Basketball from a fans perspective

Beep….Beep….Beep

The headline above is Allied Van Lines or some other truck moving company backing up to the homes of these coaches.  Knicks and Magic teammates probably didn’t have enough time to clear out their lockers.  I’m not sure of the order for the firings however I’m placing them in order I received the news.  After rumors were circulating toward the end of the season the Knicks made it official.  They decided to replace Jeff Hornacek after two seasons although there was a year remaining on his contract. 

Some 1,072.3 road miles south of NYC on Interstate 95 is Orlando, home of Disney World and Universal Orlando.  It’s no longer the home of Frank Vogel, the Magic parted ways with Vogel a month short of two years at the helm.  Several names immediately surface as replacements, most are likely familiar to you.  Mark Jackson current NBA analyst for ESPN/ABC, David Fizdale who last coached with the Grizzlies, Jeff Van Gundy analyst ESPN/NBC and David Blatt late of the Cavs.  There are likely others I've omitted but they are out there.  

No surprise
This is a short account of a story we knew would occur, it could really have been included in the above account technically it is a separate account involving the Knicks.  As indicated above on Thursday morning it was announced the Knicks had fired Jeff Hornacek.  Thursday afternoon a story began circulating the Knicks are reaching out to, wait for it, wait for it…..Jay Wright of Villanova.  You might remember I wrote an NBA team would contact Wright to fill a slot as head coach as soon as a position opened.

I’m encouraged

The season is now complete, the Lakers with a win on Wednesday finished 9 games ahead of last seasons total.  The team with the second youngest roster in the NBA continues the upward trend.  At the top I’m more familiar with Luke Walton the player (former Laker) than Walton the coach.  Despite the December statement attributed to LaVar Ball the coach appears in charge of this team. 

If there is a coaching change it certainly isn’t evident on the surface.  Walton is not Magic Johnson’s hire, but does that make a difference if both are on the same page.  The roster is not set as this is written April 12, the draft will not be held until June.  Also pending is free agency pending in July could go a long-way toward providing a playoff Laker team in 2018-19.  Laker fans and other folks who follow the NBA will see this story develop over the next few months. 

He signed on the dotted line

Xavier Pinson made his Mizzou commitment official on Wednesday, the 6-foot 2-inch point guard signed his letter of agreement.  Pinson attends Simeon Carter Academy in Chicago, the same school that produced NBA talents Nick Anderson, Derrick Rose and Jabari Parker to name just a few.  We realize the leap from high school basketball to Division I is quite steep especially for a point guard.   Hopefully this Rivals 3-star prospect will be able to make the transition smoothly without too much difficulty.  

He joins Jordan Geist the only point guard on the roster as this is written.  The Tigers could certainly use his help with their depleted backcourt losing three point guards.  Welcome to Mizzou Nation X Man, yes, I believe I might be the first to tag him with a nickname.  Okay I didn’t originate it, Xavier McDaniel who played for the Sonics in the middle ‘80’s was nicknamed the X-Man.  He’s long since retired so welcome to the NEW X-Man, Xavier Pinson.    

I can’t be fined

Unlike Magic Johnson the NBA cannot charge my bank account.  I’m going to tamper, and Commissioner Silver can’t do a doggone thing about it.  I’ve gone on record indicating I don’t want LeBron James, who do I want.  If healthy I want:

Kawhi Leonard 

Paul George

Hassan Whiteside

Klay Thompson

Kevin Love