A FEW EARLY OBSERVATIONS OF THE 2026 PLAYOFFS

 After leaving everything that their bodies could give on the court defeating the Clippers to make it to the second round of the Playin, the Dubs had nothing left in their collective tanks and lost to a highly motivated, younger and more agressive Suns. So starts the off season for the Warriors. If the management and ownership continues to be determined to give Step Curry and Draymond another chance at a title, they better have a terrific plan. Curry, Green, and Butler make up the bulk of the Warriors payfoll. So, how do the Warriors go about finding and paying for the kind of player they need to accomplish their goal? Porzinis is a free agent, but it's certainly reasonable to wonder if his on-gong health issues preclude the Warriors signing him to a new contract. Furthermore, don't believe it's NOT LOGICAL to count of Butler and Moody to be 100 percent next season. That said, what can Curry and Green expect next season? Another Play In Purgatory. I wish I didn't hav eto say it, but that's what is looks like to me. There is a first round draft choic to consdier, But at pick around #14 or so, will there be a game changer left? A soldid player, yes, but probably not a game changer. Moe, I'd select Yaxel Longenber from the Michian if he was available. 

Okay, enough of the Warriors. Biting my tongue, I'm pulling for the LA Lakers. The reason is simple; the Lakers are the undergog and pulled off a terrific win over the Rockets in Houston. That the Lakers were without Doncic and Reeves adds to the HOO RAH lever of that upset. Got to hand it to Lebron. Instead of trying to make up for the lack of scorrying by Doncic and Reeves'a absence, he contentrated on assisting his teamates. The accuracy of his passes made it possible for the rest of his team to catch the ball in the flow for good looks. 

Congrats to BJ Bickerstaff for winning Coach of the Year. I was sorrry to see the Pistons go down agaisnt Orlands, but I have no dog in thea fight. Orlanda has a wonderful coach and some terrific players. Duren must give the Pistons a better game in the next game. 

Denver and TWolves will be an interessting series. Denver won well if not convincinly. Boston is a shoe in for the Finals in the East in my opinion. Jayson Tatum is playing like a true PRO. Hawks run offense can't match the Knicks over all D game. But, I like the young Hawks. Jalen Johnston can't disappear in the fourth. 

                                                    TIP OF THE PEN

Writer's fatigue: Be careful you don't write too long. You are the only one who can judge how tired you are. Wriging when tired is a waste of time. I write only in the morning, And occasionaly a little editing in the evening. In addition, it is wise to carefully read through what you wrote in the final half hour of work. That's usually where you'll find the most mistaakes. 

                                                              LIFE 

Shout out for Pope Leo for hosting Villanova and Nortre Dame basketball teams to start next years NCAA basketball season. Love the guys who dressed up as Pope Leo at a recent Whie Sox game. The Pope is Chicago rasised and a big White Sox fan. It's fun to talk about fun stuff and not about the ridiculous man in the White House. 

                                                           LITURTURE

With the playoffs starting and the intensity level arching into the rafters, I thought this little tough poem about my little tough high school coach would be appropriate. 

BEN NEFF  

Coach, I loved you. I owe my fundamentals
to you. I do not hold it against you
that you called me a sonovabitch and
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. 

 Wolverines if he was availbale 

KINGS AND QUEENS OF WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

I guess it's part of being old, being forgetful. But the evidence in my case is clearl. i completly forgot to post this Blog. Mea Culpa, and off we go:

 Isn't it about time Gino Auriemma stop thinking of himself as the King of Women's Basketball? his display of anger at the end of the Final Four loss to the University of South Carolina was a shameful exhibition of inflated ego. And, yes, Coach Staely should not have responded, but, hey, she was the winning coach. When UCon, earlier in the season had crushed her team, she'd said nothing. I give Coach Auriemma lot of credit for what he's accomplished at UCon and how much that has helped develop interest in the women's game of hoops, but no one crowned him. And no one has crowned Coach Stately either. If there is a crown to be bestowed on someone, how about on the head of Pat Summitt of the University of Tennessee? 

And, guess what? The Gamecocks of South Carolina lost in the finals to the bruins of UCLA. Congrats to Cori Close, perhaps the Princess of Women's college basketbal. Only time wil tell. Righ Gino? right Dawn? 

 Since Coach Summitt, the game of women's basketball has grown rapidely. The WNBA has found a strong foothold on television and with advertisers. I look back and wishi there had abeen such a viable league when my daughter was hooping, wearing her father's jersey number. More and more the the chasm between the interest in the mens and women's game is tightening. The Warriors reign as Kings of Bay Area basketball and the Valkyerie reign as Queens. 

   I do believe it is high time an NBA team hire a woman coach. Coach Becky Hammon of the Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA and Coach Dawn Staley would be better choices than some of the refried beans some NBA teams keep rehiring. 

