Basketball from a fan perspective

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Rob’s been active---Remembering back to last season; the Lakers were expected to compete for free agents; however, it didn’t ultimately in a sense.  The front office with a Kawhi Leonard mindset waited and waited and waited for a Leonard decision.  As you are aware instead of the Lakers Leonard would choose the Staples Center co-tenant Clippers.  What was perceived as the big fish (Leonard & Paul George) managed to swim away although reserves were signed.  2020 is going to turn out different if the moves thus far are at an end, Rob Pelinka and crew have been quite busy. 

Not a single fan can claim the Lakers have become complacent this time around. As this is written the Lakers have signed free agent Wesley Matthews a 6-5 shooting guard.  Also signed as a free agent is Montrezl Harrell, the 6-8 center/power forward and NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2020.  As we can see the front office under Pelinka have been active, in addition to those moves they picked up point guard Dennis Schroder in a trade.  The Lakers have the winner and runner up (Schroder) for NBA Sixth Man of the Year on their roster. 

The Lakers added point guard Zavier Simpson who went undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft.  Those are the additions to date, the subtractions thus far…Dwight Howard, Avery Bradley and Rajon Rondo.  In Howard’s second tour with the Lakers proved to be much better but after some confusion on signing he moved to the Sixers on a 1-year contract.  Bradley played valuable minutes during the season but chose to remain at home and didn’t play in The Bubble.  Finally it was Rajon Rondo leaving signing a 2-year deal with the Hawks, I will repeat my earlier statement.  If not for "Playoff Rondo" the Lakers may have lost the 2020 championship.  These moves and those of the future should aid the Lakers in defense of the championship.  

The chances were remote anyway---I mentioned my excitement with the possibility of the Raptors locating in Kansas City, the chances of success of landing the team were remote.  The mayor of Kansas City and a U.S. Congressman signed the letter to the NBA commissioner both these gentlemen are African American.  This is mentioned due to the next occurrence, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Kansas City Chapter of the NAACP, and the local Urban League branch followed the city’s letter by writing the NBA commissioner. The letter by these groups highlighted problems between the Kansas City MO Police Department, the mayor’s office, and the minority community.  

Kansas City is not unique, problems with racial profiling and violence occur in NBA cities as well.  Recently Bucks guard Sterling Brown reached a $750,000 settlement with the City of Milwaukee and its police department regarding an incident.  In 2014 Eric Garner died of a prohibited chokehold by a New York City Police officer, just this year a Minneapolis police officer knelt on George Floyd’s neck causing his death.  All three cities mentioned are home to NBA teams, this is no effort for this to become morbid its intent is simple. It points to the fact Kansas City is not excluded from racial problems but shares the same issues as other American cities, the chief concern is the picture of Kansas City painted by these organizations.  

These groups certainly have the right to protest and voice their beliefs, the problem as others see it is the manner its done.  For example if a Fortune 500 company were considering locating in Kansas City would they receive a similar response from these organizations?  If we just consider an additional fact, T-Mobile Center plus the Power and Light District employ a large number of persons many of whom are black and brown, what about a paycheck for them?  Late Friday afternoon came the announcement from the Canadian government they would not allow the Raptors to play in Toronto, Tampa will be home for the 2020-21 season for this NBA team. 

A myth---Wilt Chamberlain had numerous colossal games during his illustrious 15-year NBA career.  Perhaps none was more noteworthy than a March 18, 1968 game versus the Lakers.  The box score indicates Chamberlain shot .500 from the free throw line which was on par for him.  The balance of his scoring and rebounding in that game are enormous.  Chamberlain played all 48 minutes which was not uncommon for him, he rarely left games during his career.  In this game Chamberlain filled up the box score, .828 from the floor on 24 for 29 shooting, 32 rebounds, 14 assists, 24 blocked shots along with 11 steals. 

The latter two figures cannot be documented, the NBA didn’t begin tracking blocked shots or steals until the 1973-74 season.  The block shots and steals are based on the recollection of quite a few fans and the announcers who witnessed the action, Chamberlain’s prolific game led the way to a 158-128 win over the Lakers.  Over the following summer the Lakers acquired Chamberlain in a trade.  As most are aware, he was an outstanding defender, so the numbers mentioned are not beyond the realm of possibility.  Because the NBA didn’t track the stats at the time it only can be termed A Myth or is it?