Basketball from a fan perspective

We have a winner---For nostalgic purposes I didn't want Lakers-Clippers, what I really wanted was Lakers-Celtics.  I imagined this would be a throwback to those Showtime Lakers and Bird led Celtics.  More recently in 2008 and 2010 the teams faced one another with the Celtics winning in '08 and the Lakers in '10.  The Heat beat the Celtics 125-113 setting the Wednesday evening start for the 2020 NBA Championship.  Don't get me wrong I'm not taking anything from the Heat, they will be a tough match for the Lakers.  Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo and the balance of the Heat roster can play, we shall see beginning Wednesday evening.  

Nothing yet---The Lakers have won nothing yet, well that’s not quite correct.  Saturday night they won the Western Conference Championship over an outstanding Nuggets team beating them 4 games to 1.  The Nuggets healthy should be a power in the NBA over the next several years with their mix of youngsters and veterans.  The Joker, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. and others will make the Nuggets a formidable foe.  As for the Lakers it was a 117-101 win over the Nuggets and the defense was outstanding as usual. 

This focus is more than numbers it is a look-back at an improbable and unusual run toward an NBA Championship.  Last look back at early spring, they were in first place as the pandemic halted play in March.  Fast forward to the July 30 re-start and the Lakers appeared to play lethargic basketball through the close of the delayed regular season.  What about the playoffs, there were concerns at this desk? 

The Lakers would face the Blazers in the first round and then just like that the poor play continued.  The Lakers lose the first game, my thought uh-oh we might have a problem.  It was the Blazers then the Rockets and it concluded with a series win over the Nuggets.  The job is only partial complete, the Lakers are 12-3 in the playoffs but there are four more games to win.  Am I impressed along with Laker Nation…you bet I am regardless of the championship outcome?  For the first time since 2010 a Laker team will be competing for an NBA Championship. 

This one is funny, maybe for the wrong reasons---Congressman Max Rose of Staten Island New York will receive no love from Knicks owner James Dolan.  We know the recent history; the Knicks have been terrible the last several years and its certainly of note by fans even those holding political office.  We are not exactly sure how and why TMZ Sports located Rose however his words must have stung owner James Dolan. The congressman said, “I’m a long time Knicks fan but Dolan needs to sell the team.”  

The wording might not have been in that order, but you get the point.  We don’t know if Dolan saw the interview or someone tipped him off.  He decided to address the issue in the only way he saw effective…money.  No, it wasn’t spent on his basketball team rather the opponent of Rose, Dolan donated to the campaign of the opposition candidate and encouraged others to do so.  We have no idea if the plan of Dolan will be successful and there really is no method to judge even if Rose might lose however I find this story quite funny.   

Why him? ---The Warriors have the second pick in the NBA Draft November 18, who is it?  We cannot be sure until Commissioner Silver steps to the mic and says, “With the second pick in the 2020 NBA Draft the Golden State Warriors select_________from_______.” The name Silver might call that evening just might be Deni Avdija 6-foot 8 small forward from Israel. 

It is no longer a surprise when a foreign-born player is a lottery or high first round pick, we can look at Kristaps Porzingis or Luka Doncic as the most recent examples.  If we think about it Avdija might be the most NBA ready over LaMelo Ball or James Wiseman. 

In addition, he is probably somewhat equipped to step into the lineup immediately having professional experience.  Yes, LaMelo did play in Australia and though his work was good an injury did not allow him to complete the season.  As for Wiseman the Memphis Big Man is a budding talent who will require adjustment to NBA play.  We are guessing Anthony Edwards will have been selected by the Wolves with the number one pick.