Basketball from a fan’s perspective

“Give me a lever and place to stand I will move the earth”

What do you suppose was the meaning behind the ancient Greek scientist Archimedes statement? Certainly it wasn’t discussing moving the earth, it speaks to “the power of knowledge, innovation, determination.”  Do you think that assertion might fit Mavs owner Mark Cuban and others? I believe it does, the following you are about to read cannot be documented. Despite that fact I believe the substantial majority of it is probably quite accurate.In 2000 Cuban purchased the Mavs for a reported $285 million, late last year he sold his majority share in the team for a reported $3.5 billion. 

Although he “sold” the majority interest in the team he retains 27% of the shares, in addition he remains NBA governor for the Mavs. I tend to believe anytime business is being negotiated it’s not done in the “dark,” the party’s involved I believe should be aware of all the positives and negatives of consummating the sale. I’m certainly not declaring Cuban the smartest guy in the room but this certainly reflects on the Archimedes quote. This is what we can agree on, Cuban had knowledge, he was innovative in his effort and his intense determination resulted in the sale of the Mavs while he continues to retain a leadership role in the direction of the team. 

Totally amazing

This Laker team is totally confusing to me, earlier on Thursday I received an alert indicating they would be short versus the Celtics. LeBron James and Anthony Davis would miss the game, I have a Celtics fan in my office. As Rory was leaving that evening I informed him, “I guess your guys got one tonight with no LeBron and AD.” The game was available on TNT but I didn’t bother knowing the outcome ahead of time, on the other hand maybe not. I checked the progress of the game in the middle of the 3rd quarter and was surprised to see the Lakers with a 10-point lead. I figured there would be a method for the Lakers to lose so you can imagine my surprise when I read the final score, Lakers 114 Celtics 105.

What in the world happened, did the Celtics have missing players as did the Lakers? Was Jayson Tatum and Jaylin Brown able to play, they did indeed yet they lost the game? Austin Reaves led the Lakers in scoring with 32 points, Jaxson Hayes replaced AD in the lineup, and would score 16 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. Tatum scored 23 for the Celtics and Porzingis had 17 but that was about it for the team in green. The Lakers Achilles heel was not in force Thursday evening, as a team they shot 52.8%. I admit it, I cannot figure out the psyche of this Laker team, when they are good they are particularly good, this is an example. When they are bad we could choose any of the 25 games they have lost thus far this season.

He’s Smart

That’s actually his last name, his first is Shaka and he’s the head coach at Marquette, this is going to be approached from a slightly different angle. Smart played his college basketball at Kenyon and from what I was able to uncover evidently there was no desire on his part to attempt an NBA attempt. Smart moved into the coaching ranks immediately, that was 1999 and it would be California (Pennsylvania) as an assistant, he remained through 2001. The next move saw him become an assistant at Akron that was 2003-06 and in the following years saw him take assistant jobs at Clemson and later Florida.

The next stop was VCU, that’s where Smart came to the attention of a nationwide audience, Smart remained at the university from 2009-15. The success attained at VCU raised his profile considerably and that’s when the University of Texas hired him. That was 2015 and he remained at Texas until 2021, his record was mixed there. He never lifted the program to the level regents, alumni and others hoped. Smart with two years remaining on his contract took a buyout and in March 2021 he took the head coaching position at Marquette. His tenure at Marquette has seen him compile an ascending record of 65 wins versus 25 losses and 35 wins and 14 losses in the Big East Conference. Smart’s team is currently the number 9 ranked team in the nation. There you have a brief look at one of the best young college coaches in the nation.

I’m unsure

I continue to read the NBA is interested in Mexico City having an NBA team. This past November commissioner Silver once again let us all know of the interest of the league. There is one problem as I see it and it ain’t the language barrier, it’s height above sea level. What do Mexico City and Denver share…. both city’s share an extremely high altitude. I was watching a game from Denver and in addition to 5,280 emblazoned at center court Nuggets players had it on their jerseys.

The reference of course is the altitude of the Rocky Mountain city, Denver is 5,280 feet (1,609 meters) above sea level. Mexico City represents an additional effort by the NBA to expand the game internationally. Despite the language difference the city has everything going for it except the altitude question. Opposition players to Denver from NHL, NFL and NBA teams are likely huffing and puffing after a few minutes on the ice, football field or basketball court, the air is quite thin there. As for Mexico City it might be even worse, my research indicates the city lies at an altitude of 7,350 feet (2,240 meters). My guess, finance might be the deciding factor and that appears to be no problem for Mexico City interests.

Help Wanted

Feeling qualified most of us seeking employment might be willing to answer the call. There are exceptions when it comes to coaching a basketball team, doesn’t matter if it’s the NBA or college it’s still the same. It was said a long time ago but remains true, “A coach receives too much credit when his team wins and too much blame when they lose.” Imagine this your team has the second-best record in your division, you are a first-year coach yet management decides to fire you after only 43 games. That is the plight of Adrian Griffin former Bucks coach, was he that terrible requiring him being replaced in the middle of the season? Oh, you think it might be safer coaching college basketball…I don’t think so.

Once upon a time AD’s waited until the season was completed before firing the coach, that scenario no longer exists. The one thing I believe is that unless it’s a serious breach of some sort a college coach is generally safer than one in the NBA. What’s brought about this change, I have no simple answer but I do have a thought. NBA ownership and college AD’s are looking for a quicker turnaround than in the past. The NBA team makes a trade or series of trades, the university uses the transfer portal to secure 3-4 additions to the school’s roster. There are some issues I’m not even looking at, in conclusion the R&B group Temptations recorded a number of hit tunes. One of those tunes was “Shakey Ground” which might be the lament of many a basketball coach.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQljbpsXKUY