Basketball from a fans perspective

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What are they doing?

Laker GM Rod Pelinka owes me no explanation however I’m confused. What is the front office attempting, Laker Nation is aware a Big Man has long been needed. An assortment of names have been mentioned as candidates and one by one other teams acquired them or they remain with their present team. The events are not in order, back in the summer we heard the name of Isiah Hartenstein then with the Knicks now with the Thunder.

More recently the name of Nick Richards Hornets center was reported to be on the Lakers radar and them BAM he’s traded to the Suns. Also mentioned the names of center Jusuf Nurkic of the Suns and Jonas Valanciunas Wizards center, as this is written both remain with their respective teams. Then it was Christian Koloko, the Lakers were forced to wait on the 7 foot Koloko for clearance from the NBA due to a health issue. After Koloko was cleared and added to the roster he’s rarely seen the court, the latest addition to the Lakers roster is 6 foot 10 260 pound Trey Jamison undrafted in 2023. Jamison is reported to be a shot blocker and lob threat. Of all the names mentioned the injured Mitchell Robinson appears the most NBA ready but there are two issues. At the top of the list he’s injured and second to that Robinson is a member of the Knicks. With Karl-Anthony Towns on board now Robinson is less likely to see action than previously.

If the Lakers can manage to arrange a trade with the Knicks he is NBA ready and although an NBA veteran he’s only 26 years old, the downside is Robinson’s history of injury. I can’t be GM of the Lakers because I have no idea the intricacies of managing a trade. Up to this point, unlike others in Laker Nation I have attempted to retain a neutral approach regarding Pelinka however he’s got to make a move that works. The Lakers front office has made a number of trades and player acquisitions in the recent path I’m unsure if we can place a stamp of approval on any of them.

Fool’s Gold

In American History it’s recorded scores of people headed to California in the 1840’s, the basis for the legion of settlers to head west, gold had been discovered. I read thousands and thousands on the east coast, Midwest and other areas traveled to California dreaming of striking it rich. Many prospectors believing they would become rich with their discovery had to deal with Fool’s Gold. My understanding the mineral appears to be the real thing it just ain’t. This season as this is written the Cavs have played 37 games of the number played they have won 33 of them.

That’s quite an impressive winning streak, in the standings they are ahead of the defending NBA Champion Celtics. They are tied with the Grizzlies in team scoring with a sizzling 122.9 ppg, on the other side they surrender 111.4 ppg. Let’s contrast that number with the 108.4 the Celtics give up and in the West we see the Thunder (103.6) and Rockets (107.1). Despite what the naysayers love to say, “Nobody plays defense in the NBA.” I can agree by saying bad NBA teams play little if any defense, that’s a partial explanation why they are awful. Is this Cavs Fool’s Gold, before you Cav fans become further upset with me allow me to say this. The NBA season is extensive, we are in January, check back with me once the playoffs begin.

A second look

I believe we can look at Mizzou’s Dennis Gates differently this year, last season was a disaster the team failing to win a single SEC conference game. Could the record have been better last season, no one could say for sure but it certainly appears it could have been. Countless numbers in Mizzou Nation and in local sports media wanted Gates gone, this despite the fact when he arrived the team had only won 12 games and he improved it to 25 wins in his first year. If this appears an excuse for the poor play of last season so be it however here goes. Transfer guard Caleb Grill missed the majority of games last season with injuries, he only appeared in 9 games.

To date he’s seen action in 12 games, his 12.2 points a game scoring average might appear ordinary this is the standout portion. He’s shooting 53.3% from the floor with 48.6% of it from the three line, he contributed 22 points off the bench in Mizzou’s upset win against Florida. Transfer John Tonji also injured much of last season appeared in only 8 games for Mizzou. After the season he transferred to Wisconsin, he’s the leading scorer averaging 18.2 points a game for the Badgers. The coach recruited well in the transfer portal the two named prove it, neither was healthy last season. Can I prove Mizzou would have been more competitive with these two in the lineup on a regular basis? My quick response is NO, I cannot provide you one shred of evidence to prove they would have been better. This is the portion I believe, they would have not gone through the SEC race with not a single victory.

The Philly mystification

Surely you remember the Sixers wanted a new arena. Apparently playing second fiddle to the NHL Flyers and other events may have been the driving force. In any event they rolled out plans for a new arena, 76 Place nearly two years ago, it was to be built downtown near the Chinatown section of the city. That was the plan however citizens groups fought it despite the fact Philly’s mayor ok’d the effort and the majority of city council members voted in favor of 76 Place. In the 9th hour the effort by all parties becomes null and void, the Sixers agree to remain at Wells Fargo for now.

But wait there is more, there will be a new arena built in south Philly near Wells Fargo. It will become the “new” home of the Flyers, Sixers and serve as host for other events, the planned opening date is 2031. As I first indicated I was unsure who won this WWE match between the people and billionaire owners. This will be a joint venture between the Sixers and Comcast Spectacor, as this is written it appears the arena would be constructed without taxpayer funds being expended. So now this makes for two out of three planned NBA arenas, OKC and now Philly. Currently a new arena in San Antonio is awaiting further input from the city and is no place close to a done deal.