Basketball from a fan perspective

Best…maybe---It’s my contention the Lakers NBA Championship win total is the barometer of success in the league.  I know many of you are going to point out they are tied with the Celtics who also have 17 championships but consider this bit of information.   13 of the 17 Celtics Championships occurred prior to 1976, since that period the Celtics have only added 4 to their number.   If we check the Lakers, they have won 11 championships since 1980 including 2020 the most recent. 

Celtic fans will begin sending me emails pointing out my lack of a brain however the numbers and history speak for themselves.  The Celtics remain a storied and much valued NBA franchise however they come in second place.  I must add second place despite beating the Lakers so often in the Bill Russell-Elgin Baylor/Jerry West era.  A major portion of the Laker success is acquiring skill players whether through the draft early and in this later era free agency.  In addition, there was a hiccup period regarding the team’s front office, poor decisions led to a drought in wins and playoff appearances.  That scenario appears to be a thing of the past now, although Magic Johnson left the front office it appears GM Rob Pelinka had a baptism of fire forced on him and is on the right track. 

We now arrive at the door of Laker owner Jeannie Buss; she was correct in firing her brother.  All the degradation suffered by the franchise was not his fault, but Jim Buss did a terrible job of running the team after his father passed.  What’s next you might ask, those in Laker Nation have no clue?  This we believe will occur; the Laker brand will continue to play outstanding basketball after LeBron is retired. 

It’s up in the air---Despite the 2019-20 season being completed there are pending questions for the future, we are looking ahead to the 2020-21 season.  There are other key questions chief among them being when the season might begin, it appears that will be January 2021 with a yet to be announced day.  This is in no order just random events remaining to be considered, we have free agency.  When does it start and at what point will it end? In addition will there be Summer League play and if so, will play be held in Las Vegas or The Bubble? 

We certainly are in no position to make that decision it appears Orlando might be best.  Many NFL stadiums are allowing fans based on local ordinances, might the NBA adopt a similar policy for fans to attend games again.  Despite the positives allowing us to witness a successful conclusion COVID will continue to impact the NBA along with other amateur and professional athletic proceedings.  The belief is NBA heads will discuss these and other issues over the next several months and plan a process to return to normal pending COVID. 

How come we are not surprised---Oregon’s Dana Altman did it again, this west coast guy managed a commitment from an east coast talent.  Franck Kepnang verbally committed to attend Oregon in the fall, Kepnang from Westtown Pennsylvania had offers from 21 schools.  Among those offering scholarships was Kansas, Illinois, UConn, and Syracuse to name just a few. 

Kepnang is a 6-foot 11-inch center who packs 225 pounds on his frame, more than likely he will spend time in the weight room.  Gaining bulk without impacting his quickness might be key to further development for the youngster, Kepnang is from the Central African nation of Cameroon.  Kepnang joins Nate Biddle (6-11) and Johnathan Lawson (6-6) in the frontcourt for the Ducks.  Biddle will join Kepnang in the weight room with only 175 pounds on his 6-11 frame.  All three young men are 4-star prospects in the Class of 2021.   

We get it---The social activism of many NBA players is bothersome to many, we get it.  This effort will continue, it’s not to cease just because it is offensive to you.  You want us to know it seems daily how offensive this activism is, even more interesting you post your views on almost any story or account involving the NBA.  Please answer a question for us, if you post your view on a website selling NBA merchandise does it impact sales?   

Rest assured many of us understand, you have issues with this effort.  You desire athletes to just be athletes and that’s okay too however you must consider one factor your continued letters will not cause social activism to cease.  Either become accustom to it or find yourself another sport of focus.  That might sound harsh and that is certainly not the intent, a rock rolling down a hill picks up other rocks and so forth and so on.  Eventually you have an avalanche which is difficult to stop.