Basketball from a
fan’s perspective
Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday
The Big Boy contest
Allow me to introduce many of you to Josh Christopher, he’s a 6-foot 4-inch Rivals 5-star shooting guard. He attends Mayfair High School in Lakewood, a city in Los Angeles County. Several universities are vying for his services, this Class of 2020 prospect has reduced his choices to a Top 5 list. These are not in any order, they are Arizona State, Michigan, UCLA, Kentucky and Mizzou. How in the heck did Mizzou find itself in the middle of or even have a place in The Big Boy contest? Christopher’s cousin is the strength and conditioning coach at wait for it, wait for it…Mizzou. Is Mizzou seriously in the running to recruit this talented prospect?
He said all the right
things
In his introductory press conference to Houston Russell Westbrook said all the right things, in addition the all too familiar grimace was missing…. he was smiling. Westbrook said, “He and James Harden have been friends beginning at age 10.” That’s certainly possible, both are from Los Angeles so there paths certainly could have passed. Westbrook remained at home attending UCLA while Hardin left to play for Arizona State.
In his introductory press conference to Houston Russell Westbrook said all the right things, in addition the all too familiar grimace was missing…. he was smiling. Westbrook said, “He and James Harden have been friends beginning at age 10.” That’s certainly possible, both are from Los Angeles so there paths certainly could have passed. Westbrook remained at home attending UCLA while Hardin left to play for Arizona State.
Both athletes are months apart in age and
in the NBA, they were once teammates.
Westbrook the starting point guard for the Thunder and Hardin first
reserve off the bench. Hardin was traded
to the Rockets because the two parties could not agree on a new contract. Westbrook’s star shone brightly in Oklahoma City,
but the arrival of Hardin in Houston also saw him become a star. Now the question becomes can ball dominant Russell
Westbrook play in the same backcourt with ball dominant James Hardin?
We can look to the Lakers of the past for
that account. They drafted point guard
Norm Nixon in 1977 and Magic Johnson was drafted in 1979. We can’t be for certain but maybe the belief
at the time despite his passing skill the 6-foot 8-inch Johnson would play the
three and Nixon would remain at the point.
Well it didn’t exactly work out as planned, the two were accommodating
to one another but it became clear one had to go. The Lakers traded Nixon to the Clippers
allowing Magic to assume the role of point guard rather than sharing duties
with Nixon.
HIS arena
The Battle of Los Angeles is on for real now, no argument from this Laker fan. It’s obvious the Clippers have been clear winners in the won-loss department over the last several seasons. What about the hearts and minds of those in Southern California? The plan is to stamp Los Angeles as Clipper territory, they are no longer willing to place themselves behind the giant shadow of the Lakers. Many (including me) believed Seattle guy Steve Ballmer would move the team to the Pacific Northwest after he purchased it in 2014.
The Battle of Los Angeles is on for real now, no argument from this Laker fan. It’s obvious the Clippers have been clear winners in the won-loss department over the last several seasons. What about the hearts and minds of those in Southern California? The plan is to stamp Los Angeles as Clipper territory, they are no longer willing to place themselves behind the giant shadow of the Lakers. Many (including me) believed Seattle guy Steve Ballmer would move the team to the Pacific Northwest after he purchased it in 2014.
With the signing of Kawhi Leonard and
Paul George a new era has begun, this will eventually include a new arena for
the Clippers only, what had been talk in the past took a step toward reality on
Friday. We’ve discussed Clippers owner
Steve Ballmer’s arena problem previously; he’s wanted out of his team’s Staples
Center lease for well over a year. The foremost
problem, Ballmer implies his Clippers are third in line for available dates at
Staples. First the Lakers then the NHL
Kings and then the Clippers.
We observed the release of an
architect’s plan how the 18,500 seat Inglewood arena would appear when
completed. According to the news release
construction would begin in 2021, in 2024 arena construction would be
complete. The building timeline would
coincide with the expiration of the Clippers Staple contract. Perhaps the best part of this proposed arena it
will benefit local taxpayer’s, Ballmer one of the richest owners in the NBA
will underwrite all construction costs associated with the arena. A delay could occur based on the pending
lawsuit pitting MSG (owner of the nearby Forum) against Ballmer. Ballmer believes
that can be resolved in time for this project to be completed.
I ain’t scared
You remember the story, Shareef O’Neal was headed to Arizona. The son maybe on his father’s advice decided in favor of UCLA. Of course, surgery would prevent Shareef from play but what about Arizona’s program? The school was one of the numbers mentioned in the Adidas trial, even a tape recording of Coach Miller discussing payment to a prospect was played at the trial. As for this fall there are two 5-star recruits, one 4-star and a 3-star prospect headed to Arizona.
You remember the story, Shareef O’Neal was headed to Arizona. The son maybe on his father’s advice decided in favor of UCLA. Of course, surgery would prevent Shareef from play but what about Arizona’s program? The school was one of the numbers mentioned in the Adidas trial, even a tape recording of Coach Miller discussing payment to a prospect was played at the trial. As for this fall there are two 5-star recruits, one 4-star and a 3-star prospect headed to Arizona.
Transfers from Kentucky and Nevada will
be added to the current holdovers. As we
look toward 2020 Dalen Terry a 6-foot 6-inch shooting guard and 4-star prospect
indicates he’s headed to Arizona. We might
ask the question…what happened, wasn’t Arizona one of the school’s the NCAA
would place on probation? The NCAA is
yet to announce the others however one thing we know for sure. Despite the cloud hanging over the basketball
program a bevy of talent said, “I ain’t scared.”
