There is a distinction between lack of talent and lack of effort!
-------Larry Laker

What you see might not be what you get
Sportswriter Bill Rhoden made a comment on ESPN’s Sports Reporters I think we should all consider. He was referencing Syracuse athletics particularly basketball and Jim Boeheim. Rhoden focused on the fact Boeheim was a member of the Hall of Fame. Consider athletes must wait a minimum of five years before they become eligible for the hall on the other hand several coaches have been honored while still actively coaching. Improprieties can and do occur at any point in life we cannot choose the place nor the time.

Due to the NCAA report and length of time it’s difficult to defend Boeheim or anyone else with a HOF resume. In this socially conscious age it’s difficult to hide anything from public scrutiny. As for the past we have no reading on HOF baseball players of the ‘30’s; we don’t even have an idea on players of the ‘50’s these were a different age. This is the voice in the wilderness crying for change. There will be no modification to the voting process however don’t be shocked or even surprised when Syracuse type stories are exposed.

Speculation
It is far easier for me to speculate on draft choices versus free agents. Its clear free agents can (and often) play one team against another so I will leave that to the experts. As for the 2015 draft I’m all over the map regarding the Lakers. The interior defense would be aided by defensive minded Willie Cauley Stein from Kentucky. His teammate 7-foot Karl Anthony Towns would add offensive punch to a weak Laker frontcourt, 6-11 Myles Turner from Texas also appears to be a talent. Small forward Kelly Oubre Jr’s stock has risen significantly since the beginning of the season. After little play early on the 6-7 Oubre moved into the starting lineup for Kansas and has been one of their best players.

Another talent is Duke’s Justise Winslow this 6-6 small forward has distinguished himself despite being a freshman too. As for the backcourt 6-5 180 pound shooting guard/point guard D’Angelo Russell from Ohio State may be available. Emmanuel Mudiay also a 6-5 guard might also be available, he‘s playing in China at present. It’s likely the very best college player will be chosen ahead of the Laker pick, I’m referring to 6-11 270 pound Jahlil Okafor. As for Euro athletes there is Kristaps Porzingis 7 footer from Lativa who should also be a first round pick. Also 6-8 200 pound shooting guard/small forward Mario Hezonja might be the choice. With the exception of Cauley Stein (junior) Mudiay (China) and the Euro prospects all are freshman, it says to us youth continues to be served.

Free throw------FREE
My wife does not share my passion for basketball which is okay, most of the time we share very little related to the game, 99% of the time we are not in the same room viewing a game. On those rare occasions we are in the same room she chastises me for fussing at players who miss free throws. Mizzou having a poor season would have one more win had guard Wes Clark hit two critical free throws. I informed my wife “There is no excuse for anybody to shoot lower than 80%.” I thought for a moment and corrected myself; “maybe at least 75%.” Think a moment, how many times have you seen your favorite team or a player especially at the college level miss a vital free-throw. We cannot just look at that missed free throw and claim that’s why my team was a loser.

The free-throw problems of Shaquille O’Neal are the stuff of legend. Rajon Rondo is fast approaching Shaq on the free-throw line. This is rare; for the most part backcourt players are usually superior at the line in comparison to frontcourt players. Rondo is becoming the exception to the rule. Today’s players are better conditioned and better trained all except at the free-throw line. I mentioned this story previously. Bud Lathrop a long-tenured local high school coach was interviewed on the subject. Lathrop said; “When we finished running drills and I allowed my team to free-lance a significant number would be shooting from the 3-point line. Rarely would anyone be at the free-throw line shooting.”

“Where number one”
That chant is age old; college teams have yelled the refrain for years at games. The same college team voted number one in pre-season is the same one at the end of the regular basketball season. I didn’t bother with checking the weeks between the pre-season poll and week 18 (last one). Its likely Kentucky was number one weeks two through 17 anyway. This is certainly not the first time a team has accomplished the feat of being number one and ending the season in the same slot. UCLA during the Alcindor/Walton and Wilkes era must have accomplished a similar feat. I checked last years poll and surprisingly Wichita State finished the regular season 31-0 but finished in second place. Bet you can't guess who was number one in the 2013-14 pre-season polls?  I will save you it's the Kentucky Wildcats, a name and team you are familiar with.