The ESPN website read, “Surprise, Surprise”
Their description of last night’s NBA Draft. Through the first five picks Nerlens Noel and Ben McLemore were seated watching the proceedings. All season long most mock draft sites had the pair listed either first or second. The fact their draft stock dropped is a little surprising however there might be an explanation. Noel possibility dropped due to recovery from injury. In addition his offensive game is limited, at 206 pounds is lacking weight at the center position.

As for McLemore reports were there were concerns about his lack of aggressiveness. Finally with the 6^th pick the Pelicans of New Orleans choose Noel. McLemore was chosen immediately after with the 7^th pick headed to Sacramento. There is no doubt in my mind there was no mock draft anywhere with the order chosen. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the evening (although not official) was the Celtics trading Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to the Nets for Gerald Wallace and others plus draft picks. After 4.5 hours of Bill Simmons would somebody please explain to me his role on NBA telecast?

Did you hear this?
ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas says; “there is 0 probability Victor Oladipo will fail in the NBA.” The only disclaimer he added; “I’m not saying he’s going to be All-Pro or he’s the next Dwayne Wade. Whatever team drafts him he will make better.”  You might remember I pointed out I had tuned into an Indiana game last season hoping to view a Cody Zeller show. This 6-4 213 pound shooting guard led Indiana to a victory over Michigan State.

Will he make an NBA roster?
Is Gal Mekel too old for the NBA at age 25? That might be the first question regarding this player; he played two years at Wichita State leaving in 2008. Since then Mekel’s played for a number of pro teams most of them in Israel. He was selected Israeli basketball Super League MVP in 2011 and 2013. He’s worked out for the Bucks last week and will work out for the Mavs this week. He wasn’t drafted last night but could wind up on an NBA Summer League roster. Mekel certainly has good size at 6-4 at and 190.

I fell into the trap
Prior to the recent NBA Championship series Jen Floyd Engel of Fox Sports.com wrote a column that trapped me. It caused me to ask the question why she wrote it. The title of her column was; “I’ll take Pop over Phil any day.” Her intent (other than to stir controversy) was to provide us proof why Popovich was a better coach than Phil Jackson. Jen is certainly entitled to her opinion however once again why is this comparison even necessary? Jackson’s teams (Bulls and Lakers) have won 11 NBA Championships. The Spurs under Popovich have won 4 NBA Championships. Critics of Jackson claim he inherited a team (MJ, Pippen, Shaq and Kobe) which is true however there is another element. A team whatever the sport must have a quality leader--despite Jen that statement fits Phil Jackson.

What do you think?
The ESPN.com NBA page is always my first read, I’m unsure if other NBA websites are making the same statement. ESPN questions whether the Lakers should amnesty Kobe Bryant. I admit I am unfamiliar with all the components of the amnesty clause so I consulted Wikipedia. *“Each team is allowed to waive a player without having their salary count toward the salary cap or luxury tax. One player can be waived prior to the start of any season from 2011–12 through 2015–16. It can be exercised during the seven days that follow the July moratorium.

Each team is restricted to one "amnestied" player during that time. Only players signed prior to 2011–12 are eligible. Teams can claim an amnestied player at a reduced rate, with the waiving team responsible for paying the balance of the contract. The team with the highest bid acquires the player. If unclaimed, the player becomes a free agent. Teams over the salary cap can only acquire an amnestied player if he becomes a free agent, and the offer would be limited to the veteran's minimum contract."  We are not in the position of general manager Mitch Kupchak or owner Jim Buss; we are not in a position to make the call. Neither am I so after reading this I will allow you to come to your own conclusion. (*Wikipedia)

He will refuse to write this story
The NBA has no monopoly on feel-good stories; the league certainly endures negative news reports. If you read Jason Whitlock of Fox Sports you might be led to believe only NBA players make the police blotter. This week Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was arrested and charged with murder. At this point I am not going to assume guilt or innocence but I do intend to report this fact. According to an NBC News report Hernandez is just the latest of 27 NFL players this off-season charged with criminal activity. Rather than write about the NBA's problem it might serve a purpose if Whitlock checked his own site occasionally. The Fox Sports.com website of June 27 contains 22 photo pages of NFL players charged with criminal activity. Don’t misunderstand it’s not my intent to indict professional football. My problem in this instance is the writer who loves to focus on negative NBA news and virtually ignoring the NFL.  Next time you read him and its negative toward the NBA remember this.

We have no idea if he can coach
Long-time assistant coach and former player Brian Shaw has been hired. He will succeed George Karl as head coach of the Nuggets. It seems Shaw interviewed for just about every open NBA coaching position over the last two years. For reasons unknown none of the franchises would hire him, no explanation was ever given. Shaw will inherit a competitive and very talented team; the Nuggets were a Top Five Western Conference team. Will Shaw’s Nuggets team implement the Triangle Offense he was a part of as a player and coach.

It might be all about the money
I made it clear earlier I was okay with the direction the Lakers chose, they could re-sign Dwight Howard or simply allow him to walk. I was aware the Lakers were in a position to offer Howard added assets over other NBA teams, I didn’t realize the depth of a Laker max contract. At the conclusion of the Laker playoffs series stories began circulating the Mavs and Rockets wanted to sign him. Both teams had an advantage over the Lakers, no state tax in Texas. I’ve changed my mind after reading a column by Sekou Smith NBA.com. If you pay attention to numbers you might be aware of what I just discovered.

Smith claims the Lakers can pay Howard $30 million dollars more than any another team. Outside of the tax issue I’m sure Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston could offer Howard commercial opportunities outside of basketball. We cannot project the commercial dollars earnings, it’s an unknown amount. Its possible commercial endorsement opportunities in Los Angeles may be equal to or even exceed DFW and Houston. Howard could still sign with either of these teams or maybe another. If we check out the big picture it might be difficult for him to leave should the Lakers offer him a max contract, what do you think?

Win some, lose some
Hopefully folks won’t read more into this story than is there; Mizzou announced two freshman players had left the program. Guards Dominique Bull and Negus Webster-Chan left for an opportunity for more playing time. Of course starting point guard Phil Pressey has departed for the NBA. There is still a question as to whether he will be drafted this week, despite Pressey leaving Mizzou’s backcourt should still be in reasonably good shape. Not surprising news to those who follow the program, Pressey and Coach Haith seem to clash at times. The backcourt next season will change however I believe it will be 6-5 Jabari Brown at the two joined by 6-4 combo guard Jordan Clarkson. The Kansas City Star reporter who provides coverage of Mizzou foresees 6’0” freshman point guard Wesley Clark as the starter. Clark is a Rivals 4-star prospect Class of 2013. Unless Clark demonstrates his skill from day one I cannot imagine a freshman starting at the point. A late addition is Rivals 3-star prospect Shane Rector a point guard. The backcourt will also contain 6-5 shooting guard Earnest Ross.

A question mark on his play and late addition Deuce Bello has been added. Bello is a 6-4 shooting guard transferring from Baylor. Naturally this “new” backcourt will require adjustments (particularly at the point) but it certainly should be satisfactory. As for the frontcourt we’ll discover early if 6’11 260 pound Keanau Post can make the adjustment from junior college ball to Division I. Waiting in the wings is 6-9 240 pound Tony Criswell who spelled Alex Oriakhi at the center position last season. Stefan Jankovic at 6-11 230 pound returns for his sophomore year. He saw limited minutes as a freshman; he even displayed 3-point range. Two other returnees 6-9 and 6-10 saw limited playing time. There are two incoming freshman power forwards; one 6-8 and 6-9 which should provide additional frontcourt depth. It’s not just me tossing out superlatives; MaxPreps CBSSportsline.com subsidiary ranks this incoming crop of Mizzou athletes 18^th in the nation. ESPNU rates them 21^st in the nation which ain‘t to shabby. As you can see the recruiting is there, it’s up to Haith and the assembly to translate the skill to success on the court.

College is better
First of all I have no stats proving proof of my statement. It’s my belief it is far easier for a visiting NBA team (unless it’s the Bobcats) to win on the road over a collegiate team. There is one exception to my theory, it‘s Oklahoma City which retains a college atmosphere for the NBA Thunder. As for colleges visiting teams are intimidated playing in Rupp Arena, the Dean Dome or Allen Fieldhouse. In collegiate football fans are often referred as the “12^th man,” I could utilize the same phrase for basketball. In several of the vociferous arenas the fans become the “6^th” man on the court.

Bulletin
An account written earlier (below in Bits n Pieces) might be a portion of the basis for Doc Rivers leaving Boston. It’s been reported the Celtic coach is headed to Los Angeles and the Clippers. I was wrong, wrong and wrong; I thought tightwad owner Donald Sterling would never meet Rivers salary demands. In the past Sterling has been notorious for his failure to pay coaches.

Change is in the wind
The Heat are NBA Champs for a second season, they are to be congratulated for repeating. I had this thing all figured out, I said to several friends it would be a 7-game series. The only problem I picked the wrong team, I thought Duncan and crew had one more run left in them. Despite the playoff run the future might not be bright for the Spurs. The following is a projection for next season it’s only my best guess, trades or free agent signings could change the picture for each of the teams. Unless someone in San Antonio manages to inject “youth juice” into Manu Ginobili he’s through. He’s been an outstanding player for the Spurs franchise however it appears to be retirement time. “The Big Fundamental” Tim Duncan has one or two more seasons left. Tony Parker played at a high level should have several good years left. The balance of the Spurs team looks pretty average except Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green and Gary Neal. The question becomes can that trio become the new Big Three for the Spurs?

