The Basketball Diaries – 21 January 2012
BBL (Baltic Basketball League?)
News from the Lithuanian Basketball Federation that plans to stage next year’s LFK Cup Final Four in England might seem an odd choice but as there are around 200,000 Lithuanians living in London alone, not to mention other areas of Great Britain. It’s an ideal opportunity to showcase the event outside Lithuania with a ready made audience. There’s no confirmation of a venue yet but London and Birmingham have been cited as the two cities large enough to host the tournament with the O2 Arena mooted as a possibility.
More basketball in the UK is always a welcome addition for British fans but plans to invite a BBL team, either the BBL Champions or BBL Cup winners will add extra spice to the occasion. Interesting plans which I’m sure all BBL fans will hope come to fruition.
Time up for the Big Three?
The Boston Celtics poor start to this year’s NBA campaign has led to plenty of talk Stateside about the end of the Big Three era. All this, of course, isn’t exactly news. We’ve been hearing this for two or three years now but it’s beginning to have a ring of truth to it. A washed up Jermaine O’Neal is no replacement for Kendrick Perkins at centre, KG’s bark is worse than his bite these days, Paul Pierce is struggling for fitness and form and their bench is worse than Brian Scalabrine’s ppg average. Even with an elite point guard in Rondo and Ray Allen still turning out vintage performances the Celtics simply don’t have enough to challenge for another banner.
Rumours that Danny Ainge is considering trading Paul Pierce may shock some but for others it is time to break this team of aging stars up. Whether any contending team has anything worthwhile to offer in return is doubtful. What price a move back home to LA for Pierce with the hated Lakers? You’d better whisper that one in Beantown.
Rebel Rousing!
All though it won’t mean much to many on this side of the pond, and truthfully not an awful lot of American basketball fans outside the grand old State of Mississippi would give two hoots either, but I couldn’t sign off this column without congratulating Ole Miss on their 75-68 victory over no.18 ranked rivals Mississippi State. The Rebels men’s basketball team triumphs over the Bulldogs have been all too rare in recent years are this year’s win was very much a welcome one coming on the back of a disastrous football season for the Ole Miss programme. I’m sure my Dad was enjoying himself in the crowd. Hotty Toddy!
Follow Darrin Smith on Twitter at OleDJ
