Basketball from a fans perspective

Published Tuesday, Thursday plus Saturday & Sunday 

"Too late; Fall back baby"

Dick Barnett, former Knicks player, passed away at the age of 88 on Sunday. For those who might be unfamiliar with his names he would become a key member of the only two championships won by the Knicks. Barnett had a notable career at Tennessee A&I (now Tennessee State), where he won three NAIA Championships. As for the NBA he was chosen as the 4th pick in the first round of the 1959 draft by the Syracuse Nationals who would later move to Philadelphia and with a name change become the Sixers.

After playing two seasons with the Nationals, his rights were sold to the Lakers, he was a vital contributor for three seasons. In October 1965, Barnett was traded to the Knicks where he played for nine seasons which after five games in the 1973-74 season. After his NBA career, he earned a Ph.D. in Education from Fordham University and taught sports management at St. John's University until his retirement in 2007. Renowned for his left-handed jumper, Barnett was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in Kansas City, solidifying his status as a basketball legend. Defenders of Barnett would hear him often say; “Too late; Fall back baby” once he took his shot.

There is no requirement to feel sorry for Duke

Do you believe winning basketball is over at Duke because of the season ending tournament loss to Houston? As of now, Cooper Flagg is headed to the NBA as is Kon Knueppel. or return to Duke for his sophomore year. Duke will still have significant incoming talent. Coach Jon Scheyer and staff have been out on the recruiting trail, they will welcome the Boozer twins, sons of former Duke and NBA player Carlos Boozer. Cameron is a power forward at 6 foot 9 inches and 215 pounds, while his brother Cayden is a 6 foot 4 inch, 205-pound point guard.

In addition to the Boozer’s Shelton Henderson, a 6 foot 6 inches, 220-pound small forward, will join the team in the fall. In competition with Cameron at the power forward position will be newcomer Nikolas Khamenia, who stands 6 foot 8 inches tall and weighs 210 pounds. As for Khaman Maluach or junior Tyrese Proctor who both played a vital role for Duke’s success whether they return is unknown at present. These players, along with others should continue the winning ways of Duke basketball in the fall and winter. NOTE: This was written ahead of Maluach’s declaring for the NBA Draft.

A permanent NBA best

We have held discussions regarding records that will never be broken, this is one of them. The 1972-73 season saw Nate ‘Tiny’ Archibald lead the NBA in scoring and assists, no one has ever accomplished this feat to date. When we return to that time we discover the Kansas City-Omaha Kings had few offensive weapons. It Tiny didn’t hoist up a shot attempt they often failed to score, now please don’t think he was simply jacking up shots. The 3-point basket wasn’t adopted by the NBA until 1979 so Tiny was not volume scoring, truth is he shot nearly 49% from the floor while dishing out 11.4 assists per game.

As for his scoring average it was 34 points a game which remains to this day the highest point total for an NBA guard. Pause here; James Harden is not a point guard, he is a shooting guard. As for Tiny he scored 2,719 points that remarkable season, the Kings as a team scored 8,882. If my math is correct that would indicate Tiny was responsible for nearly 40% of the team scoring that year. Whenever this College Basketball and Naismith Hall of Fame guard’s name is mentioned the time period he spent as a member of the Kings is almost always excluded while his time with the Celtics is always covered. I believe this is due to the fact he was a vital contributor to the 1981 NBA Championship the Celtics won. Tiny might have been the first NBA combo (shooting & assist) guard in the leagues history. Tiny led the NBA in points and assists in a single season…an unbreakable record.

Swiss Army Knife

I continue to read accounts regarding the Lakers Rui Hachimura’s name being mentioned in an off-season trade. In all instances he is cited as part of a package to enable the Lakers to acquire a quality Big Man, I hope he’s not traded. I have not always held this belief however Hachimura has become a “Swiss Army Knife” for the Lakers. Whatever is required of him he is able to contribute, do you want him to guard The Joker he is able? How about on switches picking up the Thunders SGA, he can do that as well.

Do they need him to hit an open three or grab a needed rebound he can do those as well. The point I am attempting to make is simple whatever the coaching staff requires of him he contributes. If he is traded in the off season what will occur for the Lakers? I love me some Dorian Finney-Smith he plays tough defense but does not provide the shooting ability of Hachimura. What about Jarred Vanderbilt, he too is a quality defender however he offers much less offensively than Finney-Smith and is nowhere close to the production of Hachimura. Based on this summation it indicates the Lakers should uncover another method to acquire a Big Man. This acquisition should not include power forward Rui Hachimura, Laker GM Rod Pelinka will not read this but I sure would like him too.

Basketball from a fans perspective

Published Tuesday, Thursday plus Saturday & Sunday 

Meanwhile…

Alijah Arenas was involved in a horrific traffic accident recently. His truck crashed and before emergency workers could reach him he suffered smoke inhalation. He was placed in a medically induced coma to prevent his brain from swelling. The latest news indicates he is now awake and progressing however it’s unclear of his status. Several reading this are aware he is the son of former NBA player Gilbert Arenas, the 6 foot 6 inch guard is a 2025 McDonald’s All American and was headed to Southern Cal in the fall. Hopefully, young Arenas makes a full recovery and is able to resume play soon.

Who is at the top of your list, the best high school player to enter the NBA? Of course that’s no longer possible so we must return to the past briefly, from 1975 through 2005 teams were able to draft talent straight out of high school. Who is at the top of my list, this is probably a shocker for some. Kobe Bryant is not that talent for one reason alone, he didn’t become a starter until his third year with the Lakers. LeBron James is at the top followed by Dwight Howard, both were impact players in their rookie years for the Cavs and Magic respectively.

Congratulations are extended to Cavaliers power forward Evan Mobley for his selection as the 2025 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, this marks the first time he has received this accolade. Mobley played a crucial role in the success of the Cavaliers during the 2024-25 NBA season, he was the third leading scorer and second highest rebounder for the team in the recently concluded regular season.