The Heat is NBA Champions however questions remain about them too. These questions have little to do with LeBron; he will play at his usual peak level. The supporting cast is my question. 0 points in a 7^th championship game for Chris Bosh ain’t gonna cut it. Based on his contributions he is overpaid, besides the fact he is not a center. As for Dwayne Wade has the grind of the NBA worn him down? Can he continue to play at a high level or only periodically? The Heat need a center as mentioned, they need somebody to rebound the ball and the bench needs improvement. I have no ability to peer into the future I can only reflect on the history. LeBron was quoted this championship was more difficult to win than last season, think its going to be any easier next season?

We never know playoff match ups until teams meet. The Heat faced the Bulls and Pacers which they were able to overcome; can they do it again next season? Next season the Bulls with a larger front line will have Derrick Rose in the lineup from day one. The Pacers who physically dominated the Heat with Roy Hibbert and Paul George will have a growth year behind them. It remains to be seen if 21 ppg (over the previous three seasons) Danny Granger is retained or traded. If the Pacers decide to keep George and Granger their bench becomes more potent. The young Pacer team should be even better next season. The Knicks, Nets or Hawks could be lying in the weeds waiting for an unsuspecting Heat team to take them too lightly. You state it will never occur, how about the 1994 NBA Playoffs. *“The biggest upset (in NBA history) came in the first round, when the Denver Nuggets came back from a 2-0 deficit to beat the Seattle Supersonics in game 5, marking the first time in NBA history that an 8th-seed had defeated a #1 seed.” *(Wikipedia)

Another NBA draft story
Drafted on potential and not actual play, it’s always easy when you are 7 feet tall. That is the case for Dwayne Dedmon of Southern Cal. His journey was profiled in Sports Illustrated, *“He was raised by a strict religious single parent mother.” It’s not the fact Dedmon did not make an effort he made his high school team every year but his mother forbade him to play. Finally at age 18 and a senior he played but rode the bench all year long. His high school point total 2 points.” After beginning as a freshman at Antelope Valley Junior College Dedmon is now a junior at Southern Cal, his numbers are only average however he’s grown to a height of 7 feet and weighs 239 pounds. A far cry from the skinny 6-10 190 pound high school body he once possessed. To top it off both draftexpress.com and NBADraft net have Dedmon on their list of draft potentials. Of course your name on a mock draft list guarantees nothing. A question might be when is the last time you’ve seen a 7 foot player with average numbers on the NBA’s radar? No response is necessary, thought so. (*SI.com)

Bits n Pieces
Read what you will into this, it’s reported Kobe Bryant claims the Lakers need to re-sign Dwight Howard. A number of stories circulated during the season regarding the two players, most of them indicating there was animosity between the two. So much for all the talk of them not seeing eye to eye, do we really ever know?

Here’s hoping Kansas guard Travis Reliford makes it to the NBA. This Kansas City (Mo) native has two qualities the NBA loves. He is big for a guard (6-6 210 pounds) and Reliford plays hard-nose defense. One of the barbers at the shop I get my haircut said; “I could see him being a Bruce Bowen type player.” He can shoot the ball he just sacrificed offense for the teams defensive profile. If he fails to latch on to an NBA team there is the possibility of a Euro career.

Remember the report of Celtics Rajon Rondo-Ray Allen feuding? That was the basis for Allen wanting out, now word of another clash. This time Doc Rivers and Rondo were about to go to blows after Rondo cursed at Rivers. No date and time but Rivers had to be held back from going after the point guard. This might be a reason Doc wanted out of Boston and we continue to hear Rondo trade stories.

Heat fans are coming from everywhere; it seems the nation has become obsessed with this team. I have a question, I wonder if many of these folks could be categorized as fans prior to three years ago? The franchise had won an NBA Championship in 2006 however it appeared they gained but a few fans. Are you familiar with the term “bandwagon”?

A departure
Words eye view is 99 and ¾ basketball in its various components; this is a departure from the norm. Wednesday evening media sites announced actor James Gandofini died of a heart attack while vacationing in Italy. For millions of fans he will be remembered forever as mob boss Tony Soprano on the HBO series “The Sopranos.” Tony Soprano was a ruthless driven boss of a crime family, Gandofini allowed us to witness the often conflicted side of Tony Soprano. For that reason alone we rooted for Tony although we knew he was an unscrupulous criminal. Many of us felt a loss with the concluding episode of the series. Once upon a time there was discussion of a Sopranos movie it certainly will not occur with the death of Gandolfini. James Gandofini is the only person who was and forever will remain Tony Soprano--gone far too soon at age 51.

Surprising if it becomes true
To be chosen the number one pick in any draft is certainly a mark of distinction. This certainly applies to the upcoming NBA Draft to be held June 27. The June 19 edition of NBADraft.net and DraftExpress.com contains different names. NBADraft.net placed Maryland’s Alex Len in the number one position while Nerlens Noel of Kentucky remains a solid number one on DraftExpress. Reports indicate the 7-1 255 pound Len’s prospects have risen after workouts for teams. In addition this Antratsit, Ukraine native possess offensive skills Noel lacks. At 225 pounds Len should be able to hold his own in the middle while bulking up. As for Noel he’s got work to do in the weight room varying between 208 to 215 pounds. Will the Cavs chose Len over Noel June 27, we can only guess at this time. In addition there is always the possibility of the Cavs trading the pick.

Totally stupid discussion
I turned on my television late this morning near the end of an amnesty discussion on Mike & Mike. The discussion I heard centered on NBA amnesty and I heard Kobe Bryant’s name mentioned. It’s my belief there are two words that don’t belong in the same sentence, amnesty and Kobe. We all realize he‘s injured and likely to not play until December. Kobe is the face of the Laker franchise it’s silly to me for his name to even be mentioned, below are basics of the clause I was able to locate:

*Amnesty Clause Basics
- Each team is permitted to waive 1 player and have 100% of the player’s salary removed for Cap and Tax purposes
- Once a player is waived under the Amnesty Clause, they are placed in a modified waiver process available only to teams under the Salary Cap.
- Teams with room under the cap can then submit a claim on players by bidding to pay a portion of the player’s previous salary
- Once part of a player’s salary is claimed by a new team, the old team will continue to pay the remaining amount (though it won’t count against the Cap or Tax).

If I understand the clause and I claim no legal knowledge it would set up this potential scenario. The Lakers amnesty Kobe and Team A under the salary cap claims him. If Kobe wants to play he signs with Team A which pays a portion of his salary while the Lakers play the remaining amount. Do you believe pigs can fly? The purpose of amnesty is to clear cap space; it’s utilized for inflated contracts. It is utilized for players who provide limited capability to their team. I could be wrong, it might be December or January but Kobe will return. Some of his skills will have eroded (some due to age) but the “fire” will still burn in him. *(http://www.faniq.com/blog/Explaining-the-NBAs-New-Amnesty-Clause-Blog-42532)

Bits n Pieces
Marvin Bagley III could be described as a project, he‘s a 6-7 (or 6-8) 175 pound talent from Arizona. To date he’s received a scholarship offer from Northern Arizona and is likely to receive one from Arizona State his grandfathers’ alma mater. Oh, I forgot to mention Bagley is 13-years old and in the 7^th grade, Class of 2018.

Did you hear this? ESPN’s Paul Biancardi claims Glen “Doc” Rivers picked up his nickname at Marquette, he arrived at camp wearing a Doctor J. t-shirt.

Another son following in his father‘s footsteps. Reggie Theus Jr. a 6-6 180 pound guard has signed with South Carolina. His dad played in the NBA from 1978 through 1991 including the Kansas City Kings. Reggie Theus Sr. has served as a broadcaster, in addition he’s had collegiate and NBA stops. He will assume the role of head coach at Cal State Northridge in the fall.

Mizzou made an offer to Malek Harris a 6-7 190 pound forward. Harris is from Orland Park (IL) a Chicago suburb and a Class of 2014 prospect. Both Rivals and ESPN rate him a 4-star prospect.

I wish I had learned to talk smack. For those who might be unfamiliar with the term this is one of the definitions according to the Urban Dictionary. “Disrespectful comments made toward or about someone” The comments are always directed at the teams I root it’s never personal. I listen patiently to the individual state their case, I state mine and it ends. No jockeying back and forth trading insults on the others team.

I doubt any occur
The rumors circulating on the internet are probably just that---rumors. I cannot begin to imagine many of them becoming actual fact. The Lakers trade Dwight Howard for Blake Griffin and Eric Bledsoe. The only issue the two teams have never traded with one another. As for the Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett to the Clippers I doubt that one too but for different reasons. Griffin has limitations on his game however he’s only 24-years old. The Clippers have made a succession of bone-headed front office moves in years past. Would they be willing to trade a young Griffin for a 37-year old forward? As for Rivers that might be a different description of events. Rivers he might be exiting Boston on his own terms. (I was about to publish when ESPN reported it dead, I still question if it was valid). As for Dwight Howard and Chris Paul teaming up I doubt that one as well. The last one is a Laker sign and trade deal with the Rockets, the Lakers trade Howard and receive in return 7-foot center Omer Asik and point guard Jeremy Lin.

“Things that make you go hmmm!”
The above line was first uttered I believe by Arsenio Hall on his television program, later it was turned into a pop tune. In this instance the phrase is utilized in a story regarding the University of Missouri-Kansas City. The Kansas City Star reported the school is attempting to gain visibility in the metro area by providing sports apparel in stores. Prior to last week unless you were an athlete at UMKC there was not a single store you could purchase the schools merchandise. Even more interesting the store never provided UMKC apparel although Mizzou, Kansas and Kansas State was available. Interesting the schools mentioned are 150, 50 and 121 miles from the metro area. This certainly details for you the identification problem with the school. The university specifically the athletic department bares a portion of blame for this oversight.

