Published Monday thru Friday   

Basketball from a fans perspective

“Some say you have to use your best five players, but I found out you win

with the five that fit together best as a team”

Red Auerbach 

It’s only an exhibition

Major universities schedule exhibition games as a tune up for the basketball season beginning in November. The news over the weekend was a little interesting to Queens NY and Lawrence Kansas. Pace University beat St. John’s 63-59. I can’t speak for you but I’d never heard of Pace, I was forced to Google the school to uncover information on it. Pace has three campus locations one being in New York City, by the way Pace is a Division II school. Kansas had Illinois on the schedule as a benefit for the devastating fire in Maui Hawaii. In Champaign Illinois the home team beat Kansas 82-79, most surprising here was the ranking. Headed into the season Kansas is ranked number one in most pre-season polls. I guess we can say both programs were prepping for the season.

Remember where you heard it first 

Your welcome, I appreciate those of you acknowledging where you first heard the forecast. I’m unsure what day or date it was, sometime in the recent past after Kansas was eliminated and I believe only Duke and UConn remained. I projected the top prospect in the Class of 2024 Cooper Flagg would likely choose to attend Duke. Flagg originally intended to make his choice known over the weekend. The tragic events in his home State of Maine delayed his announcement. Monday morning Flagg made it official, he is committing to the Duke Blue Devils.

I’m going to nickname him “The Prince of Rucker Park” for one reason alone. This 16-year-old played at the basketball mecca of Rucker Park in Harlem this past summer. It was reported Flagg wowed the gathering, consider this is the same court many playground and NBA legends have played over the decades. Anytime an athlete moves from one level to another we believe the talent is there although it must be first proven. As for his youthful age, Flagg reclassified into the Class of 2024. Guess what, although he’s played 0 minutes of college basketball nbadraft.net projects the 6 foot 8 Flagg the top pick in the 2025 NBA draft.

What have you won

I wasn’t sure where this came from, it kinda dropped out of the sky. Former NBA player and coach George Karl post on social media. “Real Basketball Fans don’t use the Bubble for comps,” Karl posted this regarding LeBron James and the Lakers. Of course Karl was referring to the Lakers 2020 NBA Championship won in the Bubble. I’ve got news for Karl and anyone else, in 10 or 20 years that finals will be noted in the same manner as any other. While we are discussing NBA I wonder how many Karl’s won.

Even more interesting Karl provides the basis for his conclusion which really doesn’t make any sense. He discounts the championships won before the NBA/ABA merger and discounts the talent of Magic/Kareem/Kobe/Shaq as if it was easy due to the talent. In conclusion I will ask the question again, how many? Karl’s had a number of coaching stops over his career Cleveland, Golden State, Seattle, Milwaukee, Denver and Sacramento. In 1996 his Sonics team lost to the Michael Jordan Bulls in the NBA Finals, that’s it. None of Karl’s other teams managed to play for all the marbles.

The Return     

Since I’m ole skool I am okay with the Adam Silver announcement, the NBA All Star Game will return to its traditional roots. East versus West, the game will be divided into four 12-minute quarters and customary scoring. I realize many of the NBA’s more youthful fans loved the format, for me the game became unwatchable. The Friday night and Saturday events were still on my radar and I continued to enjoy the skills competition and slam dunk contest. The actual truth is that I began skipping the game since the new format was adopted. In 2024 there will be no more “drafting of players”, I don’t want to see Jimmy Butler and LeBron as teammates or Karl-Anthony Towns and Joel Embiid. If you were a fan of the All-Star Game that’s been utilized the last few years I’m sorry, it just didn’t work for me and maybe there were others who agree with me.

Rookie of the Year  

A website I’d never read before, gimmesports.com contained an interesting piece. It projected Chet Holmgren not Victor Wembanyama as 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year. This is interesting on several levels the first and probably most significant to me…weight. All last year we read and heard how skinny Holmgren is, of course this year its Wembanyama and him being too skinny as well. As for Holmgren he was injured during Summer League play and was forced to miss the 2022-23 NBA season. The naysayers emerged in droves, “See I told you he was too skinny.”

That was then, this is now for Holmgren as the 2023-24 NBA season begins. Last year it was reported that the 7-foot 1 youngster weighed 195 pounds, the ESPN NBA page report list Holmgren at 208 pounds this season. Similar to his counterpart in San Antonio I believe both will have good careers if they are able to avoid the injury bug. Holmgren and Wembanyama at an earlier period would have come into the NBA as post players. Is the position they play really that important, I say an emphatic NO? The key is Holmgren (and Wembanyama) are competitive players. As long as they continue at that level I believe both will be okay.

Published Monday thru Friday   

Basketball from a fans perspective

"If you´re afraid to fail, then you´re probably going to fail."

Kobe Bryant

NAIA basketball

The basketball world has exploded in recent years for several reasons. One of the chief explanations is the increasing amount of television coverage mainly due to cable and satellite. Once it was only over the air CBS broadcasts however in recent years it’s been ESPN, Fox Sports, CBS Sports Net and other outlets. In this maze of coverage NAIA basketball fails to hold the prestige it once did. NAIA basketball was once a major contributor of NBA talent but that pipeline no longer exists.

Change occurred for a variety of reasons the most telling motive the desire for a school to play Division I or II basketball. As an example Louisville and Missouri State (now D-I) once played an NAIA schedule. The national championship tournament held in Kansas City every year was established by Dr. James A. Naismith who originated the game. The tournament held in March brings together the best NAIA basketball programs in the nation. With that said let’s check out the Top 5 schools in the pre-season poll and their won-loss record from last season:

1. College of Idaho 36-1

2. Grace (Ind.) 31-3

3. Arizona Christian 27-6

4. Langston (Okla.) 31-2

5. Georgetown (Ky.) 24-4

The Thin Men

In addition to keeping up with my Lakers a goal this NBA season is to track the progress of the leagues two Thin Men. Friday night Spurs Thin Man Victor Wembanyama scored 21 points, along with 12 rebounds and 3 blocked shots. He accomplished these numbers in his game against the Houston Rockets, final score read in OT Spurs 126 Rockets 122. As for the game registered by the other Thin Man, Chet Holmgren he also was a winner on Friday evening. Holmgren had 16 points plus 13 rebounds and 7 blocked shots. He also aided the cause in the Thunders 108 to 105 victory over the Cavs.

