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Basketball from a fans perspective

The return of Coach K.

He’s not returning to Duke nor the NBA as a head coach. He is coming out of retirement; he will take on the role of special advisor to basketball operations for the NBA. Exactly what his duties entail are unknown at this time, this was part of the announcement. Coach K. will be visible on Tuesday at the NBA Draft Lottery. I wondered how long he would remain retired, as we can see just a little more than a year. In any event good luck in your new job as special advisor Coach K.

Another legend gone

On Tuesday we received word legendary coach Denny Crum died at the age of 86. He is so closely associated with Louisville basketball that I had to check his bio. Crum served as head coach for freshman at UCLA and at Los Angeles Pierce Junior College. Those jobs were held long before he was hired at Louisville in 1971, he won 2 NCAA Championships (1980, 1986) while head man at the school. There were numerous other regular and post-season games won by Crum’s teams. His record at Louisville 675 wins versus 295 losses. Crum was enshrined in the Naismith and College Basketball Hall of Fame. It should also be of note during his time at Louisville a number of NBA players would emerge from the school. Denny Crum, another basketball legend gone, R.I.P.

A decision made

By now you are aware of the homophobic slur uttered by longtime West Virginia coach Bob Huggins, he used the term twice during a recent radio interview. We don’t know if this was a “hot mike” or something else might have ensued but there is no doubt the voice heard was that of Huggins. The university was backed into a corner, what should their response be? Huggins made it simple for the school, he would accept whatever punishment was rendered.

Wednesday morning the university announced Huggins would be suspended for the first three games of the season and his salary reduced by $1 million, in addition he will be required to attend sensitivity training. Do I believe Huggins should have been fired, that’s an emphatic no. Do I believe the suspension and salary reduction was enough punishment, again a no. The suspension should have been much longer, 10-15 games. The final question I’d like to pose, how much sensitivity training can be gained by a 69-year old man?

Sweetwater

April 2023 a biopic of Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton was made available on Prime Video and Tubi TV. Clifton was born October 13, 1922, in England Arkansas, his family would later move to Chicago where he tasted success in basketball and baseball. Graduating high school in 1942 he served three years in the Army before returning at the conclusion of World War II. Professionally Clifton would play for the New York Rens and later the Harlem Globetrotters. In May 1950 he would become the second African American player in the NBA when he signed a contract with the Knicks,

Clifton would play for the Knicks until 1957, he would be traded to the Pistons and concluded his career at the end of the 1958 season. If you check Clifton’s numbers are rather average however he is featured in a film due to him being an NBA groundbreaker. As for the nickname Sweetwater, it dates back to his childhood. Clifton drank a great deal of soda pop while growing up hence he was given the name Sweetwater. His legacy continued after retirement in a number of civic areas not necessarily associated with sports. In 1990 Clifton died at the age of 67, in 2014 he was enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame as a contributor. I haven’t seen his story portrayed on film yet but believe based on the history worth your time to view that’s why its mentioned here.

He’s got to prove himself…again

The college basketball world was celebrating the success of several first-year coaches, Mizzou’s Dennis Gates was among that number. Mizzou, after years without an NCAA appearance, managed to receive an invitation to post-season play. An early look toward the 2023-24 season indicates there is work to do, especially in the SEC. The usual suspects are in place Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee and Alabama and missing in pre-season assessments are the Mizzou Tigers. What did Mizzou accomplish this Gates first season, they managed to win 25 games and finished tied for 4^th in the SEC?  The wins led to them receiving an NCAA invite the first in like…I’m not counting it.

Mizzou beat Utah State to advance in the tournament before succumbing to Princeton 78-63. Once the season was over Gates and staff hit the recruiting/transfer portal. With a large portion of the offense (and defense) gone I have the same belief as this time last season. I have no idea what Mizzou basketball will be in the upcoming season, this part I do know. Dennis Gates can coach and he is able to secure talent allowing his teams to be competitive. The national guys are just that, in the SEC all they see is Kentucky, Arkansas and Alabama. Mizzou Nation expects a repeat of last season…no I believe they expect a better than last season finish. A first-place finish in the SEC regular season, a deep-deep run in the NCAA Tournament, I don’t believe we are asking for too much.

For (some) Laker fans

I read your letters on a daily basis, some of you are hatin’ on LeBron as if he did something to offend you. He is not, allow me to repeat that…he is not KOBE BRYANT. They are two very different individuals who happen to be great basketball players. Number 24 had ice water in his veins, he was never afraid to take the decisive shot. You criticize LeBron because he often defers his game to teammates. This small address is not going to help but the reason I’m writing this is because I’m late for the party.

I always acknowledged LeBron’s talent while he was a member of the Cavs and Heat but didn’t fully appreciate him until he became a Laker. Despite what you might believe LeBron is a winner, he might approach the game in a different manner from number 24 but he wants to win just as badly. Some of you even question whether number 6 should ever hang in the rafters at Crypto.com Arena. I say you are being shallow in your thought process; LeBron James is a generational talent despite the fact some of you don’t appreciate him.