Basketball from a fans perspective
Bulletin….Bulletin….Bulletin
We interrupt your regular read of Words eye view to report this breaking news. In a shocking and surprising move late Sunday evening Ben Simmons announced he was leaving LSU and declaring for the NBA Draft. Excuse me for poking fun at this issue and Simmons. I seriously doubt there were many folks who believed this youngster would return to LSU for his sophomore year.
Is he going or staying?
Carmelo Anthony wanted NYC, NYC wanted Carmelo. After five years is the honeymoon over between him and the Knicks? Until recently the Knicks were playing better basketball however they are light years from an NBA Championship. Melo signed a 5-year contract in 2014 he’s not close to being a free-agent on the other hand the Knicks could choose to trade him. In fairness to Melo the struggles of the Knicks are not all his fault it seems the team has reversed direction since his arrival.
Winning 36 games his first year they improved to a 54-28 season the following year followed by 37-45 and last years 17-65. There have been coaching changes, replacement general managers and roster changes in Carmelo’s five years. There have been accusations Melo is a selfish player but that fails to provide the big picture. He wants to win a championship at age 31 time is running out for his quest. Melo’s must come to a decision soon which is more important remaining in NYC or asking for a trade to a contender.
Decisions, decisions
Do you remember the account Emmanuel Mudiay was signed, seal and delivered to the SMU Mustangs. He was to tutor under Coach Larry Brown and learn the ins and outs of playing the point. Mudiay at 6-5 and 200 pounds certainly had the size but there were questions. Somewhere on the way to SMU Mudiay changed his mind and decided instead to play for a pro team in China. He returned to the U.S. in early spring 2015 and began training and preparation for the draft.
Mudiay made his rounds working out for a number of teams my Lakers being one of them. Draft night the Nuggets made Mudiay the number seven pick in the first round. The Nuggets are still in the rebuilding mode however Mudiay certainly is considered a “building block” of the program. His numbers 12.1 points 5.8 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game. There are only two areas which must be improved in order to raise his game to a premier level. His field goal and free-throw shooting could stand improvement which we can believe will be improved next season.
Bits n Pieces
The late Red Auerbach former coach and general manager was Celtic green. Well not quite, did you realize he was associated with two other teams before his long association with the Celtics? Auerbach coached the Washington Capitols not to be confused with today’s NHL team. The Caps operated from 1946-1951 and then went out of business, Auerbach coached the team from its beginning through 1949. Auerbach next coached the Tri-City Blackhawks (fore runner of today’s Atlanta Hawks) the 1949-50 season. He would move to the Celtics for the 1950-51 season beginning the long association with the Green.
I just read the headline so I can offer you no basis for the forecast. Charles Barkley, “The mouth that roared” has done it again. Barkley has ventured onto that narrow shaky tree branch, he’s gone on record. “The Warriors will not win the 2016 NBA Championship.”
Mizzou had a terrible record last year; this year was a duplicate of the previous one. There was at least one bright spot forward Kevin Puryear. The 6-7 236 pound forward was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team. Be careful who you listen to, I informed you earlier about the Puryear story I’d heard. Puryear is from Blue Springs a Kansas City suburb; an acquaintance told me “I’m not too impressed with his game.” Two issues, how many times did he see the youngster play? Second the guy is a Kansas fan should I take his word on the potential talent of a player?
