Basketball from a fans perspective

“When you play at a slow pace, you must shoot a high percentage.” 

Hubie Brown

The jerseys

Did you notice the other evening, the jerseys worn by the Nuggets were a little unusual. The back didn’t appear any different from any other jersey, the players’ name was stenciled on the back, it was the front that was different. The upper right side of the jersey contained the number and in the area around the midsection the number 5280 was displayed. No Nuggets or Denver anyplace on the jersey just 5280. Probably those viewing the game were aware of the significance of the number as for others the explanation is easy. The City of Denver lies 5,280 feet above sea level the highest level of any NBA city.

The idea I guess is for the visitor in this instance the Clippers to be aware they are playing in rarefied air. It’s often been said visitors must grow accustomed to the altitude once they arrive in the city. Several years ago my wife and I drove from Kansas City (909 feet above sea level). I’m unsure about my wife but it took me a day to adjust, imagine a visiting basketball team (or football team) running under those conditions. In any event I don’t believe the Clippers loss was attributed to the altitude although it could have been a contributing factor. In closing I decided to check some other NBA cities, home of the Jazz Salt Lake City is 4,265 feet above sea level which makes it second in the association.

Things are tough all over

The Kansas City Kings ownership (and the city) made a number of bone headed decisions eventually causing the team to be sold and moved. I recently came across some trivia which indicates owners of the Buffalo Braves were just as bad maybe worse. I’ve complained about the Kings passing on Moses Malone with the ABA dispersal draft. How about this one, the Buffalo Braves actually signed him but would trade him later.

Research also uncovered two other players in the Naismith Hall of Fame on their roster. They were Bob McAdoo, Adrian Dantley and Malone who I mentioned earlier, count them three Hall of Fame players. Although it was not an extended period all three were on the Braves roster at the same time. Failure to develop the talent at hand may have been a contributing factor why the franchise was sold to California interest and eventually moved to San Diego. The team underwent a name change becoming the Clippers, Donald Sterling would later become owner and in 1984 he move the franchise to Los Angeles.

It's up to Lue

The pressure is on my Kansas City homie Tyronn Lue, he’s got to sit Harden down. That’s the only method to correct the key problem facing the Clippers. It’s clear to the most novice coach Westbrook and Harden cannot be on the court at the same time except in short instances. My immediate thought goes back to the other Los Angeles team at an earlier time. The ol skool Lakers drafted point guard Norm Nixon in 1977, the speedy Nixon was a capable scorer but an even better assist man. In 1979 the Lakers found themselves with the top pick in that year’s NBA Draft, they chose point guard Magic Johnson.

The two points were able to blend their games for a time even winning an NBA Championship. It’s unclear if Magic approached management but it was clear someone had to sit. For Nixon it became more than sitting as he was traded, the Lakers must have believed they didn’t require two-point guard starters. Fast forward to 2023 and we have a comparable condition with the Clippers, Russell Westbrook and James Harden are point guards. A Harden benching is not going to immediately solve the problems of the Clippers but it will certainly help but it represents only the first phase. The second phase is to speed up the game.

Soap opera

This story has soap opera written all over it, he was dismissed however he claimed he never took the job, an old grudge kept him off a team flight. That’s the basis for Mark Jackson no longer being associated with the Knicks but a little background here. I only intend to cover the broadcast portion of his NBA years, the player and coach are for another time. You are aware ESPN decided to make broadcast changes for their play by play and studio analysts, Jackson was one of many he was let go after 9 years as a play-by-play analyst.

Jackson was reported to assume a part-time role with the Knicks whenever Walt Frazier was not available. This is where the story becomes muddy, the New York Post claims Jackson was barred from flying with Knicks due to a past problem with a member of the coaching staff. Knicks president Leon Rose chose to to end the teams relationship with Jackson. That's not the statement made by Jackson, he claims "I turned down the Knicks offer." It's possible we might never know what actually occurred with this soap opera ending. A long time ago I heard this statement and believe it still applies today. "There are three sides to every story, your version, my version and the truth."