Basketball from a fan’s perspective

“Beware of geeks bearing formulas.”  Warren Buffett

This is different

Downsizing a program is unusual however it does occur occasionally. The latest example on Thursday the Board of Regents of Hartford University voted to downgrade the program from Division I to Division III. “A move to Division II will allow the University to further strengthen the academic, co-curricular, and wellness experience for all students.” This move is not one of swiftness, the school will be unable to move to Division III until September 1, 2025.

There is a cost savings here, Division III schools don’t offer athletic scholarships although its reported athletes can and do receive some merit or need-based assistance. Moves of this type are not unusual, generally it’s the other way around with the school moving up. Locally the University of MO-Kansas City moved from NAIA to Division I. Memory says Oral Roberts University in Tulsa downgraded their athletic program from Division I to NAIA but returned to Division I after several years.

The nightmare season continues

The Nets continue to preach “If we could get all our guys healthy at one time.” That is the lament of the Lakers, AD tweaks his back comes out of the game but claims he is going to play. Talen-Horton Tucker out with a calf issue plus Dennis Schroeder is safety and protocol restricted. I almost forgot LeBron is sidelined with a high ankle sprain, he is reported to return next week to the lineup.

In December I believed the off-season moves made the Lakers a more potent team and they were for a while. The injuries, I can make this statement without checking. I believe every roster member has missed at least one game with an injury or illness. By my count Schroeder’s been missing in action due to covid restriction twice, Marc Gasol once. So there you have it the nightmare season continues, will it ever end…we certainly hope so.     

Who said you can’t go home?  

An American classic novel was written by Thomas Wolfe and first published in 1940, its titled “You Can’t Go Home Again.”  It’s my contention you can return home again if you truly desire, we don’t know if that is the case for Lonzo Ball.  Ball will become a restricted free agent in the summer of 2021, he’s still operating under his Laker contract and that is the issue.  As this is written it appears the Pelicans are yet to offer Ball a contract.  Since the middle of the season there have been reports the Pelicans have been exploring a trade for Ball rather than lose him in free agency.

This is where the Lakers enter the picture or so that’s the rumor circulating, would they be bothered in Ball playing for them again?  In addition is he interested in returning to the Lakers, would they entertain a trade with the Pelicans again?  The only reason this is being covered is due to all the rumors circulating about a possible return home.  Not only returning to play for his hometown Lakers, but he was born in Anaheim and grew up in Chino Hills.  The greater Los Angeles area has always been home except for his tenure in New Orleans.  I’ve always maintained there is less pressure playing for the Pelicans, at the same time Ball’s NBA game has continued to mature.  I’ve wondered if it was too much home and daddy pressure as a rookie…maybe?

Why do we compare

I certainly have no intention to speak for you, as for me I’ve grown tired.  The back and forth “My daddy can beat up your daddy” that exists with many fans and the media.  It’s Kobe versus Michael Jordan or Shaq matched against Wilt Chamberlain or Bill Russell.  Those are but a few of the names we hear tossed back and forth. We fail to take into consideration different eras bring about different play. 

Although Kobe and MJ played in the same era the age difference of the athletes must be taken into consideration. The only time I believe a comparison is valid is in this manner, “He’s built like LeBron” or “His jump shot is like to Ray Allen.”  We are applying a mental picture of an athlete familiar to those who might be reading or hearing about a player. As for the first portion of this account the effort on my part will stop nothing, I will continue to remain on the sidelines anytime these discussions arguments are held.