Bits n Pieces
Of all the player acquisitions made by the Lakers thus far Carlos Boozer is the only one I question. Boozer affirmed the concern I thought about in his introductory press conference. He said; “I’d like to play 5 or 6 more years.” That length of time will delay the development of Julius Randle.
Speaking of Los Angeles the Clippers Chris Paul claims he will sit-out the season should Donald Sterling remain owner of the Clippers. All the legal efforts have been made by the NBA ownership will change. It might not occur in the time Paul thinks appropriate but it will occur. If Paul should follow through on his threat it will only provide Sterling the opportunity to file another law suit.
It will be a father versus son match when it occurs, Louisville’s Rick Pitino facing Minnesota’s Richard Pitino. The two schools are attempting to schedule a home and home series which likely will occur in 2015-16. Should we guess wife and mother will switch sides at half-time?
What in the world is going on with SMU basketball, the number two prospect in 2014 Emmanuel Mudiay changed his mind and decided to play in China professionally. Now 6-5 shooting guard Matt McQuaid who committed in May has de-committed. McQuaid was rated the number 87 prospect in the Class of 2015. There were a number of offers on the table for McQuaid before he chose SMU.
Interesting comment by Carmelo Anthony; “It was not the money, but instead his confidence in team president Phil Jackson and his belief that the New York Knicks “aren’t that far away from contending for an NBA title.” It’s always been my belief anytime someone says; “it’s not about the money” it usually is.
The Lakers finally hired a coach, over the weekend Byron Scott signed a 4-year
contract. I remember back to the Mike Brown hire and I can admit I was uncomfortable with the decision. Unlike with Brown I was extremely uncomfortable with the Lakers hiring Mike D’Antoni. Of course my main reason Phil Jackson indicated a desire to return as coach. Unlike the two previous hires (Brown & D’Antoni) the Scott hire causes me to leap in the air. Scott’s Laker team will compete and play defense.
Andrew Wiggins
A member of the media pointed this out and I will relay it to you. He said; “Wiggins should actually be starting his freshman year in college.” I along with a number of other folks had forgotten Wiggins reclassified and “moved up” his high school graduation by one year. He’s just a kid still learning the game I believe it would be a huge mistake for the Cavs to trade him. On Thursday he signed his Cavs contract he cannot be traded for the next 30 days.
Is gaining weight important?
We’ve heard “player A needs to gain weight” in order to play competitively in the NBA. Debate rages if this observation is correct. Reggie Miller no heavyweight himself said “when I arrived in the NBA I weighed 178 pounds,” on Miller’s 6-7 inch frame that weight compared to height is considered slight on almost anyone. This discussion occurred while Miller and play by play announcer Joel Meyers were discussing Cavs guard Andrew Wiggins (6-8 200 pounds).
Miller further stated; “A player needs to become stronger and not necessarily in the weight area.” Wiggins was matched against the Bucks Jabari Parker (240 pounds) on the block. Parker backed Wiggins down and then drove right around him to lay up the ball. Brandon Jennings of the Pistons might be considered too. It’s unlikely the diminutive Piston guard weighs the 169 pounds the roster indicates. Jennings seems to have carved out an NBA career without significant weight gain. A downside to weight gain it can sometimes impact a players speed.
Is he headed overseas too?
5-star Rivals prospect Skal Labissiere may follow Emmanuel Mudiay. For those unfamiliar with the name Labissiere is a 6-11 215 pound center and rated the number 14 prospect in the Class of 2015. He’s from Cordova Tennessee in the Memphis Metro area. Labissiere was born in Haiti but arrived in the U.S. after the devastating earthquake suffered by that nation. A number of schools across the country have offered scholarships to the talented young man. Wonder if pondering a move overseas might be influenced by the recent actions of Mudiay?
