Basketball from a fans perspective
Yessssss
In my Marv Albert
voice, I’m saying yes to the trade if it occurs, what trade you say? The trade where the Lakers acquire DeMarcus
“Boogie” Cousins. Don’t turn on ESPN or
NBA.com looking for details it’s not occurred, and it just might never be
completed. There are reports the Lakers
are attempting a trade at the deadline for Boogie. I know what you are saying: “Head case why in
the world do they want him.?” Until Joel
Embiid plays a full season, until DeAndre Jordan can shoot free-throws Boogie
is the best big man in the NBA.
Check out these
numbers: nearly 26 points and 12 rebounds along with 1.5 blocked shots per
game. At the ripe ol age of 27 Boogie’s
got seven NBA seasons under his belt plenty of time to win a championship or
two. Back to you mentioning him being a
head case, I likely have the number wrong, but it appears he played for four
coaches his first five years. The Kings
hire a coach he loves (Mike Malone) and management fires him after his first
year. The 6-11 270-pound Boogie wants to win a feat unattainable by the Kings. Why
do I want him on the Lakers, simple he’s a talented big man, I’m sure the
Lakers can deal with his drama?
Mr. GQ
The Villanova Wildcats
are number one in the most recent polls; Jay Wright is number one in style
among basketball coaches. Pat Riley lost
his first place standing several years ago, Riley remains just as stylish but
as president of the Heat rather than coaching he moved out of his first-place
slot. In addition to a stylish wardrobe
Wright’s Wildcats are none again at the top of the collegiate ranks, as this is
written they are 12-0 and trending upward.
They will likely lose a game or two maybe three prior to the NCAA
Tournament. One thing we know for sure
the Wildcats will be there, Wright will be prowling the sidelines in one of the
many suits he owns coaching the Wildcats or ready for GQ photo shoot.
Close the border
The calendar has not
turned to 2018 and already we are discussing 2019. The Kansas City Star article headline read; “In-state talent will be a good test for
Missouri’s Cuonzo Martin.” The
article asks the question if 2019 will be the class Martin is able to “close
the border.” There are several highly
talented in Missouri and on the Kansas side of the Kansas City MO metro. I’ve mentioned this
previously former Mizzou football Coach Gary Pinkel might have been the first
to popularize closing the border, i.e. recruiting much of the talent in the
state.
I can agree with that view and
find an opposing one. Oklahoma has
struck gold this season with Trae Young, the freshman phenom whom they
recruited from the same location of the university. Consider the Duke’s,
Carolina’s and Kentucky’s have recruited talent from North Carolina and
Kentucky. They have also recruited
talent from across the country and well.
Mizzou certainly is not held in the same breath with prospects as these
others however they can build on 2017.
Changes in HOF voting
I hate to be an “I
told you so” however I expressed an opinion earlier and it will now be
addressed. Several years back news media
identified North Carolina basketball had a troubled academic program. The coach was identified as part of the
problem and that would-be Roy Williams, Hall of Fame Roy Williams. I remember questioning at the time why the
HOF allows active coaches in the HOF but demands former players must wait years
to be enshrined. The Naismith Hall of
Fame sought to correct this issue by changing a portion of the eligibility
requirements.
Rick Pitino
long-time Louisville coach was terminated before the season due to improper
activities with the basketball program. I’d
like to refer to these recent changes instituted by Naismith as the “Rick
Pitino” rule. Coaches now are now required
to have coached 25 years or more in addition they must reach a minimum
age of 60 years. Those two changes
don’t go all the way however they certainly addressed a concern I once raised. Evidence could be exposed regarding a coach
with 30 years and age 65 but it’s highly unlikely.