The skeptics point toward the frame of Wemby and Holmgren claiming over the long haul they see difficulty ahead. As this is written they have only played two games, and what I’ve seen both have managed to hold their own. This is my contention, if Wemby and Holmgren had arrived in the NBA of the 1970’s or ‘80’s it might be totally different. The NBA even for post play is not as formidable as it once was. This is no prediction for future stardom for either however I believe both will be okay if they can avoid serious injury. Both have a clear advantage in one area whether at power forward or center, they have range with 3-point capability.

The good old days

I have a relative who often says, “Maybe the good old days weren’t so good.” That might indeed be the case however it’s my belief there are exceptions. This blog’s focus is basketball however it could be a discussion regarding any sport or celebrity. Social media has overwhelmed us as a society. As an example we have the LaVar Balls’ of the world, they use the institution of social media for their pulpit. Often the subject matter has “no guard rails”, Ball and Gilbert Arenas can and often say whatever they desire on podcasts weekly and sometimes daily.

I have no desire to point a finger at them alone, here’s another example. I’ve heard Laker Anthony Davis had been criticized in social media circles after the first game of the season. How do I know, LeBron James addressed it in a courtside interview. If you think I’m saying social media should be shut down forget that…that ship has already sailed. If you think I’m trying to inhibit someone’s ability to voice their opinion I ain’t saying that either. This is my belief, although social media has often broken news stories it’s not the news. Folks can continue to read it just consider it the view of an individual and often can be debated for its relevancy.

Remember him 

Should we assume Cooper Flagg is headed to Duke, there’s been no official announcement however there are photos which could be presented as evidence that’s where he is headed? Flagg posted photos of his family sporting Duke jerseys on Instagram after his recent visit. In one photo his mom Kelly who played basketball is seen wearing a number 32 Christian Laettner jersey. To my knowledge neither he nor family members have been spotted in UConn jerseys. Flagg will make a decision known this weekend, his choices are the defending UConn Huskies or Duke Blue Devils.

I informed you awhile back I have not been a betting person never have been. I would be comfortable placing a bet Flagg decides in favor of Duke for several reasons. This statement is pure speculation on my part, although Coach K. is retired Duke remains Duke. I know, UConn has an outstanding regular season and NCAA resume. Duke basketball still registers high appeal with basketball prospects despite the head coaching change. 

NOTE: The above was written days before the tragic events in Maine unfolded. These are the words of Flagg on X (Twitter): “All our focus should be on supporting the victims, their families and law enforcement”  

Published Monday thru Friday   

Basketball from a fans perspective

“I can dunk! I can dunk, and not just in NBA Live”

Chris Paul   

The Wemby report

I wanted to make sure I had an opportunity to witness Victor Wembanyama’s first regular season game. The bad news, the Spurs lost to the Mavs but it certainly wasn’t Wemby’s fault alone. The final score read Mavs 129 Spurs 119 as another Euro, Luka the Don displayed his growing talent. Luka led the way for his team with a triple-double…33 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. As for wunderkind Wemby his game in my view was okay, if that appears to be a negative comment that is not the case. Wemby missed rotations at times, in addition he picked up early foul trouble BUT.

Wemby finished with 15 points on 8 for 9 from the floor, he registered 5 TO’s. The morning box score indicates a lone block shot although the stats from the game indicated he registered 3. Coach Pop “I thought his maturity showed, even at a young age, where he came in the last seven minutes and just played.” I thought this was noteworthy, the NBA TV crew of Grant Hill and Sam Mitchell were also quite complimentary on the game Wemby played as he adjusts to the NBA.  Mitchell said “When the Rockets drafted me 7 foot 4 Ralph Sampson was on the roster, Wembanyama is more talented than Sampson.”

Bits n Pieces

LeBron James logged just 29 minutes in his team’s loss to the Nuggets. The limited amount of time on the court is the plan for number 23 Darvin Ham announced prior to the season start. If you remember the Laker coach wants Anthony Davis to take over the leadership role for the team. You might be aware LeBron said much the same thing over the summer so we know what the mindset is of the coach and number 23.    

A portion of this is from clutchpoints.com and is quite interesting. On Wednesday the Spurs coach Gregg Popovich will begin season 27 at the helm. According to the .com site over that space of time Pop’s faced 307 different head coaches. Only 4 coaches have been with their team 8 years, this is the most telling fact. “Some coaches have been fired after a winning season, some have been fired after making the playoffs and some were fired after winning Coach of the Year.”

Speaking of Duke, you say it’s no big deal replacing a legend. The legend of course is Duke’s Coach K. Coach Jon Scheyer has signed a 6-year contract extension. Scheyer’s first year at the helm saw his team finish the season with 27 wins. In most pre-season polls Duke is listed number two so great things are expected this upcoming season. In addition the recruiting looks real good for the Class of 2024 prospects.

The unicorn returns

Kristaps Porzingis returned to MSG on Wednesday evening for the first game of the season. The former Knick has certainly played at “The World’s Most Famous Arena” previously, he wore the visiting jersey of the Wizards and Mavs. This time Porzingis returned as a member of the hated Boston Celtics, this was different than the other visits. The MSG crowd was hostile every time Porzingis touched the basketball and he acknowledged after the game that was okay.

Sidebar note here, I’m unsure if this is correct however I believe Porzingis was the first player I remember the term unicorn being applied. Just what is a unicorn other than the mythical creature, for that I headed to the dictionary. “Something (or someone) unusual, rare, or unique?” Back to the game, the Porzingis contribution was certainly key to the 108-104 win over the Knicks. In his Celtic debut Porzingis scored 30 points along with 4 blocks and 8 rebounds the most point total in the team’s history for a first time Celtic, his plus/minus was +13.