Blockbuster trades

The Lakers were losers in one instance and winners in the other regarding blockbuster trades. Through a trade the Lakers had the Cavs draft pick and were able to choose Magic Johnson, technically that is not like the two instances you are about to read. As example they lost the trade which would have made Chris Paul a Laker and they won the Luka Doncic trade. In the one instant commissioner David Stern vetoed the request and recently commissioner Adam Silver indicated when question said he wouldn’t have rescinded the Luka trade. Two trades and two different interpretations of what should be done.

In 2011 the Lakers made a trade with the New Orleans Hornets (Pelicans) they would acquire point guard Paul in exchange for Lamar Odom, Kevin Martin and Luis Scola to New Orleans with Paul Gasol going to the Rockets. “The trade was ultimately blocked due to concerns from other owners, issues with the value of the Lakers’ assets, and a desire to protect the Hornets’ franchise value.” 

Keep in mind at that time the NBA was running the day to day operations of the team while attempting to locate a prospective buyer. Imagine this, a Laker backcourt comprised of 26 year old point guard Chris Paul teamed with shooting guard Kobe Bryant at age 32. That was then, this is now…Silver was questioned on the Luka-AD trade and whether he would have intervened, the answer was NO. Did the actions of Stern back then change the landscape for the Lakers, we can conclude it most certainly did. Could the Lakers have won at least two additional championships with this backcourt combo?

The Spurs next coach is….

This might be news to a number reading this, recently Spurs coach Gregg Popovich suffered a health scare that required a hospital visit. He was reported to have become ill while dining at a restaurant, his illness required an ambulance ride to a hospital. All indications are Pop is better however once again we are forced to look at his health. I expressed my belief in him returning to the helm of the Spurs franchise, now I am not so sure that will occur. It might be time to search out a replacement for the 76 year old Popovich.

Although a number of names have been mentioned as a possible successor including interim coach Mitch Johnson I believe there is only one name to choose. That would be Becky Hammon, I can imagine the shock on your face reading those words. “A female NBA coach, whoever heard of such a thing?” There are several female assistant coaches in the NBA currently, my Lakers have Lindsey Harding. In 2014 Hammon became the first female assistant coach when Popovich added her to his staff. She remained in that role for the Spurs until she later assumed head coaching duties for the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces in 2021. Someone will make the statement “the time is not right,” I would pose the question…when is the right time?

Mock draft

No evidence is provided here just an opinion, I have concluded NBA mock drafts are accurate to a point. The names are generally correct however any player chosen past number 20-25 is a projection. Believe me, the talent has been fully assessed, in some instances a decision might be made based on the team working out a prospect. By now you are probably wondering how I arrived at the magic number. There are talented players that slip through the cracks, Fred VanVleet went undrafted in 2016 but has managed to carve out an extensive NBA career. For a different reason Austin Reaves also bypassed the draft though his for a different purpose.

There are others who are likely omitted but those two first come to mind. It might appear I’m stating picks 26-30 in the first round are lacking talent and ability, again that is not the case. Draymond Green will likely win his second Defensive Player of the Year award, he’s a second round draft pick by the Warriors. If you are willing to take the time check out your favorite NBA team, if I were a betting person you will discover this. The majority of most NBA rosters will be comprised of first round draft picks under the number 25. There will be a limited number of ‘Draymond Green’ types and a scarce number of free agents. NBA scouts along with the GM’s for the most part do a thorough job of analyzing talent however late bloomers have often been located.

Basketball from a fans perspective

Published Tuesday, Thursday plus Saturday & Sunday 

He plays the saxophone too

Annor Boateng is talented in two areas although technically its three, this is not in any order, the basketball court, music and academics. He received Academic All American honors while in high school so that indicates not only is he a talented athlete he’s just as capable in the classroom. By now many of you are asking who is Boateng, he is a soon to be Missouri sophomore guard. The 6 foot 6 inch 215 pound guard didn’t play much as a freshman however that has nothing to do with his ability. He arrived in Columbia Missouri last fall as a Top 40 prospect in the nation by 247 Sports (26), ESPN 100 (33) and Rivals (34).

That says a great deal from scouts who believe he’s talented enough to play at the Division I level, to what degree will not be determined until fall and winter this upcoming season. Check this portion out, he led Little Rock Central High School to the 2024 State Championship in Arkansas. Boateng was a two-time Gatorade Arkansas Player of the Year. In addition to his music talent he is majoring in computer science. Missouri was able to out recruit Arkansas for the most talented basketball player in the state. We might just discover he fails to adjust to the tough SEC however I don’t believe that will be the case, Mizzou fans are just as excited about seeing him in action as the balance of the team.  

Who was it

I had forgotten this story, the late Kobe Bryant once went on the record in 2012 with the LA Times. As you are aware Kobe played for the Lakers from 1996 until his 2016 retirement. During this period, a considerable number of players were in place when he arrived and even more appeared during Bryant’s career. Some of you are aware he and Shaq were feuding at a point, this would be partially the basis for Shaq's later trade to Miami. 

Despite this issue and perhaps others the Big Aristotle being on the roster was not the worst teammate Kobe ever had. In addition it should be of note Kobe was driven, driven for excellence. If he perceived a teammate not giving their maximum effort Kobe had other methods to address it. Perhaps that was the case here, he was reported to have told the player “You can’t talk to me.” Some of you might remember him, his given name was William Henry Patrick III but you probably know him better by his nickname…Smush. He would play two seasons, 2005-06 and 2006-07 for the Lakers. He’d played at Fordham University however he went undrafted in the 2002 NBA Draft. After having several basketball stops he arrived in Los Angeles in 2005 and impressed then coach Phil Jackson, he would make Parker the starting point guard. In 2007 Parker would sign an F/A contract with the Heat. 

This from Kobe: “Smush Parker was the worst. He shouldn’t have been in the NBA, but we were too cheap to pay for a point guard. We let him walk on.” In fairness to Parker if we look at the numbers they are not spectacular but not terrible. I’ve got to believe a personality issue existed between Kobe and Parker, with much of the Shaq-Kobe feud public that’s the only conclusion I can guess. Parker would claim his backcourt teammate never talked to him directly.

