Basketball from a fan’s perspective

There he goes again
You can check other sources besides Rivals, their list contains 13 high school prospects in the Class of 2020 standing 6 foot 10 inches and taller.  Where am I going with this discussion you might ask?  I’m happy to provide you a response, I’m tired of big men standing at the 3-point line taking shots.  Big men are to play back to the basket down low. 

Drop steps and other offensive moves witness them shooting a hook (for heaven’s sake) or slam the ball.  I know what you are saying, “small ball is in, the traditional big man game is a thing of the past.”  Okay explain this to me if you can, a 3-point basket made is only one more point than a slam dunk.  This is between you and me, I’m quite sure it will change no minds.  Oh well, I got if off my chest once again.     

You didn't know his name
Guess what, neither did I prior to researching the subject a bit.  His name is Devontae Cacko and he's a former UNC-Wilmington power forward/center, he stands 6 foot 7 and weighs 240 pounds.  Despite being somewhat undersized for a center Cacok led the nation in rebounding (12.3 per game) this past season.  Despite this fact several NBA teams ignored him draft night last month.  It’s clear the Lakers were familiar with his play; he was signed to play for their summer league team. 

Cacok recently signed an Exhibition 10 contract which is no guarantee he makes the big club.  His numbers thus far have likely been the basis for the Lakers offering him a contract.  He’s averaging 13 points and 9 rebounds playing only 22 minutes a game, his field goal percentage is close to 60%.  Failing to be drafted once might have been a “death sentence” to a prospect, but no more.  If Cacok fails to earn a spot on the Lakers, its likely some other NBA team may find him a valuable addition. 

Football versus basketball
Depending on the school in question is college basketball king or football?  It likely depends on who is being discussed, if for example you mention Duke, Kentucky or North Carolina your first response is basketball.  All three universities compete on the football field, but basketball is this dominate sport on the campus among alumni and fans of the program.  On the other hand, if the discussion was held on Alabama, Texas, LSU or Ohio State your thought would immediately focus on the football rather than basketball program.     

These universities compete on the basketball court successfully on almost the same level of the football program.  It’s been said “Football revenue pays for all sports programs at major universities.”  We have no method to verify this, often we are not privileged to see accounting for state-supported schools.  As for Duke, Kentucky and the other programs sold out far into the future it’s difficult to believe.  It’s difficult to believe they require football revenue to support the basketball program.  This question is likely to remain unanswered because we’ll never have a true picture.

He was the best
Pau Gasol last played for the Lakers in 2014, he’s 38 years old now with several other NBA stops.  It’s my contention we could return to the days of Minneapolis up through 2019 and not find a better all-around Laker power forward in the team’s history.  Who were the others, Klay Thompson’s dad Mychal was pretty good so too was Bob McAdoo?  We could also include A.C. Green and in the Minneapolis days the late Vern Mickkelsen, the first Laker championship Hap Hairston filled the role of power forward. 

Gasol could score but he also could rebound the ball and play tough defense.  Most credit Kobe with those post-Shaq championships and he was however Gasol was just as much a key.  The back to back NBA Championships is proof of the valuable role he played while a member of the Lakers.  Gasol and Kobe Bryant formed a friendship bond that remains in place to this day.  What I believe should occur I hope someday, jersey number 16 hoisted to the top of Staples Center to denote the valuable role Paul Gasol played. 

Steve Fisher
The coach retired at the end of the 2017 college season; Steve Fisher had a distinguished coaching career.  His first head coaching job was at the University of Michigan, while there he headed a program that produced the Fab Five for the Wolverines.  A tandem of freshman and sophomores led by Jalen Rose, Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson almost won an NCAA championship. 

Can we state Fisher has seen and coached several basketball talents over his 38-year career?  Fisher spent his final years coaching San Diego State University.  While at the university he recruited and coach the Clippers Kawhi Leonard.  Fisher says he still maintains contact with Leonard to this day.  An interesting statement by the coach, “I wasn’t surprised he’s a pro he works hard what is surprising to me he’s so good.”