Basketball from a fans perspective
Sorry Kansas fans, my oversight
In yesterday’s edition of Words eye view the Border War was profiled existing in the past between Kansas and Missouri. During the American Civil War Union defenders of Columbia Missouri nicknamed themselves Tigers, it was their furious desire to defend the town. They had been informed Confederate forces were marching on the town to take charge. Years later sports teams at Mizzou would adopt Tigers as the school’s sport symbol. I failed to mention the Kansas mascot Jayhawks. “Jayhawkers was originally a term for United States Civil War guerrilla fighters, later applied generally to residents of Kansas.” Several decades later it would be shortened to Jayhawk and would be adopted by the school’s sports team as their symbol.
Wikipedia
The arena has a
name
On Thursday the Bucks announced the name of the arena, Fiserv signed a 25-year naming rights agreement. The arena will be known as Fiserv Forum and is in downtown Milwaukee. In addition to serving as home for the Bucks the arena will also serve other entertainment venues in the city. Fiserv Inc. is a provider of financial services technology solutions.
Gotham City crew
I remember reading once the NBA required a winning team in New York City, the largest city in the nation practically demanded a playoff contending team. Those of us who follow the sport are aware the Knicks have not been consistent winners since the days of Patrick Ewing, John Starks and Pat Riley. Maybe the Knicks are on the road to become respectable again. In May we featured the front office changes for the Knicks, this was culminated by the hire of head coach David Fizdale. How serious is Fizdale you ask, he and his wife flew to Latvia to meet with Porzingis and family. After the June draft are the Knicks on the road to respectability? We certainly hope so. Kevin Knox received a welcome draft night, he was treated to a chorus of boos by the majority Knick audience.
On Thursday the Bucks announced the name of the arena, Fiserv signed a 25-year naming rights agreement. The arena will be known as Fiserv Forum and is in downtown Milwaukee. In addition to serving as home for the Bucks the arena will also serve other entertainment venues in the city. Fiserv Inc. is a provider of financial services technology solutions.
Gotham City crew
I remember reading once the NBA required a winning team in New York City, the largest city in the nation practically demanded a playoff contending team. Those of us who follow the sport are aware the Knicks have not been consistent winners since the days of Patrick Ewing, John Starks and Pat Riley. Maybe the Knicks are on the road to become respectable again. In May we featured the front office changes for the Knicks, this was culminated by the hire of head coach David Fizdale. How serious is Fizdale you ask, he and his wife flew to Latvia to meet with Porzingis and family. After the June draft are the Knicks on the road to respectability? We certainly hope so. Kevin Knox received a welcome draft night, he was treated to a chorus of boos by the majority Knick audience.
As with any rookie he’s
rough around the edges however summer played proved the 6-foot 9 inch forward
given time should be a presence in the Knick lineup. Next up is Mitchell Robinson, it was hoped by
this writer the 7-foot 1-inch center would fall to the Lakers. His summer league numbers proved he was ready,
13 points 10 rebounds and 4 blocked shots a game. After sitting out a year no one was sure what
he might bring to the court. He’s got a
motor that never stops which makes him an asset. Knox and Robinson are listed as reserves on
the Knicks depth chart certainly understandable. With a healthy Kristaps Porzingis returning
and these rookies maybe the Knicks can make noise in the east. If they competed for a playoff berth it would
be a feat that’s been missing for Knick teams over the past few years.
The record
On Thursday we covered Lou Williams assessment of the Clippers for the upcoming season. Williams indicated his belief the Clippers remain superior to the Lakers despite the addition of LeBron James to the Lakers. Last season, the Clippers finished with a 42-40 record and the Lakers were 35-47. A 7-game difference in the win column is a great deal closer than prior years, the point was to provide you the record.
On Thursday we covered Lou Williams assessment of the Clippers for the upcoming season. Williams indicated his belief the Clippers remain superior to the Lakers despite the addition of LeBron James to the Lakers. Last season, the Clippers finished with a 42-40 record and the Lakers were 35-47. A 7-game difference in the win column is a great deal closer than prior years, the point was to provide you the record.
What if?
Instead of the Hornets drafting Kobe Bryant it would have been the Nets making the choice. The Nets with John Calipari head coach worked out Kobe in preparation for the draft, the story was Calipari thought highly of the drills and was prepared to draft him. “He who hesitates loses”, the Nets had the 8th pick in the draft and when it came their turn they “blinked” then chose Kerry Kittles over Kobe.
Instead of the Hornets drafting Kobe Bryant it would have been the Nets making the choice. The Nets with John Calipari head coach worked out Kobe in preparation for the draft, the story was Calipari thought highly of the drills and was prepared to draft him. “He who hesitates loses”, the Nets had the 8th pick in the draft and when it came their turn they “blinked” then chose Kerry Kittles over Kobe.
This is certainly no knock
on Kittles, the slender guard had a 10-year NBA career averaging 14.1 ppg average. The belief at the time Kobe didn’t want to
play for the Nets but consider this fact.
The Hornets took a chance drafting him at 13 and for all intents and
purpose it was believed he would be in Charlotte to begin his NBA career. Later the Lakers would trade center Vlade
Divac for the draft rights to Kobe Bryant and the rest as they say is
history. Kobe will be enshrined in the
Naismith Hall of Fame in the next few years, what if he’d been drafted by the
Nets? He would enter the hall as a member of the Nets......maybe.
