Basketball from a fan perspective

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday

We tuned in to see the wrong guy---You were probably like me, it’s likely you tuned into the Thursday evening match on ESPN to see Emoni Bates in action.  Bates did have an outstanding game although it appeared, he was pressing at points he took shots that might be considered questionable.  7 foot 1 Chet Holmgren and Team Sizzle won the exhibition game 78-71 over Bates and Ypsi Prep Academy.  Bates scored 36 point and grabbed 10 rebounds; his game certainly was outstanding however he came in second place to Holmgren. 

Holmgren scored 31 points 13 for 18 from the floor with 2 for 3 from the 3-point line.  In addition, he snatched down 12 rebounds along with 6 blocked shots, there is no telling how many other opposition shots were missed strictly by his intimidation.  Okay, he’s a skinny 7-footer who should dominate high school players, that’s true.  Holmgren proved he could handle the basketball as he often advanced the ball up the court and has a reliable 3-point shot, the announcers compared his game to (unfairly in my view) that of Kristaps Porzingis. 

Holmgren is a boney 195 pounds who needs to gain weight, but we can point out NBA players of similar stature.  Porzingis, Kevin Durant, and others gained weight once they arrived in the NBA.  Shannon Sharp Fox Sports had the funniest comment, “The basketball ain’t that heavy.”  Don’t misunderstand the declaration this is no projection of Holmgren’s future it’s simply to point out he will gain weight in the future.  As for his skill it’s easy to understand why Holmgren is rated the top prospect in the Class of 2021 and in conclusion on Thursday evening, we tuned in to see the wrong guy play. 

Part 2---Late word last week Russell Westbrook indicated he wanted to leave the Rockets.  He no longer desires to play for them despite the friendship with James Hardin.  Let’s check out Hardin for a moment, good shooter above average distributor of the ball.  Downside, his steal totals are always near the top in the league, yet we continue to read reports he’s not a good defender.  The issues that make him a great player also might be a contributing factor to Westbrook wanting out.  We read Kevin McHale was nicknamed “The Black Hole”, science indicates objects entering a black hole never emerge. 

That description applied to McHale; you pass the ball into him you ain’t never getting it back.  The tag could be applied to Harden as he dominated the offense but the problem for the Rockets appeared to be twofold.  Westbrook’s shot has disappeared, in the playoff’s teams backed away from him daring him to take the shot especially at the 3-point line.  Generally, when Westbrook took the shot it was a miss, we witnessed him shooting a pathetic .421 from the floor and a paltry .242 from 3.  Compounding the shooting woes, he was “Shaq like” from the free-throw line with a .532 average.  Despite great athletic ability there comes a time you must modify your game which it appears Westbrook is unable or unwilling. 

I’m probably wrong---It’s difficult for me to see D’Angelo Russell and LaMelo Ball in the same backcourt.  Don’t confuse the statement it is not a talent issue it’s a “head” issue.  We’ve witnessed Russell’s game moving from the Lakers to the Nets and then the Warriors and now the Wolves.  He’s more a combo guard than pure point guard and what about Ball?  We can only look at the game he displayed in Australia; NBA scouts were raving about his performance.  That play has led to him being considered the top pick in several NBA mock drafts.  We have two ball dominate combo guards in the same backcourt, I can’t see it.  Perhaps the Wolves draft Ball with the intent of trading him to the Knicks or some other team.  

Who is he? ---The Thunder announced the hiring of a coach to replace the departed Billy Donovan.  The new man is named Mark Daigneault and he was an assistant on Donovan’s staff.  According to the information provided he’s previously served as head coach of the Thunder G-League team.  Daigneault certainly has youth on his size, at 35 years of age he becomes the youngest head coach in the NBA.