 

 

Published Monday thru Friday   

Basketball from a fans perspective

“If you look up the definition of greatness in the dictionary, it will say Michael Jordan  

Elgin Baylor

“The dog ate my homework”

Well not quite although it was close, I was fully prepared to view the Nuggets-Lakers game on Tuesday. Seated comfortably in MY chair I watched as the defending champions jumped out in front of my Lakers. Then it occurred, somewhere in the middle of the second quarter my television screen went black and there was no sound. My first thought, “must be a network issue” when there was no picture two to three seconds or more later I did my usual. I began to check other channels, sure enough all contained black screens. I looked at my cable modem and most of the lights were out, oh boy there is a problem.

I called the cable company and the automated voice said, “_________customers are experiencing an outage and service should be restored by 9:00 p.m. (Central Time).” That became the end of my account of the game. Service was restored before the time I was given but it was too late for the Lakers by then. From my iPhone updates I believe they got the Nugget lead down to 7 points but eventually lost 119-107.  From the box score the Lakers gave up far too much defensively allowing the Nuggets to shoot 52.7% and 41.2% from three. I’m going to give the Nuggets their props, they beat my Lakers. If you live in Denver or maybe a Nuggets fan you can stop reading at this point. I hope you don’t expect the Nuggets to shoot like that the next time they face the Lakers.

I’m not hatin’

I believe an addendum was required based on my LaVar Ball account from yesterday. Listen, I will give the man his flowers now while he can smell them. He is to be congratulated from me, to train three son’s two of whom were drafted and playing in the NBA. It’s the other stuff that’s been a constant bother over the years. Folks use to say, “an empty wagon makes the most noise,” i.e. if you’ve got nothing to say don’t say it.

Over the years we’ve heard LaVar Ball disparage many past and present-day players. He’s done the same regarding the Lakers and their management. Almost always its followed up by “My son(s) is better than ___________” which often doesn’t compute. Is he starved for attention or is it something else, it certainly can’t be money. I can’t speak for the middle son but I would guess both NBA sons have taken care of mom and dad financially.  Is it attention he seeks no matter how negative it might be?

The real deal   

The NBA season has begun in earnest, allow me to run a few letters written to NBA websites over the years, they are quite interesting.

“Nobody is watching the NBA”

“When Michael Jordan retired I quit watching the Bulls”

“No need to turn the game on until the 4^th quarter”   

“I only watch the NBA playoffs, no need of following regular season games”

“The season is too long plus they play too many games.”

What I find most interesting, the letter writers all chose to contact an NBA.com site. It would seem to me a letter of the type would be more effective if sent to the offices of the NBA rather than to ESPN or Yahoo Sports.  

There is a trust factor

Once upon a time the NCAA ruled college sports with an iron fist. Whatever ruling they mandated that was it, teams complained loudly to their fans and the media but that was about it. Nothing changed, that was then, at a point in time we discovered the NCAA wasn’t quite as proper as it presented itself. The Kansas basketball fiasco figures into this account however there is more to the story. The NCAA presented evidence of what it believed were improprieties by a college program, there is at least one problem. Justice in the past was not always disseminated evenly for similar cases.

In the recent past Oklahoma State in basketball and Mizzou in football self-reported on irregularities with their sports teams yet both were hit with penalties. I have long maintained an organization needs to be in place to manage matters of policy and that’s been the problem. In the case of Kansas basketball they said the school was guilty but, “we can’t decide the degree of punishment, the issue will be turned over to an independent body for action.” Kansas claimed all along they did nothing wrong, based on the summation from last week evidently they didn’t. For me the question, how do you charge 5 Level 1 violations and then the offending party receives a slap on the wrist? I wonder if there is anyone besides those associated with the NCAA willing to defend the actions of this organization.

Published Monday thru Friday   

Basketball from a fans perspective

 

“Strong college basketball is great for the NBA”    

 

David Stern

“I don’t think he played a big role”

LaVar Ball has a big mouth, whatever comes up comes out whether it makes sense or not. Ball claims Phil Jackson played a very little role in the Bulls success while he coached them. The complete quote reads, “I don’t think he (Jackson) played a big role. I think they (Bulls) believed in him and let him do what they do.” Figure that statement out if you care but onward with this account. It’s really remarkable if you have a coach that’s great with X’s and O’s but is it a priority? The statement is made for several reasons, Jackson was magnificent in my view massaging egos and maintaining a close nit group of athletes…that was his job. As for the X’s and O’s for the most part that was Tex Winter’s job.

Massaging egos might be as important as the playbook, we can debate that. How about a check of the UCLA Bruins, the NCAA Tournament was different back then but it was still a minefield. UCLA managed to win 7 NCAA Tournaments in a row. Someone once said John Wooden was the perfect coach, anyone else might have messed it up. I have no desire to confuse the issue, a team whether its college or the NBA must have talented players. Those talented players must buy in to what the coaching staff is selling. Although I could find basketball examples I’m going to the NFL. All the championships won by the Patriots Tom Brady made a move to the Bucs and won there too. As for the Jackson guy he moved to the Lakers and won three consecutive NBA championships. We can debate the issues however we’ve got to agree LaVar Ball is quite an interesting guy.

He made it

Former Mizzou guard D’Moi Hodge made the final cut. Number 55 is now a Laker, how much playing time he receives is an unknown at this time. It’s likely if Hodge’s playing time becomes limited he will likely be moved to the G-League South Bay Lakers. Hodge went undrafted in the 2023 draft but indicated he was okay with that, he indicated he wanted the opportunity to select his team and that team would be the Lakers. Even more interesting he joins teammate Austin Reaves who also went the free agent route going undrafted in 2021. In addition to earning a spot as a free agent Hodge has this on his resume. He becomes the first player from the British Virgin Islands to play in the NBA. This from Wikipedia, the British Virgin Islands are comprised of four main islands and many smaller ones, it’s located east of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean.  

What occurs 

The Big XII conference will look quite different for the 2023-24 season, new teams are Cincinnati, UCF, Houston and BYU. The Kansas Jayhawks are ranked number one in the nation, will they make quick work of the new competition? As most are aware Houston basketball was outstanding last season. Kelvin Sampson’s crew won 33 games while losing only 4 and the last one was in the Sweet Sixteen against Miami. UCF finished last season with 19 wins but lost 16, BYU finished the season with a 19-15 record. Note, not one of the new additions finished below .500.

