BASKETBALL FROM A FANS
PERSPECTIVE
“Dead Man Walking”
Sean Penn portrayed a death row inmate in this 1995 drama, Penn was nominated for an Academy Award for this role. The term Dead Man Walking could be applied to Laker coach Luke Walton at this point. He’s not about to be executed but he is fired for all practical purposes. If the Lakers win the 2019 NBA championship or even earn a playoff berth. I believe those accomplishments would save Walton from being fired. Either of those scenarios is unlikely at this point, the final nail in his coffin might be losing to the Suns, as indicated earlier there is a race in the NBA to determine which team is worst in the NBA.
Sean Penn portrayed a death row inmate in this 1995 drama, Penn was nominated for an Academy Award for this role. The term Dead Man Walking could be applied to Laker coach Luke Walton at this point. He’s not about to be executed but he is fired for all practical purposes. If the Lakers win the 2019 NBA championship or even earn a playoff berth. I believe those accomplishments would save Walton from being fired. Either of those scenarios is unlikely at this point, the final nail in his coffin might be losing to the Suns, as indicated earlier there is a race in the NBA to determine which team is worst in the NBA.
Is it the Suns or the Knicks, as pointed
out the Lakers have lost to both? This
is no hate job on Walton I like him but it’s clear somewhere there is a
disconnect and you know what occurs.
It’s always far easier to fire a coach or manager than it is to fire a
team. When he’s fired (it’s happening)
Magic can say “I didn’t hire him.”
He’s correct but whose responsible for the collection of one-year players under contract on this Laker roster. Whose responsible for D’Angelo Russell being in Brooklyn rather than Los Angeles? Who traded the developing big man Ivicia Zubac? Speaking of big men, you had Mitchell Robinson in for a look before the draft and then chose Moe Wagner. Robinson slipped to the second round, he appears to be one of the few bright spots for the Knicks in a dismal year. How many games has Wagner played for the Lakers thus far? I’m expecting a slam dunk draft night and a quality free-agent signing otherwise Magic might soon be departing too.
“Like kissing your sister”
The headline is a term missing from the lexicon of today’s sports media, once it was applied to NFL teams and tie games. It’s being borrowed for basketball this time; the focus is the Big 12 Conference race. It’s possible as this is written there could be a 3-way tie for first place. Kansas, Kansas State and Texas Tech could all finish the season in a tie, or it could be two teams. With three games remaining it’s unlikely there will be a sole champion. It might be the post-season conference tournament to determine the race. Most interesting for the first time in 14-years Kansas will not stand alone at the top.
Free-Throw
They are referred to as “free” throws because no one is contesting the shot. You simply walk up to the line the official hands you the basketball you relax, take a deep breath and shoot. Doesn’t matter if it’s middle school, high, college or the NBA. You can win (or lose) the game for your team based on your ability to hit the shot. I’ve read several theories why some players are not good free-throw shooters, guess what I don’t believe any of them.
They are referred to as “free” throws because no one is contesting the shot. You simply walk up to the line the official hands you the basketball you relax, take a deep breath and shoot. Doesn’t matter if it’s middle school, high, college or the NBA. You can win (or lose) the game for your team based on your ability to hit the shot. I’ve read several theories why some players are not good free-throw shooters, guess what I don’t believe any of them.
Well, maybe a wrist injury that failed to
heal properly, that’s the only valid excuse.
I’ve mentioned this previously, Shaquille O’Neal was often criticized
for his poor free-throw shooting. He
said, “I make ‘em when they are needed”
that was not always the case although he’d like us to believe the
statement. At the NBA level there is no
excuse for any player to shoot less than 75% from the free-throw line.
He couldn’t help it
Kristaps Porzingis couldn’t help the fact he was injured. He could help the fact he’s sitting on the Mavs bench rather than the Knicks, what happened? We believed he was one of the pieces to the re-build of the Knicks franchise. February 2018 Porzingis tore his left ACL forcing him to miss the balance of the season. After bursting on the scene in 2015 his numbers were 14.3, 18.1 and 22.7 points per game in his injury season. Then the issue, we believed it was Phil Jackson, but it was Knicks management that may have been the basis for the divorce.
Kristaps Porzingis couldn’t help the fact he was injured. He could help the fact he’s sitting on the Mavs bench rather than the Knicks, what happened? We believed he was one of the pieces to the re-build of the Knicks franchise. February 2018 Porzingis tore his left ACL forcing him to miss the balance of the season. After bursting on the scene in 2015 his numbers were 14.3, 18.1 and 22.7 points per game in his injury season. Then the issue, we believed it was Phil Jackson, but it was Knicks management that may have been the basis for the divorce.
In October of the same year they decided
against signing Porzingis to a rookie extension. This was done to free up cap space for 2019
free-agency. We next hear Porzingis
wanted out of the Big Apple, so the Knicks accommodated him by a trade to the
Mavs. He will not play this season
preparing for 2019-20, an ACL injury once was career ending but no more. If the 7-foot 3-inch Porzingis can come close
to his second-year numbers, the Mavs will likely be pleased.
