MIND BOGGLING

 Let's begin with life - as it exists in this country today. The key word is STUPIDITY. I'm in a quandary as to which is the most stupid stupidity that's happened recently: Is it the mind-boggling stupid Dallas Mavericks' trade of 25 year-old generational offensive wizard Luca Doncic for a 32 year-old All-Star center Anthony Davis who has a history of health problems & a decent bench player in Max Christie OR Donald Trump's administration's decision to remove anything in the U.S. military files that have to do with GAYs, has resulted in removing the iconic photograph of the Second World War bomber Enola Gay that carried the Atomic Bomb to Japan and Hiroshima to end the Second World War. In addition, it eliminated all "genetic" research because  they thought they were eliminating all "gender" research. When announced, the Republican side of the legislature actually cheered and clapped. I'm not through. This edict also eliminates all the records and flies of Major General Hobart Gay who served with distinction in the Koran War, YA GOTTA BE KIDDING ME. 

I'll leave you to decide. 

Now to the NBA. Just a few comments. 

A lot will depend on Jonathon Kuminaga's play once he returns to the team to determne where the Dubs will wind up in the playoffs. I very much enjoy the team as I'm watching it in its present form, but they will lack the twitch atleticism that the top teams like the Cavs, Delts, OKC and Nuggets have. More on the Lakers next.

Damm it, I hate to admit that the Lakers have a chance to win the West, but the addition of Doncic has done the trick. That, and all their players back healthy. Reeves as a third scoring threat is for mor potent than when he was the secondary go to guy. And the surprising shot blocking energy of Jaxon Hayes has filled enough of the paint protection gap lost after AD left. They can score in buckets and the have defenders who make up for Doncic's lack of enthusiasm for D. Except for Hayes I don't see where they are weak at any other position. 

Like the TWolves, I thought that the Randle trade would work. It hasn't. I can't figure out why. It can't possibly be that Randle operates most naturally in Rudy Gobberts domain, thus clogging up the paint? Are we missing some coaching here? 

All the talking heads are in agreement that OKC will win the West. Things have changed with the advent of the New Lakers, and I would not count out Jokic's Nuggets. And tje Warroprs could surprise because of their system that makes beating them over 7 games very difficult.

What about Boston? They are who they are: They live and die by the three point line. The X factor for the Celts will be if Porzigis and Jru Holiday perform well. If they do, the Celts beat the Cavs. If not the Cavs with the addition of a defender like Hunter win. 

One of the great ironies of this season are the two candidates for Coach of the Year: J.B. Bickerstaff the of the Detroit Pistons, the previous coach of the Cleveland Cavs, and Kenny Atkinson, the present coach of the Cavs who replaced J.B. This won't happen, but I vote for dual honors this year as both coaches have done equally magnificent jobs this season. Come on, NBA. let's think outside the box. 

A couple of last comments. 1) The teams that are looking for instant miracles from Cooper Flagg better have a plan to provide him with some solid help. He is a generational player, but he is not instant help as was the case with players like Magic, MJ, LeBron and Doncic.  2) I surprised myself this morning reading about the weat teams in the N|BA and tinking that the Wizards have some pretty damn good young players. I'd starft giving them a lot of playing minutes betwen now and the end of the season. 

It's March. I was planning to post this poem in February to remind people that Black Lives mater more than ever these days. 

HOODIE

 

A gray hoodie will not protect my son

from rain, from the New England cold.

 

I see the partial eclipse of his face

as his head sinks into the half-dark

 

and shades his eyes. Even in our

quiet suburb with its unlocked doors,

 

I fear for his safety – the darkest child

on our street in the empire of blocks.

 

Sometimes I don’t know who he is anymore,

traveling the back roads between boy and man.

 

He strides a deep stride, pounds a basketball

into the wet pavement. Will he take his shot

 

or is he waiting for the open-mouthed

orange rim to take a chance on him? I sing

 

his name to the night, ask for safe passage

from this borrowed body into the next

 

and wonder who could mistake him

for anything but good.

 

               January Gill O’Neil 

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