Basketball from a
fan’s perspective
Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday
A new NBA strong hold opening
In a little more than 90 days a brand-new
arena will open, the Warriors will play the Lakers in a pre-season game October
5. On October 25 we witness the first
regular season game against the Clippers.
It’s Chase Center we speak of new home of the Warriors, it’s an 18,064-seat
arena located in San Francisco’s Mission Bay District.
Chase Center replaces Oracle Arena in Oakland which served as home for the team since 1971. Chesapeake Center in Oklahoma City and Oracle have both laid claimed to the noisiest, boisterous arenas in the NBA. The question, will this hold true once the Warriors move across the Bay? The good news, this is not a tax funded building; it’s built with private funds. This is the same plan for Clippers owner Steve Ballmer’s in Los Angeles.
“Pressure”
It was 1981, many of us listened to the Queen/David
Bowie collaboration titled Under Pressure. The following year Billy Joel’s label
released his recording Pressure. Although
both have the word Pressure in their title they differ significantly. I’m watching NBA TV and a discussion which
team is under the most pressure the Lakers or the Clippers? A member of the media indicated he thought it was the
Clippers while another said it had to be the Lakers.
Frank Vogel and staff will be under immense
pressure, but the Clippers have got to be slightly above them. On the court the Clippers have certainly been
more successful over the last few years.
Despite earning several playoff berths the Clippers have never
played for an NBA championship. Adding
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to an already formidable lineup the Clippers are
expected to contend for an NBA championship.
We understand a few media people think the addition of Anthony Davis
will improve the Lakers, but they say the supporting cast is only okay. What do you think, I've voiced my opinion?
Champions
The Jr. NBA Championship games concluded this past Sunday. The girls’ team U.S. Central from Kansas City (MO) defeated team Canada 72-35. As for the boys’ game played later it was the U.S. West team based in Los Angeles defeating Team Africa 70-61. Although his team came up short Marouf Maoumine from Cameroon certainly played outstanding basketball during the tournament. The 6-foot 5-inch youngster is only 14-years old, he recorded two triple doubles in the five games played. It’s going to be at least four years before we see him in a U.S. college or the NBA if he continues development at this pace.
The Jr. NBA Championship games concluded this past Sunday. The girls’ team U.S. Central from Kansas City (MO) defeated team Canada 72-35. As for the boys’ game played later it was the U.S. West team based in Los Angeles defeating Team Africa 70-61. Although his team came up short Marouf Maoumine from Cameroon certainly played outstanding basketball during the tournament. The 6-foot 5-inch youngster is only 14-years old, he recorded two triple doubles in the five games played. It’s going to be at least four years before we see him in a U.S. college or the NBA if he continues development at this pace.
Trivia
Did you realize the Thunder franchise drafted three MVP’s in consecutive years? Yes, it occurred, in 2007 the Sonics franchise drafted Kevin Durant with the 2nd pick in the first round. Durant would move with the franchise in 2008 to Oklahoma City where they were re-named the Thunder. Russell Westbrook was made the 4th pick in the first round of the draft and joined teammate Durant. The following season 2009 would see the Thunder draft James Harden as the 3rd pick in the first round. In 2013-14 Durant was named league MVP while a member of the Thunder. 2016-17 Westbrook won the award and the following season it was Harden as a member of the Rockets. With the July trade of Westbrook none of these former MVP’s now wear Thunder across their jersey.
Did you realize the Thunder franchise drafted three MVP’s in consecutive years? Yes, it occurred, in 2007 the Sonics franchise drafted Kevin Durant with the 2nd pick in the first round. Durant would move with the franchise in 2008 to Oklahoma City where they were re-named the Thunder. Russell Westbrook was made the 4th pick in the first round of the draft and joined teammate Durant. The following season 2009 would see the Thunder draft James Harden as the 3rd pick in the first round. In 2013-14 Durant was named league MVP while a member of the Thunder. 2016-17 Westbrook won the award and the following season it was Harden as a member of the Rockets. With the July trade of Westbrook none of these former MVP’s now wear Thunder across their jersey.
The people want to know
Remember back to last spring, the NCAA announced there would be penalties forthcoming from the Adidas trial. The second part of the announcement said, “Action would occur after the NCAA championship was decided.” Okay we get that; it was early to mid-March at the time this announcement was made. It’s now almost the middle of August, to date Utah’s been placed on two-years’ probation for recruiting violations. To our knowledge Utah is the only school identified as this is written.
Remember back to last spring, the NCAA announced there would be penalties forthcoming from the Adidas trial. The second part of the announcement said, “Action would occur after the NCAA championship was decided.” Okay we get that; it was early to mid-March at the time this announcement was made. It’s now almost the middle of August, to date Utah’s been placed on two-years’ probation for recruiting violations. To our knowledge Utah is the only school identified as this is written.
Auburn basketball is on a self-imposed
probation surrounding former assistant coach Chuck Person. Is Auburn facing further sanctions from the
NCAA? Arizona and Sean Miller’s name was
mentioned quite often during the Adidas trial, to date the school and coach are
moving along as if nothing ever occurred.
Miller was suspended at one point but returned after missing a few
games. Colleges and Universities are
beginning their academic year and yet we’ve heard nothing from the governing
body. Let’s see if we can find other
examples of slow movement beside the NCAA.
How about oil in near zero weather, turtles certainly don’t crawl very
fast. Come on NCAA the people want to
know what’s going on.