I was sorry to read that Dick Motta was not incucted into the 2026 Neismith Basketball Hall of Fame. The Coach of the Championship 1978 NBA title dererved it. "The opera is not over until the fat lady sings" one of his statements that he read from someplace has not become a part of sports legend. Dick, you probably don't read sports blogs, but if by chance you read this one, I've always consiidered you one of the best coaches in our league, and I'd bet that you could show some of the young coaches in the league now a thing or two. If anyone is interested in Coach Motta, Jason Quick of The Athletic wrote a great piece about him two AThletic's ago. 

I have to admit, I was surpirsed how easily the U of Michigan Wolverines taming the Arizona Wildcats in the Final Four. But what do I know. This year I had Florida winning it all. I was very impressed with the Wolverine's poing guard Elliot Cadeau. His last name is french and means gift. And he was to his coach and teammate. He's too small to make it in the NBA, but could if he develope a three point shot. Monsieur Cadewu, that's your summer job, 

                                                      TIP OF THE PEN

Details when writing a mystery series. You must pay attention that all your details that tend to repeat themselves when writing a mystery series remain the same from novel to novle. For example if you have you detective/cop/etc in the habit of drinking a certain type of beer, it should be the same kind it all the books. Same goes for the car he drives unles he changes for a particular reason. True for the kind of breakfast your character prefers. The name of some of the touchstones in the neighborhood should be the same to remind the reader of the environment. Clothes she or he prefers. If your character is a jogger, be sure he joggs in all the books, enjoys the same views as he runs. Vary the way you write about these topeics, but be certain they are always there. 

LEBRON AT FFORTY-ON

He wonders where his three point shot has gone
Goen fishing, the critics say of him
His smile is sly.
His passes hit their mark. 
He downs the Rocket with assists.
He says, a win's a win. 

 between the two league is 

HEY, DAD, HOW ABOUT GETTING US SOME $200 DOLLAR TICKETS TO WATCH TWO TANKING TEAMS?

 A few NBA games ago, I watched the Sacramento Kings get out-tanked by the Memphis Griz. 

A few nights later, the San Antonio Spurs played against the tanking Nets. The tanking Kings played the tanking Mavs, and the tanking Bulls played the Portaland Balzers, who are not tanking which insured the Bulls a credible tanking victory. 

"Ah, so," as the famous Chinese detectie of the 1950s Charlie  Chan used to say. 

Lost in the shark tank of tanking are the NBA's  fans, particularly the youngsters who love their teams and want to root for them to win. WIN, what a concept. I'm not a fan of sarcasm, but I can't help myself. How about the word PATHETIC. As in pathos, as in get out your handkerchief. Let me say this, and I believe I have already said it a number of times: if the league doesn't do away, and I mean away away with tanking, it can count on fans fleeing for badmitten contests and jump-rope competitions. Beware, Commish Adam Silver. 

Allow me to post a solution that I recently suggested: All the losing teams qualify for the top lottery pick with equal chances of winning. The lottery becomes pure luck. Simplicity. It eliminates tanking from the start and actually encourages winning. All fans understand luck. It's Luck Be a Lady Tonight, Marlon Brando disguised as their team's GM. Bring out the rabbits' feet and the Good Luck charms. 

ABOUT LIFE:  

Be careful out there in internet land. An AI company has put out a "fake news" of MSNBC commentator, Rachel Maddow announcing to remove the President as being incompetent to serve in office. This is not an attack against the president but an attack on t he credibility of Rachel Maddow, who is one of the most effective voices in television journalism. Don't be fooled. And be REALLY careful of all things generated by AI. Example: Rosie, the singer, is not a human. Her million dollar generating songs are AI. Rosie, the singer, is not flesh and blood. Don't be fooled. Or you wind up being a FOOL.

                                                             TIP OF THE PEN

If you're worried about how to incorporate description into your mystery novel, or any novel, I suppose, although of that I'm unsure, read the detective mysteries written by Peter Robinson. Some may argue he over describes and internalized thoughts of his characters, but I feel he does it so expertly that it does not read heavy-handed. Give it a try. Especially if you're a beginning novelist, it's a good idea to read the top writers in whatever genre you're into. Copy how the write, and soon you'll wind up copying yourself. 

POEM OF THE BLOG:

FRANK “APPLES” KUDELKA  (1925-1993)

       by Tom Meschery

         

Where did the NBA begin?

For meme, with Apples. His name

a sobriquet for red delicious

made me laugh when I first heard it.

until I saw him play for the first time,

and score at will. It’s hard to say

how somethings leave their mark.

I was a boy of ten, he was a man

who floated through the air,

an apple I picked out of the sky.

