Basketball from a fan perspective

It ain’t over until the…. you know the rest of it

Is Laker Nation pleased, I have no idea but I am.  The Monday evening win (116-108) versus the Jazz clinched the number one seed for the Lakers.  It ain’t over till it’s over, the Lakers with a short window (LeBron) must make hay while the sun shines.  Okay no more cliches from me, let me just say we are yet to determine the NBA Champion...stay tuned.   

Did the NBA get it right?

We are entering the second week of NBA re-start and the question...did the NBA get it right?  It is certainly early however the “Bubble” the league created appears to work.  Baseball had to cancel a game due to the virus, so far, the issue has not risen in Orlando.  Several questioned why the NBA was even attempting to complete the season.  That question cannot be answered by a few simple thoughts and it will not be attempted.  We are yet to see how the virus impacts the NFL however for now let us just say the NBA may have gotten it right.  The only loser to this point are the fans unable to view their favorites in person.  They must satisfy themselves with watching the game unfold on our television sets the same as those in Dayton, Albuquerque, and Kansas City.   

Winners

It is funny Kansas and Kentucky fans are constantly arguing with one another which program is most successful.  If we just check out won loss records the winner is Kentucky with 2,293 wins, Kansas has 2,274.  As for several others there are a likely a few surprises for many of you, North Carolina wins total 2,261.  We must factor in one consideration the dates these schools began competing on the court. 

As an example, Kentucky first began play in 1903, Kansas in 1899 and North Carolina 1911.  Norfolk State an HBCU institution has registered 1,223 wins, then we have Missouri State.  The Springfield school which began play in 1909 have moved from the NAIA, to NCAA Division II and finally NCAA Division I.  Weber State in Ogdon Utah has over 1,000 wins but only began play in 1963, wow what a winner.   If you check out the history you will discover Weber State’s only suffered 11 losing seasons in 57 years of Division I basketball, that is outstanding. 

Late bloomer

We often use the term late bloomer to describe an athlete with a late developing career, that would be an apt description of the Pelicans J.J. Redick.  If we checked his high school and Duke honors, we might conclude Redick was on his way to the hall of fame.  National Player of the Year, 2X All-American First Team are just a few of the honors when the Magic in 2006 made him the 11^th pick in the first round.  

After 7 seasons in Orlando Redick was traded to the Bucks and from there the Clippers. 

If we look at the numbers, it will appear the Clippers were the location Redick became grounded.  His shooting especially from the 3-point line made him that guy “you can’t leave open.”  Free agency witnessed Redick moving to the Sixers for two seasons and last year to the Pelicans.  He is 36-years old now and nearing the end of his NBA career.  If we look at Redick 2010, we might believe this guy might not make it, little did most of us realize he was just a late bloomer.