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Basketball from a fans perspective

They fooled me

The final score read Nuggets 132 Lakers 126; this certainly was not the outcome I expected. In a perfect world the Lakers win a narrow victory over the Nuggets the score would be 90-85, after all the Nuggets and Lakers were tied for first place in playoff team defense. Did I base my pre-thought view on the numbers rather than the human aspects? If we check out the score, we had an ole skool 1980’s playoff shootout certainly something rare in the 21^st Century. Was it the altitude (Denver 5,276 feet), the Jokic’ factor or something else?

If you remember the other day, I wrote my belief this would be a tight series, I said my preference would be a Laker win. At the same time…let me explain it in this manner. A co-worker asked me prior to the game what I believed would occur and this was my answer. I compared the playoff series to a ladder, every rung climbing the “ladder” would be more and more difficult. It was the Wolves, then the Grizzlies and now the Nuggets. This I know for sure; the Lakers must figure out a method to slow, notice I didn’t say STOP The Joker if they expect to win the series. We shall see what prevails this evening whether it’s a Laker or Nuggets win.

Bits n Pieces 

Nostalgic arenas exist all over the nation, Butler University’s Hinkle Fieldhouse is the first one that comes to mind. The Palestra in Philadelphia could also be included in the count. How about Swinney Gym in Kansas City, not familiar with the building? Swinney was built in 1941 and seats 1,500 for basketball which makes it the smallest in the Summit League. Municipal Auditorium (opened in 1935) in downtown Kansas City has also served as home alone with other arenas throughout the metro. Evidently the administration for the University of MO-Kansas City has a desire to return all basketball games alone with other events onto the campus. It was announced on Monday a plan while just in the talking stage a 5,000-seat arena for basketball is planned for the near future.

What’s your definition of a Big Man, I pose the question based on an account I read? The article indicated Mizzou was looking for a post player to add to its roster. Among several names listed is one who measured 6 foot 9 in height. Consider this fact, I’m nowhere close to 6 feet in height so you could say I have height envy, that is not the case. For me a Big Man must stand at the very least 6 foot 11, the weight is not critical because a trainer could aid them in carbon consumption. So that’s my view, if yours is different that’s okay, this is not a debatable issue.

From France comes this statement…” I’m trying to win a ring ASAP, so be ready.” Those are the words of 19-year-old Victor Wembanyama interviewed immediately after the draft lottery. Of course we might expect that type of talk from a teen, it’s not just bravado though Wembanyama has been a professional player for at least a couple of years. In any event there certainly must be excitement in San Antonio based on the lottery results. A television news report indicated the Spurs had to close down their season ticket line for a period due to being overwhelmed with fans wanting to purchase season tickets. 

Former WNBA player and NBA assistant coach Becky Hammon made her point clear the other day. If she was a man the hiring process would be quite different than what exists at present. It’s Hammons contention NBA teams are unwilling to announce her name as the next head coach (You name the team as head coach). Guess what, she is correct. For those who say there are male coaches for woman’s college basketball. There have been in the past and up to the present-day male coaches in the WNBA. 

If I owned a team, I would not hesitate to hire Hammon in the role, she’s got all the credentials required except one…she’s a girl. It’s going to be a time before a female is hired as a head coach in the NBA, it’s the cultural. We still think of the game in a masculine manner although a number of outstanding female coaches have come before us in the past and present day. The mythical she will be hired one day, I’m just unsure of the team or the time.

I could be the dinosaur

From my childhood up to the present day I’ve never laughed at an injury. If there was a key player missing due to injury, I simply said to myself too bad. I never remember being happy when a team was absent a key player. This short diatribe is based on comments made by Stephen A. Smith and the apparent happy time of Shaq and Charles Barkley. The main reason I question my status is based on the number of fan letters I read. In the case of the TNT crew most of the writers defended the duo and claimed the blow Anthony Davis received to the head was not that bad.

I would like some of those folks who believe the injury was not “that bad” to volunteer allowing someone (like me) to whack them upside the head. It’s not occurred often, however there have been times in my life I was unsteady, this was due to experiencing dizziness. I would guess the Laker medical staff believe it was important to provide AD with a wheelchair over allowing him to walk to the locker room. If you’ve read this blog any length of time you are aware I’ve had issues with SAS and Barkley over time. It would appear I am forced to add Shaquille O’Neal to my list.