The Kangaroo’s have never sniffed an NCAA berth since leaving the NAIA for Division I basketball. I researched these next facts, the university began Division I play in the ‘86-‘87 season. Since that period UMKC has only finished above .500 twice. They were 20-8 in ‘91-’92 and 18-11 in ‘01-’02. How bad has UMKC been you ask? An athletic director no longer on the scene fired the basketball coach the assumption was he was to hire his guy. The only problem his hire left after one season for an NBA assistant coach position. Providing a winning team on the basketball court is just as important as the merchandise. Of course the other portion is the school moving from the Summit League to the Western Athletic Conference. As detailed in the past the school’s basketball program has been lacking. (Wikipedia)

I know it’s not me
A number of former players and coaches serve as print or broadcast analysts for collegiate and NBA games. I’m unsure your intent mine is to gain information to become more informed. Often I’ve asked myself is the analyst entertaining us or is the desire to provide fact? Several with journalism credentials appear to become entertainers; they seem to revel in creating or promoting controversy. Who are these folks, no list of names needs to be provided. Just note those media types who become lighting rods for controversy or desire to hear their own voices spout rhetoric. Just to be clear former players and coaches fall under the microscope too. The difference is there appears to be little requirement for them to artificially inflate their egos.

Around these parts
Mizzou has a new rivalry with Arkansas, others claim it will only exist as Mike Anders coaches Arkansas.  I say the rivalry should be a natural; the two States (similar to Kansas) share a common border.  For those who might be geography challenged the the Missouri-Arkansas border runs in a parallel line until we reach the Bootheel portion of the State.  This portion was so-named due to it's resemblance to a boot.  This bit of history courtesy of Wikipedia.  *"According to an apocryphal story in various versions, the bootheel was added because of the request of some Missourian to remain in the state "as he had heard it was so sickly in Arkansas;" ""...full of bears and panthers and copperhead snakes, so it ain't safe for civilized people to stay there over night even." Another folktale has the adaptation made by a lovestruck surveyor to spare the feelings of a widow living 50 miles south of the Missouri border, but unaware of it. At one time, the area was known locally as "Lapland, because it's the place where Missouri laps over into Arkansas". If you boarded a flight in Columbia (MO) you could land in Fayetteville in under an hour. At the time Nolan Richardson was at Arkansas and Norm Stewart at Mizzou the schools played a home and home series. The series begun in 1986-87 lasted for 10 years.  (*www.sportsreference.com)

  

Who wins tomorrow night?
I have no idea who wins---do you? This NBA Championship has been most unusual in several aspects, 114-104 was the final score in game 5 Spurs win. This game had Danny Green versus Jesus Shuttlesworth. Green was 6-10 from the three-point line scoring 24 points and breaking the 3-point record established by Jesus Shuttlesworth. Remember hearing what I heard? Many in the media (and a few former players) claimed this Heat team might go down in history as one of the all-time great NBA teams.  The Heat are a good team, a third consecutive trip to the NBA Championship provides proof.  I doubt the comparisons to the MJ Bulls, Bird led Celtics, Showtime Lakers or Bad Boy Pistons. What do you think?  

The Doctor
Did you realize at age 63 Dr. J. can still dunk a basketball? I didn’t realize it until last week, I hope you had an opportunity to view “The Doctor. “ The documentary focused on the career of Julius “Doctor J. “ Erving. The program was only available on NBA TV; maybe it will eventually make its way to ESPN with its much larger audience. The story unfolds skillfully and well worth the hour and a half time frame.

Mr. Irrelevant
My reference is meant to detail the history of an outstanding NBA player most fans have either overlooked or just ignored. He scored over 20,000 points pulled down 14,000 plus rebounds and was a 4-time NBA All Star. This 6-11 center was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993. In 2006 he was elected to the first class of the Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.  He played for a number of NBA teams the first being the Chicago Packers who were re-named the Zephyrs in their second year.  In any event I figured the Packers (or Zephyrs) would confuse, the NBA added an expansion team in 1962 the Packers.  

For once a name change might have been seriously required.  According to reports the name Packers was associated with cattle packing houses. Cattle were slaughtered in these packing houses thus odors emanating from them were certainly not very pleasant. In any event the team only lasted 3 years in Chicago, they moved to Baltimore where they were re-named the Bullets. A much later move to Washington D.C. and they would eventually become the Wizards. Have you guessed the name of our mystery Hall of Fame athlete? One more hint, he played at Indiana University and was a second team All American in 1961. Quit racking your brain, the player was Walt Bellamy who managed a successful career at a time the NBA had several prominent centers. Bellamy experienced nightly battles under the boards with the likes of Chamberlain, Russell and Nate Thurmond. (dates & history, Wikipedia)

It serves no purpose
Those of us viewing Thursday nights Game 4 witnessed the flop of Chris Bosh. Bosh sold the flop to an official who promptly whistled an offensive foul on Tim Duncan. The following day after reviewing tape of the game the league office fined Bosh $5,000. I have no solution for flopping, a next day fine resolves nothing except increase the coffers of the NBA offices.

“Just do it!”
The NBA Championship is yet to be decided with the series tied 2-2. The tag line of this story is no longer used by Nike. Just do it was the phrase used by Nike in its commercials to say make an effort, there is no need to inform us of your intentions.  After a poor performance in game three LeBron James in the post-game press conference promised he’d play better.  Hey LeBron, no need to inform us "just do it!" 

Change the name???
NBA name changes for several franchises must be in the wind, the Hornets would become the Pelicans. The Bobcats will soon become the Hornets and it’s reported a name change might be in the works for the Raptors. There are several teams that could have undergone a name change in the past. New Orleans indirectly has been responsible for much of the confusion. The Jazz name traveled from New Orleans to Salt Lake City at the time the franchise moved. I wonder how many jazz venues exist in Utah’s capital city. We should include the Grizzlies in this account. Grizzlies’ are native to the Northwest Pacific States and Southern Canada. It should be pointed out the franchise was an expansion team for the city of Vancouver British Columbia and re-located to Memphis.

As for others how about the Magic? We know what magic is and it ain't a basketball team. We suspect they are given a pass on the name due to the franchise being located in Orlando Florida. Of course Orlando is home of Walt Disney World and Universal Studios. I wrote previously the Wolves receive a pass too with a state name rather than city. The thought might have been to not offend either Minneapolis or St. Paul at the time the baseball Senators located there and became the Twins. Later the NFL Vikings followed their lead and adopted the state name rather than city. I think we realize there are few lakes in and around Los Angeles. Of course Lakers refers to the Land of 1,000 Lakes Minnesota and the Minneapolis Lakers.

Team USA will never ever accept silver medals
I listened to Doug Collins describe the controversy surrounding Team USA’s 1972 Olympic team. First realize in that day Team USA was comprised entirely of collegiate athletes, no NBA players. There is a great quantity of specifics available for you to read, examine the details for further insight. It was a different era and world politics may have played a role in the 51-50 victory by the former Soviet Union. After losing the game and later losing an appeal Team USA voted to never accept Silver Medals. 41 years later the medals remain in the possession of the International Olympic Committee. Collins mentioned one of his team members has a stipulation in his will; his children are to never accept the medal.

Every coach deserves another opportunity
I will admit up front I haven’t paid a great deal of attention to the Hawks. I wrote a few weeks back it’s my belief Atlanta problems are more than the coach. Larry Drew was “fired” before he was officially let go. A number of media outlets were reporting he was history prior to the teams’ official notification. I guess Drew probably felt the pressure as he interviewed with Milwaukee which needed to hire a coach. As soon as the Hawks announced their new coach the Bucks announced Drew had been hired to guide the Bucks. Drew’s record with the Hawks, 128-102 .557 percentage, in his three years the team twice won 44 games. He led them into the playoffs every year under his leadership. Drew from Kansas City Kansas played his college ball at Mizzou.  (stats Wikipedia)

Speaking of coaches
In a move that defies logic the Grizzlies chose to not renew Lionel Hollins contract. The Grizzlies are a good team; good teams need a good coach who replaces him? In other moves it appears Maurice Cheeks has been hired by the Pistons. Unlike the Hollins case the jury is still out as to Cheeks ability to lead a team to success. Drew Sharp, Detroit Free Press pointed out “the Pistons have gone through 7 coaches in 10 years.” Maurice Cheeks the player a thumbs up, Cheeks the coach has a mixed record. The Pistons require a name coach to turn this team around, I’m afraid it’s not Cheeks. His Blazer team finished above .500 his first year at the helm, over the next seven years with the Blazers and 76ers his teams never finished above .500.

In a surprise move too many Jason Kidd let it know he wanted to become a head coach. Even more surprising the Nets will allow him the opportunity a return to the team he once led at its point guard. Junior is unhappy, Patrick Ewing Jr. who indicated displeasure at the Kidd hiring. He wasn’t upset with Kidd it was the fact I pointed out awhile back. For reasons unknown Ewing Sr. has been unable to secure a head coaching position except in the D-League. Maybe even more surprising is Glen “Doc” Rivers. He is making noises as if he might be through coaching. Finished in Boston but maybe not just finished coaching. The Celtics like their long-time Laker rivals require a re-build. It’s my belief Doc subscribes to the Phil Jackson outlook on coaching in the NBA, “I don’t build teams I coach teams made up of veteran players.”

“Who are those guys?”
The above quote is from the 1969 Western “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” The quote was utilized throughout the movie as Outlaws Cassidy and Sundance were chased by lawmen.  The Heat might be asking the same question regarding the Green-Neal combo or is it Neal-Green? The duo of Danny Green and Gary Neal combined for 51 points leading the Spurs to a 113-77 blitz of the Heat. Former Coach Doug Collins is on “Mike and Mike” this morning offering his view on the Heat winning this series. He is correct, A 2-1 lead means nothing a team must win 4 games.  The first team to win 4 games wins a Championship.