I finish this account with a check on Cincinnati, also earning an NCAA berth, the Bearcats experienced a 23-win 13 loss season before elimination in the tournament. On the surface it would appear Houston and Cincinnati would be the most forceful additions to the conference. The main reason I’m unsure of a Big XII finish is based on a variety of issues. In addition there is the “Dennis Gates” factor residing with the contingent of new teams. You are aware of the Gates factor aren’t you? Last season Mizzou played outstanding basketball under a new coach. None of these teams have new coaches however there is the possibility the teams could play beyond what was expected of them. As this is written I have no idea who left, who returns and who arrives for the four new additions. This I can say with assurance, each of the newbies will be competitive.

A new name

He’s headed for a pro career rather than college, his name is Rocco Zikarsky. A little background information on Zikarsky, his personal stats are 7 foot 3 and 250 pounds. Rather than Duke, Michigan or Southern Cal his choice would be the Brisbane Bullets of the Australian National Basketball League. According to his bio information Zikarsky has played the past two seasons for the NBA Global Academy in Brisbane Australia.

He indicates the main reason he chose a pro career was a “perfect storm” scenario that came about. Zikarsky said this, 1. “Being able to train daily with my Under-17 Australian national team coaches, alongside one of my idols Aron Baynes, in my hometown, for my home club, in the NBL, with my family close by, is a dream come true.” His statement is certainly understandable on several levels, at the age of 17 don’t expect his name to be called in the 2024 NBA Draft although it could occur. In any event keep his name in your memory, Rocco Zikarsky.

1. ESPN

Not if but when

The NBA expands the two new franchises Seattle and Las Vegas are on Pacific Time. Both teams will be placed in the Western Conference and that becomes a problem…balance. Two existing Western Conference teams will be moved to the east for balance, who are the leading candidates? What’s interesting all are on Central Time but here are my candidates for a move. Oklahoma City Thunder, at present the Thunder are in the Northwest Division due to the franchise move from Seattle. This team has got to be at the top of the list to move. Second could see two teams become Eastern Conference members, the Grizzlies makes sense for at least one reason location.

I’m going to become technical for you, the latitude and longitude of Memphis is 35.1495, degrees North and 90.0490 degrees West. As for Chicago it’s 41.8781 degrees North, 87.6298 degrees West. It’s stating the two cities are not close in road mileage but are near in latitude and longitude. The Chicago Bulls have been Eastern Conference members since they first began play in the NBA in 1966. The last team to consider is New Orleans and again history plays a role here. The franchise began play as the Hornets in Charlotte and were in the Eastern Conference, once they moved to New Orleans in 2002 they shifted play to the Western Conference. I’m sure a few might consider the Wolves prime candidates to move after all Minnesota is a Central Time Zone team too. Despite this fact I don’t think so, on the other and I could be wrong. Let’s face it two of the teams will surly relocate, at this date it remains unclear which one.

Published Monday thru Friday   

Basketball from a fans perspective

 

“A little man must prove he can play, a Big Man must prove he can’t”

 

Unknown 

Danger Zone

I certainly am on the highway to the danger zone with this take. If you follow high school basketball prospects as I do the name Jayden Quaintance is familiar to you. As for others a brief update for you, he’s a 6-foot 10 235-pound center. With that height and weight you can imagine he plays power basketball, his school is Word of God Academy in Raleigh North Carolina. Quaintance is a 5-star prospect and high on the list of several schools across the nation including Mizzou. He visited Mizzou last month but made no commitment and there’s none as this is written.

This report covers two websites 247Sports and Rivals.com and proves quite interesting. 247 makes no prediction where Quaintance might be headed but hints it might be Mizzou, Rivals steps out on the shaky branch of the tree. Their FutureCast places Quaintance 100% sure for Mizzou. As I stated earlier he’s yet to make a commitment however I’m going to Kenny Loggins on you, I’m going to venture into the highway of the danger zone. As this is written Mizzou remains number one in the nation for Class of 2024 prospects, that says to me its likely Quaintance continues the spring and summer recruiting trend and commits to Mizzou.

The talent gap

The difference between play at the D-I, II or III level might not be the “Grand Canyon” we believe it to be. I’d like to cite a couple of examples for you, one from basketball the other football. In the 1999 NBA draft the Lakers with the 23rd pick chose Devean George from Division III Augsburg. The 6 foot 8 George proved his value to the Lakers in a reserve role and occasional starter. He retired in 2010 from the Warriors finishing with an 11-year NBA career.

I once read George believed he was better than most of the competition he faced but never decided to transfer to a Division I program. Fast forward to the present, Mizzou football’s leading rusher is running back Cody Schrader with 648 yards going into the afternoon game. Schrader began his collegiate football at Truman State a Division II school located in Kirksville, MO about 200 road miles northeast of Kansas City. I certainly cannot offer any proof except a theory, keep this in mind. I absolutely am not hinting that every basketball or football athlete could play at the Division I level, talent and opportunity must be a part of the big picture.

There is a case to be made

This exercise excludes Euro players and those who began their NBA journey in the G-League, OT Elite or Australia. There remains a considerable number of outstanding players who began the quest at other than Power 5 schools. 40-50 years ago the number was much larger than it is today, we could look at the past which includes Julius “Dr. J.” Erving, he came to our attention while enrolled at UMass. Nate Thurmond, Bowling Green University, Jack Sikma Illinois Wesleyan or Steve Nash Santa Clara could also serve as examples.

Perhaps the biggest and one of the most talented to develop from a small school is Steph Curry who emerged from Davidson College or Dame Lillard Weber State, we also have Ja Morant of Murray State. Excluding those of the past what occurred, how did Curry, Lillard and others began play at smaller schools? Most likely it was a combination of factors the chief one being they were overlooked. Face it friends that does occur, the scout(s) is sick or absent on the day that athlete has an outstanding game. Probably the greatest factor is the lack of ability to see what’s inside a person’s heart, the desire and willingness to succeed. I always root for the Steph Curry’s and Ja Morant’s of the world to make it to the NBA.

