Basketball from a fan’s perspective

Yes, I’m going to do it

Two acquaintances claim if I write about the comments of ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith and others, I am giving them publicity. That might be true but why should they escape criticism when they speak ill of athletes. Okay here goes, the Knicks at one point this season had veteran Austin Rivers on their roster. Rivers plays for the Nuggets now, they become his 7^th team and 6^th NBA team he’s worn their jersey. His outstanding playoff game (25 points) aided the Nuggets in beating the Blazers.

I’m certainly not discrediting the game, its Smith in his usual pugnacious and screaming tones said he couldn’t figure out why HIS Knicks failed to keep Rivers. If Smith would simply check the bio of history, he’d discover Rivers was acquired in a sign and trade deal in November 2020 by the Knicks.  March 2021 witnessed the Knicks trading Rivers to the Thunder who waived him three days later. Mr. Smith you stand proudly calling Kwame Brown a bust, Austin Rivers might be a close second to Brown. You are real close to talking out of both sides of your mouth.    

Yet another incident

After the Nets victory in Boston as they were exiting a water bottle was hurled from the stands. The bottle was aimed in the general direction of Kyrie Irving, whether the culprit was attempting to hit him is unknown. Perhaps it’s always existed but we have a fan problem in NBA arenas across the nation. We are unsure if it’s alcohol related or something else, the following is not made up. This is a letter written by a person claiming to be an NBA fan,

“Fans were rowdy back in the day, just shows how soft NBA has become. In the NBA’s tough days fans tried to throw your game off. Popcorn on Russ (Westbrook) wasn’t too bad, only because he wasn’t hurt.” Two things jump out for me from this writer, the NBA has become soft and it’s clear throwing popcorn was not that big a deal because Westbrook wasn’t injured. I didn’t make this up, this represents the mindset of someone who perhaps attends NBA games.

In Boston, the perpetrator was arrested, beyond that no additional information has been released prior to publication.  When the season commenced in December no fans were allowed due to covid issues. As an increasing number of citizens were vaccinated covid levels decreased and fans were allowed inside arenas again. We have a serious issue with several folks, they act before they think. I’ve lost track, the incident in Boston is either the 3^rd or 4^th since fans have been allowed in arenas. I’m unsure if this might result in a lawsuit, the guilty parties have been ejected and banned but there is more to add. This person should be publicly identified, I’m unsure if there are legal issues but something needs to be done. Simple ejections just don’t seem to work for some. 

Team Canada

Jamal Murray and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are injured, they will likely not be available to play for Team Canada. Despite the two missing in action, it’s hoped the balance of the roster should represent our northern neighbor well in Tokyo during the Olympics. This list is not complete however on the court at times will be:

Andrew Wiggins

Tristan Thompson

Kelly Olynyk

Dwight Powell

Khem Birch

RJ Barrett

Dillon Brooks

Cory Joseph

Lugentz Dort

Bet you didn’t realize the NBA has been invaded by Canadians, just joking northern neighbors. You’ve sent a bunch of talent players across the border and thanks.

Pandemic expansion

Just a few years ago the mention of NBA expansion would bring forth, “sorry we are not doing that.” The NBA has not expanded since 2004 when the Charlotte Bobcats (Hornets) came into being. All that’s changed now in large part due to covid, the NBA is looking at adding two teams and becoming a 32-team league. At the time NBA play resumed last season it was in the bubble that was Orlando, there were a limited number of fans in attendance. The 2020-21 NBA season began with no fans and the season concluded before even small numbers were able to attend games. NBA owners are probably not hemorrhaging money but might be looking toward acquiring additional revenue.

That’s where expansion comes into the picture, from what we have been led to believe the cost of adding additional teams goes directly into the pockets of owners. The figures we are provided indicates NBA would divide roughly $2.5 billion for two franchises. That is just the permission part we are not discussing acquisition of players and other requirements that might come into play with new teams. With those kinds of dollars, a prospective owner must have deep pockets to afford a team. As for where, Seattle is clearly in the lead position for expansion, the second team is an unknown at this point. If the others were to be placed in order Las Vegas would appear to be a couple of lengths ahead of Kansas City. There you have it Seattle in first, Las Vegas in second and Kansas City immediately behind them.