A Fan’s View of Basketball

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There is no real competition

This is the time of the year for my annual declaration, I like the NFL especially Chiefs football. I have been questioned on several occasions, “Why do you publish a basketball blog 12 months of the year?” I could say for the same reason ESPN, sports talk radio is chock full of discussions on the NFL from February immediately after the Super Bowl through the spring NFL draft. This goes right through July training camp up to the start of the season, i.e. there is no off season. It’s also interesting NFL fans have no issue with trespassing on baseball but a discussion on basketball they choose to attack. You state “There’s no basketball being played yet have no issue with talking NFL football in June.” I just happen to be one of those guys who prefers the roundball game if you don’t that is truly okay. I embrace basketball as you do the NFL, both sports are awesome.

Is this the opening night roster

This Laker roster was located online, is it likely to be in place opening night? First a check of the reserves, Dalton Knecht guard, Maxi Kleber, power forward, Bronny James point guard and Christian Koloko center. The second unit will consist of Marcus Smart, guard, Jake LaRavia small forward, Jerrad Vanderbilt power forward, Jaxson Hayes center and Gabe Vincent guard. As for Laker starters they are, Luka Doncic point guard, Austin Reaves, shooting guard, Rui Hachimura forward, LeBron James forward along with Deandre Ayton center. Will opposing teams be in fear whenever the Lakers are the opposition, I have serious doubts? What they can accomplish with this lineup is to sneak up on the opponent.

The prevailing thought is to go with this bunch and see how it works out, if by the middle of the season it fails to work then make a move. Waiting in the wings is Adou Thiero, Eric Dixon, Chris Manon to name just a few additional names. The only problem I see with the second unit is their offense. Smart proved in the past he can score, is it in him to continue that role? LaRavia might be the X-factor, I’m unsure if his addition changes the power dynamics of the Lakers. There are other teams especially in the West who are probably deeper at all positions over the Lakers. The competition will be extremely tough just escaping the Western Conference finals. Will number 23 and number 77 be enough to escape the West and play for an NBA championship, only time will answer that question for us. I believe LeBron judging this is his last opportunity to win it all will provide inspirational play and leadership for the corps.

What’s the purpose I ask

Recent reports had circulated suggesting that Russell Westbrook had signed a contract to play for a team in Israel. At first glance, this appeared plausible, given the current circumstance regarding team interest and salary issues. However, upon closer inspection, this story was proven to be entirely false, lacking any factual basis. Contacted by American media the Israeli team denied any such signing occurred. I thought to myself this makes sense, in all likelihood no NBA team is prepared to pay Westbrook the money he desires. Searching the internet it turns out the story was false…it claimed not a single iota of truth to the account.

That was just the first account, this is the second one, on Thursday afternoon I read “Phil Jackson had signed a 3-year contract to coach the Lakers.” On the surface this one appeared valid too except for one question. “What happened to JJ Redick, did I miss the fact he’d been fired by the Lakers.” A farther internet check revealed this story was also unfounded. These two incidents and others prompt an important question: What motivates someone to publish a completely fabricated story? While speculation regarding trades or management decisions is common in this blog, I maintain a commitment to integrity and do not publish information know to be untrue. This serves as a reminder that internets sources are not always reliable, and it is imperative to verify information before accepting it as fact.

On closer inspection 

Recently Warren Armstrong (Jabali) was profiled in this blog. I’d expressed my belief he was and remains the best high school player ever to emerge from the Kansas City metro. It was mentioned he was the ABA Rookie of the Year in 1968 but what about college? At that time no mid-major/power 5 term was in use, college teams scheduled and played one another. Despite that fact some conferences and teams were superior to others. That was the case with Wichita State back then, playing in the tough Mo Valley Conference which exposed Armstrong to some of the toughest basketball play in the nation. His numbers might not jump out until you conducted a closer inspection, as an example his rebounds.

The three years Armstrong spent at Wichita State (freshman back then were ineligible) saw him dish out 5.5 assists along with 16.7 points and 10.8 rebounds a game. As a point guard he was distributing the rock rather than attempting to score which he could do and quite successfully. He stood 6-foot 2 and 205 pounds and his sophomore year witnessed Armstrong pulling down 12 rebounds a game…12 rebounds for a player of his height is remarkable. Despite the passage of time the all time assist record for Wichita State remains his alone. “Warren Armstrong recorded 429 career assists for Wichita State from 1965-1968, holding the Shocker record for career assists at the time of his induction into the school’s athletic hall of fame. He averaged 5.5 assists per game (mentioned above) over his career and also held records for assists in a single season (194 in 1967-68) and a single game (14 vs. Bradley in 1968).” Armstrong (Jabali) has been enshrined in the Wichita State and Kansas Hall of Fame. Why is more known of him, it was Wichita State over UCLA or Ohio State. In addition it was the ABA over the NBA and only 7 years before injuries forced him to retire at 28 years of age.

*AI