Step into his shoes

The late Gene Bartow took over UCLA basketball in 1975, can you imagine the pressure he must have felt following the legendary John Wooden in the number one chair. Bartow would depart after the 1977 season with a 52 win and 9 loss record, his first team finished third in the NCAA Tournament. This was followed by a Sweet Sixteen finish as Bartow left UCLA. There is no indication why he left however he was not fired the decision was his alone. Jon Scheyer took over last season from another legend however his was an advantage Bartow didn’t have.  

The first, Scheyer was a former Duke basketball player, he registered good numbers in his four years, his senior year being the best. After a brief attempt to play in the NBA he must have decided to re-direct his life pursuit. That’s where the second key came to the forefront in 2014 he returned to Duke becoming an assistant and later assistant head coach for Mike Krzyzewski. Scheyer’s first season as head coach saw his Blue Devil team finish with a 27-win season. What is expected in 2023-24, great things for an example four starters return from that team. Unless something unusual occurs it’s likely Scheyer is on the job for a number of years. Am I stating the same number of years on the job as his former boss, that’s a future we cannot see from here.

Outside my pay grade

“Are the Spurs a playoff caliber team” or similar words I was asked recently. “Do you think that rookie (Wemby) will make them better?” I have no gift to see the future but a few believe I have insight regarding the NBA. How about a bit of history first, last season the Spurs won 22 game while losing 60, the year prior they registered a 34-48 record. The last time the Spurs finished above .500 was the 2018-19 season when they finished 48-34.

This is what I expect to occur although a bunch of stuff could derail my prediction. The Spurs will be improved with Wemby in the lineup. Wemby most likely will have a good NBA rookie year, will he be named Rookie of the Year…that is unknown at this point. The Spurs starting five which now includes Wemby looks solid, as for the bench that is an unknown to me. Why the Spurs won’t earn a playoff spot, the Western Conference is loaded with “land mines.” All Western Conference teams appear to be improved including the Clippers, there you have a brief look at the Spurs and Wemby.

Published Monday thru Friday   

Basketball from a fans perspective

 “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”

Unknown

The starters

I read this statement quite a time ago, “It’s not important who starts the game it’s more important who’s on the court at the end.” I’ve always taken that statement to denote being named to the starting lineup is not that important. On the other hand maybe it is critical based on Darvin Ham’s announcement on Saturday. Most were made aware of four of the five starters, could it be Austin Reaves who spent major minutes after the trade deadline last season. On the other hand it could be one of the new guys, and that would indeed be the case. The Lakers head coach named Taurean Prince the 5th starter for now and this should be interesting in more ways than one. Despite the Spurs having 7-foot 4 Victor Wembanyama in their lineup the Lakers just might have the tallest starting lineup in the association.

At center will be 6 foot 10 (or 11) Anthony Davis, Jarred Vanderbilt is injured and there is a question if he’s in the starting lineup on Tuesday. In any event he is likely to be replaced by Prince as the starter at power forward and he stands 6 foot 7. LeBron James is the small forward at 6 foot 9 while D’Angelo Russell is the point guard standing 6 foot 4. As for Reaves as the shooting guard he’s 6 foot 5, this leaves D’Lo as the “shortest” in the Laker lineup. Also Laker front court reserves are 6 foot 10 Jaxson Hayes, 6 foot 9 Christian Wood, 6 foot 8 Rui Hachimura, 6 foot 8 Cam Reddish and maybe 6 foot 11 Colin Castleton. As a team they must shoot better from three, that’s the key despite a perceived height advantage.  

Wemby

The NBA exhibition season is now complete, tomorrow the “real” NBA begins. I thought a check on Spurs Victor Wembanyama’s progress might be good at this point. Wemby played in four games, his numbers were not outstanding but interesting. In last Friday’s game against the Warriors he scored 19 points and registered 5 blocked shots. In all four games Wemby scored 77 points shooting .568 from the floor, he blocked 11 shots for a 2.75 a game average. In his game against the Warriors it’s no telling how his presence might have influenced shot attempts.

I remember one shot attempt in particular, I believe it was Jonathan Kuminga of the Warriors. Seeing Wemby closing on him Kuminga shot a high arching shot over the outstretched arm. The only downside to the limited time Wemby was on the floor was his three-point shooting, he didn’t shoot particularly well from distance. This certainly is no indication of future NBA success just the views of a fan. I’m going to approach the upcoming season for Wemby in the same manner as most rookies. I truly hope he is successful for several reasons. The chief one…I believe Wemby will be a beneficial addition to the NBA and continue enhancing the profile of the league.

It’s a pride thing

Depending on where you sit there might be a differing view. Jayhawk Nation can convince itself there was little if any punishment from the 2017 FBI investigation. Bill Self was forced to sit down for two early games last season. The Final Four now excludes the Kansas finish, in addition the games in which Silvio De Sousa played were removed from the record books. With that change Kansas basketball was reduced to second place in all-time NCAA win totals behind Kentucky.

This from Bill Self last week during media day, “I think my reputation has been tarnished immensely” his words not mind. For unknown reasons the NCAA through the IARP decided to not punish Kansas to the degree the charge warranted. 5 level 1 violations which are reported to be the most egregious were wiped away in a flash. The basis why I believe it’s a pride thing for Kansas basketball is the IARP could have dealt a tremendous blow to Kansas basketball. For unknown reasons they, through the NCAA, decided otherwise.

He did it again

Once again former NBA player Gilbert Arenas turned podcaster presents us with another impossible. This time he’s got Kareem Abdul Jabbar matched against Shaquille O’ Neal. Arenas claims the match would be a chihuahua against a pit bull, of course Abdul Jabbar being the chihuahua and Shaq the pit bull. Abdul Jabbar is 7 foot 2 and weighed 225 pounds at his heaviest, Shaq stood 7 foot 1 and 325 pounds roughly 100 pounds more than Abdul Jabbar. This must be the basis for Arenas believing the Laker Big Man superior due to the weight difference compared to Abdul Jabbar. My question for Arenas is how come you believe Abdul Jabbar would be over in a corner cowing with the thought he must face Shaq. Allow me to clue you and Arenas what might occur. 