A change of plan?
19-year old Dario Saric from Croatia has withdrawn his name from the 2013 draft. It's not yet official however his agent indicates the 6-10 225 forward has decided against the NBA this year. There is an up and down side to the decision he's made. The up side, Saric will only be 20 next year and could still be considered a prime prospect. The down side, several draft experts have pointed out the 2013 draft is weak. If NBA scouts indicate you are under serious consideration 2013 would be the year rather than the following year. If Saric’s game doesn't improve in the off-year what guarantee is there he will be drafted?

He was that good
I was reading a story on the late Drazen Petrovic, the writer pointed out how vital Petrovic had been to the NBA developing a European footprint. That was the path laid out by this Croatian native when he was drafted in 1988. The first successful foreign born player might have emerged from Brazil rather than Europe, that honor might have been bestowed on Oscar Schmidt. We sometimes object to the inclusion of a particular Hall of Fame selection, I think there are few who question Schmidt’s inclusion. This 6-8 225 pound shooting guard was one of the smoothest shooters in basketball history. Schmidt was to play professionally but never in the NBA. The 1984 NBA Draft was significant for the number of all-time greats chosen.

Technically Nigeria born Hakeem Olajuwon might have been the first foreign born NBA player. Olajuwon played college ball at the University of Houston and was the first pick in the 1984 draft. 1984 was also the year of the Michael Jordan-Sam Bowie draft in addition future Hall of Fame players Charles Barkley and John Stockton were also chosen in that draft. It was also the draft of Oscar Schmidt chosen by the New Jersey Nets for reasons unclear he never chose to play in the NBA. Schmidt might have been the driving force for the inclusion of pros in the Olympics. He was playing for pay yet allowed to enter the Olympics as an “amateur.” His honors are far too numerous to list, just two will be highlighted. Schmidt was selected as one of FIBA’s 50 greatest players in 1991. Unofficially he is considered the games all-time leading scorer with 49,737 points. (Wikipedia)

Mizzou versus Kansas
If you've read Words any length of time you realize my allegiance lies with the Mizzou program. This is not an attempt to pick a fight with my friends across State Line Road. I'm writing this based on column written by a new Kansas City Star reporter. I think living on the St. Louis side of the state he failed to comprehend the serious nature of this 100 year sports rivalry. He suggested the schools should begin play similar to the current Illinois basketball series. The same could be applied in football as well, pundits wish to point renewing the series only benefits Mizzou. Untrue, in basketball Kansas is the clear leader but not so in football. The driving distance between the two campuses is 164 miles, 2 hours and 40 minutes reasonably close. How near are the two teams to play again? About 238,900 miles (384,400 km) the distance between the earth and the moon.

The Big 8 conference existed from 1907 through 1997. ESPN's Jason King chose an
all-time Big XII men's basketball team. The list is short in my view due to the time frame he established. Mitch Richmond of Kansas State, Kansas Danny Manning both began their NBA careers in the late '80's and were excluded from his list. Numbers never indicate the true worth of an NBA player however number 10 on King's list should be honorable mention. King placed Mario Chalmers of Kansas in the 10 slot. He did this based on his winning shot in the NCAA Championship and his NBA Championship with the Heat. Stanford's Mark Madsen has two championship rings, am I prepared to list him on an all-time PAC-12 team? King placed Desmond Mason an honorable mention. If we just look at the numbers (which is sometimes unfair) his numbers are certainly better than Chalmers.

Ponder this
Spurs fans consider this a semi-apology on my part. I’ve always disliked the Spurs, part of this dislike they always were in contention with the Lakers in the Western Conference. I was critical of their offense; I said they had three speeds slow, slower and slowest. They can run when necessary although unlike the Heat it is not critical to their offense. Their style of play leads to few turnovers; they finished Thursday’s game with only four. Spurs pass the ball efficiently and are very strong defensively.

Between ESPN, ABC and NBA TV I’m unsure who made the following statement. Whoever it was said; “(Tony) Parker doesn’t get credit for being the player he is because he plays in San Antonio.” Many of us have been watching Tim Duncan so long we fail to realize Parker is now in the drivers’ seat. This is not a slap at Duncan he is still invaluable, he’s seated on the passenger side now. This is written Friday morning and will not be read until Monday, I have no idea who won on Sunday. Regardless of the outcome of this series I have gained an appreciation for Coach Pop and the Spurs team.

Changing opinions
I promise to not force you to read anymore stories written defending Mizzou’s Frank Haith. As this is written the Miami probe remains open with no resolution in sight. The key reason I’m taking the new stance is based on another coach, John Calapari at Kentucky. Calapari is a lighting rod to all it seems excepting Big Blue Nation. The complainants we read and hear have common themes and have no validity but they continue to be expressed by Calipari haters and Kentucky basketball.

* Calapari recruits only one and done players. His players all leave for the NBA.
* The athletes Calapari recruits only attend class during the fall semester, they don’t bother with spring classes since all headed to the NBA.

Hopefully you understand where I’m going with this. The outcome of the proceedings don’t matter, there will remain a number of people pointing fingers. They will half read or fail to read any portion of the proceedings. They have their minds made up from the Yahoo story three years ago. Certainly Calipari‘s resume is more extensive than Frank Haith however they still point fingers at him too. From this point forward as for Mizzou basketball I will attempt to concentrate on court action not the court of public opinion.

Who is it?
“Dwightmare” has begun once again, you remember back to last season. You remember all the drama surrounding Howard leaving Orlando. The Lakers traded for free agent Howard intending to sign him to a long range contract. Now the talk is “he’s exploring signing with the Rockets.” There are no issues if that’s his choice the problem once again becomes is it Dwight Howard or the media stirring the pot? The Lakers rest in the best position; they can pay him more than any other team if he resigns. At the same time there are no state taxes in Texas which would counter a Lakers offer. Counter to that is potential endorsement money Howard could earn in Southern California.

Endorsement dollars would be available in Houston or Dallas but they would not be comparable to Los Angeles. Money aside if we just look at personnel of the teams Dallas is in the same situation as the Lakers, they are an older team too. Despite what you might have heard or think the Houston Rockets not the Golden State Warriors are the youngest team in the NBA. In addition Houston is coming off a 45-37 season; they might appear to be the most opportune destination for Howard. As for the Lakers resigning him that’s their call, I’m unsure if he is worth all the drama surrounding him. We are unsure of Howard’s issues. I could be Kobe, D’Antoni or something else but just maybe its time for him to move on.

American Athletic Conference
Is the name of conference of schools formerly representing the Big East. The 7 Catholic schools which left the Big East were able to retain the name. The American Athletic Conference or “old” Big East is now a 10-team conference. Schools in bold are new members, the others are former Big East Conference members.

Cincinnati
UConn
Houston
Louisville
Memphis
Rutgers
Southern Methodist University
South Florida
Temple
University of Central Florida

George Karl
I was never a fan of Karl but I thought if any coach was safe he would be the one. The Nuggets had won 57 games during the regular season a record, after a promising regular season they were eliminated in the playoffs. Karl requested a contract extension and we must guess management didn‘t place great value on him. He might be a good regular season coach as for the playoffs that’s another story.

This story dropped on us out of the sky
At his introductory press conference new Raptors GM Masai Ujiri hinted the team might do a name change. A fan responding to the story wrote; “Toronto Huskies.” I thought for a moment on his suggestion. *“The 1946-47 BAA season was the Toronto Huskies’ inaugural season. The NBA’s first game was played at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto on November 1, 1946. The New York Knickerbockers defeated the Toronto Huskies 68–66 at Maple Leaf Gardens. The teams were part of the Basketball Association of America, the forerunner to the NBA. The Huskies finished last in their division and folded after one season.” It seems at times the NBA is all about nostalgia wonder why they didn’t adopt Huskies in ‘95? *Wikipedia

He’s in his first final
I was aware the Spurs had released veteran Stephen Jackson, I didn’t realize his replacement.
16-year NBA veteran Tracy McGrady replaced Capn’ Jack on the Spurs roster in mid-April. T-Mac played in China and when the season concluded return to the U.S. just in time to be signed by the Spurs. Veteran Mitch Richmond received a championship ring his last season in the NBA. I’m just saying I ain’t calling anything for the Spurs.

Told you so didn’t I?
The Hawks seem to change coaches frequently. I wrote of this awhile back, I believe there is a front office problem too with this team as well. I offer this proof, the team sends out letters to potential ticket holders. The letters mention the names Chris Paul and Dwight Howard a big fat
NO-NO. This is considered tampering, discussing a free agent not under contract. Anyone could understand the Hawks desire to improve the team but this is just plain stupid. Who’s working in the front office oh, I forgot the same folks who fired Larry Drew after 3 consecutive playoff off appearance.

Who wins?
I'm not exactly sure of the Heat-Spurs Championship series. I have a real dilemma this year, neither of these teams is a favorite of mine. I certainly intend to view the series however for the first time in awhile I have no preference for a winner. All the experts are picking the Heat, me I’m not completely sold on them winning. My gut says the Heat should win but we witnessed the Miami “Cavs” during the series with the Pacers. This series boils down to Miami’s Big Three versus the “old” Three of San Antonio. Dwayne Wade is age 31 however James and Bosh are in their late 20’s. As for the Spurs their leaders are all south of 30, Tony Parker is 31, Tim Duncan is 37 and Manu Ginobili 35.

Part of the problem with gaining an accurate assessment neither team faced the other will a regular lineup; we have no real idea of the matchups. Remember when Popovich sent his key players home after an extensive road trip? How will Kawhi Leonard matchup against James? How about Wade versus Danny Green? Will Bosh come alive in the Championship series and dominate Tiago Splitter? The one area I think the Spurs have the advantage is head coach. This is not a knock on Eric Spoelstra it’s just my belief Greg Popovich has endured a tad more crucial game decisions. I’ve given you all this information and have not picked a winner, unlike others I’m not blessed with the ability to peer into the future.

