Basketball
from a fan’s perspective
Don’t think this
will ever occur again
Manu Ginobili will likely be elected to the Naismith Hall of
Fame at some future date. He arrived in
the NBA in 1999 the 57th pick in the second round, today that would
not have occurred. Consider the fact
there are 60 players chosen each year, Ginobili was just about passed over but
there was another factor. The chief
factor international scouting was no place near the level it is currently.
No guarantee is ever made regarding a prospect however we’ve
got to believe in 2020 Ginobili would have been at least a first-round pick. Initially Ginobili was a valued reserve and
sixth man for the Spurs, his talent eventually made him a key starter. He would experience a 16-year career with the
Spurs and became one of those rare individuals who spent their entire NBA with
a single team. I hated him, it seemed Ginobili
was always hitting a key shot or stealing the ball forcing my Lakers into a
loss.
What to do…what to
do?
The executive board met Saturday evening, the publisher and editor,
distribution manager and the reporter.
If you’ve read Words eye view any length of time its published 7
days a week, 52 weeks a year. Basketball
season or not Words is published however a wrench’s been tossed in the process. Covad-19 has impacted this publication far
different from the off-season of last spring and summer.
Technically the college basketball season is over however the
NBA remains in a holding pattern. In the
past publishing three days a week meant several news events were late being
covered. As for the foreseeable future
Words will continue to be published every day.
As for the board meeting it was comprised of me, myself and I.
“Don’t rain on my
parade”
I’m unsure if this was mentioned, if so, please ignore
it. Three Mizzou players indicate the
want to test the NBA draft waters. Jeremiah
Tilmon, Xavier Pinson and Mitchell Smith are the names, and in all instances, this
is a hope. None of the three have a
chance of earning a roster spot on any NBA team. I didn’t say they were not talented I just
believe they are not NBA ready to this point.
Tilmon has shown flashes in the past, he’s got enough of inside game an
NBA team might consider.
He’s got size (6-10 260 pounds), the downside Tilmon cannot
remain on the floor long enough to continue his basketball maturity. He’s almost always in foul trouble, there are
few games he’s been able to remain on the floor for any length of time. Smith saw more playing time this past season,
his skill set is limited. There is not
one positive I’ve seen in his game, over the course of his tenure at Mizzou I’m
unsure what his best talent is despite the fact he stands 6-10.
Of the three Pinson might have the most upside. Pinson is a speed burner on the court and
streaky shooter, Pinson handles the ball and distributes it efficiently
although he’s turnover prone at times. All
three should return to Mizzou, as for their NBA future that’s up in the
air. Could they play professional
basketball…most certainly it just might not be the NBA brand. Since they were kids all three have likely
dreamt of an NBA career and they say to me, “Don’t rain on my parade.”
The Euro duo
Latvia and Slovenia are approximately 1,000 air miles apart,
home for Kristaps Porzingis is Latvia while Luka Doncic’s home country is
Slovenia. The two are teammates with the
Mavs but there is a question, did the duo meet one another in Euro play
previously, that’s an unknown. This we
do know; they are teammates now and Mavs fans hope the two have a budding
future. Porzingis at 24-years of age and
Doncic 21 are the building blocks for the Mavs future.
Porzingis arrived in the NBA a relative unknown when drafted
by the Knicks, after offering critical remarks on the pick even Stephen A. had
to admit Porzingis could ball. All that is water under the bridge now as
Porzingis “forced” his way out of New York traded to Dallas. Doncic’s arrival was slightly different, we
knew his name ahead of his coming. Did
we have any idea he might be the second coming of Larry Bird?
Porzingis is 7 foot 3 at the power forward position, he’s
taller than Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Doncic is a small forward who plays more like
a point guard with his distribution of the basketball. It was said Mavs coach Rick Carlisle
realizing Doncic’s talent simply stated, “I’m going to get out of his way.” That’s quite a testimony for a 21-year old
skilled and talented NBA player by his coach.
