Basketball from a fans perspective
Bits n Pieces
Did you hear this latest revelation in the Pacer-Laker saga? The Lakers were found guilty of tampering regarding Paul George. The NBA slapped their hand issuing a fine of $500,000. Today Magic Johnson asked Laker owner Jeanie Buss to deduct the fine from his salary. All I can say it must be nice to write a check for that amount of money.
All summer reports circulated Carmelo Anthony was headed everywhere except NYC. Well not quite everywhere however Houston, Cleveland, Boston and the Clippers were reported as possible destinations I read. Did I miss any location, all said and done at the dawn of the season Carmelo remains with the Knicks? Because he’s got veto power maybe he’s the reason none of the trades were accomplished.
Kansas picked up a commitment in the Class of 2018. Silvio De Sosa a 6-8 240 pound forward from the southwestern African nation of Angola. De Sosa relocated to the U.S. and attends IMG Academy in Montverde (FL). Rivals rates him a 5-star prospect and number 25 in the Class of 2018.
It’s likely Beyonce and Jay Z money couldn’t afford to purchase the Rockets outright. If the pair intended to purchase the team its likely there would have been partners involved in the sale. Wait there’s more Tilman Feritta says; “He made it known that he would welcome having her in any capacity, as he understands how great of an ambassador she would be for the Rockets.”
Deep, deep draft
Preliminary reports indicate the 2018 NBA Draft will be just as deep as 2017. Keep in mind the 2017 season is yet to begin and we can only take the word of those who access talent. The belief is at least through the first round almost all teams with draft choices benefited. I decided to re-check the 2015 and 2016 draft. Both produced talent however it appears the 2017 draft alone has the potential to eclipse two years worth of prospects. If the early 2018 draft looks as good as 2017 the NBA is on a continuing ascending talent rise.
College versus NBA
On several occasions we’ve discussed the lack of success by coaches moving from the collegiate ranks to the NBA. Larry Brown always come to mind and in second place is………..I have no idea. How about the others the NBA coaches who decide to give the college game a try, what are the differences. The first difference might be recruiting, at the collegiate level a coach is almost always recruiting.
The only recruiting in the NBA is for free-agents and that is for the most part a much shorter time period. Both college and NBA you must be able to impart your game plan to your players. A number of college and NBA coaches have failed at communicating with their teams. The NBA season s is considerably longer than the collegiate one. By the middle of March most college teams are finished competing, a number of NBA coaches might not conclude their season until the middle of June. Those are just a few of my thoughts, what do you think? I know I probably missed a significant number.
Short people
Songwriter-Singer Randy Newman had a pop hit in 1977 titled “Short People.” The second stanza: “They got little hands and little eyes and they walk around telling’ great big lies.” Newman’s song was intended to poke fun at short people but that’s not my intent. I’m going to extol the virtues of smaller NBA players in this account and they do exist. I once had an opportunity to meet Nate “Tiny” Archibald, the NBA list Tiny as 6-1 which I found difficult to believe. How about 5 foot 10 or maybe 5-11 so much for inflated heights in the NBA.
This past season Russell Westbrook equaled the triple-double record established by Oscar Robertson in 1962. Many (including yours truly) believe the record would never be equaled, Westbrook me and others wrong. Here’s another one, in the 1972-73 season Tiny led the NBA in scoring at 34.0 ppg and also led the league in assists with 11.4 per game while playing for the Kings in Kansas City. Later as a member of the Celtics Tiny won an NBA Championship (1981). He was selected a member of the 50th Anniversary All-Time Team and has a double honor. He’s enshrined in the Naismith and College Basketball Hall of Fame. He certainly disproved the theory short people can’t play the game.
