Basketball from a fans perspective   

Published Monday through Friday

I like this

If you’ve read this blog any length of time you realize Doc Rivers is not among my favorite coaches. I don’t hate him I believe he’s not as good a coach as most believe. Despite my statement there is no argument he can be insightful in his outlook. This statement probably was brought about by the on-going drama surrounding Ben Simmons.” Average players want to be left alone. Good players want to be coached. Great players want to be told the truth.” Thus the words of Doc Rivers Sixers coach 

What did you expect?

So, you thought the Warriors beating the Lakers the other night was an anomaly. You thought they were still trying to figure out things which they are to a degree, which might apply to both teams. A better match would be the Clippers despite no Kawhi Leonard, the Warriors were missing Klay Thompson. This back and forth up and down game saw Steph score 45 points, as Dan Patrick might say “Steph was En Fuego.” The Warriors won 117-115 and now sit atop the Pacific Division of the NBA with a 2-0 start. Why are you surprised, did you expect a repeat of the horrific 2020-21 season, I certainly didn’t?

Klay might not return for a while however Jordan Poole has performed admirably along with the rest of the gang. This includes grizzly veteran Andre Iguodala who’s returned to the Warriors plus point forward Draymond Green. The mystery man to date for me is Andrew Wiggins, when fully immersed in the game he’s a deadly shooter from anywhere on the court. Once the cavalry arrives in the form of Klay Thompson and James Wiseman, they will be fully prepared to battle for Western Conference supremacy.

As for Friday night’s fight or altercation what concerns the most, the blow out of the Lakers at a point by the Suns or this. Oh, one other issue I’m uncomfortable with the outside game thus far of Anthony Davis in the first two games. At 6 foot 10 and 253 pounds he would stand out during the Lakers 2020 NBA Championship, that AD seems to be missing in action. I wrote, success for the 2021-22 Laker season is dependent on an engaged player. The real problem, the AD and Dwight Howard bench altercation, was it really a fight not really? One of the issues with Andre Drummond last season was his tendency to clog the lane, has the same issue cropped up with Howard?

He’s now a point guard 

NOTE: Bates was a late scratch, a deep thig bruise kept him sidelined. The balance of the report is presented due to the fact it is likely Bates will become a point guard eventually. 

By the time you read this it probably has occurred. Penny Hardaway dropped a hint on Saturday wunderkind Emoni Bates will play a new position; Bates will play the point at least that is the sign for now. Memphis played an exhibition game yesterday afternoon playing LeMoyne-Owen. This is written Sunday morning, so I have no idea who won or how Bates played. At 6 foot 9 and 190 pounds it would appear Bates might be suited for the point or shooting guard. It was mentioned at one time in this blog his body type closely resembles George “Iceman” Gervin who played at 6 foot 7 and 180 pounds. 

Now there is no intention to claim his future will be that of “Ice”, all this goes out the window should Bates gain substantial weight over the next two years, that’s the length of time he will likely play at the collegiate level. Perhaps he reminds the coach of himself at a time in his life, for those who might not be aware Penny was a 6-foot 7-inch point guard at Memphis and throughout his NBA career. If Bates can adapt to the point, it makes sense, as a tall point guard he would be at advantage over most guards. Sidebar, the game was available on ESPN+ however I didn't watch it, why? I'm far too stingy to pay for this game. 

This is me!

It’s not going to serve a purpose other than allowing me to complain. I’m tired, the NBA continues to announce its choices for the 75^th Anniversary Team. There is a player omitted you believe should be there or he played in the 1950’s or ‘60’s. Because he played long before your birth or while you were a small child you decide “He doesn’t belong on the team.” Allow me to ask you a question, do we discount the accomplishments of an athlete just because we never saw them play? This type of thought could exist for other greats of the past. You might have read Babe Ruth was not a great athlete, despite this fact the all-time home run record was held by Ruth from 1927 to 1974.

Hank Aaron would eclipse the Babe’s record in that year. In addition to never seeing Ruth, you may have never seen Aaron play either. Was Jesse Owens swift or was it the fact he performed outstandingly in the 1936 Olympics? We could go on and on and on, there is no era with a monopoly on great accomplishments by athletes. I believe most recognize the fact, there are some who believe “If I didn’t see it, it doesn’t exist” or worst yet this view. “The league was smaller” or “There was less competition” or “The athletes of today are much better.” Any of those statements might be true but to decide someone doesn’t belong on an anniversary team is quite a stretch for me.