Basketball from a fans perspective   

Published Monday through Friday

A season of change

To date the boat containing the Brooklyn Nets ship is taking on water, the ship has not sunk and it’s unlikely to occur soon. The problem for them and their fans the 2021-22 NBA season has not turned out as first hoped. We are so focused on the up and down play of the Lakers most of the media has paid little attention to the plight of the Nets. As this is written the team is on an 8-game losing streak which is interesting based on history. An ESPN crawl indicated “No team has ever won an NBA Championship after suffering a 7-game losing streak.”

The Big 3 currently has only Kyrie Irving playing minutes, James Hardin and Kevin Durant both suffering injury. The point guard can only play road games unless New York City changes its vaccination policy. I just heard on ESPN’s Around the Horn KD is supposed to return in early March which is three weeks away as this is written. We are now hearing rumors the Nets are attempting to trade Hardin although management has denied the reports. For Hardin it’s about the money, at age 32 the Nets are uncomfortable paying him the money he might desire.

The experiment is over

Russell Westbrook needs to be gone; the experiment is over…it didn’t work. You might remember on Westbrook I’ve gone from cold to warm to finally cold again, you notice nowhere in that statement did I say hot! I mentioned early my reservations with adding Westbrook to the team. Somewhere around mid to late December I said something like “we need to give him time to adjust.” I wrote at age 32 (he’s since turned 33) this might be his last opportunity to win an NBA Championship, he would make the necessary changes (or so I believed). We arrive in early February, although the numbers look good there is a disconnect with his play.

As this is written Westbrook has 7.7 assists per game along with 4.6 turnovers which ties him for the second most in the NBA. There is an indication he is a defensive liability, in the team’s recent game against the Knicks he was benched in the OT. Westbrook’s never been a great defensive player however there is such a thing as playing team defense which appears lacking at times. Westbrook is an extremely talented player he just doesn’t fit the Lakers. I’m certainly not blaming him for all the Laker shortcomings this season there is plenty of blame to go around including that of the head coach. The difficulty as I see it Westbrook should have been the difference maker with AD and later LeBron missing for times this season. He’s been unable for the most part to adapt his game to teammates surrounding him.

Like father, like son…maybe

We’ve mentioned this in the past, but it might be worth a reminder. The Suns Devin Booker is following in the footsteps of his dad so to speak. Melvin Booker was enrolled at Mizzou, and a few might remember this guard who played from 1991-1994. In his senior year, his numbers read 18.1 points and 4.5 assists per game. He would shoot 50% from the floor and 41% from 3 that season as he led Mizzou to an undefeated conference season 14-0 record and an Elite Eight berth.

Melvin was all Big 8 Conference Selection in 1993 and 1994 and earned first team All-American recognition in 1994. There was a brief career in the NBA with the Rockets, Nuggets and Warriors. Son Devin has exceeded his dad already, Devin in his 6^th year as Suns shooting guard long ago proved how valued a prospect he was for the Suns. As for the father-son combo in this instance the sun (or son) has outshone the light of the dad. One thing for sure the son is a lights out shooter in the NBA and the dad was in college at Mizzou.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

No, this is not a review of the 1966 Italian-Western classic with Clint Eastwood as the man with no name. This is the 2021-22 college basketball season, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly let’s begin. The Good…athletes being allowed to transfer and become eligible immediately. The only instance that might create a problem in my view a transfer within the conference. NIL, name, image and likeness has allowed a few to earn income and retain their amateur status. The Bad…college teams continuing to search for greener pastures. Movement has often caused us to wonder, which conference are they in now?

College teams just like you and me are searching for a conference which brings about the greatest amount of revenue. Mizzou moved to the SEC strictly due to $$$. The Ugly…Must I continue to harp on the same issue, oh well? The NCAA continues to do what many of us consider a poor job of dispensing justice. There is a requirement for law enforcement to not be affiliated too closely with a program but that’s what appears often. In basketball it seems the same big-time programs are all most always in trouble with one violation after another. The NCAA makes a bold announcement and if the program is in a Power 5 conference this is what occurs. Justice is disseminated eventually to these programs however it is really, really S L O W! 

Construction update

The Clippers arena a.k.a. Intuit Dome has been under construction since the September 2021 groundbreaking ceremony. Building the $1.8 billion arena should be finished in time for the start of the 2024-25 NBA season, that date coincides with the expiration of the Staples Center lease. As noted previously the Intuit Dome will accommodate 18,000 fans and it will have a concession innovation. How this process works out is yet to be fully detailed, but we are informed there is no requirement to stand in line. An attendee can select their food or drink and be able to return to their seat immediately.

How payment is made is unclear as this is written however this will certainly be clarified prior to the opening date. We mentioned earlier there will be a more than adequate number of rest rooms in the upper bowl portion of the arena. Owner Ballmer collaborating with architects was reported to be the driving force in the number of toilet facilities for the upper bowl. This move will prove beneficial for all tenants of Staples Center, the arena can undergo renovation easier with one less tenant. I know, the arena is not Staples anymore, but I refuse to refer to it by its new name.