Basketball from a fans perspective
I hate that guy!
IF Roy Williams Carolina team wins the whole thing next Monday the criticism will rain down like hailstones. Celebrations will occur from coast to coast except in the 34th state admitted to the union. Okay I got carried away there will be celebrating in North Carolina however the balance of the nation might simply say; “Okay.” The only doom and gloom in the country will be several folks in the 34th state of the union. For those who might be American History challenged I will save you from researching the question the 34th state admitted to the union would be Kansas.
I’m unsure which is the most hated in the Sunflower State Mizzou basketball or Roy Williams. As for the coach Kansas fans still detest him for leaving their storied basketball program for Carolina. To top it all despite turning out numerous successful teams at Kansas Williams was never able to “reach the peak of the mountain.” Once he returned to his alma mater his Carolina team was crowned NCAA Champions in his second year (2005); in 2009 his Carolina team was able to win a second championship. This is written a week in advance Carolina might not win---on the other hand?
The headline
The website Lakers Nation ran a headline from Hall of Fame Laker Jamal Wilkes; “Kobe Bryant’s Farewell Tour Has Been A Distraction For Lakers.” I remember back to his retirement announcement I shared with you I was concerned despite his best effort the former Kobe was no more. It pained me to watch him take shot after shot and miss, I said “He should retire at the All Star” break which didn’t occur. Bottom line the former Kobe has shown up for time to time but has mostly been M.I.A. I didn’t read the Wilkes article just the headline so I have no idea of his thoughts however it appears they are are likely similar to mine. No more evidence is required than the score of the game last night. The Lakers lost by 48 points (123-75) to tie the worst in Laker history, Kobe was 1-11 from the floor with 5 points.
Promise unfulfilled
I just now realized this bit of information; Kwame Brown, Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler all arrived in the NBA from high school the same year. All arrived with high expectations of their potential, Big Young Men who displayed vast potential at the high school level. Of the trio we can state with conviction Chandler is the only one that managed a respectable NBA career. Chandler has played for a number of teams and currently is with the Suns; in addition he’s an NBA Champion. As for the other two their NBA experience was less than impressive to say the least. Brown would become the first choice in the 2001 NBA Draft by the Wizards he would play for seven NBA teams leaving the NBA in 2013.
Brown at 6-11 and 290 pounds would compile a 6.6 per game scoring average and 5.5 rebounds during his NBA career. Eddy Curry all 7-feet 290 pounds was expected to dominate, he was the fourth pick in the 2001 draft. After being chosen by the Bulls he managed to play for three other NBA teams before concluding his career in 2013 while playing in China. Curry left the NBA with a 12.9 point and 5.2 rebounds a game average. Chandler would become the second pick in the first round of the 2001 draft. Although he too played for a number of teams he became a defensive specialist with a limited offensive game. Defensive Player of the Year (2012), All Defensive First Team (2013), All Defensive Second Team (2011, 2012). Naturally there is no one reason for the checkered careers of Brown and Curry.
I don’t buy it
A former coach whom I respect made a comment regarding this year’s crop of seniors. He said; “If they were any good they would have left after their freshman year.” That’s bothersome on several levels, are we encouraging the number of one and done players? The additional story is maturity in years and basketball skill. I will provide you proof; Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram are both considered the top two players in the 2016 draft. Right behind them might be Buddy Hield, Denzel Valentine or Kris Dunn check out their frosh numbers.
Hield scored at 7.8 points per game clip as for Valentine his scoring was even lower 5.0 points and 4.1 rebounds. As for Dunn coming off a June surgery he didn’t play until late December however in 25 games his numbers were 5.7 points ppg. I have no way to determine the thought process of each teams coaching staff, perhaps the players themselves may have had doubts of their ability. We sometimes fail to realize the leap from big time high school basketball to Division I basketball is about 25,000 miles per hour.
