Basketball from a fans perspective

Published Tuesday, Thursday plus Saturday & Sunday 

2025 NBA Championship

It doesn’t matter which team wins, there will be a NEW champion crowned. Neither the Pacers nor Thunder have ever won a championship although the Pacers history is bit more extensive. In the American Basketball Association the Pacers won the ABA Championship in 1970, 1972 and 1973. They played in the ABA Finals in 1969 and 1971. In the NBA they were runner up for the championship in 2000 and now 2025. Although this group has no connection to those Pacer teams of the past there is a rich basketball history for the franchise. For the Thunder it’s a little more complicated. Although the team moved from Seattle to Oklahoma City in 2008 they are a new “franchise.”

This from Wikipedia, “The owners agreed to leave the Supersonics name, logo and colors in Seattle for a possible future NBA franchise however, the items would remain the property of the Oklahoma City team along with other “assets,” including championship banners and trophies.” That’s a somewhat misleading statement in my view. Based on my belief I’m going to state the Thunder franchise played for its lone championship in 2012, I cannot count a championship won in Seattle belonging to Oklahoma City. In any event as I stated previously this should be an interesting series, we have the best defensive team in the NBA (Thunder) versus the best offensive team (Pacers). I don’t normally do this in advance however I’m picking the series winner, the Thunder in six.

I wonder why

Carmelo Anthony is the latest former NBA player to comment on Cooper Flagg’s potential in the NBA. Like several others, he acknowledges Flagg’s talent. However, it remains unclear not a single scouting report I’ve read suggest that “Flagg will come into the NBA and dominate.” All these statements by Anthony and others have been made before Flagg has played a significant game on an NBA court. I have mentioned this previously and reiterate it now.

Perhaps I am mistaken, and Flagg may not be capable of playing at the highest level. With three weeks remaining before the draft, I am making an official prediction. Flagg will be drafted with the first pick by the Mavs and will be given every opportunity to integrate into their lineup. It remains to be seen if he will participate in the NBA Summer League; his involvement would offer us some insight into his playing capability. I will make a promise to you, this is the latest and last negative statement you will read from me defending Cooper Flagg. 

Did it occur

We’ve discussed Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 point game on several occasions. There is another story involving him that might be unbelievable to conspiracy theorists. What occurred in the NBA during the 1973-74 season, the league began tracking steals and blocked shots. Consider this, from its founding in 1946 up to the 1949 NBL merger we have no idea of the number of steals and blocked shots that might have been lost. There is a name to become familiar with, it’s Harvey Pollack. Pollack never played the game however his importance to the game is quite interesting.

According to Wikipedia he was “An American sports statistician, a journalist of sports and entertainment, a publicist, and long term director of statistical information for the Philadelphia 76ers. At the time of his death, Pollack was the only person still working for the NBA since its inaugural 1946-47 season.” Did Wilt Chamberlain have a quintuple-double game, Pollack claims he did. Where was Pollack, courtside tracking stats of the game. March 18, 1968, while playing for the Sixers Chamberlain filled up the box in this game, 53 points, 32 rebounds and 14 assists. Pollack says there were also 24 blocked shots along with 11 steals added to that total by Chamberlain.

Is it necessary

Charles Barkley and I have often been on the opposing sides of an issue, this time I am in agreement with him. His complaint, ESPN apparently anointing Anthony Edwards “The Face of the NBA.” I’m a little confused and must pose the question first, “Why is there a need” and secondly shouldn’t it be a natural thing? Why is it necessary for a particular athlete to become the face of the NBA? The impact of the Indiana State-Michigan State NCAA Championship game certainly was a contributing factor for Larry Bird and Magic Johnson in becoming “The Face.” We include Michael Jordan’s name for his pivotal role in leading the Bulls to dominance in the NBA.

MJ’s championship victories contributed to his emergence as a prominent figure. Evidently, winning championships has enabled these athletes to assume new roles in the perception of the media and fans. It should be noted that this is not intended as criticism toward Anthony Edwards; with five seasons completed in the NBA, he still as time on his side. Additionally, it is important to recognize that achieving championship titles alone does not determine one’s status as “The Fame.” For instance, Tim Duncan won five championships with the Spurs yet did not attain this recognition. Perhaps it’s an X factor, something we often find difficult to define, what do you think? Ultimately the determination of which athlete embodies this role cannot be made by any single institution.