Basketball from a fans perspective

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The mouth that roared

Charles Barkley says “LeBron James stacking his teams has hurt his legacy. This from the man with 0 championship rings, this from the man who played with the Sixers, Suns and Rockets. Anytime a discussion begins regarding championship basketball Charles Barkley should exclude himself from the conversation. Back then stacked teams was not a term widely used but consider this fact, the drafted Barkley arrived on a Philadelphia Sixer team that had Julius Erving and Moses Malone on its roster.

Both of them are now enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame. Later as a member of the always playoff bound Suns free agent Barkley left them for the Houston Rockets many said, “still chasing that championship ring.” The Rockets team at that time had Clyde Drexler at one guard position and Hakeem Olajuwon at center, both now in the Naismith Hall of Fame. LeBron James is a large enough person to defend himself, in addition he’s got means I don’t have to defray the arrows headed his way from Barkley. The only reason this is being written is to point out to some Barkley is a 6-foot 6-inch 250 pound (?) hypocrite. Based on his NBA journey Barkley played on stacked teams as well the term was just not in common usage. 

A reminder

Team USA beat Australia 97-78, they will now face France which beat them in an earlier game for the championship. I haven’t seen a minute of Olympic basketball due to the time start and my schedule. We have no idea who wins the Gold Medal however I offered this observation at the time Team USA lost to France. Both France and Slovenia feature NBA talent, with the amount of NBA players dotting international teams it should not be a surprise if Team USA fails to win. It is clear I took a more honest approach to Olympic basketball than others. It was clear my view was not shared by all especially many in the media.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qia-YRr60dU

Strange move

Wunderkind Emoni Bates reclassified into the Class of 2021; reclassifying is not that unusual in this age. The most interesting part of this story the NBA draft is a non-factor, Bates won’t be eligible in 2022. He won’t turn age19 until January 2023 which prohibits him from entering the 2022 draft. These are the choices Bates is exploring, G-League, Michigan State, Oregon or Memphis. If the choice is college for Bates your guess as a choice is as good as mine.

It appears…

No inside information exists here just my belief, as the days drag on it appears Kansas University is headed for the Big 10 leaving the Big XII Conference. My guess, the Big 10 will be thrilled with the arrival of Kansas basketball and the rich history that will accompany the arrival. On the other hand, the football…. well, that’s another matter. We are in the death throes of the Big XII Conference as we know, with Texas and Oklahoma soon gone the school in Lawrence is it. Kansas remains the only power school in this once vaunted conference. It’s come apart so quickly however perhaps the signals were there all along and we just didn’t see them. They are playing taps and the fat lady has begun tuning up to sing.

Auf Wiedersehen

The word above is Goodbye in German and it is for Laker guard Dennis Schroeder. You remember, don’t you? The Lakers offered him a contract in February 2021 many believed exceeded his value. Schroeder said, “Thanks but no thanks, I’m headed to free agency.” At the time the Lakers obtained the swift point guard I might have been his biggest champion. I believed he would bolster their bench until he declared, “I’m no reserve, I want to start.” Frank Vogel and the Lakers said “okay,” and Schroeder was moved into the starting lineup.

After injuries struck the team especially the one to LeBron, we discovered his game was sorely lacking and then the playoffs ensued. We heard the reports Schroeder was headed to the Knicks, Bulls or somewhere other than Staples Center. Agents for other players moved much faster than Schroeder’s, the destinations mentioned became closed very quickly. It remains feasible he will receive a contract somewhere other than from the Lakers however there are two keys. The contract certainly won’t be as large as the one he turned down in February, in addition he is unlikely to land with any of the reported destinations from a few short weeks ago. On the other hand Schroeder could remain with the Lakers although I seriously doubt that.