Starting with ETC:
Delighted to see Brittany Griner back in the United States and hear she's going to play in this upcoming WNBA season. No American female or male basketball player should play in Russia again, not until the Putin The Evil is gone, hopefully, to the inferno waiting for him in the after life.
RIP Franco Harris. Can it possibly be that his jersey # has never been retired? Now he is gone and won't see it happen. The Steelers should be ashamed.
Lionel Messi and Argentina win the World Cup. Finally Messi is his country's hero. What an athlete! Now, if only soccer would do away with their offside rule.
Okay, it's NBA time:
The Eastern Conference looks to be a 3 way battle at the top between The Bucks, The Sixers, and the Celtics. The other teams should simply concede. There's a generational player in France waiting for them.
Generational? I prefer to think of those kinds of players that are usually referred to as generational as transformational.
The Western Conference is not as easy to define as the East. When all the teams in the West are healthy, there are a number of teams that have a chance to win it all. Let's assume all of the possible teams are healthy after All-Star break, here are my picks, not in any order.
The Mavs. They have some rim stoppers now. Doncic will always be dangerous. He's generational. Hardaway back shooting well. I question Jason Kidd's coaching. Not very creative. Still, lots of talent.
The Clippers: Two names: Paul Geroge. Kawhi Leanord. On the court at the same time, puts turns two excellent players into reserves. This makes for a very dangerous rotation. I don't think the talking heads give Kawhi and George enough credit as defenders. Lue is a good coach. Lot's of fire power, lots of toughness.
The Nuggets: Jokic. That's all I need to say. MVP x 3. Murry back, more dangerous as the season progresses. If they can space the flor for the Joker, he'll average 30 during playoffs. Not as deep as the Clips, but have a real chance if Jokic can get some rest and not have bear the entire burden.
The Griz: Memphis needs to get their rotations in order. Right now they are relying on Ja. If they get more consistent reserve help, they too have a shot at the top.
The Pelicans: Remember, we're talking all their players are healthy. Zion, One Punch Ingram, Valancunas, Murphy, McCullum, very scrappy Alvarado. Young, smart Coach Willy Green. All the fixings for a possible run to the top of the West. I have become a much greater fan of Zion than I originally was. Come playoffs, a team needs his kind of muscle. It's the interior muscle that Jokic provides the Nuggets. The muscle Kevon Looney provided the Warriors last season. If Zion could shoot from distance, can you imagine how tough he'd be?
The Warriors: Last but certainly not least. Yes, a healthy Warriors can repeat. The reason I'm optimistic is what I've been seeing lately. While most, if not all, talking heads seeing the same things I'm seeing, are writing the Dubs off, it's my belief that rather than a negative, it's been a blessing that the injuries have given the Warriors time to play their reserves big minutes.
The Warriors winning it this year is as much about the reserves as their winning the NBA Championship was about the reserves last season. The Dubs starting SIX (Poole) are championship quality. Now for the reserves: In the last couple of weeks, DiVincenzo has become a solid contributor. His 3 point shot has become more reliable, and he is a scrappy defender. JaMycal Green, whom I despaired of, has turned his game around. All we need from him is a solid ten minutes per game. Kuminga has found a niche as a defender and a slasher. Lamb, when he's playing with the Big Dogs, is a threat as a defender and corner three point shooter and a hustler. Moses Moody and James Wiseman are still question marks. But because of increased time on the court, I'm seeing glimmers. If Wiseman, in particular, can be the talent he is physically capable of by playoffs, his contribution spelling Looney will be huge. Will he? Not sure, but at least the Warriors know that more G League is not going to help. He's got to have real time with Curry & Co. .
So, do the Dubs reach Nirvana this season? I've got $ in Vegas on them.
The rest of the West? Like the rest of the East not named Celtic, 76ers, and Bucks, the remaining Western Conference terams will be looking to le grand joueur Francais, Monsieur Wenbenyama. The great French player, Mister W
A snow storm, generational, I hear, is pounding the the country east of the Rockies. Here's a snow sports poem
by Conrad Diekmann
WINTER TREES
Again against so stout a tree.
A tree whose rugged back is pressed
In bas-relief upon my chest.
A tree that with bacchantic air
Wears ski poles in its tangled hair.
I've learned my lesson: Fools like me
Should never try to shave a tree.
