Basketball from a fans perspective

Mr. Triple-Double

Sixer point guard Ben Simmons did it again, he recorded another triple-double establishing a new record for rookies with 8 breaking the record established by Magic Johnson.  Truth is this was his second triple-double in consecutive games.  Thursday in a 118-110 win against the Knicks it was 13 points 10 rebounds and 12 assists, earlier on Tuesday in a loss 101-98 Simmons registered 10 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists.   

He was New Orleans

At one point in time the NFL Saints were preparing to leave New Orleans, Tom Benson stepped in to purchase the team and the rest is history.  Once again movement in the sports world this time the NBA Hornets (now Pelicans), they were bleeding financially and they too were on the road somewhere.  Once again Benson came riding to the rescue purchasing the team and changing the team name (Pelicans) to one more reflective of the Crescent City.  Benson died Thursday at age 90 and now the chaos begins anew. 

Several years ago, his only surviving daughter and her two children took their father-grandad to court when he changed his will.  He intended to leave his $90 billion-dollar empire to his third wife, his daughter and grandchildren who were cut out of his will contesting his move in court.  The Pelicans will finish the season and make the playoffs.  In August the Saints will open training camp in preparation for the NFL season.  Beyond the two pending actions of the Benson sports teams the balance of this story regarding ownership remains to be decided.     

Final Four

I don’t ever remember the NCAA Championship being this wide open.  A bunch of different teams could go all the way and win it.  I wouldn’t be surprised who wins it’s that an unusual a season, I’m going out on that precarious limb and provide you my final four.  

Duke

Villanova

Virginia

North Carolina

I cannot defend my choices, let’s just say my best guess. 

His college career may have concluded

Oklahoma lost to Rhode Island in overtime 83-78, Trae Young led the way for the Sooners with 28 points.   I mentioned this earlier, the mid-day host of one of the local sports talk stations ripped this youngster on a weekly basis.  His critical remarks from the middle of the season   were unbelievable, this radio guy should have read the piece I located on the net.  

SI.com interviewed several NBA scouts who saw Young play and his possible NBA future. 

The only negative noted among the five scouts, one mentioned his size and whether he’d just worn down during the season from the defense played against him.  Another indicated NBA teams will not defend him in the same manner as college, he should be able to score with no difficulty.  Perhaps his NBA career at Oklahoma didn’t turn out as many hoped, that certainly doesn’t negate his talent which will be displayed at the next level.   

I checked for my satisfaction

One of the talking heads on ESPN claimed: “The Thunder are no better with Paul George and Carmelo Anthony in the lineup than they were last season.”  My immediate thought this guy’s got to be incorrect, after getting off to a poor start the Thunder had played better since roughly the middle of December to the present.  

I decided to check for myself, the statement was not totally correct however it wasn’t very far from being correct.  Check this out, by March 13, 2017 the Thunder had won 38 games and lost 29, fast forward to March 13, 2018 they stand 41-29.  I haven’t followed them closely only at a glance, it appears Russell Westbrook continues to play at an elevated level, but George and Anthony together have not been able to raise team play.