What I hit…what I missed

The regular season is over, there are plenty of hits and misses on my part, these are but a few. This one is a miss, I speculated which NBA team in Los Angeles would be the best. The Clippers fooled me, I didn’t expect them to be this good despite their talent. This would be a hit…I believed at the start of the season Cooper Flagg would have an All American season at Duke. Although his team came up short in the NCAA Tournament I found it difficult at times to believe he should have been in his senior year of high school. This next one qualifies as a miss, the Nuggets were to be the Nuggets…The Joker had his usual triple-double season but the balance of the roster, that’s partially why Mike Malone has no job today. The Missouri Tigers were a hit, I was probably the only member of Mizzou Nation who believed they would bounce back from the tragic 0-18 last season.

Missouri was unranked at the beginning of the season they entered and were ranked as high as 15, a few losses placed them at 23 before they fell out of the Top 25 after the loss to Creighton in the tournament. This is an individual, earlier I mentioned the Clippers, their improvement was thanks in part to Kawhi Leonard. This qualifies as a miss because I wrote back in December that he would never play at a high skill level again, he proved me wrong. Unfortunately, Shaka Smart also is a miss, despite my belief in him as a coach his teams always come up short at the end. This is also a miss, at the beginning of the NBA season I expected the Mavs to be competitive again. Playing for the NBA Championship last year with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in the lineup…how could this ever be a miss? Lastly how much do you expect from a 40 year old basketball player, not much unless that player is LeBron James. This one qualifies as a hit, he can still ball despite his age and I expected as much.

4,124

The subject of Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game is being examined here once again, as a reminder to some this historic NBA game that was played in Hershey Pennsylvania rather than Philadelphia. At the time the NBA often “farmed out” home games to nearby communities, the city is located less than 100 miles from Philadelphia. This game was played on March 2, 1962, although I was not present, there are several reasons to believe that the 100-point game took place. The primary reason is the headline, there were 4,124 persons in attendance that night. It might be difficult for spectators to compute scoring in their heads while observing a game but generally one might have a general idea of the scoring. 

As for the participants, there are Chamberlain teammates Tom Meschery. Meschery is 86 years old, Bob McNeill also 86 years old was a member of the Warriors but finished the season a Laker. We also have Frank Radovich (87 years old) a member of the Warriors. Knicks Richie Guerin (92 years old) and Dave Budd (86 years old) are also living. Why after all these years none of the participants for both teams have never come forward claiming the scoring event was a fraud, I know why, they were part of the conspiracy too. Meschery was on the floor in this game that night and indicated that Chamberlain scored 100 points in the game. At the time when news reached the wire services the following day, there was no record of anyone disputing the game or the scoring achievement. While the complete game is not available, the fourth quarter of the radio broadcast can be found online and in the archives of the Library of Congress. My desire is for someone associated with the Warriors to conduct a poll in Hershey to uncover anyone in attendance. 

If necessary a polygraph test should be conducted to ensure the respondent is telling the truth…too much? No I don’t think so, we’d place this account as true rather than the question mark that hangs over some non-believers. Check out the newspaper box score printed the following morning. Throughout history here and abroad historical events have occurred which offers us no visual proof, do we simply give into conspiracy theories because there is no evidence? We witnessed Hank Aaron break Babe Ruth’s home run record in April 1974, did anybody see Ruth set the record in 1927?

 

Why

Yes, by now you know I have issues with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith and the following is an explanation. Find the video for yourself, there is no requirement for you to agree with my take. SAS is always so positive in his tone and this is the example from a video on ESPN’s NBA page on ESPN.com. We listen to the positives applied to Cooper Flagg by former NBA player Carlos Boozer, then came SAS. “I love the kid, he’s the number one pick in this upcoming draft. There is no question about it.

The only blemish on his career there were 4 times he had a chance to win a game and he failed all 4 times. That’s just the last play of the game that happens you miss more than you make.” SAS continued with his commentary, Wah, Wah, Wah, Wah, Wah Wah (adults talking in the Peanuts cartoons). Someone might conclude what SAS is not that bad, if it isn’t why was it even necessary to mention? Because he loves to critique the effort or production of others I am going to assume a new role. I intend to critique him as he does with others, he won’t see it but it sure will detail for many there is another side of the story.

Basketball from a fans perspective

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The challenge

Des Moines Iowa is a nice city, the 2023 population indicates it contains 210,381 folks, in addition if we count the metropolitan population we have over 700,000 citizens. Based on those numbers it is not small town America, I had an occasion once to visit the city that is home to the Drake Bulldogs. Ah, the Bulldogs who beat my Missouri Tigers in the NCAA Tournament and now find themselves with a new head coach. Just as soon as Drake was beaten in the tourney the University of Iowa came calling seeking Ben McCollum as their next head coach. After a number of years at Division II Northwest Missouri State and four NCAA Division II Championships Drake had reached out to him the prior year.

And then BAM, just like that after but a single season at Drake McCollum was hired by Iowa. It would appear Drake basketball has become a stopping point prior to moving to the next opening, which is certainly an issue. This is what occurred, McCollum was hired to replace Darian DeVries who left for West Virginia. Similar to McCollum DeVries was only at West Virginia one season before being hired as head coach at the University of Indiana…are you confused with all the moves? The real loser in this movement is Drake University, its basketball program and its fans. Drake has hired Eric Henderson as head coach from South Dakota State, the only hope for Drake fans is he’s a winner but not too, too good. If he proves to be a good coach other schools seeking a head coach will be looking toward Des Moines once again.

Meanwhile….

“I did know that Luka was important to the fan base, I didn’t know to what level.” That statement wasn’t made by a casual NBA fan it was made by Mavs GM Nico Harrison on Monday. The statement shocked me, how in world someone in the position of Harrison not realizing this fact. Of course he defended the trade with his version of the event, I’m not critical of him, despite the fact the Lakers haven’t won anything I believe they are positioned for the future. That future is based on a healthy Luka Doncic being able to continue to play at a high skill level. With the exception of the Luka trade Harrison has done a respectable job over the last two seasons acquiring talent. In addition Jason Kidd has utilized the talent quite well especially during the horrendous injury issues the team faced before and after the Luka trade.

