Basketball from a fans perspective

“Down to earth”

Maybe it’s the number of playoff-runs over the last several years.  It could be poor team play or execution on their part, on the other hand it could be something fans and the media fail to comprehend. The Cavs and Warriors have gotten off to a rather slow start in the 2017-18 NBA season.  

As this is written the LeBron’s stand three up and four down (3-4), the Warriors have a winning record although four and three (4-3) is certainly not anything to shout about.  On Sunday night the Knicks defeated the Cavs 114-95 a feat hardly anyone believed might occur especially at Quicken Loans Arena.  On the west coast the Warriors were losers to the Pistons 115-107.  Have other NBA teams improved significantly or have the Cavs and Warriors just come “down to earth?”  Those questions and others will be answered over the next several weeks and months. 

Trivia

I’d mentioned this subject previously for the most part the Knicks and Celtics have retained variations of the uniforms first worn in the mid ‘40’s to present day.  The Lakers have worn Purple and Gold so long I included them in the conversation believing that to be true however I discovered that was not the case.  Former owner and business man Bob Short moved his team in 1960 from Minneapolis to Los Angeles the colors were tweaked a bit in Los Angeles versus those worn in Minneapolis.   

Laker road uniforms were royal blue with white and powder trim, the home uniforms were white with royal and powder blue trim.  Los Angeles in script was on both jerseys, if you note the shorts Lakers was on each side of the shorts.  In 1967 under former owner Jack Kent Cooke the team would later move to the Forum (later GW Forum) where they adopted Purple and Gold.  Much later several specialty uniforms were adopted however Purple and Gold have been the staple of the franchise since the 1967 change.

Bit n Pieces

ESPN’s Michelle Beadle said; “We (ESPN) are responsible for LaVar Ball, Ben Simmons had a triple-double last night we didn’t have an assessment of the game by his dad.  We place a microphone in front of him.”  Co-host LZ Granderson and Marcellius Wiley offered an opposing view.  They claim; “This is all an act you see how he looks into the camera.  We have a dad here who loves his kids.”  Unlike Granderson and Wiley I can’t look inside the mind of LaVar Ball, I truly thought he would change once son Lonzo was drafted.  Talk is endless as Ball has continued and on non-stop as he provides one and all proof of his impact on the nation. 

Larry Brown turned 77 in September, despite the coaches age he continues his desire to teach the game he loves. Basketball has been in his blood ever since he left Brooklyn (NY) for North Carolina to play for legendary Coach Dean Smith.  A playing career as a 5-9-point guard in the ABA, head coach at several ABA-NBA stops.  Do not forget his tenure as head coach at UCLA, Kansas and SMU at the collegiate level.  Brown’s been head coach of nine NBA teams, despite this extensive resume Brown still has a desire to teach the game. 

LeBron might indeed head for Los Angeles and the Lakers next season, more and more I seriously doubt it.  At the time LeBron originally left for South Beach he complained about having no help.  If LeBron leaves this time it will be strictly on him, in addition to a more than adequate starting team there are reserves who can play the game.  They have Dwayne Wade, Jose Calderon, Channing Frye, Jeff Green, Tristan Thompson and Jae Crowder providing depth at all positions. All this firepower and defense and I’ve yet to mention the injured Isaiah Thomas who will return in January.