Basketball from a fan’s perspective

The Eyes 

The television camera focused on Trae Young at some point I believe in the middle of the 3^rd quarter. I don’t remember the score, but I do remember the eyes, I been told I don’t notice an individual’s eyes. There was no panic or “deer in the headlights” look from the young Hawks point guard. Trae looked as though he was saying “We ain’t losing this *&0%# game.” The diminutive point guard led the way for his Hawks scoring 48 points and dishing out 11 assists. Trae’s 3-point shooting was off but no matter as he continued driving to the basket shooting floaters and 3 point shoots all evening long. If we total the points plus the assists (59) Trae Young was responsible for 51% of the Hawks scoring.

Trae’s effort along with those of John Collins and Clint Capela aided the cause in the Hawks 116-113 victory over the Bucks. This is no declaration the Hawks win this series, Giannis and company are not going to roll over to borrow this line from the Dylan Thomas poem. The Hawks “Do not go quietly into the night” expect a fight to the finish, can we say a 7-game series…that’s quite possible. It’s been reported Giannis Antetokounmpo was not pleased with the shimmy by Trae on Jrue Holliday during the game. The suggestion to the Bucks forward you might want to try to slow Trae Young down a bit. You and the other Bucks are not going to stop him.

The evidence (maybe)

“I just received a text from somebody very, very close to the situation in Philadelphia about Ben Simmons. This is a quote, this is not me, this is them. ‘He doesn’t work. He doesn’t listen. And everyone around him is family and he is constantly babied.’ That is the word out about Ben Simmons.”  This from Smith’s First Take program on Tuesday. I have a couple of problems with this type of reporting. Smith gives us what is supposed to be inside information yet will not reveal who authored the text.

Does this teammate and we guess it’s a teammate have an issue with Simmons? If he does “Why tell tales in school”, why isn’t he man enough to discuss the issue with the teammate over providing Smith gossip. That’s exactly what this is, in a court of law (I ain’t no lawyer) this would be considered hearsay evidence. Come on Stephen A., I thought you were better than this. On the other hand, you have proven to us maybe you’re not. What do you think public, is it okay to verbally slay someone with words without them being able to respond? I’m going to reply for Simmons, “Hey Stephen A., I can do something you can’t. I can play professional basketball in the NBA no matter what you think of my game.” 

Dallas

The story in Dallas continues to develop with news on Thursday of the hire. The Pacers announced they hired Rick Carlisle as their next head coach even signed him to a 4-year contract. So much for the thought the coach might have been burned out after 13 years in Dallas but wait there’s more. Didn’t Carlisle coach the Pacers previously?  From 2003-2007 Carlisle was head coach of the team, after the 2006-07 season Larry Bird fired him after the team finished below .500. Who said you can’t go home well technically it’s not home it’s just the fact he’s coached at Indiana previously?

In Dallas, the rumor mill will continue regarding Carlisle and young superstar Luka Doncic. As first mentioned, the former coach and his superstar were “head butting” one another. The addition of Kristaps Porzingis has not turned out to be the bonanza it might have initially been viewed. There are even reports Doncic and Porzingis also had issues with one another. Where do we go from here, the first step is hiring a coach Doncic wants? Don’t kid yourself that will be one of the keys in hiring the Carlisle replacement. The other issue, what to do with Porzingis, that is all until the next installment. 

The first family

In this instance we are not discussing President Biden and his family, it’s Pelicans forward Zion Williamson. News recently broke “family” members are not pleased with the direction the team has taken over his two seasons. When the Pelicans hire a head coach, he/she will become the third coach for this budding superstar. At the time Zion was drafted by the Pelican Alvin Gentry was head coach, he was fired after the 2019-20 replaced by Stan Van Gundy who was recently fired after one season.

According to reports “The Family” wants Zion to play for a more stable NBA franchise, they are supposed to place part of the blame for this dilemma on president of basketball operations David Griffin. The question becomes is this Zion behind the scenes “speaking” for the family or is it actual members? We don’t have that answer as this is written however this development remains somewhat in flux. We are confident of one factor; the Pelicans don’t wish to trade Zion unless he forces them into a corner and demands it. This is another continuing story as we await additional updates.