Basketball from a fan’s perspective

What do you think?

If we check the Bucks current record, they have 17 games remaining in the regular season, others have less than 20 games total.  What do you think, should there be a time limit on restarting the NBA season?  As an example, if a June start date is possible do, we begin the playoffs after a week training?  On the other hand, should we complete the season first with roughly a month of games remaining?  This would lead to encroachment on other professional sports leagues. 

We have no method of preventing overlapping seasons in sports, it exists without viruses.  Should the season be completed the NBA would be operating in the middle of baseball and an August playoff would take basketball into the NFL exhibition season.  I don’t have an answer that might be pleasing to all parties, let’s just say I’d like to see a champion unlike the cancellation of the NCAA Tournament.  We’ve had arguments since last week which team should be awarded the top position.      

We know him as a broadcaster

There is no March Madness in 2020 however we can reflect on a bit of history.  Those of you familiar with the name Austin Carr recognize him as the long-time analyst for Cavs broadcast.  You might not realize the record Carr set and still holds some 50-years later.  He’s 72-years old now an age when most are retired but he loves the role basketball provides him, we guess that’s why he’s still working.  The 6-4 Carr was one of the most prolific scoring guards while enrolled at Notre Dame University. 

He set all kinds of scoring records at Notre Dame, in the 1970 NCAA Tournament he scored 61 points in a game versus Ohio University.  The most interesting part of the scoring record there was no 3-point line at that time.  All his points were scored on 2-point baskets and from the free-throw line.  In the 1970 tournament he averaged 52.7 points per game, it was 41.7 in 1971.  In the 1971 NBA draft Carr was made the number one pick by the Cavs, injuries curtailed his career however he managed to average 15.4 points per game while playing for the Cavs, Dallas and Washington during a 10-year run. 

Step up

Mavs owner Mark Cuban apparently will step up for America Airlines Center employees.  We can make a similar statement from the Warriors owner Joe Lacob for the out of work staff during the NBA’s suspension of play.  The Lakers, Clippers and NHL Kings are partnering to pay Staples Center Arena workers.  

That’s the Friday news, as we move into the following weeks expect more benevolence by NBA owner and players.  As the weekend closed it was announced additional owners and players made it known they would aid hourly employees financially over the next 30+ days.  Unlike the NBA the G-League is cancelled with no plan on a re-start date, players will be paid as though they completed a full season. 

I don’t ride a white horse

The old cowboy movies in the 1940’s and ‘50’s the hero rode a white horse.  I don’t own a horse unless we discuss the HORSEpower of my vehicle.  For a variety of reasons during basketball season this is the order of local media coverage:

1. Kansas basketball

2. Kansas basketball

3. Kansas State

4. Mizzou

5. University of MO-Kansas City

Kansas State and Mizzou have both suffered losing seasons, during the Sunday night sports program a trio of media was asked the question, “Whose job is most in jeopardy Bruce Weber Kansas State or Cuonzo Martin at Mizzou?”  All decided it was Martin who was favored to lose his job after next season.  I believe all in this panel are wrong and I will explain.  It’s my belief Bruce Weber might be in more danger to lose his job than Martin at least at this point. 

Both programs have suffered this season however this observation.  It would appear Mizzou only loses one player from its present roster.  The hope is the freshman play better as sophomores and the sophomores play better as juniors and so on.  Kansas State has a good recruiting class for the fall, but they are freshman, how they adjust to Division I basketball is an unknown.  In addition, Weber loses a major portion of his scoring (and defense) to graduation.