Basketball from a fans perspective

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These are mine…what about yours

It’s being reported NBA viewership is down, notice there is no mention of attendance. Panic has not set it yet at the NBA offices however there is an explanation I believe is there. We are in the middle of the NFL season, the league dominates the airways playing essentially a Sunday through Saturday schedule. In addition to Sunday daytime, the Chiefs have played Sunday, Monday and Thursday night. An add-on game will be played on Friday afternoon this season. The Chiefs are not scheduled on Saturday however other NFL teams are. Okay what else at the top of my list remains Load Management, with the NBA scheduling fewer back to back games I wondered why. A family spends $100-$200 (tickets, travel, seats and food), they arrive at the game and discover All Pro player A is not playing.

Another area of concern for me, far too much Three point shooting. If a team has a “Steph Curry” equivalent that’s one thing, why must every roster member shoot three’s, I see so many bricks at times its unbelievable? Lack of post play in this era, it’s not necessary to play bully ball as Shaq did. I hate Big Men shooting from distance unless they are Robin Lopez types. I’m closing with officiating, a travel is just that…why has this portion of the game become so irrelevant? There are other elements game officials ignore that bother me but the failure to whistle a travel is the most egregious. Finally the last element, the NBA offices announcing the following day officials made an incorrect call. They are not going to play that portion of the game over, what’s the purpose of publicizing the error? These are mine…what about yours?

The Kansas City-Denver connection

I’ve mentioned on occasion I belong to an American Basketball Association social media group. Recently information was presented connecting the Nuggets with Kansas City. According to an account Kansas City was awarded a team in 1967 in the new ABA. The team would never play in Kansas City unable to secure a home arena which is somewhat strange. This would be several years before Kemper Arena and later T-Mobile were built, venerable Municipal Auditorium was in use at the time for basketball. The arena’s capacity was negligible compared to those of today (10,500). In any event I could locate no information related to an attempt to secure another arena.

Prior to the start of the season owners James Trindle and Bill Ringsby moved the franchise to Denver and the team would be named the Larks. Ringsby owner of the Ringsby Rocket Trucking System changed the name to Rockets prior to the start of the season. As some point Trindle sold his share of ownership to Ringsby for $350,000, Ringsby would be the sole proprietor of the Rockets until 1973 when he sold the franchise. The team name would remain the Rockets until 1974 when they became the Nuggets, why the change? By this time talk of a merger/expansion was probably the driving force for the transformation. The name Rockets existed in Houston and it would be unsuitable to have two teams in the NBA with the same name or at least that’s the belief.

An early look

You are aware of the NBA teams that have gotten off to a slow start. Those teams will be covered later, for now we’ll check out those at the top of the standings. In the East the clear surprise for the 2024-25 season must be the 17-1 Cavs, fact is they are ahead of the defending champion Celtics (14-3). The Cavs won 48 games last season and in the playoffs beat the Magic 4 games to 3. They would lose to the eventual champion Celtics 4 games to 1 so it’s clear the Cavs were good. As for the Celtics they would be at the top if not for the Cavs, it’s early so we shall see if this competitive race remains throughout the season.

In the West the Thunder, who were expected to be near the top find themselves tied with the surprise Warriors for first place, both teams have 12 wins as this is written. As for those teams not playing at the level expected, in the East the Sixers must be mentioned first. The Sixers record is 3 wins and 13 losses but Joel Embiid and Paul George have been missing. The Bucks, despite a wealth of talent have played below par thus far. In the West can I say the Kings and Wolves have underperformed to date, both were playoff teams last season. For the teams not playing at the level expected the Sixers clearly have the worst record of those in the East and West. There is still time for the Sixers and others to turn their season around but they better start soon.

What do you think

Who are the Top 10 high school basketball players in the State of Missouri for 2024-25? A .com site bvmsports.com from Kansas City provided it’s list and then a strange thing occurred for me. I noticed 6 of the 10 basketball players they selected play for Link Academy. Just in case the school might be an unknown this is a prep/basketball school located in Branson (MO) in the heart of the Ozarks. Link plays a national travel schedule, although fairly new the school’s sent a number of players to colleges across the nation.

If this sounds to be a criticism on my part that is the case, this is not aimed at the athletes nor the school. My disagreement is with bvm sports and how they titled the account. Checking the schedule there are three games to be played in Branson and an annual national tournament held in Springfield (MO) every season. The balance of their schedule is laden with games from Texas to Utah to Kentucky and more. I didn’t check the bio’s however I have doubts if any members of the team really have Missouri connections. I’m sure some reading this will believe I’m being far too critical, maybe I am but that’s just the way I feel.

Basketball from a fans perspective

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There are others

At a point in time big men began to play a much larger (get it) role in basketball. I’ve mentioned this previously the old adage, “A little man must prove he can play while a Big Man must prove he can’t.” Fortunately there remain a wealth of talented players who are 6 feet and smaller in stature. As you are aware the Cavs have gotten off to one of the best starts in NBA history as they prepared for their Wednesday game.

Understand this they had 17 wins under their belt with only a single loss. As the evening closed they lost their second game of the season and first at home to the Hawks. Hawks guard Trae Young was the culprit as the 6 foot 1 (185.42 cm) point guard scored 20 points and dished out 22 assists. The assist number is the largest single game assist record thus far, Hawks 135 Cavs 124. I should also mention point guard Trae Young checks in at 164 pounds (74.3891 kg). In Memphis Scotty Pippen Jr. continues to prove he belongs in the NBA, 19 points 7 rebounds and 4 assists. The 7 rebounds are an interesting number for a 6 foot 1 (185.42 cm) point guard who checks in at 170 pounds (77.1107 kg).

Operating under a two-way contract Yuki Kawamura must have been impressive enough to earn a roster position with the Grizzlies. Because Morant and Pippen Jr. are in front of him on the depth chart Kawamura’s time has been limited but the 5 foot 8 (172.72 cm) point guard must have earned the trust of the coaching staff. So there you have it, Kawamura, Young and Pippen Jr. plus other players of smaller stature provide us proof there remains a place for “little men” in basketball and the NBA.

Not what I expected

By now the beat down administered by the Suns is a memory, not for me. The reason this is written Wednesday morning after the Tuesday loss. It’s still early but perhaps the Lakers fooled me, maybe they are not as competitive as I first believed. Durant and Beal returning to the Suns lineup after injury plus Devin Booker…too much for the Lakers but where does that leave them? In the West the Thunder, Rockets, Grizzlies and the surprising Warriors appear better at least for now. You noticed I didn’t include the Nuggets in the count, they are not playing proper basketball.