 

 

A TANKING SOLUTION OF SORTS & ETC

 How about placing all the 14 teams that don't make the playoffs in on pool with none of the 14 teams given any better percentage of getting the top three pucks. Leave it to pure luck. Each ping pong ball would have the team log on it. Positional selection would be in reverse order as the ball leaves the machine. First ball out would pick 14th, etc, etc. Sure, there might be some tanking as the season draws to a close in order to assure a team getting into  the draw for the top 14 players, but, really, why would they once they know its all luck who gets the top three or four? On a  separate subject but related: The machine itself would not be the electric kind being used today, but one that functions by pulling a lever like a slot machine. On a separate but related subject: Isn't it high time the NBA teams start paying greater attention to the teaching end of their G League teams? There have been a few examples of NBA teams that have benefited by developing their own player talent. There are a lot of players, especially the young ones that are in the G leaue who have lots of physical talent but know crap about basketball. On a sperate subject but related: Why the hell do young men come out of high school and college basketball programs these day knowing crap about the game of baskball. I mean, its all about frigging athleticism. I'm personally heading in the dirction of doing away with the clock entirely in high schol and increasing the college clock to 40 seconds and the NBA to 30 seconds. The game has got to get back to a horizontal game not a bowling ball vertical game. 

LIfe comment: Okay, you guessed it. How long witll it be before the majority of American realize what a seeriously vicious human being Donald Trump is? It can't be that hard to figure out. From a purely sports perspective, it's never been a problem with athletes to recognize coaches that are simply bullshitters and glory hunters and don't really give a crap about their players. If that's so easy, why has it been so diffuclt for people to recongize Trumps negativity? 

                                                                  TIP OF THE PEN

Dont' sell description short. At it's basic composition, a story is derived into three parts: The Narrative, Dialogue and  Description. It's not quite that simplistic but for today's purpose, it will do. Often times young writers will forget the importance of description. Remember, your characters have senses. They will see and feel their surroundings. Their reactions to those surrounding often speak to their personalities. Does the rain depress them? Does the sun fail to cheer them up? Description can also create over all mood. It was a dark and stormy night. Ha. Ha. But true. Description also helps the reader to locate the character in the story. "He walked slowly and silently up the carpeted steps. Carpeted make the silence easier for the reader to understand. I'm sure I've made my point. But I must add, in closing, that too much description, like too much seasoning in cooking can ruin the stew. 

SATRUDAY NBA ALL STAR SKILLS COMPETION

Where is the All Star Game for mothers,
skill set competion for the best soup and cuddles,
And how about one for fathers,
for refing little leagues and cooking barbeques.
Lost in he gravy of family, they're taken for granted
Like a Steph Curry jumper or one rose in a dozen. 

DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN ABOUT THE NBA ALL STAR GAME

 While my wife and I will be toasting our love, marriage, children and grandchildren tonight on Valentines day, I will be missing the only contest in the NBA's All Star Celebration that's at all interesting. Not that the Dunk Contest couldn't be risen from the dead with more than one leaper and lots of understudies. I leave that fix to the league. I'll also leave the skills contest to the league. I'm only interested in the All Star Game itself. Let's be clear: without a modicum of D, the game is boring, just a bunch of 3s and dunkers. Yawn! Here's my fix: Create a 4 point line. Add a 5 point box at the ends of the midcourt stripe where they meet the sideline. You want long bombs, give the fans long bombs. Create a Super Dunk Line just below the free-throw line and award 3 points for such massive dunks. Dunks within that semi circle will be only awarded 1/2 points. By diminishing the value of the dunk lesser dunk, you increase the value of the 2-pt shot, floater and such. Winners of quarters receive money for their favorite charities. Charities to be represented at the game to receive awards. At half time, bring down three fans for a 1 million dollar attempt from the midcourt stipe. 

Okay, that's enough for now. Even if you have an argument with my ideas, that's okay. My point is the NBA has some creativity mind fog. The All Star Game is about The GAME. That's the most important fix. 

An interesting aside about the Winter Olympics: Three of America's men's figure skaters have Slavic names. I hesitate to say Russian names becayse Russians are not so popular these days, But as a Russian immigrant, what can I say. It's cool the popularity of figure skating translated from the old county to the new country. Immigration? Get it Trump. That's what America is all about, you jingoistic, homophobic, racist moron. 

                                                   TIP OF THE PEN

It may be a mystery crime writing convention that the crime/murder should happen reasonably close to thre begining of the novel. I've noticed reading recent mysteries that this is beginning to get out of vogue. I'm suspicious of this trend. Unles someone can convince me otherwise I'm sticking with the quicker the crime the faster I get into the story. Note, I do NOT mean solving the crime. I want to get into my chracter(s). They will carry the story to its conclusion. 

ON THE COURT ON VALENTINES' DAY 2026   By Tom Meschery

That the court turns into a heart,
That the ball flies like cupid's  arrow
That as the ball swishes 

through the hoop like love. 

That its  skirt dances the samba. 

That it was a ten year romance.

That I had to kiss it goodbye

That I still remembering the dance

That passed from my life with a sigh.