Basketball from a fan’s perspective

What a weekend

The NBA championship’s not been resolved, despite that fact the weekend was quite decent for the Lakers.  On Friday they faced the Bucks and beat them in a tough match 113-103, they were led by LeBron James with 37 points and Anthony Davis scoring 30.  Sunday the Lakers faced their opponents from across the hall the Clippers.  This tough match also resulted in a win, 112-103. 

In this game they were led in victory by Anthony Davis with 30 points, LeBron James 28 points and a surprising 24 points and stiff defense by Avery Bradley.  No one can argue this, the Lakers faced the two best teams in the NBA Friday and Sunday.  As stated earlier nothing will be resolved until the playoffs, despite this it was nice to close the weekend out with a win.  This game certainly had a playoff atmosphere and we can bet the next match will too. 

Is there truly a concern?

The NBA blackout rules continue to confuse.  The Celtics-Thunder game on NBA TV is blacked out in the KC metro but available on Fox Sports Oklahoma, I’m watching the game.  Fox Sports Midwest cherry picks a portion of the Fox Sports Oklahoma lineup.  If this Thunder game was on ESPN/ABC/TNT those of us in Kansas City would have no issue viewing it.  Soon the playoffs begin, and the concern will be resolved, all games will be available. 

He’s the “Invisible Man” for now

Laker coach Frank Vogel says, “Don’t expect to see Dion Waiters in action immediately.”  He wasn’t in action on Friday against the Bucks, he was not in the lineup yesterday against the Clippers.  The statement sounds a little strange based on the production surrounding acquisition of the shooting guard.  The explanation is simple, during the season NBA teams have little time for practice. 

Vogel indicated the coaching staff had to find time to work with Waiters on the playbook and his conditioning plus sessions with teammates.  Like the recently released movie “The Invisible Man” Waiters is also unseen at least for now.  Hopefully this mercurial guard will be assistance to the Lakers championship aspirations.  The television camera spotted Waiters on the Laker bench Sunday in civilian clothes. 

He’s out

Kenny Atkinson leaving the Nets was supposed to be mutual although one .com site claimed he was fired.  Leaving this late in the season and bound for the playoffs this is different.  Assistant Jacque Vaughn takes over through the end of the season, the coaching search will commence immediately.  The usual suspects are mentioned including ESPN/ABC analyst Mark Jackson. 

Jackson might have an advantage over any potential hire, he’s from Brooklyn.  David Fizdale’s name has also been mentioned, he was fired as head coach of the Knicks are 1 ½ seasons.  There are others however this veteran laden team is probably not seeking an assistant, its likely they want a coach with a track record.  This additional note, with Atkinson no longer employed both New York City teams are hiring at the same time. 

This trade might have worked out differently if…    

Last spring and summer AD made it known he it wanted a trade preferably to the Lakers.  Despite this stance there was at least one other team interested in AD and possibly could have made an offer.  That team was the Boston Celtics but wait, who would they trade to obtain the services of AD?  There would have been players added to the package plus draft choices, the player the Pelicans would have demanded was Jayson Tatum. 

We’ve been witnessed to Tatum’s game steadily rising since he left Duke.  Now in his third year the small forward is an NBA All Star, his 41-point scoring outburst came within a hair of willing his Celtic team to a win over the Lakers recently.  The Celtics would be in great shape anyway adding AD to their lineup and we could make the same statement regarding the Pelicans.  Adding Jayson Tatum to play alongside Zion Williamson…well the New Orleans team might have a better won-loss record than one we see currently.