Basketball from a fan perspective

The schedule

Play will resume in the NBA  

Saturday

Boston at Toronto

Utah at Denver

Dallas at Clippers 

Sunday  

Orlando at Milwaukee

Portland at Lakers

OKC at Houston

Monday

Toronto at Boston

Will it do any good?

The chief of staff for the VP claimed the NBA pause in play was “absurd and silly”, we believe this to be the opinion of Pence and Trump.  Opposite of them is the president’s son-in-law and WH advisor Jared Kushner, he indicates a desire to sit down with LeBron James and discuss the racial issues plaguing the nation.  Fruitful action is required beyond talk, that should be in the form of legislation and other matters to rectify the racial tension much of the nation faces at present.   

Lute

Prior to 1985 Arizonians had no idea of winning basketball except maybe that of the NBA Suns.  Iowa was not Lute Olsen’s first job however he left that school for the University of Arizona.  It would never be the same as Olsen changed the basketball into a winning culture.  From that first season up to his retirement in 2007 Arizona earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament every season. 

In the 1996-97 season the Wildcats would be crowned NCAA Champion, if we check Olsen’s won-loss record it was one of winning every season except that very first season.  The coach is a double honoree having been enshrined in the Naismith and College Basketball Hall of Fame.  Thursday came the announcement the legendary coach died at the age of 85, r.i.p. Lute Olsen.   

He is done

The Mavs playoff hopes will continue but not without a key player, Kristaps Porzingis suffered a torn meniscus tear in his right knee in Game 1.  The Mavs power forward/center has become brittle suffering injuries which take him out the lineup requiring long periods of rehab.  He sat out the remainder of the 2018-19 season while healing from an ACL injury.  Porzingis informed the Knicks in January 2019 he wanted to be traded, in July they honored his wish trading the Big Man to the Mavs.  Porzingis played 57 games for the Mavs with decent numbers but then the playoffs and this latest injury.  Hopefully, he can return next season fully healed and ready to play.   

What is it?

There was a promise made by yours truly, it is about to be broken.  Jason Whitlock former KC Star journalist, ESPN, AOL Sports, Fox Sports, ESPN host, Fox Sports journalist has done it again.  I am unsure if his problem is Laker players or their notoriety, this time he is in attack mode regarding LeBron James.  Whitlock’s complaint is LeBron discussing the racial climate and LeBron’s in the stoppage of play on Wednesday. 

LeBron does not require me to defend him, so I am not, I am going to look at Whitlock.  As you can tell by the opening statements Whitlock’s had quite a few jobs.  It is clear these positions over the course of his career have enriched him.  Whitlock is great regarding character assassination, allow a brief visit to the past.  He constantly complained about Kobe Bryant while number 24 played.  As soon as Kobe retired, Whitlock lost a target, who should it be he thought?  How about the next biggest NBA name…LeBron James?

Last January with the tragic death of Kobe and others we witnessed the basketball world’s reaction.  I tuned into Speak for Yourself the Fox Sports program Whitlock once co-hosted with Marcellus Wiley.  I almost fell out my chair listening to the benevolence Whitlock bestowed on Kobe in death.  This account ends here, with no apparent television job it appears Whitlock is returning to print journalism.  Standby for the next bit of vitriol he voices, we know it will soon be here.  By the way, I'm sure there is a gap in employment listed above, this writer was unable to locate all the positions.