Basketball from a fans perspective
Published Monday-Friday
Leftovers
My wife gives me the blues generally I don’t like to eat leftovers. If I eat a meal one evening by the second serving I’m looking for something other than the previous night’s meal to eat. This is NBA Draft leftovers; hopefully you will find them appetizing, there are just a few to consume. How about this one number one pick Markelle Fultz was on his junior varsity high school team when a sophomore, he wasn’t good enough to make the varsity. Consider he’s the NBA’s number one draft choice in 2017. ESPN, CBS Sports, NBA TV and other media members please quit interviewing LaVar Ball. It’s Lonzo who is the real story and whether he can play at the NBA level.
I refuse to hear from LaVar should his son have adjustment issues. Did you notice Stephen A. Smith was guarded in his commentary on the Knicks choice of point guard Frank Ntilikina Ntilikina from France? Smith remembers 2011 and the screaming tirade he underwent after the Knicks drafted Porzingis. This draft like any must stand the test of time; it appears very deep in talent. Most teams acquired the players they wanted in this draft. Jimmy Butler arrived via a trade however I believe Wolves fans should be real excited for the future of this franchise.
I’m reading nothing in this news
After Kevin Durant decided to leave the Thunder I've concluded there is no method to determine the destination of a free-agent. It was always belived the home team had the upper hand but not in all instances. I’m not drawing any conclusions just reporting the news. Clipper forward Blake Griffin and guard Chris Paul intend to opt out of their contracts and will test free agency. Both will become unrestricted free-agents July 1 and we shall see how this plays out. Prior to 2010 I would have said no way would LeBron James leave Cleveland. Last year I thought the same story would prevail with Kevin Durant he wouldn’t leave the Thunder.
I love debate
Okay if you prefer basketball arguments because often that’s what they become. You’ve participated or heard discussions of this type. Are the Cavs better than the Warriors or vice-versa I love them, same for Steph versus Westbrook or Paul who is the better point guard. Those arguments match teams and players of the same era, those are valid.
Is Michael better than LeBron or how do the 1991 Bulls championship team stack up against the 2012 Heat champion? For me those are ludicrous discussions no method of proving which player or team is superior. I remember once hearing of a computer program that matched teams of different eras against one another. I don’t really remember the outcome but once again in my opinion it proved nothing.
Summer activity
The NBA Awards are tonight and for the first time ever we have no idea which player will be named MVP. There will be other awards as well, the telecast will be on TNT at 8:00 p.m. Central Time. Up next on the calendar is NBA free-agency which begins July 1, players can begin the process of deciding if they wish to change teams. Next up Summer League play begins. The rosters will be finalized later however the first three weeks of July will be full of basketball. Games will be available on NBA TV if you wish to check out your favorite team on an individual player.
Summer League games will be played in Orlando from July 1-6, the Utah portion July 3-6. The close out portion will be held in Las Vegas and will run from July 7-17. As the calendar changes to August many AAU teams will gather in Las Vegas for play. In early September the enshrinement ceremony will be held for the Class of 2017 inductees at the Naismith Hall of Fame, it will be telecast on NBA TV. Despite what you might believe there is much summer basketball activity from July through September.
