Basketball from a fans perspective
Published Monday through Friday
The “new” LeBron
On Friday I was highly critical of LeBron; my complaint never had anything to do with talent. There was never any question on talent the problem was deferring his game to teammates. I’m sure in youth basketball some coach is informing his team “To pass the basketball.” The game should be played on that basis however there are exceptions and it often appears LeBron is guilty of too much team play at times.
Monday evening I believe we saw a different LeBron, at one point announcer Mike Breen provided his point total but added; “He’s got no assists.” This was a clue LeBron was determined the series was not going to end at least on Monday. Emphasis on his offensive game allowed him to do what he do too i.e. distribute the basketball and rebound. 41 points 16 rebounds and 7 assist on .533 shooting from the floor.
A slight delay
Chinese prospect Zhou Qi is headed to the NBA but not immediately. It’s reported the 7-2 Qi will buy-out his contract with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers however there is a BUT with this update. Qi will be in the 2016 NBA Draft next week however the indication is will not report to the NBA team until 2017. Despite the delay in his arrival there remain benefits to this approach for the team drafting Qi. 1. Qi would have another season of competitive basketball under his belt. 2. There would be additional opportunity for Qi to bulk up his 218 pounds, he‘s rather slight. Qi needs to gain at least another 20 to 25 pounds which would better prepare him for the rigors of the NBA.
I’m with him
Are you a stat geek, if you answered yes then you can explain plus/minus in NBA box scores? Tuesday morning Dan Patrick and crew held a brief discussion on the subject of plus/minus in NBA box scores. Patrick informed his staff; “I don’t pay attention to that stuff.” I can agree plus/minus gives you no creditable information which makes sense.
This is an example from Game Five Klay Thompson scoring 37 points was awarded a -21, Kevin Love with 4 points and 3 rebounds was a +18. You’ve already read LeBron’s number above however it was 41, 16 and 7 and he finished with +13. Kyrie Irving scoring 41 points for the Cavs was +20. This is intended to be a measurement while the player is on the floor, as I stated at the beginning I agree with Patrick. Klay Thompson’s shooting kept the Warriors in the game was it his fault the entire Warrior defense fell apart?
Where is he now?
In the category of where is he now the name Andrew Bynum, you remember him don’t you? He was one of the last high school players to arrive in the NBA prior to the policy change; Bynum was made the 10th pick in the 2005 draft by the Lakers. The youngster had talent it was just a matter of time for the 7 foot 285 pound prodigy adjusted his game to the NBA. Bynum’s third year would be a break-out year for him, 13 points 10 rebounds and 2 blocks a game in 35 games 25 of which he was the starter. Bynum’s last year with the Lakers would be his best all around 18 points and 12 rebounds a game. By this time Mike Brown had replaced Phil Jackson, Bynum and Brown waged psychological warfare with one another all season long.
In August 2012 Bynum was traded to the 76ers and that’s when his career really headed south. He never played for Philadelphia although he remained on the roster. 2013 witnessed him signing with the Cavs less than a year later he was traded to the Bulls who would later waive him. February 2014 he signed with the Pacers but that would only result in him playing two games. He’s been out of the NBA since that time; in any event he was spotted in the stands during the Warriors-Cavs series blond hair and all. So much promise curtailed by injury and sometimes knuckleheaded attitude on his part. With all the “baggage” in his past he’s still only 28 years old but the NBA is likely in the rear-view mirror for this one time talent.
