A Fan’s View of Basketball

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I’m disappointed

Some of you reading this might remember the name Ethan Taylor, he’s the 7 foot 230 pound center from Shawnee (KS) in metro Kansas City. Last season he made an unofficial visit to Mizzou and I thought Dennis Gates might have an inside track signing him. Fast forward to the present, he chose Link Academy in Branson Missouri for his senior year. This Rivals 4-star prospect recently reduced his prospective schools to 6, among the schools eliminated was Mizzou. Remaining on his list Kansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan State, Oklahoma and Oregon. Headed into his senior year Rivals places Taylor as their number 24 prospect in the Class of 2026, they believe Taylor might be headed to Kansas to play for Bill Self.   

Load Management

If we look purely at the numbers we can say Kawhi Leonard experienced a good 2024-25 season. The statement is made despite the fact Leonard didn’t play his first game until January 4 and appeared in only 37 games. Of course he was returning from an injury and rehab which caused him to miss the early portion of the season. Leonard, who rarely talks to the media, did just that to Basketball Network and his declaration was quite significant. He said, “I wouldn’t be here right now,” he went on to state that he believed his NBA career would have ended a long time ago if not for load management.

No one can get inside Leonard’s head not you or me but he must believe what he said otherwise why mention it. For Leonard I have stated over and over with him there is no doubt in his talent. Despite what Scottie Pippen might say today Michael Jordan was the clear leader of those 90’s Bulls team, MJ willed them to win. Fast forward to 2019 and we find Leonard in a similar role to MJ, there is no argument from practically anyone in the media or NBA fans, if there were no Leonard there would be no Raptors NBA championship. Leonard managed to leave the Spurs under a cloud of suspicion, it’s been documented he refused to be evaluated by the medical staff of the team,could Leonard have returned to action at the time he played for the Spurs? We could ask a similar question as he’s been in and out of the lineup for the Clippers since his arrival. No one plays 82 games anymore, that is not the issue.

In the 5 years Leonard’s been in Los Angeles the most games he’s played occurred in the 2023-24 season when he played 68. As for the playoffs that year the number was 2. I think back to Willis Reed injured seriously in Game 6 and the belief he wouldn’t be able to play any further. He came out of the MSG tunnel to a roaring crowd took a few practice shots and was ready. Once the game started Reed hit his first two shots, dragging his leg up the court he went to the bench never to return in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals. Reed had inspired his Knick teammates to an NBA championship by appearing on the court ever how short a time it would become.  

“Don’t kill the messenger”

An idiom that means “You shouldn’t blame or punish the person who delivers bad news.” In this instance this is a report not actual fact but it is news. As some might be aware the estate of Paul Allen has announced the Blazers franchise has been placed on the market for purchase. On top of that issue is the Moda Center home of the team, it’s old by NBA standards, not MSG old but it is. The lease for the arena expires in 2030 which is only 5 years from now and that’s where the story becomes wild rumor. NBA owners appear to be in a holding pattern regarding expansion, with the television contract kicking in this fall there is no rush.

No urgency to divide the television revenue by 32 ownership individuals and groups over 30. That’s where the story grows “legs” will a new Blazer owner be obliged for the team to remain in Portland? The commissioner was about evasive as possible with his answer, “Silver did say that (that day) that the NBA’s “preference” is that the Blazers remain in Portland.” Elements in Seattle have been clamoring for a return to the city by the NBA for years it seems. It’s interesting that one of the issues holding Seattle back at one time was an arena, that exists no more. The complete interior portion of the old Key Arena has been rebuilt and is now known as Climate Pledge. Seattle’s NHL Kraken play in the building, you are left to draw your own conclusions based on the evidence presented.

rosegardenreport.com