Basketball from a fan perspective

Woulda, shoulda, coulda---Laker Haters have been dormant for 10 years now, the down years caused them a problem, they had no Laker team to hate on.  Sunday night about 10:00 p.m. Central Standard Time they began rejoicing in earnest, allow us to pick apart this Laker championship they said.  This is the basis for my woulda, shoulda, coulda account of the series.  “The Heat woulda won if Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic had been 100%” or this one.  “The Heat coulda won if Anthony Davis had been suspended for the elbow, he threw in Game 5.”

How about this one, “the Heat woulda won if the officials called the game evenly.”  The best one yet, “The Bubble was an advantage for the Lakers they coulda faced the Clippers.”  The quotes provided for your reading are but a small number of the woulda, shoulda, coulda anti Laker championship letters posted on various websites I’ve read since early Monday morning.  I rarely delve into revisionist history for at least two reasons. 

1.  A revisit contributes nothing toward changing the outcome of a game or series.  If you had a time-machine you might be able to affect the results you are displeased with no ability to revisit the past there is no method to affect an outcome.  2.  Your anger or anxiety will remain the same because you’ve changed nothing with your attempt to explain how and why the Heat lost the 2020 NBA Championship.  If you are upset with the result of Sunday evening that’s okay, the attempt to negate the outcome in the manner described might sooth your soul but that’s about all. 

NBA draft, maybe not---If you prove you can play you might have an NBA career, a   reminder from draftXpress.com.  The Heat’s Jimmy Butler was the last player chosen (30) in the 2012 NBA draft, sharpshooter Duncan Robinson wasn’t considered to have NBA potential.  We mentioned Robinson had begun college at a Division III school but later transferred to Michigan, in the 2018 draft every NBA team passed on him.  These two individuals are proof even the experts miss the potential of prospects at times.     

Check your state---The website MaxPreps.com confirmed what I’ve believed all along.  They published a list of the 5 top boys basketball programs in each of the 50 states, in Missouri the St. Louis metro contained 3 of the number.  Vashon, Christian Brothers and Chaminade were listed 1, 2 and 3.  Sikeston in the southeast portion of the state near the Kentucky/Tennessee border was 4 and Rockhurst in Kansas City was number 5.  As for the State of Kansas two metro Kansas City schools were listed, Bishop Miege (3) and Blue Valley Northwest (5).  If you are interested in the top five boys' programs in your state, you might check the June 10 MaxPreps piece by Jordan Divens.     

The Palestra---This writer brags about Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City and its rich basketball history, The Palestra in Philadelphia is a much older building, and I must admit more renowned.  First opened in 1927 it is still in use today; it serves as home of the Philadelphia 5.  LaSalle, Penn, St. Joseph’s Temple, and Villanova all have utilized the 8,000-seat arena as home at one time over the years. 

Naturally, a building this venerable has been refurbished over the course of time.  I’ve never been in the arena however I can just imagine in my mind’s eye the numbers of Hall of Fame players it’s witnessed over time.  Baseball fans desire to visit Fenway Park in Boston or Wrigley Field in Chicago for their historical connection to the sport.  We could make a similar statement regarding The Palestra.  

Texas Triangle---If you’ve followed the NBA any length of time, I’m sure you heard or read of the Texas Triangle.  For those unsure of the term exactly what does it describe?  The State of California contains four teams, Lakers, Clippers and Warriors and Kings, in second place is Texas with three.  How did Texas gain three teams, first its large population able to support three teams?  The Spurs of San Antonio were an American Basketball Association team, with the 1977 NBA-ABA merger they moved into the NBA. 

Houston acquired the Rockets in this manner, the team was an expansion team with a San Diego home.  In 1971 the Rockets relocated to Houston and began calling that city home, Dallas arrived via NBA expansion.  The Mavs came into existence in the northern Texas city in 1980.  Generally, for travel purposes other NBA teams will schedule the triangle teams one after the other.  So, there you have it the brief story of The Texas Triangle.