Their coach has indicated this in a recent press conference, I believe eventually they will return to play at a championship level. I wonder if it matters much since the Nuggets appear to have the Lakers number. Where does that leave my team, at this point battling the Clippers, Kings, Mavs and Wolves for a playoff spot? Did I leave anybody out, as you can see the West is certainly more competitive than the East. Any attempt for a playoff berth this season will require a Herculean effort by the Lakers. Can it be accomplished, of course, however, they can afford few beat downs similar to the one they experienced this past Tuesday.

The Great Escape

The headline is not a reference to the 1963 classic movie by the same title but it could have been. The final score read Kansas 75 Duke 72 and a last second miss by Duke might have sent the game into overtime. The game was almost a tale of two halves, it was all Kansas in the first half and practically all Duke in the second. I’m sure those reading the last sentence will disagree however it’s based on one fact alone. The first half of the game saw the Blue Devils shooting in the 30 some percentage range, they ended the game shooting 50% from the floor with 42.3% from three.

The Blue Devils actually outshot Kansas from the floor by a bit (49.1%). The stifling defense of Kansas sometimes double teaming Cooper Flagg took him completely out of his game. Although he only scored 13 points Flagg managed to shoot 50% for the game. Hunter Dickinson center for Kansas was ejected from the game with a flagrant foul, how much that impacted the outcome is an unknown for me. Dickinson after a fast start offensively was 0 for 5 from the floor at a point, he finished the night with 11 points shooting 36% from the floor. Kansas received help from KJ Adams, Zeke Mayo and Dajuan Harris Jr. allowing them to win this tough battle and permitting the win. Until someone beats them Kansas deserves its number one ranking among all schools.  

Too much

Writing this I am reminded of the old adage, “A coach (manager) receives too much credit when his team wins and too much blame when they lose.” In this case am I giving interim coach Mitch Johnson too much credit for the recent success of the Spurs? As most are aware legendary coach Pop has been sidelined with a health issue, he is reported to have suffered a minor stroke. When or if he returns the Spurs leadership is clearly in the hands of Johnson. I knew nothing about Johnson so a decision was made to uncover a few facts about him.

He’s 37-years old and was a point guard at Stanford, he went undrafted in the 2009 NBA draft. Johnson played one season in the G-League and from there moved into the coaching ranks in 2016. His first job was an assistant with the Austin Spurs of the G-League, in 2019 he moved over to the parent team as an assistant. On November 2 Johnson was named interim coach due to Pop’s medical condition. This is not the same Spurs team as in Wemby’s rookie season, his play has improved. In addition to that veteran Harrison Barnes and wily point guard Chris Paul have been added to the roster. The Spurs drafted ROY contender Stephon Castle and he is playing valued minutes. As you can see the Spurs are improved on the court, I ask you can part of the resurgence be attributed to coach Johnson you decide?

Basketball from a fans perspective

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The Celtics can be BEATEN…

In an individual game, a series might be another question. The Man in the Middle Kristaps Porzingis returned to the lineup on Monday against the Clippers. I only saw highlights of the game however his appearance was welcome news for the Celtics. Porzingis scored 16 points on 50% shooting with 6 rebounds and 2 blocked shots, nothing spectacular but a good effort. His total contributed to the 129 to 94 beat down of the Clippers.

The speedy start by the Cavs has been the talk of the NBA and that’s easy to understand. The Cavs have yet to prove they are prepared for June, the Celtics appear to be locked in already. The calendar has not turned to 2025 yet so we have a long, long NBA season ahead of us. Despite that fact a team besides the Celtics must prove to me they are ready to step up. Jayson Tatum led the way with 20 points in a balanced scoring output by the Celtics. There was also support by two Celtics in a reserve role, Payton Pritchard matched Tatum with 20 points and Big Man Neemias Queta contributed 12 points and 9 rebounds.

Bits n Pieces of information

I was aware of this information previously however it was just a number. The Spurs Victor Wembanyama has an 8 foot (243.84 cm) wingspan. For sure that’s why he’s leading the NBA in blocked shots in his second year. Consider the fact that his game is still evolving, will his defensive effort eventually be similar to that of former Celtic great Bill Russell? 

I read this statement by Russell once, he said, “I can’t block every shot but if I allow them to think I can” or similar words. There is no telling how many shots were missed by the opposition fearing Russell was lurking about. The same holds true for Wemby today, I’m sure a number have said to themselves before attempting a shot, “where is he.” Last season LeBron James referred to Wemby as an alien, with the emergence of guard Stephon Castle the duo has now been tagged Area 51. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_CFg9ZhHZA

Jimmy Traina staff writer for SI claims ESPN has no desire to add Stephen A. Smith to the Inside the NBA production next season. According to reports ESPN is the host platform only, the TNT production crew will continue to bring into being the program. Inside the NBA has been a successful pre and post-game presentation on TNT. As you are aware TNT will no longer be a broadcast partner having lost out to the family of ABC/ESPN, NBC and Amazon. A better question might be why would anyone consider it necessary to add Screaming A. Smith to the program, I’m asking for a friend?

A Yes and a No

I am always exploring methods to improve my Lakers, in this instance I’m looking at a yes and a no on trades. In both instances the proposals came from the Sporting News, so with that said let’s explore the NO first. This one had the Lakers trading Austin Reaves and draft picks to the Nuggets for Michael J Porter Jr. On the surface this would be stupendous for the Lakers however it’s never going to occur, the chief reason the Lakers are Western Conference foes to the Nuggets.

What in the world is this author thinking, these teams which have battled one another would all of a sudden become trading partners. As for free agency that might be a different matter however that possibility is in the realm of maybe, the verdict on this one a big fat NO. The YES is quite entertaining for a variety of reasons. The Lakers trade D’Lo, Jalen Hood-Schifino and draft choices to the Pacers for Myles Turner. The 6 foot 11 (210.82 cm) Turner would play center with AD moving back to the power forward and LeBron would remain at small forward, this would make for a dynamic front court. This trade is an emphatic YES however it is questionable it occurs as well.

“I’m sorry”

Seattle wants back in the NBA, the NBA maybe wants a Seattle return. Much has been written over the last two years or so in this blog and elsewhere. Key Arena has been completely refurbished and is home to the NHL Kraken, and as the arena is configured for basketball can accommodate 18,300. How did the city lose the Sonics to Oklahoma City you might ask? The story is far too long and complex to detail in its entirety. Former owner Howard Schultz played a pivotal role in the Sonics leaving for Oklahoma City and all these years later he admits he was misled. The shorten version the team was losing money plus the owner wanted a new arena which at the time was not forthcoming. Schultz decided to sell the team, I’m unsure if there were local interest bidding for the team, he chose a group from Oklahoma.

