Basketball from a fans perspective

Invited to the Green Room

All the years I’ve followed the NBA I have no idea how this works. On Tuesday, the NBA extended invitations to 20 athletes to attend the NBA draft on July 29 in the Barclays Center, they will be seated in the Green Room. This is done for television purposes, the commissioner or his deputy announce the draftees name and the athlete comes on stage to shake hands with them. Then photos are taken and generally but not always a television interview is conducted. This sequence of events doesn’t occur with all the draftees but certainly a segment go through this process. As for the statement made at the beginning, who gets invited? Most times those extended invitations are generally thought to be the top 30 or so prospects in the annual draft and we guess that still prevails.  

She’s added to the staff

In Tuesday’s other news Edniesha Curry was added to the Blazers coaching staff. Are you unfamiliar with her name, so was I until I read on, she’s a former WNBA player? She played for the Mercury and Sparks prior to her coaching career. Get this, she held two jobs while at the University of Maine. Her first job was woman’s coach at the school, she left for a period and when she returned moved over and became an assistant on the men’s side. Curry was the only woman to coach men’s Division I basketball in the nation. On Tuesday it was announced she will become part of Chauncey Billups coaching staff, she now becomes the 8^th female assistant coach in the NBA. 

Climate Pledge Arena

The former Key Arena in Seattle built in 1962 is reborn this fall, and it’s now Climate Pledge Arena. The arena is being refurbished for the NHL expansion Kraken beginning play for the 2021-22 season. It is designed as the first 21^st Century structure with the environment in mind when construction is complete. As an example, ice for the rink will be collected rainwater even the Zamboni to be used is electrically powered. Climate Pledge will hold 17,100 for NHL hockey and if (or when) the NBA returns the Sonics will play before 18,100 fans.

The part most confusing to most outsiders like me, why now? At the time Clay Bennett purchased the Sonics there were reports “he was interested in the team remaining in Seattle.” It seemed like at least two years Bennett and city officials went back and forth attempting to hash out an agreement. In fact, at one point, I believe Key was even in the discussion at a point. For several reasons neither he nor the city could ever come to a meeting of the minds. Here we are some years later and the city and private industry have managed to come together when they couldn’t in 2008. In any event Seattle is ready for the NHL in the fall of 2021 and the NBA at some future date. According to figures the entire project will come in around $1.1 billion, we can hardly wait for the expansion Sonics to begin play. 

What do you think?

Wunderkind Emoni Bates will enter his senior year of high school at Ypsi Prep Academy in Michigan next month. At this point we don’t know if its college or a professional start in the fall of 2022. That question aside you might deliberate the “What do you think” requiring your thought process? It appears (notice that) Bates stands 6 foot 9 inches, depending on your source he weighs as little as 185 pounds or a “hefty” 201. Most sites list Bates as a small forward which might present a problem when he begins play at the next level, we might witness Bates pushed all over the floor defending small forwards who could weigh up to 235 pounds.

It’s my belief (unless he gains weight) Bates might be a better fit at the shooting guard. It’s been pointed out previously Hall of Fame player George Gervin was 6 foot 7 but spent his time in the ABA/NBA at a slim trim 180 pounds. Gervin might have been one of those guys who couldn’t gain additional weight, that might be the case for Bates. Back to Gervin a moment, he spent a great deal of his play at the shooting guard although he did spend some time at small forward. I discussed the question with two co-workers, they believe given time Bates will “grow into his body.” Both indicate they see no need of my proposal. Okay, that’s your question…should coaches consider moving Bates to the shooting guard?

Hmmmmm

Just in case there might have been a question on the record, this reminder.

Lakers

17 NBA championships

19 Conference titles

33 Division Titles

Clippers

0 NBA championships

0 Conference titles

2 Division titles