Basketball from a fan’s perspective
A replacement
A replacement
First it was Avery Bradley and now its Rajon Rondo, the Laker guard roster is shrinking rapidly. Earlier Bradley announced he was remaining at home but provided no detail and would not be in Orlando to complete the season. Then came news regarding Rondo, in practice he broke his right thumb, the Laker medical staff indicates the thumb will require surgery.
There is a 6-8-week time frame before Rondo can return to action. Worst case scenario Rodman would be sidelined until the first week of September. The question becomes do the Lakers replace Rodman or attempt to make do with the remaining roster? We shall await further developments regarding this account. As this was being completed late word arrived from Orlando in the words of head coach Frank Vogel. The coach stated, “I expect Rondo back for the playoffs.”
Specialist
I have told this story previously; a friend asked me if Dennis Rodman would be elected to the Naismith Hall of Fame. I did not hesitate to answer him with an emphatic NO. I believed his value as a rebound/defender might not be Hall of Fame worthy. Of course, I was wrong Rodman was elected in the Class of 2011. There are other specialists who may be HOF material. How about Robert Horry, many are unaware Horry’s won more championship than Michael Jordan with his total of seven. He won NBA Championships with the Rockets, Lakers, and Spurs.
One of the most effective 3-point clutch shooters in championship history. Derek Fisher won three NBA Championships with the Lakers he too proved clutch at crucial times and won more than one game with a crucial 3-point basketball. Neither Horry nor Fisher scored much during their careers, Horry a reserve was never in the lineup as a starter. Fisher the starter always deferred his game to other scorers on his Laker, Warrior, Jazz and Thunder teams. In conclusion does either of these specialists or somebody I have missed become Hall of Fame candidates?
I have told this story previously; a friend asked me if Dennis Rodman would be elected to the Naismith Hall of Fame. I did not hesitate to answer him with an emphatic NO. I believed his value as a rebound/defender might not be Hall of Fame worthy. Of course, I was wrong Rodman was elected in the Class of 2011. There are other specialists who may be HOF material. How about Robert Horry, many are unaware Horry’s won more championship than Michael Jordan with his total of seven. He won NBA Championships with the Rockets, Lakers, and Spurs.
One of the most effective 3-point clutch shooters in championship history. Derek Fisher won three NBA Championships with the Lakers he too proved clutch at crucial times and won more than one game with a crucial 3-point basketball. Neither Horry nor Fisher scored much during their careers, Horry a reserve was never in the lineup as a starter. Fisher the starter always deferred his game to other scorers on his Laker, Warrior, Jazz and Thunder teams. In conclusion does either of these specialists or somebody I have missed become Hall of Fame candidates?
Reason #5 why I love college basketball
I love Dick Vitale, Dickey V.’s enthusiasm for the game in legendary. I know a few folk’s claim he refuses to discuss problems that exist in the sport. When questioned I have not heard him refuse to answer a question. He and Jay Bilas (whom I also like) are from different generations. Bilas will take on all comers when discussing the evils that exist within the game and especially the NCAA.
As for Vitale he claims he is going to cut-back on the number of games this season. “Diaper dandy,” “baby” and “aircraft carrier” are just a few of the terms he is personally responsible. An example of his enthusiasm, years ago I am watching a game in the family room. My wife walks through on the way to the kitchen, on hearing the animated Vitale for the first time she said; “what’s wrong with that guy?” Vitale is 75-years old now so we can understand why he might want to reduce his broadcast schedule.
I love Dick Vitale, Dickey V.’s enthusiasm for the game in legendary. I know a few folk’s claim he refuses to discuss problems that exist in the sport. When questioned I have not heard him refuse to answer a question. He and Jay Bilas (whom I also like) are from different generations. Bilas will take on all comers when discussing the evils that exist within the game and especially the NCAA.
As for Vitale he claims he is going to cut-back on the number of games this season. “Diaper dandy,” “baby” and “aircraft carrier” are just a few of the terms he is personally responsible. An example of his enthusiasm, years ago I am watching a game in the family room. My wife walks through on the way to the kitchen, on hearing the animated Vitale for the first time she said; “what’s wrong with that guy?” Vitale is 75-years old now so we can understand why he might want to reduce his broadcast schedule.
The view from 30,000 feet
Makur Maker caused a seismic shock when he decided in favor of Howard University over Kentucky and several blue blood programs. A top high school prospect choosing to attend an HBCU school, the landscape could still change in the future. Consider this tidbit of information, it is quite a bit easier to produce a winning basketball program over football. You could have Patrick Mahomes at quarterback but with no offensive line and decent backs and receivers well…you get the picture.
Basketball is completely different, if a coach manages to recruit one or two talented players a team can become a juggernaut depending on the balance of starters and reserve talent. Howard, Jackson State, Texas Southern, Alcorn State and others must recruit in the same manner as Kentucky, North Carolina, and Kansas. No concession to the blue blood programs of the nation, one or two talented players and your program is national news.
They were still Kings
It has been discussed the Kings were not particularly good during the 13 seasons Kansas City was home. They finished above .500 only four times while here and the of those most games they won in any one season was 48. Despite the poor team record and even poorer draft choices the Kansas City edition of the Kings had several outstanding players, this is my Top Five best of the best. Leading the way is Nate ‘Tiny’ Archibald, he is in the Naismith Hall of Fame, need I say anymore. Talking about records that will never be tied or eclipsed Archibald holds one of the records. In the 1973 season he led the NBA in scoring (34.0) and assists (11.38). It just so happens he might have been the first combo guard in the NBA.
No doubt center Sam Lacey is the second best to wear a Kansas City Kings jersey. The 6-10 Lacey played tough defense on the best of centers of that period which include Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Dave Cowens and Nate Thurmond to name just a few. Lacey was quite skillful at passing the basketball, in one season he averaged 5.7 assists leading NBA centers in that category. Scott Wedman arrived in the NBA from Colorado, Wedman would go on to play a significant role with the Kings. What happened, with free agency pending the Kings could not afford to keep both Wedman and Otis Birdsong so what did they do? They allowed Wedman to leave in free agency and traded Birdsong.
Otis Birdsong was probably the best shooting guard the University of Houston had produced up to that time. The Kings taking Birdsong in the first round he would have four outstanding seasons prior to his trade to the Nets. Finally, we arrive at Phil Ford an All-American point guard at North Carolina, he was named NBA Rookie of the Year in 1979. For reasons unknown Ford (now in the College Basketball Hall of Fame) was traded to the Nets for Ray Williams. Williams would play all of one season in a Kings jersey. There you have it the best of the best, most left Kansas City due to managements inability to pay them.