This is the most interesting part of this story, all these years later he believed the team would remain in Seattle. I’m sure citizens of Kansas City, San Diego and other locations held a slightly different view. In any event the balance of the story is NBA history, the team moved to Oklahoma City in 2008 and have never looked back. In a 2019 interview Schultz admits “Selling the team was a mistake and he apologized on how he handled the situation. It was a mistake, I apologize for it, and I’m sorry.” As a condition of the sale the name Sonics and all team records remain in Seattle, the Thunder are technically a new team. In addition to an intense desire to return to the NBA at least two ownership groups have indicated they plan on bidding for the new “Sonic’s” franchise. In closing its only a matter of when…the NBA will definitely return to Seattle.

Basketball from a fans perspective

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I made an error big time

After I published my view of the top 2025 ROY candidates I omitted a rookie who is making a tremendous impact for his team. Spurs fans please forgive me for my failure to add Stephon Castle to my list of candidates. As this is written they are a single game above .500 a long range goal. A large portion of improved play can be laid at the feet of last season’s ROY Victor Wembanyama, this seasons rookie has proven he is ready to compete at the NBA level. 

The portion I find most unusual is this past Monday I detailed how the former UConn guard had moved into the Spurs starting lineup due to an injured starter. Because the team is operating with an assistant coach in place will Castle remain in the lineup when coach Pop returns. Spurs Nation please, this was just an oversight on my part. Stephon Castle is definitely in the mix for ROY.

Kryptonite

You’ve seen the movies or read the comic books…Superman is the strongest man in the world. He can defeat anyone or anything except that comprised of known Kryptonite. It makes Superman weak and he loses his ability to function. The Lakers have a Kryptonite foe in the form of the Nuggets. In 2020 winning the NBA championship they beat the Nuggets more than once in their playoff series. Since then my memory paints a completely different picture.They didn’t lose last season to the Nuggets in the playoffs because they didn’t play them. 

Prior to that it was a different story, on Saturday night everything was in place. The Lakers (at home) raced out to a first half lead and then the roof of Crypto.com literally collapsed on them. TO’s, poor shooting and poor defense as the Nuggets returned to form beating my Lakers 127-102. It was the usual culprits, The Joker plus MPJ but there was an addition. The Nuggets added former KU guard Christian Braun to the party along with a Laker of the past Russell Westbrook. All in all it was not a good night for the Purple and Gold and my closing statement is, hopefully next time they meet the outcome will be different.

There are others

Fairly or not our focus has been on Duke’s Cooper Flagg, several are referring to the 6 foot 9 Cooper as a generational talent. I intend to see him play as often as possible however there are others who will soon begin play in their freshman year. Is one of those profiled here in this account…wait and see. Rutgers might have struck the mother lode in recruiting Ace Bailey. Understand this, Bailey stands 6 foot 10 but is projected as a small forward/shooting guard. I want to see him in action for the Scarlet Knights this fall and winter. His freshman teammate Dylan Harper is one who is also expected to impact the college game, he’s a 6 foot 6 inch guard.

Dylan’s father is former NBA player Ron Harper who had an extended career for several teams. The next player we profile is named Valdez Edgecombe Jr. however he’s better known as VJ. He was born in The Bahamas however his family moved to Florida when he was a high school freshman. This McDonald’s All American is a 6 foot 5 shooting guard and is enrolled at Baylor. Duke recruited effectively and has more than Flagg this season. Kon Knueppel (6-7, 217) and Khaman Maluach (7-1, 250) are also freshman Blue Devils. As I close allow me to state there are some misses here, this was an attempt to point out several high profile freshman. I am sure some were missed while others profiled might not have the season projected. In any event, sit back and prepare to enjoy yourself for the 2024-25 collegiate basketball season.  

His audition

Scotty Pippen Jr. is not going to play point guard for the Grizzlies, they have Ja Morant penciled in at the position. He is playing due to an injury suffered by Morant which has sidelined him. Pippen Jr. will not remind folks of his famous dad, for one thing he’s a great deal shorter in height and weight. Standing 6 foot 1 to his fathers 6 foot 8 height and 170 pounds versus 228 however he can play…ask the Lakers? I’ve mentioned previously Pippen Jr. arrived in the NBA undrafted.

After time spent with the Lakers he moved on to the Grizzlies, he’s distinguished his play whenever the opportunity arises. So last season and the early part of this we consider this an audition, an opportunity for Pippen Jr. to show the rest of the NBA he’s got game. It’s a good thing to have talent a team can employ in the case of injury or just to accommodate a starter, Pippen Jr. belongs in someone’s starting lineup. He led the way in his team’s 141-131 victory over the Bulls, 30 points along with 10 assists and guess what? This outstanding game was played in the United Center the arena his father played in for the Jordan led Bulls teams. I almost forgot, he shot 81.3% from the floor with 50% of it from three and a sparkling 100% from the free throw line.

Basketball from a fans perspective

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ROY

The NBA season is almost a month old but it’s far too early to determine. There are rookies playing while others bid their time on the bench behind a veteran. It’s been my belief sometimes it might be a good thing to be drafted by a “bad” team. Teams not playing up to par for a variety of reasons are able to slide a rookie into the lineup easier. By the time February rolls around there might be another rookie who comes to the forefront. The current leader is former Duke guard and Sixer Jared McCain, his numbers point out he is clearly in front.

McCain is 16.5 points, 2.7 assists and 48.4% shooting from the floor, good numbers for a guy picked at 16. I have written several times thus far about Dalton Knecht of the Lakers. He’s scoring at 11.7 points a game with a sizzling 52% shooting from the floor, he was chosen at 17. We also have the Hawks Zaccharie Risacher selected at the top of the draft along with Stephon Castle the 4th pick by the Spurs. Finally there is Big Man Zach Edey who was said at one time to not be draft worthy, he was number 9 by the Grizzlies. There is no guarantee the 2025 NBA Rookie of the Year will come from any of these names. What I find interesting those at the top McCain and Knecht were both drafted outside the lottery.

I have concerns

Mizzou won the Friday evening game Friday against Pacific, the final score 91-56. Despite the win I have concerns which I will share with you. From a recruiting standpoint Mizzou has an excellent 2024 recruiting class it was number 8 in the nation I believe, in addition the coach was able to fill up the balance of the roster with portal transfers but still I worry. Is it the competitive SEC that worries me…to a degree but it’s the other thing. Those returnees plus transfers are liable to receive the bulk of minutes on the court. For this outstanding freshman class will they be patient enough until it’s their turn.

