Basketball from a fans perspective.   

Headed for the NBA

Word came late Monday afternoon Michael Porter Jr. of Mizzou announced he was leaving school for the NBA.  I just wonder what the season might have been if MPJ had played more than three games.  In any event I’m sad and happy at the same time, he’s a lottery pick and will hear Commissioner Adam Silver step to the podium and say: “With the _____ pick in the 2018 draft the _______ select Michael Porter Jr. from the University of Missouri.”  This selection will be somewhere between 3 and 7.  Ohio State junior Keita Bates-Diop is passing on his senior year.  The Big 10 Player of the Year is a 6-foot 7-inch small forward.  NBADraft.net has Bates-Diop as a second-round draft choice while Tankathon.com lists him as a first round pick. 

“Trust the process”  

The above headline became a refrain for Sixer fans although many had difficulty with it.  Have you heard the adage about “Patience being a virtue”?  It is a virtue because I’m one who is not very patient with issues that directly affect my life.  As for my basketball teams that’s a different matter.   Mizzou has turned the corner and I believe headed toward bigger and better times, the Lakers are making progress, but they are still below .500.  I suffered in both instances but certainly unlike Sixer fans, the team would lose and gain a high draft pick who wouldn’t or couldn’t play.  The Sixers have finally turned that corner, they will make the playoffs for the first time in six seasons. 

They will not be odds on favorite to win an NBA championship this season, there is a “minefield” of Raptors, Cavs and Celtics in front of them.  We don’t know if Markelle Fultz can play at a high skill level but even that’s no deep concern.  In the 2018 draft the Sixers have the 10^th and 23^rd pick in the first round and in the second round they have the 36, 39, 53 and 60^th pick.  As I may have indicated earlier they are not going to add six athletes to their roster it’s likely a number might be traded for a veteran presence.  Whoever originated the term “Trust the process” probably didn't believe it would take this long, the Sixers should be considered a genuine playoff threat into the future.   

“Make him them an offer he they can’t refuse”

Cuonzo Martin is not assuming the Marlon Brando role in the movie classic The Godfather; however, he did make two offers.  One of the athletes had been on Mizzou’s radar in the past the other dropped out of the sky relatively speaking.  Earlier this month Mark Smith announced he was leaving Illinois, I didn’t read the headline just the fact Mr. Basketball for Illinois is gone.  Smith a former Rivals 4-star prospect last season was highly recruited by Mizzou’s Martin. 

The 6-foot 4-inch shooting guard has yet to decide where he is headed however the Mizzou faithful find this very interesting.  The initial information indicates Smith would be forced to sit out the 2018-19 season, but it’s clear Martin must believe he’s worth it.  Blake Hinson a 6-foot 6-inch 230-pound power forward also received an offer from Mizzou.  Hinson attends Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire (KS) the school that produced Buddy Hield.  I say “he dropped in out of the sky” because unlike Smith this prospect was not known to be on Mizzou’s radar.    

Looking at him

I think numerous Russell Westbrook fans imagine I don’t like the guy, that is not the case.  I just happen to believe he’s never adequately merged his talent with those of his teammates past and present.  What about the present, the Thunder added two NBA All-Stars Carmelo Anthony and Paul George this season.  There were “bumps” in the road early attempting to merge three outstanding talents which is understandable.  We are near the end of March and the Thunder have 7 games remaining, they will make the playoffs but how far will they advance? They must win 4 games to surpass last season’s won-loss record despite adding Anthony and George to the lineup.  I don't wish to refer to Westbrook as the issue but its difficult to not see him as the problem.   

Number 10

Sixer Ben Simmons recorded his 10^th triple-double Saturday evening against the Wolves firmly establishing his name in the record books.  15 points, 12 rebounds and 13 assists while shooting .556 from the floor, he led the way to a 120 to 108 victory over the Wolves.  Simmons does everything well on the basketball court except shoot jump shots and free-throws.  Both of those shortcomings will likely be summer school lessons as he enhances his game.  One publication claimed Donovan Mitchell of the Jazz was moving up, as I've stated previously Mitchell is a talent however Simmons is clearly the 2018 Rookie of the Year.