“Hoops and Hockey Pucks”

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Games being played…things to be said as I watch them all.

LAKERS…So three weeks into the season and LeBron James and Anthony Davis have had 3-injury issues already, and lots of games to be played.  Carmelo Anthony seems to have found a role, three point shooter extraordinaire.  I don’t think Russell Westbrook has found himself yet.  Not when you see (1-13) and (4-14) shooting outings.  The LA bench has really been weak at both ends of the floor.  And the star-studded Lakers have blown leads of 16-19-26 that turned into losses.  And then another game where they trailed by 36 (yes 36) in a loss.  Is this the chemistry and championship team has?

CLIPPERS…Just don’t think Paul George can do this by himself and that is what it looks like at the other end of Staples Center .  George scores (41) one night carrying the team, then has (6-15) shooting performances where he gets defended out of the building.  No Kawhi Leonard and over the long haul of a season, not much chance to be a good team over an entire schedule even with 6-wins to start the season..

AZTECS…Lots of new faces for Brian Dutcher’s team as they must find firepower to replace the trust-worthy talents that 1,000 point stars Matt Mitchell and Jordan Shackel brought to Viejas Arena.  Love SDSU’s size and their athleticism, but there are so many newfaces on board, it will take time to define roles.  Trace Pulliam and off the bench forward Josh Tomiac could be real difference makers.  An opening night win will be faced with challenges against BYU and ASU next on the schedule.

TOREROS…Sam Scholl  is on thin ice at USD.  Back to back horrid losing seasons, and this being the final year of his contract, it could be his last if it is another bad winter of basketball at the JCP.  Call it Transfer U, with 5-incoming transfers moving onto campus.  They had so much hope when they hired Gonzaga assistant Bill Grier years ago.  Did not workout and nothing has been right since.  Crushing tiny LaVerne means nothing in the opener.  See what the record is  as they march thru this non conference schedule.

TRITONS….Now that was an interesting opening night for UCSD, playing in the shadows of State, but they started this second season in Division 1-basketball with a stunning win of downtrodden Cal of the Pac 12.  This might be a team worth paying attention too.

KINGS…A big winning streak as they headed out on a Canadian road trip, the first month has been a surprise start for the LA Kings.  The (5-1) bashing of the high powered Maple Leafs was quite a charge in the room and the impressive win in that overtime outing in Montreal means this team may have well turned the corner in rebuilding.  6-wins in a row.The signing of ex-Montreal center Phillipe Danault has made a huge difference, and who would have thought. Jack Campbell would be so good to put high priced goalie Jon Quick on the bench.  Lots of games to be played, but this is better than what LA fans have had to sit thru in recent years.

DUCKS…What had to happen, did happen to start the season.  The young players, who needed to score goals to save Dallas Eakins job, have.  Ex Gulls winger Troy Terry has 9-goals in 3-weeks so far.  Max Comtois, another ex Gull, had a great season last year.  They are playing the young stars Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale.  But as good as this (7-4-3) start is, comes the stunning news that GM-Bob Murray may lose his job, for abuse of staff members.  He worked hard to put all the young players in place.

GULLS…A slow disappointing start but the fans not giving up on the team, crowds of 9, 10 and 12,000 for the start of the AHL season.  Joel Bouchard’s first team in San Diego isn’t scoring many goals and has given up the most goals of anyone in the AHL so far, and that’s a disappointment considering goaltending and veteran experience on the blueline was supposed to be a strength.  66-game season to get better but you have to deal with Ducks callups, anytime, any place, and that hurts team continuity.

Random thoughts on basketball and hockey.

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