BASKETBALL FROM A FANS PERSPECTIVE
Help Wanted
The “Help Wanted” sign wasn’t in place very long. He’s been hired although we are not exactly sure of his job description, the NBA announced Barack Obama will have a role in the proposed African league. It will be a collaboration between FIBA and the NBA, details are not fully available, but it will be a 12-team league. Play will begin in January 2020 with participants from Angola, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia. No nation will be allowed more than one team in the new league. The NBA continues to grow the game and provide a pipeline for some to these shores.
The “Help Wanted” sign wasn’t in place very long. He’s been hired although we are not exactly sure of his job description, the NBA announced Barack Obama will have a role in the proposed African league. It will be a collaboration between FIBA and the NBA, details are not fully available, but it will be a 12-team league. Play will begin in January 2020 with participants from Angola, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia. No nation will be allowed more than one team in the new league. The NBA continues to grow the game and provide a pipeline for some to these shores.
It’s on life-support
Once the NBA slam dunk championship was head and shoulders above all other All-Star activities except for the game. From the days of Dr. J. through Dominique Wilkins, Dee Brown and others it was the culmination of the weekend. Somewhere around 2010 the dunk contest began to lose some of its luster. Speaking for me on Saturday evening I enjoyed the 3-point shootout and the skills competition much more than the dunk contest. The dunk contest is on life-support currently, is there anything that can be done to resurrect the glow it once held? Get rid of the airplanes, stand-in’s and all the props, I’m unsure but if there is no attempt to fix it this party of one will skip it entirely next season.
Once the NBA slam dunk championship was head and shoulders above all other All-Star activities except for the game. From the days of Dr. J. through Dominique Wilkins, Dee Brown and others it was the culmination of the weekend. Somewhere around 2010 the dunk contest began to lose some of its luster. Speaking for me on Saturday evening I enjoyed the 3-point shootout and the skills competition much more than the dunk contest. The dunk contest is on life-support currently, is there anything that can be done to resurrect the glow it once held? Get rid of the airplanes, stand-in’s and all the props, I’m unsure but if there is no attempt to fix it this party of one will skip it entirely next season.
I believe it’s a talent
issue more than anything
An article I read reported the decreasing number of American white NBA players, it went on to point out the increasing number of white Euro athletes earning roster positions. I don't have an answer why just a theory, it’s my belief the shrinking numbers of American white athletes is a talent issue rather than racial. Black athletes represent 85% of the NBA players, since the 1970’s or there about the number of black players has risen significantly. These are my thoughts and certainly you might see this differently and that’s okay. Number one, white Euro players often begin play at the pro level during their teen years. Luka Doncic Mavs is almost surely going to be named Rookie of the Year for 2019, he won't turn 20 until Feb 28.
An article I read reported the decreasing number of American white NBA players, it went on to point out the increasing number of white Euro athletes earning roster positions. I don't have an answer why just a theory, it’s my belief the shrinking numbers of American white athletes is a talent issue rather than racial. Black athletes represent 85% of the NBA players, since the 1970’s or there about the number of black players has risen significantly. These are my thoughts and certainly you might see this differently and that’s okay. Number one, white Euro players often begin play at the pro level during their teen years. Luka Doncic Mavs is almost surely going to be named Rookie of the Year for 2019, he won't turn 20 until Feb 28.
Doncic began play
with Real Madrid when he was 13-years old.
He's not an exception rather than the rule many Euro players fit a
similar rundown. The dwindling numbers
of American white players are competing against more talented black and white Euro
athletes for jobs. The number two fact,
I read and heard many Euro's say they want to play basketball at the highest
level, the NBA represents that. Number
three, my belief again from what I’ve read the economies in Euro nations are in
sound shape so income is not the issue it might be for many black athletes
attempting to escape poverty. I must
admit this all theory on my part plus a degree research, there is no one
conclusion I believe any of us could conclude.
What do you think, do some of the theories make sense?
Position less basketball
Mizzou fan website Rock M Nation featured a story on Mizzou position less basketball. The writers dealt with how the offense and defense functioned. Mizzou might have been forced by to play this manner of basketball. This is the portion I believe the writers omitted. As mentioned previously, 6-foot 11-inch Jontay Porter failed to enter the season healthy having succumbed to a pre-season injury. This injury left Jeremiah Tilmon and Reed Nikko as the only big men able to bang down low, Nikko is limited talent-wise leaving foul-prone Tilmon on an island. So out of necessity coach Cuonzo is forced to play a small lineup I believe.
