Basketball from a fans perspective

I’ve been a fan

Tubby Smith was fired as head coach at Memphis, he was asked to leave despite his team won 21 games.  Smith’s always been one of my favorite coaches and this is too bad.  Reports are Penny Hardaway will take the helm and get this, he will reach out to Larry Brown as an assistant.  Okay you fire a guy I like and replace him with two guys I also like.  I feel sad for Smith but appreciate the opportunity for Hardaway and especially Brown if both are hired.   

Boys Missouri State Basketball Championship

Hogan Prep Academy won the Class 3 State Championship 63-58 over Charleston.  The Class 4 semi-finals features Raytown South versus Jennings and Grandview versus Sikeston.  In Class 5 the semi-finals have Liberty facing Webster Groves.  Hogan, Raytown South, Grandview and Liberty are all Kansas City Metro High Schools. 

Don’t pay him no mind!

The Lakers have an outside chance to make the playoffs this season, the victory against the Nuggets leave them with a 31-36 record with weeks remaining in the season.  If the Lakers manage to accomplish this feat it would represent tremendous progress.  At the time Luke Walton became head coach I believed there should be considerable improvement in team play by his third year.  Hired in 2016 Walton is about to conclude his second year at the helm.  A player, coach or manager is only as good as his or her latest victory, it’s true Walton is not Magic or Pelinka’s guy they didn’t hire him.  Despite that statement Laker management should pay more attention to the players rather than some guy not directly connected with the team.   

I found this interesting   

A website Definition.org picked the best athletes from each state, I found it interesting basketball players were the choice in several states. 

Indiana-Larry Bird

Louisiana-Bill Russell

Michigan-Magic Johnson

New York-Kareem Abdul Jabbar

North Carolina-Michael Jordan

Ohio-LeBron James

Pennsylvania-Wilt Chamberlain 

Clippers arena

No, this is not a report on Staples Center, it’s the building Clippers owner Steve Ballmer wants built.  This story has been reported on several occasions however it appears to be gaining momentum.   The 18,000-seat arena and a practice facility would be constructed at South Prairie Avenue and Century Boulevard in Inglewood.  Most of the land is vacant although there are several businesses adjacent.  As for Staples the Clippers are tied to a list that expires in 2024.  In addition to some residents objecting to the proposal the mayor and the City of Inglewood have been sued by MSG which now owns the Forum former home of the Lakers.  We need to stay tuned to this development to see if it reaches a conclusion.