Basketball from a fans perspective
Change coming
I’d mentioned this earlier, beginning May 29 Words eye view will return to its original format. On that date it will become a Monday, Wednesday, Friday publication. Special editions will be published in between time if the news is deemed worthy. My thanks to all of you for continuing to read Words eye view, please refer it to friends and family who enjoy reading about basketball at all levels.
Number 2
Unlike his over the top father Lonzo Ball appears to be a quiet yet talented young man. Will the Lakers make him their first pick next month in the NBA Draft? Only time will tell however I believe the Lakers will have a Laker number 2 jersey available draft night. Fooled you, thought the headline was about Ball being the 2nd pick rather than his jersey number. Ball is a true point guard in the old fashion sense although he‘s not particularly athletic, expectations are high for Laker fans.
Until I read differently its likely D’Angelo Russell will be moved to the off-guard, Ball to the point. Former Mizzou guy Jordan Clarkson will likely be the first reserve off the bench; this is interesting in that Clarkson can play both guard positions. What do I expect in 2017-18 you ask? Last season I wanted 30 wins to prove they were returning to competitive basketball. A late season 5 game winning streak was a key to the Lakers finishing 26-56 a little short of my projection. Is 35 wins a possibility, how about 40 wins, yes that’s it my sights are set on 40?
The w(h)ine and cheese crowd
Everywhere this time and leading into the college season we hear talk. THEY inform us “college basketball is in trouble, one and done athletes are ruining it.” I too am uncomfortable with the numbers who only attend one year to play in the NBA but ruin the game-----I doubt it. More than likely there will be no more undefeated NCAA Championships. Florida was the last team (2006-07) to string together back to back championships another accomplishment we are unlikely to see.
We must travel back to 1972 to see the last back to back NCAA Champion (UCLA) so the tide had begun to change much earlier than the “whine and cheese crowd” acknowledge. There are a number of issues the NCAA needs to address in the future, the body moves in slow motion at times but still has the best interest of the game in mind. Although the championship is a one game match versus a possible seven game NBA series March Madness is extremely popular even with people who don’t consider themselves basketball fans. In closing don’t listen to them they always see the “glass half empty rather than half full.”
Unknown draft prospect
We might hear the name Justin Patton draft night announced, unless you follow Big East Basketball or Creighton University he’s an unknown. Patton is not easy to overlook he stands 7 feet tall and weighs 230 pounds however that’s not always been the case. As a high school freshman he was a spindly 6-2 and even he admits he “couldn’t walk and chew gum at the same time. “ He would become a red-shirt freshman at Creighton.
Last season was enough to convince the Omaha native he was ready for the NBA, 12.9 points and 6.2 rebounds a game. DraftExpress.com and NBADraft.net indicate he will be taken after the lottery selections have been selected. The only downside Patton suffers from the Big Man’s dilemma he‘s a poor free-throw shooter (.517). Patton is the same as numerous other players profiled, this is no indication of future success in the NBA.
