Basketball from a fan’s perspective

The Celtics win…Celtics win!

No, I am okay and realize the Mavs actually won Game 5. The Mavs came out en Fuego and they took a page from their Celtic rivals. They played belly button to belly button defense on Jayson Tatum, Jaylin Brown and the rest of those guys in Green and White. The Mavs took the Celtics to the outhouse and spanked their fanny’s. And something amazing occurred besides the score, there was no whining I noticed from Luka Doncic. It was Mavs 92 Celtics 54 with less than three minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter.

Doncic exited the game at this point, I have my doubts if he returns. So what occurs Monday when the teams return to Boston, I have no idea but I do have a guess. The Celtics return to the form we saw in Games, 1. 2 and 3. On the other hand the tandem of Luka Doncic-Kyrie Irving could provide us proof they want to extend this series. The final score on this one Mavs 122 Celtics 84, the Mavs shoot a sizzling 50.5% from the floor and 40.5 from three. As for the Celtics it was 36.3% from the floor so we shall see what is yet to unfold in this series. Doncic led the way for the Mavs with 29 points, he was ably assisted by Kyrie Irving who totaled 21 points. Irving had 6 assists to the 5 registered by Doncic, those by Doncic were more of the spectacular type.

Expansion

Earlier this year April to be specific Pittsburg undertook a study to determine if the city could/would support an NBA or WNBA team. An unknown number of citizens probably have no idea the city once had a pro basketball team. This is not a reference to the ABL Rens who played but one season 1961-62 nor the ABA Pipers/Condors who played in mid ‘60’s to the early ‘70’s. This team goes back to the birth of the Basketball Association of America which later became the NBA.

I’m unsure if I could place a percentage, let’s just say a major portion of American steel was produced in the city at a point in time. Based on this fact alone the team name became the Ironmen. The Ironmen were charter members of the BAA having been founded in the 1946-47. They finished the season with 15 wins and 45 losses finishing in 5th place and last in the Western Division. The Ironmen did not play a second season, they went out of business and the basis is unclear 70+ years later. There are a number of citizens who believe with the baseball Pirates, NFL Steelers and NHL Penguins the city is oversaturated versus the metro population. There’s been no final report as far as I can determine.

Foundation

A portion of this account is based on social media but consider this fact. It was said Red Auerbach was a great coach and executive, he was in the forefront of significant moves by the Celtics while he was in charge. As an example Bill Russell and his arrival in 1956, its been mentioned they acquired him through a unique trade. The Celtics had Cliff Hagen (Naismith & College Basketball Hall of Fame) who was a valued talent, Hagen was from St. Louis the home of the Hawks at the time. The 1956 draft had witnessed the Hawks drafting Russell and Auerbach managed to make the trade that changed the NBA.

Russell could be considered the foundation but what about other "bricks" in building the franchise. This is the portion mentioned in social media, the acquisition of talent. Years later another series of events offered continued prosperity for the Celtics. They made a trade with the Warriors acquiring Robert Parrish and a 1980 draft choice. You are aware the value of Parrish but what about that draft pick. That pick would become Kevin McHale who was an indispensable "brick" propping up the franchise. Who went to the Warriors in this exchange, Joe Barry Carroll and Rickey Brown two names most of you have never heard. As you can see the Celtic front office led by Auerbach was quite shrewd in acquiring talent that would later be provided valuable.

Remember where you read it first

According to reports Dan Hurley received the predicted pay raise I wrote about. Oh, you don’t remember where you first read it. Check out the June 12 edition of Off the Dribble just in case you don’t wish to check back issues, here is the key sentence. “with the huge contract the Lakers offered him surely the regents are thinking “We’ve got to increase this guy’s salary.” Just wait and see if it doesn’t occur before summers over, UConn will announce an extension to Hurley’s existing contract.

According to figures provided by CBS Sports College Hurley was working under a 6-year contract paying him $32.1 million. The extension is reported to be a 6-year $50 million extension. This is where it is a little confusing, the Lakers were supposed to have offered Hurley a 6-year contract paying him $70 million a year. This new contract places Hurley a single rung below Bill Self at Kansas who earns in the neighborhood of $53 million. Isn’t that fitting, Self has two NCAA championships under his belt and so does Hurley now.