Basketball from a fans perspective
Caught me off guard
The inaugural Jr. NBA Championship is being held in Orlando. The top 32-team 14-U tournament will crown a boys and girls champion when complete. Since I’m late with this report expect to see an additional update on Monday's edition.
Geography
I read somewhere a large percentage of the American population is geography challenged now. The question might be do educational establishments no longer see the value in locating points and countries on a map or globe? I claim no expertise in the history you are about to read, this is my perspective, if you lived in or had relatives from any of these nation’s your view is far more valuable than mine. This is a historical fact, the European nation of Yugoslavia was created after World War I concluded (1918), it would exist as a single nation until 1980. The nation was disbanded, and six countries were formed consisting of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia.
I read somewhere a large percentage of the American population is geography challenged now. The question might be do educational establishments no longer see the value in locating points and countries on a map or globe? I claim no expertise in the history you are about to read, this is my perspective, if you lived in or had relatives from any of these nation’s your view is far more valuable than mine. This is a historical fact, the European nation of Yugoslavia was created after World War I concluded (1918), it would exist as a single nation until 1980. The nation was disbanded, and six countries were formed consisting of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia.
Ethnic conflict caused war
to break-out in portions of the former Yugoslavia that raged for years. Although
at war basketball interest and talent continued to be developed among the youth
of these nations. The June 2018 NBA draft saw Luka Doncic from Slovenia and
Dzanan Musa from Bosnia and Herzegovina were chosen in the first round. These two represent the latest basketball talent
from that portion of the world attempting an NBA career. Much earlier in history NBA fans witnessed
the play of Vladic Divac, Toni Kukoc and the late Drazen Petrovic. Check NBA rosters today, they contained
several players from the nations mentioned, based on the 2018 NBA draft there
are more likely to arrive on these shores in the future.
John Wooden
We know the sparkling record of UCLA basketball under the legendary John Wooden, no need to re-visit the number of NCAA Final Four championships and NCAA appearances. That’s not the story here this account is from his first coaching job at Indiana State. In the 1946-47 season the Sycamores finished 17-8 and 5-2 in the Indiana Athletic Conference. The team was invited to the NAIB Tournament which later was re-branded as the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics or NAIA for short.
We know the sparkling record of UCLA basketball under the legendary John Wooden, no need to re-visit the number of NCAA Final Four championships and NCAA appearances. That’s not the story here this account is from his first coaching job at Indiana State. In the 1946-47 season the Sycamores finished 17-8 and 5-2 in the Indiana Athletic Conference. The team was invited to the NAIB Tournament which later was re-branded as the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics or NAIA for short.
The NAIB had a standing rule
at the time, the Kansas City tournament banned black players, Indiana State had
one black player at the time. Wooden
refused to allow his Sycamore team to travel to Kansas City, the following year
Indiana State won its conference and was invited to the tournament once
again. The rule banning black players
was repealed and this time Wooden allowed his Indiana State team to travel to
Kansas City. The Sycamores would advance
in the tournament before losing to Louisville in the championship game. Bet you didn’t know this story about the
Wizard of Westwood.
Moving on
Washed up at the age of 22, that could be the issue facing Jahlil Okafor. After one season at Duke the nearly 7-foot center became the third pick in the 2015 draft by the Sixers. Although Okafor was raw his rookie numbers (17.5 ppg and 7.0 rebounds) appeared to demonstrate his blossoming talent. Somewhere his star which shone brightly began to take on a dull tone. It might have been Joel Embiid or Nerlens Noel (since traded) or something else.
Moving on
Washed up at the age of 22, that could be the issue facing Jahlil Okafor. After one season at Duke the nearly 7-foot center became the third pick in the 2015 draft by the Sixers. Although Okafor was raw his rookie numbers (17.5 ppg and 7.0 rebounds) appeared to demonstrate his blossoming talent. Somewhere his star which shone brightly began to take on a dull tone. It might have been Joel Embiid or Nerlens Noel (since traded) or something else.
Okafor moved to the Nets
becoming invisible although quite difficult for someone of his height. After one season Okafor moved to New Orleans
where he signed a two-year contract with the Pelicans in early August. It’s easy for coaches, management and fans to
see injuries. That appears to not be the
case for Okafor, it’s mighty difficult to look inside his mind. His actions on the court are a truer
demonstration of his talent and intent.
Colorado gold rush
Anytime you say “gold rush” most connect it to the 1848 California gold rush. Several years later Colorado also experienced a similar influx of folks hoping to locate gold and strike it rich. Today the only gold is likely to be found in jewelry stores or at 1000 Chopper Cir, Denver. That address is the location of the Pepsi Center home to the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets concluded last season with a 46-36 record and barely missed the playoffs. What does 2018-19 appear to play out, the early word is the Nuggets might have acquired the steal of the draft in small forward Michael Porter Jr. The initial word is they may sit him down for the season to ensure his back is fully healed.
Colorado gold rush
Anytime you say “gold rush” most connect it to the 1848 California gold rush. Several years later Colorado also experienced a similar influx of folks hoping to locate gold and strike it rich. Today the only gold is likely to be found in jewelry stores or at 1000 Chopper Cir, Denver. That address is the location of the Pepsi Center home to the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets concluded last season with a 46-36 record and barely missed the playoffs. What does 2018-19 appear to play out, the early word is the Nuggets might have acquired the steal of the draft in small forward Michael Porter Jr. The initial word is they may sit him down for the season to ensure his back is fully healed.
The names of most Nuggets might
not be household however they got game, Garry Harris shooting guard and Jamal
Murray at the point. The front court has
the veteran Paul Milsap at power forward, Nikola Jokic at center along with
Will Barton at small forward. Reserves
include Mason Plumlee, Juan Hernangomez along with newly acquired Isaiah Thomas
who should provide instant offense off the bench. The question was posed “Why would LeBron want
to go to the tough Western Conference?” We
might ask the same question considering the Nuggets along with several other
teams will make for a very competitive race in 2018-19. If Porter Jr. plays the sky is the limit for
these Nuggets.