The NBA Draft order is not set in stone, despite that fact Thursday evening June 25 commissioner Adam Silver will announce Cooper Flagg is picked by the Jazz, Wizards, Hornets or maybe the Pelicans. The Sixers also have an outside shot at the top pick as well. This question is for you, do you have a preferred team you’d like to see Flagg play for? I have a suspicion Flagg will do for the NBA what Caitlin Clark did for the WNBA i.e., increase NBA television viewership numbers whichever team he plays for. The Jazz are located in the Rocky Mountain Time Zone while the other teams are Central and Eastern. That says to me more eyeballs on Flagg as opposed to those if he winds up with the Jazz.

With the NBA playoffs having begun plus the publishing schedule of Off the Dribble I’ve run into a problem. It is extremely difficult to do a write up with two games sometimes three played every evening. This has even created a hindrance for me even regarding my Lakers. Based on playoff basketball scheduling and the Tuesday, Thursday and weekend publishing dates I’m going to omit coverage of the games for now. Once we reach a smaller number of teams or the NBA Finals it will be far easier for me to maintain the publishing schedule, I appreciate you being patient in this process. 

He played two pro sports for Boston

What if I told you there was an athlete who pitched for the Red Sox in the same year he played for the Celtics. You probably wouldn’t believe me. The late Gene Conley is the only athlete to win a world championship in baseball and the NBA. Back in the day salaries in both sports were nowhere near those of today. With a family to support Conley needed extra income. The 6 foot 8 inch Conley was extremely tall for a baseball pitcher in the 1950’s not so much now. He’d played college basketball at Washington State and was good enough to earn honorable mention. In any event the story goes his salary had been cut by the Red Sox, it was customary practice back then if a player had a season below par it was not unusual for a team to reduce that players salary.

That tradition no longer exists in any professional sport to my knowledge. Conley then contacted head coach and general manager Red Auerbach for a job. Conley took on the role as a reserve and was Bill Russell’s relief in the post. This I thought was most unique, he pitched to Yankee Roger Maris in 1961 the year Maris broke Babe Ruth’s home run record. As for the championships Conley was a member of the Milwaukee (Atlanta) Braves. While pitching in Milwaukee he was a member of the 1957 World Series winning Braves. He won NBA Championships in 1959, 1960 and 1961. During a period he played for the Boston Red Sox and Boston Celtics at the same time. With professional seasons overlapping as they do now it would be extremely difficult to duplicate what Conley accomplished. In all likelihood Bo Jackson with baseball and the NFL along with Deon Sanders also baseball and NFL might be the nearest example to what Conley accomplished.

Basketball from a fans perspective

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He said it

I don’t have the exact words however it occurred, the IT was Cooper Flagg declaring for the 2025 NBA Draft. There may have been a few who believed the talk about him returning to school for his sophomore season. As for me I figured it was 80% he declared for the draft and 20% he remained at Duke, so what is the next step? It’s highly unlikely he displays his skill on the court for any NBA team, even one that might be in the lottery. That’s a far too sizeable risk to injury so don’t expect that to happen.

This I could see although only his family and coach might be privy to this bit of information. Once lottery positions are determined May 12 he might huddle with those mentioned to decide which team would be the best fit for him. I held a conversation this past Sunday with a couple of basketball fans, this was the general impression of Flagg. He will not wow you with any aspects of his game, Flagg will score baskets, snatch a key rebound or dish out an assist to a teammate. He’s not athletic although he manages to accomplish the task at hand on the basketball court. He could be the next Larry Bird, after all Bird arrived in the NBA as a player with limited athletic skills and look what he was able to accomplish.

Everyone has a plan….

I would like to begin this with a quote from former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson: "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth." This metaphor aptly describes the game between the Wolves and the Lakers on Saturday night, which ended with a final score of 117-97 in favor of the Wolves. Initially, the Lakers performed well and led after the first quarter 28-21. However, the second quarter proved decisive as the Wolves outscored the Lakers 38-20, effectively taking control of the game.

At the 9:57 mark of the second quarter, the Wolves secured the lead and maintained it throughout the balance of the match. I believe the Lakers might have whittled the lead to 11 at a point but that was about it. An impressive 54% shooting accuracy from three-point range, the Wolves demonstrated exceptional performance in this game. Luka was the sole standout player for the Lakers, whose efforts were not enough to overcome the deficit. Magic Johnson expressed his criticism of this loss, which is understandable given the circumstances. The Lakers must win the game tonight or will dig themselves into an even bigger hole.       

Meanwhile….

We are in the middle of April and the Luka Doncic trade to the Lakers remains a hot topic in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro. This news is from Dallas however it doesn’t have anything to do with Luka, it’s regarding a new arena. Rick Welts CEO of the Mavs says; “The plan is to build a new arena by 2032, we are looking to keep the team in Dallas before searching for alternative locations.” If they decide to move out of Dallas the City of Irving has been listed as a possible location for this planned arena. The Mavs currently play in American Airlines Center which opened in 2001. Despite the fact of its age there are 14 arenas much older, I didn’t include Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia in the count because plans are in the works to replace it. As additional news occurs I will attempt to track developments and provide postings.

Sometimes when a team struggles it can be attributed to the assembled personnel on hand. That might be partially true in the case of the Kings but there is quite a bit more I see from my Man-Cave in Kansas City. On Wednesday evening they were eliminated by the Mavs 120-106 on their home court. They were being coach by interim coach Doug Christe who replaced the fired Mike Brown, you remember Brown don’t you? He was the guy who led the team into the playoffs after a 16 year drought. Also gone after the play-in loss GM Monte McNair, assistant GM Wes Wilcox left three weeks ago to take another job. The Kings can count 13 head coaches since the 2006-07 season, that can’t be all bad hires can it? The finger of blame can be pointed directly at owner Vivek Ranadive, if not him then who?

Results on the court are the actual proof of success or lack thereof. Anytime I write something about the Lakers or Mizzou you probably contend there might be bias in what I write…it could be so on occasion this is the other guy. It’s 247Sports and how they rank Missouri in the transfer portal and high school recruiting for the fall of 2025. In the transfer portal they are 41 in the nation and 51 in recruiting. With over 300 Division I programs that places Missouri basketball in the upper portion of the nation’s schools in transfers and high school recruiting. That provides proof coach Gates and staff are continuing the work of securing talent for Missouri. You are aware of the balance of this story, what looks good on paper sometimes fails reality.

