Basketball from a fans perspective

Who wins?

If you are a gambler, please use another source to place your bet. The Suns will defeat the Bucks and be crowned 2021 NBA champions, how do I know? I don’t however that’s my belief based on several factors. It’s difficult to project the role of reserve players in any championship series, sometimes guys step up other times they disappear. There is no typical standard for reserve players, so my belief is based on starters for both teams. We heard someone state, “The Suns can’t stop Giannis” and we concur. It’s not a matter of stopping him that’s impossible, slow him…that is quite possible. 

It’s more than that, Khris Middleton has been hot and cold throughout these playoffs, when he’s good he’s particularly good. On the other hand, when he’s bad, you get the point.  Brook Lopez will force DeAndre Ayton to play him which may or may not work. Lopez can certainly hit the 3 but will he be consistent enough to force the Suns defense to adapt, especially Ayton. The Suns backcourt is better than the Bucks, substantially better I don’t think I would go that far, however. Elder citizen CP3 is a better point guard than Jrue Holiday, we have lights out shooter Devin Booker broken nose and all.

Booker will likely be matched most of the time against Middleton. Finally, the X’s and O’s, Suns coach Monty Williams thus far has been more forthright in making in game adjustments over the Bucks Mike Budenholzer. There are portions of this matchup either overlooked or glossed over so you must be the judge. After this is over you can laugh at me or pat me on the back. As for my lack of faith in the Bucks, consistency. “I’m from Missouri, you’ve got to Show Me” steadiness which to this date has been more in the Suns favor over the Bucks.  

It’s over

Saturday evening two significant events occurred; the Bucks beat the Hawks 118-107 to advance to the NBA Finals. They will face CP3 and his Suns team but there was another occurrence. This was the last game broadcasted by the legendary Marv Albert. This is but a brief look back at the broadcast career of Albert. It all started back in 1963, after being a ball boy for the Knicks Albert went behind the mic to fill in for Marty Glickman then broadcasting Knick games. In 1967 he would begin broadcasting Knick games permanently for the next 37 years until he was fired by owner James Dolan in 2004.

Albert was critical of the team’s poor play and the owner used that as the basis for terminating his contract although it was said Albert’s large salary was a consideration. The NBC Network began broadcasting the NBA in 1990 and he went to work there. He began double duty going to work for TNT in 1999 as well. Albert also briefly worked for the Nets at the time the YES Network began broadcasting. Albert has worked NHL Ranger games and the NFL but his association with the NBA is generally where most people recognize him. In 1997 he won the Curt Gowdy Award given by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. In addition, there are numerous awards received by Albert over his broadcast career. He will be missed, one of the many legendary sports broadcasters now retired.

Bits n Pieces    

You read recently the Globetrotters applied to become the 31^st franchise in the NBA. The question asked but not answered was addressed on Saturday. The Trotters indicate they are willing to move wherever the NBA desires to become the league’s 31^st franchise. Officially they are the Harlem Globetrotters but there are doubts if the team remains in New York City. The population is there but does New York really require three NBA teams?

This is interesting news; Jalen Duren is now rated the number one prospect in the Class of 2022. Emoni Bates had been rated the top player until recently. Duren is a 6-foot 10-inch 230-pound power forward, he attends Montverde Academy in Florida. He’s reduced his list of destinations to five, most interesting two of them are pro leagues. The possible direction for Duren is Kentucky, Memphis, Miami, the G-League or NBL. Of course, the latter is the NBA Developmental League and it’s Club Ignite, the NBL is the National Basketball League in Australia. LaMelo Ball and RJ Hampton both played in the NBL prior to their NBA debut during the 2020-21 NBA season. Perhaps the landscape has profoundly changed with the prospect of earning $$$ over college.

Earlier we profiled George Mason University in Fairfax Virginia and their new head basketball coach. Kim English former player for Mizzou is now head of the program. We are unsure who returns however they finished 13-9 and 8-6 in the conference. Hopefully English is given enough time to implement his program, a college coach probably requires a minimum of 3 years. English has been an assistant to Frank Haith at Tulsa and Rick Barnes at Tennessee prior to the 32-year old’s first job as a head coach. 

He’s given up on the NBA for now, Antetokounmpo is headed back to Greece to play for Olympiacos. In fact, they signed him to a 4-year contract. Oh, you thought I meant Giannis, no it was brother Kostas who’s been resting on the Lakers bench the last two seasons. He leaves and we really have no idea if he can play at the NBA level because he rarely was in any games. In any event good luck as he heads home to continue playing basketball.

ESPN.com is reporting former NBA player Reggie Theus will be named athletic director and head coach of Bethune-Cookman next week. If you are unfamiliar with Bethune-Cookman it’s an HBCU school in   Daytona Beach Florida. Serving as a coach is not new for Theus, he’s been head man of the NBA Kings, New Mexico State and Cal-State Northridge.