Basketball from a fan perspective

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Load Management

I don’t remember hearing the headline term used before last season, perhaps I just missed it if it was utilized earlier.  In any event the purpose was to indicate the player in question was not available for play due to injury, he was simply resting.  Last season Clippers Kawhi Leonard and Paul George used load management often, for George it was understandable.  George had undergone surgery in the off season, we now discover Kawhi had also undergone a procedure over the summer although it was unclear at the beginning of the season.  As for load management this writer has no issue with it except when it might affect a team’s performance. 

The effecting issue of play on the court is best addressed by the head coach and his staff.  In the 2020-21 season I hope LeBron James and Anthony Davis utilize load management to their benefit.  Just as sure as this is being written, revised, and thought about LeBron will refuse to sit down.  He is one of a small number of players who believes they belong on the court if the game is being played, we shall see what unfolds.  NOTE:  As this report was completed the NBA announced the league would begin fining teams utilizing Load Management on nationally televised games.  Teams could be fined up to $100,000, the only question for us who determines whether the team violated NBA rules? 

What network?

Don’t consider this a complaint just a discussion on college basketball coverage for my favorite team in the 21^st Century.  The television schedule for your favorite might be different in the portion of the country you live; this is a small slice of Mizzou’s early television schedule.     

Oral Roberts – SEC+ Network

Oregon – Fox Sports 1  

Wichita State – ESPN2  

Liberty – SEC Network

Illinois – Not listed

Bradley – SEC Network

The Braggin Rights Game versus Illinois certainly will be televised, it’s just as this is written it is an unknown.  Gives you an example of my daily search to determine where I can view Mizzou basketball.  Again, if this appears a criticism consider this fact, up until the advent of cable there might have been one Saturday afternoon game and that was it.  The games listed above run Wednesday through Wednesday of the next week.  For me, it’s just the difficulty of locating what network the game is available and the week-to-week search. 

I am good, just not that good

There are members of sport media who are good, they provide us insight and knowledge regarding an individual or subject matter.  I’m unsure when the change came about perhaps it’s always been present.  You know the guys who are primed to entertain us, they toss in a dash of knowledge a pinch of history but mostly it is their performance which becomes key to the production.  They are loud, often profane, and always believe the sports world starts and stops based on their view of the subject at hand.   

Most have never played the sport at any level; we could count on one hand those who played the game at the professional level.  You want names, they are the same one’s we’ve mentioned in the recent past.  Stephen A. Smith, Skip Bayless, Jason Whitlock, Colin Cowherd are at the top of my list perhaps you have your own list of persons.  As proof check out this portion of video, place it on your browser.  You will witness firsthand many of these so-called media members are merely in place to entertain us, the only proof offered in most instances is their opinion. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqvetQsKXEs&fbclid=IwAR2hjaG9eOj1XtMS31dxUmXHVlJkdTlaVB5o1lzbHSm6jfdhvwSVnNHCANg

Bits n Pieces

There was no mention in the photo of his weight however Pelicans forward Zion Williamson looked slim and trim.   He reportedly played at 285 pounds in his rookie season, there are NBA players weighing more however they are taller than 6 foot 7 inches.  There are no minute’s restriction on his play like last season.  Best guess, he is probably at a more manageable 270-275 pounds.  He was explosive at 285 imagine what we’ll see now. 

Now an again I’m quite surprised at something I might read or discover, that is the case in what you are about to read.  I learned there is a streaming sports channel available specializing in televising a variety of youth sports.  As for basketball the channel telecast varsity, junior varsity, freshman and even middle school boys’ and girls’ basketball.  Their footprint covers 8 states across the nation, can you imagine this story.  “Last night I watched junior’s 7^th grade basketball game on my computer”, it’s likely occurred somewhere. 

Did you know the NBA is one of the youngest major professional sports?  Founded in 1946 the league has undergone mergers with the Basketball Association of America in 1948 and later the American Basketball Association in 1976.  In 2020 the NBA is 74 years old, in that period the Celtics and Lakers have won 34 NBA Championships.  Do the math, almost half the championships have been won by these two franchises.