Basketball from a fan’s perspective

Daryl Morey and Sam Presti
Morey is GM of the Rockets while Presti holds the same position with the Thunder.  Over the years the two have drafted, traded and signed several free agents for their respective teams.  In several instances we can point toward a successful conclusion or action while in other cases the moves could be considered questionable.  Thursday evening came word the Thunder had traded Russell Westbrook to the Rockets for Chris Paul, this move could certainly be considered a shock.  We’d heard rumors all last week about the Thunder moving Westbrook but most of us believed it was talk only.  Forget the draft choices included in the trade, we often forget them and sometimes they don’t even pan out. 

The trade is one for one, Westbrook for Paul and the future of both franchises.  This move can not be fully analyzed until the season concludes but how does it appear on the surface?  It’s certainly confusing here; the Rockets back court will now contain two ball-dominate teammates.  Can one yield to the other enough to provide a winning combination?  In Oklahoma City Chris Paul clearly has “gas” left in the tank but he just turned 34.  This cannot be considered a long-term move by the Thunder since Westbrook is four years younger.  The absence of Westbrook leaves the team with Paul as the only reliable scorer, this despite the addition of Danilo Gallinari and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander acquired from the Clippers earlier.  For further results stay tuned for the NBA season beginning in late October. 

Get the facts straight…. please
Information arrives at such a fast pace we often don’t have time to comprehend or decide if it’s correct.  That’s the case on Thursday afternoon, I’m not blaming Rachel Nichols someone conducting research provided her with incorrect information on a historic event.  Celtics legend Bill Russell received the Arthur Ashe Courage award at the ESPYs.  Nichols on her ESPN program The Jump acknowledged the award and provided viewers with a detailed history of Russell on and off the court. 

Then it occurred, Nichols said “At the time legendary coach Red Auerbach stepped down, he asked Bill Russell to become head coach thus becoming the first black head coach in any major U.S. sport.”  The statement is technically correct but somewhat misleading, Russell wasn’t the first black head coach in a major sport, that event belongs to the late John McClendon.  The 1961-62 season saw an upstart basketball league began play, 1962 witnessed the Cleveland Pipers of the American Basketball League hired McClendon.  This predecessor to the American Basketball Association only lasted 1 and ½ seasons it was still major at the time.  As for Russell he took on the role of player-coach for the Celtics in 1966.  

Has the hammer dropped?
Remember the NCAA claiming a few schools would receive penalties after the NCAA championship was completed?  The statement was based on results from the Adidas trial last year and the widespread fallout it created.  A few assistants were terminated while others faced jail time, it’s believed the only head coach to lose his job was Rick Pitino at Louisville. 

As this is written we are unsure if the Pitino firing was tied into Adidas, his firing did occur around the time period of the trial.  The NCAA announced North Carolina State has been dinged for two level one violations.  This stems from the recruitment of Dennis Smith Jr. now in the NBA and former head coach Mark Gottfried.  Is this the beginning of a tidal wave of schools being identified as culprits?  We can only wait at this point for further announcements. 

Forget about it
A report circulated LeBron James would move to the point this upcoming season.  Coach Frank Vogel says in so many words, “Forget about it” there are no plans currently.  There is no argument with the passing skill, LeBron could play the position.  The issue might be on the defensive side, speedy point guards might provide the 34-year-old LeBron problems on occasion.  As for Boogie he’s happy to be re-united with Anthony Davis again, in addition he claims to be fully healed. 

Boogie must prove himself perhaps more than any other newly acquired Laker.  In a discussion of the Clippers I stated they look good on paper; I can make the same statement about the Lakers.  With Anthony Davis at the four, LeBron at the three and a fully healed Boogie at the five that’s a mighty impressive front line on paper.  I’m going to say it again; I cannot wait for this new and hopefully improved Laker team to walk onto the floor. 

Another father-son connection
The University of Virginia announced wing Jabri Abdul-Rahim in the Class of 2020 made his intentions known.  This 6-foot 6-inch 180-pound prospect is a 4-star prospect and ranked 41^st by Rivals.  As for the connection his father is Shareef Abdul-Rahim, his dad played in the NBA from 1996-2008.  After retirement dad completed his education which would later include a master’s degree, he then spent time as an assistant NBA coach for the Kings.  in 2018 the elder Abdul-Rahim was named president of the NBA's G-League.