Basketball from a fan’s perspective

Bird-Magic revived again

If you closed your eyes yesterday afternoon you could see it in your mind’s eye, the Celtics Larry Bird and Magic Johnson of the Lakers battling one another for court superiority.  We are reminded the Celtic-Laker rivalry has been dormant for several years.  The Lakers have been the culprit having played poorly until the 2019-20 NBA season.  Despite 41 points from the Celtics Jayson Tatum the Lakers managed to slip by 114-112. 

This was not for the faint of heart as the game flow went back and forth between the Lakers and Celtics.  In other Los Angeles news Marcus said it but this would be different, he’s stating "He can see the twin brothers not only living together but carpooling to Staples Center if the LA Clippers and Lakers face each other in a seven-game playoff series."  This might be the first time in NBA history two brothers arrive at any game in this manner.  There is no guarantee this scenario will play out as Marcus implies, one or both could be knocked off in the early rounds of the conference playoff picture. 

5 criticisms you are tired of?

1. Mavs owner Mark Cuban complaining about officiating.

2. hummm

3. “

4. “

5. “

My mind’s gone blank I can’t remember the other 4, as for item 1 I’ve noticed a pattern.  It seems Cuban only complains when there is an “error” impacting a game the Mavs are playing.  You go on to claim the issue of poor officiating has existed for 20 years, I could be wrong isn’t that nearly the length of time you’ve owned the Mavs?  Mr. Cuban you are an owner you cannot resolve this issue in the court of public opinion.  Why not table the issue for now and discuss it at length in the next Board of Governors meeting?  Fuming in the media about officiating does nothing about correcting your perceived issues, just my thoughts don’t make it correct.

The judge 

We have another eligibility issue with this report although different from the one you just read.  We heard from Memphis center James Wiseman, the NCAA suspended the youngster 12-games and required nearly $12,000 be paid to a charity of the family’s choice.  Coach Penny Hardaway who loaned the family moving expenses from Nashville to Memphis was deemed a booster, the money given the family occurred prior to Hardaway being hired. 

Wiseman was playing for Hardaway’s AAU team so the two did have a connection.  In any event Wiseman claimed in the interview he believed the punishment was unfair, all he wanted to do was play basketball for Memphis.  Will the 7-foot Wiseman be quizzed on leaving school rather than sit out the suspension.  The Knicks Mitchell Robinson wasn’t suspended but left Western Kentucky after playing in 0 games. 

In the case of Robinson his name was listed on several mock draft sites however he wasn’t as highly a rated prospect as Wiseman.  The point is Robinson still managed to hear his name called in the 2018 draft, rest assured Robinson was probably under the same scrutiny Wiseman will eventually face as he visits several NBA teams for workouts.  Wiseman claims he believed the NCAA had been unfair to him with the suspension, what do you think, was the governing body once again overzealous in its effort to resolve any eligibility issues?   

Kansas City and the NBA 

Although it’s been more than minute KC still maintains a connection to the NBA.  No superstar players yet they are in the NBA.  Who are the they, well there is Alec Burks guard with the Sixers?  Burks played high school ball at suburban Grandview and in college for Colorado.  Ottawa Kansas is not considered metro although it’s only 53 miles from downtown Kansas City MO.  Ottawa is the home of Semi Ojeleye, after graduation he left for Duke and SMU, he now plays for the Celtics.  

Landry Shamet’s moved into the starting lineup for the Clippers, Shamet attended Park Hill High School and Wichita State.  Willie Cauley-Stein played at suburban Olathe Northwest and Kentucky, recently traded he’s now with the Mavs. In Chicago point guard Shaquille Harrison is on the Bulls roster, Harrison graduated from suburban Lees Summit and played at Tulsa University.  Although he didn’t attend high school here, we can mention Mike D’Antoni who once played for the Kansas City Kings. 

One of the voices heard broadcasting the NBA on TNT is Kevin Harlan, although he didn’t attend high school here his roots are deep.  After graduating from Kansas University, he went into broadcasting.  He was one of the voices of the Kansas City Kings and for several years the broadcast voice of the NFL Chiefs.  He would move to become the Wolves play by play voice and is now one of the primary broadcasters of the NBA on the TNT Network.