Bits n Pieces
I’m going to paraphrase a Mike Greenberg quote from his “Mike and Mike” program on Monday. “I don’t know how (Roy) Hibbert will play tonight. His comment (the gay slur he uttered at the post game press conference) and fine (by the NBA) might affect his play tonight. I don’t know him but he seems like a nice guy.” I would guess if Hibbert had a child or parent with health challenges I could understand his play being affected. Making a dumb statement he made which he issued an apology shouldn’t be a game changer.

Why are members of the media indicating LeBron is headed back to Cleveland? We realize he will become a free agent in 2014 but Cleveland? A great deal of the animosity over LeBron leaving has dissipated with time but why must he return? Dan LeBatard Miami Herald made this claim two weeks ago. “This team (Heat) could play for a championship with just Wade and Bosh in the lineup, didn’t say they could win.”

Who should we believe--with their latest statement the Clippers “tossed” Paul under the bus? The initial account from the Clippers office indicated Del Negro was fired and Chris Paul played a role. Later Paul was reported to have objected to the story; he claimed nothing to do with the head coaching charge. The Clippers then retreated from their initial press release saying Paul played no role.

On Monday I wrote on Grant Hill’s retirement, Hill had retired over the weekend. I wrote Hill was Co-Rookie of the Year in ‘94-’95; he shared the award with Jason Kidd. On Monday Kidd announced his retirement too; both are destined for the Hall of Fame in Springfield (MA).  Kidd’s resume contains one line Hill was never able to accomplish NBA Champion.  Kidd was a member of the Champion 2011 Mavs. 

Darn, I’m reading the Clippers have nixed hiring Jeff Van Gundy. Looks as though I’ll be forced to continue using the mute button on my television.

He shatters the Georgetown blueprint
Otto Porter is not really that different, he’s an extremely talented sophomore and led the Hoyas in scoring and rebounding. He shatters the image of the school that only produces NBA big men. Porter is a 6-8 205 pound small forward expected to be chosen early in the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft. The basketball history of Georgetown is rich in producing talented big men; Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutombo and Roy Hibbert are a small number.

Porter should have attended Mizzou, Porter’s home town of Sikeston (MO) is a 3 or 4 hour drive from the Columbia (MO). Porter was on everybody’s radar in high school except then Coach Mike Anderson, for reasons only known to Anderson they failed to recruit Porter. You might find this even more interesting The Washington Post in a column claims Porter might become the Cavs choice rather than Nerlens Noel, interesting.

Wally Pipp?
I have been a fan of Pacers forward Danny Granger since he left New Mexico and became a regular for the Pacers. Over the course of his 7-year NBA career he’s aided the Pacers to become an improved team. Unfortunately we didn’t see much of Granger this past season, injured he played in only 5 games and surgery forced him out of the lineup. Granger has been an 18.1 point per game career scorer with a high of 25.8 during the 2008-09 season. How would the Pacers adapt without this valuable player in the lineup?

Coach Vogel inserts Paul George in the lineup to replace Granger; the move would appear to be quite successful. George scored at a 17.4 point per game clip while pulling down 7.4 rebounds becoming a vital component to the success of the Pacers. Anybody remember the story of Yankee 1^st baseman Wally Pipp? Pipp asked for a day off which the manager granted. The manager wrote in Lou Gehrig’s name and Gehrig would go on to play 2,130 games and a Hall of Fame career.  Pipp never had the opportunity to "take himself" out of the lineup again.  I’m not “firing” Granger I just think the starting small forward next season for the Pacers will be Paul George.  I would be pleased to have the 30-year old Granger replace Metta World Peace, probably never happens I suspect.

Bits n Pieces
After 19 NBA seasons 40-year old Grant Hill has decided to retire. Hill played 29 games for the Clippers this past season suffering another injury plagued season. You should have seen the Grant Hill I remember the Duke 2-time NCAA Champion. The co-NBA Rookie of the Year, a 7-time NBA All Star.

A warrior mentality might be applied to Pacer forward David West. After battling a 100+ temperature he was in the lineup for game 6 against the Heat. Didn’t shoot that well from the floor (11 points) but managed to grab 14 rebounds dish out 4 assists and blocked 2 shots.

The word “fan” is derived from fanatic, here’s a prime example. *”Matthew Thompson, a self-described long time Bulls fan, and electrician by trade filed a lawsuit on Thursday (in April) against Derrick Rose. Thompson claims Rose’s absence caused him to have mental breakdowns, emotional distress and ultimately to gain tons of weight. According to reports Thompson also claims that Rose displayed negligent behavior by refusing to play despite being cleared by doctors.” (*yardbarker.com)

I don’t understand the Grizzlies management. They announced they are allowing Lionel Hollins to explore other opportunities. They make this statement without any indication they will resign the coach, strange.

A long lay off is not beneficial to any team doesn’t matter the age. You cannot duplicate game conditions in practice, just doesn’t work. It will be surprising in that first game if the Spurs are prepared to play.

It’s too early
Viewing the NBA Draft Combine listening to the comments and additional reading my conclusion on next months draft has changed. Basketball experts have been reporting since last fall for us to expect the 2013 NBA Draft to be not as first-rate as previous years. They probably based their view on few players emerging to turn a team around. There are no athletes that make you go WOW! I think they might have done a disservice to this crop of youngsters. Those of us who follow the draft knew the names, did we have any idea when they were drafted Paul George, George Hill and Lance Stephenson would play such a vital role in the success of this Pacer team? Don’t get the wrong impression about my statement; I didn’t say the three were star athletes they are “part of the glue” that cements this Pacer team. It also proves with a little luck you can craft a team through the draft. If you can draft a Kobe or LeBron you are that much better, how about an athlete who is a key contributor to making a better team?

Please hire one and replace the other!
I have no control over these issues, my hope those in authority exercise their rule. ESPN.com is reporting the Nets have contacted Jeff Van Gundy to fill their head coaching position. I hope they hire him, if so it will provide me a degree of relief; no longer must I mute my television during ESPN telecasts. Wait there’s more, while change is in the wind how about replacing studio host Bill Simmons. His replacement should be someone who adds basketball knowledge to the broadcast. Simmons may be an acclaimed sports writer but he adds little substance to discussions surrounding the NBA in my view.

“I love Walter”
Celtic broadcaster Tommy Heinsohn would often utter the phrase “I love Walter. “ This
became a standard for him after an outstanding play by former Celtic Walter McCarty. I’m going to borrow his phrase but change it a bit; I love Roy! I’m referring of course to Roy Hibbert 7-2 280 pound Pacer center. I’m impressed because he’s a dinosaur in this tweet/text/internet age! As for the dinosaur comment I’m not referring to his age he’s only 26, the dinosaur reference in this context is a reference to the manner he plays the center position. He’s a back to the basket center that can shot the jump hook.

In addition he guards the paint effectively, grabs rebounds and block shots. Vital to me he’s not standing at the 3-point line jacking up shots; I fail to comprehend why centers think there is a requirement to shot 3-pointers. Hibbert is a throwback to the days of Kareem/Olajuwon/Shaq; don’t confuse my statement I’m not stating he’s on the level of that trio, Hibbert’s overall game is similar to several of the attributes of the three. The Pacers may not win this series but they certainly are winners at the center position with Roy Hibbert as the anchor.

A throwback
I attempt to refrain from mixing basketball with celebrity news; this is one of those exceptions. I read with interest Marshall Henderson had sent a tweet expressing interest in helping Amanda Bynes. Bynes the former child star recently ran into difficulty with the New York City Police Department which resulted in her arrest. Perhaps Henderson was serious who truly knows. A short time ago I wrote basketball was once full of characters, guys who marched to the beat of a different drummer. I indicated these individuals had disappeared from the game for a variety of reasons. Former Oklahoma Coach Billy Tubbs and Frank Layden who served as coach of the Utah Jazz were among the names mentioned.

The story was incomplete, I overlooked character and “bad boy” Marshall Henderson of Ole Miss. Henderson led Ole Miss with a 20.1 scoring average shooting an anemic .381 from the floor, see he's never seen a shot he didn’t like. Henderson’s sometimes animated clowning (that’s the only word for it) on the floor is known to drive fans and opponents crazy. Henderson’s resume contains several stops, after beginning his college career at Utah he decided to transfer to Texas Tech. After Bobby Knight was fired he left Texas Tech without playing a single game, he transferred to South Plains Junior College. From South Plains he journeyed to Ole Miss for his junior year.

Interesting
A generation of NBA players grew up watching Julius Erving aka Dr. J. and his smooth gliding strides toward the basket. They admired the acrobatic moves on the court be it a finger roll or slam dunk. Ever wondered who Dr. J. admired growing up? He didn’t hesitate with a response to the question; “it was Elgin Baylor (Lakers), I saw him grab the rebound off the board and dribble down the court and take the shot. I watched Chamberlain and Russell but I knew I wasn’t going to be 7 feet tall.” Erving also admitted his admiration for 6-5 225 pound point guard Oscar Robertson. As for the Baylor admiration Erving didn’t detail why, my guess it might have been Baylor’s ability to rebound and score with a variety of moves. (TNT NBA)

They should be invisible
Officiating in Game 4 of the Heat-Pacers series might have generated more conversation than the actual game and that’s a shame. Officials whatever the sports can often change the outcome of a match. I cannot remember who made the statement, for that reason I cannot give credit but I can paraphrase the quote. Questioned on officiating a retired official said; “the hope is for me to walk off the floor after the game and not be noticed.” An official will always be visible because they control the flow of the game, the official should never become the focal point of the game.

