Basketball from a fans perspective
Published Monday through Friday
Notes from the draft
The world was sure Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram would be at the top of the draft. Who would be drafted was not established until early in the week when the 76ers announced Simmons as their choice. The consolation prize would become Ingram from the second pick on the remainder of the draft would be a mystery. The players were not a mystery just where they might be picked. The Celtics chose Dragan Bender in the “Kristaps Porzingis” position the fourth pick.
Host Jay Bilas said; “Jakob Poeltil is the best Austrian import since the Von Trapp family.” Hint the movie Sound of Music look it up. The Bucks shocked everyone making Thon Maker the 10th pick in the first round. Most mocks had Maker a late first or early second round choice. Buddy Hield asked what he was going to do; “Put money in church and buy mom a house.” The fifth pick guard Kris Dunn of Providence joins his teammate and cousin Karl-AnthonyTowns with the Wolves. The Lakers surprised me with their second round pick. 7-1 265 pound center Ivica Zubac from Croatia was the choice, I have no information on the 19-year old. As I uncover a player profile it will be passed on.
He gets the big bucks
Several of you might be upset reading last weeks Words eye view; I had a laugh on Stephen A. Smith and his “accurate” forecasting. You remember the story Smith was 0-6 in picking an NBA champion. He just keeps on moving with no acknowledgment he’s incorrect. I believe it might work better for the reporter if he just quit trying to predict the outcome of sports events. By the way he also predicted the Mets would beat the Royals in last seasons World Series. He’s not any better at forecasting baseball as he is basketball the difference he claims to know basketball.
One and done
It’s now 10-years since the NBA implemented a policy mandating high school players were no longer eligible for the draft. A player must be one-year removed from high school graduation and 19-years old. ESPN’s Jay Bilas did excellent discussing the issue (see his interview), there is only one point I can add to his commentary. During one portion he said; “If a school doesn’t want one and done players don’t recruit them” which is easier said than done. I cannot verify this account but I read Tubby Smith was “asked” to leave Kentucky. His teams never won less than 22 games in his 10-years however it was reported Smith refused to recruit players he believed were one and done.
Pioneer
I wrote of Earl Lloyd awhile back, it might be important for new readers to become familiar with this pioneer of the game. The late Earl Lloyd died in February 2015 at the age of 86. He was as important to the NBA as Jackie Robinson was to Major League Baseball. Although he along with two others would become the first black players in the NBA Lloyd was actually the first. It was strictly a coincidence Lloyd would play the first game. The Washington Capitols had a game scheduled prior to Chuck Cooper, Nathaniel Clifton and Hank DeZonie taking the floor.
October 31, 1950 Lloyd’s made his debut against the Rochester Royals. The Capitols franchise would fold and Lloyd was drafted into the U.S. Army. The Syracuse Nationals (today’s 76er franchise) would pick up Lloyd after he left military service. He concluded his career as a member of the Detroit Pistons in 1960. Lloyd was Piston head coach in the 1971-72 season. In 2003 Lloyd was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame.
