Basketball from a fans perspective
Time and placement
You witness Gordon Hayward at Butler and say; “He’s a good college player.” As a fan we often cannot see the talent that might be hidden, in addition we might be guilty of stereotyping his ability “he’s slow a foot” or worst yet we “White boy good shooter in college as for the NBA that’s a different story” they whomever they are have been proven wrong on all accounts. Hayward now in season six with the Jazz and it’s his best to date; he’s scoring career numbers for his team. The 6-8 forward averaged a modest 14.4 points per game at Butler, isn’t that the school Rick Stevens once coached? That’s an affirmative Hayward played for Stevens now the Celtics coach.
He was made the 9th pick in the first round of the 2010 draft by the Jazz. As for the time and placement headline, it’s my belief the time was ripe for him to make an impact and placement was good with the Jazz. If he’d been drafted by any other team he might not have been given the opportunity to grow his game. As for the third component we had no idea of his talent level, it could be the system or he’s just this good. Hayward is scoring at a 24 point per game in leading the Jazz this year. His scoring totals have risen each year in the NBA so we have no idea at this point of his limit, this we do know he can play.
Bits n Pieces
A win is a win is a win, does it really matter if it occurred against a Division II school? Only in the instance of qualification for the NCAA Tournament might it come into play besides the fact other Division I programs schedule Division II foes. UMKC beat Arkansas Monticello 97-82 on Friday; it should be noted 5-8 150 pound Xavier Bishop came off the UMKC bench scoring 17 points. LaVell Boyd led the way scoring a team-high 21 points, Martez Harrison team leader in scoring was held to 13 points.
He was number six and no doubt the best ever. Kevin Martin retired the other day; no worries if the name fails to register with you few NBA fans know his name. Martin drafted from Western Carolina after a 12 year career spent 6 years of it with the Kings who drafted him. Don’t expect the Naismith or College Hall of Fame to come a calling they want. Martin was a steady 17 ppg scorer over the course of his career a 6-7 shooting guard we never heard a word of controversy surround him. I wasn’t sure if Western Carolina had ever sent a player into the NBA they have, there have been five before Martin but there is no argument he is the finest.
During a time-out in the Bucks-Raptors game Thon Maker was spotted in the huddle. I’d mentioned the other day the former high school phenom is receiving 0 playing time. I’m gonna play coach at this point; realizing the jump from high school to the NBA he’s not ready yet. Why don’t the Bucks send him to their D-League affiliate to allow him playing time? Maker is certainly not going to learn how to play in the NBA sitting on his butt.
After facing the Thunder and then the Warriors twice in 72 hours home and away the NBA schedule hasn’t been kind to my Lakers. The next four games don’t prove any easier, Atlanta, New Orleans, Chicago and Toronto are formidable advisories. It’s better to face these teams than the Sixers, Mavs or Nets all non-playoff teams.
WGN-TV
Every year I fail to mention Chicago’s WGN-TV telecasts Bulls Basketball and has done so for a number of years. For the 2016-17 season the network will have 29 games available for viewers, most cable and satellite systems carry WGN-TV so there you go. ESPN/ABC TV, Turner Sports, Fox Sports and WGN have the NBA covered from start to finish.