Did I inform you?
I tuned into the Indiana-Michigan State game to check out Cody Zeller against (then number 13 rated) Michigan State. Problem for me Zeller had a sub-par game only scoring 9 points but not Victor Oladipo. This 6-5 215 pound shooting guard had an outstanding defensive and offensive game. He managed to toss in 21 points while dishing out 6 assists and 2 steals. Oladipo not Zeller led Indiana to a 75-70 victory over Michigan State. Oladipo has managed to play his way into the 2013 NBA Draft, his defense is an asset and most likely will make him a lottery choice.

Fear the Beard
I knew of James Harden although I don’t follow Arizona State basketball. He’s become an all-everything for the Rockets I was forced to look up his numbers. I failed to remember he was (1.) 1^st Team All-American his last year at ASU. The other day a reporter was accessing the Thunder and his comment caused me to think---maybe he’s right. He said; “the Thunder is not the same team anymore without Harden, they have lost some of their toughness.” Harden was an outstanding sixth man for the Thunder but he thought a bigger payday and the opportunity as a full-time player awaited him.

The Thunder traded him after first attempting to re-sign him; of course the fear was losing him to free agency. Provided the opportunity as a starter he’s bloomed and surprised many including yours truly. I like Kevin Martin and his unorthodox shooting style; I’m sorry Thunder you lost on this swap of players. Harden scored at a (2.) 25.9 per game clip but he’s not all offense. He’s managed to dish out nearly 6 assists a game while pulling down 5 rebounds. How valuable is Harden, it’s my view inserting him into the lineup rather than Kevin Martin the Thunder advance. Martin fans don’t get upset with me I just believe Harden is the superior athlete. (1.) Basketball Reference.com (2.) ESPN.com

Bits n Pieces
If the Cavs don’t trade the top pick more than likely they draft Kentucky’s Nerlens Noel. The backcourt of point guard Kyrie Irving (age 21) and shooting guard Dion Waiters (age 21) is young, set and good. That thought process could change but the question is why draft shooting guard Ben McLemore with the shot blocking potential of 6-11 Noel. I mentioned in the barber shop how bright the future looked for the Cavs. I paused a moment, thought about my statement and then announced-----but they re-hired Mike Brown.

Did you know the Lakers began their existence in Detroit Michigan and not Minneapolis? They began play as the Detroit Gems in the National Basketball League in 1946-47. The team disbanded after a year and was sold to a group who moved the franchise (minus players) to Minneapolis. (NBA.com/index)

Answer this question for me, Tulsa University will join the “new” Big East Conference. In the past Tulsa has always been considered as a “mid-major” school. Once this move becomes official will Tulsa be considered a major? See how our terminology often confuses the issue?

Rupp Arena in Lexington Kentucky accommodates 23,500 fans for basketball. It’s the largest arena in the nation designed exclusively for basketball. A number of individuals might have thought the honor would belong to the Carrier Dome at Syracuse University. The Carrier seats 30,012 for basketball but is a multi-purpose building, the football team plays there as well. (Wikipedia)

Atlanta is the most recent home but not the first for this franchise. The franchise once referred to St. Louis as home and before that it was Milwaukee. The team began life in the NBA as the Tri-City Blackhawks; imagine that a team being shared by three towns.  "Tri-Cities" (Moline, Rock Island, Illinois and Davenport, Iowa (now the Quad Cities).” The change to Quad Cities came long after the franchise left when the City of Bettendorf Iowa was added. (Wikipedia)

Trey Burke of Michigan has a Kansas City connection; Burke wasn’t born here or never lived here to my knowledge. Columbus (OH) is home for the AP, NABC and Naismith National Player of the Year. The Kansas City connection is on him mom’s side, Ronda was a track athlete at Ruskin High School in the city. His mom attended Northwest Missouri State (Maryville) where she met her future husband Alfonso a basketball player at the school.

You might hear his name in the draft
I don’t know Euro basketball in the same manner as American and Canadian ball. That doesn’t prevent me from dropping a name based on an assessment by an NBA scout(s). At the point his name is announced in the June draft you might ask your buddy; “who’s this guy?” His name is Dario Saric; he’s a 6-10 225 pound small forward from Sibenik Croatia. It’s unfair but sometimes the only method of assessing a player’s talent is to evaluate his game with a familiar player, Saric has been compared to the Bulls Scottie Pippen. In addition to his shooting skill Pippen was a proficient distributor of the basketball. The NBA team drafting him will hope he’s close to that level.

Our northern neighbor
The world realizes hockey at all levels is Canada’s sport. I’m unsure if basketball might have eclipsed Canadian football as the number two sport in the nation. A number of Canadians have played in the NBA in the past so this is not new. What is new is the ever increasing talent migrating from north of the border. We only need to check the pool of players in this years NBA draft, in addition there are other talented players in college and high school. UNLV’s Anthony Bennett is from Brampton, Ontario, Canada and is a projected lottery pick in the 2013 draft. Another projected lottery pick is Kelly Olynyk, who played at Gonzaga; he’s from Kamloops, British Columbia. A possible second round pick is Myck Kabongo who played at Texas; Kabongo is from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Below is a list of the NBA’s Canadian players:

Joel Anthony - Heat
Samuel Dalembert - Bucks
Cory Joseph - Spurs
Kris Joseph - Celtics
Steve Nash - Lakers
Andrew Nicholson - Magic
Robert Sacre - Lakers
Tristan Thompson - Cavs

It’s likely the number one high school prospect in the Class of 2013 Andrew Wiggins will join this group at some future date. Wiggins too is a Canadian hailing from Toronto. There are many others who made the trek south refining their basketball skills at American colleges and universities. While discussing Canadians in the NBA there’s always been a connection north of the border. Although the game of basketball was first played in Springfield (MA) it was Canadian-American James Naismith who devised the game. Just in case you don’t remember the story; Dr. Naismith was attempting to provide exercise for his YMCA class, they had been forced to remain indoors during a brutal New England winter. I located a Canadian basketball website with a wealth of information check out http://northpolehoops.com/

(Un)equal justice
So all Dwayne Wade received was a flagrant one foul. Wade provided a WWE type hit on the Pacers Lance Stephenson. I’m not anti-Wade or anyone else for that matter my chief compliant---unequal justice often disseminated by the league office. If Metta World Peace had delivered a forearm similar to Wade it’s an automatic 2-game suspension. The NBA has one standard for stars and one for role players (or MWP). The star player will usually receive a flagrant one foul and often no monetary fine. Rarely is a star suspended for number of games. With a 12th or 13th man this is often the case, it's a suspension of some duration and a fine in excess of $25,000.    

Take this into consideration
Professional franchises and collegiate teams with animal symbols or mascots are generally intended to pose a threat or cause the opposition to be fearful. That is the most common view but certainly not always true. I think we have all heard or read the complaints and jokes regarding the New Orleans Pelicans (Hornets) name change. If we check around the country there are a number of teams with animal symbols that are not very treating. Would anyone consider pelicans treating or scary? Do we fear Penguins, maybe only NHL teams opposing the Pittsburg Penguins might be fearful? Cardinals are unassuming birds (NFL Arizona and MLB St. Louis) they probably will not attack anyone except another bird. The nickname for Albany University teams is Great Danes; I’m no dog expert but I’ve never heard a Great Dane owner describe their dog in the same manner as a Pit Bull owner. Great Danes are big, Pit Bulls are fearsome.  This is not an attempt on my part to force the Pelican name change on you, if you don’t like it that’s okay. Just consider the fact there are other animals and mascots that also could not be deemed fearsome.

I don’t work for the Chamber of Commerce
The disclaimer is being submitted at the beginning of this column. The CBE (College Basketball Experience) Classic is somewhat different from other tourneys, its basketball history too. Annually the Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame elects a number of players, coaches and contributors to the college game. The Hall of Fame ceremony is followed by the tournament. This fall the competitors will consist of Wichita State, Brigham Young, DePaul and Texas. Matches have not been set yet but a semi-final doubleheader will be played Monday November 25, The Championship doubleheader will be played the next day. You might consider a journey to Kansas City to take in either the Hall of Fame ceremony or the games.

This is shocking
Five star and Class of 2014 prospect Theo Pinson made his commitment known. A sizeable number of high profile programs offered scholarships to Pinson. Among those who made offering were Duke, Indiana and Kentucky to name a few. This Greensboro (NC) native chose the Tarheels of North Carolina over the aforementioned schools and others. If we drove I-40 from Greensboro to Chapel Hill it’s a short 50.3 miles and 59 minutes from home. Should we suppose the opportunity to play in front of his parents might be a factor in his decision? Pinson is a 6-6 185 pound small forward who has the ability to guard three positions.

It’s difficult to take off that jersey
It’s my belief the great Kareem Abdul Jabbar played long past his prime. I thought Michael Jordan retired prematurely and was pleased when he returned to the Wizards. The old spark was missing he was “Air” Jordan he fly a little lower than he had during his years with the Bulls. Indicates are Grant Hill of the Clippers is discussing a return next season. Perhaps it’s due to him being on the injury list most of this season, if he returns it will be his 20^th season in the NBA. I haven’t seen every Laker game however 39-year old Steve Nash “appears” to have at least one or two good seasons left in him. Nash was never the speediest guy in the game but his court savvy certainly makes up for this lack of speed.

We thought we’d seen the last of Rasheed Wallace; he retired from the Celtic after the ‘09-’10 season. He returned to the Knicks this season apparently for one more round. I am sure financial gain is foremost in their minds however they probably have “an itch they can’t scratch.” Prior to the conclusion of the season Wallace announced his retirement once again, wonder does he really intend to remain retired this time? Cuttino Mobley (age 37) who played for a number of NBA teams is considering a return. Mobley last played in 2008 retiring in December of that year. Few would admit it but the game they play the game most learned as a child they have a love affair with it. They love the camaraderie of teammates and fans cheering for them, two areas lacking in the life of retired players. Long-time Laker Derek Fisher “un-retired” himself again and plays for the Thunder.

