NBA has suspended the season after the conclusion of tonight’s games. The COVID-19 virus is the reason. Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz has tested positive for the virus. At this point it appears the virus will continue to get worse worldwide. What can the NBA do to salvage the season.

They can start the playoffs next week. Eliminate the first round. Make each remaining round best of 5 games until we crown a new champion. Postponing play just brings us closer to ending the season absent any result. It would be a disaster for the time all the teams have devoted so far this season. Each day that goes removes the peak conditioning developed to this point. Resuming after a month will be with sloppy play and increased injuries.

Due to the NBA Players strike the 1999 season started late and the playoffs were had only after a 50 game season. Most teams have already played 60 games this season so suspension goes no where. If people catch COVID-19 in the playoff arenas then play the games without fans. Don’t waste the season or jeopardize the players.

A little geography lesson on the countries where the new NBA teams will be located. Click on map to enlarge.

The NBA & FIBA plan to launch the Basketball Africa League in January 2020.

NBA 2017 Draft Watching Tool

This is a 1 sheet PDF file containing rookies selected in the NBA Draft sorted by Team and Pick#.  When watching a basketball game you can easily lookup the player selected by a team and get their jersey number. Enjoy watching.

INSTRUCTIONS: To get PDF left click on Red “NBA 2017 Draft Watching Tool” then on next screen left click on Red “NBA 2017 Draft Watching Tool” again.

If you like this PDF tool please follow me for future NBA tools.

If you have any corrections or suggestions for other tools please post a comment.

The Lakers made a great effort against the Denver Nuggets and it paid off in a win. In the second game against the Golden State Warriors they were outclassed. The Lakers announcers got down on the Lakers saying they had to give a better effort. I disagree, they gave a great effort but the Golden State Warriors were better at every position and as a team and the Lakers could not do a thing about it.. Sunday the Lakers play Golden State again. Lets see how that goes?

The NBA Playoffs is a showcase for the best teams.  It is disappointing that teams with losing records are allowed in the playoffs because they are in a poor conference.  Worse yet teams with winning records are excluded, which is a travesty to the team, their season, their fans, and paints the NBA as a joke that competitive standards do not exist for the playoffs.  The teams with losing records making the playoffs are getting an undeserved golden ticket.

In  2014 Indiana 0.683 defeated Atlanta losing percentage 0.463 (4-3.) The winning team excluded from the playoffs seeded 9 Phoenix Suns winning percentage 0.585.

In  2013 Miami 0.805 defeated Milwaukee losing percentage 0.463 (4-0.) The winning team excluded from the playoffs seeded 9 Utah Jazz winning percentage 0.524.

How it would work? Winning Record Teams WCT would be seeded in their proper position by record in the opposing conference.  So long as the WCT plays they will never have home court advantage.

Los Angeles Lakers played the Minnesota Timberwolves in a losing effort in their first 2017-2018 pre-season exhibition game but there were some bright spots. Kyle Kuzma picked 27th in the first round of the NBA Draft was the teams leading scorer with 19 pts 9-12 shooting 75% with 5 rbs 1 stl playing pretty good defense.

He was the MVP of the Las Vegas Summer Pro-League winning the championship with 31pts. He scored on a left hand running hook, on a right hand running hook, 3 pt shots, and taking what the defense would give him looping shots just over the reach of Karl Anthony Towns, the KAT man. Lakers fan went crazy in the arena. What a great game by Kyle Kuzma and Lakers fans can’t wait to see more.

This is the link to the article.

http://www.csnbayarea.com/warriors/iceman-gervin-i-dont-feel-klay-broke-my-record?p=ya5nbcs&ocid=yahoo#gig_comment_id=$commentID$

The only truth is replaying a video of George Gervin’s quarter and record how many three point distance shots he took and adjust his point total to that number. If he took 6 shots at 3 point distance then in todays scale compared to Klay he would have 39 points. If he took 3 shots from 3 point distance he would have 36 points. This is the only way to find out the real comparison.

We know that Klay took nine 3 pointers so pre 3 point line he would only have 28 points which is less than Iceman.  I do not recall that George took many 3 point shots because he was famous for the “Finger Roll.”  So George’s 33 who most likely took 2 point shots beats Klay’s adjusted 28 points.  George wins.

If the video exist replay it and we can find out the real tale of the tape? I saw George play and he was Great, and Klay may be on his way.

Any comments are welcome.

Kobe gets paid too much so he is hurting the team. The player is too old and now hurts the team with his diminished play and restricts money used for other players. These are legitimate complaints but why should a player than has been great for the NBA, great for a team be put through this? The NBA does not care about its loyal great players. The question is a team wants to reward a player for a great career but the NBA Salary cap rules turn him into a pariah.

Years of dedication to a team or the game does not matter so discard him. His diminished ability dismisses his value to a team should drop him. League parity is supposed to be very important so a team that wants to reward a loyal player for years of service cannot because it hurts the teams competitiveness. A loyal older player must be cut because a team cannot afford to keep him in a capacity to demonstrate to younger players how to play, be a professional, teach them allegiance to the team or to transition him to other parts of the organization. What could be done to remedy this situation?

I call it the Loyalty Rule. The full salary of a loyal player counts against the salary cap which hurts a team’s competitive parity. In any other business years of loyalty gets rewarded, not in the NBA.

I propose that the NBA for all players that become 32.5 years of age become designated as loyal players and that their salary counts at 75% against the salary cap on that exact date. Players that become 35 years of age their salary counts at 50% against the salary cap. Players that become 37.5 years of age their salary counts at 25% against the salary cap. Finally, players that become 40 years of age have no effect on the salary cap. It would let the team reward loyalty. It would add to league parity. It would avoid teams being heartless forcing them to cut loyal players. It would not put loyal players in a position to take a salary cut or be designated as selfish. It would show the NBA cares about its loyal players. It rewards the NBA greats as it should, without shame or criticism.

