the Pacers complaint regarding Paul George. The Lakers were found guilty and were penalized $500,000 for the effort. ESPN points to the fact players who sometime initiate these efforts often escape free whenever collusion or tampering is mentioned.
“Toto I’ve got a feeling were not in Kansas anymore”
You recognize the Dorothy quote from the movie classic “The Wizard of Oz.” We could just as easily insert the name Dana Altman, Frank Martin or Lon Kruger in place of Toto. Those are just three of the coaches the athletic department of Kansas State allowed to “escape.” Bob Huggins situation is different from the others he left after but one season at the helm to coach at his Alma Mater West Virginia.
We must return to the days of the late Jack Hartman (1970-1986) or Cotton Fitzsimmons (1968-1970) to uncover two coaches who appeared not pressured to win. See I’ve been a casual observer of Kansas State along with Kansas both schools located in my backyard so I’ve had an opportunity to view both programs over the years. This focus of course is on the school in Manhattan which is almost always overshadowed (except for football) by its sister school. Think I’m exaggerating the situation at Kansas State. Check it out current Coach Bruce Webber annually is on the hot seat despite winning more games than his teams have lost.
Basketball from a fans perspective
ESPN is not the only culprit
The other day I mentioned Stephen A. Smith and his rant regarding the networks ranking of NBA players. My complaint was aimed at the host however a portion I reserved for the network. I’ve since discovered ESPN is not the only “guilty” party, SI.com NBA page and maybe others I omitted has run similar accounts. I’m unsure why this is required for some as for others their view might be similar to mine.
If you read LeBron James is the number one player in the NBA that’s likely to cause many to nod their head in agreement. At the same time if you read “Kyrie Irving is better than Isaiah Thomas or vice-versa” that becomes a subject of debate. Perhaps that is the basis for these polls; they prove nothing but fodder for discussion.
This might be over
By the time you read this might be a non-issue, once again LaVar managed to make the story about himself rather than his sons. Again I have no problem with his effort to create his own shoe line; the problem is his over the top arrogance. He’s releasing a signature shoe for his youngest son and the possible consequence was mentioned. His response was to issue a profanity and state the “NCAA is not my boss,” I believe we recognize that but we also recognize the responsibility of the NCAA even during times of decisions we disagree with.
Once upon a time the NBA drafted players out of high school its likely there will be no change in policy in the next two years. There is an out for LaVar if he chooses; I mentioned a number of athletes bypassed the NCAA by playing in Europe or Asia for a year and return in time for the NBA Draft. This could be the path for Melo otherwise he and Daddy must deal with the NCAA. In the end if the NCAA deems Melo a professional I’m unsure what direction LaVar might head.
Exclusive company
It’s been reported the Lakers plan on retiring both Kobe jersey numbers. Number 8 and 24 will be hosted to the rafters in December to join those of:
Wilt Chamberlain #13
Elgin Baylor #22
Gail Goodrich #25
Magic Johnson #32
Kareem Abdul Jabbar #33
Shaquille O’Neal #34
Jerry West #44
James Worthy #42
Jamal Wilkes #52
Why the rush?
The Charlotte Hornets arrived in the NBA in 1988 as an expansion team. The team would move to New Orleans in 2002 but retain the Hornet name. Two years later the NBA expanded once again and Charlotte was awarded a franchise which became the Bobcats. Tom Benson owner of the team wanted a name more closely identified with the Crescent City thus the Pelicans were born in 2013. Once the name change in New Orleans Michael Jordan petitioned the NBA for his franchise to become the Hornets once again. In 2008 the Sonics moved from Seattle to Oklahoma City and were re-branded the Thunder.
Where am I going with this story you ask? If you note the dates Charlotte waited exactly two years before they received another franchise. As for Seattle that’s been a completely different story. It’s been 9 going on 10 years since the NBA bounced a basketball in Key Arena. This is an easy fix for the NBA, since the league was in such a rush to return to Charlotte why not Seattle can you say “Steve Ballmer?” This is all speculation on my part however why build a new arena in Los Angeles when a refurbished Key Arena will be ready before you can construct a new one.
Basketball from a fans perspective
On the outside looking in
Might the Kansas Jayhawks still be on his list? This reference is to the status of Bol Bol 7 foot power forward and Rivals number 3 in the Class of 2018. The NCAA allows 5 official trips for each prospect. A prospect is not prohibited from additional trips however the school is not obligated to pay. Bol’s choice of schools is Arizona, Kentucky, Oregon, UCLA and USC. Nothing wrong with an unofficial visit to Kansas it probably indicates that school is not near the top of his list. ADDENDUM: Bol's stature (that's funny) begin rising while enrolled at Bishop Miege HS in Roeland Park (KS) about 40 miles from Kansas University. Bol would transfer to Mater Dei HS in Santa Ana (CA) his junior year.
First Take
Debate especially sports is always enjoyable for many with one possible exception, if both parties agree on a particular subject it fails to accomplish its purpose i.e debate. Example I tuned in for just a minute or two on my favorite ESPN program First Take. The topic during the portion I viewed was the rating system for NBA players ESPN set up.
Smith and Kellerman were both discussing their belief Carmelo Anthony should have been ranked higher than 64. Someone or several parties at ESPN came up with this rating system however the question remains why are Smith and Kellerman discussing it with us? The public has their view but no say so in the production. Both Smith and Kellerman need to check with the folks at THEIR network we had nothing to do with this.
Bits n Pieces
Did you hear this one, Stephon Marbury wants to retire in China and return to the NBA. His NBA return would be March 2018, the question any NBA team want a 40-year old point guard? I didn’t say he couldn’t play however he left the NBA in 2010 under a cloud of issues with coaches and other players.
I thought Los Angeles guy Shabazz Muhammad might sign with the Lakers. He was a free-agent after receiving a release from the Wolves. His hometown team had an open roster spot and a role planned for him. Muhammad decided in favor of returning to the Wolves with a 1-year contract.
Russell Westbrook signed a 10-year contract however it wasn’t the one Thunder fans hoped. Westbrook signed with the Jordan Brand and not the extension the Thunder has waved at him. He will become a free-agent in 2018 and fans hope he’s not headed out of Oklahoma City.
This is not surprising news, the Michigan State Spartans will wear a patch this upcoming season honoring the late Jud Heathcote. The long-time coach died August 28 at the age of 90. Heathcote had retired in 1995 after coaching the Spartans 19*years.
