Basketball from a fans perspective

Necessary work to be accomplished
NBADraft.net list Duke’s Zion Williamson as the number 3^rd pick in their 2019 mock draft.  I’ve questioned his game since I first saw him as a high school junior.  The flying dunks we witnessed on YouTube were spectacular and crowd pleasers.  At some point this fan began to ask the question, “Does he do anything beyond dunking the ball?”  His freshman year at Duke will be a huge test for the 6-foot 6-inch 285 pound forward.  His weight and athletic ability allowed him to intimidate at the high school level, Williamson must be willing to expand his game if he hopes to make it in the NBA.  I’m not hatin’ on this talented youngster, NBADraft.net says as much analyzing his talent. 

“Weaknesses: Although he hasn’t needed it at the high school level, he needs a more expanded half-court game as it will be predictable moving forward ... Often resorts to bully ball ... Struggles against a set defense ... May struggle against help defense at the highest level as he does a good job of getting into his defenders chest and clearing space ... Reading the game as a perimeter player will be an adjustment at the next levels ... A bit of a tweener as he lacks the perimeter game of a three and ideal size of a four … While he shows solid shooting mechanics, he doesn’t show much shooting or perimeter skills.”  I along with NBA scouts will be watching his development very closely this season. 

NBADraft.net

Convince me please
For several years, it’s been my belief you must live the sport.  It’s simple, media heads appear to judge if it’s sport EVERYONE can discuss it.  A totally untrue statement I think, one must live and breathe the sport literally.  The following is the example, ESPN’s “Get Up” appears to be a launch failure.  Co-host Michelle Beadle more closely identified with the NBA was M.I.A. whenever the subject turned to other sports. 

Beadle is now history and will return to her roots the NBA.  Co-host Mike Greenberg often mentions living in Chicago during the Jordan era, at times I’ve questioned some of his basketball conclusions.  None of us can be experts in all sports, I certainly have no expertise in media, but I have concluded this.  It doesn’t matter who you are or who you might be paired with working knowledge of the sport is required.  I believe I could discuss basketball college or the NBA at length.  Corner me on baseball, the NFL or NHL I’m lost.

Back to Back
We never discuss back to back NCAA champions anymore.  It’s simple they don’t exist, one and done athletes and others leaving early it’s an impossible task to repeat as champion.  Back in the day UCLA under John Wooden was often back to back to back to back to back.  That’s quite a few back to back’s but you get the general idea.  The last repeat champ was the Florida Gators who won in all in 2006 and repeated a year later.  We must travel back to 1991 and 1992 when the Duke Blue Devils were repeat champions.  UCLA won in 1965 and 1964 but dominated the tournament thereafter.  UCLA won the NCAA tournament from 1967 through 1973 a feat which never will be matched.       

In 1961 and 1962 the Cincinnati Bearcats were back to back champs and earlier the San Francisco Dons led by Bill Russell were winners in 1955 and 1956.  The first occurrence was 1945 and 1946 when Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State) won consecutive championships.  Back to UCLA there were complaints about UCLA domination during this period.  It had nothing to do with grades, ineligible players or the like.  It was reported (never confirmed) businessman Sam Gilbert steered talent to the school by paying them.  We have no method of verification, coach John Wooden and Gilbert have since died.  Former Indiana coach Bobby Knight claimed UCLA cheated but clearly had no method or means to prove the alleged cheating.  As for this writer, “I’m from Missouri you’ve got to show me.”