This is different, these freshman have gone from being Mr. Big Shot on their high school team to finding a seat on the Mizzou bench. 247Sports projects Mizzou will need to win at least 20 games, that would place them with a 9 win 9 loss record in the SEC. KenPom ranks Mizzou at number 53 which says they could earn an NCAA berth. Despite what might be seen as a middle of the road season that is light years better than last season. Mizzou Nation remembers the horrible 8 win 24 loss record I can locate predictions for the season for days, the one that cannot be answered is who goes and who returns as a sophomore.   

This is an old subject

Kawhi Leonard’s name continues to appear in Off the Dribble for the wrong reasons. There is never any discussion of his play on the court, the dialogue in this blog is always focused on his health. There are rules in place that indicate the public should not be party to all of one’s medical condition. For professional athletes it is somewhat different, we the public expect teams to be forthright and honest with us regarding medical news.

In the case of Leonard he’s always been a man of few words so we must gain our information from those around him. Reading an ESPN report is not only enlightening but also concerning allow me to explain. His coach claimed everything was okay until Leonard suffered a setback while practicing with Team USA. It’s been mentioned he left the team and then the confusing statement from Clippers President Lawrence Frank at the time indicating “He (Leonard) was making progress.” The announcement October 17 just might be the beginning of the end of Leonard’s NBA career, Leonard is suffering inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee. Think about this a moment, he led two teams (Spurs, Raptors) to NBA championships and was twice voted the series MVP.

It’s unfair to compare sports but I’m going to do it anyway. The baseball Royals roster once contained we were told a super talented player. The only problem for Raul Mondesi it seemed he could never remain healthy, he would be placed on the IR numerous times during a season. Mondesi like Leonard missed major parts of the baseball season and that becomes the dilemma. How valuable are you as an athlete to your team if you are rarely able to play for extended periods? The Clippers are going on a 4-game road trip and the team announced Leonard will not travel with them. 

Bits n Pieces of Information

I gained this bit of information searching for a Bronny James update. The Clippers as with all NBA teams have a G-League affiliate. In the instance the affiliate of the Clippers is certainly unique they play out of San Diego which is a short 124 miles between the downtowns of both cities. The northern metro of Los Angeles might bump up against the northern metro of San Diego, in any event back to the subject. I located a box score for the South Bay Lakers who played the San Diego Clippers the previous night. Interesting, rather than a new name why not an old one a name depending on one’s age a number of folks in San Diego might be familiar with. The Los Angeles Clippers of the NBA called San Diego home from 1978-1984 before moving north.

I have a standing order with myself to not discuss player salaries…the reasoning is clear on my part. Although I’ve long believed everyone deserves a decent salary (your definition is____) I have believed for a time professional athletes earn far more income than might be due. Police, fire, emergency responders and educators should be paid more but that is a subject for another time and place. With that said how about the other side of the coin, you might have heard the term “pay it forward.” That’s exactly what the late Kobe Bryant once did, he encouraged James Harden to invest in a startup company that earn Bryant a huge amount of money. That same company has rewarded Harden in an identical manner, what does Harden he do? He indicates he mentioned a similar company to teammate Terrance Mann thus paying it forward.

His given name is Johnuel Fland although he is better known by his nickname Boogie. According to his bio when he was a baby he was always dancing so his family hung the name on him. This 6 foot 2 175 pound combo guard and McDonald’s All American had previously committed to Kentucky. Then this occurred, John Calipari left Kentucky for Arkansas and guess what…Boogie headed to Fayetteville. Boogie is from the Bronx in New York and played his high school basketball at Archbishop Stepinac in White Plains New York. His last year of school saw him score at a 19.2 point per game clip 6 rebounds and 3.6 assists a game. If Boogie is as good as advertised we might miss him at Arkansas, if his freshman year is as good as some believe the next stop will be the NBA.   

Basketball from a fans perspective

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Nonagenarian

I ain’t that smart, I had to look up the term, the definition for the headline, “A person who is 90 years old or between the ages of 90 and 99 is called a nonagenarian.” That term applies to this former player and coach and longtime ESPN analyst Hubie Brown. Brown had birthday number 91 in September, it’s likely while celebrating he was preparing for his umpteenth year behind the mic for ESPN’s NBA telecasts. The mind is as sharp as ever pointing out the intricacies of the game. His degree of communicating to a television audience leaves you thinking wow, I didn’t know that. On the other hand you it could be a thing you are familiar with however Brown provided a different slant.     

Sadly, I must communicate to some of you that this will be his last season working the game. Brown could have retired 30-40 years ago if he desired but he continued on and I believe for one reason…love of the game. Just a few honors that have come his way over a lifetime of basketball. Two time inductee in the College Basketball and Naismith Hall of Fame, in addition ABA champion coach. Twice Brown was named NBA Coach of the Year (1978, 2004) and 2017 witnessed him receiving the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Basketball Coaches Association. No wonder he is such an accomplished conversationalist Brown has miles and miles of stuff to fall back on regarding the sport. I for one will miss your commentary, thanks Hubie Brown for a lifetime of work.  

The worst team in the NBA

Nobody wants that tag, the worst but it is true. The Sixers were expected to compete in the East against the vaulted Celtics, they find themselves with 2 wins and 12 losses as this is written. They acquired free agent Paul George in the off season, they had young guard Tyrese Maxey plus Joel Embiid. They were ready to compete at least that was the thought but its yet to come to fruition. Part of the problem is Embiid being sidelined for much of the season. I’m unsure as this is written if all three have been in the lineup at the same time.

It’s not good news when we read reports that Maxey had to call out Embiid for his tardiness to meetings and other stuff. It certainly is possible for the Sixers to right this ship, the only problem is the deep, deep hole they find themselves in. When healthy and on the court the trio plus the remainder of the roster could contend for a playoff berth. As for competing directly against the Celtics I don’t believe that is possible at least this season. I have no method of judging the Sixers fan base but they are accustomed to good basketball, how long will they show up at Wells Fargo Center and not become upset with a mediocre performance by the Sixers.

I searched the record book

Dalton Knecht had an outstanding scoring game however I wanted to break down portions of it. The first is high game scoring, although 37 points is an excellent number for a rookie it’s not close to a team record, that honor belongs to Elgin Baylor. The number is lower than the 55 points Elgin Baylor scored February 25, 1959, in his rookie year versus the Cincinnati Royals. Truth is Knecht’s point total places him in 8th place alongside other Laker players, Baylor also sits in second place with 41 points scored. Knecht’s 9 three point baskets also tied him with three others in NBA history.

