BASKETBALL FROM A FANS PERSPECTIVE

He said what?
At this point we’d forgotten Lonzo Ball was a team member.  He’s been on the injured list so long I can’t remember when he last played but that’s not the subject.  The MOUTH THAT ROARED……LaVar Ball had an interesting comment when interviewed.  The elder Ball was extolling the talent of his son, Colin Cowherd then said something like this.  “That might be true, but he was injured last season and he’s been injured this season.” 

LaVar Ball, “It’s Luke Walton’s fault, he (Lonzo) can’t stay warmed up when he’s pulled in and out of games.”   For your information Lonzo Ball sprung his left ankle on January 19, I had to check the record because it was true, I didn’t remember the date of his last game.  Last season Ball played in 52 of the Lakers 82 games.  It would appear rather than Walton being the crux of the problem it might be the fact Lonzo just might be injury prone. 

There are some who really need a life
I’m paraphrasing a conversation heard on local sports talk radio. 

Caller: “You suppose someone could have gotten a hold of Zion Williamson’s shoes and sabotaged them?” 
Host: “I wouldn’t put it past somebody although I doubt it, players often change shoes game to game.”  

It’s been mentioned in the past some Americans have a pre-occupation with conspiracy theories.  This just might be one, because the caller wasn’t on the line long enough, he was unable to set the stage for the crime.  Let’s use our imagination and see if we can prop up the story.  An unknown person tired of the hype bribes the student manager for a pair of Zion’s shoes.  This person pays the student-manager $2,000 and then proceeds to cut several thin slices from each shoe.  He returns the shoes to the manager and is hoping that is the pair Zion chooses to wear that evening.  Zion goes out on the floor and the first hard cut one of the shoes comes apart, well it could happen couldn’t it?

Possible change
Although not official there is a proposal the NBA age limit be reduced from 19 to age 18.  This move if approved would allow high school athletes in the draft once again.  This action must be ratified by the NBAPA prior to being implemented.  In my view this should be endorsed for several practical reasons.  This would do away with the one and done athletes and provide scholarships for additional student-athletes.  This fails to address every issue, there will never be a return to the good ole days with athletes remaining in school four years.  It does address a complaint of many of the universities and colleges across the nation.  Hopefully it will be amended in time for the 2020 NBA draft. 

Dallas, this is not the classic television drama 
This is written about the “new” Mavericks, the 2019-20 version.  The starting lineup is:

PG Jalen Brunson
SG Tim Hardaway Jr.
SF Luka Doncic
PF Kristaps Porzingis
C Maximillian Kleber 

Except for the center position (which is fluid at this writing) the lineup appears workable IF, notice the cap underlined if.  Key is Porzingis anywhere close to regaining the skill he displayed early in his NBA career with the Knicks.  Second is the wunderkind Doncic fully embracing his role at the point.  The Mavs traded away their first-round pick in the 2019 draft, they have available a mid-second round pick.  That says free-agent help in acquiring reserve help.  The big difference between the Mavs and others they have a solid team currently, the changes for next season might result in earning a playoff berth.    

Mizzou prospect
Mizzou head coach Cuonzo Martin and assistant Cornell Mann must have thought highly of Sam McNeil’s ability, after a visit with him they made an offer on February 20th.  Who is McNeil you might ask, he appears to be one of those guys who is a later bloomer?  He came out of high school not highly rated but has been outstanding in his freshman year, in addition to Mizzou he's received offers from several other programs. 

McNeil is a 6-foot 4-inch shooting guard currently enrolled at Sinclair Community College in Dayton Ohio?  McNeil a freshman has games of 40, 47 and 55 points this season and a scoring average of 30 points per game, 49% shooting and 41% from the 3-point line and 89% from the line.  Two questions, there are several schools with offers on the table, does McNeil choose Mizzou?  The second question if he does pick Mizzou can he transfer at least a portion of this prolific scoring to the Division I level?