Basketball from a fans perspective

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“Curiouser and Curiouser! “

The headline is a statement made by Alice in the classic novel Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland written by Lewis Carroll in 1865. It appears Russell Westbrook’s time with the Lakers has become to borrow the phrase curiouser and curiouser. I have personally gone back and forth on this player but finally believed new coach, new direction perhaps he stays. That is not the case intended according to Westbrook’s agent.

News broke he’s divorced his longtime agent; his agent used the term “irreconcilable differences” which certainly sounds like a divorce to me. The best course for Westbrook according to his former agent is for the player to remain with the Lakers and new coach Darvin Ham. It appears that is not the road Westbrook intends to travel, the caveat to this mess the possibility of adding Kyrie Irving which I certainly am opposed. What can I do if Irving comes on board, NOTHING? I have been a long-time member of Laker Nation; I didn’t want Dennis Rodman either.

Is 36 teams too many? 

When, not if NBA expansion begins, Seattle and perhaps Las Vegas will be at the front of the line for new franchises. The NBA would then consist of 32 teams but not for very long, 4-8 years later two additional teams will be added, and the league will increase to 34. 2-4 years after that two additional teams could arrive making a total of 36. Although cities like Louisville, Richmond and Nashville would certainly qualify based on population they would likely not be included in the second or third wave of expansion. What cities would be in a second wave, the NBA probably desires a Canadian franchise, that will either be a return to Vancouver or Montreal.

In the instance of both cities, they have lost professional teams however their large population base make them prime targets for NBA expansion. The second wave would place a franchise in Kansas City, yes, the Kings once called the city home and also left but that was then, this is now. The city sits smack dab in the middle of the nation with the nearest NBA team some 345 road miles from Kansas City. The city is being mentioned in NBA circles however not in the same manner of Seattle or Vegas.

The city nearest KC with an NBA team is Oklahoma City, the furthest driving distance might be Chicago about 510 miles while Memphis and Minnesota are 400+ miles away. The city has the NFL Chiefs, baseball Royals and Sporting Kansas City Soccer so there is a sports base here. There is no right away however it’s my belief a Canadian franchise and one in Kansas City will be added making for 34 teams, which is the second wave expansion. The third wave would add Montreal (or Vancouver) plus Pittsburgh maybe which makes the NBA a 36-team league. Although the number of teams is even the geography isn’t, at least three conferences must contain 6 teams for a time. So, the expansion question is resolved, what do you think?

No love

Mizzou basketball gets no love from ESPN period, as proof we offer this glimpse of a recent story featuring LSU’s Matt McMahon. It was titled; “How LSU’s Matt McMahon assembled a roster from scratch in 47 days.” You remember the story; coach Will Wade was let go by the school because of improprieties with his basketball program. Further north in the State of Missouri coach Cuonzo Martin was relieved of his duties due to lack of wins.

With Martin’s departure came a host of transfers from the program to other destinations. Coach Dennis Gates when hired had to hit the ground running with only 3 roster members remaining. We did not count the days however Mizzou will head into the 2022-23 season with a complete roster as well. Is LSU better than Mizzou, we don’t know but figure this one out. McMahon arrives at LSU from Murray State, Gates from Cleveland State, both arriving from mid-major programs. To borrow the Rodney Dangerfield line, Mizzou basketball “don’t get no respect” even on the occasion of a positive news story.

I hate this

I realize “hate” is a strong word, maybe it would be better if I stated a strong dislike. We read stories in Yahoo.com NBA teams tanking with the intent of drafting a particular player(s). That’s what is pending for the 2023 draft, we realize we just completed the 2022 version. His name is Víctor Wembanyama, and he stands 7 foot 3 and a thin 209 pounds (think Chet Holmgren). The youngster is described as a point-forward and he’s got a 7-foot 9-inch wingspan.

What do the mock drafts think of him since few of us have seen him in action? The first is nbadraftroom.com which places Wembanyama as the top pick in 2023, nbadraft.net has him at two, 247sports.com places him at number one. This youngster turned 18 this past January and will be eligible next June for the 2023 NBA draft as an international player. Home for Wembanyama is Le Chesney, a city in a Paris suburb. So, we are left with the question posed by Yahoo Sports, will there be a small number of NBA teams who lose on purpose in order to draft Wembanyama? In closing it should be of note Wembanyama signed a two-year contract with the Metropolitans 92 of the Pro A in June.