BASKETBALL FROM A FANS PERSPECTIVE
Precursor to the east
Wednesday evening those in Wells Fargo Center and an ESPN audience witnessed it. They saw a game many might see as a precursor to the east championship. In a tough hard fought battle Jimmy Butler sunk a 3-point basket sealing the fate of the Celtics, 118-115 Sixers win. The Sixers balanced scoring was led by Joel Embiid with 37 points and 22 rebounds.
Embiid managed to shoot 20-21 from the free-throw line. Embiid had only one blocked shot but it was key. Late in the game Kyrie Irving driving the lane did a dipsy-do attempting to lay up the ball. Embiid matched him stride for stride blocking the shot as it was launched toward the basket. In the middle of the country Bucks fans are unsettled with this account. Don’t fret Bucks fans I’m not ignoring your team they could just as easily become the beast of the east.
Wednesday evening those in Wells Fargo Center and an ESPN audience witnessed it. They saw a game many might see as a precursor to the east championship. In a tough hard fought battle Jimmy Butler sunk a 3-point basket sealing the fate of the Celtics, 118-115 Sixers win. The Sixers balanced scoring was led by Joel Embiid with 37 points and 22 rebounds.
Embiid managed to shoot 20-21 from the free-throw line. Embiid had only one blocked shot but it was key. Late in the game Kyrie Irving driving the lane did a dipsy-do attempting to lay up the ball. Embiid matched him stride for stride blocking the shot as it was launched toward the basket. In the middle of the country Bucks fans are unsettled with this account. Don’t fret Bucks fans I’m not ignoring your team they could just as easily become the beast of the east.
This is different
Many are aware of the international presence of the NBA begun under the leadership of David Stern. The result in recent years has seen more and more international players in the NBA draft. How about this one, international teams competing against NBA teams, its not the Olympics nor FIBA it’s NBA summer league. China and Croatia will field teams in summer league play in Las Vegas, it was reported China had team play in the summer previously I sure don’t remember the year.
Many are aware of the international presence of the NBA begun under the leadership of David Stern. The result in recent years has seen more and more international players in the NBA draft. How about this one, international teams competing against NBA teams, its not the Olympics nor FIBA it’s NBA summer league. China and Croatia will field teams in summer league play in Las Vegas, it was reported China had team play in the summer previously I sure don’t remember the year.
Big Men
I need someone to convince me, they need to explain how small ball has eliminated the need for a traditional big man. The basis for this latest discussion centers around my Mizzou Tigers. As this is written Mizzou has a lack of quality front court depth, there is a big man in the Class of 2020 who might decide on Mizzou but what about right now. I’m unsure if Cuonzo Martin intends to recruit him, a 7-foot 1-inch grad transfer center is available. In addition to being ready to play in the fall he averaged 12 points a game at the D-I level, so we know he’s proficient.
I need someone to convince me, they need to explain how small ball has eliminated the need for a traditional big man. The basis for this latest discussion centers around my Mizzou Tigers. As this is written Mizzou has a lack of quality front court depth, there is a big man in the Class of 2020 who might decide on Mizzou but what about right now. I’m unsure if Cuonzo Martin intends to recruit him, a 7-foot 1-inch grad transfer center is available. In addition to being ready to play in the fall he averaged 12 points a game at the D-I level, so we know he’s proficient.
Today’s basketball is filled with
interchangeable parts and it’s all Dirk Nowitzki’s fault. Half joking here, don’t get upset there have
always been big men shooting from distance.
The big difference Dirk was likely the first 7-footer who became
proficient at the shot. Others followed,
Karl-Anthony Towns and Joel Embiid regularly jack up 3-4 3-point shots a game. We no longer have the classic big man duos
(Chamberlain-Russell or Chamberlain-Abdul Jabbar) but the big man still reigns
supreme in my book. No amount of
convincing is going to prove otherwise.
“Show Me I’m from Missouri”
I just read the other day, “The Lakers are playing so bad, missing the defense of Lonzo Ball.” That might be true but consider this fact, the Magic Johnson and the Lakers took a pass on two-point guards in the 2017 draft to select Ball. The Kings selected De’Aaron Fox with the 5th pick in the first round, at 9 the Mavs chose Dennis Smith Jr. In January Smith was traded to the Knicks however there were extenuating circumstances, it had nothing to do with his play. Both Fox and Smith Jr. are experiencing better years than Ball plus the fact they are on the court as this is written.
I just read the other day, “The Lakers are playing so bad, missing the defense of Lonzo Ball.” That might be true but consider this fact, the Magic Johnson and the Lakers took a pass on two-point guards in the 2017 draft to select Ball. The Kings selected De’Aaron Fox with the 5th pick in the first round, at 9 the Mavs chose Dennis Smith Jr. In January Smith was traded to the Knicks however there were extenuating circumstances, it had nothing to do with his play. Both Fox and Smith Jr. are experiencing better years than Ball plus the fact they are on the court as this is written.
There are two issues impacting my
thoughts on Lonzo Ball, shooting and health.
The Lakers don’t need Ball to score but check out the stats. As a rookie he shot 36% from the floor, this
season we saw a slight improvement to 41% but that’s too lowly in my view. Health
might be even more critical, as mentioned previously Ball cannot remain healthy. He’s yet to play a complete season, 50 games
as a rookie and 47 when he was injured this season. One issue he can improve (shooting) the other
(injury) is beyond his or anyone’s capability.
I believe if the shooting was slightly better, I could adjust to missing
games.
