Words eye view 

Basketball from a fan perspective

The Bad Boy Pistons

Whenever we discuss the Bad Boy Pistons Dennis Rodman, Bill Laimbeer and Isiah Thomas are always the first names mentioned.  Very rarely does anyone bring up the name Joe Dumars, his role on those Piston teams was just as vital as the other names.  He was a two-time NBA champion in 1989 and 1990, in addition he is one of the few players to be enshrined in the Naismith and College Basketball Hall of Fame.  Dumars played his college basketball at McNeese State in Lake Charles Louisiana, in 1985 the Pistons would make him the 18^th pick in the first round of that year’s draft. 

Dumars played both the point and shooting guard during his NBA career, when he retired in 1999 it would be as a Piston he never played for another franchise.  He would become president of basketball operations prior to the 2000-2001 season and began rebuilding the Pistons, his work paid off with the 2004 NBA championship.  In 2014 he stepped down as president but remained in an advisory role with the team.  Last August in 2020 Dumars was named interim vice-president of basketball operations for the Kings.  There were a few business pursuits over the years unrelated to basketball, this is but a brief glimpse at one of the all-time NBA greats…Joe Dumars. 

My how things manage to change

Headed into the NCAA tourney Illinois is ranked the number 2 team in the AP and Coaches Poll.  Rest assured they are probably that high in other polls I just didn’t bother to check.  On Sunday when the NCAA invitations were extended Illinois received a number 1 seed.  Last December, it was Saturday the 12^th to be exact, Mizzou beat Illinois 81-78.  Mizzou is a number 9 seed in the tournament, it just goes to show you how things manage to change in the basketball world.   

It’s end

The Monday after the last NFL game is the date teams begin firing head coaches of less than successful teams.  We could make the same statement regarding the Monday after the weekend of tournament conference play. For fear of leaving someone out those college basketball coaches will not be named except one.  We’ll cover this coach later in the discussion, I’d like to pose at least one question to you.  There are likely several assistant coaches desiring to move into the first chair.  They are unlikely to get the opportunity for now, in a manner like the NBA college wants “veteran coaches” too.  When Isaac Brown took over the Wichita State program, we had no idea of his coaching skills, sure he was a long-time disciple of Gregg Marshall but that proved nothing? 

Fast forward to today, the Shockers earned an NCAA berth largely due to Brown’s coaching.  As indicated earlier for leading the Shockers to a winning record he was rewarded with a 5-year contract.  As for the question New Mexico did as we expected, they fired Paul Weir and replaced him with Rich Pitino.  Pitino was fired at Minnesota due to the inability to produce a consistent winner, yet he was hired less than 24 hours later by New Mexico.  It should be of note Pitino is not the worst coach they could have hired but he’s close.  It is highly likely each of the teams requiring a head coach is likely to hire one who was fired recently or at some point in 2020.  This is the manner we operate; we’d rather hire a terminated coach from another program over giving a new guy an opportunity. 

From my viewpoint 

Is Emoni Bates headed for Michigan State or the NBA’s G-League?  At this point we don’t have an answer although Bates has denied a report he’s decided in favor of the G-League.  Let’s step into his shoes a moment and pick a choice for him.  The question becomes “You can pay me now or you can pay me later.”  I’m verbally tied to Michigan State for now and I could head to Lansing however this is what’s in front of me.  If I choose Michigan State I only plan on being there a year, I will declare for the NBA draft at the conclusion of my freshman year. 

I can always return to college to secure my degree later, Vince Carter did it and so did Michael Jordan and Shaq and maybe others.  On the other hand, if I go to the NBA G-League Team Ignite will likely choose me.  Since I’m an amateur they cannot contact me however I’ve read online salary for some team members can be upwards of $500,000 annually.  So, you can see my dilemma, I could gain all a college experience offers for a year or earn an enormous salary playing the game I love.  The significant question for me and others seeking an NBA career, what will I learn about basketball play in one year at the college level other than the association?