Basketball from a fans perspective

Thunderdome

If you are a music lover of any age you are familiar with the late Tina Turner. Her music covered a number of spectrums during her legendary career. Tina occasionally ventured outside the music world to Hollywood. She was cast in two films, one of them so-so in my opinion the other a classic. The 1985 release of Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome saw her as the antagonist Aunty Entity. For those who didn’t see the movie Thunderdome represented the arena where combat would occur between two contestants.

The line repeated in the movie, “One man enters, one man leaves,” by now you are scratching your head in wonderment. What the heck does a 1985 movie have to do with basketball? As recently noted the citizens of Oklahoma City voted in favor of building a replacement arena for Paycom Center. In this day of corporations attaching their names in front of arenas or stadiums this name is highly unlikely to be used. Should by chance when opened its named Thunderdome remember where you first heard it. Why you ask, its elementary, the NBA team is the Thunder it should be logical they play in the Thunderdome.

Bits n Pieces  

The NBA record for a losing streak currently resides with the 2010-2011 Cavs and later tied by the 2013-14 Sixers. That number is 26 games in a row, quite a dubious distinction for a team. On Friday evening the Pistons were losers once again, now they have lost 25 consecutive games. Will the Pistons tie the all-time NBA record for losses, if they tie the record will they eventually become the new record holder? Note this, the longest streak takes place in parts of two seasons, the Sixers are the record holder. They lost 28 games in a row over the 2014-15 and 2015-16 season.

What a beat down occurred on Friday for Mizzou. The annual Braggin’ Rights game between Mizzou and Illinois saw the Fighting Illini avenge last season’s loss to the Tigers 97-72. I must confess there are times I dread upcoming games and this was one of them. Illinois arrived for the game as the number 13 team in the nation so all I could hope for was an upset. Mizzou recruiting for next season is outstanding but that fails to aid this year’s version, the concern on my part is the upcoming tough, tough SEC Conference race. Many claim Mizzou exceeded expectations last season, SEC opponents would be better prepared in 2023-24.

I’ve always believed if you can play the game…you can play the game no matter the level. The ESPN headline mentioned the number of mid-major players who left for Power 5 schools, Zack Mayo was not one instead preferring to remain in place. The story was centered on South Dakota State’s Mayo is a 6-foot 4-point guard and the leading scorer for the Jackrabbits. As proof you can’t sign everyone the star of this team was born in Lawrence Kansas and probably grew up watching Jayhawk basketball. It’s clear players are sometimes overlooked even in their own backyard.

I came across some ABA trivia which I sure found interesting. Did you realize Dr. J. scored 63 points in a game but his team lost? In a February 1975 game the Nets scored 166 points with 63 of them provided by the good doctor. Why didn’t the Nets win, this was a 4 OT game in which the San Diego Conquistadors gained the victory 176-166. We must guess a number of ABA teams of the era played a fast-paced game despite some teams having Big Men on their rosters.

Are you old enough, I’m watching a Vanderbilt-Memphis game I can’t tell from distance. I don’t believe any player has a shoe that is close to matching his jersey color. Truth is its rare to even find all teams with the same color and shoe model. I’m watching a college game but it could apply just as well in the NBA. Michael Jordan’s done a great deal in basketball but his chief contribution aside of his play has been the shoe. As Mars Blackmon might say, “It must be the shoes,” it was the introduction of Air Jordan’s which turn the shoe market upside down. The NBA had a rule in place which prohibited the first Air Jordan model, change eventually came about through the effort of MJ. 

Can I add Dallas too?

The home of the Clippers, Intuit Dome opens in the fall of 2024. The Spurs, Sixers and Thunder have plans for new arenas in the future, can I add one more? The announcement Mark Cuban intended to sell his majority share of the Mavs also contained additional news. The story indicated there would be other ventures Cuban was contemplating, one of those missions a new arena for the Mavs. Are you asking yourself why a new arena?

The answer, American Airlines Center opened in 2001 which makes it 22 years old…certainly not old however there might be other issues the public is unaware. The Mavs are lessees and not owners, the lease expires in 2031 only 8 years from now. With planning and other stuff to consider this is likely the time to begin planning for a new arena. The only major tenant beside the Mavs are the NHL North Stars. Whether it’s done with Cuban’s money or some other method I could foresee a new arena in Dallas or somewhere in the metro after 2031.