Basketball from a fan’s perspective

No call for this

Fights have occurred in basketball since the beginning of time.  We witnessed a brawl Tuesday evening near the end of the Kansas State-Kansas game.  The outcome was known, Kansas was leading 81-59 another home win over there in state rival.  This is no longer a rivalry between the two state schools when K-State loses consistently.  A K-State player stole the ball went in for a dunk and the Kansas player blocked the shot. The Kansas player then stood over the K-State player in a taunting manner which precipitated the fight.  

A player emerged from the K-State bench threw a punch and both benches emptied, and the fight was on.  Throwing punches is one thing picking up a stool and threatening someone is a totally different matter.  Fortunately, a Kansas coach wrestled the chair away from him.  The real shame, a few Kansas fans are playing the victim for their team.  Wrong is wrong is wrong, there is no excuse for either team.  K-State was awarded a technical foul and sank the basket, final score Kansas 81 Kansas State 60.   

Random thoughts    

The world might be headed for disaster on a catastrophic basis, we really don’t know.  This we do know; the world did not end Monday evening with the Celtics-Lakers game.  No argument from this member of Laker Nation the Celtics ran over my team, they backed up the truck and ran over the Lakers again.  We shall wait for the second meeting whether it occurs in the regular season or playoffs. 

I’m not that smart but I ain’t stupid either.  Many in the media believe they know more than us, they take this position because they often have access to athletes we don’t.  That fact alone doesn’t allow them ability to formulate opinions on a subject any better than you or I.  Sometimes the opinions expressed by these so-called experts is downright asinine, it causes us to scratch our heads wondering.  How in the heck could he or she come to that conclusion?    

A question has been in the back of my mind for quite a few years.  The question is posed without the ability to offer you proof.  I've held a longtime belief "bad teams" don't get calls from officials.  In other words if the play is 50-50 the team perceived to be the superior of the two the verdict will be awarded to them.  Is this just a theory or does it have validity, your view.  

The young man, the legend and the myth 

The myth, Emoni Bates cannot leap tall buildings in a single bound.  The still growing youngster (15 years old in January) at 6 foot 9, he might be able to leap small buildings very soon.  What do we know about Bates besides the obvious fact he’s talented?  He’s from Ypsilanti about a 40 minute or so drive from Detroit, rivals.com list him as the top prospect in the Class of 2022 and awards 5-stars.  It appears he’s a self-starter, doesn’t need anyone or anything to boost him in preparation for basketball.  Currently there is no college preference listed which is an early indication of his future effort. 

We read he could move into the Class of 2021 play a year of college ball then declare for the draft.  Bates could also take the path of LeMelo Ball and RJ Hampton, head overseas to play for one year.  What if the NBA Players Association and the NBA do away with age restriction, he could be in the NBA draft of 2022?  It’s been said there’s not been this much publicity surrounding a high school player since the days of LeBron James.  Will Bates continue to progress at the rate many believe?  We certainly cannot guarantee anything except the youngster appears to be the real deal at least as a high school sophomore. 

“Is he Larry Bird or Magic Johnson?”

That was the comment by a broadcaster while discussing Luka Doncic’s NBA game.  How about this one, being the best version of Luka Doncic.  The comparison to Bird and Johnson is not fair in a sense but that’s what we do.  We utilize the standards set by past greats as a barometer of the talent and skill of the newcomer.  The youngster had an outstanding rookie season, his sophomore year has been even better. 

We have yet to reach 30 games as this is written, his numbers across the board eclipse those of last season.  Doncic is the principal reason the Mavs are in the playoff hunt this season.  I just listened to a debate regarding Doncic from two former NBA players.  One said, “until he leads the Mavs into the playoffs, I will reserve my view regarding his greatness.”  I could find an argument for that view but that’s another time later.  In any event Luka Doncic needs to be Luka Doncic end of story.