Basketball from a fan perspective

Bits n Pieces---We are reading all kinds of reports regarding LeBron James, these stories revolve around him “recruiting” players for the Lakers.  A number take issue with him concerning this, but I don’t.  Despite being the focal point of the offense and defense the game of basketball remains a team game.  Without teammates willing to sacrifice (as we just witnessed) you never or better yet hardly ever win anything.  LeBron “recruited” talent especially when he returned to Cleveland, as for the Lakers all I can say is keep it up I ain’t mad.

You might be unfamiliar with his name, it’s Jimmy Neutron.  Jimmy is a cartoon character developed by the Nickelodeon Channel, the full title was The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius.   Duncan Robinson Heat guard/forward bears no resemblance to the cartoon character however it was the Laker bench who placed the name before us.  The bench was taunting Robinson during the recent series referring to him as Jimmy Neutron when on the floor. 

As the calendar heads toward November a number of websites are reporting the same story.  Doesn’t matter which site is read all indicate LaMelo Ball will be the top pick on that date. The question remains will the Wolves make the move everyone is discussing?  Check back with me in 4 weeks, I remain skeptical if that is the case.  Ball will certainly be a lottery pick, as for going number one I’m not so sure.  James Wiseman, Anthony Edwards, Deni Avdija might be that pick or somebody else.  This has been mentioned in the past the 2020 draft is the most mysterious in several years regarding the top pick.  In any event you have an opportunity to laugh at me the evening of November 18. 

Can they accomplish the task in front of them?  We speak of the Baylor Bears, although Kansas basketball managed its usual stockpile of talent they are not favored in the Big-12 conference race.  Most pre-season polls indicate the top team will be Baylor, but I must state, prove it.  Scott Drew is a great coach and recruiter however there is a BUT.  His teams tend to flame out and sometimes fail to reach the heights many expect, is this the breakout year for the Bears?  We have no earthly idea. 

We are unsure how this came about, Louisville in the NBA.  No, there is no expansion rather its pandemic.  The Canadian-U.S. border is closed due to the pandemic, once baseball began play Buffalo NY became home for the Blue Jays rather than Toronto.  It appears a similar scenario will play out in 2021 for the Raptors.  They will play home games in Louisville (KY) rather than Toronto.  This has me confused, apparently Kansas City was not informed of this pending decision or might have declined we don't know.   

The hook shot---I’ve often wondered why players especially post players no longer favor the hook shot.  The shot is practically impossible to block, the only method is to push the opposing player out of position and hope the shot is missed.  Guarding a player in that manner often leads to a foul being called.  Lew Alcindor began shooting a hook shot in junior high school being taught by an assistant coach at the time.  He would carry this offensive weapon on to UCLA and into the NBA with the Bucks and later the Lakers. 

How did the term “Sky Hook” come into being, we owe that to former broadcaster Eddie Doucette?  Doucette stated back in those days we sat high above the action on the court unlike the broadcasters of today.  After Alcindor took the shot it appeared to be coming out of the sky.  Despite the shot becoming his go to weapon Kareem Abdul Jabbar had perfected the shot to magnificence.  Research indicates a player name Pranas Talzunas a Lithuanian American was the first to shoot it in a game.  In the 1937 Euro basketball championship it is recorded Talzunal scored a basket utilizing this never seen shot. 

As for others they claim Globetrotter Goose Tatum was the first.  His was certainly unorthodox as he would never look at the basket as he shot it.  In the late 1940’s George Mikan would use the shot aiding the Minneapolis Lakers to several successful winning seasons.  The hook shot was generally utilized by several centers over time, point guard Magic Johnson used it to great success in the 1987 NBA Championship.  His shot which he dubbed the junior, junior skyhook sealed the Laker victory over the Celtics.  So, there you have it the brief history of hook shot which like the bison is a thing of the past which few of today’s players used.