Basketball from a fans perspective
Beginning tomorrow
Monday May 16 Words eye view returns to a Monday, Wednesday, Friday format. NBA coaching positions to be filled, NBA Championship to be decided the draft and Summer League. The news is always slower at the amateur level but will be covered. If you enjoy reading Words thank you.
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Wunderkind Thon Maker will not participate in any 5 on 5 drills at the NBA Draft Combine, think what that’s all about. The move is certainly the prerogative of his agent but it causes us to speculate. If Maker is attempting to prove he belongs in the NBA wouldn’t he be willing to demonstrate his talent. On the other hand if there is concern he might not look good against college level competition. How are GM’s and scouts expected to access his talent level without seeing him compete against similar talented athletes? I don’t have a scout’s eye so perhaps Maker can impress in individual workouts for perspective teams.
Speaking of the combine
Reports are Skal Labissiere has impressed early on in the combine. The Haitian youngster had an uneventful freshman year at Kentucky he surprised many by declaring for the NBA draft. This is no declaration of talent just a statement maybe a year playing against top notch competition has allowed his game to develop. He still might be considered a project however he’s got one clear advantage he’s 6-11 and you cannot teach that.
Surprise
Kenny Smith TNT analyst interviewed for the Rockets job. To my knowledge Smith has never exhibited any inclination to move into the coaching ranks. The Jet played the bulk of his NBA career with the Rockets however its television work many recognize since he was first hired in 1998 by Turner Sports. It’s reported Smith has a close relationship with Rockets owner Les Alexander.
The promise
Cheick Diallo 6-9 218 pounds must be sure he’s going to be drafted, there were questions at the time he declared for the NBA draft. His eligibility issue with the NCAA only allowed him to participate in 27 of the 38 games Kansas played. In addition the freshman was a reserve and didn’t start a single game. Checking his numbers he played 7.5 minutes per game 3.0 ppg and 2.5 rebounds hardly numbers that would cause anyone to believe he was ready for the NBA. Diallo will soon hire an agent and the point of no return will have been crossed. I hope this youngster and others are receiving sound advice. Often the athletes are guided by parties with dollar signs in their eyes.
He’s skinny
190 pounds is no light-weight but if you are a legitimate 6-11 it screams skinny very loudly. The youngsters name is Bol Bol and if the last night sounds familiar it should. His dad the late Manute Bol stood 7-7 and had an 11-year NBA career. While Manute was a basketball specialist the younger Bol has an all-around game. In a recent AAU game Bol flicked the ball away from an opposing player picked it up and dribbled the length of the floor in three huge strides. He proceeded to dunk the ball after switching it between his legs while in the air. In August Bol will enter his junior year at Bishop Miege High School located in Roeland Park (KS) a Kansas City suburb. Four schools are on Bol’s short however it appears Kansas is at the top of the list, he attended a Kansas game last fall.