Not a rookie record however he managed to become the 4th Laker in team history to score 9 3’s. The others are D’ Lo, LeBron James twice and Kobe Bryant four times. Most are aware Kobe Bryant scored 81 points in a game the second highest in the NBA behind Chamberlains 100 point game. In case you are curious why Bryant’s rookie scoring is not listed in the totals he was a reserve player. Despite the talent he would later display the Lakers were a playoff caliber team which meant the 18-year old Bryant played few minutes. This was unlike the development much later in Cleveland, 18-year old LeBron James was inserted into the Cavs starting lineup immediately.

Their issues are similar

Building plans for new arenas have hit a snag in San Antonio and Philadelphia. First the issue in The Alamo City home of the Spurs, it’s been reported since the arrival of Wemby the city wanted to take advantage of that fact. The plan was to include a baseball diamond along with the arena, they even had a location chosen and the project appeared to be moving along swiftly and then came the unexpected unwelcome news.   

The Texas Historical Commission designated the Institute of Texas Cultures a state antiquities landmark, so eventually an arena will be built but probably not at the designated location, we shall see how this eventually develops. In Philly there is also a delay but it is possibly more involved than exists in San Antonio. The mayor has an agreement with the Sixers, there is at least one group opposed to the plan. In the second day of city council hearings it appears the basketball team is facing some opposition. So we have two separate NBA teams wanting a new arena and there are issues holding up the progress. We have a question which moves to a point of approval by the city first.

It's going to take awhile

These newly created supersized conferences create difficulty for me. Do you realize the Big 12, which at one time was a Midwest Conference, now comprises teams in all 3 time zones? UCF, Cincinnati and West Virginia are Eastern Time locations, the balance of schools are Central Time. BYU is Mountain Time along with Arizona and Arizona State which joins the conference next fall. I’m not just picking on the Big 12, let’s check out a couple of more. The Big 10 once an upper Midwest Conference (Central Time) now includes UCLA, Southern Cal, Oregon and Washington all Pacific Time Zone schools.

The Pac-12 thought to be going away gained new life by adding a contingent of schools once considered mid-majors in Boise State, San Diego State and Gonzaga. There is an indication the Pac-12 is not finished nor is the Big 12, in fact I read an interesting story. The Big 12 commissioner has backed down to a point but it was reported he wants it to eventually become a 16-team conference. Of course we realize the driving force behind all these moves is financial. In addition some believe these moves are being made because the NCAA is powerless these days. The number of changes can be quite confusing as you can see.

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Connect 4 or is it Knecht 4?

One of the issues my buddy says, “You get caught up sometimes in the scoring numbers.” He’s correct, scoring especially that of the efficient variety impresses me. What about Dalton Knecht’s defense and other parts of his game, I’m going to plead guilty at least for now…I don’t have a clue. As for the offensive portion I am quite impressed, I’ve not witnessed a Laker rookie score at this level since Kyle Kuzma. The difference clearly Kuzma was not the proficient shooter Knecht is. To borrow the old Dan Patrick term from his days at ESPN, Knecht was en Fuego against the Jazz on Tuesday night.

Knecht would lead the way to the Lakers 124-118 victory with his prolific shooting, 37 points with most of it 9-12 from the 3P line. Has LeBron James taken a back seat to a rookie, maybe someone else must provide me that information. In any event the Lakers find themselves with a 10 win 4 loss season thus far. I remain cautious, cautious regarding the team, injuries, Knecht and the competition. For Knecht it’s the “rookie wall,” just in case you are unfamiliar with the term its applied to rookies in the NBA. By mid to late January generally they have played the same number of games as in college, they run out of gas. Those are the factors that are the foundation of my concern for the 2024-25 Laker season. If they are able to secure a veteran Big Man and defensive specialist Jerrod Vanderbilt is able to return from injury…well I just don’t know.

It’s my prerogative

Bobby Brown recorded an R&B hit tune with the above title in 1988. You can lay claim to almost anything if you wish, folks can disagree if they desire which is exactly what I’m doing in this case. In these parts with a winning Royals baseball team and Super Bowl Champion Chiefs those topics would dominate sports talk radio. Last winter one of the locals was asking all his guest a similar question. “Don’t you think it would be better if college basketball started in January over November?” A funny thing occurred, not one single guest I heard agreed with this host. His explanation for the change was based of all things football.

This is what he said, “With the Chiefs playing into January every season our concentration is on them rather than college basketball.” That was then, this is now…one of the broadcasters for Kansas football and basketball was his guest Tuesday afternoon. At the end of the interview he proposed this same January basketball start, once again this person failed to agree with him. Friends I am not opposed to change, over my youth and into adulthood I’ve witnessed a number of changes in basketball college and the NBA. The changes (good or bad) were an attempt to enhance the game, they were not made to aid the viewership or following of another sport. I guess he’s never going to give up his pursuit of a change he believes enhances the game, I guess like Bobby Brown he’s saying, “It’s my prerogative.”

I applaud him

All of us realize by now the Lakers continue playing their games in Crypto.com arena, in the meantime the Clippers are in the brand new Intuit Dome. Two arenas for two NBA teams which is what it should have been all along. At the time the Nets moved from New Jersey to Brooklyn they didn’t share Madison Square Garden, they had Barclays Center constructed. At one time the Lakers and Clippers played in different arenas located over the Greater Los Angeles metro.  

Prior to Crypto Laker games were played in the Forum and the Clippers at a number of locations in the Greater Los Angeles metro. With two basketball teams and an NHL team sharing an arena someone had to be placed behind the others. I’m unsure if the Lakers were 1a and 1b or which number the Kings held. I know who was number 2 it was the Clippers. How do I know because they complained about their place in the pecking order? Along came owner Steve Ballmer who would change that, spending his own money the Intuit Dome was built with an October NBA opening. Now the scheduling issue should be resolved now and into the future.

Has he reached his peak

Most of you reading this were probably unfamiliar with the name Scoot Henderson before Wemby. You might remember prior to the 2023 NBA draft Wemby’s Metropolitans 92 team journeyed to Las Vegas to play G-Team Elite and Scoot Henderson. At some point after the two games Henderson announced he should be the top pick in the 2023 draft, that would not occur however the Blazers chose him at three. Is Henderson talented enough to just play in the NBA, by my statement I am indicating a slightly above average player.

