Basketball from a
fan’s perspective
Information update
Perhaps you read this earlier I didn’t, just in case you missed it like me. It was my belief Penny Hardaway was deemed a booster by the NCAA due to financial aid he provided the Wiseman family moving them to Memphis. In addition, Hardaway gave a $1 million donation for the school’s sports hall of fame in 2008. Are you asking if this changes my mind regarding the eligibility issue of Wiseman, how many ways can I say no?
East side versus the west side
It’s been mentioned on several occasions Mizzou’s Cuonzo Martin grew up in East St. Louis Illinois. The coach is very familiar with high school basketball in the St. Louis metro, no matter his coaching stop he’s always returned to his roots. At Tennessee and later Cal his recruiting in St. Louis might not have been as noticeable as it has since he’s now at Mizzou. The coach recruits strictly on the east side of the state.
It’s been mentioned on several occasions Mizzou’s Cuonzo Martin grew up in East St. Louis Illinois. The coach is very familiar with high school basketball in the St. Louis metro, no matter his coaching stop he’s always returned to his roots. At Tennessee and later Cal his recruiting in St. Louis might not have been as noticeable as it has since he’s now at Mizzou. The coach recruits strictly on the east side of the state.
Is the basketball talent not as good on
the west side of the state? Kansas City
is on the west side and that might be the case.
Now this coach like any other gathers talent and there is at least one
prospect in Kansas City on Mizzou’s radar.
If we look at population St. Louis metro is larger than Kansas City not by a great amount. Why is
high school basketball in St. Louis so much superior to that of Kansas
City? I have no answer just a bunch of
questions.
“Dumpster Fire”
Was the headline one pundit writing of the Knicks, truth is they are bad but is it all David Fizdale’s fault? We can question if he’s the coach that’s going to return them to glory by leading them into the playoffs. My key problem is trying to make him the scapegoat after less than two full years on the job. The Knicks change coaches more often than some of us do our underwear. This revolving door fails to address a key…stability. The Knicks have not signed a top tier free agent in forever and who could blame a free agent for not desiring to play for them. I’m unsure about Kyrie Irving but I know the Knicks were desperately attempting to sign Kevin Durant during the free agency period. Interesting in that both are in New York City however they preferred the Nets rather than the Knicks.
Was the headline one pundit writing of the Knicks, truth is they are bad but is it all David Fizdale’s fault? We can question if he’s the coach that’s going to return them to glory by leading them into the playoffs. My key problem is trying to make him the scapegoat after less than two full years on the job. The Knicks change coaches more often than some of us do our underwear. This revolving door fails to address a key…stability. The Knicks have not signed a top tier free agent in forever and who could blame a free agent for not desiring to play for them. I’m unsure about Kyrie Irving but I know the Knicks were desperately attempting to sign Kevin Durant during the free agency period. Interesting in that both are in New York City however they preferred the Nets rather than the Knicks.
What’s the next move beside imploding
this team you might ask? I read earlier
in the day the team fully supports Fizdale so it’s clear the problem might lie further
up the food chain. Is it President Steve
Mills or perhaps General Manager Scott Perry, could it be Chairman and CEO
James Dolan? The view from 30,000 feet
says its Mills or Perry because Dolan ain’t firing himself (although he
should). This is a team to watch closely
over the next couple of weeks and months.
James Dolan must sell the Knicks because for years, notice I said
MUST! Not only has he allowed the Knicks to wallow in mediocrity
it appears he doesn’t care. There have
been six head coaches in the past Mike D’Antoni (2008-2012), Mike Woodson
(2012-2014), Derek Fisher (2014-2016), Kurt Rambis (2016), Jeff Hornacek
(2016-2018) and David Fizdale (2018-?).
As you can see there’s not been a
great deal of stability for those hired, D’Antoni had the longest tenure at 4
years. The easy escape is to blame the
coach however that excuse is no longer valid, there’s been just as much instability
in the front office too. There is no
belief at least on my part Dolan has no desire to win, I believe he wants to
win its personal (other MSG business) and private (his music) that appears to
occupy the bulk of his time. Despite the fact the Knicks are bad Forbes
considers them the NBA’s highest valued franchise. Steve Ballmer was reported to have paid $2
billion in purchasing the Clippers, can you imagine the purchase price of the
Knicks. MSG Corporation could spin off
the Knicks and remain a high value corporation.
There are several other owners that could also be included in this
focus, but this is James Dolan.
Tacko time
Okay we are a day early but an update on the Big Man. Tacko Fall’s played 3 games for the Maine Red Claws; reports indicate he’s learning the game at the professional level. Currently its 16.7 points and 9.7 rebounds in those 3 games and nearly 79% from the floor, he’s averaging 3.7 blocks a game. Tacko is working on a 2-way contract which calls for him to spend the bulk of the 2019-20 season in Maine. He can only appear in a Celtics jersey for 45 days. In college games and those in the NBA his moves are mechanical but there is hope. If Tacko continues to progress he could become an improved version of the late Manute Bol.
Okay we are a day early but an update on the Big Man. Tacko Fall’s played 3 games for the Maine Red Claws; reports indicate he’s learning the game at the professional level. Currently its 16.7 points and 9.7 rebounds in those 3 games and nearly 79% from the floor, he’s averaging 3.7 blocks a game. Tacko is working on a 2-way contract which calls for him to spend the bulk of the 2019-20 season in Maine. He can only appear in a Celtics jersey for 45 days. In college games and those in the NBA his moves are mechanical but there is hope. If Tacko continues to progress he could become an improved version of the late Manute Bol.
