Weekend Recap - SNL

I'll be honest...I didn't watch a lot of basketball this weekend. As I blog, I'm also watch NBA Gametime on NBA TV so I'll comment on the highlights as they roll along.

I did catch the first half of the Kansas-Tennessee game and I had a gut feeling The Jayhawks were in trouble before I went grocery shopping. By the time I came home the #1 team in the land suffered their first defeat by the Volunteers. Much respect to Tennessee as they're playing with a brand new team as four of there players are off the team due to some "off court issues". Congrats to Texas for being the new #1 come Monday morning (their school needs some type of good news after the week they've had).

By the time I arrived home, I caught the second half of the Cavs-Blazers game on ESPN. LeBron had 31 by the end of the first half but his fashion statement was something else. With the Cavs wearing vintage blue jerseys, LeBron James wore different color shoe to pay homage to Mark Price, Brad Daughtery, Larry Nance...no mention of Ron Harper. King James finished with 41 points and 10 assist.

What did I think of Charles Barkley on Saturday Night Live? The McGuber skit and the weekend update with the blind New York governer was classic but overall the show was horrible. Several times Barkley messed up his lines then held his laughter but then again he's not an actor. Alicia Keys was hot I enjoyed seeing her perform.

Time to hit the court Mondays are always a great day for pickup ball I'll let you know how it went.

Basketball Version - What are you Thankful For.....

With the holiday season kicking off this Thursday what are you thankful for from a basketball standpoint? With the season still very young here's what I'm thankful for..

• I'm thankful that the rest of the world can finally see the talent of Will Bynum that we have witnessed in Chicago since 1999
• I'm thankful that Earl Boykins is back in the NBA. He should have never been overseas
• I'm thankful that nine teams realized that made a mistake by passing up Brandon Jennings
• I'm thankful for NBA TV. That is the best cable channel and provides scores & highlights 24/7
• I'm thankful Chauncey Billups, Jason Kidd & Steve Nash are still playing. They're up in age but I'd choose them over any new young PG in the L
• I'm thankful for all the upcoming games on all the ESPN Networks. Coaches vs. Cancer, Preseason NIT, Great Alaska Shootout, etc
• I'm thankful that Jokim Noah is playing at a high level and leading the League in rebounding
• And finally....I'm thankful that at 33 I'm still in good health and able to play ball 4 days a week

With the holiday season approaching us please remember to be careful if you're doing Black Friday

Mark Jackson Screwed Again - More Offseason Moves

Last week The Minnesota Timberwolves hired Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Kurt Rambis over ESPN - ABC analyst Mark Jackson. Another NBA season gone by another team passing over Mark Jackson. The #2 assist leader of all-time would have been a perfect hire for the Timberwolves for three reasons because:

• Mark Jackson is not that far removed from the game and can relate to today's players
• Jackson would have taught Johnny Flynn or Ricky Rubio how to run the point in the NBA
• Minnesota is a young team that has an uptempo style which was Mark Jackson's style

I have nothing against Kurt Rambis, he'll turn Kevin Love and Al Jefferson into better power forwards but my personal choice is Mark Jackson.

It's good to see Maurice Cheeks back in the NBA this time with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The former Blazers and Sixers coach has been around the League over 30 years therefore Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook should take serious notes. I also hope this works out for Shaun Livingston, he deserves it.

Quentin Richardson has been traded again to the Miami Heat. The good news is that Q has fellow south side native Dwyane Wade as a teammate.

After learning the power forward game from Kevin Garnett for 2 years, Leon Powe feels he's learned enough and signed with the Clevaland Cavaliers. Still new to the League Powe, Powe will continue his big man education with Professor Shaquille O'Neal and Big Z.

Still two months until preseason I'm stuck watching replays of the 2009 season on NBA TV.

Stay tune as I talk about summer ball in Chicago in my next blog.