Basketball from a fan’s perspective

You know by now
I love to laugh at ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith and some of his outlandish predictions.  As I've often stated I'm unsure sometimes if he's strictly "Showbiz" or journalist.  He might be right on this one and if so, I will state just that.  He claims, “There is a 95% chance Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant wind up on the Knicks.”  That’s not necessarily shocking news, speculation has run rampant since last October or so Durant was likely headed to the Knicks.  As for Irving that might be new but still not shocking, if neither is with the Knicks by August 1 you know by now, I will be laughing into the middle of the following week.  

The shot
Kawhi Leonard’s shot didn’t win the NBA championship, despite that fact it will go down in the annals of game-winning playoff baskets.  I counted four bounces on the rim before it dropped in the basket and won this critical game seven series for the Raptors over the Sixers.  Leonard’s shot will go down in history like these.  The Bulls Michael Jordan’s shot on the Cavs Craig Ehlo in 1989, Jordan’s game winner over Byron Russell versus the Jazz in 1998. 

In 2002 the Lakers Robert Horry sunk a 3-point winning basket over the Kings.  Laker Kobe Bryant shot and missed, Shaq snatched the errant shot went back up and missed.  Kings center Vlade Divac batted the ball toward the backcourt as time was winding down.  On one bounce it landed in front of ‘Big Shot” Rob standing at the 3-point line.  How about the whole world expecting Kobe Bryant or Shaq to take the shot in the 2004 playoff series against the Spurs, Laker guard Derek Fisher took the shot with 0.4 seconds on the clock for the game winner. 

In the 1987 NBA championship game it was the Lakers Magic Johnson’s “Jr. Jr.” skyhook defeating the hated Celtics.  In 1969 the shot by Celtic Don Nelson hit the rim and bounced to the top of the backboard before sinking in the basket.  The shot won the championship for those Celtics over the hated Lakers.  NBA history is ripe with several classic playoff winning shots becoming classic.  Check out YouTube for video, check all of them for yourself. 

Almost there…. the championship
The Bucks versus the Raptors and the Blazers face the Warriors, we are down to four contenders of which one team emerges as the 2019 NBA champion.  My first thought we are about to witness a somewhat even match between these teams.  I’ve not read anything yet, so this is strictly Larry Lakers view, the Bucks have got to be a slight favorite over the Raptors. 

In the west the Warriors would be the clear favorites however in both conference this is still playoff basketball.  I have no rooting interest for a winner, my second favorite NBA team the Sixers succumbed to the Raptors.  I’m not sure what occurs in Philly, there are stories circulating Brett Brown might be dumped.  The next few weeks of playoff basketball should be fun and interesting.

A lightning bolt
You are aware of a situation but shocked by the resolution.  That’s most of us, we knew the Cavs were trying to hire a head coach but all of us were struck by a lightning bolt.  John Beilein who’s been the head man at Michigan since 2007 decided it was time to dip his toe into the waters of the NBA.  I’ve not read anything at this point, but money has got to be a factor Beilein is 66-years old. 

66 years is not ancient but hardly an age to make a radical move of this type.  Beilein’s has led successful programs at every level Junior College, Division III, Division II and Division I.  He’s won at small Division I programs and large ones such as West Virginia and Michigan.  No argument the guy knows his X’s and O’s, can he translate that to an NBA team, that will be the true test.