Basketball from a fan perspective

The Giant

John Thompson was a giant in height (6 foot 10 inches) and accomplishments, he died on Monday at the age of 78.  If you say Georgetown basketball his name is always the first thought despite the fact, he retired from coaching in 1999.  The media will provide vast amounts of information but allow me to provide several that standout for me.  Arriving in the NBA from Providence Thompson was Bill Russell’s caddy, perhaps he believed that would not be his life’s work that is why he eventually moved into coaching. 

Thompson’s Georgetown Hoyas intimidated the opposition, they played tough belly button to belly button defense.  You play for John Thompson there was no pampering of athletes on his teams yet in private he would be their biggest defenders especially with the media.  Allen Iverson was all everything in Virginia but had gotten in trouble even serving a period incarcerated.  His mom said, “I need someone like Coach Thompson to mentor my son.”  The coach likely sat down with mom and son and explained how things would operate at Georgetown if Iverson played for him. 

Georgetown under Thompson sent several outstanding players to the NBA among them Iverson, Patrick Ewing and Dikembe Mutombo to name just a few.  Thompson’s 1984 Hoya team would be crowned NCAA Champion, he became the first black coach to win an NCAA Championship.  He is honored in Springfield enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame.  In 2006 came another honor this time in Kansas City Thompson was inducted in the College Basketball Hall of Fame, these are but a few thoughts on the coach, R.I.P. Big John.

The future of the Mavs

The Clippers won the series over the Mavs 4 games to 2 with a 111-97 win in Game 6.  Which team has the brightest future in 3 years, in 5 years?  We really have no idea but barring injury we believe it to be the Mavs.  We could look at the collection of Mavs with their limited playoff experience, they can only grow now they are “veterans.” 

We might question the role of Kristaps Porzingis, not his shooting or defense the other thing.  We heard for years “injuries are part of the game,” despite the apparent talent Porzingis possesses he appears too brittle for the NBA game.  This is not a doom and gloom report, if I were a member of Mavs Nation, I would be quite excited about the future of the franchise, Luka Doncic is the real deal and will only get better.   

Free agency

The Lakers will attempt to sign Anthony Davis in the off season, that certainly would be a good move.  Are there other free agents available, that is a possibility although a trade might also be in the offing? One publication indicates the Lakers could consider trading for Buddy Hield; the writer included in the trade a bunch of positives. 

The only problem the Kings and Lakers are in the same division, there are serious doubts the trade could be accomplished.  On the other hand, Hield is a lights out shooter and could offer the Lakers a third accomplished scorer.  Another name recently mentioned is the Pacers Victor Oladipo who is certainly a good shooter, Oladipo 28 years old tends to be injury prone.  I refuse to explore names that are impossible for the Lakers to obtain except through free agency namely Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.

Headed to Texas

Tamar Bates a Rivals 4-star prospect from Piper HS in Kansas City KS is headed to Texas.  The list of disappointed programs include Alabama, Kansas, Iowa State, Mizzou, Oregon.  Texas were in the list of perspective schools the 6-foot 5 shooting guard was considering.  Shaka Smart can certainly recruit and once again he proves it.  Now is the time for Texas basketball to produce a continuous winning program.  Bates has left Piper and is enrolled at IMG Academy in Florida to complete his senior year.   

A little history note

It has been mentioned in the past professional basketball existed prior to the NBA.  In 1937 the National Basketball League began operations, in 1946 the Basketball Association of America came into being.  The two leagues would merge in 1949 becoming the NBA we recognize of today.  In all that time the Knicks and Celtics are the only franchises in continuous operation in the same city. 

As an example, early franchises such as Toronto, Washington, Chicago, Cleveland, Indiana went out of business but years later would return through expansion and merger.  The Pistons existed but were based in Fort Wayne Indiana and later moved to Detroit, the Minneapolis Lakers in 1960 relocated to Los Angeles leaving the area without basketball until the expansion Wolves came into existence.