Words eye view 

Basketball from a fan perspective

All-Star Game

This might be shocking to a number, there is no report.  Much earlier I decided to skip the game but view the skills portion.  We had an engagement on Sunday, I left the house without setting my DVR to record the part I intended to view.  I returned in time to watch the game itself but rather chose a movie.  So, there you have it, I believe for the first time in several years no All-Star Game report.  In fact, I’ve seen not a single highlight to this point, this is written early Monday morning.   

Ball brothers be ballin’ 

Lonzo and LaMelo have provided us proof they can play at the NBA level.  Rest assured we don’t know which brother was under the more intense pressure to produce.  It’s been mentioned on more than one occasion the bright lights of Los Angeles plus parental “noise” might have been a contributing factor in Lonzo’s initial foray into the NBA.  He might never be a superstar however the trade to the Pelicans has proven beneficial to him in more ways than we might have imagined. 

As an example, his career field goal percentage is 39.8 compared to 43.3 this season, his 3-point percentage has risen slightly, and he’s improved his free throw line to 77.5.  Lonzo’s rebounds (4.3) and assists (5.2) remain about the same, his scoring average of 14.8 points a game has risen.  Lonzo’s numbers across the board have improved significantly over his first three years.  I’m sure he’d resent this, but baby brother LaMelo has been quite the rookie thus far.

LaMelo’s exploits have caused Warrior fans to question if James Wiseman were the better choice since they could have selected Ball.  Unlike older brother Lonzo for LaMelo his numbers are the now, they certainly could improve but are exceptional as he leads all rookies.  Through 34 games LaMelo is shooting 44.6 from the floor along with 36.7 from 3.  Unlike his brother at the line, he’s at 80.8 along with 6 rebounds and 6.4 assists while scoring 15.7 points a game.  After all the parental posturing it’s good to see the brothers succeed on their own, a great deal of resentment has been aimed at them most of it due to the father. 

Do you remember the Baltimore Bullets?

This bit on NBA history is quite a distinctive story, until I begin research, I didn’t realize there was a Bullets I and Bullets II team.  Allow me to explain further, the team I was familiar with moved from Baltimore to the Washington D.C. area eventually being re-named the Wizards, they had an elaborate prior history.  The Bullets played in three leagues, from 1944-1947 they played in the American Basketball League.  The history is unclear regarding the league, however the ABL like others during that period went out of business. 

In 1947 the Bullets moved into the Basketball Association of American or BAA, when the league merged with the NBL in 1949 Baltimore moved into the newly formed NBA team.  The Bullets would remain NBA members until the 1954-1955 season when the team went out of business.  Once again, the history is unclear except, all we can uncover just indicates the Bullets closed shop.  In 1963 the expansion Zephyrs moved from Chicago to Baltimore and the Bullets name was reborn with the new team.  Baltimore had a team in three leagues with the same name and an 8-year break between two versions.