Basketball from a fan’s perspective

It's strictly word salad

I held a discussion with a friend recently, the term “Power 5 Conference” was uttered by me. His immediate response, “What’s that,” I began an explanation as I believe existed. The college landscape has done a flip-flop over the last 5-6 years, as for Power 5 this was my understanding. Schools associated with the Pac-12, Big XII, ACC, SEC and the Big 10 are considered in the category of Power 5. What about this, what occurs when a school from a non-Power 5 conference moves? For years, the University of Houston and Cincinnati were considered mid-major schools based on conference affiliation. This past summer both joined the Big XII and are now considered Power 5 schools. Confusing, this is another example, years ago SMU belonged to the defunct Southwest Conference (1914-1996).  

The SWC was not referred to by the term Power 5 although it could have with Texas, Texas Tech and others as conference members. Once the conference dissolved schools began scattering to various other conferences and this occurred. With the recent “earthquake of movement” schools such as SMU a mid-major now is a member of the ACC along with Duke, North Carolina a Power 5. So now you see the word salad in full effect, Houston, SMU and Cincinnati once mid-majors are no longer that. How interesting this view, your play becomes upgraded once a school becomes affiliated with a Power 5 conference. With all the movement the focus was on these two schools, there are certainly others. Based on the conference affiliation UConn has always been considered a mid-major school despite winning more than a few NCAA Championships.  

Check the history

Reading my blog Marcus is aware I’ve been displeased with Darvin Ham’s coaching. He mentioned “Lakers coaching history” so I decided to do a deep dive, my effort only goes back to 2005. I informed him my view of Frank Vogel and the fact he was head coach when they won it all in 2020. You can say all you desire about that bubble championship but they won period. Vogel’s third year with the Lakers a 33-49 record caused management to fire him and hire Ham. I cannot go back in time for an explanation however Luke Walton and Byron Scott both former players couldn’t do it.

Walton was 98-148 in three years as head coach, Scott was even worst finishing with a 38-126 record in two seasons, prior to Scott there was Mike D’Antoni also with a losing record. We must travel back in time to the hire of Mike Brown (current Kings coach), he completed his time with the Lakers finishing with a 42-29 record. Prior to him was the veteran coach Phil Jackson so I believe we could safely conclude a key fact. I’m unsure looking back if it was poor timing, poor personnel, poor coaching or something else, the Laker front office has done an average to poor job in the past hiring a head coach. As for Ham he’s got a winning record however there is a disconnect somewhere between the team and the coach. It is highly unlikely Ham returns to the Lakers in the 2024-25 NBA season based on how their playoff run ended.

Interesting

This is for discussion purposes only, I have no issues with ESPN staff writer Jeff Borzello. He published his Way-Too-Early Top 25 list and it’s quite interesting, he places 5 Big XII schools on his list. Before delving into the list someone in charge must change the name, we have a 16-team conference now. A name change should be under consideration. Back to the subject at hand, Borzello has conference champion Houston at the top followed by Kansas in second place.

Iowa State at three along with Baylor at number 5, Texas A&M at 18 plus Cincinnati listed at 22. Even more interesting he’s got Texas at 17, July 1 the school moves into the SEC. If this plays out it would make the Big 16 (sp) Conference the strongest and most competitive in the nation. Do you see the potential “land mines” in front of Kansas? I happen to believe and maybe this is proof if these teams continue there is no way for any school to dominate conference play as Kansas once did. Without checking they won 10 or 11 in a row at a point in time.

The 2024 (International) NBA draft

If we check most NBA mock draft sites they list a substantial number of international players. All those listed might not be drafted but it makes for a question we’ve discussed quite often in the past. The most recent cbssports.com draft poll places Zaccharie Risacher at the top of their poll, Alex Sarr is right behind him in the number two slot. If the draft follows this line that would place two international players for the first time ever at the top. Why is basketball more popular over American football or baseball? In Asia baseball is common in Japan and South Korea.

I discovered baseball is played in Australia however unlike Japan and South Korea its only 15-years old. There might be other nations but those named are the one’s responsible for maybe 85 to 95% of Asian baseball. Europe is a mystery to me, I’m unsure how many Euro nations play baseball. I’m sure it must exist but must be on a much smaller scale than other major ports. On the African continent if baseball exists it’s on a really small scale, I’ve never read or heard of it being played. Football (soccer) is king on the African continent however basketball in numbers is ever increasing. The NFL is popular world-wide but what about leagues and teams? You are aware the NFL has exported select games to the European continent for a time. The NFL operated a “feeder” league in Europe from 1989 through 2007 but is no longer in operation. That’s about it regarding baseball and football on foreign shores, for basketball it’s an entirely different matter but why? Basketball coaches have journeyed throughout the world holding clinics.

These coaches and American players have planted a seed which has continued to nurture. One key to basketball success is limited space…there is no 100 yard or 91.44-meter field similar to what is required in football. We could make the same statement regarding baseball, large acreage is required for baseball. A basketball court be it outside or in an arena provides a much smaller area to compete successfully. Talent will continue to arrive on these shores from all over and it can only aid the continued development of the NBA.