Remember what I wrote Saturday on the transfer portal, I couldn’t remember which team, it was the Baylor Bears. They have 0 players on their roster as this is written. Let’s go through this quickly, 3 players graduated, 4 went into the portal, 1 declared for the NBA. Robert Wright III is headed for BYU while Langston Love is departing to play for the Georgetown Hoyas. I guess there are freshman on their way to Baylor for the fall semester however that presents a dilemma. Scott Drew certainly cannot field a team of freshman, on the other hand he might be forced to play 5 freshman and walk-on's. 

Basketball from a fans perspective

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“Win or go home”

The title above is often heard during the NCAA Tournament, I decided to borrow it for this purpose. Of course you realize the NBA Playoffs are far different from the NCAA Tournament, first to win four games is declared the winner however that’s only the beginning. A series win moves the participants to the next round, a win there the next round. At the end will remain two teams, one representing the Western Conference and the other the Eastern Conference, they will battle for the NBA Championship.

Do you have a favorite, I certainly do however I must keep my fingers crossed hoping they are able to do what might seem nearly impossible. In the west the Thunder are considered the favorites, meanwhile the defending champion Celtics are chosen here. Are there one or two surprises in the playoffs…of course but it is far too early for that type of prediction, we must wait for actual play to begin. There are no real losers, those who saw their teams lose are likely headed to a beach at Cancun to drink adult beverages, as for the others they are likely deep sea fishing somewhere off the Florida Keys. By now you are fully aware of the winners and losers on Saturday, keep in mind it’s only the opening round, there is much more basketball to be played.    

Game 1 Apr 20 Miami at Cleveland 7 p.m. Central

Game 1 Apr 20 Orlando at Boston 3:30 p.m. Central

Game 1 Apr 20 Memphis at Oklahoma City 1:00 p.m. Central

Game 1 Apr 20 Golden State at Houston 9:30 p.m. Central

He said it, not me 

Three former NBA players all in the Hall of Fame have provided us their assessment of Victor Wembanyama excluding his recent medical condition. Hakeem Olajuwon, who led the Rockets twice to NBA Championships recently met Wemby during the NCAA Championship. He was nicknamed The Dream strictly because it rhymed with his first name, his skill set contained a wealth of innumerable post moves around the basket. He claimed this came about growing up in Nigeria playing soccer (football). In any event The Dream indicated Wemby was very approachable as they discussed his recent medical condition. This is the portion that stood out most for me in what I read. “Wemby told him he wanted to train with Hakeem, but the Dream believes Wemby already has everything and more when it comes to skills.”

My question for you reading this, who do you trust to be more accurate in their assessment of Wemby’s play, those voiced by Hakeem Olajuwon or the duo of Shaquille O’ Neal and Charles Barkley? In fairness to O’ Neal and Barkley neither ever made the claim Wemby wasn’t talented. Both went on the record indicating he should gain weight and develop a low post game. My question for both of them why is it necessary to do either if he continues to shoot accurately from distance with a decent percentage? In addition low post center play has all but disappeared from today’s NBA. Finally this interesting observation, *“His hopes that the San Antonio Spurs would draft him so he can get to play with Wembanyama. I think Victor is just ridiculous; the things he does are just crazy.” Dybantsa told Brian Windhorst. “I just think we would’ve been a crazy duo.” At this point we believe AJ Dybansta has an NBA game but that won’t be determined until fall when he begins play at BYU.

*ESPN

Rookie of the Year?

I have an opportunity to change this, it’s written weeks ahead of an official announcement. This is not to guarantee Stephon Castle wins 2025 NBA Rookie of the Year, it’s 80% probable. It’s interesting that he is almost certain to be given that honor despite being the 4th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. I’m sure Spurs management was excited with the opportunity to add an NCAA Championship player to their roster. Early on Castle fell behind several other rookie candidates as he adjusted his game to the NBA. Although the Spurs are still a work in progress he was aided in his adjustment by veterans Chris Paul, Harrison Barnes and second year player Victor Wembanyama.

Although Wemby missed much of the latter half of the season Castle’s skill and acclimation to the Spurs and the NBA grew. His season ending numbers while not spectacular clearly indicate his growth and adjustment. At 6 foot 6 and 215 pounds this combo guard scored nearly 15 points and 4 assists plus 44% shooting from the floor. Although the numbers might not jump off the page they detail solid guard play whether we are discussing point or shooting guard. Matched with a maturing Wemby plus additional pieces the Spurs are primed for a return to become one of the NBA’s elite teams again. Don’t you find it interesting that the Spurs will likely have a player named Rookie of the Year two successive years, of course in 2024 it was Wemby, 2025 it most likely will be Castle.

Who is the best currently

If I asked you to provide me the name of the best men’s basketball coach who would you name? Would it be Rick Pitino who resurrected St. John’s basketball after his arrival? How about longtime coach Kelvin Sampson, Houston was said to be a mid-major program yet the Cougars have won the first two regular season championships after beginning play in the Big XII. His most recent team lost the NCAA championship by a glaring turnover that cost them the game. John Calipari left Kentucky for Arkansas and never missed a beat, his Razorbacks competed. Rick Barnes was a winner at Texas but they drove him out, he’s been a consistent winner at Tennessee.

Bill Self has two NCAA Championships under his belt, despite what some might consider a down year his Jayhawks still earned an invite. Mentioning two NCAA Championships how about Mr. Volatile, Dan Hurley at UConn. I’m going to include Bruce Pearl in our count simply because he wins at every stop. Also let’s add Doug McDermott who’s been at the helm successfully at Creighton for a number of years. Brad Underwood had two losing seasons at Illinois when he took over the program, since then his teams always earn an NCAA invite. Did I leave someone off this list in your opinion? I must admit to you this was done from memory and it is certainly possible I omitted a name or two. What about adding your names and subtracting one or two of mine?

Meanwhile….

