Basketball from a fans perspective

What’s left

We began the 2021-22 NBA season with 30 teams in contention for the championship. In truth there were only 8-10 teams we might have seen as legitimate contenders for a ring. We are now down to four, four teams remain to decide who wins it all. In the west we have the Warriors-Mavs. In the east the Celtics and Heat will face one another. The defending champion Bucks were eliminated so no repeat championship was forthcoming. As for the combatants in front of us…huge questions remain. The season is far from over as noted with much to be decided. 

The question for you, have we moved on from the LeBron/Durant/Curry age in the NBA? Are we now experiencing the Morant/Antetokounmpo/Doncic age without us barely acknowledging it or maybe realizing its here? Has there been a changing of the old guard to an extent? Sure, the Bucks and Antetokounmpo have been eliminated from playoff contention, but he returns next season a youthful 27-years of age. We can make the same statement about Morant; the Grizzlies have been eliminated too however Morant will return next season at 23 years old. Can the upset minded Mavs prevail once again, or will the veteran Warriors come forth and win the Western Conference again? 

As for the other series on the surface it appears the Heat are a defensive juggernaut. Sure, Jimmy Butler scores points in buckets, but did you notice the Victor Oladipo sighting? The Celtics led by Jason Tatum have exceeded the expectations of most, this entire run is certainly influenced by first-year coach Ime Udoka. The coach deserves a round of applause as he’s guided these Celtics to the conference championship round. I was hesitate but picked the Celtics and Mavs winner, this time I am unsure who wins. The hope is always for a competitive series and may the best team win.

The window has closed

No championship ring means just that, it fails to measure the contributions made during an outstanding NBA career. That is the lament of Suns point guard Chris Paul, Hall of Fame career but possible retirement without winning the top prize, an NBA Championship. You didn’t miss any news update as this is written Paul’s yet to announce his retirement. Paul just turned 37 and for the season and great portion of the playoffs was a 30 something on the court. Similar to LeBron the best athlete cannot continue to play at a high skill level and that might be the case for Paul.

We certainly are not ready to kick Paul out the door however there is no expectation he will continue play at an All-Star, All-NBA level next season or maybe the one after. Whatever remains in his tank we’ll try and enjoy it as much as we can. IF THERE IS NO NBA CHAMPION in his future that’s okay too. Question, why must a stellar NBA career be measured in that manner? It fails to acknowledge a sizable number of outstanding players never made it as NBA Champions however they are still enshrined in the Naismith and College Basketball Hall of Fame. Sometimes it’s my belief we place far too much emphasis on winning a championship rather than a stellar NBA career. Just my thoughts you have my permission to disagree.

I’m okay…now

By now Sixer fans have settled down, injured Joel Embiid and the former James Harden lost the series. Reports have circulated for the last week or so among the Laker coaching candidates is Doc Rivers. My wife often will call with this message, “I’m going to stop for something to eat for dinner, what do you want.” I then provide her a list of food I don’t want. This is my case with the Laker coaching search; it is far easier to inform you who I don’t want. At the top of my list of potential coaches on my list is Doc Rivers. Rivers had two consecutive seasons to lead the Sixers into the championship round and has failed. “Larry you are wrong, Doc won a championship with the Celtics in 2008 what about that?”

I have no method to prove the following statement, the Celtics that year was a perfect storm for Rivers what about later. From 2013-2020 Doc was head coach of the Clippers, despite the fact of having Chris Paul, a young Blake Griffin along with DeAndre Jordan and a legion of talent never discovered a method to advance in the playoffs. They were regular season winners; the playoffs was a far different matter. Three times the Clippers were losers in the conference semi-finals, three times they lost in the first round and one season they missed the playoffs. On Friday Daryl Morey president of operations went on record, “Doc Rivers will return next season for a third year with the franchise. I just think he’s a great coach.” Good for you, so unless there is a resignation Doc remains in Philly and I’m okay…now.

A.I.

“We sitting in here—I’m supposed to be the franchise player, and we in here talking about practice. I mean, listen: We taking about practice. Not a game. Not a game. Not a game. We Philly and I’m okay…now. We talking about practice. Not a game. Not the game that I go out there and die for and play every game like it’s my last. Not the game. We talking about practice, man.” If you are a follower of the NBA game, you are aware the rant you just read belongs to former NBA player Allen Iverson. When A.I. played for the Sixers the press conference speech has lasted far beyond the years of his play, what exactly is the background?

The question came up because Iverson’s dedication to the game was in question and the question set him off on this well publicized tirade. Until recently most (including this writer) had no idea Iverson was dealing with a genuine problem. The mikes shut off at this point, but Iverson continued which was lost to history. “I’m upset for one reason: Cause I’m in here. I lost. I lost my best friend. I lost him, and I lost this year. Everything is just going downhill for me, as far as just that. You know, as far as my life. And then I’m dealing with this. My best friend is dead. And we lost. And this what I have to go through for the rest of the summer until the season is all over again.” His friend had been murdered and the weight of that death plus the pressure of NBA play simply overwhelmed him. We discussed the mental health issues of athletes, and they are just as real for us as they are for Allen Iverson.