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Basketball from a fans perspective

“No one is bigger than the team. If you can’t do things our way, you’re not getting time here, and we don’t care who you are.”

Gregg Popovich 

It should be noted

Many in the media pointed to the fact the Lakers had lost 11 consecutive games to the Clippers. The OT win November 1 by the Lakers broke the streak however it was more than that. The all-time record now stands at Lakers 152 wins Clippers 85 wins, I thought that was just as important to point out. We could also state the record in this manner, the Clippers have 85 wins versus 152 losses. 

Bits n Pieces

A website pointed toward a fact each of us should be aware, I thought it worthy enough to be shared. It pointed to the fact the Clippers become James Harden’s third team in three years. Let’s look at the timeline as confirmation. January 14, 2021, along with a host of players Harden was traded from the Rockets to the Nets, February 10, 2022, Harden this time along with others was moved to the Sixers. November 1, 2023, Harden and company was traded again this time to the Clippers and there you have it.

Is the NBA returning to a Big Man offense, that certainly might not be the case however three (3) very tall rookies have begun their NBA careers in a fast-tracked position. Of course one of the names you are most familiar with is Victor Wembanyama. Since the June NBA draft I’ve written a number of articles about the 7-foot 4 talent. Wemby has company in the person of 7 foot 1 Chet Holmgren of the Thunder. A name a few might be unfamiliar with is 7-foot 1 230-pound Dereck Lively II, Lively plays for the Mavs.

Bobby Knight in life and death was certainly an enigma, his legacy is complicated depending on the individual discussing his life. Let’s close this on a high note with a Michael Jordan story. Knight was enamored by what MJ brought to the court as a college basketball player. Knight being a friend of then Blazer GM Stu Inman advised him to draft Jordan. Inman is reported to have informed Knight “We need a center.” Knight’s reply draft Jordan and play him at center”, of course that didn’t occur. What transpired in that 1984 NBA draft? The Rockets with the top pick chose Hakeem Olajuwon, the Blazers with the second pick chose 7 foot 1 Sam Bowie. The third pick chosen by the Bulls was a player named Michael Jeffery Jordan.

This account is prompted by an article I read on freshman prospects for the Mizzou Tigers. On paper they look good however they don’t play games on paper. Second to that none of these baby Tigers appear to be the second coming of Magic Johnson or Kareem Abdul Jabbar so you know what that entails. Work, work, and more work on their part. Perhaps the funniest statement I’ve heard and one I don’t know who coined the phrase. “You know the best thing about freshmen, they come back in the fall as sophomores.” That statement is only partially correct because there are numerous options for athletes today that can lead to pro careers even if it’s not the NBA.

My favorite

Some reading this will be quite shocked, I have no favorite NBA player for the first time in a number of years. I know many of you probably thought it might be LeBron James or AD because both play for my Lakers. I respect both and believe they are extremely talented…I want them to sink every basket and grab every rebound while I’m watching them but they are not my favorites. Kobe was my favorite and after he retired I never looked at anyone else. There is one current player who is close to being my favorite…Steph Curry.

His lights out distance shooting is what I love to see. In a recent game against the Kings Curry was En Fuego, how could I tell? On a couple of occasions he took the shot and was retreating to play defense knowing full well he’d sunk the basket, is that confidence or what? Luka Doncic is also a player I love to see, it helps that I’ve had the opportunity to see him in person. I like all the Kansas City area and Mizzou players to do well. There are so many outstanding players its sometimes difficult to only focus on one. He’s got a rookie year to prove he belongs but I really like Victor Wembanyama, there are a few others too.

How much

I am the opposite of most adults, I have difficulty gaining weight. A number of adults have the opposite issue, they are planning a diet, on a diet or complaining about their diet. They have a constant battle to lose weight. Allow me to provide you the basis for this exercise, we question the weight of a player believing they are “too skinny.”  I haven’t heard mention recently but all spring and summer we read or heard questions regarding Victor Wembanyama. I have no expertise (that’s clear) in weight training but history appears to point toward athletes increasing weight over time.

Whether it’s just maturing as an adult or a carbon rich diet we’ve seen Kevin Durant go from 215 pounds when drafted in the NBA to his present 240. One publication indicated Giannis Antetokounmpo was a wafer thin 190 pounds when drafted. According to the Bucks roster information on ESPN.com he now tops out at 243 pounds. A question was raised about top prospect Cooper Flagg, he stands a reported 6 foot 8 and 200 pounds. I believe one of the first things done at Duke is to set him up a program to gain muscle and not weight. I’m told gaining muscle leads to increasing weight. There is no requirement to become concerned about Flagg or anyone else, they will mature thus adding muscle.