Allow me to explain further, the numbers Henderson produced were good but certainly not outstanding. The truth is the rookie numbers closely paralleled his last season in the G-League. Keep in mind this is written without me having the opportunity to witness his play, the 2024-25 numbers are slightly higher than his rookie season. Will Henderson’s NBA career be that of an above average but not outstanding player? This might be a case of what is considered success, I can think of at least two players who appear to have parlayed themselves into financial solvency well past their NBA careers. In conclusion success must be defined by the individual in question not by me or anyone else.

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He’s not the only one 

Unless you’ve been on the moon or hibernating in a cave more than likely you are familiar with the name Cooper Flagg. Virtually every NBA mock draft site places Duke freshman Flagg as the presumptive number one NBA draft pick in 2025, of course that won’t be confirmed until June 2025. But wait there is more, Flagg might have additional Duke company in the first round. Not only first round but they too might be lottery picks as well, just who are the other potential lottery picks?

There is Kon Knueppel a 6 foot 6 (198.120 cm) 205 pounds (92.986 kg) wing, Knueppel is also a freshman. One additional freshman might be a lottery pick as well, his name Khaman Maluach and he’s a 7 foot 1 (215.89 cm) 250 pound (113.39 cm) post player. This is written in late November none of the three have played a complete season for Duke. In addition Knueppel and or Maluach might decide in favor of returning to Duke over the NBA. As you can see Duke basketball is more than Cooper Flagg for the 2024-25 season college season.  

How good are they…I don’t know

By the time you read this the Lakers will either be 10-4 record or 9-5, they have a 6 game winning streak or have won 5 of 6. Maybe it’s just me that I always attempt to approach play of any team with optimism. The NFL Chiefs are not going to be undefeated however they could still win the Super Bowl again thus a 3-peat. As for my Lakers I was underwhelmed with the hire of JJ Redick, I said on more than one occasion UConn coach Dan Hurley was my choice. I took this view despite the fact Hurley had 0 NBA experience and the fact college coaches have performed poorly in the NBA. In any event I said let’s see how this experiment with Redick works out. As the calendar moves toward December the Lakers are playing inspired basketball, is it due to the coaching change?

Depth, the team needs a post player to move AD back to his natural position. If they are unable to secure a player will that impact play the balance of the season and into a possible playoff run? I really like what LeBron is doing so far, deferring his game to AD, Reaves, Knecht and others on the roster. There is an AARP card waiting for the 40 year old LeBron James in the Lakers mail room, how long can he play as if he’s a 30 year old instead of 40? Christian Wood sidelined due to surgery, from his comments it appears Wood is ready to prove last season was an anomaly. That gives Laker fans hope Wood plays in the same manner he did as a member of the Mavs. Can Jaxson Hayes and Christian Koloko share the post effectively to negate a trade? I have 1,001 questions regarding this Laker version, most of the answers will not be available until the end of the season playoff or not.

Trivia

In NBA history there have been two players win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season. I will give you a hint, don’t CHEAT. One played for the Baltimore Bullets while the other was a member of the Philadelphia Warriors. The Bullets have morphed into the Washington Wizards and the Warriors moved to San Francisco quite a while ago. This event occurred twice in the ABA and both players later played in the NBA, both of them are now enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame. How good are you at basketball trivia especially back in the day? Below are the names, its up to you to decipher them.

tliw nialrebmahc     sew dlesuu

sitra eromlig      recneps doowyah

Don’t make my mistake

A number of years ago a friend who I value as a trusted basketball savant made a statement to me. Neil said, “You need to see __________, I think he’s going to be a good NBA player.” I said thanks I’ll check him out, a few weeks later I saw this player in action and thought “He’s not that good.” Needless to say this player was later drafted and had a decent NBA career. I don’t remember the players name but this one I do. He is Anthony Edwards, Ant Man of the Wolves and this is my confession. I’d never seen him play although his reputation preceded him.

Mizzou was playing Georgia on their home court, Ant Man scored 20 plus points in a losing effort but seemed to take a greater than usual number of shots. I said to myself, “I’m not that impressed” and this the warning to former NBA player and podcaster host Gilbert Arenas. You have more basketball behind you than me but don’t make the same mistake I did, don’t be so quick to pass judgement. Arenas was assessing the potential of Duke’s Cooper Flagg and indicated he wasn’t to impressed. Arenas is talking about a 17-year old indicating to his listeners the youngster should be playing like a 30-year old NBA veteran. This will be the last time you read the name Gilbert Arenas in this blog.

Is the term still valid

Recently while reading an account of college basketball I came across the term “Blue Blood.” The term when applied to basketball applied to 5 or 6 teams which seem to dominate the sport. I focused on the term for a moment, is it valid in 2024 and beyond? The statement is made due to the changed basketball landscape. If we look back a decade or so ago if one utilized the term they were speaking of a handful of programs.

 We could expect to see Kentucky listed, Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, UCLA and Indiana are the schools considered Blue Blood basketball programs. The advent of Name, Image and Likeness plus the transfer portal have impacted college basketball all around that would argue do Blue Blood programs still exist. Once the NCAA tournament commenced each spring these teams were usually in the forefront although they might not be winners every season. If we are discussing the tournament we’ve seen Baylor and especially UConn come to the forefront in recent times. The term might still exist I’m just unsure if its valid any longer with the changes in today’s college basketball.

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He was too old

The headline is a little misleading however an explanation follows. Guard Dalton Knecht wasn’t projected to be the first pick in 2024 however it would be somewhere in the Top 10. Imagine the shock in the “war room” when Laker management discovered Knecht was available at 17. Did he fall because of potential issues…no it wasn’t that, why do you suppose he dropped. From what I’ve read there were teams concerned about his age, now Knecht is nowhere near LeBron’s however he is 23 years old. The entire draft has changed so much in recent years, we have players chosen annually between the ages of 19-21. So it comes down to the fact that a number of NBA teams were scared off by Knecht’s age.

The 6 foot 6 inch (198.120 cm) Knecht had a slow start during summer league and only occasionally flashed the type of game he had while at Tennessee. We’ve read and heard reports that JJ Redick is constantly encouraging him to shoot the ball and the message has finally come through. Do you suppose Redick might see himself in Knecht? Injuries placed Knecht in the starting lineup recently and Saturday evening against the Pelicans he really came to the forefront. 27 points shooting 85.8% and 50% from the 3P line. All that and understand this 0 TO’s in 37 minutes of action on the court. As per usual I always wish to approach this story like others, this is no prediction of future stardom. Knecht 4 for the win, Lakers 104 Pelicans 99.

Opening bell

Despite the horrendous play Mizzou experienced this past season what is expected for 2024-25. Looking at recruiting this is interesting, for this season if we just look at that alone Mizzou is ranked number 6 in the nation by Rivals. Although 2025 recruiting is not yet complete they place Mizzou at number 22, as for others On3 has them at 29 and 247Sports places them at 32. Both numbers are high water marks for any Mizzou programs of the past and this goes back to the era of longtime Mizzou coach Norm Stewart (1967-1999).

