Basketball from a fans perspective

Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Friday

His words not mine

The late James Reston was a journalist, author and executive editor of the New York Times. Those familiar with him might not believe he was a sports guy but here are his words. “There isn’t a professional sports season now that doesn’t go on at least a month too long. Baseball starts in football weather, and football in baseball weather, and basketball overlaps them both.”  If we read between the lines, we believe Reston was describing the weather conditions rather than the actual start times.

This story was mentioned in the past, but it’s repeated here, the Red Sox and Celtics once had the same player on their roster. Gene Conley was a pitcher for the Sox and a reserve player for the Celtics, how did he conduct this feat you ask? In his time the NBA Championship was usually decided no later than early to mid-April, of course back then there were fewer teams. If Conley played for any team other than the Celtics, he would have reported to the Red Sox sooner. The Cousy/Russell led Celtics were usually in contention the early part of the baseball season had begun by the time Conley reported to the Red Sox.

To vaccinate or not…that is the question

The Nets have been picked by NBA GM’s as potential NBA Champions. Rest assured that view was based on a healthy team including mercurial point guard Kyrie Irving. As pointed out recently Irving is prohibited from practice and game participation due to a New York City mandate on the virus. There is partial good news, the Nets have been given clearance for Irving to practice at HSS Training Center because it is a “private building”. Irving is still not allowed to play at Barclays Center (and MSG games versus the Knicks). The NYC ruling says proof of at least one shot must be shown prior to entering a public building.

We are unsure on the policy in Los Angeles and San Francisco however it appears it might be like that in NYC, as for Sacramento we are unsure. As we move closer to the start of the NBA season it would appear Irving must plan on his future with the Nets. This is not taking a stance pro or con but to simply point out the obvious. You think NYC and California are tough wait till you read about Toronto. Remember last season when the Raptors played their home games in the U.S.? The border issue has been relaxed this season but only to this degree. Visiting teams and those going with them travel is limited to the hotel and the arena that is it. Any player or member of a team caught outside this authority is subject to arrest according to our reading.

The disclaimer

You know the script, “All defendants are innocent until proven guilty.” With that out of the way allow a comment on the latest news from the NBA. A group of former players conspired on a multi-million-dollar health care insurance scheme. Names will be withheld here although you can find them on various news sites. They are withheld here with the belief first said, innocent until found guilty in a court of law. Former players named thus far earned huge salaries while playing in the NBA,

In addition to salary, they qualified for the NBA’s pension plan although you must reach age 62 to begin receiving compensation. With those statements made why try a criminal enterprise? Remember the Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas) line from the 1987 movie Wall Street? Gekko when questioned said, “The point is, ladies and gentlemen, that greed--for lack of a better word--is good. Greed is right. Greed works.” The question for us, is the Gekko line correct, are we so consumed with getting money we are willing to risk prison in a criminal conspiracy?

Basketball “factories”

This account is born from a documentary, a local sports talk program host developed a film on high school basketball in the Kansas City Metro this feature focused in 1980’s-1990’s basketball. The host during an interview claimed these athletes all attended public high schools. He went on to state kids stayed at home and this was prior to the advent of basketball factories. Allow my explanation, prep schools have existed since the beginning days of education. A number of these schools fielded competitive sports teams however prep school basketball attendance exploded in the 2000’s.

In Kansas City the high-profile athletes, Anthony Peeler, the Rush brothers, Jevon Crudup, Tyronn Lue and others played four years at their respective public schools. That was then, this is now…athletes beginning in the early 2000’s began to move to these basketball factories to complete their academic acumen and basketball. As shown earlier specific private and prep schools are eons old while others founding is often less than 20 years. The other part that didn’t change prep school or public college was the destination by all. AAU basketball played a large part in this revolution in public high school play. This is not pointing a finger of blame at anyone or claiming anything done was wrong it just reflects a modification in how the game was administered at the high school level leading into college.

Did you know

There are 358 D-I coaches for the 2021-22 college season, a website Busting Brackets decided they would rank number 1 through 358. In reading the piece the writer admitted the poll was not intended to be scientific. They said a coach could rise or fall depending on his record over the past season, I’m okay with that except for a single issue. John Calipari at Kentucky had a down year, Scott Drew’s year was capped off by his Baylor Bears winning the NCAA Championship so his was certainly upbeat.

As for others it was a far different story. There are more than 20 first-time head coaches on their list, and the count might be up to 50 or more who will begin duties this fall. How do we rate a guy like Gerald Gillion Chicago State (358) or Kim English George Mason (304)? The names mentioned previously are first time head coaches. If you check the list for yourself, you will discover it has a sizable number of first-time head coaches. Is this a complaint, yes, it is not for the coaches in new positions or those returning to the same institution? It’s for those first-year guys, how are they ranked?