We are in the middle of April and the Luka Doncic trade to the Lakers remains a hot topic in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro. This news is from Dallas however it doesn’t have anything to do with Luka, it’s regarding a new arena. Rick Welts CEO of the Mavs says; “The plan is to build a new arena by 2032, we are looking to keep the team in Dallas before searching for alternative locations.” If they decide to move out of Dallas the City of Irving has been listed as a possible location for this planned arena. The Mavs currently play in American Airlines Center which opened in 2001. Despite the fact of its age there are 14 arenas much older, I didn’t include Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia in the count because plans are in the works to replace it. As additional news occurs I will attempt to track developments and provide postings.

Sometimes when a team struggles it can be attributed to the assembled personnel on hand. That might be partially true in the case of the Kings but there is quite a bit more I see from my Man-Cave in Kansas City. On Wednesday evening they were eliminated by the Mavs 120-106 on their home court. They were being coach by interim coach Doug Christe who replaced the fired Mike Brown, you remember Brown don’t you? He was the guy who led the team into the playoffs after a 16 year drought. Also gone after the play-in loss GM Monte McNair, assistant GM Wes Wilcox left three weeks ago to take another job. The Kings can count 13 head coaches since the 2006-07 season, that can’t be all bad hires can it? The finger of blame can be pointed directly at owner Vivek Ranadive, if not him then who?

Results on the court are the actual proof of success or lack thereof. Anytime I write something about the Lakers or Mizzou you probably contend there might be bias in what I write…it could be so on occasion this is the other guy. It’s 247Sports and how they rank Missouri in the transfer portal and high school recruiting for the fall of 2025. In the transfer portal they are 41 in the nation and 51 in recruiting. With over 300 Division I programs that places Missouri basketball in the upper portion of the nations schools in transfers and high school recruiting. That provides proof coach Gates and staff are continuing the work of securing talent for Missouri. You are aware of the balance of this story, what looks good on paper sometimes fails reality.

Basketball from a fans perspective

Published Tuesday, Thursday plus Saturday & Sunday 

The “real” playoffs

I realize a portion of the play-in tournament was scheduled and played earlier in the week, allow the explanation for the headline. A co-worker said to me, “The playoffs begin on Saturday,” I responded by stating the play-in tournament had already been played. Chuck said, “The real playoffs begin on Saturday, I don’t count the play-in.” I laughed, that might be the view of more than my co-worker. In any event we have:

Milwaukee at Indiana Noon Central

Clippers at Nuggets 2:30 Central

Detroit at New York 5:00 p.m. Central

Minnesota at Lakers 7:30 p.m. Central 

A portion of the Sunday games had not been finalized as this is written, an updated schedule will be provided in the Sunday edition.    

Bully pulpit

“A public office or position of authority that provides its occupant with an outstanding opportunity to speak out on any issue,” bully pulpit was the term coined by President Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909). This I believe exists for Stephen A. Smith, Jason Whitlock, Skip Bayless, Craig Carton and a host of others. They appear on our television screens or podcast and provide us their opinions about a bunch of sports stuff. They are certainly entitled to their opinion of matters but this is where it appears one-sided. This past Tuesday Stephen A. Smith addressed Suns owner Mat Ishbia regarding “what a terrible owner he was.”

During a much later press conference Ishbia talked of the words of Smith and guess what…on Friday Smith revisited the matter with apologies for a portion of his earlier statement. He then proceeded to address the issues raised once again. This could become a point-counterpoint if it were to continue and currently it is. Who’s correct, likely both and for these reasons, Smith is always working on building his brand and Ishbia is aware of the inner workings of the Suns Smith has no clue. The majority of media members go about their work on a daily basis. They probably make little if any effort to sensationalize the events they are covering. My closing statement always, double-check on who is providing you the information, that member of the media has an agenda.

Heisman Trophy winner in the NBA

A bit of background on Charlie Ward, he played quarterback while enrolled at Florida State University. In 1992 he was the winner in voting for the Heisman Trophy however there was an issue which later impacted his athletic legacy forever. He won numerous other awards while at FSU, the only reward he might have wanted was to be titled “NFL Draft pick.” That dream wouldn’t occur, standing 6 foot 2 and 190 pounds perhaps the prevailing thought “He’s too small” to play quarterback in the NFL.

Ward had a backup plan, he lettered in football and basketball and the NBA did come calling. Ward was drafted in the first round of the 1994 NBA Draft as the 26 pick, there was an 11 year career in the NBA the majority of it spent with the Knicks. After retirement he served as an assistant coach for the Rockets and later basketball and football coach at two stops. On April 16 Ward was hired at HBCU Florida State A&M as men’s basketball coach. The school had a winning conference record however they finished with 14 wins and 17 losses. Hopefully, the athletic department will allow Ward ample time to build his program at A&M. For those introduced to him that’s how a Heisman Trophy winner had an NBA rather than NFL career.

Portal

I held a discussion with a friend recently, it was centered on the transfer portal, based on that fact I began to conduct research and discovered the following. the football numbers are astronomical but this is a basketball blog. As for basketball it’s slightly better than football but certainly nothing to brag about. The portal closes on Tuesday April 22, currently there are over 2,000 college basketball players in the portal. This number is significantly higher than last season when about 1,000 players entered the portal.

I have no desire to prohibit players from their life pursuit however we are on The Highway to the Danger Zone. While surfing the net I came across a team don’t remember which one, how the roster came together was detailed. It appears the majority of the team is now comprised of portal transfers, no holdover sophomores, juniors or seniors. I’m unsure if there were any incoming freshman. There are times I am able to see the Big Picture and provide what I believe might be an answer. That does not exist at this point I have no idea how to address the basketball portal issue. Someone smarter than me must offer a solution for this growing problem, at this rate of evolution the portal will eventually come crashing down on all of us. What do you think, hopefully you have a solution in mind because I sure don’t?