It’s that time of the season, i.e., the early college basketball signing period. As a reminder this group of prospects for Mizzou were ranked in the Top 10 in the nation. This is a position Mizzou’s never held in the past. It’s early so it is yet to revealed whether Mizzou’s Class of 2024 is as promising as the experts have indicated. Although most of this crop of freshman have not seen the floor at Mizzou arena we are going to look at 2025 recruiting. The early signing period began November 13 and runs through November 20 and     Nothing has changed since the earlier mention, there is 6-foot 155 pound PG Aaron Rowe and 6-foot 7 225 pound forward Nicholas Randall. As this was being completed Rowe and Randall signed on the dotted line, both are headed to Mizzou next fall. There are several other 2025 athletes on Mizzou’s radar, the question might be will they sign early or late? There is a giant step between competitive high school basketball and tough SEC play, that says an adjustment is required for all incoming freshmen.

Up next are the transfer portal players, Mizzou is no exception generally transfer players were productive at their previous school. That fails to take into consideration they too might suffer an adjustment period as well. This is not me rather it’s the media, a 21 win season on the high side and a 17 win season on the low side. The Columbia Daily Tribune says Mizzou might be headed for the NIT over the NCAA Tourney. The question for Mizzou Nation, would this be a successful season in their eyes?

This is pleasing news for many

As most of you reading this are aware a new television contract takes place next season for the NBA. The family of broadcasters will no longer consist of a broadcast staple…Turner Network Television. With this move the extremely popular Inside the NBA program along with it’s crew would disappear from our television sets. There is much rejoicing in the land today because apparently a new agreement has been concluded. The Wall Street Journal is reporting TNT will license Inside the NBA to air on ESPN and ABC. Until this is finalized we can speculate regarding several issues until they are confirmed.

Now that it appears we are headed in a positive direction let’s explore some detail. At the top of the list is Charles Barkley, Sir Charles indicated he was retiring and then he wasn’t. It’s highly likely he remains in place continuing to be his irreverent self. Next up, the City of Atlanta would cease to exist if Ernie Johnson left. We are going to suppose the broadcast will continue to emanate from Atlanta. Kenny will continue to go to the Big Board to diagram the play and Shaq will go on with whatever it is he does lol. It should be of note this is not the first instance of a program moving to another network however it should detail for all how popular Inside the NBA is with its audience.

Whatever happened to Wally Pipp? 

If you are historical student of baseball the name is familiar to you. As for others Pipp was the starting first baseman for the Yankees from 1915 through 1925. His story is part fact and part fiction, in a game once he asked to be removed from the starting lineup due to a headache. Lou Gehrig would replace him and go on to play 2,130 consecutive games a record which stood for 56 years. The reason why Pipp was seated is the fictional portion of the story. That was baseball and this is a basketball blog so what’s the story here? Starting guard Jeremy Sochan went down with an injury which placed rookie Stephon Castle in the starting lineup.

What are your expectations for an NBA rookie, yours might be different from mine and that’s okay. For me the bar is never too high i.e., I expect them to adjust to play but the speed depends. I’m sure few would admit it however the phrase “deer in the headlights” probably applies to most rookies for a time. As for the bar being placed too high last season I believed Wemby could play once he adjusted to the NBA. I have made the same statement about Laker rookie Dalton Knecht who slid downward in the 2024 draft due to his age. This exercise is not on either of them, but rather Spurs guard Stephon Castle. I believe Castle can play effectively at the NBA level for a number of reasons. He excelled at UConn playing for a good program and one of my favorite coaches Dan Hurley. Drafted by the Spurs places him in an ideal position although he’s second on the team’s depth chart. When given time on the court the 6 foot 6 (198.12 cm) shooting guard has shown steady growth in a reserve role. In the starting lineup last Friday against my Lakers Castle literally said “I’m here” with his game.

Castle scored 22 points on 58.3% shooting from the floor with 75% of it from 3P line as he dealt out 5 assists, two downsides to the game the Spurs were losers and he shot only 63% from the free throw line. I never predict superstardom for any rookie however I can say with confidence that if Castle is able to avoid major injury he should have a stellar NBA career ahead. This headline from a .com site, “He’s already the second best player on the Spurs.” This presents a dilemma for the Spurs, they must make a backcourt move at the trade deadline.

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Wemby is built differently

There is no doubt in my mind, sometimes my eyes betray me. I see things that didn’t occur or at least I don’t think they happened. This account is not borrowed from the 1999 movie The Sixth Sense, you remember the line from Haley Joel Osment “I see dead people.” It’s nothing close to that issue this is strictly basketball related. During Friday evenings Spurs-Lakers game I saw a play occur I remain unsure if it took place, in addition I don’t remember if it was replayed or if anyone saw it besides me. A Spurs player took a shot which bounced off the basket and then this transpired.

Victor Wembanyama 7 foot 4 (223.519 cm) went over the top of two Laker players who appeared to be boxing him out however Wemby was able to snag the rebound. Over the course of my basketball years I’ve seen this occur but never over two players. Did this play actually occur or did my eyes mislead me? I conducted a YouTube search and located that portion of the game. The truth of the matter both Laker players were in box out positions, the manner in which the ball bounced off the rim one of the Laker players was nearer Wemby than the other, despite this fact both Lakers could have possibly secured the ball. With his height of 7-4 I believe Wemby might be the only player capable of this achievement.  

No doubt

I’ve read the hate mail over the years, some of it even coming from Laker fans. For reasons of their own these individuals have decided they don’t like LeBron James, I would guess 98% of it has nothing to do with off the court issues. At this late stage of his career I can admit he was never my personal choice as the best player ever, that belonged to the late Kobe Bryant. Despite my feelings toward LeBron I certainly have respected him over time and especially since he’s been a Laker. Writing from memory there is no other NBA player without any college with a career close to him, I say that after admitting he is behind Kobe for me.

On Friday night LeBron recorded his 4th consecutive triple double in the Lakers 120-115 victory over the Spurs. Also on that date you might have read Rick Barry’s view of Russell Westbrook’s streak of triple doubles, Barry indicated how “easy” they came to Oscar Robertson where he believed Westbrook was trying to get triple doubles. As for LeBron I had the opportunity to witness 2 of the 4 triple doubles and they appeared routine in a sense. All were accomplished within the flow of the game, I realize that statement might sound a little strange but that’s my view. LeBron has been in the twilight of his brilliant career for a time and the end is approaching. What is so amazing to me is seeing this 39-year old play as if he’s age 29. His next stop might not be an NBA championship however it certainly will be the Naismith Hall of Fame.

