Basketball from a fan’s perspective

Re-Alignment   

In the early days of the NBA geography and time-zones was not a factor.  Most of the teams in a smaller league were on the East Coast and in the same time zone.  Over the year’s expansion has witnessed NBA teams reaching the Pacific Northwest, Northern and Southern California.  Awhile back I indicated the Grizzlies were in the Western Conference instead of the east where they belong in my view, Memphis is in the Central Time Zone the same as Chicago and Milwaukee which play in the Eastern Conference of the NBA. 

Geography places the city east of the Mississippi River; generally, the river is considered the dividing line between the eastern and western portion of the nation.  How did we arrive here might be your next question? Many of you may have forgotten or were too young to realize the franchise came into the NBA as an expansion team in Vancouver. The Grizzlies began play in 1995 and lasted in the Canadian city until 2001, after the season they located to their present home base Memphis. A Vancouver British Columbia home meant the team came into the NBA as a Western Conference team. The NBA brain-trust allowed the team to change locations but failed to consider a west versus east move.

Record keeping   

We mentioned we have no idea the blocked shot totals of Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain.  It was pointed out the NBA would not begin totaling that figure until the following season after Chamberlain retired, Russell had retired four years earlier.  It was not just the NBA the NCAA did not compile two interesting stats as well.  In the 1950’s and even earlier rebounds and assist totals were not included in a players performance.  Why this existed in the NCAA and the NBA for that matter is a mystery for the ages.  At some point we guess someone said, “Don’t you think it might be a good idea to compile assists and block shot totals for a player?” 

McDonald All-Americans need not apply

Mizzou’s made offers to 25 prospective Class of 2021 athletes.  Of the number only 5 are deemed 5-star or the best of the best according to most rating sites.  This writer has long believed McDonald’s All Americans/5-star prospects are not required for every roster spot.  Here is what I find interesting of Mizzou recruiting, rarely are 5-star prospects sought by Coach Cuonzo Martin.  Rest assured if a Michael Porter Jr. falls in your lap you add him, for the most part you do not recruit them.  

In this instance I am only posing the question I do not have an answer.  If we look at the proverbial Top 10 schools like Kentucky, Duke and North Carolina they heavily recruit 5-star prospects and their rosters are full of them.  These schools annually play deep into the NCAA Championship.  Perhaps the answer might be simpler than we thought, maybe Coach Cuonzo believes a collection of 4- and 3-star prospects might be superior to one 5-star prospect.

Pronounce it correctly please 

I have a difficult last name to pronounce, since I was a little boy, I have heard all types of attempts to say my name.  Those people who know me and have heard it pronounce have no trouble, I am talking about the doctor’s office, DMV, and the like.  With the influx of foreign players into the NBA several names are quite difficult to pronounce but I try, I listen to media members and emulate them.  One name that continues to baffle me after years is Giannis Antetokounmpo no matter how many times, I attempt to pronounce it I mess up.  There are several players in the NBA with exceedingly difficult names to pronounce, in fact, some have difficult first names.

Once I was viewing a Bulls-Celtic game and listening to the player introductions reminds me of a story. Public address announcers might need to be more conscious of the correct pronunciation than maybe a television or radio broadcaster. On a personal note when meeting someone for the first time I try and place a mental photo in my mind how to pronounce their name.  It does not always work however sometimes it does, naturally, the easiest name to remember is someone with thesame as yours. Back to the story, early in his NBA career a public address announcer mispronounced Robert Horry’s name during introductions. He said, “From the University of Alabama 6-10 Robert Horry.” The player visited with the public address announcer after the game and said, “My name is pronounced orry, the H is silent.”