BASKETBALL FROM A FANS PERPECTIVE

Bits n Pieces
Veteran Kyle Korver claimed he was promised a trade should LeBron leave the Cavs.  We know that story however Korver remained a member of the Cavs until Wednesday.  Korver been traded to the Cavs in exchange for Kansas Citian Alec Burks and 2 future second round draft picks. 

As this is written Jimmy Butler has played 5 games for the Sixers since he was acquired in a trade.  Did you know the veteran guard has scored the winning basket in 2 of those games?  Butler appears to not fear the moment taking the winning shot with seconds remaining on the clock.  It now appears the Sixers team have the closer so vitally needed by the team. 

Several people have compared Duke’s Zion Williamson to LeBron James.  If you are a certain age you only remember Larry Johnson with the Knicks.  By the time he arrived in New York injuries had robbed him of a great deal of his leaping ability.  Johnson didn’t have the bulk of Williamson but played small forward at 6 foot 6 and 250 pounds.  The dunks of Johnson were outstanding, Google his name if you are unfamiliar with him. 

10-15 years ago, if you discussed college basketball in the State of Nevada your thoughts would be quite different from those of 2018.  At an earlier time, your focus would be Jerry Tarkanian and those UNLV Runnin’ Rebel teams.  That was then, this is now, the University of Nevada has propelled itself in front of UNLV thanks in part to coach Eric Musselman.  At the dawn of the 2018-19 season check the numbers if you need convincing, UNLV 27-38 while Nevada has registered a 55-13 mark.   

Mom Pamela McGee was a 2X NCAA champion at Southern Cal, retired now she played in the WNBA and had several overseas stops.  Her son JaVale plays for the Lakers, daughter Imani McGee-Stafford is a member of the Atlanta Dream.  With a son drafted into the NBA and a daughter drafted in the WNBA Pamela McGee holds a unique distinction.

Luka Doncic’s wearing jersey number 77 remains a mystery to most of us.  As indicated earlier NBA players generally chose smaller numerals with several exceptions.  Legendary Minneapolis Laker George Mikan wore 99.  Dennis Rodman wore more than one number however he’s associated with number 73.  Ron Artest a.k.a. Metta World Peace sported number 91, 93 and 96 during his career.  

I watched a Georgetown game and didn’t realize Alonzo Mourning’s son was on the roster.  Trey Mourning becomes one more son following in his father’s footsteps.  I wonder at times if the son believes he’s forced to play the game of his father.  There have been few instances the son’s play is superior to dad.  Ask Jeffery and Marcus sons of Michael Jordan, ask Scooter, Jon and Brent sons of Rick Barry.  Perhaps they play because like their famous fathers they love the game they are just not as talented.  There are other father-son combos those mentioned represent but a few. 

It's not panic time yet  
We knew an adjustment period was required, perhaps I’m too impatient.   The calendar is yet to turn over to 2019, this fact was mentioned by the Laker broadcast team.  The Jazz were hovering around the .500 mark in January 2018 yet made the playoffs, is that the message for the Lakers?  This is a mixed response, I’m pleased with the effort LeBron James has brought to the table however I do have disappointments. 

Kyle Kuzma and Brandon Ingram have played up and down since the season started, one evening they appear to be outstanding and the next night well…. you know the story.  We continue to read speculative “trade” stories, these two and maybe Josh Hart packaged for a veteran player.  I always hope an infusion of youth along with a few veterans would raise the level of play.  Thus far, Lance Stephenson, Michael Beasley have been M.I.A.  Before his injury Rajon Rondo and JaVale McGee have been the only 1-year contract guys who generally have had their heads in the game.  It’s early however I must include Tyson Chandler in the number appearing to play a steady game.   

Quality big men  
We tend to be enamored with basketball big men however this is no recent development.  6-foot 10-inch George Mikan might be the first instance of a quality big man.  Mikan was not the only big man of his era but he might have been the most successful.  Before the advent of small ball NBA teams were always on the lookout for a quality big man.  To borrow a baseball term in several instances there were hits but quite a few misses.  We could travel back in time much further than 1998 when Michael Olowokandi was drafted.  He was the number one pick by the Clippers, the team hired Mr. Sky-Hook Kareem Abdul Jabbar to work with him on his post moves. 

After a period questioned by reporters he indicated “He learned as much as he could (from Jabbar)”.  Clearly either he wasn’t a good student or maybe he just wasn’t talented enough Olowokandi was out the NBA by 2007 and it wasn’t due to injury.  For number one pick Greg Oden (2007) it was a different matter, although he exhibited talent at Ohio State a series of devastating injuries cut short what might have been a promising NBA career.  I’ve mentioned this previously, one NBA scout while Oden was in college declared him “The second coming of Bill Russell.”  Fortunately, we can state scouts and front-offices have been more successful than not.  We can look toward Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Davis as quality big men, it’s too early to make a call regarding rookie Suns center DeAndre Ayton.