Basketball from a fans perspective

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

It’s a quarter-by-quarter game

We are aware basketball games including those in the NBA are divided into quarters. These quarters can be the driving force leading to a win. The first two games of the NBA Finals has certainly driven that point home, one quarter in each game would prove vital and lead to the win. Sunday night the Warriors prevailed over the Celtics 107-88; the point spread was greater than it might appear. In the first game the Celtics secured a convincing 120-108 win over the Warriors, a scorching fourth quarter (40 points) allowed for the win.

Game two was different however the third quarter (35 points) would prove devastating for the Celtics and allowed the Warriors win. This is interesting because it appears both teams are probably evenly matched, one of the teams imposed it’s will over the other with a stout defense and prolific shooting. Wednesday evening will see them matched against one another this time in Boston. Who wins Game three, I have no idea however expect a highly competitive game by both teams? After splitting the series in San Francisco will the home team prevail in Boston? Despite the convincing win by the Warriors Klay Thompson had a poor shooting game. This we believe, the Warriors cannot win this Finals without an effective shooting Thompson.

Assembling his staff

Darvin Ham is in the process of assembling his staff, Laker management granted him permission to build his staff without input from anyone in the front office. He’s yet to be confirmed although its being reported former Piston Rasheed Wallace (and a former Ham teammate) will join the staff soon. There are two from Frank Vogel’s staff that will be retained, they are Phil Handy and Quinton Crawford. So that’s only three assistants if Wallace is brought on board. Our best guess there will be at least two more assistants hired. One of the concessions made to Ham, no interference from either Kurt Rambis or his wife. We’d read reports the Rambis family had the ear of owner Jeanie Buss. We have no idea if this might have been a contributing factor in Vogel being fired. Will keep you posted as additions or changes are made.

Bits n Pieces

In a surprise move Quin Snyder is out as Jazz coach after 8 seasons. At the time rumors began circulating about the Laker job he made it clear that was not the direction he was headed. Now after the Lakers have their man Snyder announces he is leaving. The word surprise at the beginning of this account, perhaps strange might be the more appropriate word to use.

Please no more Mike D’Antoni for us we are begging. The former coach of the ________ you can fill in the blank because he’s been head coach of practically every NBA team. Oh, there’s one place he’s not been in all his coaching moves, the NBA Finals. He is reported to be meeting with Michael Jordan regarding the Hornets coaching vacancy. This is not a “I hate D’Antoni” rant, there is a belief on my part there is an assistant somewhere that should be given the opportunity to become a head coach.

It's now rather than later for Tyrese Proctor, the 6-foot 4 170-pound point guard is headed for Duke in the fall. Proctor was originally projected in the Class of 2023 but has reclassified. The youngster is from Australia and is rated a 4-star prospect, he was able to hone his skill at the NBA Academy Africa in Senegal. The recruiting is still there for Duke, our only question will Jon Scheyer’s X’s and O’s match those of his predecessor Coach K.?

I love me some Pat Riley, always have going back to his Lakers days. A reporter asked him about retirement, and this was him comment. “I’m 77 years old and right now I can do more pushups than you”, we have no idea the age of the questioner but the response by Riley is priceless. There is no such thing as a retirement number you continue to do what you love as long as you are able.

Somebody is…  

This for that segment of the populace who are always claiming “Nobody is watching the NBA.” It’s clear to me they must be trying to convince themselves of this fact. We have news for them, never ever assume because you don’t like SOMEONE or SOMETHING everyone shares your worldview. Even funnier the only place we see these letters are generally in NBA publications or websites. My first thought, “This is an NBA website (publication), if you hate the NBA as much as you claim WHY are you here?

You had to take an extra step to arrive here.” An example might be NHL hockey, I read few stories about the sport for one reason. If I’m reading ESPN.com or Yahoo.com it’s the NBA I’m reading…the same for broadcast television. I watch 0 hockey news; I might catch a score on SportsCenter but that’s by accident. My feeling on hockey is neutral, I don’t hate, nor do I love it…it is a sport played for those fans who love it. Just because I don’t follow a sport or like something fails to consider there are others who might have a different view.