Basketball from a
fans perspective
Stick to the script
Much as I’d like to comment I will refrain from discussing the matter. Until we hear or read news from reliable sources the free-agent frenzy will not be covered in Words eye view. Don’t worry basketball fans it won’t be very much longer before the first domino falls.
NBA Summer League
Play begins on Monday July 2 and concludes on Tuesday July 17. Games will be televised on NBA TV, ESPNU plus a few regional and local stations in NBA cities. If you live in Sacramento, Salt Lake City or Las Vegas you can see the games in person. Check out the schedule for dates and times.
Play begins on Monday July 2 and concludes on Tuesday July 17. Games will be televised on NBA TV, ESPNU plus a few regional and local stations in NBA cities. If you live in Sacramento, Salt Lake City or Las Vegas you can see the games in person. Check out the schedule for dates and times.
What if?
The ‘What if’ crew is at work again, they took issue with my reference to the trio of James Harden, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook recently. Several maintain the trio has proven to be winners more recently but likely couldn’t have won if they had remained as members of the Thunder. They point to the fact Harden was the team’s sixth man and might have never become a starter. Harden forced the Thunder to trade him to become a starter. Durant made his move as a free-agent leaving for the Warriors, he is still criticized for this however could he win as a member of the Thunder? Unless we have a time, machine there is no method to resolve this question.
The ‘What if’ crew is at work again, they took issue with my reference to the trio of James Harden, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook recently. Several maintain the trio has proven to be winners more recently but likely couldn’t have won if they had remained as members of the Thunder. They point to the fact Harden was the team’s sixth man and might have never become a starter. Harden forced the Thunder to trade him to become a starter. Durant made his move as a free-agent leaving for the Warriors, he is still criticized for this however could he win as a member of the Thunder? Unless we have a time, machine there is no method to resolve this question.
Their arms must have
gotten tired!
In the game of basketball, we discuss several facets of the game, no portion is more noteworthy than scoring baskets. Players have been nicknamed ‘buckets’, ‘shooter’ or ‘swish’ to indicate their proficiency in scoring the ball. Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game established the single game record for the NBA. Immediately behind Chamberlain is the name of Kobe Bean Bryant. He torched the Raptors for 81 points one January evening in 2006 and a 122-104 win by the Lakers. I stopped counting, behind Bryant are several scoring records established by the prolific Chamberlain. At the college level the scoring has been even more prolific.
In the game of basketball, we discuss several facets of the game, no portion is more noteworthy than scoring baskets. Players have been nicknamed ‘buckets’, ‘shooter’ or ‘swish’ to indicate their proficiency in scoring the ball. Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game established the single game record for the NBA. Immediately behind Chamberlain is the name of Kobe Bean Bryant. He torched the Raptors for 81 points one January evening in 2006 and a 122-104 win by the Lakers. I stopped counting, behind Bryant are several scoring records established by the prolific Chamberlain. At the college level the scoring has been even more prolific.
Jack Taylor (Who?) scored
138 points for Division III Grinnell College (IA) versus Faith Baptist November
12, 2012. Taylor’s scoring binge led the way
to a 179-104 win for Grinnell. A year earlier Taylor had
scored 109 points against Crossroads College.
There are four other collegiate players who eclipsed the 100-point
mark. Even more interesting the high
school game with a smaller amount of time has witnessed 25 players scoring
100-points are more. Some of the names
are familiar to us, Hall of Fame member
Cheryl Miller and Lisa Leslie former WNBA players both scored 100 points in a
high school game. Dajuan Wagner played his college ball at Memphis and had a brief NBA career, he recorded 100 points in a January 2001 game
for his Camden (NJ) High School team.
The “New” New York Knicks
Scott Perry was announced as general manager on July 14, 2017, that date also witnessed Steve Mills promoted to president filling the slot held by the departed Phil Jackson. On May 7, 2018 David Fizdale was hired as head coach replacing the fired Jeff Hornacek. As you can see the Knicks front office down to the coaching staff is now practically brand new. What does the future hold for this historically rich NBA franchise that’s fallen on tough times in recent years? There are pieces in place, whether they are used in trades is yet to be determined. One of those key pieces and perhaps the only bright spot in recent years is the unicorn Kristaps Porzingis. He was limited to 48 games in 2017-18 after suffering an injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the season.
Scott Perry was announced as general manager on July 14, 2017, that date also witnessed Steve Mills promoted to president filling the slot held by the departed Phil Jackson. On May 7, 2018 David Fizdale was hired as head coach replacing the fired Jeff Hornacek. As you can see the Knicks front office down to the coaching staff is now practically brand new. What does the future hold for this historically rich NBA franchise that’s fallen on tough times in recent years? There are pieces in place, whether they are used in trades is yet to be determined. One of those key pieces and perhaps the only bright spot in recent years is the unicorn Kristaps Porzingis. He was limited to 48 games in 2017-18 after suffering an injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the season.
If we look at his numbers
they rose in each of his first three years, a healthy Porzingis is a good piece
of the rebuilding foundation. Enes
Kanter has been serviceable and age 25 like most big men he might be growing
into his body. As for the 2018 draft the
Knicks have the 9th pick in the first round and number 32 in the
second round. The jury is still
sequestered as to whether Frank Ntilikina is the answer at the point, with the
9th pick they chose small forward Kevin Knox from Kentucky and the
36th pick became Mitchell Robinson the 7-foot center who didn’t play
last season. Finally, the assessment of
the “New” Knicks cannot be complete
without discussing the NBA salary cap.
The figures I uncovered indicate the Knicks are slightly over the salary
cap which could inhibit some movement regarding talent. It appears the trifecta of
Mills/Perry/Fizdale has much work in front of them.
