Basketball from a fans perspective

Luka is a trash talker

ABC had Luka Doncic mic’d for the game and I discovered something I didn’t know…he’s a trash talker. Besides that fact the Lakers were on a 4-game losing streak when they returned for their Sunday afternoon game. Much in evidence in this game was the Laker defense, they held the Suns to 39% from the floor and 22% from three. Number 77 almost registered a triple double as he led the Lakers with 33 points 11 rebounds and 8 assists. Jaxon Hayes was the recipient of many of those Luka assists, he scored 19 points his highest point total for the season.

What occurs over the next month and end of the season for the Lakers. They need to get healthy starting with Rui Hachimura and LeBron James to regain their defensive prowess. It was interesting in that we are seeing a great deal more of the 7 foot Christian Koloko in relief. He’s certainly raw and at least against the Suns he missed a number of bunny’s (close in shots) which he must improve in that area. With everyone healthy they are deficient in the height department however I could foresee Koloko, Trey Jemison and even Alex Len receive minutes just to aid the cause in that area. My expectations are lower than most in Laker Nation, I want another NBA Championship but will be satisfied if the effort comes up a little short they are competing.  

March Madness

This is written Selection Sunday about 5 hours prior to the teams and brackets being officially announced. I have a general idea who will receive an invitation but there is no requirement to detail it, that information will be provided in detail by the television crew. On the other hand there will be a team or two with 20 plus wins that will not make the cut, it will be the National Invitation Tournament for them. Over the years components of earning a berth have changed, once upon a time just winning 20 games was enough for any team to earn a berth but that is no longer the case. Speaking of what was once, I no longer participate in any office polls or the one CBS generates and I will explain.

Filling out a bracket in advance I was forced to pick against a team I root for, this became more and more difficult, the easiest break for me was to avoid all brackets. There is likely to be a Cinderella team…a team no one expects to win. Last season it was North Carolina State which played itself into the Final Four. Could Drake be this year’s Cinderella Team, they have all the components going for them? They have first year coach Ben McCollum who’s Northwest MO State teams won four (4) NCAA Division II Championships. Maybe playing the best basketball at this time is the University of Florida, coach Todd Golden’s team is loaded. The University of California at San Diego is a first timer, the school moved from D-III to D-II and is now a D-I entry in its first NCAA Tourney. I’m focusing on those two teams however there are 66 other contenders desiring to be recognized as 2025 NCAA Division I champions.

Why the argument

Fans of the NFL were enthusiastic after the December 25 Christmas games, praising the merits of their sport and noting that viewership numbers surpassed those of NBA games on the same date. The NFL has long been, and will likely continue to be, the most popular sport among Americans and many others worldwide. It is my belief, without presenting evidence, that NFL fans and NBA fans are distinct groups. For instance, I watch numerous NBA games but only a select few NFL games, with the exception of the Chiefs. On the other hand, a co-worker of mine is dedicated to the NFL and has limited knowledge of NBA teams and it’s players.

This illustrates how two individuals can have a preference for one sport while being aware of the other. Another argument I frequently encounter is the assertion that "nobody watches the NBA," which I sometimes read in fan letters. However, the networks clearly find value in the NBA, as evidenced by the substantially increased television contract set to take effect next season. Furthermore, claims that "nobody watches the NBA" claim overlooks a key detail: NBA games are broadcast worldwide in larger numbers than NFL games. While both leagues face challenges, many of the issues impacting the NBA are similar to those faced by the NFL. Anytime I hear the comment I’m an NFL fan my response is always…good for you.

“Whistling past the graveyard”

Some readers might find the headline perplexing, wondering about its relevance to basketball. The saying "to pretend to be calm and cheerful, especially in a difficult or dangerous situation, to reassure oneself or others, while actually being fearful or nervous" aptly describes the narrative I am about to present. I encountered an article about Kansas basketball on a social media platform I frequent. The writer compared the 1987-88 Kansas team (21-11) with this year’s Kansas team (21-12). I thought for a moment, let’s take a closer look.

That championship team was famously known as "Danny and the Miracles" due to their unexpected journey to winning the NCAA Championship that year. All American Danny Manning was the undisputed leader of that team, ultimately becoming a top NBA draft pick. The author of the recent article identified Zach Mayo as the current team's leader. While it is not my intention to convey negativity, the comparison between these two teams does not seem justified. The championship team triumphed over Duke and later Oklahoma, a team that had defeated them twice during the regular season. Regrettably, such a remarkable outcome appears unlikely for this year's team.

Meanwhile…

Exploring historical information about the Harlem Globetrotters can provide insight that might be unfamiliar to many readers. There was a time when the Globetrotters were so popular that they would often play a double-header. The Globetrotters played the first game, followed by an NBA team in the second game. Frequently, fans would leave after watching the Globetrotters' game. This reflects the fact that the NBA in the 1950s did not have the same level of popularity it enjoys today. Despite having "Harlem" in their name, the team did not originate there. Abe Saperstein founded the team in Chicago in 1926. Saperstein chose the name "Harlem" because he believed fans would more readily identify with a Black team from Harlem over one originating from Chicago.

Post-season tournaments preceding the major tournament are particularly interesting. Once upon a time playoff basketball was the exclusive property of the NBA but all that’s changed now. It appears that nearly every basketball league now has one, structured similarly to March Madness. The first post-season tournament was played in 1921. As late as 1970, there had been only five college conferences in history that had ever used the post-season tournament and four of the five were linked to the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the early 1920. In the 1950’s and 1960’s, the post-season tournament was associated with two conferences, the Southern Conference and the Atlantic Coast Conference, both of which drew their schools from the Carolinas, the Virginias, and the District of Columbia and Maryland.

Paul Pierce criticizes the Celtics' heavy reliance on 3-point shots. He shares my dislike for this type of strategy, as it often neglects other scoring methods. Pierce pointed out that the Celtics rank 29th in the NBA in free throw shooting. While their missed long shots become loose balls they often recover, teams focusing on driving to the basket can draw fouls and score from the free throw line. The Celtics' approach to offense may not change until it proves ineffective, as a team the Celtics shoot nearly 18 a game. I blame Steph Curry for the inordinate number of three’s that have become prevalent in the association. He is so accurate and scores so often everyone is trying to duplicate that effort.