Basketball from a fans perspective

Published Tuesday, Thursday plus Saturday & Sunday 

“You knew the job was dangerous when you took it”

The phrase above was heard in the late ‘60’s cartoon Super Chicken. That becomes the lament of NBA coaches, the latest occurred on Monday with the announced firing of Mike Budenholzer. Two interesting facts, he’d only been on the job one season and he is operating now under a 4-year contract. The Suns must pay their next coach and Budenholzer too. We move on, Budenholzer becomes the number 4 coach fired this season. The first was Mike Brown of the Kings, then Taylor Jenkins ex of the Grizzlies. Jenkins was followed by Mike Malone with the Nuggets and now Budenholzer.

I heard someone ask the question, “Why are NBA coaches fired so often and so soon?” I heard the answer…corporate owners and not basketball people similar to the Buss family, I’m unsure if that is the true basis. As I see it this is the issue management wants a head coach with experience, that’s partially the reason we have so many recycled coaches. Ownership is often unwilling to take a chance on someone with no experience in that area. The Lakers did that with Darvin Ham and now JJ Redick, Taylor Jenkins had no prior NBA head coaching experience. The job is so unstable I have no desire to speculate if there are other coaches who might be hanging on by a thread. And understand this, Jenkins and Malone’s teams are in the playoffs only neither is leading them now, that indicates to me it’s about more than just winning basketball games.

The expectations must be realistic

There is uncertainty regarding the expectations for the 2025-26 season of Missouri Tigers basketball. Like other programs, Missouri lost players through the portal. On Sunday, it was announced that 7-foot, 245-pound Shawn Phillips Jr. had signed, he arrives from Arizona State. Upon hearing the news, freshman big man Peyton Marshall placed his name in the portal almost immediately. The first Missouri player to join through the portal was 6-foot-11, 235-pound Javon Porter from Loyola Marymount. Shortly thereafter, 6-foot-11, 240-pound Luke Northweather who last played at Oklahoma was signed, this was followed by 6-foot-3 shooting guard Sebastian Mack from UCLA.

Incoming freshman prospects include Aaron Rowe, a point guard, and forward Nick Randall. Despite the departures and additions, the Tigers reportedly have space for two more players at this time. A Missouri website wanted fans to judge the additions with a letter grade. I certainly couldn’t give the coaching staff an A but a B is deserving with reservations. Even with the departures Missouri managed to acquire through the portal and incoming prospects those players they believe fit the system. The outcome of the season always remains uncertain until we arrive there. We witnessed the Kansas Jayhawks with a good record but nowhere near the level anticipated. They started as the number one team in the nation but ended the season unranked, equaling the record of North Carolina, who also began the 2022-23 season as the number one team.

It’s real

For numerous reasons prior to his retirement Kobe Bryant hatred existed to ginormous levels. This is what I remember, “He’s trying to be Michal Jordan” or this one “He’s the most selfish player I’ve ever seen.” Those are just two examples of an overabundance of hatred aimed at Bryant who I continue to believe was an NBA great all-time. In death the criticism has evaporated for the most part however there exists a new target. Well he’s not new LeBron James is 40-years old and has played in the NBA since he was 18. Why is the hatred toward LeBron over the top in some circles I often ask myself. If we look at his career there’s been no controversy, by the way I don’t believe Bronny in the league fits the view of Stephen A. Smith and anyone else.

Allow me to say I haven’t always been in his corner, I was upset in the manner he left the Cavs for South Beach. I believe to this day the television production was over the top in my opinion. He wins championships for the Heat, he then departs for Cleveland. There he was able to help the Cavs win it all, but wait there is more. I begin to read and hear rumors LeBron was exploring a plan to play for the Lakers. I didn’t take it seriously at the time, truth is I actually wanted him to remain with the Cavs but that was not to be. Since LeBron’s arrival in Lakerland 2020 remains the only championship for the Lakers. There have been injuries to him and AD, coaching changes and roster moves that have not proven beneficial in winning another championship. Despite those facts I feel privileged to have the opportunity to witness two NBA and Laker legends in action Kobe Bean Bryant and LeBron Raymone James Sr.

Meanwhile…

Many readers may not be familiar with the name Joe Dumars. Dumars was drafted by the Pistons and played a crucial role in the Bad Boy Pistons era as Isiah Thomas backcourt teammate. Following his playing career, he transitioned into an executive role within the Pistons organization, eventually serving as president of basketball operations from 2000 to 2014. From 2019 to 2022, Dumars served as a special advisor to the general manager of the Kings. Later in 2022, he joined the NBA as executive vice president and head of basketball operations. In April of 2025, Dumars was appointed director of basketball operations for the Pelicans. Throughout his post-playing career, Dumars has held numerous influential positions across various franchises, the NBA, and now the Pelicans. The Pelicans have enlisted Dumars to address multiple challenges facing the franchise.

This I find real scary, who is playing in the post. The Lakers have their playoff roster in place and guess who is missing? Trey Jemison III and Christian Koloko didn’t make the cut as backups, I realize they have limited experience playing in the NBA but they do bring youth. Who does that leave behind starter Jaxson Hayes, well there is veteran Alex Len 7 foot 1 and 250 pounds. Len was signed with the intent to back up Hayes but that’s not exactly worked out. The two youngsters Jemison and Koloko have seen more action than Len so exactly what should we expect to see in the playoffs? At points, the Lakers will have a “small ball” lineup on the court with the 6 foot 9 LeBron James playing post, that’s certainly not what I believed would occur just a brief time ago. It’s clear Len has the height (7-1) plus the bulk (250 pounds) to contend with Joker and others however that’s impossible when you are planted firmly on the bench.

He ain’t waiting on Flagg, he’s made his decision acknowledged. That would be Kon Knueppel the sharp shooting guard/small forward has decided (at least for now) it’s the NBA for him. In 39 games for Duke the freshman shot nearly 48% from the floor with 41% percent from three and 91% from the free throw line. Don’t allow the 14.4 points per game to fool you, shot selection was spread around the floor with the freshman trio of Knueppel, Cooper Flagg and Big Man Khaman Maluach. The disclaimer from me regarding Knueppel, there is no guarantee he will become a quality NBA player, it would appear from his role with Duke he should be fully capable. Keep in mind JJ Redick came into the league all everything, there were elements of his game that failed to translate to the NBA. Adjustments were required and he did just that becoming a 3-point shooting specialist.

