Basketball from a
fan’s perspective
Ice Cube, ice drink, cold as ice, Ice Ice Baby, break the ice, etc.
Skating on thin ice, put on ice, ice box, enough already I think the point is made. Sorry for my weak attempt to detail as many people or things associated with ice I could think of quickly. Blazer point guard Damian Lillard has been anointed with a new nickname by yours truly. After sinking a 37-foot 3-point winning basket, he is now officially “ICE”. We anointed George Gervin the “Iceman” back in the day, so this new nickname takes nothing away from him. This game was volume shooting by the Blazer guard, 50 points including the game winner. 51.5% from the floor, 55.6 from the 3-point line and 75% from the stripe along with 7 rebounds and 6 assists.
The 6-foot 3-inch
Lillard took his game winner with 6-foot 9-inch Paul George guarding him and seconds remaining on the game clock. The
basket sealed the deal for the Thunder who lose the series 4 games to 1 with
this 118-115 Blazer victory. By the way
Russell Westbrook registered a triple double, for the 5-game series he shot 36.3%
from the floor. *“He’s (Westbrook) a
transcendent player “a veteran Western Conference
executive said, “but I’m not convinced he’s a transcendent winner.” I had to look up transcendent because I
wasn’t sure of the definition. **1. "Beyond or above the range of normal or merely physical human experience. 2. Surpassing the ordinary; exceptional."
*www.bleacherreport.com
**www.dictionary.com
**www.dictionary.com
Sonny Hill
His given name is William Randolph Hill although many know him better as Sonny. Hill is 82-years old now but don’t allow his age to fool you. He is a Philadelphia basketball legend be it high school, college or the NBA. Hill was the founder of the Sonny Hill league and served as a radio and television broadcaster in years past and is identified as “The Mayor of Basketball.” Hill is one of those persons when he speaks people listen, he is generational. Growing up in Philadelphia he competed against the late Wilt Chamberlain in high school.
His given name is William Randolph Hill although many know him better as Sonny. Hill is 82-years old now but don’t allow his age to fool you. He is a Philadelphia basketball legend be it high school, college or the NBA. Hill was the founder of the Sonny Hill league and served as a radio and television broadcaster in years past and is identified as “The Mayor of Basketball.” Hill is one of those persons when he speaks people listen, he is generational. Growing up in Philadelphia he competed against the late Wilt Chamberlain in high school.
Hill’s also
witnessed the growth of Joel Embiid’s game over his short NBA career. He’s got high praise for Embiid’s game in
fact he claims “Embiid is the closest
he’s seen to Chamberlain since the Big Dipper played.” All of us realize major portions of the game
have changed since the days of Chamberlain.
To make such a bold statement about Embiid certainly is impressive to
this basketball and NBA fan. On the other
hand, Hill currently serves as an executive advisor to the Sixers so there
could be bias in his thought process although I doubt it.
It’s the coach
UCLA basketball was 17-16 this past season, Mizzou was 15-17 while West Virginia finished the season 15-21. There are other programs that might fit our profile, those above are our focus. UCLA has history on its side and to a degree West Virginia, Mizzou has a past under all its coaches except the departed Kim Anderson. The question, how do they recruit a prospective prospect or transfer since their teams have losing records?
UCLA basketball was 17-16 this past season, Mizzou was 15-17 while West Virginia finished the season 15-21. There are other programs that might fit our profile, those above are our focus. UCLA has history on its side and to a degree West Virginia, Mizzou has a past under all its coaches except the departed Kim Anderson. The question, how do they recruit a prospective prospect or transfer since their teams have losing records?
In this instance
Mick Cronin, Cuonzo Martin and Bob Huggins become the driving force enticing
prospects to their perspective campus.
At the collegiate level the coach is father figure, enforcer, mentor and
several other adjectives. Bottom line
its very easy to attach yourself to a winning program but that might be the
easy way. I’ve read a prospect once
stated, “I want to help create a winning
atmosphere by attending _______ University.”
Should I stay or should I go
In 1981 the British punk rock band The Clash recorded a song titled; “Should I stay, or should I go." That certainly might be the question for 50+ International athletes and another 170+ NCAA athletes. The most interesting aspect the number declaring for the NBA draft is down slightly from the prior season. We have a total of 233 athletes declare for 2019, 236 last season and 182 in 2017.
In 1981 the British punk rock band The Clash recorded a song titled; “Should I stay, or should I go." That certainly might be the question for 50+ International athletes and another 170+ NCAA athletes. The most interesting aspect the number declaring for the NBA draft is down slightly from the prior season. We have a total of 233 athletes declare for 2019, 236 last season and 182 in 2017.
