I haven't been blogging for a while. Considering most of my comments have to do with the NBA, the reason is simple enough. COVID and injuries have turned the standings into pure speculation. It's always been difficult in the NBA around midseason to get any substantive practice time, but with COVID it's damn near impossible. No matter how few and far between, practice time is essential. So, what's left to teams: walk-throughs on game days?
Which leads me to my next topic, the Warriors need to support Steph Curry better. It seems clear that as a league, the word is "face guard Curry with your best and toughest defender, harass him, make his life on the court as miserable an experience as possible." This continues to happen even though Klay has returned. So the Warriors need to set some hard screens, make the defenders pay a price for guarding Steph. Where is Andrew Bogut when we need him? Having a cold one and putting something on the barbi, I suppose. I'm still trying to figure out what happened to Bjelica's 3 point shot that has been reasonably accurate most of his career. The Warriors are going to have do something about paint protection and rebounding or they are going to have a miserable time in the playoffs when the game becomes more physical. It's good thing the Warriors started out so hot. We still might wind up in second place in the West.
The Sacramento Kings have finally made a move that makes sense. They had to give up a very fine young point guard in Tyrese Halliburton, but the return, Domantas Sabonis was worth it. Sabonis will be the Big of the future in the same way that Vlade Divac was during the Kings winning years. In the recent trade the Kings also received two capable reserves in Justin Holiday and Jeremy Lamb, both decent 3 point shooters. Holiday is also a solid defender. Soon after, King's GM Mone McNair traded for the Bucks shooting guard and excellent on point defender Donte DiVincenzo. Not much will change this season. They won't make the playoffs, but they will get a good draft choice to add to a future that is beginning to look bright for the first time in centuries.
It can't be overstated how absolutely compelling Ja Morant of the Memphis Griz is. He is channeling Allan Iverson and Earl "The Pearl" Monroe. Remember The Pearl? When The Pearl walked onto his local playground courts his fans standing around would part like the Red Sea to let him on and whisper to each other, "Jesus is coming." You will find stories such as these in my memoir, called The Mad Russian, due to come out sometime in early 2023. Check my blog for specifics. Given what the Russian's are doing in the Ukraine, we might have to change the title, although that was what I was called in my 10 years playing in the NBA with the Warriors and Seattle Sonics.
Speaking of Seattle, there are rumors that the NBA will expand to Seattle and Las Vegas next season. It's about time for Seattle to get some love, considering how badly they were juked by the owner of the Thunder who bought the Sonics, promised the city that he wouldn't move, this while he was already half way through building an arena in OKC. Liar, liar, pants on fire! I'm crossing my fingers expansion happens and could use some finger-crossing help from you, my readers.
Do I dare make any Final's predications? I'll take a chance on the Heat as long as they are all healthy to win in the East. They can beat you too many ways and in a 7 game series versatility is essential. There might be some hope for the 76ers as long as Harden doesn't tank the way he has n the past in clutch time. I love Embid, so I wouldn't be unhappy if they represent the East, but I'd hate to see Harden's disloyalty to Houston that built his rep and the Nets who gave up the bank to get him be rewarded.. Harden seems so selfish to succeed.
At this point, post All Star Game, it's fair to say if Chris Paul's injury inhibits his performance, the Suns will be more vulnerable. Still they remain versatile and tough. Booker derserved to be a starter in the All Star game. Warriors better have Green back and playing at the All Star level he was before his injury to have a shot at representing the West. If all the players are healthy, the Nuggets would be a good bet in Vegas.
The Lakers trade for Russell Westbrook will go down as one of the worst in NBA history, There were too many old legs and vets to being with. (I have never been a Carmelo and Dwight Howard fan) The Lakers gave up youth and defense for a player who is immensely physically talented but predictable and has no idea how to facilitate for teammates other than driving the paint at max speed and kicking if he can't make a layup. Time for a new Laker GM with some guts to withstand King James' choices of teammates.
Russian are destroying fellow Slavs in the Ukraine, and he NBA has a number of Ukrainian players We pray for them and their families. Brittany Griner has been arrested in Russia for supposedly having some hashish oil in her suitcase. Maybe, maybe not. Not hard to set her up. This is all on President Putin and his minions. All of them as far as I'm concerned are no better than the evil Communists dictators of the past who executed most of my relative during the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. I have no doubt Griner was targeted as a bargaining chip against the United States. We are living in dangerous times, folks. Putin is threatening nuclear war. All sports leagues and federations must pitch in to do what they can to stop this maniac. It must be a world wide decision to ban all Russian teams and individual athletes from performing in their countries and further ban all their own athletes from performing in Russia for as long as this deadly and immoral invasion lasts. I grew up in the 50's with the threat of nuclear war. I am terrified for my children and grandchildren.
There have been many poems about war, but few include sports as part of the theme. Here's one that is particularly powerful from the Vietnam War days. William S. Carpenter in the title was a QB for West Point.
A Mad Song for William S. Carpenter 1966 by James Wright.
I tossed a short pass
almost the instant I caught the ball, just over the head
.
P
were not individual, but team problems. He should know better, having been one of the best on-ball defenders of his decade.
