Basketball from a fan perspective

November 18---After moving the date all over the calendar it is set.  The NBA draft will be held about 6 weeks from this published date.  The 2020 draft is fluid to this point, we know the contestants however we have no idea of the draft order.  Generally, this near the draft we have an idea of the top pick and perhaps the 2 through 6 choices. 

We cannot make that statement regarding the 2020 draft; we are all over the map on this one.  Deni Avdija from Israel is listed as the top pick on one mock draft site, this might be a first for him.  In 2019 Zion Williamson was there most of the season, the same could be said the prior year.  In 2018 DeAndre Ayton was generally believed to be the top choice that season.  In 2017 Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball alternated most of that season as the possible top pick. 

Reported earlier---We reported the name Ryan Mutombo several months back.  At the time we mentioned the son of former NBA great Dikembe has taken up the game of his father.  Ryan is a 6-foot 11-inch 235-pound center and attends Lovett School in Atlanta.  On Sunday came the announcement Class of 2021 prospect Ryan would be committing to his father’s school Georgetown.  There were offers on the table from 14 schools for young Mutombo.   

Best player in the nation---Emoni Bates is the acknowledge best high school player in the nation, he is no longer enrolled at Ypsilanti’s Lincoln High School.  Bates is now enrolled at Ypsilanti Prep a school founded by Emoni’s father for his junior year of high school.  This new school on the prep scene plans a national schedule beginning Thanksgiving week, of course covid could possibly impact the school’s plans for 2020-21. 

Dallas will be the sight of a Thanksgiving Double Header November 28 as Ypsilanti will face Duncanville (TX).  According to the announcement this event usually features 30 teams across the nation but has been scaled back this year.  The game will be held at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, tickets go on sale November 2.  If you live in or plan on being in the area around the time of this game, it becomes a must-see event.    

Bits n Pieces---If we said Capitols you would immediately think of Washington’s NHL hockey team…wrong.  In addition, you would inform us we spelled the name incorrectly it should be Capitals which is not accurate.  Washington D.C. had an NBA team prior to the Wizards, they were the Washington Capitols.  The Capitols were a charter member of the Basketball Association of America being born in 1946, three years later with the merger moved into the NBA.  In 1951 the team folded, and no records exist as to why.  The franchise had a famous connection which continued in the NBA.  Legendary Celtics Coach Red Auerbach led the team for its inception until 1949.

The U.S. Military Academy at West Point has produced a great number of military officers, statesmen, business executives, politicians, astronaut, and a U.S. President.  The school has been the starting point for two of the most successful college basketball coaches in history.  West Point provided former Indiana Coach Bobby Knight his first head coaching job but wait there is more.  Knight had a point guard on his team named Michael William Krzyzewski, that point guard would go on to serve as head basketball coach at Duke University

It appears a coach whether college or the NBA must be no taller than 6 foot 5.  Coach K. stands 5 feet 10, former Coach Larry Brown is 5 feet 9 there are others, but it says tall guys don’t make good coaches.  The late John Thompson who stood 6 foot 10 was a winner but others let’s check.  6-foot 9 Larry Bird was okay however his archrival Magic Johnson was a terrible coach. Patrick Ewing who spent his formative years at Georgetown under Thompson has now taken on the role of coach at 7 foot.  Juwan Howard standing 6 foot 9 is now head coach at his alma mater Michigan.