Basketball from a
fan’s perspective
Notice
I haven’t made a comment on the supposed bomb-shell ESPN depiction of the Lakers front office operations. The Lakers continue to make the news in a manner unintended. If you check the history there are two stories written and published in Words eye view, one May 23 the other May 24. In both instances I attempted to point out the issues I believed the Lakers faced in the past and those going forward.
Did the ESPN piece add anything not previously covered; I
have no idea? I chose to skip it
believing the only difference the ESPN journalist might have had the capability
to contact a few Laker employees for his story.
In other Laker news who is Darel Poireier we might ask? Turns out he’s a 6-foot 11 238-pound wing from
France, he’s a Euro league player and the Lakers have him in to conduct a workout.
How about this?
Commissioner Silver appears open to change so here goes, why the 5-day delay in beginning the championship round? NBA fans might have become accustom to a playoff game (east-west) every other day. Rather than a Thursday start why not at least Tuesday, that would have provided three days rest for the Raptors.
Commissioner Silver appears open to change so here goes, why the 5-day delay in beginning the championship round? NBA fans might have become accustom to a playoff game (east-west) every other day. Rather than a Thursday start why not at least Tuesday, that would have provided three days rest for the Raptors.
I’m not on a tirade
The Kings will never see Kansas City again, this is a major portion why. The team was terrible, on the court and especially in the front office. They were poor at executing trades and even poorer drafting talent. The first example they had an opportunity to draft a young Moses Malone in the ABA dispersal draft chose guard Ron Boone. If you are relative or a friend of the athlete this is not to disparage Boone, or any player mentioned. The intent is to detail how poorly the Kansas City version was in scouting and procuring talent for the team. In the 1981 draft the Kings chose Steve Johnson, later Tom Chambers and Rolando Blackman were picked by the Sonics and Mavs respectively.
The Kings will never see Kansas City again, this is a major portion why. The team was terrible, on the court and especially in the front office. They were poor at executing trades and even poorer drafting talent. The first example they had an opportunity to draft a young Moses Malone in the ABA dispersal draft chose guard Ron Boone. If you are relative or a friend of the athlete this is not to disparage Boone, or any player mentioned. The intent is to detail how poorly the Kansas City version was in scouting and procuring talent for the team. In the 1981 draft the Kings chose Steve Johnson, later Tom Chambers and Rolando Blackman were picked by the Sonics and Mavs respectively.
In the 1983 draft the Kings chose Ennis Whatley with the 13th
pick, one pick later the Blazers chose Hall of Fame player Clyde Drexler. Wait there’s more, the following year (1984)
picking 9 they chose Otis Thorpe. Thorpe
would have a long NBA career but nothing like the 16th pick in that
draft Hall of Fame player John Stockton.
In 1985 (the first in Sacramento) with the 6th pick the Kings
chose Joe Kleine who also had a long serviceable pedestrian career, Chris
Mullin chosen with the 7th pick is in the Hall of Fame. Some of the names might be unfamiliar to you,
check their resume and draw your own conclusions. In fairness to the Kings a scout cannot
always determine the future regarding an athlete but to miss on such a number
is mind boggling.
Mizzou recruiting
All could possibly change one day, 247Sports has an interesting report concerning Mizzou’s basketball recruiting. Remember we’d mentioned Cuonzo Martin’s recruiting history, the fact this East St. Louis (IL) native believed the area was prime recruiting territory. Of the top 5 prospects in the Class of 2020 four are from the St. Louis area, the other from Kansas City. As indicated earlier there is no guarantee all five of these prospects sign with Mizzou yet it remains interesting. This coach and his staff continue to emphasis a focus on talent in the State of Missouri and Illinois.
All could possibly change one day, 247Sports has an interesting report concerning Mizzou’s basketball recruiting. Remember we’d mentioned Cuonzo Martin’s recruiting history, the fact this East St. Louis (IL) native believed the area was prime recruiting territory. Of the top 5 prospects in the Class of 2020 four are from the St. Louis area, the other from Kansas City. As indicated earlier there is no guarantee all five of these prospects sign with Mizzou yet it remains interesting. This coach and his staff continue to emphasis a focus on talent in the State of Missouri and Illinois.
Australian pro basketball
I have little working knowledge of Australia’s National Basketball League, it’s easy to check and uncover there are 9 Australian teams and one from New Zealand. I’m hearing a great amount of second guessing by media members regarding R.J. Hampton’s decision to head for New Zealand to play for the Breakers. I’m here to defend him, first of all how long have we listened to those voicing the view; “The one and done is ruining college basketball?” Hampton chose a route which is most beneficial for him soon. He indicated on Get Up his goal is to play in the NBA eventually.
I have little working knowledge of Australia’s National Basketball League, it’s easy to check and uncover there are 9 Australian teams and one from New Zealand. I’m hearing a great amount of second guessing by media members regarding R.J. Hampton’s decision to head for New Zealand to play for the Breakers. I’m here to defend him, first of all how long have we listened to those voicing the view; “The one and done is ruining college basketball?” Hampton chose a route which is most beneficial for him soon. He indicated on Get Up his goal is to play in the NBA eventually.
Which will prove most beneficial to the growth of his game
playing Division I basketball or battling pro players in the NBL? Hampton is getting paid, allow me to
emphasize that again he’s getting paid. His
paycheck will look astronomical compared to any money other Class of 2019
athletes will receive. I almost failed
to mention a possible shoe deal which will gain him even more income. Several foreign players had family move to America
with them once they reached the NBA, Hampton’s family is moving with him to New
Zealand. It’s clear from what I read
Hampton ain’t no dummy, his SAT or ACT score would have allowed him to attend
Duke if that had been the direction of his choosing.