Arenas seems to believe the bully basketball played by Shaq would be more than Abdul Jabbar could manage. Back in the day Abdul Jabbar faced plenty of heavyweights nightly. Wilt Chamberlain was moving toward the end of his career, despite this fact the 7-foot 1 275 pound could dish out his share of punishment in the paint. In addition there was Bob Lanier who was 6 foot 10 but packed 250 pounds on his frame. Also on Abdul Jabbar’s watch, Moses Malone (260 pounds) and for a brief time Hakeem Olajuwon (255 pounds). In the list of great centers I’m unsure where I might place Shaq however no doubt he was a force. This also says Abdul Jabbar would not have backed down facing him. Oh I forgot you must discount this rant, Arenas believes since I didn’t play in the NBA I have little opinion.

Published Monday thru Friday    

Basketball from a fans perspective

“Coaching is easy. Winning is the hard part”

Elgin Baylor

I sure hope he’s not holding his breath

The breath thing is a reference to Oklahoma State basketball coach Mike Boynton. You might have thought it was just Kansas basketball caught in the 2017 FBI investigation. Oklahoma State, LSU, Louisville, Arizona and NC State was also included in the number of schools under the microscope. None of the schools mentioned was banned from post-season play in 2022 with the exception of OSU. Why was OSU hammered while the other schools received a slap on the wrist including the basketball bastion Kansas?

With the recent announcement regarding Kansas basketball being resolved Boynton must have figured he would voice his concern with the outcome. By my headline I’m simply pointing out the inept NCAA through the IARP process will never admit it was wrong or apologize. Let’s face it friends, OSU doesn’t have the basketball mantra of Louisville, Arizona or should I say it…Kansas. If you’ve read Off the Dribble any length of time you are well aware I have continuing issues with the heavy-handed mechanics of the NCAA. They have no problem “beating up” OSU but find little wrong with Kansas who they leveled 5 number one violations.

He’s part of ABA history

Spencer Haywood was featured in the first season of the HBO show, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers. Because the focus was on Magic Johnson, Jerry Buss and others the portrayal of Haywood only covered just a brief portion of the man, my intent here is to provide additional detail. Spencer Haywood was born in Silver City Mississippi in 1949, he grew up in poverty as his family were sharecroppers. The family would later move to Detroit where he attended Pershing HS, in 1967 he led the team to a state championship. It’s not clear now but rather than a 4-year college he enrolled at Trinidad State Jr. College in Trinidad Colorado.

The 1967-68 season would see Haywood average 28.2 points and 22.1 rebounds a game. Those numbers almost forced the Olympic Committee to choose the 6-foot 8 225 pound forward for the 1968 Olympic basketball team. At the age of 19 he was a key to Team USA winning the Gold Medal as he led them to victory. After the Olympics Haywood transferred to the University of Detroit (now Detroit Mercy) where his numbers exploded. 32.1 points and 21.5 rebounds the basketball world set up and really took notice, after Haywood’s sophomore year he decided to turn pro but there was one problem. In 1969 the National Basketball Association and the American Basketball Association had a rule in effect. A player’s class must have completed 4 years of school in order to be eligible for the draft.

This is where it became interesting, the ABA came up with a “hardship exemption” indicating family poverty should be considered to allow Haywood in the league. The ABA in its fight with the NBA and desperate to attract stars used this method to draft him into the league. Haywood was chosen by the Denver Rockets (Nuggets) and the 1969-70 season saw this. He was named ABA Rookie of the Year and ABA Most Valuable Player. In the fall of 1970 he joined the Sonics of the NBA which caused a lawsuit and court fight. That aspect will be covered in another segment, I thought it important you be aware of the contribution of Spencer Haywood to professional basketball.

Relevant 

Is the Big Man game still a relevant part of basketball today, there is no method to fully deliberate this issue however check this out? Connor Vanover standing 7 foot 5 arrives at Mizzou in the transfer portal, next season 7-foot Peyton Marshall and 7-foot 3 Trent Burns indicate they will be signing with Mizzou.  The question is asked again, not because of Mizzou but the fact Dennis Gates recruited Big Men. Zach Edney returned to Purdue after submitting his name to the NBA, he’s a capable 7-foot 5 300-pound center but apparently believed it was better he return to school. 7 foot 1 Chet Holmgren was the second pick in the 2022 draft while Victor Wembanyama 7 foot 3 was the top pick in 2023, both are different.

The skill set of both would indicate they are more accustomed to playing on the perimeter rather than in the paint. Guys certainly have not ceased to grow however their role and impact on the game has changed over time. Perhaps that might be the reason Edney was found lacking by the NBA. It has more to do with how that Big Man is utilized in the offensive schemes of today. In the 2024 mock draft prepared by NBA Draft.net we see these names mentioned. We have 7 foot 1 Alexandre Saar France, 6-foot 11-inch Matas Buzelis G-League, 7-foot Aaron Bradshaw Kentucky and 7-foot Kyle Filipowski from Duke. I’m unsure of the skill level but each certainly must have a degree of talent. Every Big Man is not shooting three’s but those who are capable certainly make themselves more valuable to a prospective college or NBA team.

Upward and onward

The Thunder finished last season two games below .500, will 2024 be upward and onward? They were quite competitive, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a star and ready to move into the upper echelon. Josh Giddy improved his numbers across the board, 6 foot 8 Giddy is listed as the team’s shooting guard despite the fact he dished out 6.2 assists per game. Besides Thunder team depth we must guess on the   Chet Holmgren affect. If you remember the story the skinny Holmgren was absent his “rookie” year suffering a season long injury.

ESPN’s depth chart has Holmgren listed as the starting center, I have doubts if that’s the position he eventually plays. Despite his 7-foot 1 height his reported 208 pounds says small forward. While at Gonzaga Holmgren demonstrated a keen ability to manage the basketball in the same manner of a guard. Despite question marks on reserves barring injuries the Thunder should be improved in the 2023-24 season. Are the Thunder playoff bound this time around after barely missing the cut last season? Several factors exist chief among them in my view avoiding injury (of course) and a productive reserve unit.