Teams like the Boston Celtics could have kept Paul Pierce, or the Bulls Michael Jordan as their careers wound down. Teams like the San Antonio Spurs could reward them for loyalty, NOT ask them to take a pay cut which is theft for a player like Tim Duncan.

This or some variation would be great for the NBA.

The Spurs are sitting pretty with the scheduling.  I still pick the Heat to win it all and prefer that they win yet the Spurs have been given the best scheduling chance to win with their old bones. The Spurs have a minimum of 2 days off to prepare for any game at home against the Heat. The Heat only have one day off to prepare for any game in Miami.

My hats off to the Spurs closing out OKC in 6. That was impressive because no Spur has the athleticism of Durant or Westbrook and as a team barely held them in check to win the 6th game.  Now the Spurs face two great talents again in James and Wade which can turn up the heat easily melting spurs.  The key advantage is the Spurs home court where they will be rested just enough in games against the Heat.  Let the games begin Thursday.

The Spurs have 4 days to prepare, the Heat have 5 days.
Game 1 – Thu, June 5, Miami at San Antonio, 9 p.m. ET, ABC

The Spurs have 2 days to prepare for the Heat
Game 2 – Sun, June 8, Miami at San Antonio, 8 p.m. ET, ABC

The Heat have 1 day to prepare
Game 3 – Tue, June 10, San Antonio at Miami, 9 p.m. ET, ABC

The Heat have 1 day to prepare
Game 4 – Thu, June 12, San Antonio at Miami, 9 p.m. ET, ABC

The Spurs have 2 days to prepare for the Heat
Game 5 * Sun, June 15, Miami at San Antonio, 8 p.m. ET, ABC

The Heat have 1 day to prepare
Game 6 * Tue, June 17, San Antonio at Miami, 9 p.m. ET, ABC

The Spurs have 2 days to prepare for the Heat
Game 7 * Fri, June 20, Miami at San Antonio, 9 p.m. ET, ABC

Historically, my problem with Donald Sterling has been his apathy for putting a good Clippers team on the court.  Spending the least on the team and just living off of the TV revenue.  Screw the fans, screw everyone, never showing up to any games until recently as he pretends to care now.  Too little to late, he lost my respect back in the 80s and never regained it.

Elgin Baylor long time General Manager sued Donald Sterling for racism.  The joke was no Owner would keep a General Manager who put a loosing team on the floor season after season and continue as GM.  Maybe it was charity, maybe it was convenient to have a poorly paid GM just to maximize his TV revenue.  Case dismissed.

Link to the Conversation with Donald Sterling and his Girlfriend (a woman named “V. Stiviano”) provided by TMZ Sports.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fthv5NmC6Fk  Here is text of key dialogue.

DS: “Why are you taking pictures with minorities?”  GF: “What wrong with minorities?”  later, GF:”And you’re in love with me.  And I’m black and Mexican.  Whether you like it or not.”

Later,  GF: “People call you and tell you that I have black people on my instagram and it bothers you.”  DS: “Yes it bothers me a lot that you want to promo…broadcast that you are associating with black people.  Do you have to?”  GF: “You associate with black people.”

Further,  GF: because of your upbringing? You want me to have hate towards black people?  DS: I don’t want you to have hate.  … I want you to love them – privately.  In your whole life, everyday you can be with them.  every single day of your life.”  GF:”But not in public?”  DS:”But why publicize it on the Instagram and why bring it to my games?  GF:”Why bring the black people to the games…”

More, GF:”I’m sorry that you still have people around you that are full of racism and hate in their heart.  I’m sorry that your’e still racist in your heart.  I’m sorry that you live in a world… (comment Donald does not deny this! )  DS: Now about your whole life, everyday, you could do whatever you want.  You can sleep with them, you can bring them in, you can do whatever you want.  The little I ask you is not to promote in that… and not to bring them to my games.  I’m just saying, in your lousy Instagrams you don’t have to have yourself with, walking with black people.  GF:”If it’s white people it’s OK?  (SILENCE) GF:”If it was Larry Bird, would it have made a difference?”

Near the end, GF:”I saw someone I admire.  I admire Magic Johnson… And I took a picture with someone I admire.” DS:”Good.  I think the fact that you admire him – I’ve know him well, and he should be admired.  And I’m just saying that it’s too bad you can’t admire him privately, …  You can do anything.  But don’t put him on an Instagram for the world to have to see so they have to call me.  And don’t bring him to my games. OK?”

Donald Sterling consistently belittles her throughout the discussion like she has done something wrong.  She is just asking questions to clarify what is the issue.  Donald belittles her to put her in her place, to shut her down and good for her she stands up to him and does not really take it.  She will probably be on the View soon, and other shows.

Should he be able to express his racist views without repercussion, Yes. It is called freedom of speech. Will it be without repercussion, remains to be seen.

It is better for a racist to communicate his racist views without repercussion so people know where they stand with them instead of everyone hiding their beliefs so you do not know who will gladly stab you in the back.  Political Correctness and hate crime laws has put the racists in the closet, not good.  As a youth every one used racist terms and no one was offended.  People believed in two sayings.  “Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.”  “I disagree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”  Now, words are criminal, devastate emotionally people who have been treated like babies their entire lives, and freedom of speech is dead.

This could be the best thing to the Clippers organization since it was founded. Maybe the pressure will make him decide to sell the team to an owner who cares. Would be nice.  Maybe Magic Johnson has some money left in the bank?  Team name change, the Los Angeles Magics, no conflict.