Basketball from a fans perspective

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Change

There will be no Sunday edition as preparations are made to begin publishing Off the Dribble on a Monday through Friday basis.   

Ring Night

Hope for the best was me at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday evening. My Lakers faced the NBA champion Warriors, in addition the game was in San Francisco, and it was ring night which certainly was beneficial to the home team. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Lakers, new coach and new system plus Russell Westbrook. Final score read Warriors 123 Lakers 109, this account is not complete because West Coast games are West Coast time, and my address is in the Central Time Zone.

I turned off my television shortly before half time with the Warriors in the lead. Other than losing the game the shooting was a disappointment. If we check the box score the shooting was not vastly different (43.0 Lakers 45.5 Warriors). The huge difference was from three with the Lakers shooting a paltry 25% while the Warriors were at 35.6%, the rebounding difference Warriors 48 and Lakers 47. Steph Curry led the way for the home team scoring 33 points assisted by Andrew Wiggins and Klay Thompson. LeBron James led for the Lakers with his 31 points, as for Westbrook his game was 19 points and 11 rebounds.

Must have been another slow news day

You probably don’t know Mark Bergin, neither did I prior to reading his latest story. Bergin works for WRAL in Durham North Carolina so that’s probably accounts for why it was written. He wrote “If the Lakers stumble at the beginning Mike Krzyzewski is waiting in retirement.” You remember coach K., don’t you, the longtime Duke coach. He of numerous NCAA Championships and a stellar winning record, in addition enshrinement in the Naismith Hall of Fame…that Krzyzewski. He retired at the end of last season after a 42-year career as head coach at Duke. The coach has accomplished about all there is in basketball except the NBA. In 2004 the Lakers did contact the coach regarding the head coaching position, and I guess that might be the basis for the Bergin story.

In any event coach K. turned them down. 2004 was 18 years ago, and the coach is now less than 6 months from turning 76 years of age. Should we believe the coach is going to suddenly unretire to take a job which would require a great deal of his time. In addition he’d be forced to move to Southern Cal at least for the season. I happen to believe Krzyzewski might want to remain at home being a grandfather and husband. For those who might believe this to be disparaging toward the coach you can forget that. There are a number of coaches past and present on my best ever list, coach K. is one of them. If we are discussing possible jobs, I could see him as a scout even part time. Coach K. could work the basketball hotbed of the Carolina’s and the eastern half of the nation. There certainly would be some travel but nothing like that of a head basketball coach in the NBA.

Two chances he signs with Mizzou…slim & none

Landren Blocker is a 6-foot 5-inch shooting guard from Mansfield Texas in the DFW metro. This 4-star prospect has several schools on his radar including Mizzou. Although from the Dallas metro he attends Little Rock Christian Academy in Little Rock. Blocker indicates he’s got a close connection with two assistant coaches one of them being David Nutt assistant at Mizzou.

Why do I think he’s headed somewhere other than Mizzou, his response to questions and answer session. Blocker has an older brother Landon who played at Sunrise Christian Academy in Wichita. The older brother a 6-foot 2-inch point guard is also a 4-star prospect, this sibling is headed to Arkansas to play for Eric Musselman. Although the younger brother claims he’s not made a decision this is his statement. “I’ve never had an opportunity to play on the same court as my brother.” I certainly ain’t saying he's headed to Arkansas too but its highly likely based on his statement. 

I wish Kenny and Shaq would explain

Last season Charles Barkley complained loudly in print media about the number of times Laker games were on television. I cannot give you a count as this is written however if we include NBA TV in the mix, they were seen a great number of times. I would be among the first to admit the Lakers were not very good last season despite having LeBron James on the roster. I understand the WHY they were on television so often they were/are the LAKERS.

Despite what Barkley and maybe others think the Lakers are NBA royalty and the networks (ABC/ESPN & TNT) want them broadcast over the airways. The Lakers and Celtics are in the same boat, each team has 17 NBA championship trophy’s about. As further proof I offer the NBA’s kick off games on Tuesday, who was on Tuesday evening, it was the Sixers-Celtics and Lakers-Warriors? I wish Kenny and Shaq would explain to the Chuckster what NBA royalty is. Despite the fact it appears the television analyst has a problem with the Lakers, both teams the Lakers and Celtics) are NBA sovereigns.

Is this the year?

I didn’t realize it until I read the headline, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard are now in their 4^th year with the Clippers. The other team in Los Angeles is prepared to move to the upper echelon of the NBA, they intend to win the championship. Besides the two stars what about the others on the roster? They have Reggie Jackson at the point, Marcus Morris at the power forward and Ivica Zubac at center all capable talented players. Gifted point guard John Wall was added, due to injuries and personal issues Wall’s missed a considerable number of games over the past three seasons.

Wall took a buyout from the Rockets and decided to cast his fate with the Clippers. Can he return to All Star form while playing this season, we shall see. Veterans Nicholas Batum, Robert Covington and Norman Powell add depth to this team, are the Clippers prepared to battle the Warriors and Suns for Western Conference supremacy? They are certainly ready for the season; the only remaining question is the injury bug. We know there is nothing possible for anyone to avoid injuries but if they can remain healthy this might be the year. The year the Clippers emerge out of the Western Conference to contend for an NBA championship.