Basketball from a
fans perspective
Convince me
It’s a done deal, Kawhi Leonard is now a member of the Raptors. Now the difficult part begins, the part that convinces him the city, fans and culture are worthy of an extension. Who do we call on first, how about the Raptors number one celebrity fan Drake, that might work. We could ask comedian/actress Samantha Bee yes, she could be included in the group. Funny man Jim Carrey might work if he was still funny, how about R&B artist Melanie Fiona in the group.
This is an attempt to inject
humor into a serious situation. The
Raptors will not fall apart if Kawhi leaves however DeMar DeRozen might say,
“See you should have kept me.” Most
important in all the names mentioned is Masai Ujiri president of the Raptors. All the celebrities including number one fan
Drake can cut no deals or sign not one check.
Ujiri is the key to whether Kawhi remains in Toronto or heads to the
Lakers in 2020.
Limited his scoring
We know Michael Jordan was prolific at scoring the basketball, it wasn’t his role at North Carolina. There was a saying once he reached the NBA, “Who was the only guy to hold Michael Jordan under 20 points?” The correct answer is Dean Smith his coach at North Carolina. There is a high degree of probability Jordan was adhering to the team’s offense that limited his scoring.
Limited his scoring
We know Michael Jordan was prolific at scoring the basketball, it wasn’t his role at North Carolina. There was a saying once he reached the NBA, “Who was the only guy to hold Michael Jordan under 20 points?” The correct answer is Dean Smith his coach at North Carolina. There is a high degree of probability Jordan was adhering to the team’s offense that limited his scoring.
We might make the same
statement about Laker rookie Svi Mykhailiuk, it’s only summer league however
his scoring has been far above the level most of us expected. Perhaps it was the same scenario his limited
scoring was an adaption to Bill Self’s offense, we shall see once the regular
season begins. Please note I have no
illusions Svi is going to turn into the next Michael Jordan, his offense has
blossomed at the NBA level.
I’m glad you ask me…….
How many knuckleheads can you have on one team? That question cannot be answered until the season begins. The Lakers might appear to be over the quota or I could be mistaken. My point is only based on past performances which is really the only method we must make a call. They remain in the NBA because they can play outstanding at times, character issues have witnessed them moving from team to team. Let’s begin with Lance Stephenson, the Lakers become only his second team. We’ll adopt a wait and see attitude with him, as for the others we must do the same really.
I’m glad you ask me…….
How many knuckleheads can you have on one team? That question cannot be answered until the season begins. The Lakers might appear to be over the quota or I could be mistaken. My point is only based on past performances which is really the only method we must make a call. They remain in the NBA because they can play outstanding at times, character issues have witnessed them moving from team to team. Let’s begin with Lance Stephenson, the Lakers become only his second team. We’ll adopt a wait and see attitude with him, as for the others we must do the same really.
The Lakers become team
number 6 for Rajon Rondo, he never could shoot but his 8.2 assists were 4th
in the league and he was in the top half of the NBA in steals. Will Rondo adapt to a reserve role is the
question. Power forward Michael Beasley
could walk into a gym without warming up and sink 9 baskets out of 12
shots. Shooting has never been his issue
as the Lakers become team number 7 for him.
Beasley has been noted for playing “matador” defense at times, the 15
points Beasley scores off the bench are no plus when his guy scores 20. So, there you have it, the Lakers have three
players on the roster who are “like a box of chocolates, you never know what
you are gonna get.”
It ain’t over till it’s over
The bomb that was supposed to be dropped on college basketball has turned into a dud. Sure, the FBI/Justice Department investigation is on-going but exactly what’s the outcome to date? A small number of players have been declared ineligible, that same number of assistant coaches have either been terminated or in the case of Chuck Person arrested. Subpoenas have been served at Maryland and Kansas we are yet to hear the outcome there. Louisville fired Rick Pitino but that likely was a culmination of past events on top of this latest investigation. Whispers about Sean Miller at Arizona paying DeAndre Ayton’s family but to date nothing has been proven.
It ain’t over till it’s over
The bomb that was supposed to be dropped on college basketball has turned into a dud. Sure, the FBI/Justice Department investigation is on-going but exactly what’s the outcome to date? A small number of players have been declared ineligible, that same number of assistant coaches have either been terminated or in the case of Chuck Person arrested. Subpoenas have been served at Maryland and Kansas we are yet to hear the outcome there. Louisville fired Rick Pitino but that likely was a culmination of past events on top of this latest investigation. Whispers about Sean Miller at Arizona paying DeAndre Ayton’s family but to date nothing has been proven.
I love the college game as
much as the NBA, I didn’t fall off the turnip truck yesterday. I’ve known for years beneath the underbelly
improprieties occur and will perhaps continue.
I question in our appetite for a story media might be guilty of embellishment
and it’s not what we might first be led to believe? Don’t get me wrong if there is evidence of
wrongdoing please correct it. In
conclusion this is not over, maybe there is a smoking gun somewhere. Thus far the evidence is not contained in
what we seen thus far. One additional
note, the specter of legalized gambling truly concerns many. History indicates it is far easier for a
point guard to shave points than an NFL quarterback.
