Disappointments &
Accomplishments
The college
basketball season will be complete on Monday evening. The NBA champion will not be crowned until
June, the majority of NBA players will join us watching the playoffs in person
or on television. Every basketball season produces ups and downs, these are just a
few.
Disappointments
*The on-going
scandal in college basketball which has cost several coaches jobs and has
involved a few players. We know that
cheating in some form exists its disappointing when it’s so blatant.
*Michael Porter Jr. able to play so few
games for Mizzou.
*As they say
injuries are always part of the game but its terrible when so many NBA players
are sidelined for major portions of the season.
No need of listing them I might miss someone.
*Clipper fans need
to adopt the old line of the Brooklyn Dodgers, “Wait till next year.”
*No NBA team in
Kansas City (I had to slip that one in).
*Officiating issues
in the NBA.
Accomplishments
*Oklahoma’s Trae
Young accomplished a feat perhaps only Oscar Robertson may have. Young led D-I schools in scoring and
assists.
*The season may have
ended on a disappointing note but Cuonzo Martin was an outstanding hire by
Mizzou.
*Sixer Ben Simmons
placing his name on the NBA Rookie of the Year trophy at the beginning of the season.
*Improved play by
the Lakers.
*Joel Embiid proved
he was on the road to superstardom, the wait was worth it for Sixer fans.
*Despite the noise
of apparently pay-for-play scandal the 2017-18 season has been a good one.
The season is too long, too many players and teams to cover. These are my highlights what about yours?
I was nice compared to him
Colin Cowherd, Fox Sports was highly critical of
Russell Westbrook. On a recent broadcast
after giving us numbers on his 3-point shooting late and admitting Westbrook
was talented. Cowherd used the term MVMe….
opps MVP in his commentary about last season’s honoree. See you thought it was just me that had an
issue with the Thunder point guard. The
Thunder will continue to “swim in the shallow end” of the playoff pool, they
could wade into deeper water but will never accomplish the feat with Westbrook dominating the ball.
Choice announced
We indicated earlier
the head coaching hire at Louisville would be a well-known coach. Despite the issues under Rick
Pitino this school is one of a number of high-profile basketball programs in
the nation. The school announced Chris
Mack would become the new coach replacing the departed Pitino. Mack’s served as head coach at the school at
Xavier for nine years, he’s a proven winner, the nearest one of his teams came
to a losing record was a 17-14 finish in the 2012-13 season. I’m unsure who returns for Louisville and how
the recruiting picture looks, Mack should be able to stabilize a season fraught
with chaos for Louisville basketball.
Laker centers
The Lakers have a rich
history of exceptional centers, the fan website Lakers Nation provided us the best five in the team’s history.
Surprise, surprise they included Andrew Bynum in their list:
Kareem Addul Jabbar
George Mikan
Shaquille O'Neal
Wilt Chamberlain
Andrew Bynum
Kareem Addul Jabbar
George Mikan
Shaquille O'Neal
Wilt Chamberlain
Andrew Bynum
The only argument I
might have is including Andrew Bynum in the list, it’s not a talent issue
rather a longevity issue for me. My
list would omit Bynum but add either Vlade Divac or Elmore Smith. If the names are unfamiliar especially Smith Google
his name check out his stats with the Lakers.
