Basketball from a fans perspective

Basketball shoes
Gone are the days of Chuck Taylor, so too with the Magic Johnson/Larry Bird Converse All Stars.  Converse is no longer Converse, Nike purchased the company several years ago.  The Big Boys now are Nike, the Jordan Brand, Adidas and Under Armour.  Puma once a player has returned to the market place and a brand-new entry Li Ning has entered too.  While several manufacturers are producing basketball shoes Nike and the Jordan Brand sit comfortably in first place.  In the last year we’ve witnessed LaVar Ball and his Big Baller Brand shoe line enter the market. 

Entertainer Kanye West had Adidas casual sneakers in his inventory but decided to add a basketball shoe to his Yeezy shoe line.  No shoe is going to produce an NBA player, talent and work ethic will lead to a career beyond college.  The BBB and Yeezy brand shoes are highly overpriced, if you have enough disposable income to purchase shoes costing more than $500.00 so be it.  If you purchase any shoe brand expecting it to enhance your game better forget that, instead of working on your moves on the court moves to a text book might be more essential.

It’s time to look northward again (in my opinion)
The Grizzlies left Vancouver in 2001 after arriving as an expansion team in 1995, there are residents reading this likely agitated all over again but consider this fact.  I don’t hold a grudge against the NBA for moving the Kings, it was ownership applying for the move the league simply approved it.  What about attendance you ask, well the expansion Grizzlies like other expansion teams was not very good.  Fans have difficulty plopping down their hard-earned wages to see a continuous loser.  The population base is certainly large enough to make a go of it, the metro is nearly 2.5 million folks so that issue is addressed, you claim hockey is king in Canada. 

The NHL is king and will always remain the number one sport in Canada but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for another sport.  Okay I realize Toronto is on the other end of the nation, the Raptors appear to be doing okay despite competing for the dollar with the Maple Leafs and Blue Jays.  The Grizzlies exit might have left a sour taste in many mouths however this is a different age.  Seattle might be first in line for an NBA expansion team and Vancouver might be second ahead of Las Vegas in many eyes.  Rogers Arena home of the Grizzlies opened in 1995 so it should be adequate

I’m going to pick a fight
A group of former Mizzou and Kansas players participated in a charity game recently.  I thought how nice if the schools would play one another again during the regular season.  Every time I mention the subject I receive the same response from Kansas fans no matter who I mention it to.  “It’s a lose-lose scenario for Kansas, there is no benefit for Kansas to play Missouri.  If Kansas wins people will say they were supposed to win. 

Should Missouri win it becomes important to their program.”  It’s interesting to me, the statement sounds like the one I hear about Wichita State.  This is also one I’ve heard, “If Mizzou makes the NCAA tournament Kansas would be forced to play them.”  Mizzou basketball is on the upswing but the two schools possibly meeting in the NCAA is slim and not likely.  Bill Self refuses to schedule either team, this view is not likely to change if Self is coach.  Kansas fans don’t like to hear this, basketball has been so much more successful than football an athletic director would not dare cross Self. 

Are we there yet?
“Easy for Clippers to rebuild” not my words but those of Doc Rivers coach of the Clippers.  He claims, “it’s much harder to re-build after winning an NBA championship.”  Doc’s an NBA coach I’m only a fan and blogger however his statement certainly requires clarification.  I’ve gone on record indicating I’m not exactly sure of the coaching qualities of Rivers.  Sure, he won an NBA championship as mentioned on several occasions.  It’s also been pointed out that was a perfect storm, three eventual HOF players Garnett, Allen and Pierce.  It’s easy, no let’s just say it’s not as difficult coaching this trio if all were early in their NBA careers.  Back to the subject, the rebuild has begun, after drafting two-point guards in June young Rivers was traded. 

Center DeAndre Jordan was lost through free-agency to the Mavs.  Marcin Gortat arrives via the Rivers trade.  Gortat is okay however this is a step backward in my view.  Tobias Harris is a keeper at the power forward and so is Danilo Gallinari if he can manage to remain healthy for a complete season.  Patrick Beverly will lead at the point, but he too is step down from Chris Paul.  Avery Bradley at the shooting guard is good, other than Lou Williams the remainder of the reserves are serviceable but certainly none of them strike fear in the heart of opponents.  I’m going to disagree with the esteem coach, he can check around the NBA and see how the Bucks, Bulls and Lakers have progressed.