Let me get it out of the way. Amazon Prime Playoff production sucks big time. fans, including yours truly, continue to be furious over the numerous technical difficulties we encountered trying to watch games: entire section disappearances, frozen screens, loss of sound, weird voice overs, etc. etc. You'd think a company as monstrously rich as Amazon could have put together a better product. I only hope that the NBA has the capacity to ding Amazon financially for such a failed production. Hit Bezos in his greedy little heart.
Upward and onward: The Spurs vs the Thunder is going to be one very intriguing matchup. Wemby vs Holmgren could turn into a battle channeling the historic giant matchups of Russell vs Chamberlain, Jabbar vs Walton, and Shaq vs Patrick Ewing. What interests me most about the OKC/San Antonio playoffs depends on whether the Spurs youngsters can handle the pressure of the champion Thunder players. This includes Wemby, but I'm focusing more on the rest of the young crew: Stephon Castle, Dylon Harper and Julian Champagnie. If the babies can play well, I wouldn't be surprised if there's an upset.
So, what's up with the Cavs vs the Pistons. I'm pulling for the Pistons because I recall like JB Bickerstaff and his father Bernie who played in the WCC my college league. However, it is no secret by now that ))) Duren has to come out of hiding for tomorrows final game seven in order for the Pistons to win. Drummond has all the tools, but for reasons unknown has pretty much disappeared. Thank God for Paul Reed. Wouldn't the 76ers love to have this dude back instead of Drummond's over the hill game.
While the Knicks watch, waiting for the winner. The Knicks game has come together at the perfect time. OG will be back healthy and Karl Anthony Towns is playing like he wants to be a two-way player for once in his life. The recent pick up of Jose Alvarado was a stroke of genius. Alvarado is one tough in your face hombre point guard. He adds just the right amount of increased pepper which combined with Josh Hart's defensive salsa that is scary. And how much praise is there that defines Jalen Brunson? I've been around the game a long time, and I can't think of a two-way point guard at barely six feet who produces at such an All Star level. Of course he is super strong and build low to the ground like a bull- dog that he does on occasion resemble.
Do I want the Knicks to win the East? I have no real dog in the fight. I like Mike Brown and if he wins it would be a great up yours to the Kings for how they treated him. But, I'm not a big fan of the Knicks owner, Dolan who seems by all accounts of him I've read to have an over-inflated ego. I do very much like the idea that the East championship would be played by two of the original NBA teams from those good old days when I played. And there is definitely something Old School about both teams.
LITERATURE
No Tip of he Pen toasay. But I did send of the 4rth in my Brovelli Brother's murder mystery series to my publisher. I sent the synoposis and they do want to publish the book. So all's good at least until I read the contract. So, is there a tip in this? Yes. Smal presses for genre type novels can be a solution for emerging writers. Don't expect advances like you would from the bid dogs in NYC, but you should be able to get a more generousl net cut of profits and start earning money faster.
lIFE
This coming November election may be the most important election since the civil war days to save our country'rs Democracy and Constitution. We need both house and senate to put a stop to Donald Trump.
A little nostalgia, a poem I wrote for one of my first basketball heroes.
FRANK “APPLES” KUDELKA
(1925-1993)
For me, with Apples, a sobriquet
For delicious hoops.
I was a boy of ten. He hangs
in the branches of my memory
Julian Champanie
