Basketball from a fan’s perspective

Not that unusual

Kansas City’s Sprint Arena recently became T-Mobile Arena, I learned there is also a T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas too.  There also exists T-Mobile Park which is home for the baseball Mariners.  As for the multi name arenas and stadiums I thought this highly unusual until a friend reminded me of Dallas and Miami.  The Mavs building is American Airlines Center, in Miami we have the Heat playing in American Airlines Arena.  So, in the age of corporate naming rights its probably going to become more and more unusual for a corporation to have its name on a single stadium or arena.  

The Knicks need a coach

Knick fans are accustomed to waiting, they have waited for years for the Knicks to become competitive again.  What are a few more months delay in the search for a head coach?  Perhaps management is hoping to avoid what have become a revolving door as coach after coach has been fired.  As for the list of perspective coaches most are veteran names along with Mike Miller who served as interim head coach.

Kenny Atkinson

Tom Thibodeau

Mike Miller

Jeff Van Gundy

Mike Woodson

Although this list is complete there could be a surprise, a name not listed above might be the one hired. 

It’s not over until the fat lady sings

The desire was wait for a jury verdict before proceeding with the Zion Williamson story.  The short version, the Pelicans forward has been sued by his former agents.  During the proceeding this jumps out from the account the agent claimed he paid “someone” who was supposed to be part of Williamson’s family.  Williamson’s attorneys claim the documents provided the court are fake and the agent.  He now claims he was conned, he never spoke to or met Williamson or any member of the family.  This line from Alice in Wonderland certainly fits, this saga has become “Curiouser and curiouser."  

Why Florida

Your view might be different from mine and that is okay.  My wife asked me the other day, “Why is the NBA in Florida and not playing home games, covid is spiking in the state.”  I informed her the NBA was making a valiant effort to complete the 2019-20 season.  The fact Florida and more specially Orlando was chosen had to do with facilities to accommodate the number of teams.  In addition, if the games were played in Los Angeles or Las Vegas fans would be clambering for tickets.  It is planned for NBA players to remain in a “bubble” from fans.  The question if this plan works is still up in the air at this point.  

No such thing
I do not honestly believe them when it is said, "they are jinxed!" You have heard it too, earlier I mentioned the Sports Illustrated curse or jinx. Well this is a story you take at its face value. What in the world is the problem in Portland? Star guard Brandon Roy at 27 is a medical retiree, we can make the same statement about Big Man Greg Oden he never reached the heights projected for him as the 1st player picked in the 2007 draft.  Injuries kept Oden off the court for the bulk of his brief NBA career. 

The franchise has a history of drafting centers who cannot play or who are injury prone. Number one pick LaRue Martin in 1972 failed and Sam Bowie number two pick in 1984 was injury prone. It has not been all doom and gloom for this Pacific Northwest team, there were the Clyde Drexler/Kevin Porter teams of the '90's. Those Blazer teams were extraordinarily successful although never winning a championship.

Earlier with Bill Walton at center and the late Maurice Lucas at power forward they won their one and only NBA Championship in 1977. That year they faced a talented 76er team of Dr. J. and George McGinnis but won the series 4-2. The "jail blazer" era came into prominence, they went downhill after much success in the late '90's. Various Blazer players were sometimes more visible in court as much as on the court, a house cleaning was required. Once this was completed the team began turning the corner toward success, the drafting of Roy and others made the Blazers become competitive again.