Who would have believed the Heat are about to become the Champs of the East? I'd need written evidence dated and signed at the time of the reading and plplaced in a sealed envelope marked to be opened a the end of the Eastern Playoff Finals before I'd believe such a prognostication, a five syllable word proving I went to college and am suspicious of prophets. Jimmy Buckets whom I've always disliked by the way he left the TWolves, has by his spectacular performances with Miami made me a fan. People might wonder how this undersized wing gets his shots off. Look more carefully at his fade away jumper, Jimmy has HOPS . Eric Spoelsrtra is one of the best coaches in the NBA. The Heat are going to give Denver fits. They may not win, but Coach Malone will need bedrest after the NBA Championship is over.
Speaking of the Nuggets. Three cheers for Coach Malone, a terrific coach the Sacramento Kings should never have fired. But of course that would have saddle Kings' fans tieh DeMarcus Cousins for a longer period of time, since Malone was actually getting the doofus to play like a real pro. Can't complain., now that the Kings have turned things around with Coach Mike Brown.
Back to the Finals. Lakers' GM Pelinka went from dumb GM for the Westbrook move to smart GM by getting rid of him just in the nick of time and bringing on some heady vets to help Lebron and AD turn their season around. That they got swept is not surprising; the tank was running on fumes by the time they had to face the full tank Nuggets and their NBA MVP Nicola Jokic. Oh, you say but didn't Embid get this years MVP? On paper, yes. But since I don't vote until after the Playoffs are OVER, I select the Serb who loves horses, keeps wiping his nose and continues to prove he's the most talented Big to hit the NBA since Shaq. Sorry, Joel. I really believe you're a great player, but the proof resides always in clutch time.
I am now an official Aaron Gordon fan. Denver would have a harder time without his muscle and extra efforts. He has turned himelf into a real power forward in the tradition of Karl Malone and Maurice Lucas
Side Bar: To the LA Lakers: If you give up Reeves, Vanderbilt, Schroeder, Hachimura, Lonnie Walker lll, or Max Christie to get Kyrie Irving. . . okay, you won't, you promise!!! The Lakers are one more wing defender from making a championship run next season with the health caveat always to consider.
Great article by John Hollinger in The Athletic this morning about NBA teams' stuckneess through bad trades and looming monstrous luxury taxes. The Clippers and the TWolves in particularly are in bad shape. My Warriors are on his list, but they'll figure it out as long as Bob Myers continues to be GM. Don't leave, Bob. Go out with the Dudes you came in with.
On another subject: I hated seeing Koepka win the PGA. I just can't root for a player (or players) who plays for a the LIV that is sponsored by murderers. I have no problem with competing leagues, but not a League with blood on its hands, which means the $ has blood on in. Some golfers I really liked jumped to the LIV. Greed is the root of all evil.
Speaking of lucre. It's time for some of the NBA super stars to take less money so their teams can get better mid level players to help them win championships. I say this only because this new CBA is truly draconian for ownership that has in the past been WILLING TO PAY EXCEEDING WELL DESPITE THE TAXES. Spread the wealth a little, how about it, guys? Have I said this before? I guess the socialist in mean keeps popping up. Socialism on the million dollar level. I'm loving it. Marx is turning over in his grave.
Here's my ETC about Life. There are now graduation ceremonies for kindergarteners, my son Matt informs me; he and his wife are headed to one for my grandson Van. This has been going on for some time now, he also informs me. I obviously have not been paying attention. Caps and Gowns?
I haven't shared this poem in a long time about my high school basketball coach, a legend in San Francisco hoop history.
Benny Neff
to you. I do not hold it against you
that you questioned what I was good for
and that your anger wound up as spit in my face.
Those of us who could withstand your anger
learned how to play the game of basketball
so well that we carried it with us into college
and me into the pros. But I remember a boy
trying out for the team you frightened badly,
who ran and you chased him and he swung
Up in to the standard and sat like a bird
perched above the hoop crying while you
threw basketballs at him, one after the other,
and the rest of us, thinking it was funny,
fed you the balls, throwing nice crisp
two-handed chest passes just the way
you taught us, fingers straight, thumbs down.
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