Basketball from a fan perspective

And the winner is…The winner of Game 5, drum roll please.  The winner will be the team with the most points scored when the clock reads 0.00.  I was just joking; on a more serious note this is what I expect by the time the clock reads 10:45 p.m. Central Time.  The Heat or Lakers get off to a fast start, all game long one of the teams is forced to play catch up all evening.  This will be a defense/offense match, at the end the Lakers win the game securing their 17 NBA Championship (or 12 if you listen to Jeff Van Gundy).  On the other hand, the Heat could win thus forcing a Game 6.   

No Power 5 here---No argument here the top programs in the nation football and basketball are Power 5 conferences.  The winning and power lie in the Big 10, Big 12, PAC-12, ACC, SEC Conferences but what about the others?  Although its preseason and all polls don’t agree how about these Top 25 schools not listed in Power 5 conferences:

Villanova-Big East

Gonzaga-West Coast Conference

Houston-American Athletic Conference

Creighton-Big East

Memphis-American Athletic Conference

There are other strong basketball programs that lie outside the Top 25 in the nation, this gives you an idea all the power does not lies with Power 5 schools.  Several might argue with the inclusion of Big East Villanova and Creighton being included.  Villanova competes in the Colonial Athletic Conference in football and Creighton no longer plays football.   

3^rd scorer---Later you will read an account regarding scoring duos, what about an additional scorer?  We had the Heatles, LeBron, Wade and Chris Bosh earlier it was Kareem, Worthy and Magic.  There are other examples but those come to mind first, we are attributing these words to reserve guard Alex Caruso.  “Our third star is whoever has the open shot.”  I believe whomever is responsible for those words speaks volumes.   

We don’t hear his name---Obi Topping Dayton forward is a name not drawing much attention anytime the 2020 NBA Draft is discussed.  Just because the media ignores Topping fails to take into consideration the guy can flat out ball.  The 6-foot 9 Topping will be a lottery pick although at this point, we are unsure exactly where he lands.  Geno Auriemma long-time UConn women’s coach sold on Topping as an NBA player, “Versatility, motor make Obi Topping a can’t miss prospect.”

This Brooklyn New York talent headed east to Ohio after his senior year of high school, as for honors Topping was named National College Player of the Year (2020), first-team All-American.  He was winner of the Karl Malone award and Atlantic 10 Player of the Year (2020).  You might say all those honors are noteworthy but are small potatoes when Topping finds himself matched against LeBron or Jason Tatum on the block. 

Thinking ahead---This is probably incorrect but it’s being written and published anyway.  Who do the Lakers choose with the 28th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft?  My belief is the pick will be a guard, it could be a shooting or point guard.  Who are the names, they are Devon Dotson point guard from Kansas, then we have Josh Green shooting guard from Arizona?   

We close this brief look at possible draft picks with Green’s Arizona teammate point guard Nico Mannion.  The guess is Dotson or Mannion because they play the point or possibly combo guards.  That’s not to say Green can’t play it is a numbers game, the Lakers are high on Talen Horton-Tucker.  With that issue in the forefront it’s unlikely they jam up the backcourt with even more shooting guards.