I wish 
We could just admire the skill of LeBron James rather than formulate comparisons. No augment with anyone James is the best in this era, the best ever? That is still a debate issue for me (and maybe others). This is a tweet from ESPN’s Chris Palmer on Wednesday; “Somehow LeBron has more career triple doubles than MJ and Kobe.” Palmer wants to compare how about a weight height comparison. MJ’s numbers, 6-6 195 pounds as for Kobe he is the same height and weighs a little more at 205 pounds. James is 6-8 and 250 pounds although a number of sights have him listed as 265 pounds. Clearly there is a height and weight advantage for James over MJ and Kobe. In addition MJ and Kobe are shooting guards and James is a small forward. We realize Oscar Robertson (6-5 205) represents ancient history, he managed to average a triple-double for an entire season.

It could happen
Chad Ford posed an interesting question, “now that Cleveland has won the lottery would they trade the pick?” It’s an interesting thought, before you say that’s crazy ponder this. The Cavs (depending on the player(s) acquired) might become competitive immediately. I didn’t state they would be NBA Champs but they could become a plus .500 team. You say it couldn’t occur. The Lakers held the Cavs number one pick in the ‘82 draft, they used the pick to draft Hall of Fame athlete James “Big Game” Worthy. Those ‘82 Lakers were a much better team than the current Cavs.

Consider this, they trade the number one pick they have the 19, 31 and 33 pick in the 2013 draft. Even in a “weak” draft that’s not a bad hand to play. Just food for thought, maybe they will maybe they won’t. A clue Cavs fans if it occurs it ain’t gonna be for LeBron. While on the subject of the draft I heard an interesting story reported on a Kansas City sports talk radio program. In workouts it’s reported Mizzou’s Phil Pressey is “over penetrating and has difficulty getting off his shot.” Sounds familar to Tiger fans the player we loved and hated at the same time.

If you only follow the college game I understand
I have an acquaintance that only follows the college game. Ralph informed me “with no basketball I’m lost till October, I cannot do baseball etc., etc.” If you follow all elements of the game there is no need to be lost. Of course you must be a true believer to follow this plan. You can I repeat can maintain a basketball presence 12 months of the year; of course much of it slows during the summer months. After the NBA Championship is resolved (middle of June) the NBA Draft is held shortly thereafter.

NBA Summer League basketball from Las Vegas and Orlando begins in early July, lasts about two weeks. You can view games from mid-morning to late afternoon. The games are available on NBA TV, if you live in or near Las Vegas/Orlando you can attend the games in person. July 1 begins the active often hectic NBA free agency period. As for the balance of the summer there is high school summer league basketball. AAU basketball games are held throughout the nation, Kansas City has at least two AAU tourneys. Basketball activity certainly slows during the summer however it doesn’t fade away totally, that is for a number of us.

Well now
I came across a bit of vital information to Mizzou fans. All of us were really disappointed by the quick exit losing to Colorado State in the NCAA tourney. If this reads as an excuse on my part so be it. This was not a Norfolk State repeat, last year Mizzou was the higher seed. Norfolk State upset Mizzou. This past year was totally different, Colorado State was an eight seed and Mizzou a nine. Higher seeds certainly have upset teams beneath them as we know but an 8-9 match is generally considered a toss up, either team could win. ESPN’s Bracktology expert Joe Lunardi has penciled in Mizzou in the NCAA field of 68 next season.

He wants to return
Its apparent Phil Jackson’s retirement is about to come to an end, he’s making noises about wanting back in the game. We don’t know where he will eventually land however we know where he ain’t going. He’s not going to resurface in any capacity with the Lakers, at least with Jim Buss in place. Despite Phil Jackson’s relationship with Jeannie Buss she has been unable to persuade her brother to accept PJ. It could happen; Jeannie is able to convince Jim to hire PJ in some capacity. How about the team he once played the Knicks? Would PJ head east to become general manager of the team? Chicago is not in the equation; Jerry Krause is no longer on the scene but the “bridge might have been permanently burned.” PJ wouldn’t go to Boston in any capacity, there is probably animosity remaining from the Aurbach comments regarding his coaching record.  There are just a few teams that could afford to pay PJ the salary he might require---the Lakers, Bulls and Knicks.  Seattle is out of the question for now, his decision and destination remains open. 

Unbelievable 
I am unfamiliar with Dan Feldman, to my knowledge I’ve never read anything he’s written.  Recently he wrote a column for ProBasketball Talk that was downright funny. When I read the headline I thought it was intended as a joke and maybe it really was. Feldman’s column was titled; “Why there’s a 100 percent chance the NBA Lottery is fixed.” I’m writing this prior to the lottery tonight. One thing for sure if the NBA sets this up in the backroom as Feldman indicates how do we determine the truth? A person whose view I respect and value made this statement regarding conspiracy theories. He said; “I don’t believe in conspiracy theories, too many people are involved with the true facts, somebody is gonna talk at some point.”

He’s now at Mizzou
6-4 wingman Deuce Bello is transferring from Baylor to Mizzou was the announcement. He’s transferring which requires he must sit out a year; Bello will be eligible for the 2014-15 season. As for his resume, he was a Top 60 prospect in the Class of 2011; in spite of this his numbers were nothing outstanding. Last season yielded a modest 2.4 points and 1.4 rebounds per game.

NBA salaries
Why do we choose to begrudge an athlete (or entertainer) for their financial earnings? These folks earn far more in a year or two than the majority of us in a lifetime. This is a short and concise response to a story written last week by a national columnist. This particular writer intended to paint a negative portrait of the Players Association, Derek Fisher and NBA owners. I won‘t debate the figures he provided however instead of focusing only on the NBA he should check other areas of endeavor. As far as the NBA he was correct Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James and others are part of the 99%. They earn the greatest portion of NBA salaries, how about the 1% the writer claims is under represented by the Players Association?

The latest figures I uncovered were 2011-12, the NBA minimum salary was $498,180 with 0 years of service. One year of play and the salary rises to $788,872. I’m unsure how you roll; I don’t think I have any friends or acquaintances earning $400,000 a year or more annually. Why not contrast that with the annual salary for a U.S. Senator, in 2009 it was $174,000. How about Americans salaries, the figures I located represented households and not singles. From 2010 the average American family earned $63,091 annually. Other websites chose to print the Associated Press release rather than assign a columnist to cover the story. Do you suppose ESPN, Yahoo Sports and others don’t believe this is a “real” issue? (NBA.com)

I guess it could happen?
Never say never, almost any story could develop but we‘ll cover that at the end. It’s that time of the year, the NBA Draft Combine the timeframe collegiate and Euro talent is accessed regarding next months draft. Ever wondered why players are measured at the Combine? The ESPN crew interviewed a Mavs official and the question was asked of him. He said; “the college year book said the player was 6-9 and when we measured him we discovered he was 6-6.” One other note, arm length is also measured which is interesting. Viewers received a definition of “short arms“, I don’t remember the players name however he was measured at 6-9 player but actually had a longer reach (arms) than one who was 6-10 ½.  A number of athletes skipped the NBA Combine on advice of their agents. An athlete projected in the top 20 might not see the need to display his talent for fear of a possible injury or cause his possible draft position to slide.

One of the analyst (don’t remember which one) tossed out an interesting scenario. ____ team drafts Nerlens Noel who might play late or not at all in 2013-14. Team play is not improved and they finish in the lottery again. This same team would be afforded an opportunity to draft an Andrew Wiggins or some other high profile choice, interesting concept and quite possible. It occurred once to my knowledge, Spurs center David Robinson went down with a season ending injury in the 1996-97 season with only six games played. The Spurs finished the year with a losing record and qualified as a lottery team. I will offer you one guess the player chosen by the Spurs in the 1997 draft. I’ll make it easy for you the pick was Tim Duncan who might be the all-time best power forward in NBA history.

Bits n Pieces
Brooklyn’s Barclays Center is the winner this year; it will serve as home for the 2013 NBA Draft. This is a departure from the usual location Madison Square Garden.

Do you think some NBA team will finally hire Brian Shaw? I think it’s about time; he should at least be given the opportunity to prove he can’t coach at this level. The Bobcats gave Mike Dunlap the courtesy; I almost forgot they interviewed Shaw as well but hired the recently fired Dunlap.

He was joking wasn’t he? The Spurs Tony Parker is claiming he “invented” the tear drop shot. No doubt he is an expert at the shot but inventing it that might be another story. His story makes sense however I hope he wasn’t serious. Parker claims he developed the shot as a child to allow him to shot over taller players.

It was no surprise the Blazers Damian Lillard was named Rookie of the Year. What was a surprise to us this is only the fourth time in history the vote total has been unanimous for Rookie of the Year. *Ralph Sampson in 1984, David Robinson 1990 and Blake Griffin 2011 also received this honor. I could be mistaken but Lillard coming from Weber State and a 4-year player to boot he wanted to make a statement. (*ESPN.com)

The Charlotte Hornets might come into existence once again; the Pelicans (Hornets) are not moving back to the city. Charlotte was the home of the Hornets prior to the New Orleans move. At the time Tom Benson acquired the team he expressed a desire for a name more identified with New Orleans and Louisiana, the team will become the Pelicans next season. Now that the Hornets name have been replaced there is movement, stories are circulating the Charlotte Bobcats will renounce that name and will become the Hornets.

