Basketball
from a fan’s perspective
Was he barred from
the NBA?
Over the weekend LSU retired the jersey of Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf. This is unusual considering he only played at
the school two years. A few might remember
him as Chris Jackson a slender sharpshooting point guard. Teammate Shaquille O’Neal claims he was the
best player on the team. After averaging
29 points a game during his freshman and sophomore years Jackson decided to
leave for the NBA. He would become the
third pick in the 1990 draft by the Denver Nuggets.
Once in the NBA Jackson would convert to Islam and change his
name to Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf. The
conversion to Islam created no problem until he refused to stand for the
National Anthem. First, Jackson was suspended,
later he would remain in the locker room until the game began. Despite his sharp shooting and skill his fate
would be sealed, he was traded to the Kings and would later play for the (Vancouver)
Grizzlies where he ended his NBA career.
Rauf played for several European teams before eventually
retiring from the game. Was Abdul-Rauf blackballed
by the NBA, that question will probably never be fully answered? This we do know he was Steph Curry before Curry
arrived in the NBA. No less a basketball
mind than Phil Jackson made that statement.
Abdul-Rauf had a 9-year NBA career however its possible it would have
lasted longer if not for his political stance.
I located two YouTube videos for your viewing pleasure.
Regular season only
Practically every conference in the nation plays a
post-season tournament, I focus on regular season play. As an example, a team could finish in last
place get lucky and win its post-season tournament. Don’t misunderstand, I don’t discount the win
its play week to week throughout the season is more critical. As for the 2019-20 season it appears Kansas
will be crowned champion again.
Baylor or some other team could knock off Kansas post season tournament
but its unlikely. The record compiled by
Kansas basketball is amazing, UCLA back in the Wooden days might not have dominated
the Pac 8 conference in a similar manner.
In the 2003-04 season Kansas finished in a tie for second, in 2018-19 it
was third place, the other years witnessed Kansas solidly in first or tied for first
in the conference.
Lightning striking
twice
There’s an adage that claims lightning can’t strike twice in
the same place. That fact might be true if
we are discussing the same day or perhaps a weeks’ time, how about 10 or 20
years? I digress for a moment, I’m sure
by now you are asking what’s the purpose of this account? The Lakers probably look forward to Markieff
Morris being the second time lightning will have struck twice for the Lakers. To improve their championship aspirations the
Lakers in February 1987 made a trade with the Spurs picking up Mychal Thompson,
most of you only familiar with him as Klay’s dad.
Thompson was acquired to backup Kareem Abdul Jabbar and
defend the Celtics Kevin McHale. He
would prove invaluable and a key contributor to the Lakers 1987 and 1988 NBA
championships. What’s the connection
with the lightning bit, you read earlier Thompson was acquired in February 1987,
the Lakers made a move picking up Markieff Morris in February 2020? Will Morris become the valued contributor
Thompson became, it’s far too early to determine however the history is
interesting. In closing it should be
noted the elder Thompson is one of the radio voices for Laker broadcasts.
I was wrong
Much as I hate to admit there are times, I’m wrong and this
is one of them. Unlike those media types
who are paid huge sums of money I can admit the error of my ways. The Thunder after trading their offense
(Russell Westbrook) to the Rockets I was convinced the Thunder were bound for
the basement of the Northwest Division.
Chris Paul is 34-years old but offers us proof there remains
life in that older body.
The veteran point guard has led the way for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
and others to develop their game. The
Thunder are not a legitimate threat to win the NBA championship but will earn a
playoff berth. Making the playoffs is
certainly a feat I believed was impossible just four short months ago. If you are asking why a South-Central team is
in the Northwest Division, it’s a history issue.
At the time the NBA began dividing teams by geographical
location the franchise was in Seattle, so it was natural to place them in the Pacific
Northwest Division. Once the team moved
to Oklahoma City, they would remain in the Northwest Division for balance
purposes. When Seattle is awarded a franchise,
the Thunder will likely move into the Southwest Division along with the Mavs,
Rockets, Pelicans, Spurs and Grizzlies.
