Basketball from a fan’s perspective

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

Remember him
Markelle Fultz was the top pick in the 2017 draft by the Sixers, Fultz has basically disappeared from our view.  Injuries have kept him sidelined for much of his NBA career and last February the Sixers appeared to have given up on Fultz.  He was traded to the Magic and there was hope for a new start.  Despite seeing little if any action since the trade the Magic decided to pick up his option and two others.

Nothing wrong with believing you’re the best, announcing the belief to the world can prove dangerous.  In 2017 there was a question as to who the first pick with two highly rated point guards in the draft might be.  Fultz declared himself “better” than Lonzo Ball, but we see the result.  Ball’s yet to play a full season but has more time of the court to date than Fultz. 

The disclaimer
In this instance the disclaimer is placed at the beginning of the story.  Have you seen the latest video of LeMelo Ball in action; he looks extremely comfortable?  I have no ownership rights therefore I cannot place the video on Words eye view.  Much earlier I wrote my belief the journey last season to play in Lithuania was somewhat suspect based on my reading.  One writer indicated league play was a notch below the highest level of competition in Lithuania. 

Returning stateside LeMelo returned to competition at the high school level, as we might figure the level of competition can and often varies.  The National Basketball League of Australia offered a higher level of competition.  As I indicated it’s still early, if he continues play at this pace there is no reason LeMelo won’t be drafted in the NBA in 2020.  The NBL is in their exhibition season as this is written, hopefully we have the opportunity here either on NBA TV or streaming to see LeMelo in action.   

Celebrity news……not really  
There are rare occasions we cover news that might be considered celebrity driven although this might be a play on words.  This news impacts the NBA although not in the manner you might believe.  Continue to read and you will discover the who, what, when, why and where.  We could say this is basketball royalty to a degree, recently Seth Curry younger brother of Steph was married in Malibu. 

His bride Callie and now wife is the daughter of Clippers coach Doc Rivers.  This could present quite a dilemma; does she root against daddy’s team on those occasions the Mavs are matched against the Clippers?  Inquiring minds want an answer to the question, just kidding folks.  Whichever team Callie decides to favor is strictly her business, could we blame her if loyalty is divided?

“And the Man in the Middle….”
Those are the words of the PA announcer for the Bulls, introducing the team’s   starting lineup he would announce position by position until it was time for the center.  A website posed the question is small ball beginning to fade in popularity?  Well that depends, Steph Curry and several others remain in place but there has been a shift just this summer.  The Sixers signed Al Horford in free agency, the 6 foot 10 Horford has played center all his NBA career.  They didn’t acquire him to replace Joel Embiid, Horford slides over to play the power forward position. 

In Laker land the same scenario is likely to play out for Anthony Davis.  During his NBA career the 6 foot 10 Davis has played center.  He’s let management know, “I’ll play center but prefer to play forward.”  Waiting anxiously perhaps to hear those words is Boogie Cousins all 6-foot 11 inch 270 pounds of him.  Don’t forget Cousins played the center position with the Pelicans while Anthony Davis was the power forward.  (This was written prior to the season ending Cousins injury). 

7-foot 1-inch DeAndre Ayton moved into the starting lineup at center and had an outstanding rookie season.  Although he’s been in the NBA for 4 seasons the Pacers Myles Turner is only 23 years of age, he’s also a rising star at the center position.  He’s certainly not starting, in fact he’s not officially on the team.  The Celtics added 7-foot 7-inch Tacko Fall to their roster, what about that move?  What’s old becomes new again, that might be the case with a team offense played through the center position.  Someday we might see James Wiseman incoming Memphis freshman in the mix too, the youngster is 7-foot 1 inch and 240 pounds.