Basketball from a fan perspective

Different this time---The Lakers lost their first playoff game against the Blazers, they repeated that same story against the Rockets.  As for the Nuggets in Game 1 it would be a different start, they were winners 126-114.  If you didn't see the game you might say, "That wasn't so bad they only lost by 12 points."  That was not the case the Lakers transition game raced up and down the court all night speeding past the flatfooted Nuggets, the lead was up to 27 points at one time.  The key for the Lakers was their defense, more detail in the Sunday edition of Words eye view.  As for Sunday expect the Nuggets to come out breathing fire, love playoff basketball don't you?  

MVP---Giannis Antetokounmpo was announced as the 2020 NBA MVP, congratulations are due the “Greek Freak” winning the honor for the second consecutive season.  There will be arguments indicating LeBron or someone else should have been the winner.  That is a discussion I refuse to participate in because the outcome has been settled.  I had no vote and neither did you, both of us have opinions but it certainly wouldn’t change any minds.  So, we leave the argument for those who wish to participate in an exercise of futility.   

I wonder---Leadership is always a slippery slope for individuals, the Clippers lost because they had no one willing (or able) to get in a teammates face.  From viewing Last Dance many learned Michael Jordan was not the best teammate, several made the same statement about the late Kobe Bryant.  Back in the day Magic Johnson was also that guy, he’d smile for a television interview but on the court, he would tear into teammates commending them to play better. 

These are all guys who wanted to win so badly they will chew you out if your standard of play is not at its maximum.  I’ll never forget the story how in practice while a member of the Wizards, MJ caused 7-foot 290-pound Kwame Brown into shedding tears.  The indication is Kawhi Brown is a quiet person doesn’t have much to say and Paul George might be cut out of the same mold.  Perhaps missing for us is the fact Doc Rivers can only do so much coaching, it’s up to the players on the floor to understand and react to the flow of the game.   

“Damned if you do, damned if you don’t” ---Many of you are familiar with the adage, it simply states expectations are high for success in an endeavor you are involved in.  If you are unsuccessful, we cannot determine why.  That’s my definition you might have heard a description slightly different, but you get the point.  This is a description my Lakers find themselves Friday morning prior to the evening match versus the Nuggets.  Most in the media and several fans except those in the Denver Metro believe the Lakers should win the series.   

We recently discovered the best team on paper doesn’t always win i.e. the Clippers.  The Lakers must play the best basketball possible if they intend to beat this Nuggets team.  I could cite the NBA Championship of 2004; the Lakers were heavy favorites facing the Pistons.  They had Shaq, Kobe, Horace Grant, Karl Malone (injured later) Gary Payton and others matched against the Chauncey Billups led Pistons.  There was behind the scenes drama going on between Shaq and Kobe which indirectly led to the Pistons winning that championship 4 games to 1.   

Bits n Pieces---This is somewhat connected to an earlier account.  A day after the Clippers were eliminated, we read responses from NBA fans regarding Doc Rivers.  This is what one fan wrote, “Doc's not done. He could very easily go to Dallas, sign himself a big and a knockdown shooter and take off with that franchise.” It’s fine the writer is defending Rivers but at the expense of “firing” Rick Carlisle?  Last time we check Carlisle remains as coach of the Mavs, we speculate about several things but why this team and coach?

Better double check the information if you use Wikipedia as your reference source.  In 2018 Buddy Hield indicated the website listed his birthday incorrectly.  Wikipedia listed him as 25 when he was 26.  Hield from the Bahamas said his driver’s license and passport all had the correct birth year.  His mom questioned the error that’s how the error was discovered, the date was corrected after it was brought to Wikipedia’s attention. 

This is interesting, NBA TV has a new program premiering next month.  It is titled GM School; 5 contestants are schooled in the manner of running an NBA team.  The preview looks like it might provide us the fans with insight into the day to day duties of a general manager.