Basketball from a fans perspective
Inaugural Jr. NBA World Championship games
Team Central (USA) girls team beat Team Europe 68-38 for the first annual 14-U world championship. Central out-quicked and out-shot Europe in this thrilling match which became one-sided in the second half of the match. I stop counting after a graphic indicated Europe had 24 turnovers. The Central team is comprised of girls from Kansas and Missouri who play for KC Prodigy.
Team Central (USA) boys team beat Team Africa & Middle
East in a hard-fought game leading to a 60-50 victory. Team Central was led by Cooper Jackson from
Overland Park (KS) and Taj Manning from Grandview (MO). Manning scored 20 points along with 15
rebounds and 5 blocked shots. Metro
Kansas City should be right proud of the girls and boy’s teams both Jr. NBA
Champions, who says we don’t play basketball here?
He can only do one thing
Stan Van Gundy admits he’s lost for the present time, see the Pistons fired Van Gundy after four seasons, there are no coaching jobs available. As this is written Van Gundy is yet to secure a television job. He’s 59 years old and could retire if he wanted to, that’s what his wife wants. Van Gundy is a winner, in 12 years of coaching with stops at the Heat, Magic and Pistons his teams have won 523 games while losing 384. It’s got to be television for now and maybe a coaching job at some future date.
Stan Van Gundy admits he’s lost for the present time, see the Pistons fired Van Gundy after four seasons, there are no coaching jobs available. As this is written Van Gundy is yet to secure a television job. He’s 59 years old and could retire if he wanted to, that’s what his wife wants. Van Gundy is a winner, in 12 years of coaching with stops at the Heat, Magic and Pistons his teams have won 523 games while losing 384. It’s got to be television for now and maybe a coaching job at some future date.
“The left hand not informing the right hand”
The NCAA decided to make a change, as per usual the NBA was not consulted. This is not the NBA’s alone, but they could have been given a heads up. There is more detail however athletes will be allowed to participate in the Draft Combine and be eligible for the draft. If not selected in the draft they can return to college. The next portion is a little difficult to determine but here goes. “Elite” players be they in high school or college will be allowed to hire agents and it not affect their amateur status. The question might be who defines elite, that’s not been answered to this point. This change would only take affect should the NBA and its player association agree to allowing high school players in the draft again. There were additional changes proposed however these two covered are the major objectives.
The NCAA decided to make a change, as per usual the NBA was not consulted. This is not the NBA’s alone, but they could have been given a heads up. There is more detail however athletes will be allowed to participate in the Draft Combine and be eligible for the draft. If not selected in the draft they can return to college. The next portion is a little difficult to determine but here goes. “Elite” players be they in high school or college will be allowed to hire agents and it not affect their amateur status. The question might be who defines elite, that’s not been answered to this point. This change would only take affect should the NBA and its player association agree to allowing high school players in the draft again. There were additional changes proposed however these two covered are the major objectives.
I’m glad the decision is not mine
All eyes are on LeBron James and how the Lakers and he mesh this season, my eyes are on the anticipated duel at shooting guard. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope returns having signed a 1-year contract. Although he was a 4-year veteran playing for the Pistons I hadn’t seen much of his play during this time. In a Lakers jersey Caldwell-Pope was certainly adequate, a big guard who could shoot and was acceptable on the defensive side of the ball.
All eyes are on LeBron James and how the Lakers and he mesh this season, my eyes are on the anticipated duel at shooting guard. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope returns having signed a 1-year contract. Although he was a 4-year veteran playing for the Pistons I hadn’t seen much of his play during this time. In a Lakers jersey Caldwell-Pope was certainly adequate, a big guard who could shoot and was acceptable on the defensive side of the ball.
Villanova’s Jason Hart was
the 30th pick in the first round of the 2017 draft, he played rookie
minutes last season and toward the end was a starter in some games. All that’s changed now, after his MVP Summer
League play I believe he’s ready to challenge Caldwell-Pope for starter
minutes. Both players are the same
height (6 foot 5 inches), age really isn’t a factor since Caldwell-Pope is 25
and Hart 23. This should be an
interesting battle to determine who plays shooting guard opposite Lonzo Ball
and backup Rajon Rondo.
