Basketball from a fan perspective

The scariest words to me are…. I think! ---I’m sure many of you believe I hate ESPN/ABC analyst Jeff Van Gundy, that is far from the case.  It’s been a time since he’s been a head coach, so his offensive and defensive philosophy is sometimes unclear.  The scary words to me are anytime during a telecast when Van Gundy says I think, usually his analyst skills take a back seat to whatever pops up on his mind.  Generally, his thought is on a subject usually unrelated to the game that's in front of us, you know the game action he should be describing.   

D-I-V-O-R-C-E ---In 1968 the late Tammy Wynette’s studio released the song D-I-V-O-R-C-E.  This country & western tune would become one of the top hits of her musical career.  The song was about the breakup of a marriage and the story goes the word was spelled to spare the small children what was to occur.  This D-I-V-O-R-C-E in this instance is the breakup of family dynamics relating to the Ball family.  LaMelo Ball the youngest of the Ball brothers announced he’s signed with the Puma brand. 

After being dormant in the shoe market for years Puma decided to jump back into the fray last season.  In addition to Ball Puma has R.J. Barnett, Michael J. Porter Jr., Kyle Kuzma, and others under contract.  The question, is this now the end of the BBB brand being competitive in the marketplace?  It would appear LaMelo is the rebel in the family, remember LaVar said “I don’t think the Warriors are a good fit for my son.”  LaMelo came right back and indicated he was willing to play for any team drafting him.   

Rivalry renewed---Mizzou and Kansas had one of the oldest college basketball rivalries in the nation dating back to 1907.  In 2012 that changed, Mizzou left the Big 12 for the SEC while Kansas remained in the conference.  Although many on the Missouri side of state line wanted to continue play elements on the Kansas side refused.  There were schools who faced the same issue but managed to play a home and home series, but this was not to be the route of these two schools.  Since that time, the two schools played an exhibition game for charity but that was it.   

Late last year it was announced the Kansas-Mizzou game would return, the first game was scheduled for December 12 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, but it’s now been cancelled due to Covid.  The first game will now be played at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence in the 2021-22 season, the following season in Mizzou Arena in Columbia.  It will be back to Lawrence followed by a return to Columbia culminating in a December 13, 2025 game at the T-Mobile Arena in Kansas City.  We are disappointed since the first game in the series is cancelled, we can only look forward to the 2021-22 season. 

Nothing stirring---The NBA coaching search has not changed one bit.  Those with openings are taking a great deal of time in the hiring process.  Interviews are occurring it’s the hiring that has not occurred.  No requirement to name names however the new name will be mentioned.  Stan Van Gundy veteran coach has been mentioned in connection with the Pelican job.  As for the others there is:

Houston Rockets

Los Angeles Clippers

Indiana Pacers

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Zags---What do we know about Gonzaga basketball, not much at this point in mid-October.  Five websites were checked for their pre-season Top 25 teams.  Now we realize the only true poll is the one occurring the first Monday in April (NCAA Champion).  This poll is quite interesting in that 3 of the 5 place Gonzaga in the top slot.  As for what most of us know Coach Mark Few is a winner, year after year he turns out a winner at this Spokane Washington school.  I’d written previously my belief with no NCAA Championship on his resume his name is often missing in a discussion of coaches.