Basketball from a fan’s perspective

NBA All Star weekend

On Saturday NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced the All-Star NBA trophy will become the Kobe Bryant MVP award.  As for other parts the game has become secondary to all the weekend activities.  The Rising Stars game, 3-point shootout, the skills competition and the slam dunk to name just a few of the events held.  Can I state with conviction I’m disappointed with the outcome of the slam dunk championship? 

In my opinion there should have been a tie between Aaron Gordon and Derrick Jones Jr. based on the number of dunks.  Yes, most dunks were impressive, but it went on and on and on when it should have been concluded.  At least two of the judges have used the Shaggy excuse, “It wasn’t me.”  They are claiming the electronics used in scoring was the issue.  Remember the old days when a judge simply wrote a number on a placard?  It’s being reported Gordon indicates he will never participate in the slam dunk competition again.  In his words Gordon said, “I should have two trophies now" which goes back to 2016 which he believes is also an oversight by the judges.   

They played to win the game

Where is coach Herm Edwards when you need him, Mizzou played to win the game.  A writer who clearly didn’t see the game asked the question, “How could Auburn lose to a .500 team?”  To correct the record Mizzou is one game below .500 at .480.  This basketball fan will not have the opportunity to read this however I can state with conviction they beat Auburn by simply playing better basketball for 40 minutes.  Mizzou certainly didn’t play a perfect game, but it was good enough to win the game.  Playing LSU (another ranked team) they came close to winning although they lost in the end.  Will beating number 11 Auburn “save” the season for Mizzou, we certainly cannot be sure but for fans of Mizzou Nation that is the hope. 

How the heck did this occur?

Kevin Garnett a.k.a. The Big Ticket will be inducted in the Naismith Hall of Fame in September.  Basketball fans were aware the HOF awaited him the other not so much.  The Celtics announced they intended to retire Garnett’s number 5 which is an honor but consider this tidbit of information, Garnett spent the first 12 years of his 21-year NBA career as a member of the Wolves.  It’s likely the Wolves will retire his number too one day, but we must ask the question, how the heck did this transpire? 

The second team Garnett played for will become the first to honor him by retiring his number 5.  A couple of fans didn’t agree with this story, this from another corner of the world.  “Strange to retire Garnett's number in Boston. Maybe three teams will retire LeBron's jersey.”  From my corner, does it really matter if 5 or 6 teams retire a former players jersey?  Still another wrote, “Wow, really lowering the bar for retired jerseys...only 1 title and he wasn't even the best player on the team.”  The one title, so what as for the best player we could argue that point with the writer. 

Undefeated…for now

The San Diego State Aztecs are 26-0, they remain the single Division I program without a loss.  They are likely to finish the season undefeated however that’s only part of the story this season.  Are the Aztecs odds on favorite to win the NCAA championship?  Likely not champions however they might be built for an extended run because of one fact…they are very good.  The usual suspects will be the favorites except for North Carolina suffering a non-Carolina season.  No requirement to name them you know their names.