Basketball from a fan’s perspective

Bits n Pieces

Despite the advice of Dr. Larry Laker the Warriors Steph Curry intends to return this season.  If the Warriors were a serious playoff contender, it would make sense.  Steph is working out with the Warriors G-League affiliate, we guess he just wants to play this season despite it not being beneficial to his Warriors.  

Say what, might be the response by Knick fans?  Sports agent and new Knick president Leon Rose asked Knick Nation to be patient.  That might be a slight bit difficult since it's been nearly a decade a team with Knicks on the front of their jersey finished above .500, we guess perhaps they can handle one more year…maybe.  I only read the headline, maybe Rose provided fans a timeframe. 

If you check out the AP Top 25 and the Coaches Poll you will note the first six teams are in the exact same position on both polls.  Although this is not the first time it’s occurred it is interesting. 

1. Kansas

2. Gonzaga

3. Dayton

4. Baylor

5. San Diego State

6. Kentucky

Boy, I’m at it once again

Until his retirement I felt compelled, I became the defender of Kobe Bryant from many of the ill-timed and asinine comments by Messrs. Whitlock, Smith and Bayless.  Now I’m doing the same thing this time its for LeBron James, perhaps it’s a Purple and Gold thing.  Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless work for ESPN and Fox Sports respectively but they must monitor one another’s program.  I never watch Whitlock so I’m unsure of his take on LeBron, as for the other two they always appear to be stuck on the same statement.  Point 1. “What did LeBron do against Kawhi Leonard” and “LeBron doesn’t want to guard Kawhi.” 

It’s clear the three of us have not been watching the same game, LeBron is almost exclusively at the point.  Rarely is he on the wing, in most instances he matched against the other teams point guard and not the forward.  Point 2. LeBron is 35-years old now, despite his age he is still very skillful and productive in fact he just might win another MVP award.  LeBron is 7 years older than Kawhi and 16 over Zion.  How about this impossible scenario, a 28-year old LeBron versus a 28-year old Kawhi or 19-year old Lebron versus 19-year old Zion Williamson.  This impossible method of comparison is the only one that’s legitimately accurate in my book.   

The rule sometimes makes little sense

The directive only allowing an 18-year old (or one year after high school) entry into the NBA has all sorts of variations.  Research on 2020 international players led us to an unusual place and another inconsistency in the age 18-rule.  His name is Killian Hayes, he’s a 6-foot 5-inch shooting guard for Ratiopharm Ulm a German team in the Federal Basketball League.  The bio for this youngster indicates he was born in Lakeland Florida in July 2001, an international player born in the U.S.?

This next portion provides us the explanation, his father played basketball professionally in France where the youngster grew up.  Is he an international player, technically that might be the case however you see the issue here?  There have been other instances the rule has been bent slightly; Hayes might be the first American at age 18 to be drafted into the NBA in quite a while.  Thon Maker was certainly an international player however a portion of his high school was spent in the U.S.  When it came time for the 2018 draft it was necessary to prove an “extra” year of high school made him eligible to be drafted.