Basketball from a fans perspective

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Summer schedule    

This morning Off the Dribble becomes a 4 day a week publication, Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday are those dates. This begins the summer schedule for the balance of July, September and October. Once college basketball and the NBA ramp up activity I will revert to a 7-day a week publish schedule. This revised schedule will allow me a great deal more flexibility with all the activities of summer. I appreciate you and hope you will continue to be a faithful reader.  

They would have gone out of business

A nostalgic group exists on social media of American Basketball Association fans, I enjoy reading comments of a few members. This includes those who lived through parts of the glory days of the ABA. ABA basketball added several elements to the NBA game we enjoy today. All Star game festivities didn’t exist prior to the ABA beginning it, in addition the league produced a who’s who of great basketball players. Dr. J., Moses Malone, Bobby Jones and Dan Issel to name just a few. The other statement I wish to make has more to do with economics over activity on the court. I’ve read several letters asking the question “Why did the ABA merge with the NBA” and assorted questions along the same line. This is my belief, I have no method to validate my supposition. There was no merger, if it actually existed all the ABA teams would have moved into the NBA…it was expansion of the league.

The NBA took in those cities and teams it desired which were Denver, San Antonio, Indianapolis and New York. The Kentucky Colonels and Spirits of St. Louis were left on the outside peering in the window. I’ve read letters “They (owners) should have held out longer,” I might ask the question based on what? ABA teams were hemorrhaging money back then, no way in the world could they have held out any longer. Unlike the NBA the ABA had no nationwide television contract, although every NBA team might not have been consistently profitable, television money kept the doors open. In addition NBA teams were for the most part located in larger metropolitan areas of the nation. The number of ABA teams forced to move is a bewildering count. Despite the belief of the members of this nostalgia group the ABA would have gone out of business. Pure speculation on my part but the ABA would likely have closed shop by 1980 with no true expansion, just a few thoughts of mine.  

I don’t understand

This is old by the time you read it, it’s not the story but rather a question. I checked out YouTube video of Team USA’s scrimmage against college players including Cooper Flagg. This is the part I find disturbing one of the comments made, “The NBA is trash” that was it, short and to the point. After reading it I thought a moment, there are a number of events that affect my life and my family members. Those especially involving lifestyle can be upsetting and might cause us skepticism. Of all things out there I don’t believe there is a basis for referring to the league as “trash.”

If this individual was employed by the NBA or a team and was terminated for whatever reason the comment is understandable. This is the key portion for me, he went online and uncovered the video in order to make a comment. In other words he searched for this or a similar type video regarding the NBA. Friends I’m no hockey or soccer (football) fan, I would never condemn either sport in this manner. My question to him might be, “What has the NBA done to you forcing you to register such a negative comment.” I will allow this individual his space, no worry on my part…because he hates the NBA so much I have doubts he will ever find his way to this blog.

Only he’s got the answer

By now you are aware Kawhi Leonard has been replaced on Team USA. He’d managed to play only 2 playoff games for the Clippers, I figured he would rehab during off season but I forgot about the Olympics. His name was included with the team and my first thought why was he even there? The Clippers are moving into their multi-billion-dollar arena (Intuit Dome) in the fall. Kawhi Leonard “recruited” Paul George who decided the Sixers would be a better fit, PG’s gone and who’s left? The Clippers will be competitive next season, NBA champions is not a question for them.

As for Leonard, is his NBA career over was the question I asked several basketball fans and they answered in the affirmative. Over time I’ve witnessed a number of exceptionally good NBA players game deteriorate, Leonard’s is different. His is not an age issue but rather an injury history. Of the 328 games the Clippers have played since his arrival Leonard’s only played in 229 of them. I’m not going to figure the percentage let’s just state he’s missed a boat load of games. The MIA of Leonard, he was either injured or load managed. A co-worker mentioned Leonard was responsible for the term “Load Management” coming into usage in the NBA. The headline says it all, only he’s got the answer if his NBA career is to continue.

Dickie V

I love Dick Vitale except I fail to understand the love affair for Kansas basketball. Maybe its Bill Self or some unknown factor that is a mystery to me. As example in looking at his Top 25 list he’s got Kansas at the top but this is the other part of the equation. Dickie V also places Houston, Iowa State, Baylor plus new conference member Arizona all in his list of Sweet 16 teams. On the surface you are asking what’s wrong about the list, all the teams named could land in the Sweet 16. Since you questioned the why allow a brief explanation.

We could add Kansas State and UCF to the mix, that says the Jayhawks might have a challenging task finishing in the top 5 of the Big? Side bar here: The conference is working on a name change I’m unsure how to refer to it. It had 14 teams I believe when it continued to use the former designation. The commissioner’s office is working on a commercial tie in for a conference name. Back to the subject at hand, Kansas teams under Self always win more games than they lose. I’m not expecting a downturn in their fortunes I happen to believe this is not the awesome Kansas basketball team Dickey V is accustomed to seeing on the court.