Basketball from a fans perspective   

Published Monday through Friday

Opps....A day early!!!

My error, this edition of Off the Dribble is the last until Monday November 29. Please enjoy this and we’ll see you on the other side, enjoy Thanksgiving.

The altercation

I’m not going to defend LeBron James for the ugly incident that occurred Sunday evening. In the Lakers game against the Pistons, he was ejected from the game due to an elbow he threw which landed on the Pistons Isiah Stewart. LeBron will serve a one game suspension for the elbow and Stewart two games. Why do we always seem to miss the point example, a website claimed, “Michael Jordan was never ejected from a game during his career.”

Exactly what is this website trying to prove by pointing out this difference? It appears instead of focusing on the altercation once again we get caught up in a GOAT debate so we must assume that was the purpose. Once again, we missed the mark, the NBA of the ‘80’s especially the officiating was far different from that of 2021. It’s probably a good thing Michael Jordan was never ejected from a game, does that fact make him a better player? I hope you don’t believe this is intended as a defense of LeBron and his actions that is simply not the case. His behavior was severe however please cease comparing one generation of players to that of another, the game has change over the years.

“You are what you eat”

We read Wizard Kyle Kuzma’s first act with his money was hiring a chef. He said he grew up eating McDonalds and Godfathers Pizza, his family history said he needed a change. The story reminded us of a long-ago NBA player, he told the story of his arrival in the NBA. Being single at the time and probably little cooking skills it was strictly fast food for him. He said a veteran player pulled him aside one day and said, “You keep eating like that you will be out of the league in three years.” 

We don’t know what occurred with this player and his adjustment to his eating habits, but we know that player had an extended career in the NBA. We’ve got to believe he adjusted his eating habits to support an NBA career. The NBA is far different than other sports, it’s a marathon and not a sprint. 82 games played from the middle of October to the middle of June if we include those playing for the NBA Championship, often back-to-back games and the travel. Try as you might teams cannot avoid injury, as an NBA player you can take of yourself by eating properly.

This is it

I want to revisit an earlier account this one involving Cuonzo Martin. He’s got no room to spare the 2021-22 season becomes a make a break for the coach. The Mizzou program is certainly not in the toilet as it had been under the previous coach. The problem Martin’s not led Mizzou to the penthouse either, in this instance I’m certainly not talking NCAA Championship. Most in the media are not impressed with Mizzou’s roster but here is the catch. Mizzou finishes 10^th or lower and Martin is replaced. Who replaces him, an unknown assistant? Go out and obtain a name coach have risk, here’s an example.

Prior to the Martin hire one of the names being circulated for the Mizzou job was Bruce Pearl who was serving as head coach at Auburn. Except for the first two seasons and the 2020-21 season Pearl’s been a winner however he’s got baggage. Despite past problems an issue at Auburn rose while Pearl was coach, an assistant coach was arrested by the FBI for corruption and bribery. The assistant was fired however no blow back occurred affecting the head coach. If and that’s a large IF Martin is replaced it is going to cost, is Mizzou athletes prepared to pay the price? We have no answer until we arrive there, if this appears negative that is not the case. I’m a fan of Cuonzo Martin however the wolves are howling at the door about the coach.

Death Valley

There are 500 road miles between Death Valley California and Sacramento. I’m going to give Sacramento a new name, it’s now Death Valley #2, the place coaches go to die. On Sunday, the Kings did it again firing head coach Luke Walton. Let’s do a quick count, Rick Adelman was one of the most successful coaches in franchise history, when Adelman left in 2006 the door closed. With Walton’s firing Alvin Gentry although interim head coach now becomes the 11^th head coach since Adelman left. Winning is more than the coach, the front office must be effective too with wise draft choices and even wiser trades and free agents. This mess is certainly more than the coach, two of the number were George Karl and Michael Malone two coaches successful at other NBA stops.

820

My recollection at the time Kyrie Irving announced he was headed to the NBA. I said he can’t be ready to play in the NBA he’s only played 11 games for Duke. I was proven wrong; Irving was named 2012 NBA Rookie of the Year. Since then, he’s been an NBA Champion and has received accolades for his play but there are questions. Irving could have played in 820 games during his career. Through his time with the Cavs, Celtics and now with the Nets he’s played a total of 582 games. Coming into this season injuries, load management and now COVID he’s missed 1/3 of the games he could have played. Now we realize injuries can force a player to the sidelines, in addition we now have load management as an issue.

If we look at Irving’s career the nearest to a complete season played was his 4^th year while a member of the Cavs, he played 75 games that year, in 2019-20 with the Nets he played but 20 games. Where am I going with this might be your question, value? How valuable is an athlete who is often missing on the court no matter how talented that athlete might be? Irving is missing again; in prior years it was injury forcing him out of the game. This time he is sitting out due to a cause he’s taken on, his failure to follow the mandate of New York City regarding COVID. Just how valuable an employee is Irving with so much missing time? In October demonstrators protested outside Barclays Center on the COVID policy and shouted, “Let Kyrie play” and “Stand with Kyrie.” Despite his absence Irving has fans on his side but they forget an interesting side. Irving might not be playing but lucrative shoe contracts have allowed him to continue his present lifestyle.

No flopping allowed

The Mizzou-SMU game caused me to say WHAT! SMU had just scored a basket and Mizzou had inbound the basketball and were headed up court. The official blew his whistle-stopping play, “did I miss a foul or was it something else?” Turns out it was something else, a new rule is in place this season in college basketball. The play-by-play announcer began a brief explanation. If a game official suspects a player has flopped trying to draw a foul the game is stopped. The player is notified the official believes he flopped, if that same player should have a second occurrence in the game, he will be assessed a technical foul. It is believed this new rule will cut down on players flopping.