Basketball from a
fan’s perspective
Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday
One thing is not like the other
A criminal commits a felony but eludes capture, his buddy perpetrates a similar transgression and is captured and is sent to prison. Criminal B. is upset because Criminal A. committed the same deed yet failed to be captured, he’s walking the streets free as a bird. Where am I going with this rant, it’s intended for several in Jayhawk Nation. The NCAA formally charged Kansas basketball with major violations, what occurs with fans of the program? They began naming Duke, Kansas, North Carolina and other programs guilty of misdeeds.
The key snag, the NCAA didn’t state
Kansas was the only guilty party in fact they might be one of several. This is certainly no effort to accuse one
school or another of improprieties but keep this in mind. The administration at Kansas University indicates
it will appeal to the NCAA which it should do, at the same time it does
no good for fans to just begin naming schools without offering any proof. The announcement from the NCAA named Kansas
University alone, live with it. We know
cheaters abound, unless charged it does not one bit of good to announce, “who
you believe is cheating.”
Okay…. if that’s the
case?
You might remember I wrote of my belief the U.S. was due for a letdown in FIBA World Cup play. My view was based on players who were cut or injured or decided to not play. That was indeed the case, Team U.S.A. finished 7th in World Cup competition. On Sunday an Associated Press report despite the losses experienced the U.S. remains number one in the world. Are you confused; I know I am why not join me in this puzzling story?
You might remember I wrote of my belief the U.S. was due for a letdown in FIBA World Cup play. My view was based on players who were cut or injured or decided to not play. That was indeed the case, Team U.S.A. finished 7th in World Cup competition. On Sunday an Associated Press report despite the losses experienced the U.S. remains number one in the world. Are you confused; I know I am why not join me in this puzzling story?
According to the story total wins from
the most recent years are taken into considered in order to adjust the
standings. The recent 7th
place finish is lumped in with 2012 and 2016 Olympic Gold plus 2014 FIBA Gold. Makes sense but remains somewhat confusing
for most of us. It’s already being reported
several athletes who either passed on play or were injured intend to participate
in the 2020 Olympics. Coach Pop is
correct NBA basketball is no longer secret in the world, expect the competition
to improve.
Why not?
The words proved quite insightful and telling regarding the Lob City era. JJ Redick is no longer a member of the Clippers; he’s spent the past few seasons with the Sixers. Over the summer he joined the Pelicans and he reflected over his time with the Clippers. Redick claims, “The Clippers should have won at least one championship in the three years I was a member.” As far as we can determine Redick left the Clippers under favorable conditions, there is no report we’ve read indicating there were issues.
The words proved quite insightful and telling regarding the Lob City era. JJ Redick is no longer a member of the Clippers; he’s spent the past few seasons with the Sixers. Over the summer he joined the Pelicans and he reflected over his time with the Clippers. Redick claims, “The Clippers should have won at least one championship in the three years I was a member.” As far as we can determine Redick left the Clippers under favorable conditions, there is no report we’ve read indicating there were issues.
So, according to Redick there were struggles
with the Lob City crew of Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, Paul Pierce and
others. How to dissect the words of
Redick would require far more space than a few sentences on a page, we can
speculate, however. Was it injuries,
coaching or something else that caused this Clipper team to win but not the
ultimate prize? The last issue to
consider that might have contributed to not playing at your peak was ownership. We heard comments from former Clippers player
Blake Griffin about Donald Sterling and his brashness toward the team.
Don’t be so quick to
assume
With the Lakers off season signing of DeMarcus Cousins and later Dwight Howard many believe it might have been a slap in the face to JaVale McGee. McGee spent the most minutes at center last season. As for McGee he will never cause Laker fans to think of Kareem, Shaq or other centers of the Laker past. Most believed McGee was a journeyman athlete, after all the Lakers become team number six for him.
With the Lakers off season signing of DeMarcus Cousins and later Dwight Howard many believe it might have been a slap in the face to JaVale McGee. McGee spent the most minutes at center last season. As for McGee he will never cause Laker fans to think of Kareem, Shaq or other centers of the Laker past. Most believed McGee was a journeyman athlete, after all the Lakers become team number six for him.
McGee might be a journeyman however we
witnessed sparkling play on many portions of his game last season. At the time he signed with the Lakers many
(including me) believed he was strictly a backup center. If we check his numbers last season given the opportunity
to play full time, he posted career highs in most areas. In closing a reminder don’t assume
Dwight Howard will receive the bulk of play at center, it just might be
journeyman JaVale McGee.
