BASKETBALL FROM A FANS PERSPECTIVE
Really
I make this statement all the time, you have the right to your own opinion. At the same time, I have the right to disagree with a position you might express. That is indeed the case today, Stephen A. Smith has decided it’s okay for NBA teams to tank in order to draft Zion Williamson. He mentioned the Knicks, Bulls and Cavs are all teams that would benefit from a talent such as Williamson added to their lineup. Smith made continuing statements discussing the Duke freshman’s talent and prospects.
Really
I make this statement all the time, you have the right to your own opinion. At the same time, I have the right to disagree with a position you might express. That is indeed the case today, Stephen A. Smith has decided it’s okay for NBA teams to tank in order to draft Zion Williamson. He mentioned the Knicks, Bulls and Cavs are all teams that would benefit from a talent such as Williamson added to their lineup. Smith made continuing statements discussing the Duke freshman’s talent and prospects.
I found no issue
with his talent assessment it was losing games on purpose. Allow a brief journey to the past you
remember 4-5 years back, everyone and their brother was offering critical
remarks regarding the Sixers. We heard, “The Sixers are tanking.” Despite the tremendous upside of a Zion
Williamson Smith is insisting it’s okay to lose games in order to acquire
talent. If I pay $100 for tickets and
believe a team is losing games on purpose it will be decades before they will
receive any of my hard-earned money.
Say what
Jay Williams of ESPN claims the Sixers should trade Ben Simmons, he makes this assertion because he believes Simmons is a detriment to the team due to his limited shooting range. Sorry Jay, I realized you played at Duke and in the NBA for the Bulls but I ain’t buying your argument. As my counterpoint to your point I offer one Earvin “Magic” Johnson, his jump shot was dead on arrival in the NBA.
Jay Williams of ESPN claims the Sixers should trade Ben Simmons, he makes this assertion because he believes Simmons is a detriment to the team due to his limited shooting range. Sorry Jay, I realized you played at Duke and in the NBA for the Bulls but I ain’t buying your argument. As my counterpoint to your point I offer one Earvin “Magic” Johnson, his jump shot was dead on arrival in the NBA.
It was the other
things he did so well that made him a valued key to Laker success. Now I’m not saying Simmons and Johnson are
the same person it’s just with work over his career Johnson got to be a pretty
good shooter (.520) and rest assured that dead-eye shooting was not all
dunks. Johnson managed to become a
pretty good from the 3-point line his career registering .303 mark, hey Jay you of all people should know this.
Relax
Laker great Kobe Bryant has become the voice of reason during this losing streak. He tells fans to relax, Kobe points out the Lakers have three regulars out of the lineup including LeBron James. Well I’ve got a number 24 hanging on the wall in my Man-Cave. That might give you an idea my thoughts regarding one Kobe Bean Bryant. At the same time, I remain concerned about the leadership in the form of the head coach. The Lakers were desperate for a change, it was clear former Laker great Byron Scott was not the man. The team once again hired internally with Luke Walton another former Laker player.
Laker great Kobe Bryant has become the voice of reason during this losing streak. He tells fans to relax, Kobe points out the Lakers have three regulars out of the lineup including LeBron James. Well I’ve got a number 24 hanging on the wall in my Man-Cave. That might give you an idea my thoughts regarding one Kobe Bean Bryant. At the same time, I remain concerned about the leadership in the form of the head coach. The Lakers were desperate for a change, it was clear former Laker great Byron Scott was not the man. The team once again hired internally with Luke Walton another former Laker player.
I wrote Walton took
over a terrible team, with draft choices, trades and free-agency they were on
the road to competing for a playoff berth.
BAM, LeBron James announced last summer he intended to become a
Laker. Since the injuries have cropped
up the Lakers have endured a downward slide, as this is written they have only
won one game. (Note: The Mavs were
beaten shortly after this was finished) Is
Kobe correct do I need to take a chill pill and relax? Number 24 (or 8 if you prefer) is correct,
perhaps I’m reading too much into this losing streak.
Finally, a winner
John Groce was fired at Illinois and the dominos begin falling, Mizzou was the benefit of the change and the tidal wave that followed. Several Illinois and St. Louis area players are enrolled and playing at Mizzou, it’s directly or indirectly related to the coaching change at Illinois. Jeremiah Tilmon, Torrence Watson and Javon Pickett arrived as freshman. Guard Mark Smith played last season for Illinois but transferred and is now playing for Mizzou, this fall St. Louis guard Mario McKinney arrives on campus.
John Groce was fired at Illinois and the dominos begin falling, Mizzou was the benefit of the change and the tidal wave that followed. Several Illinois and St. Louis area players are enrolled and playing at Mizzou, it’s directly or indirectly related to the coaching change at Illinois. Jeremiah Tilmon, Torrence Watson and Javon Pickett arrived as freshman. Guard Mark Smith played last season for Illinois but transferred and is now playing for Mizzou, this fall St. Louis guard Mario McKinney arrives on campus.
Coach Brad Underwood
must have felt besieged on all sides losing recruits and seeing his team under
perform. The culmination might have been
losing the annual Braggin’ Rights Game to Mizzou last month. In January finally, some good news arrived in
the form of a pledge. Rivals 5-star
recruit Kofi Cockburn from Oak Hill Academy provided Illinois a verbal
commitment on Sunday. This is a slam
dunk for Illinois considering the 6-foot 10-inch 280-pound Cockburn was being
recruited by Duke, Kentucky, Kansas and Auburn.
There was a total of 31 schools attempting to lure Cockburn to their campus,
so this bodes well for the coach and Illinois basketball.
