BASKETBALL FROM A FANS PERSPECTIVE

Whether it’s true that’s the perception

If we are holding a discussion on sports and we say “Duke, North Carolina or UCLA” what comes to mind?  9 out of 10 persons are likely to say basketball although the above also have football teams.  We don’t know whether it’s true the perception is football pays for practically every sports program.  Makes sense if we are talking a massive stadium such as Ohio State (104,994 seats) or a similar institution.  Several years back at a time the Big 12 was about to break apart Kansas was facing a dilemma. 

Nebraska had departed for the Big 10, Colorado the Pac-12 plus Mizzou and Texas A&M left for the SEC.  Kansas despite the sterling basketball reputation reportedly fielded no potential invites, the reason football.  The universities football program has been at the bottom or near the bottom of the Big 12 for countless years.  We can speculate the Big 10 or some other conference certainly looked on possibility of adding Kansas as an accomplishment.  They looked at the football program and quickly said NO.  This is fact and perception but most of this report can be backed up by fact.  Despite the fact basketball drives this endeavor without football it likely wouldn’t exist.

It’s later than its sooner again

October 16 is opening night for the NBA season.  There’s a basis for this discussion, a friend asked, “Didn’t the NBA season start later?”  My response would be an emphatic yes, the league cannot seem to make up its mind.  At one point the NBA discussed beginning play after the baseball World Series to avoid a television conflict.  The NBA season did not begin until a selected date in November all that’s changed now. 

I cannot explain the change, but a guess is baseball even the championship series has diminished among fans.  It’s likely unless there favorite or local team is playing baseball is not held in high prestige by fans.  Baseball might have shifted to third place among sports fans.  Given a choice baseball might be the third most popular sport depending on who you might hold a conversation.  Perhaps the thought might be baseball doesn’t affect NBA broadcast, what do you think? 

We forgot where he first played

That’s okay sometimes I forget myself where Kevin Durant began his NBA career, it was in Seattle and not Oklahoma City as many might believe.  He was the second pick in the 2007 draft by the Sonics and played his rookie year in the Emerald City, the following year Clay Bennett moved the franchise to Oklahoma City.  Where am I going with this story you might ask, the NBA returns to Seattle tonight. 

Durant’s present team the Warriors square off against the Kings, the current Warrior went on record regarding his love for the Pacific Northwest.  Somebody needs to check me on this, I believe this might be the first NBA game played in Seattle since the departure of the Sonics.  In any event it’s good to hear Durant appreciates the area where he first began his NBA career, it also points out his belief the city needs an NBA team. 

Their nemesis

I refuse to become too excited about exhibition games, my chief concern is to note the adjustments for rookies and new teammates.  Tuesday evening witnessed the LeBron led Lakers losing their second game in a row to the Nuggets this one 113-111.  Laker Nation might not be happy however consider this fact unless he’s in foul trouble LeBron is going to play more than 15 minutes in most games. 

In fact, Brandon Ingram and other starters will be on the floor for more than minimum time.  Exhibition games serve a purpose, tune up those legs for the grind ahead that is the NBA season.  Currently the Nuggets might be the Lakers chief opposition to a playoff spot, they are coming off their best season in years under Mike Malone.  Wasn’t Malone the guy fired by the Kings because he couldn’t coach, well you might have a difficult time proving that to some.