Basketball from a fans perspective

Battle of the point guards

Up to June 22, 2017 the argument was “Who is the best point guard in the draft?”  Is it Markelle Fultz a former Washington Huskie or Lonzo Ball late of the UCLA Bruins.  Who goes at one was the question up to the point Commissioner Silver stepped to the mic, “With the first pick in the 2017 NBA Draft the Philadelphia 76ers select Markelle Fultz from the University of Washington.”  The second pick was then known, the Lakers would select Lonzo Ball with the second pick. 

Fast forward to Spring 2018 and we find Fultz never arrived, shut down for the season and surgery.  Fultz didn’t play his first regular season game until March 26.  As for Lonzo he played, he was able to effectively distribute the ball and rebound however his shooting from the floor was atrocious.  As the season ends we have questions, can Fultz and Ball be effective in the role cast for them?  Fultz concluded the season shooting .402 from the floor while Ball was .360, both have a journey adjusting to shooting in the NBA.     

I’m embarrassed I’m even writing about this

Kobe Bryant has been inconspicuous since his 2016 retirement; the only exception might be winning an Oscar earlier this year.  For reasons totally unknown to me and probably most of you Percy Robert Miller or Master P. has been feuding with Kobe.  For those who might be unfamiliar with the name this from Wikipedia, "an American rapper, actor, businessman, record producer, philanthropist, and former basketball player."  Today April 10, 2018 Master P. seeks headlines once again.  He tells the story to Bleacher Report “He and Kobe Bryant almost got into a fight, Lamar Odom had to break it up.”  My question, why is this an issue now and why I am wasting your time and mine on something the old folks use to say, “Don’t amount to a hill of beans.”

Say what

I’m no Russell Westbrook fan, allow me to state that upfront, we’ll see on Wednesday if Westbrook has a 16+ rebound game.  We witnessed an accomplishment this past season not duplicated since the 1961-62 season when Oscar Robertson averaged a triple-double for the season.  Westbrook tied the Big O as he wrote his name in the record books.  As for 2017-18 it’s been good from a statistical viewpoint but he’s likely to not have a triple-double season unless. 

In the game Monday night game Westbrook registered 18 rebounds his greatest number to date.   His numbers leading into the seasons concluding game are 25.6 points and 10.1 assists along with 9.9 rebounds a game.  I was unable to see the complete game only highlights, one sequence stood out for me and I only saw it once.  With Thunder players on either side of him they “appeared” to allow Westbrook to snatch the ball off the backboard.  If that once sequence is evidence I’ve got to believe Thunder teammates “moved” out of the way for Westbrook to grab a portion of his 18 rebounds. 

Bits n Pieces

I’m unsure if there is a percentage to apply, as for me I believe a team can win without plentiful recruiting.  Don’t get me wrong the must recruit talent however they must have great coaching to make up for the lack of talent.  The February 2018 ESPN Recruiting Class 1 through 5 is Duke, UCLA, Oregon, Kentucky and LSU.  Unlike last season Mizzou is not listed in the Top 40 (number 44) but no matter.  As an example, West Virginia Coach Huggins never seems to recruit McDonald’s All-Americans, but his teams always compete. 

Ever wonder about revenue for college basketball programs.  Business Insider in their March 17 edition wrote “The 25 schools that make the most money in college basketball.”  There were several surprises, Kansas didn’t make the Top 10 finishing at number 11.  Despite the on-going issues or maybe it could have been a cause Louisville finished in first place.  We think of Alabama and football automatically comes to mind, the Crimson Tide was in the number 20 position. 

Have San Antonio fans seen the last of Kawhi Leonard?  Strange goings on in the Alamo City between Leonard’s agents and Spurs management.  Leonard is not the type of player that’s very open, we really don’t know for sure all we can do is guess.  Leonard’s played only 9 games this season he could be activated for the playoffs…. maybe. 

This is different, Gonzaga’s Rui Hachimura indicates he’s returning to school for his junior year.  NBA scouts have taken note of the 6 foot 8 inch 225 pound small forward however he’s raw.  Although he played the game in his native Japan he’s still requires seasoning.  It’s likely if he continues to progress at the rate he exhibited late in his sophomore year he will submit his name for the 2019 draft.