When I think back at all the particular skills the great centers of the NBA past possessed over the years and apply them to Nicola Jokic's skill-set, there are none in which the maginficant Serb doesn't excel. One can argue rightly that he is not as great a shot blocker as Bill Russell or Wilt Chamberlain, and one can argue that he is not as prolific a scorer as Kareem or as powerful in the paint as Shaq. But as season after season begin to prove, the Joker possesses all the skilss I've just meantioned and more, like passing and handling the ball and initiating offense and God know what else, perhaps piloting the Nugget's airplane. I do not need a ten year career history to say that at this point in his NBA career, Nicola Jokic is he greatest All Around NBA center that ever played in the NBA. And he does it with humility, grace, and a touch of humor. He is a pleasure to watch. He doesn't scream; he doesn't whine; he is all about TEAM. He possesses that same mature profressional personality of Steph Curry and Doctor J, players whom I christen: Gentlemen Daggers.
A quick note, Oakland Univeersity basketball team defeating Kentucky began the slippery slope to most of my brakets being busted. Oakland almost beat NC State and should have. Terrible coache's decision to keep one of the team's worst free throw shooter on the floor in the last 16 seconds of the game???
My Gaels lost in the first round to upstart Grand Canyon. I love upsets, except this one. Talking heads mentioned prior Gaels going to the Sweet 16, but failed to mention the Saint Mary's Gaels' team making the Elite 8 in 1958, losing to Pete Newell's University of California Bears that went on to win the NCAA Championship.
Perhaps I've mentioned but perhaps not that my wife, an excellent portrait painter, has an All Handsome NBA Team. Yesterday, watching the North Carolina play in the Big Dance, I saw Elliot Cadeau and told her she should wish that Cadeau, with the face of one of Raphael's Renaissancee Angels, should make it into the NBA. By the way, Cadeau means Gift in French.
It pains me to say it, but I can not see how my Warriors can go beyond this season with the roster they have. I do not envy GM Mike Donvely's job this summer. How do you gracefully bring the Dubs' decade of exquiste basketball excellence to a close and rebuild? Luckily, we found two superb rookies. When this season ends, it might end appropriately with Edward R Murrow's famous closing line: "Good night and good luck."
I'm on the bandwagon with U Conn winning the NCAA. That might be the kiss of death for them, as I've never been right in all the years I've tried to pick a winner. Sad tale.
I'm going to fudge a bit with the poem finish today. This is not a poem about sports, unless you consider waltzing requires a lot of athletic coordination. A recent article in The Athletic in the New York Times was all about my wife and I and our lives in our elderly years, (Notice I do not use the word Old) so when I saw this poem, I wanted to share it with all of you in my Blog Land. Enjoy!
HE SAID WALTZ WITH ME DARLING
hammers shatters
and no longer reach
the strings
wear down to nubs
unable to dampen
the music rings
with decades of use
and middle C warbles
instead of sings
come waltz with me
until we are the last
two things
