Basketball from a fan’s perspective

The Kansas basketball saga moves on

Those of us outside the legal profession have a rudimentary view of the law.  The question was raised “Why is Bill Self threatening to sue the NCAA?”  Only the school’s attorneys and the coach can answer the question.  The NCAA statement contains a bunch of legalize type language, it will not be detailed except to state the NCAA considers the charges of a serious nature.

The attorneys defending him state Coach Self and staff had no prior knowledge of payments made to students or the parents.  Okay, I can concur with that view with one exception, if an impropriety occurs under that coaches watch it belongs to him regardless of any prior knowledge.  Rick Pitino was fired at Louisville for principally the old term “lack of institutional control.” 

President Harry Truman had a sign on his desk that read, “The Buck Stops Here.”  It simply stated as Truman believed he must deal with the difficulty, he cannot and would not delegate the responsibility to a cabinet or staff member.  Does the Kansas basketball program and Self deserve the Death Penalty…an emphatic NO from this corner?  I could be wrong, but I do not believe Self and Kansas basketball will escape a penalty this time.

Bits n Pieces 

According to an unidentified assistant coach Emoni Bates will not play at Michigan State.  That is a strong statement however the coach believes Bates is in a hurry to play in the NBA.  The 6 foot 9 soon to be high school junior averaged nearly 33 points a game, this is the basis for many scouts to declare him NBA ready already.   

Pretender or contender, that is the question for Baylor basketball.  Baylor is a winner almost every season including an NCAA Tournament appearance.  The Baylor Bears have never been able to break through in the regular season to win the Big 12 championship.  Will the 2020-21 season be their first will they be pretender or contender for the top spot?  

Lakers assistant Lionel Hollins will not be in Orlando with his Laker team.  Pelicans head man Alvin Gentry is an unknown but assistant Jeff Bzdelik is a no, this is not intended to speculate as to why.  Allow us to simply state do not be surprised as additional front office or players announce they will not play in the NBA re-boot.  There are considerations we are not privy to for decisions to be made, keep that important fact in mind.  

It was destined to occur
This was not the 1979 NBA Draft, that one saw the already formidable Lakers draft future Hall of Fame player Magic Johnson.  The 1992 draft witnessed the Magic selecting Shaquille O’Neal although it was later believed he would play for the Lakers one day.  In 1996 the free agent Big Man chose the Lakers over remaining in Orlando with the Magic. 

Shaq did not conclude his career with the Lakers, he retired in 2010-11 as a member of the Celtics.  Since retirement Shaq’s star and financial gain have increased exponentially.  As for the Lakers and their fans many still love him despite the untimely divorce between him and the late Kobe Bryant.  Sidebar, given the choice between the two if I am management, I make the younger guy (Bryant) as the player to keep.  

I can be baited at times

Sometimes a person makes a sarcastic remark about the NBA and I will just say okay. There are other instances I can be baited into a discussion, depends on the person and location. I have mentioned I am a fan of the Chiefs and the Royals because both teams are local. I do not believe I can carry on an in-depth discussion about any other professional football or baseball team.  The reason is clear I do not follow those sports in the same manner I do basketball and the NBA.  

In the past these are just a few of the statements my ears have picked up over the years. “They don’t call traveling in the NBA “or “I only watch the last quarter of an NBA game.” An even stranger statement is this one; “I followed the NBA when Michael Jordan played but I don’t anymore.” I am sure if I tracked the NFL or MLB with the fervor, I do the NBA I am sure I could discover aspects worthy of criticism but why? I just wish these folks would make their statements to someone other than yours truly.  

Appeared to have it all 

He last appeared in an NBA game in 2014, despite the year he is only 33-years old as this is written.  We speak of Andrew Bynum; the Big Man was made the number 10 pick in the first round of the 2005 draft by the Lakers.  Although drafted directly from high school he appeared to have it all, he would play limited minutes as he adjusted to the rigors of the NBA game. 

Due to his youth and inexperience Bynum shared time in the paint with other centers early in his NBA career.  By his 4^th year the talent begins to flow easily as Bynum became accustomed to the NBA.  The 2011-12 season would be a break-out year scoring 18.7 points along with nearly 12 rebounds a game.  If the scoring numbers appear to be less than outstanding, consider this fact. 

Bynum shared the basketball with Kobe, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, and others.  By this time, the Lakers changed head coaches, Bynum did not have the same relationship with Mike Brown as he held with Phil Jackson.  The two appeared to butt heads and it even led to Bynum being benched at a point.  Bynum would be traded to the Sixers, later he would appear in a Cavs and Pacer jerseys.  A series of injuries and attitude robbed him of whatever talent we once witnessed in the 7-foot 285-pound Bynum.  Andrew Bynum became a fan favorite of mine despite the other talent existing on those Laker teams.