Basketball from a fans perspective

Did they stop to consider?

Some of you might remember the view, this local sports talk radio guy said: “You turn on a television game and the voices behind the mic are not always familiar.  This is a key reason 3 or 4 teams are no longer able to announce all the games.  It’s Sunday afternoon, there are 7 men’s and women’s games on currently.  How in the world could you assign Greg Gumbel, Jim Nantz, Ian Eagle or Brent Musberger to provide coverage for these 7 games? 

That fails to take into consideration the travel time required for the next day’s Big Monday schedule on ESPN.  I think anyone who longs for the days of 2 or 3 broadcast teams is certainly not living in the world of reality.  The explosion of sports networks covering college plus the NBA it’s no longer possible to have a small group of broadcasters.  

How not to recruit
Former Mizzou guard Blake Harris transferred to North Carolina State, he decided in favor of playing closer to home.  I ain't mad him, I believe he left for valid reasons, on the other hand there are players such as Rivals 5-star prospect and McDonalds All-American Mitchell Robinson.  The 7-foot 222-pound big man is from the New Orleans area and was a highly recruited 2017 prospect.  There were offers by North Carolina, Texas A&M, Alabama, Southern Cal, Wichita State along with Western Kentucky and a host of other colleges.

Robinson’s godfather was hired at Western Kentucky and that was the beginning of this strange odyssey.  He left school, returned to school and then left again for the final time.  He would begin training for the 2018 NBA draft.  He attempted to secure a spot with a G-League team and was informed this was not possible.  I’m quite sure he’s working out in preparation for the draft but other than pick-up games he can’t be playing a great deal of competitive basketball.  Stories like this cause you to wonder who is it advising this youngster? 

LeBron fans need not read

Naturally in most barber shops full of customers a varied number of conversations occur at any one time.  The patron sitting nearest me said loudly: “I’m not that impressed with LeBron James, I know he’s the most talented player in the NBA however he plays in the east.  All the tough teams are in the Western Conference.”  We know LeBron is a three-time NBA Champion and his army of fans proudly point to his consecutive finals appearances.  We realize basketball is still a team game but look closer at the history to determine if this fan is correct in his assessment. 

2012 NBA Champion Miami beat the Thunder 4 games to 1

2013 NBA Champion Miami beat the Spurs 4 games to 3

2014 NBA Champion Spurs beat the Heat 4 games to 1

2015 NBA Champion Warriors beat the Cavs 4 games to 2

2016 NBA Champion Cavs beat the Warriors 4 games to 3

2017 NBA Champion Warriors beat the Cavs 4 games to 1

I’m not sure if the evidence is overwhelming however this is the history you decide.  LeBron James has been a winner in half of his finals appearances. 

Self-appointed King of Speculation

That’s me of course, today’s subject Billy Preston.  Not the late R&B artist but the former Kansas Jayhawk.  Before I go any further allow me to correct an earlier statement.  Preston played in the Kansas-Mizzou exhibition game at Sprint Center, so I was incorrect he did play one game in a Kansas jersey.  Now back to the point of this discussion, how long does it take to search for an automobile title? 

That was the story the public was fed as to why Preston was not on the court.  I believe the NCAA must have uncovered something in its investigation the Kansas Athletic Department might have been unaware.  We know the end of the story, Preston left school to play professionally in Bosnia.  As for the reason why, we’ll probably never know unless Preston or his mom inform us.  In any event he wasn’t going to play and its likely this was the best move for him.