Basketball from a fan perspective

Laker Nation

The Lakers won their Thursday night match versus the Hornets 116-105, I came away from the game with lasting admiration of rookie LaMelo Ball.  Ball scored 26 points on 55.6% from the floor 40% from 3 and 80% from the line.  He also managed to grab 5 rebounds and dish out 7 assists.  The 6 turnovers registered can be attributed to the tough Laker defense.  The Hornets outshot the Lakers (49.4 to 48.4) however the outcome was never in doubt.

The Lakers appeared in control much of the evening.  The Hornets are one of a few NBA teams in an advantageous position for the future, Charlotte is likely not a destination for free agents unless the team shows signs of improved play.  As for the draft that’s another matter, wise evaluation of young talent could prove greatly beneficial to the Hornets.  A wise draft could be keys to winning, now if only we could muffle a certain person, oh well.   

1971

The average price of a home 50 years ago in the United States was $25,250.00, in addition to buying a home you also purchased a Dodge Charger writing a check for $3,579.00.  You drove your new automobile to a service station and filled it up, the pump price was 40 cents a gallon for gasoline.  As for your house payment you wrote a check and applied an 8 cents stamp to the envelope before placing it in a mailbox. 

For entertainment you purchased movie tickets for you and your wife, the cost was $3.00, $1.50 apiece.  Why the fixation on the year you ask, it was March 18, 1971 Drake beat Notre Dame in the NCAA Tournament?  It would be 50 years before the Iowa school would win another tournament game, it would be 50 years to the date, March 18, 2021.  Drake beat Wichita State in an NCAA First Four game 53-52, no matter how far Drake advances rest assured the hope is they win another game before 50 years passes. 

Too many games

The blog lacks space and time to cover all the NCAA games, the first day up till 6:00 p.m. Central Time has proven quite interesting.  The Ohio State beaten by Oral Roberts, a number 15 seed beating a number 2…. but wait there’s more.  Number 12 Oregon State sent number 5 Tennessee home earlier than expected.  We can guess that’s why its called March Madness, anybody can beat the team they are facing and its only required once.     

Guilty

I admit I’m guilty, how about you?  There are several college and NBA teams I can just sit and watch the game develop, those are the neutral one’s I have no concern who wins or loses.  On the other hand, there are teams I root against, I don’t dislike individual team members for the most part the coach is okay too.  For a variety of sometimes irrational reasons, I want that team and sometimes the coach to lose.  Do I dare name the offenders…no way but I am not alone? 

I know you too are guilty although some of you might be more vocal than me.  Okay you twisted my arm, I confess.  Allow me to state it’s not any of the athletes I have issues it’s the team and its image.  In the NBA it’s the Clippers, perhaps when their arena is built, and they move I will probably change my outlook.  Instead of Inglewood it’s my view the Pacific Northwest might be a fantastic move on owner Steve Ballmer’s part.  There is only one college team and it ain't Kentucky although the first letter of this school does begin with a K., okay it's Kansas and Bill Self, no need to go any further.  Call me a hater, over the years that's probably a nice term based on several I've received.  

Under review

The headline is the term you often hear a public address announcer make during an NFL or NBA game.  Well, my column on Richard Pitino is under review by yours truly.  I hope to point out there are no issues on my part with the coach, he needs to feed his family like all of us.  My issue with colleges and the NBA often they don’t give the new guy a chance.  They would rather hire a veteran no matter their past record, I mentioned Pitino being fired. 

That is not a question unless you are hiring a guy fired at 3 or 4 locations, it does not require one to walk around displaying a gigantic F on their clothing indicating “I’ve been fired.”  Naturally with any endeavor there are exceptions, Wichita State handed the head coaching job to an assistant.  In the NBA we could state the Hornets and Thunder moved assistants up to head coach.  Those moves and others are the exception rather than a general rule.  Athletic directors and NBA general managers would rather hire that veteran guy despite his past record.