I will continue to monitor these stories
Two NCAA stories involving Mizzou and Kansas will be closely followed by me. This certainly is no reflection on Bill Self or the athletic department at the school. It should be noted this is not the first time for an occurrence of this type. This saga involves Ben McLemore his former AAU coach and $10,000. *“Darius Cobb, took money this past season. Cobb accepted $10,000 and other travel perks from a man named Rodney Blackstock, who runs Hooplife Academy, "a sports mentoring organization based in Greensboro, N.C.," Blackstock presumably did so under the hope of becoming McLemore's agent once he left Kansas.” NCAA rules state McLemore could be declared ineligible although he did not receive any financial gain. If the NCAA rules against Kansas last season wins would be vacated including the Big XII Championship. It’s yet to be determined if the story can be proven so currently it’s in limbo.

The Frank Haith saga at Mizzou is nearly 30 years old, forgive me I exaggerate its only three years in August 2013. You probably had no idea it was that old did you? I am sure the key figure former booster and convicted felon Nevin Shapiro received a speedier trial than this. It’s still a mystery (if true) how the NCAA was able to gain access to Coach Haith’s banking records. It was our belief only government agencies had this ability; maybe the NCAA has become bigger than the Federal Government? I stated many months (maybe years) ago I believe in a system punishment is due Haith. If for some reason Haith is declared innocent he will still be guilty in the court of public opinion. With all the stories, record leaks a casual observation would tend to think the worse. In closing whatever decision is reached in either case I have no confidence in the NCAA. The organization has lost all credibility with this writer. (*USA Today)

“The reports of my death has been greatly exaggerated”
The quote above is from Mark Twain American writer and humorist. The Twain quote is for my neighbors’ son. Shane always wants to poke fun at me regarding the Lakers (he’s a Heat fan). We had not talked since late January or early February so you see where this is leading. He was so excited to see me working in my yard. Naturally he began by playing taps for the Lakers, he gave me 55 reasons the Lakers won’t ever win another championship, and I took it all his commentary with a smile on my face. Once he paused he asked “how many championships do the Lakers have?” I stated they had won 16, “it’s about time they give somebody else a chance to win.”

Shane has the same problem as other Laker haters; they resent the number of NBA Championships, they hate Kobe Bryant or they resent Hollywood image. Prior to Shane leaving I informed he don’t believe the Lakers will never ever win again; there have been down years for the Lakers. The key of course the losing years have never been sustained over a long period of time. Don’t expect this proud franchise to become a Charlotte or Sacramento clone. In closing one final question, why is it okay to hate the Lakers but love the Heat? I wish somebody could explain that for me, I haven’t figured it one out yet.

Bits n Pieces
There are questions regarding the return of Derrick Rose what about Kobe Bean Bryant? Medical reports indicate the window for Kobe’s return is 6 to 12 months. Six months would mean he’d return in October in time for training camp. Twelve months would mean a February come back probably after the All-Star Game. It’s my belief Kobe’s return lies someplace in between probably the December to January timeframe.

Kansas has a mighty tough non-conference schedule for 2013-14. They will face Duke, Colorado, Florida, New Mexico, Georgetown and San Diego State. The games are not scheduled back to back; in addition we don’t know the returning talent on many of the opposing squads. We can take this into consideration all the above teams won 20+ games last season.

I’m gonna plead guilty it’s my age; throughout my adult life I have always maintained a sense of fashion. Russell Westbrook and Dwayne Wade offer little if any fashion sense based on their pre and post-game wear. On the other hand as I stated earlier it’s probably my age.

Marcus Smart of Oklahoma did it now Creighton’s Doug McDermott does too. McDermott announced he was returning for his senior year. His name was listed on several mock draft sites however his draft stock might not have been as high as he might have hoped.

He’s good but he’s not that good!
Dave Telep ESPN.com is one of those basketball reporters I believe in, he knows his stuff. He’s been following and reporting high school and college basketball for a considerable period of time. I listened with interest an interview with him on one of the Kansas City sports talk radio programs. Prior to discussing Andrew Wiggins Telep provided us insight on a former Kansas player. You may remember Josh Selby, he declared for the draft after an unimpressive freshman year. Discussing Selby Telep stated; “Josh Selby was un-coach able.” I remembered back to the time period he left school, he’d done little to provide an indication he was ready for the NBA. Where is Selby currently? He was drafted in the second round of the 2011 draft and now plays for the Maine Red Claws of the NBADL. As for Andrew Wiggins Telep said and I paraphrase; “(Andrew) Wiggins is truly great but the comparisons to LeBron James are not valid. Wiggins doesn’t have the power of a LeBron."  One area weight and power, Wiggins is a trim 205 pounds, James was at least 225 his senior year in high school.

Prepare for change
I hope this is the view of the reporter rather than the Thunder front office. I checked out an Oklahoma City staffer view of the series with the Grizzlies. It was his belief there was no need for panic, Russell Westbrook was the primary reason the Thunder lost the series. I think it would be foolish for me or anyone else to discount the value of Westbrook to the team however it’s more than that. I believe it’s the “James Harden” factor, beyond Durant with no Westbrook there was little if any offense. Harden’s replacement Kevin Martin could not or was able to sustain the offense. It’s not my desire to be Donny Downer but the same situation could technically occur next season. Instead of Westbrook its Durant who sustains the injury. The Thunder play good defense that’s not the issue, their issue is sustaining offense. Unless management addresses the issue they will be stuck, a perennial contender but never getting over the hump. Remember what happened to the Magic, played the Lakers for the NBA Championship and lost. Since that time the Magic have never gotten close to that level since then. The window of opportunity opens and closes quickly for a number of teams.

A change in plans
The University of Iowa was originally scheduled to play in the Great Alaska Shootout November 27-30. The school has withdrawn and they are now headed to Paradise Island in the Bahamas near the same timeframe and compete in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament. Seems like an easy decision if we check the weather. Wikipedia says the average high in Anchorage is 27.6 degrees F while the low can reach a chilly 16.7 F. The all-time record cold is -21 degrees F; incidentally I didn’t bother to check the snow report. Citizens of Anchorage this is not intended as a knock on your city, Kansas City has never recorded a -21 degrees F with maybe the wind chill. As for the average temp, we’ve experienced similar high and low temperatures in December too.

He did it once again
Jason Whitlock Fox Sports.com columnist, he chose as his topic of discussion the Rutgers Eddie Jordan hire. Maybe you’ve read the story, the short version after the fact it was discovered Jordan did not obtain a degree from Rutgers. This was contrary to his resume and the information released by the university. The school probably moved rather quickly after the Mike Rice fiasco. Did they do an adequate background check it certainly appears they didn’t? Why they failed the due diligence background check only the school administration truly knows. What I find interesting Whitlock lays all the blame on Jordan for this issue.  Of course Jordan was responsible for obtaining a degree but the columnist makes this far worse than it is.   

In fact he says; *I couldn’t imagine being 58 (Jordan’s age) and have Jordan’s financial wherewithal and no college degree.” In defense of Jordan he states he took courses later and “assumed” he qualified for his undergraduate degree. The biggest offender to this story is Whitlock. He’s taken another story involving basketball twists it to fit his perceived evil of the sport. Interesting he seems to find more fault with Jordan over that of Rutgers. The university hired Jordan didn’t they do a background check including his education at the school? One more question for you Mr. Whitlock, short of his degree is Jordan qualified to serve as head coach?  With Jordan's extensive coaching background I find it interesting you chose to omit or ignore that area.  *Jason Whitlock Fox Sports

The choice is made
The decision was made, not THAT DECISION! The LeBron James decision is history I’m referring to the decision made by the number one high school prospect in the Class of 2013 Andrew Wiggins. This 6-7 small forward made his college choice known, his choices (in no particular order) were North Carolina, Florida State, Kansas and Kentucky. Everyone had an opinion on his choice only he and his family knew ahead of time where he was headed. My speculation was Florida State base on the fact this was mom and dads school. I believed Wiggins would pass on Kansas and Kentucky for a simple reason; both schools have outstanding incoming recruiting classes. ESPNU ranks Kentucky number one and Kansas number two in the nation. My best guess prior to his decision was Florida State; I missed on this one, he chose Kansas.

We see his value
I had written earlier I thought the Thunder would emerge as Western Conference Champions. Of course it was written prior to point guard Russell Westbrook’s injury; he is talented and valuable to his team however I still consider him a knucklehead!

Who’s the better coach?
The Nuggets have several good players nevertheless they came up short once again this time against the Warriors. It’s my view the Nuggets came up short (once again) because Mark Jackson out coached George Karl. Should we view NBA Championships a barometer of a coach’s success? You be the judge on this one, in 29 years of coaching at several stop Karl’s teams have missed the playoffs only one time. There are few NBA coaches (past or present) who could claim a similar record.

Karl teams have won 1,887 games with him as head coach. His 1995-96 Sonics team faced off against the Michael Jordan Bulls for the NBA Championship. The Bulls were to prevail in the championship series 4 games to 2. The downside to Karl’s coaching success other than ’95-’96 few of his teams have made it out of the first round. In fact his teams have been bounced out in the first round of the playoffs 14 times including 2012-13. Karl was named Coach of the Year by a wide margin over several other candidates who teams are still playing. I guess we could conclude the award is for regular season and not playoffs. (dates, history Wikipedia)

A story with legs????
I’m sure you are reading the same Phil Jackson stories I am. Not the stories involving him coaching---its front office. Jackson’s health issues and it’s a guess he has no desire for the NBA travel grind once again. President/Director of Basketball Operations or some other front office position is the Jackson goal. Even more interesting are reports Jackson has developed a friendship with prospective Seattle owner Chris Hansen. We thought the Sacramento-Seattle move was resolved however the Hansen group raising the purchase price has caused chaos to reign once again.