Basketball from a fan’s perspective

Free agent musings and other tidbits
Back from vacation, ready to dive into the news.  I’ve read two websites claiming the Lakers were “losers” for their failure to sign Kawhi Leonard.  I say *(&*^%+* to them, if reports are accurate for whatever his reasoning Kawhi chose to not sign with the Lakers.  As I indicated the other day I ain’t mad at him, but the Clippers don’t have a super team.  They have steady reliable Paul George and outstanding Kawhi Leonard.  Behind those two they are in the same shape as their rivals across the hall, more on that later. Besides the signing there was news of a bizarre nature (at least to me). 

This will never occur but how in the heck could someone even propose it.  I’m referring to the Westbrook to Rockets trade.  Ball dominate Westbrook sharing the ball with James Hardin and Chris Paul.  I fell out of my chair laughing when I heard that one.  Kyrie Irving…. surprise, Kevin Durant kinda surprise move on his part.  The two were supposed to be talking about teaming up so there goes.  Damian Lillard went on record saying he believed player contacts were more important to free agent signing than a front office.  Based on Anthony Davis “recruiting” Boogie Cousins or Kyrie recruiting KD or vice versa this could be the case, more news in the next few days as I attempt to catch up. 

He's proven the skeptics wrong
Have you noticed the number of varied products Shaquille O'Neal endorses? I remember this old statement and I’m going to paraphrase it, I’m unsure who to credit.  “Sports personalities endorse products however big guys are unsuccessful.  Most athletes are larger than the average person, however they are closer in height over a 7-foot basketball player.”  I’m not mentioning any product or service he’s part of however; I did find this interesting. 

I heard Shaq in an interview claim “all the products he endorses he uses.”  As this is written he’s considering a purchase, and this is certainly not a done deal yet.  Shaq indicates he’d like to purchase Reebok, if you remember that was the shoe, he first wore on his arrival in the NBA.  Several years later he developed and began marketing his own brand of shoe.  The article pointed out Adidas purchased Reebok 14 years ago for $3.8 billion.  The Big Aristotle must be able to leverage a deal to accomplish this task if he desires.       

The Beast of the East
With free agency behind us and looking ahead to the season, who emerges?  Are the champion Raptors “The Beast of the East” or someone else?   This statement is made with or without Kawhi Leonard, they were a playoff team the year prior to his acquisition.  The Sixers lost JJ Redick and Jimmy Butler plug in Josh Richardson and Al Horford and they remain formidable.  How about the Pacers, their best move might be the return of Victor Oladipo?  Adding Malcom Brogdon to a playoff team can be nothing but a positive. 

The Bucks lose Brogdon however the balance of the roster returns, and they remain a force in the east.  As for the Celtics Kyrie Irving is gone however Kemba Walker whose numbers were equal to Irving moves into the lineup.  The Celtics are not going to keep all their draft choices, Romeo Langford at pick 14 should provide help.  A potential gem, Gordon Hayward returns to the form displayed with the Jazz.  Orlando and Detroit both earned playoff berths, they should duplicate their prior effort.  No championship for either team, sorry Magic or Piston fans. 

That’s me (and several others)
I’m part of Laker Nation, many of the haters have attempted to shame me and other members.  They constantly point out the negatives that sometimes exist with the franchise as if we cannot see them.  They criticize every move that’s made to improve the Lakers yet if their team makes similar moves…. well.  They laugh regarding the distance between the last Laker playoff appearance.  While he played it was Kobe this and Kobe that never recognizing the greatness, he brought to the floor every night.  They laughed and snickered at the apparent dysfunction in the Laker front office that came to the forefront recently. 

They love to point this out as if this news wasn’t visible to most of Laker Nation. Yes, we too have second thoughts at times.  This writer even proposed at one-point Jeanie Buss sell the team, is that even close to occurring?  I seriously doubt it; she is in for the long run with the Laker franchise.  The word fan has an interesting definition, it’s derived from fanatic.  Fanatic to me is passionate about something or someone.  I believe that fits most in Laker Nation, we are fanatics about our team.  You can critique all you want, once you are finished, we’ll stand proudly in our Purple and Gold…. Laker Nation to the end. 

Change
We covered a few of the changes for the 2019-20 college season, there is a grand total of 56 new coaches who will debut this fall.  A few of the new coaches are assistants who moved up to the first chair while others made what are considered upward moves.  Steve Alford would be a lateral move discharged at UCLA hired at Nevada.  Mike Anderson dismissed at Arkansas is now employed by St. John’s an unusual move in our view.  A smaller number are ex NBA players with little if any prior coaching experience. 

Former NBA player Fred Hoiberg’s coached at Iowa State before he began coaching in the NBA.  He’s not counted in the number of new hires although he’s at Nebraska.  The ex-NBA players are Juwan Howard Michigan, Jerry Stackhouse Vanderbilt, Amir Abdur Rahim Kennesaw State along with Lindsey Hunter at Mississippi Valley State.  Aaron McKie at Temple is included in the count of former NBA players.  This is certainly not intended to be complete; it does provide you an idea of a few changes in the coaching ranks.