The

A fan’s perspective

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Another giant of the game

Cliff Hagen, who spent most of his playing career with the St. Louis Hawks, died last Thursday at 94. He helped the Hawks win their only championship while the team was based in St. Louis. Hagen was a leader among the NBA players of the era. After 10 years with the Hawks, he played three more seasons in the ABA with the Dallas Chaparrals in 1969 before retiring and transitioning into a coaching role. Years later, he was inducted into the Collegiate and Naismith Halls of Fame.

Top 10-Kansas

How about checking the top high school boys basketball on the other side of State Line Road? I guess that should be clarified on my part….the Kansas side. Although I conducted this as an AI search I had to place restrictions due to “mechanical issues.” As an example I excluded Paul Pierce, he played at Kansas University however his high school ball was played in the Los Angeles metro, the same could be said for Danny Manning. Manning played his first three years at a North Carolina HS and his senior year at Lawrence HS, Lawrence Kansas. The last one is Wilt Chamberlain, a Philadelphia HS player who attended Kansas University. With those names omitted the following are the Top 10 All Time boys basketball team AI generated:

Darnell Valentine, Wichita Heights HS-Wichita

Perry Ellis, Wichita Heights HS-Wichita

Antoine Carr, Wichita Heights HS-Wichita

Lucius Allen, Wyandotte HS-Kansas City Kansas

Wayne Simien, Leavenworth HS-Leavenworth

Gradey Dick, Wichita Collegiate/Sunrise Academy-Wichita

Dean Wade, St John HS-St John

Larry Drew, Wyandotte HS-Kansas City Kansas

Semi Ojeleye, Ottawa HS-Ottawa

Greg Dreiling, Kapaun Mt Carmel-Wichita Bill Bradley, Crystal City HS, Crystal

It’s that time again

The 81^st NBA season began last night, it commenced with the Detroit Pistons serving as host for the Celtics in an afternoon game. The Pistons would be winners 121 to 113, the Pistons used a trio of Jalen Duren, Cade Cunningham  and Duncan Robinson to win the game. The trio scored 22, 22 and 21 points for the winners. Javonte Green came off the bench and contributed 19 points. As for the Celtics Paul George led the way scoring 38 points but Jayson Tatum had a poor shooting game with 13 points. Payton Pritchard emerged from the Celtic bench and scored 17 points. As for the 6:00 p.m. Central Time game it saw the 76ers facing the Knicks, so what occurred here? 

The 76ers won the game 106 to 100 spoiling the first game of the season for the defending NBA champions. The winners were led by Tyrese Maxey who scored 28 points, in his first game as a Sixer LeBron had 14 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists. The evening concluded with a 9:00 p.m. game between the Thunder and the Spurs. The Thunder’s Shai-Gilgeous Alexander was matched against the 3-guard lineup of the Spurs. As you might be aware the Spurs guards are DeAaron Fox, Stephen Castle and Dylan Harper. The visiting Thunder came out on fire shooting 45% from three. They were led by SGA and his 32 points, as for the Spurs they didn't show up. The Spurs shot 39% from the floor and a measly 28% from three, this resulted in a 116-104 victory for the Thunder and revenge.   

Rivalries

I’m unsure who compiled the list however I saw it on one of my social media feeds. It was named the Top 20 Sports Rivalries but it only contained three of the basketball teams. Number 4 on their list was Los Angeles Lakers versus Boston Celtics, number 5 Duke and North Carolina, 13 was New York Knicks and Miami Heat. What I found interesting at 20 they listed USC versus UCLA in football but failed to include their basketball rivalry. Around these parts, especially in basketball, there is Kansas-Mizzou along with Kansas-Kansas State. I included Kansas and Kansas State despite the fact K-State has not done a great deal of winning in recent years.

Also missing from their list was Michigan-Michigan State one of the oldest in the nation, I’m adding Kentucky-Louisville to the count. We could consider Oklahoma against Oklahoma State as well. Although these two New Jersey schools, Rutgers and Seton Hall are in different conferences they still play during the non-con. These rivals have played one another every season since 1916. If we look at the NBA again we could include the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers as rivals since their addresses are in the same city. Speaking of same city or borough in this instance. Once the Nets moved to Brooklyn the former owner wanted to establish a rivalry with the Knicks but it’s never seemed to develop. Rest assured I’ve omitted a number of rivals, which one’s did I miss in your view.