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.