This has been mentioned in the past with a new name, the question will Gregg Popovich be able to return to coaching the Spurs. If Pop is unable to resume his duties several names have been mentioned as a possible replacement. Last week a media member mentioned Mike Malone recently fired Nuggets coach. I’m unsure if I like this for several reasons and it’s not a hate Malone issue. I’d like to see interim coach Mitch Johnson be given the opportunity on a permanent basis. Second to that the Spurs make NBA history, they hire Becky Hammon as head coach and she becomes the groundbreaker. Afterall Hammon had served in the past on Pop’s staff from 2014-21. Back to Malone a moment, I’ve grown tired of teams hiring recycled coaches.

Basketball from a fans perspective

Published Tuesday, Thursday plus Saturday & Sunday 

Meanwhile….

I tuned into the Nike Hoop Summit Game featuring Team USA versus Team World on Saturday evening. I wanted to see the number one rated high school prospect AJ Dybantsa in action, he is headed for the University of Utah in the fall. All Star games are not the best source to judge talent however I wanted to check various aspects of his game. The 6 foot 9 Dybantsa had an outstanding game however it was the other guy who really caught my eye, that would be Cameron Boozer, he’s listed as 6 foot 9 and 235 pounds. Boozer and Dybantsa were tied in scoring with 26 points in the 124-114 OT win however the better overall game in my view was registered by Boozer who included 16 rebounds and 6 assists. It should be of note at least three players from Team World will be enrolled at American Universities. Shon Abaev from Israel is headed to the University of Cincinnati, Tounde Yessoufou is off to Baylor and Eric Reibe is a UConn commit.

The playoff position has now been finalized for my Lakers, they will face the Wolves in the first round. I thought I’d take a look at the regular season matches between the two teams. Opening the season against the Wolves on October 22 the Lakers were winners with a 110-103 victory. A December 2 game saw the Wolves prevail 109-80, later that month on December 13 the Wolves won once again, this time it was a 97-87 victory. The final regular season game played on February 27 witnessed the Lakers as winners 111-102. I am unsure about the Wolves however the Lakers have been almost completely revamped, the February game between the two is the only one after the acquisition of Luka Doncic. In closing playoff basketball is unlike regular season play, I would imagine the Lakers might be favored but that means nothing once the ball is first tossed up by officials.

The Spurs Victor Wembanyama held the first news conference providing us a health update. His season was interrupted midway by a deep-vein thrombosis, i.e., a blood clot in his right shoulder. The public was made aware of surgery to correct the condition along with medication. He said, “I’m over this problem” which shut him down. I wasn’t there but I’m sure he was asked questions of a more personal nature; “I’m not going to expand on my medical record” was his response. Wemby stated he’s begun light weightlifting and on-court work in a controlled setting in preparation for his return. Unless there is some unforeseen setback we should prepare ourselves to see the Wemby of old we saw in his year and a half of play in the NBA.    

Patrick Beverley has placed words to my thoughts, based on that fact I’m going to give him credit, his focus was on Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant. I don’t believe you would find anyone who would deny the fact Morant is super talented. Of course that entails a responsibility that it appears he is unable or unwilling to follow. After being fined for his handgun gesture twice he’s adopted another “weapon.” Morant tosses a “hand grenade” toward the opposing team or player, Morant indicates he will continue the routine. Beverley sends out a warning, Morant is treading on dangerous ground and uses Allen Iverson as the example. This had nothing to do with Iverson’s ability however he admitted to Rachel Nichols long after he retired he wishes he’d changed his public perception. Is it a maturity issue for Morant, it is and unfortunately his father is unwilling or unable to give him the guidance needed.

Duke basketball

I happened upon this post after reading Bill Simmons assessment of Cooper Flagg to Zion Williamson. Consider this fact, this is an evaluation of success in college versus the NBA. It seems in earlier times Duke compiled an overabundant number of All-Americans, in recent times with one and done the number has dwindled. Considering the school’s success over the years on the basketball court it would seem there should be a larger contingent of players from Duke in the NBA but there not. Off the top of my head the best of a past era might be Grant Hill. Hill had a 19-year career in the NBA, he’s been enshrined in the Naismith and College Basketball Hall of Fame, that’s it.

Christian Laettner experienced a 13-year NBA career and would be considered successful but not close to his former teammate Hill. We could count Elton Brand as one in the number of Duke players who tasted success in the NBA. Paolo Banchero might eclipse both however in the preliminary stages of an NBA career it’s far too early to make the call. Zion Williamson has all the tools if he could only remain healthy for an extended period of his career, the same might be said for Brandon Ingram who is always on the injured list too. There are a considerable number of Duke players currently in the NBA other than named earlier. They have thrived in the NBA but at no level close to Hill or Laettner. Who knows at some future date someone besides me will extol the talents of Zion, Brandon, Paolo or Cooper and add their names as proof of Duke basketball success in the NBA.

Right place, right time

Oftentimes when an NBA prospect fails a number of issues could have prevailed. The most obvious, despite what might be presumed his skill set will not allow him to play successfully at the NBA level. He is not as talented as we believed…that does occur. This one certainly applies to Deni Avdija, you are probably saying who? If you check the 2020 NBA Draft Avdija was one of the highly rated prospects that year. Mock sites miss the mark but this is what nbadraft.net said at the time. “Avdija is not (Luka) Doncic, though he has some Doncic-like qualities with his feel and versatility.

He’s similarly not a pure shooter, but he understands how to play the pick and roll game and is a high level competitor.” Based on this assessment and several others he was deemed ready for NBA play. The Wizards made him the number 9 pick in 2020 and then poof, he disappeared. I am exaggerating he didn’t really disappear however playing for the Wizards that’s close to being the case. His first three years saw him barely on the court, his 4th year Avdija moved into the starting lineup for the Wizards. In July 2024 he was traded to the Blazers and moved into the starting lineup at power forward. His first year with the Blazers saw his game continue to grow as he adjusted to the league and his new team. He continues to provide us proof of the honors he won while playing in the Israeli League, MVP of that league and 3 times he was an Israeli League Champion.