Basketball from a fans perspective

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You don’t say

Recently it was brought to our attention Ben Wallace is in the Naismith Hall of Fame, he went undrafted. Wallace played college basketball, but it was the NBA where he distinguished himself. Not too unusual a number of players have managed NBA careers without being drafted. This one is certainly unusual, but a further explanation unfolds, an athlete playing Division I basketball with no high school play in his past. That is the case for Ken Olewiler who will begin play this fall at New Mexico State as a walk-on athlete.

The account is not quite as impossible as it might first seem. According to an account there was a basketball background, the 6 foot 4 Olewiler played JV for three years but didn’t play his senior year due to a transfer issue. We are further informed he was an AAU player throughout his high school years and played at a Division II school for a season. Similar to many Olewiler believed he was more skilled hence the transfer to NMSU. So never say never, anything is possible. 

In his image?

It appears Danny Ainge is re-making the Utah Jazz in his “own” image. The first move might be that of long-time coach Quin Snyder, he resigned but possibly forced out of his job. The next move was trading perennial All-Star Rudy Gobert to the Wolves. In a holding pattern is All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell who is waiting in the wings to be traded. These are the series of events over the last year, June 2, 2021, Ainge announced his retirement from the Celtics. Ainge announced Brad Stevens would take over in his place as president of basketball operations for the Celtics. Six months later December 2021 Ainge was hired as CEO of basketball operations for the Jazz.

As you can see by the dates Ainge took over operations after the 2021-22 season had started, from this December date up to the June resignation (or firing) of Snyder, Ainge apparently made moves he believed needed to occur. Later during the free agent period Gobert was traded, roughly from that point up to this account Mitchell’s name has been mentioned in a multitude of possible trades. Whether Mitchell returns or not has yet to be determined. With the moves covered including the hire of a new coach we can see the Jazz have been molded in the manner Ainge sees proper. As for the future success that’s a matter of production on the court. We are unsure if there will be a repeat 49-33 record or anywhere close to it.

We understand but…

The Royals and Chiefs made news off the field, both teams envision new stadiums in their future. These moves might cause catastrophe problems in Kansas City Missouri. Elements across State Line have made overtures regarding the team move to the Kansas side of the metro, naturally civic elements on the Missouri side are not pleased although nothing is yet to be finalized. This move is light years different from that of the Royals, the baseball team wants a downtown stadium which is also understandable. The Power & Light District has revitalized downtown but the problem in building a new baseball stadium who pays? So far Royals owner John Sherman has expressed his desire for this new venue but as far as we know has pledged no dollars to any building effort.

The next portion we discuss contains accounts discussed much earlier, the Warriors Chase Center which opened in 2019 was constructed with no public funds, the Intuit Dome which is the future home of the Clippers is being built. No public funds are being expended in this project, now a new project has been announced. The Sixers are looking at a move from Wells Fargo center their home since 1996. A development plan was revealed for a new arena to possibly open in 2031-32, this new arena would be constructed with no public funds to be expended.

Do you see a similar theme in this account, three arenas one in operation one under construction and another planned for the future? Citizens have not (Chase Center & Intuit Dome) spent a dime of their tax money to date, the same story will occur in Philadelphia should this project be finalized. Back to Kansas City a moment, GEHA Arrowhead and Kaufmann Stadium are 50 years old. Each has been renovated over the years however team owners envision additional revenue should they move to a new location. Owners have a financial investment in their teams and that is understandable, on the other hand taxpayers have often been held hostage if they don’t succumb to owners demands for new buildings or additions. In neither account Chiefs nor Royals have we’ve heard a commitment from ownership indicating they were willing to pay all or any portion of construction costs.

???

Steph Curry is a future Hall of Fame member no doubt. Despite the statement he’s off base in my opinion on this subject, allow an explanation. According to him the Kevin Durant Warriors 2017 edition could have beaten the 2001 Lakers. Curry claimed that Warriors team could have beaten the Lakers, well almost anything is possible. Almost anything except beating the 2001 Lakers, think not…consider this fact. There is no way Draymond Green, or JaVale McGee would have stopped a dominating Shaq down low.

Perhaps Curry fails to take into consideration the game was different back then. Unlike now the game was inside-out rather than outside-in as now. That Warriors team certainly could shoot the 3 at a more efficient level than the Lakers but wait there is more. Klay Thompson contending with a young healthy Kobe Bryant, would they simply neutralize one another. Ron Harper arrived at the same time of coach Phil Jackson, Harper at the point would contend with the swift and efficient Curry. Several might not be aware or as a reminder to others Harper was a great defender. Certainly not as fast as Curry but maybe a better defender. Who guards Durant…that might be the one area the Warriors have a clear advantage?

Would it be enough of an advantage to beat those Lakers…I don’t think so? There is one area we cannot expound in great detail, the reserve units for both teams. How about team defense, the Warriors won their recent championship offensively and especially defending the ball. They might not have ever seen the type of stifling defense a Phil Jackson team can hang on its opponents. Sorry Mr. Curry many of us believe you are off course on this one. This comment was made which has no direct connection, despite this I believe it was worth closing the story. “Karl-Anthony Towns says he and teammate Anthony Edwards need to play at “Shaq and Kobe” level.” That just about says it all for me and others, I’m sure.