Basketball from a fan’s perspective

Alien abduction

There was a UFO sighting over Phoenix on Monday night, that’s the reported story. Apparently, this craft hovered over the hotel of the Lakers and used a tractor beam to capture each Laker player, and this includes the coaching staff. All were taken aboard the UFO that night. These aliens were aware a game was to be played Tuesday night, so they provided clones of all the Lakers. One clone appeared as LeBron another as Dennis Schroeder and so forth and so on.   

These clones committed 16 turnovers, shot poorly and generally stunk up the arena. All did not play in the same manner clones LeBron, Kuzma and Talen Horton-Tucker scored in double figures, the balance played as if their programming didn’t work as planned. All in all, this effort allowed the Suns to produce a 115-85 win and a commanding 3 games to 2 lead in this playoff series. Can the real Lakers return to this series, only if they manage to escape the clutches of those evil aliens? Is there any escape from Area 51 for the real Lakers?

Ainge out…Stevens in

In a surprise move Celtics president of basketball operations decided to retire. Brad Stevens has been kicked upstairs to assume the role held previously by Ainge. The news reported indicated Stevens will begin a search for his replacement on the Celtic bench. The first name that popped up as a potential head coach is current Laker assistant Jason Kidd. This story is not shocking but certainly surprising considering Stevens might be under pressure at the Celtics were recently eliminated in the playoffs. 

Coach K. is out

The 2021-22 season will be the last for Michael William Krzyzewski better known as Coach K. at Duke. The legendary coach (we can say that) made the announcement on Wednesday.  His resume includes five seasons he spent as head coach at Army, its West Point where the legend began. In five seasons he won 73 games while losing 59 and a .553 percentage. The accolades are stacked a mile high, but two are mentioned here.

His induction in the Naismith and College Basketball Hall of Fame and his 5 NCAA Championships won while at Duke. Unless you are a fan, student or alumni most have a love-hate relationship with Coach K. There is no middle ground you either love him or hate him, I happen to be one who loves the outstanding record of this legend (there I said it again). Coach K. there are several who will miss you prowling the sidelines.

It’s coaching man, coaching

Dear Sacramento Fans,

You think the franchise is bad now allow me to provide a little background. While the Kings called Kansas City home 6 men served as head coach of the team. Two of the number were interim as for the other 4 they were given the task of producing a winner which rarely occurred. In the 13 years the franchise was located here fans only experienced four winning seasons. Even former Celtic great Bob Cousy couldn’t turn this franchise around, he was head coach at the time the team located to Kansas City in 1972. He would step down early in the 1973 season the losing probably became too much for him.

The only standout coach was the late Cotton Fitzsimmons, three of the four winning seasons occurred while he served as head coach. It’s possible Fitzsimmons could see the handwriting on the wall, Fitzsimmons resigned at the end of the 1983-84 season a year prior to the move to Sacramento. The only other winning season occurred under Phil Johnson in the 1974-75 season when the Kings finished 44-38. The Kings might be terrible now however you were able to experience several years of outstanding basketball with Webber and company. Don’t worry, it will get better someday.

Sincerely,

Kansas City fan

If only…

After an injury plagued start Michael Porter Jr. is proving why, he is announcing to the world by his play why he was the top choice of most NBA mock drafts in 2018. He was limited to 3 games for Mizzou, an early season injury would see him in Black and Gold only briefly. In the spring MPJ declared for the NBA draft and the Nuggets would later make him the 14^th pick in the first round in the June draft.

The Nuggets aware of his injury allowed him to rehab, and he did not officially begin play for until the 2019-20 season. After a part time role initially with the Nuggets MPJ moved into the starting lineup and has since remained in place. Those in Mizzou Nation check the Nuggets box score daily and wish, they wanted to experience the play of the MPJ we see now at Mizzou. Alas it was not to be, we must appreciate him for his display of talent exhibited now.