Published Monday thru Friday    

Basketball from a fans perspective

Part B

Game 2 proved quite interesting to me; the Heat got up off the floor after being slapped around in Game 1. The Heat won a hard-fought victory 111-108 despite the mile high Denver altitude. Although Kevin Love only scored 6 points, he certainly was a key to the Heat victory pulling down 10 points and playing tough defense. Truth is Love was the only starter in single figures, the other starters played improved defense over Game 1. The Joker came to play with 41 points and 11 rebounds but Jamal Murray’s 18 points looked good but he was somewhat ineffective at times.

It wasn’t Murray alone, Michael Porter Jr. only scored 5 points as well. Certainly a key to the Heat victor was the team’s 3-point shooting, it was a blistering 48.6% from the floor. In addition to the shooting the Heat played improved defense over what was played in Game 1. Although I predicted the Nuggets to win in 6 games, I’m not so confident in the number nor the fact the Nuggets would win. We now head to South Beach for the Game 3 match. Nugget coach Mike Malone might have been outcoached in this game by Erik Spoelstra. Bottom line, the home team came out flat for some strange reason in addition they failed at times to play adequate defense.

NBA Draft

Thursday June 22 at 7:00 p.m. Central Time begins again the annual NBA Draft. I can inform you ahead of time the first pick will be Victor Wembanyama the 19-year-old French youngster. Everybody and their siblings are well aware the Spurs will pick Wemby, if the Spurs don’t choose him then who? That’s another story for another time, place and space…what about this draft? It’s difficult to access a draft, most often we must wait two or three years from the date however on the surface 2023 appears deep. In this draft there might be help for all NBA teams at least through the first 20 or so picks.

Beyond Wemby who is picked 2 through maybe 10 is unclear weeks ahead of the draft. NBA teams are inviting prospective draft choices into their facilities for workouts but even that is no clear indication of a team’s intent. That’s the exciting part of the hold process. My Lakers have invited a number of players to their facilities, most of which I’m only familiar with by name. Although many of the names have been utilized in trades the Lakers scouting staff always manage to uncover a relatively unknown talent. I’m a youth drive fan, my hope is always to keep the youngsters and integrate them into the lineup.

Convince Me

We read and hear two names bandied about who might become Lakers in the off season. Surprise, I am not in favor of either of them wearing Purple and Gold and I will explain. First up is Myles Turner, presently a member of the Pacers, he’s 6 foot 11 and 250 pounds and a capable center. Notice I said capable, I remember the problem Anthony Davis had with Andre Drummond at center. Turner appears to be a more talented version of Drummond, which on the surface says he might occupy space AD is accustomed to utilizing.

Scratch one upgrade for me…no Myles Turner addition. The second name is one we heard while the Lakers were still battling in the playoffs…Kyrie Irving. If we used a scale to measure, I’d definitely say Irving is a more talented player than Turner but then the dilemma. Remember back to the Russell Westbrook acquisition? LeBron James petitioned the front office to acquire Westbrook and we know how that turned out. If LBJ is in the middle of this so, be it let’s just say Larry Laker doesn’t like this potential move, scratch two no upgrade for me…no Kyrie Irving addition. This is what I believe needs to acquire through the draft or free agency add talent that hopefully doesn’t rock the boat. 

The forgotten man

In recent years Knick fans have not had a great deal of joy. Their teams have not had the success of those championship teams of the 1970’s. For unknown reasons the names of Reed, Clyde, Bradley and Monroe fall off the lips of Knick fans easily. Most don’t realize that the first championship (1970) contained a key member most have overlooked or maybe don’t remember. Dick Barnett is now 86-years old he was the shooting guard on that first championship team. That 1969-70 team won 60 games during the regular season and Barnett with his timely scoring and defense was certainly one of the keys. Barnett arrived in the NBA from Tennessee A&I (now Tennessee State) an HBCU school. It should be noted his Tennessee A&I team won three consecutive NAIA Championships.

Barnett was drafted by the Syracuse Nationals and played with them for two seasons before a brief time in the American Basketball League (1961-62), a court order by the Nats prevented him from further play however the league went out of business anyway. The 1962-63 season would see Barnett playing alongside Jerry West of the Lakers, in 1965-66 season Barnett was traded to the Knicks where he concluded his NBA career. His bio indicates he now has a Ph.D. in Education from Fordham University, Barnett retired in 2007 from St. John’s University where he taught Sports Management. He’s been enshrined in the College Basketball Hall of Fame, Dick Barnett a name from the past Knick fans especially should take note.

Bits n Pieces 

Mizzou’s Kobe Brown is remaining in the NBA Draft, that’s good for him not so good for the program. Remaining in place he must have been assured by someone or somebody he is going to be drafted. That’s the good, the bad is Mizzou loses one of the best players it’s had in quite a number of years. The transition year between Martin leaving and Gates arriving could have been a disaster. Thanks to Kobe Brown the first season under a new bench coach was uplifting. As Mizzou Nation might say thanks very much and good luck Kobe in this new quest.

It would appear Celtic coach Joe Mazzulla has a job for now. Reports had been circulating for a few weeks that the coach might be on the hot seat based on the play of the Celtics. Needless to say that appears to be incorrect. On Friday Brad Stevens announced to the world Mazzulla would return and head the team in the fall. Part of the reason there was speculation regarding Mazzulla has to do with time. Coaches are given less and less time to lead their teams for NBA play. We can look no further than two teams winning an NBA Championship and fired within three days.

Frank Vogel has a new job; he’s been hired as head coach by the Suns. Vogel replaces Monty Williams who was fired after the Suns playoff loss. A 5-year contract will be given to the long-time veteran coach, after being fired by the Lakers Vogel was on the sidelines for a year before taking on this job. This becomes his 4^th hire having served as head coach with the Magic, Pacers and Lakers and now the Suns. Vogel will forever be remembered by this member of Laker Nation; he was able to lead them to the 2020 NBA Championship. I hope he does well in Phoenix except against my Lakers.