Basketball from a fans perspective
It’s not me alone
Regular readers of Words eye view will remember a story published on August 3. It was titled ’Can he shot’ and there was a brief account of Zion Williamson the latest high school phenom. The 6-7 230 pound Williamson is the number three Rivals prospect in the Class of 2018. It’s not only Larry Laker questioning the overall game of Williamson later I read a similar story in ballislife.com. Before you begin screaming NO, NO the writer of the other article is not questioning the talent of Williamson and neither am I. Williamson’s got to have more of a game than high flying Youtube dunks.
Those of you old enough to remember LeBron James play in high school and his first years in the NBA reflect on this. He was a high wire act with his thrilling dunks but didn’t have much of a game 15 or so feet from the basket. Since that time NBA LeBron has managed to gain a reliable jumper from distance. He’s not a great shooter from distance but certainly much better than his early years. That could be the case for Williamson, maybe someone who is creditable in his eyes pulls him aside. Whoever that person might be will explain to him he needs more than dunks in his arsenal.
Cleveland and Denver in the NBA
The Cavs were an expansion team that came into the NBA in 1970. I didn’t realize until I began a research project Cleveland was in the league prior to 1970. The Cleveland Rebels were an inaugural franchise in the Basketball Association of America (forerunner of the NBA) in the 1946-47 season. That first Denver team finished with a .500 record 30-30 and third place in the Western Division. The Rebels made the playoffs but lost to the Knicks. They went out of business after the one season and there is no further explanation.
The Nuggets were playing basketball before the 1967 when they came into the ABA as the Larks. Later the team name was changed to the Rockets and then Nuggets in 1974. The Denver franchise played as the Nuggets in 1938-40 but that was not in the early NBA. In 1948-49 the Nuggets joined the National Basketball League and the following year joined the NBA. The Nuggets finished the 1949-50 season with an 11-51 won-loss record they would disband at the end of the season. Much later you will discover additional information on the early NBA.
I’m not buying it
This is interesting; ESPN.com’s NBA page took a glance at the 2017-18 crop of rookies. They chose the Lakers Lonzo Ball by a significant margin over Dennis Smith Jr. of the Mavs. There is no doubt Lonzo Ball demonstrated outstanding NBA Summer League play I mentioned how impressed I was. At the same time I also pointed out Ball’s was facing rookies and second year players, what occurs when he faces the Big Boys?
Ball will have one advantage over a number of rookies including Kobe Bryant. He’s going to ‘sink or swim’ because he will be in the starting lineup day one and is likely to play major minutes. As for the polls we understand them they are not always accurate they are intended to spur conversation and this one certainly will. As a Laker fan I want Ball to play the best he can however I’m not setting my hopes too high.
“The smoke has cleared”
On paper the Celtics appear ready to challenge the Cavs for dominance in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics were wheeling and dealing this summer with the draft, free-agency and trades. When the Celtics break training camp the lineup might be different from below but could be close. It appears this lineup can score as well as defend.
Isaiah Thomas-point guard
Gordon Hayward-shooting guard
Jae Crowder-small forward
Marcus Morris-power forward
Al Horford-center
Can Hayward make a successful conversion to the shooting guard is the first question. We might question the remainder of the roster which appears somewhat thin and lacking odds and ends. Despite what might appear to be negatives the Celtics won the east minus additions Hayward and Morris. Will rookie Jayson Tatum and second year man Jaylen Brown have break out years? After all the off-season moves and the smoke have cleared the Celtics appear to be an improved team over last season.
