Basketball from a fans perspective
November 2019
That’s 14 months from now, what’s so critical we can’t wait? Well it’s not critical just interesting. We are yet to play the 2018 CBE Hall of Fame Classic; the tournament is played immediately after the College Hall of Fame induction of former players, coaches and others. This year’s tournament will be played at Kansas Cities Sprint Center November 19-20. What’s the emphasis on 2019 since the 2018 tournament is yet to be played, I’m glad you asked me. Invited to compete next year is Oklahoma, Stanford, Butler along with Mizzou. 2019 is a long-ways away but the excitement continues to build for coach Cuonzo Martin and team.
Short time
I checked NBA.com and was surprised to note two NBA games on the left side of the page. September 28, 2018 is the specific date, Melbourne United faces the Sixers and later the Celtics face the Hornets. These games kick off the NBA pre-season, boy where has the time gone? It seems like just last month we celebrated the Warriors championship and the NBA draft. It was more like two months ago and we have less than 30 days before NBA teams begin play again, where did the time go?
I checked NBA.com and was surprised to note two NBA games on the left side of the page. September 28, 2018 is the specific date, Melbourne United faces the Sixers and later the Celtics face the Hornets. These games kick off the NBA pre-season, boy where has the time gone? It seems like just last month we celebrated the Warriors championship and the NBA draft. It was more like two months ago and we have less than 30 days before NBA teams begin play again, where did the time go?
Draft lottery
This account is prompted by an earlier story written regarding Laker great James Worthy. I'll give you fair warning before proceeding, I’m no conspiracy theorist I don’t believe in the Loch Nest monster, crop circles, the Bermuda Triangle or some of the other stories out there. In 1985 the Knicks suffering through a losing season were in the first ever draft lottery. The cards containing the team names were placed in a hopper, the late Dave DeBusschere then director of operations for the Knicks reached in and selected the top card.
This account is prompted by an earlier story written regarding Laker great James Worthy. I'll give you fair warning before proceeding, I’m no conspiracy theorist I don’t believe in the Loch Nest monster, crop circles, the Bermuda Triangle or some of the other stories out there. In 1985 the Knicks suffering through a losing season were in the first ever draft lottery. The cards containing the team names were placed in a hopper, the late Dave DeBusschere then director of operations for the Knicks reached in and selected the top card.
That card would be the
number one pick which the Knicks would later use to draft Patrick Ewing. There have been all kinds of stories
surrounding the card, “It was frozen” or “It was bent.” If it was frozen how did it manage to remain
that way under hot television lights?
The card well could have been bent but even that story is a
stretch. In any event since that first eventful
draft lottery it seems every year we hear of a “lottery fix.” The question has always persisted for me, why
don’t we hear football, baseball or hockey conspiracy stories associated with their draft?
“Houston we’ve
had a problem”
Astronaut Jack Swigert’s quote in the ill-fated 1970 Apollo 13 lunar mission has been misquoted over the years. I didn’t see the movie so I’m unsure if Kevin Bacon who portrayed Swigert said, “Houston we have a problem” which was incorrect. Fast forward to 2018 we are yet to determine if there is an issue again in Houston. In this instance it’s not a NASA question rather it’s an issue regarding the Houston NBA team. Carmelo Anthony has finally reached his destination, he wanted out of Oklahoma City when it was suggested he’d would become the teams’ sixth man.
Astronaut Jack Swigert’s quote in the ill-fated 1970 Apollo 13 lunar mission has been misquoted over the years. I didn’t see the movie so I’m unsure if Kevin Bacon who portrayed Swigert said, “Houston we have a problem” which was incorrect. Fast forward to 2018 we are yet to determine if there is an issue again in Houston. In this instance it’s not a NASA question rather it’s an issue regarding the Houston NBA team. Carmelo Anthony has finally reached his destination, he wanted out of Oklahoma City when it was suggested he’d would become the teams’ sixth man.
Carmelo was reported to have
said no to the proposed move and requested a trade. Traded to the Hawks they would release
Carmelo and he signs with the Rockets.
Coach D’Antoni claims “He’ll be a better fit here than with the Knicks,”
his new coach would be expected to make such a declaration. The depth chart currently indicates P.J.
Tucker will be the starter at power forward Carmelo the back-up. The departure of Trevor Ariza leaves an
opening at the small forward, currently Gerald Green is listed as the
starter. Carmelo moving in front of
Tucker is a possibility but certainly not guaranteed. In addition, he could move in front of Green,
Carmelo might possibly become the teams’ sixth man.
