Andre McCarter

 The Golden State Warriors have tied their NBA playoff series 2-2 with the veteran San Antonio Spurs winning game four in overtime 97-87. Both teams have won games on the opponents’ home court.  There is no question this playoff series is in the mode of ready, set, go! How did this unlikely Warriors team get on the Mark?

When the Golden State Warriors organization’s top brass made the decision to interview Mark Jackson for their head coaching vacancy they stepped out of the preverbal box. They interviewed a very good and knowledgeable ABC-NBA prime time analyst who was one of the best assist men in NBA history, but he had no resume as a coach at the high school, college or NBA level. Mark Jackson had no major coaching experience.  

Mark Jackson is an ordained minister who along with his wife is a pastor of a congregation. Not your normal prerequisite qualification for a head coach in the NBA.

The Los Angeles Clippers beat the Memphis Grizzlies in a hard fought seventh game during the first round of the 2012 NBA playoffs. The Clippers went on to the second round of the playoffs which was unchartered waters for the Clipper organization. In the second round of the 2012 NBA playoffs, the Clippers were swept by arguably the most seasoned “Big Boy” team in the NBA, the San Antonio Spurs.

The Memphis Grizzlies, came oh so, close to realizing a second round milestone for their organization but they lost to the Clippers in the 1st round of the 2012 NBA Playoff. Despite the loss Memphis did gain some valuable experience that would motivate them going into their 2012-2013 NBA regular season.

The Los Angeles Lakers have hit the ground hard various times throughout their 2012-2013 season. The team went 0-8 during the preseason. Early in the season, the Lakers fired their head coach Mike Brown for lack of team production and progress?  Many fans were then upset when the Lakers’ management appeared to have snubbed fan favorite Phil Jackson. Jackson had given some indication that he would consider returning to the Lakers. No returned phone call to Phil Jackson and the rest is history. Basketball fans observed as the Lakers hit the ground hard when they passed on their former head coach Phil Jackson.  Mike D’Antoni was selected as the Lakers new head coach. “Bah Humbug” many Lakers fans cried.

On Sunday, April 7th, The Los Angeles Lakers lost their regular season, round four “Thriller In Manila” bout to the much improved, “Lob City” Los Angeles Clippers 109-95. The Clippers swept the Lakers all four regular season games.

The Lakers are fighting for their very playoff lives. They are on a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 countdown, must win, playoff like games to secure the last playoff spot available in the Western Conference playoff race, maybe? The Utah Jazz is also in the hunt for the last playoff spot. If there is a tie at the end of the season between the Jazz and the Lakers, the Jazz will win the tie-breaker, because they have more wins against the Lakers during the regular season.

The loss to the Clippers on Sunday hurt the Lakers as every game down the home stretch is monumental and can easily decide their fate regarding making the playoffs. The Los Angeles Lakers kept hope alive last night as they beat the New Orleans Hornets 104-96 taking care of # 5 in the countdown run. The Oklahoma City Thunder helped the Lakers out by beating the Utah Jazz the same night as the Lakers victory.

While men’s college basketball is in a state of parity, in some measures do to the lack of consistent execution of the fundamentals and style of play, credit is to be given to the four teams who have made it to the NCAA “Final Four”. Louisville, Syracuse, Michigan and Wichita State have endured all adversaries, taken on all comers and positioned themselves as one the four best of the rest with the hope of ultimately wearing the crown of the best of the best, NCAA national champions.

March Madness 2013 was everything many college basketball fans wanted, the opportunity to cheer for their team, or the underdog, while trying to predict which powerhouse teams would win games and potentially win it all.   

The fact that so many NCAA underdog teams had success in their conference tournaments that paved the way for their NCAA tournament  appearance is a testimony to the parity in the men’s college game.