Published Monday thru Friday    

Basketball from a fans perspective

Say what

For several reading this post it’s not news in a sense, I was familiar with Skechers shoes but my immediate thought was walking or comfort type shoe styles. Shame on me for not being aware of this fact, truth is I was not aware they even manufactured an athletic line. Surprise on me, not only do they have an athletic shoe line but they are about to jump feet first (sorry about the pun) into the competitive shoe market. As this is written Skechers management is negotiating with Sixer center Joel Embiid for him to become the spokesperson of this new line of footwear. In a manner of speaking this might not be as surprising as first perceived. You might remember a report during the summer where Reebok announced it was entering the market once again and intended to become relevant as it relates to basketball shoes.

You might hear his name

As the saying goes, Youth will be served, and the 2024 NBA draft will be just that. One of the names you might hear announced by the commissioner is Ron Holland, a little background on him. Holland is a 6-foot 8 inch forward and he played his high school basketball at Duncanville. Duncanville in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro has been a longtime hotbed for basketball. Holland will begin play for the G-League Team Elite but how he arrived is interesting.

Holland is a McDonalds All American and 5-star prospect, when it came time to choose he decided to attend Texas over offers from Kentucky, Memphis, Kansas, Arkansas and UCLA. It was believed he would go elsewhere after Chris Beard was fired, that was not the case initially. Last April he requested Texas release him from the letter of intent he’d signed. Instead of choosing another school Holland decided instead on a pro career, shortly after receiving his release Holland signed with NBA G-League Team Elite. In the case of Holland there is no guarantee in October 2023 he will be in the June draft but that looks to be the case based on the evaluation by scouting websites. 

Bits n Pieces 

Now that NBA training camps are open how about a brief focus on the Spurs and their wunderkind Victor Wembanyama. The following are the figures three NBA websites utilize to provide us the measurements i.e. height and weight for Wemby. He’s not the 7-foot 5 height some early reports claim, so what exactly are we discussing? One NBA website indicates he stand 7 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 225 pounds. Another one claims Wemby is 7 foot 4 inches but a spindly 210 pounds, a third site also list him at 7 feet 4 but 220 pounds. Whichever site is correct it’s clear Wemby is nowhere near the height published a year ago leading up to the NBA draft. As for the weight question that might not be as easily resolved.

I cannot prove what you are about to read but here it goes anyway. What sport do you believe most favors the home team? I’ve always believed it’s basketball, it doesn’t matter if we are discussing high school, college or the NBA. Why do we suppose this advantage exists, there are probably several reasons? The chief one I believe is distance to the action. In a high school gym, college or NBA arena we are much closer than in a football or baseball stadium. A loud vocal crowd can often intimidate a visiting team in a high school or college game, however in an NBA arena to a lesser degree. As I said these are my thoughts alone, perhaps you can add factors I failed to mention.

There might be a belief by some I have a problem with the media, that is not the case. There are voices I routinely enjoy reading or listening to on television, one of those is Andy Katz. I’m unsure what year Katz first popped up on my television screen. Katz was a college basketball analyst for ESPN, in 2017 he was one of numerous employees laid off by the network. I always found Katz to be thoughtful and insightful in his coverage of college basketball. He currently serves as a studio analyst for the Big 10 Network. Katz has a journalism background having worked for three newspapers, the Fresno Bee, Albuquerque Journal and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Be on the lookout for Katz either print or electronic and be prepared to receive clear and perceptive information.

There is a new name on the basketball horizon for you to retain, his name is Bruce Zhang. This projected talented Big Man is from China, the 7-foot 265-pound center attends Skill Academy in Atlanta Georgia. Zhang had offers from Bradley, Coastal Carolina, St. Louis University and others. After a visit to SLU he decided in favor of the school. Zhang joins two other SLU prospects in the Class of 2024. Hometown for Zhang is Nanchang the capital of Jiangxi province, this city is located in the north central portion of the province. His home is located about 500 miles north of Hong Kong.

Published Monday thru Friday    

Basketball from a fans perspective

“Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is best”      

Tim Duncan   

I’m totally embarrassed

The headline statement is made for more than one reason, allow a further explanation. Yesterday I wrote LeBron James was about to become a member of the 20-year club. This club consisted of NBA players with 20+ years on their resumes, the names were printed but in the middle of the day I realized there was a gigantic error made on my part. Despite the error I decided the admission would not be buried somewhere half-hidden in this publication.

It would be pointed out because I want most of all for you the reader to have all the facts. We might differ on a variety of issues but records are certainly not an area of disagreement. The error, two Lakers were omitted from the list and should have been included, the names were Kobe Bryant and Kareem Abdul Jabbar. I lay claim to the fact of being the number one Laker fan in Kansas City and I left two of my favorite Lakers off the list. There are 7 players with 20+years of play in the NBA, when the season begins next week LeBron James will become number 8. 

Allow me to introduce myself

This story popped up on my news feed about one year ago, I thought it worthy to be repeated for those who might have missed it. This is another account of the legend of Wilt Chamberlain and his prowess on the basketball court. When challenged he could do almost anything he set his mind to. “In 1961 a new star Walt Bellamy came into the league. Bellamy was 6 foot 11 and was scoring 30 points a game. The first time they played against each other they met at half court.

“Hello Mr. Chamberlain. I’m Walter Bellamy. Chamberlain reached for Bellamy’s hand and said, “Hello, Walter. You won’t get a shot off in the first half.” Chamberlain then blocked Bellamy’s first nine shots. At the start of the second half Chamberlain said to Bellamy, “Okay, Walter. Now you can play.” If you are unfamiliar with the late Walt Bellamy allow me to inform you of this, he’s been enshrined in the Naismith and College Basketball Hall of Fame. Bellamy was one of a number of great centers from that era who was overshadowed by Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Bob Lanier and others.

I’m remain upset

There is no reason to visit the decision on Mizzou’s move to the SEC, that ship sailed a long time ago. In the State of Missouri residents are acquainted with Eli Drinkwitz and Dennis Gates. They are aware Drinkwitz is the football coach and Gates is the basketball coach at Mizzou. If you live in the Kansas City metro you probably have little knowledge of the two and there is a clear reason. I cannot remember back to 2012 but it seems media coverage was balanced, sure Kansas was 40 some miles up the road but that seems to have changed or maybe it’s my imagination.

