Burlison on Basketball

Frank Burlison | High School Basketball | College Basketball

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On the Clippers-Hornets trade

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Time, of course, will tell – as in do Eric Gordon and Chris Paul sign contract extensions with their new teams, and stay relative healthy – but the Clippers-Hornets trade has the potential to be of the “win-win” variety for both organizations.

Make no mistake about it: The Clippers gave up almost all most all of the commodities they have so patiently accumulated over the past few years under Neil Olshey (Vice President of Basketball Operations) and Andy Roeser (the franchise’s president).

*The Hornets pick up a former all-star in Chris Kaman – if healthy, one of the half dozen or so “true centers” in the sport – as well as the expiring contract of nearly $13 million he brings along.

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Westchester and Santa Monica . . . prep hot spots

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Two of the very best high school hoops tournaments in California are taking place within a few miles of one another right now.

The Trevor Ariza Tip-Off Classic, hosted by Westchester High (7400 West Manchester), and “The Tournament”, hosted by Santa Monica High (601 Pico), hold their semifinals Friday evening.

At Westchester, the championship semifinals feature the host Comets against Gardena Serra at 7 o’clock followed by L.A. Washington and Torrance Bishop Montgomery at 8:30.

At Santa Monica, the semifinals get underway at 6:30 with Mission Hills Alemany against L.A.

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A look at first-week prep standouts

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A belated wrap-up on what I saw during the first week of the “regular” high school basketball season:

  *The Pacific Shores Tournament (at Redondo High/I attended games on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday): It was no surprise that L.A. Loyola and Long Beach Poly reached the final (they were No. 2 and 4 in my preseason SoCal ratings).

I didn’t watched the final but Loyola, after trailing by five points in the first period, built a double-digit advantage late before holding off a Jackrabbits’ rally and winning, 70-65.

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