Surprising news…not

Kiyan Anthony, son of Syracuse legend Carmelo Anthony, commits to Syracuse. Young Anthony had Southern Cal, Arizona State, Auburn and several other schools in addition to his father’s school vying for his services. Kiyan is a 4-star prospect in the Class of 2025 and attends Long Island Lutheran HS in Brookville NY. If you wondered where Brookville is located I checked Google Maps, it’s a village on Long Island which makes it part of the greater NYC metro. Kiyan is 6 foot 5 (195.58 cm) in height and checks in at 177 pounds (80.2858 kg), he is a shooting guard. With that we have another son of an NBA player playing the same sport and in this instance attending the same school. As for the headline I never made the statement to you the reader but believe this all along. Despite the coaching change (Jim Boeheim retirement) I believed all along young Anthony would choose Syracuse.

No clue

Eyes of the NBA might be focused on Bronny James for obvious reasons. Despite this fact there is another son who solidified his position, I speak of Scotty Pippen Jr., you remember his father don’t you? Scottie Pippen might object to this but he might be characterized as Robin to Michael Jordan’s Batman. Pippen Jr. went undrafted in 2022 after three seasons at Vanderbilt. The 6 foot 1 170 pound point guard began his NBA with the Lakers with the South Bay Lakers. In January 2024 Pippen Jr. signed a two-way contract with the Grizzlies and played with them through the balance of the season.

Playing limited minutes even with Jae Morant sidelined for the season he must have impressed. Last week his two-way contract was converted to a regular NBA contract. As I always warned this is no indication of future NBA success however it appears at least for now he’s going to stick with the Grizzlies on their roster. I’m unsure if it’s fair however Pippen Jr. has placed former coach Darvin Ham on blast. Did the Lakers make a mistake allowing him to simply walk away? As indicated Morant is in front of him on the depth chart, if it’s not the Grizzlies perhaps he will receive an opportunity to play major minutes for another NBA franchise.

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Bits n Pieces of information 

On Wednesday evening I watched portions of three NBA games at the same time. No, I wasn’t switching back and forth between channels…all the games were separated on a single screen. I’m not sure why NBA TV decided to approach the games in this manner. Despite my interest in this concept after a while it drove me a little bizarre trying to keep up with the action on three games at the same time. Perhaps NBA TV ran this type of telecast last season however I just don’t remember. Is it a thumbs up or thumbs down view of this programming…for me it’s a thumbs down. No matter how much interest one has in the NBA I found it impossible to follow action on three games at the same time.

The 7 foot 9 (2.3622 cm) Oliver Rioux has been mentioned several times in this blog. The Canadian youngster after playing at IMG Academy in Bradenton decided in favor of remaining in Florida. Rioux chose to play at the University of Florida, the curious (me among them) was very anxious to see how this giant of a basketball player would adapt to the collegiate game. On Thursday it was determined we must wait until next year to see him in action, Todd Golden announced Rioux will be redshirted this season. I’ve seen video of him in action against high school competition but believe that to be misleading. It’s likely that even playing at IMG he never faced anyone tall enough to cause him difficulty in the paint. There might be a desire to work him extensively on agility drills, weight is hardly an issue since he weighs a reported 305 pounds or 138.346 kilos.

This is a slight bit unusual, there exists a legion of Laker fans who want GM Rob Pelinka gone. It’s their belief that nobody wants to trade with the team and it’s all the fault of Pelinka because “they refuse to take his calls.” I offer you no proof but believe it’s more to the story, I could be off base however there is a school of thought regarding this matter. There exists several unnamed teams who flat out refuse to discuss trade with the Lakers. I’ve read they are even concerned with releasing some players believing they might wind up in Purple and Gold. Bottom line, they don’t wish to do anything which might wind up benefiting the Lakers. Pure speculation on my part, to a degree yes however several points raised are quite valid.

I ain’t scared

More years than I care to count I read the autobiography of the late Bill Russell. I remember a particular portion that dealt with crunch time. Russell stated there were players who complained all year about playing time and shot attempts. He says all that stopped once the playoffs began, the spotlight shining on a player who might be guilty of an error. Well it was too much for some, they simply were unwilling to take the chance on being the scapegoat should the Celtics lose.

The Lakers were an above average team by the time Kobe Bryant was drafted by the Hornets but never wore their jersey. He was a reserve player until year three, however that would define him in the eyes of many. Pressed into the starting lineup due to injuries Kobe shot 4 airballs at a critical stage of Game 5 of their playoff series, the Jazz would go on to win the game in OT and the series. Two accounts, one in which players were unwilling to risk and the last one regarding Kobe Bryant who said, “I’ll do it.” Those lead up to this past Tuesdays Duke-Kentucky game, I have read story after story regarding Cooper Flagg losing to Kentucky, despite the fact he scored 26 points 12 rebounds they all mentioned the TO’s. I was complacent too although what I wrote of the game was lacking detail regarding the other Duke players.

If they had been a little better shooting the basketball and doing other stuff the game might not have come down to critical turnovers. 17-year old (we forget that) Cooper Flagg has ice water in his veins, others might not want the spotlight on them at a crucial stage of the game. Flagg chose to run toward victory rather than shrink in fear as others might have done. I’m okay with what I wrote yesterday except I should have left out the Flagg TO’s.

The conference that refuses to die

This report is not intended to be in depth, for that please consult other sources. With the disclaimer allow me to state the Pac-12 is the conference that refuses to die. We’ve covered the number of schools that have left leaving only Oregon State and Washington State remaining. I covered those schools committed to become members in 2026, they are Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State. There is one more problem, an 8th school. I’ve mentioned in the past this is a basketball blog however these moves are generated by football, which for the most part pays the bills. The exception of course the schools without football programs.

The Pac-12 needs an 8th team to be fully recognized as a conference but has reached an impasse. Several schools have turned down the Pac-12 so the conference will explore the following. Texas State located in San Marcos Texas, information I uncovered indicate the school is located in the Greater Austin footprint. Then we have New Mexico State in Las Crues which makes it closer to El Paso than New Mexico’s capital of Santa Fe. Mentioning El Paso we have UTEP or the University of Texas at El Paso and we close this exercise mentioning Sam Houston State in Huntsville Texas, the school’s located about 75+ miles from Houston. I should add that by closing this account the schools mentioned by no means have made a commitment to the Pac-12, the conference is desperate to add that 8th school.