BASKETBALL FROM A FANS PERSPECTIVE
No real surprise
Oregon power forward Bol Bol was injured early in the 2018-19 college season. Bol indicated at the time he’d begin rehab and prepare for the June NBA draft, on Friday it became official. The 7-foot 2 inch 235-pound prospect declared officially. The information from a couple of mock draft sites, nbadraft.net has Bol as the number 18 pick and nbadraftroom.com list him at 15. I read this comment from an NBA scout, he claims “you must analyze a draft 3 years later not immediately.”
Oregon power forward Bol Bol was injured early in the 2018-19 college season. Bol indicated at the time he’d begin rehab and prepare for the June NBA draft, on Friday it became official. The 7-foot 2 inch 235-pound prospect declared officially. The information from a couple of mock draft sites, nbadraft.net has Bol as the number 18 pick and nbadraftroom.com list him at 15. I read this comment from an NBA scout, he claims “you must analyze a draft 3 years later not immediately.”
From the 2nd
round to the Hall of Fame
He’s not in the Naismith Hall of Fame yet, he only retired last season not enough elapsed time. Do you realize the significance of his draft position, Manu Ginobili was a 2nd round pick and number 57 in the 1999 NBA draft? There are 60 players chosen in each draft which says Ginobili was 3rd pick from the BOTTOM in that draft. As for another part of his bio Ginobili is generally credited with introducing the “Euro Step” to the NBA. Although he did play in Europe Ginobili was born and raised in the South American nation of Argentina.
He’s not in the Naismith Hall of Fame yet, he only retired last season not enough elapsed time. Do you realize the significance of his draft position, Manu Ginobili was a 2nd round pick and number 57 in the 1999 NBA draft? There are 60 players chosen in each draft which says Ginobili was 3rd pick from the BOTTOM in that draft. As for another part of his bio Ginobili is generally credited with introducing the “Euro Step” to the NBA. Although he did play in Europe Ginobili was born and raised in the South American nation of Argentina.
I once said, “I hated the guy, back in the day the shooting guard was always hitting a crucial shot leading to his Spurs
beating my Lakers.” He retired after
an illustrious European, Olympic and NBA career, Thursday evening it came full
circle. The Spurs in a half-time
ceremony retired number 20, no future Spurs player will ever wear that number. A salute to an outstanding athlete and
certainly one of the best. There might
have been better shooters, yes better assist men and better defenders. No matter what Manu Ginobili lacked in one
area he made up for it in another.
19-years with the Spurs and one of the few who managed to spend their
entire career with a single NBA team.
Ascending and descending
As we reach the final few weeks of the 2018-19 NBA season allow a brief return to last fall. I don’t remember the date, it was August, or September I made this statement. “It’s my belief the Lakers are ascending, and the Clippers are descending. The Lakers are moving upward with the addition of LeBron James in the lineup, as for the Clippers they missed the playoffs after earning a spot 6 years in a row.”
As we reach the final few weeks of the 2018-19 NBA season allow a brief return to last fall. I don’t remember the date, it was August, or September I made this statement. “It’s my belief the Lakers are ascending, and the Clippers are descending. The Lakers are moving upward with the addition of LeBron James in the lineup, as for the Clippers they missed the playoffs after earning a spot 6 years in a row.”
I saw the future and pronounced the
Lakers the new Kings of Los Angeles basketball with LeBron providing the
leadership. This past Monday the
Clippers clinched a playoff berth, the Friday prior witnessed the Lakers being
eliminated from playoff contention. I’m
not going to provide detail why I was so wrong in the fortunes of both teams, it’s
likely you have a general idea as to why I missed so badly. Maybe I’ll stay out of the forecasting
business…….maybe not.
The “others”
Can Zion Williamson play power forward in the NBA, standing 6 foot 7 inches and 285 pounds its possible if we consider the others. Who are the others, well Larry Johnson for one, he played the position at the same height checking in at 250 pounds? Most of you probably remember the “grounded” LJ who played for the Knicks, our reference goes back to “Grandmama” who was a high flyer for the Hornets. After spraining his back in 1993 he lost a great deal of his lift and was forced to develop an all-around game rather than dunks.
The “others”
Can Zion Williamson play power forward in the NBA, standing 6 foot 7 inches and 285 pounds its possible if we consider the others. Who are the others, well Larry Johnson for one, he played the position at the same height checking in at 250 pounds? Most of you probably remember the “grounded” LJ who played for the Knicks, our reference goes back to “Grandmama” who was a high flyer for the Hornets. After spraining his back in 1993 he lost a great deal of his lift and was forced to develop an all-around game rather than dunks.
In Philadelphia Charles Barkley arrived
in the NBA as “The Round Mound of
Rebound.” Back then he stood 6 foot 4
½ inches and a compact 255 pounds, despite what you read Barkley was not
6-6. Up and down the court early in his
career with the Sixers Barkley often led the fast break for those Sixers and
even could out run his competition. Back
to the question, can Williamson play power forward in the NBA? He will yield height to all power forwards he
faces; the weight is another matter.
Taller power forwards might discover its difficult to move him off the
block at 285 pounds.
