Basketball from a fans perspective

They found their man
Maybe you weren’t surprised I was, the Sixers announced the hiring of their general manager. Former NBA player Elton Brand has been tapped to head the Sixer front office.  Don’t get me wrong I’m sure the former Dukee can handle the job, we never heard (to my knowledge) he’d even interviewed for the job.  After retiring as an active player Brand was hired by the Sixers as their player development consultant in 2016.  5 or 6 years ago I’m unsure anyone wanted the general manager job for this franchise, after success on the basketball court the Sixer franchise is upward bound.  If Brand can maintain the present status of the franchise and add bits and pieces he might be employed in this position for a significant number of years. 

He’s coaching basketball again at 76-years young 
Jim Calhoun 3X NCAA Championship coach and Hall of Fame honoree has jumped back into the game again feet first.  It’s now official the 76-year old long-time UConn coach has decided to return to the game we must be assured he loves.  He’ll be coaching Division III University of St. Joseph in Connecticut.  According to the news release the school previously only fielded a women’s team so the coach will be on the “basement” floor in building a brand-new program. 

To detail his passion for the game it’s been reported he’s accepting no salary, poof of his love for the game.  I’m okay with the return of Calhoun to coaching, we sometimes have the mindset in America you reach a certain age you are automatically supposed to retire.  If your health or desire on the job mandates retirement then so be it, if the mind is sharp, and you have passion for what you are trying to accomplish I for one applaud you.  78-year old Larry Brown is somewhere in America sayin’ “Darn I wish I could coach someplace or somewhere even if it’s high school.”

The beginning
Tuesday September 25 a new era begins, the Lakers open training camp.  This camp is different from years past, for the first time since Kobe retired in 2016 the Lakers will open the season with a superstar in the lineup.  There are questions, will it be Rondo or Ball at the point and how will Stephenson and Beasley define their role with this new Laker team?  In addition will rookies Moe Wagner and Svi Mykhailiuk gain playing time?  Josh Hart had a breakout summer, will he push Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for time at shooting guard.  Those questions and others will soon be answered, I can’t wait. 

The barometer
We’ve covered this subject in the past however I thought it was worth a re-visit.  Why must success in the NBA or another pro level be the barometer of success?  We invalidate the outstanding collegiate play because the athlete fails at the next level.  Jimmer Fredette is probably the name that comes to mind as this is written.  He was BYU basketball by his junior year averaging 22.1 points per game, his senior year the figure was bumped up to 28.9.  If you check the numbers he registered at BYU, you will note an outstanding collegiate career. 

His name often comes up in conversation, Adam Morrison from Gonzaga.  The 6-foot 8-inch Morrison shot an outstanding 28.1 points per game his senior year.  “He was named Co-Player of the Year with Duke's J.J. Redick by the United States Basketball Writers Association and won the 2006 Chevrolet Player of the Year award.”  I’m quite sure if we check the College Basketball Hall of Fame we’ll discover several players honored for a variety of reasons never attained success at the next level.  At the same time, we often tend to overlook their collegiate achievements. 

Wikipedia