I can remember Gary Pinkel (2001-2015) and Mike Anderson (2006-2011) former football and basketball coach’s time with Mizzou. There once existed the Gary Pinkel-Mike Anderson Program, they were half hour interview programs in the Kansas City market. After the SEC move these weekly programs disappeared…why? The university was still located in Columbia only the conference affiliation changed. Now for the “Meat and Potatoes”, both sports at Mizzou under previous coaches suffered on the field and court. In between time I’m unsure if it was the SEC move or just the fact Kansas basketball began to dominate the media in Kansas City. Mizzou basketball went through a period where the basketball was up and down, truth is more down than up.

I’m going to shorten this by stating Dennis Gates has revitalized a basketball program that needed it badly. After a 25-win season an unexpected NCAA appearance and a number one recruiting class (2024) I thought media change might occur. I’m still holding my breath waiting for elements of the Kansas City media to recognize the fact Columbia MO is closer to Kansas City than Fort Worth (TCU) or Stillwater OK (OSU). This is the part I find most interesting, I’ve been informed there’s been no change in media coverage on the St. Louis side of the state.  

Bevo Francis award

I came across the Bevo Francis award while researching, it’s an honor probably little known presented to the outstanding small college basketball player. There’s a bunch of criteria necessary for one to qualify for the award but I was more curious who was honored in this manner. Checking the list past winners who have either played at the Division II level or NAIA. Clarence “Bevo” Francis was born September 4, 1932, in Hammonsville Ohio. Bevo played his college basketball at Rio Grande College (now the University of Rio Grande) from 1952-1954. In 1953 the 6 foot 9 Bevo averaged an amazing 48.3 points a game, the notes indicate he actually scored 50.1 points a game.  

The NCAA excluded some of the games because they were played against junior college teams. We can only guess scheduling of that type was not uncommon for small colleges at the time. The following season Bevo averaged 48 points including a single game scoring record of 113 points. That total remained the highest in NCAA history until 2012 when Jack Taylor of Grinnell scored 138 points in a game. Bevo was Third Team All-American in 1953 and the following year he was named second Team All-American. The portion I find most interesting is his basketball post college, he signed with the Boston Whirlwinds a barnstorming team matched against the Harlem Globetrotters. Bevo was drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors but must have decided he wanted no part of the NBA. Life after basketball was work at an Ohio steel mill, he worked there 20 years and was six months from his pension when the plant closed. Bevo died in 2015 at the age of 82, Bevo Francis is a basketball name few are familiar with but you are.

Published Monday thru Friday    

Basketball from a fans perspective

“You don’t have to be Magic to be special. You’re already special, you’re you.”

Magic Johnson

Can you name them

LeBron James is about to begin year 21 in the NBA, that’s a region few NBA players have achieved since the league was born in 1949. There have been 6 in history including James, can you name the other 5? I have no idea without checking NBA archives, I would guess Robert “Chief” Parrish is probably one but I’m forced to look up the others. The following are those NBA players along with the last year they played in the association:    

Kevin Garnett-2016

Vince Carter-2020

Kevin Willis-2007

Dirk Nowitzki-2019

Robert Parrish-1997

LeBron James-?

This is a rare and unusual event, it’s quite possible we may not witness another NBA player accomplishing this feat in the future.

Sorry folks, I did it again

I have an old target, his name is Gilbert Arenas and he once displayed his talent in the NBA. Arenas was a good but not great basketball player in my view. Since his retirement as a player I’m unsure what he’s done other than host a podcast. The podcast is where I’m going, he’s made several outrageous stuff I’ve taken issue with. While the opinions express are his I still disagree with them and have said so. More recently one of his podcasts caused a number of people to question his view on a subject. It wasn’t just me, NBA fans and other podcast hosts voiced a view indicating Arenas was off base. Based on the amount of pushback he received Arenas decided a response was required. The following sentence paraphrased his statement, “You (the public) haven’t played in the NBA, you don’t know the ends and out of what it takes.”

I can agree with the Arenas rebuttal to a degree, like most of you I haven’t played in the NBA nor was I even talented enough to earn a roster spot on my high school basketball team. Despite that fact I’ve got just as much a right to express my opinion as Arenas has to offer his view on a subject. I have no idea what it takes to run a financial institution, not because I’m not intelligent enough I haven’t been trained. I’ve seen utility workers climb utility poles but have no training. There are a thousand and one things in the world we have no working knowledge how they operate. Despite the fact of not working in the field we observe something that our common sense says “That ain’t right!” This is for you Mr. Arenas, we can disagree without being disagreeable, you are not correct all the time and neither am I. 

It ain’t me

I’ve heard the following statement made by some Mizzou fans, “I’m waiting for something to go wrong.” It seems whenever there is a positive many anticipate a downturn or misfortune. I can cite a couple of examples I’ve read, the 5th down awarded to Colorado which allowed them to win a match their football game over Mizzou. In basketball it was the mad dash winning layup by UCLA’s Tyus Edney preventing Mizzou from advancing in the NCAA Tournament. Sorry, that ain’t me…I’m not a member of the “Legion of Doom” you know who they are? They seem always prepared for something or someone to impact the Mizzou sports program from a negative standpoint.

This is written prior to Mizzou kicking off against Memphis, I don’t know if this football game is a winner or loser (it was a winner). This has been another excellent, yes I can say that recruiting week in basketball. Coach Gates managed to receive a verbal commitment from Annor Boateng a 6-foot 5 wing from Little Rock Arkansas, Boateng represents the culmination of a very successful summer of basketball recruiting I believe will extend into the fall. As for basketball the only negative I see, prospect A might not be able to make the jump from high school play to Division I basketball. Unlike some who claim an allegiance to the Mizzou program I don’t expect bad luck to follow the Mizzou program because I plain don’t believe in bad luck.

He’s got a new job

I didn’t realize this fact until I read it in the news release, Jeff Van Gundy’s television career has been lengthier than his coaching resume in the NBA. As most are aware his job as a basketball analyst with ESPN ended after the NBA season, he’d been employed by the network for the last 16 years. Van Gundy served as head coach of the Knicks and Rockets compiling a 430-318 record a total of 11 years. The Celtics hired Van Gundy as a senior consultant in their basketball operations group. The news release indicated he will divide his time between Boston and Portland Maine home of the G-League Maine Claws.