Basketball from a fans perspective   

Published Monday through Friday

Christmas  

The Celtics had fallen on challenging times under then coach Rick Pitino. The speech Pitino made was historic as he tried to motivate the team. “Larry Bird is not walking through that door”, the former Celtic great had been retired by that time. I’m gonna borrow from Pitino and say, “Magic Johnson is not walking through that door.” Back in October Ben a friend and co-worker asked me about the slow start of the Lakers, this was my response. “If they are playing like this at Christmas then there is a problem.” This is written December 22 with the holiday three days away. On Tuesday evening the Suns took the Lakers to the woodshed and spanked their behinds 108-90. The game was at home for the Lakers so Staples Center (I refuse to use the new name) supplied no advantage.

This present Laker team was built to win now not in three years but in 2022. That will not occur in 2022 the season ended on Tuesday night; the Lakers will earn a playoff berth, but a deep run is difficult for me to see at this point. LeBron James brilliant play cannot be expected at this level much beyond next season so what is needed? The Lakers need to look toward the future, they have a good scouting system which brought them Jordan Clarkson, Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball and others. Although talent has left through trades, they offer proof exceptional aptitude players are available even in the second round. This provides proof the scouting staff has skill in getting talent. A beginning exists with Talen Horton-Tucker, Austin Reaves and Malik Monk and we could add brittle Anthony Davis still only 28-years old. This quartet of talent along with wise draft picks and skillful trading could make for a competitive team. The key is patience, is Laker Nation prepared for losing now to win later, I cannot answer that question?

Down to earth

Wunderkind Emoni Bates has settled back to earth. We first heard of the 6-foot-9-inch combo player described in this manner. “Should the NBA repeal its rule and allow high school players in the draft Bates will be a favorite.” We anxiously waited for Bates to begin his pro career however there was a stop, he committed to Michigan State that commitment only lasted briefly. Later Bates would reclassify and then pledge to Penny Hardaway and his Memphis Tigers. At Memphis Bates got off to a great early season start and then BAM, it was as if a lid was placed on the basket as he took and missed shot after shot after shot.

In his latest game against Alabama Bates played but 15 minutes, he scored 7 points while shooting 16.7% from the floor. Overall, he is shooting 37.4% and 10.8 points per game certainly numbers expected to be higher. There are issues to consider which has been noted, Bates should be a senior in high school, there still is time for him to adjust to the collegiate game. He is no longer a starter which might lessen the anxiety on him to perform at a high skill level. We continue to believe the reports on Bates potential when he was still in high school. Scouts said “He (Bates) would be ready for the NBA by his senior year of high school.” Now hurt, the season that began so well has now hit a speed bump.

I cannot do this justice

If you are a certain age the name Bernard King might not be familiar to you. Recently a video was brought to my attention, it’s available on YouTube so perhaps you can check it out. Because I don’t own the video or didn’t originate it, I cannot supply it for you. This is an account of the King of the Garden Bernard King; you thought the king might have been Willis Reed or Patrick Ewing. Most only remember King from his tenure with the Knicks he played for the Nets, briefly for the Jazz along with the Warriors.

In brief during the video King describes how he divided the floor into zones for his shot choice, listening to the Hall of Fame small forward the confidence in his shooting ability comes across brilliantly all these years later as a 65-year-old. “I have 9 spots on each side, you can only defend me in 5 ways!” Don’t you find it odd apart from Walt Frazier and Alan Houston few Knicks players are associated with the franchise, it would seem the Knicks could find employment for New York born and raised Bernard King.

No, not that Michael this one

This Michael’s career overlapped that of the other Michael however his last name is different. He is Michael Cooper and back in the day he was one of the stars of the Showtime Lakers and a key to their success. The most points scored in a season by this Michael was 11.9 points a game in the 1981 NBA season. In 873 games he was an 8.9 point per game scorer, not much for this 6-foot 5 inch slender all-everything athlete. It was his defense which made him a star in fact Cooper was often the first reserve to enter the game for the Lakers.

Larry Bird was reported to have said nobody in the NBA defended him like Cooper. He and Magic Johnson would often have two or more “Coop-A-Loops” during a game. Cooper’s great leaping ability would see him at the rim to jam a lob pass from Magic. Coop as he was nicknamed was one of the few players to spend his entire career with one team, from 1978-1991 he performed invaluable service for the Lakers. 5 times NBA Champion, Defensive Player of the Year (1987) and 5 times All Defensive First Team and 3 times All Defensive Second Team. Do you see a common theme here, defensive specialist? Cooper finished his playing career in Italy and then moved into the coaching ranks.