Basketball from a fans perspective

Whoa

“Austin Rivers is a fake tough guy who’s “arrogant” and Doc Rivers is responsible for the “demise” of the Clippers.”  You are reading this in Words eye view however they are not my words.  Those are the words of Matt Barnes journeyman NBA player who was once a member of the Clippers. 

As someone might say those are fighting words however they clarify a point I’ve made over the last three years at the very least.  Austin Rivers should be in the G-League if not for his daddy, Doc Rivers at the time player personnel director signed his son to a huge contract when Austin was a free-agent.  There were no takers on the open market so daddy re-signs his son.  If not for dear old dad Austin might too be a journeyman NBA player he’s not that good.     

Okay, so I was wrong 

I said yesterday the NBA wouldn’t suspend any players, no punches were thrown by the Rockets or Clippers.  I missed this one, Trevor Ariza and Gerald Green will be suspended for two games, as for Chris Paul, James Hardin and Blake Griffin they escaped punishment.  “These were two teams who really went at it. To go into another team's locker room immediately after a game, totally inappropriate and very provocative for the players to do that, and so that's a dangerous situation. It really is.”  This was the take by vice-president of basketball operations for the NBA Kiki VanDeWeghe. 

Headed downtown to check them out

The Kansas City Tornadoes are scheduled to play the Ohio Cardinals (Akron) on January 24.  I checked the teams roster and must admit I really don’t know any of the players, Sherron Collins who played major minutes at Kansas remains injured and sidelined.  The Tornadoes roster contains two other players with local connections, Franklin Williams UMKC and Kevin Young Kansas are listed on the Tornadoes roster.  I don’t remember seeing either player on the court for their respective schools. Despite my unfamiliarity with the team or quality of play I plan on attending the game.             

The “real” reason

Kyrie Irving’s move to Boston is history, he was one of the topics of conversation at the most recent barber shop visit.  Irving said at the time these similar words: “I want my own team.”  One of the customers said it was more than wanting his own team.  This was his view: “He (Irving) believed LeBron was headed out of town in 2018 and thought you ain’t leaving me with this collection of player.”  We can debate whether that might be the true reason it is worth considering. 

“Steph 2.0”

As this is written the basketball world knows Trae Young, last year a smaller number was aware of the young man.  Rivals identified the Norman Oklahoma baller as a 5-star prospect.  I laugh out loud the amount of money likely spent recruiting Young, in this instance Lon Kruger or his assistants probably spent less than $50.00 in gas money driving around metro Oklahoma City. 

Young’s physical stature (6-2 180 pounds) reminds NBA fans of Steph Curry, his shooting (30.1 points per game after 16 games) is comparable to that of the Warriors guard.  Not just a scorer Young manages to get his teammates involved in the game as well.  His scoring and assists (9.9) lead all Division I teams in the nation.  The smallish youngster is a stud on the court, as the season progresses his numbers are likely to decline a bit however he’s proven to us he can play.