Basketball from a fan’s perspective

“My fellow Americans, we are and always have been a nation of immigrants. We were strangers once, too” Barack Obama 

I’m not so sure

The day-to-day activity of the Thunder is unknown by yours truly, with that allow a brief visit with the OKC Thunder. GM Sam Presti through trades has multiple first round draft choices for the next 10 years, okay I exaggerate I don’t know the number. The point is what good does it do Presti and the Thunder to have numerous draft picks if you lose most of them. Allow a brief explanation, at one point in time the Thunder had Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and James Harden. None of the three reside in the city now, all have left in trades or free agency.

Perhaps as a small market franchise the Thunder could not afford to pay all three. Durant left as a free agent so that was a loss, in the Hardin trade the Thunder received Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb plus two first round draft picks and one second round.  Martin is retired and Lamb is now with the Hornets, as for the draft picks that’s difficult to determine who might have been acquired. The most controversial trade Westbrook for Chris Paul and two first round picks and two additional first round picks. Paul is with the Suns now and again did the Thunder gain players with the draft choices? 

“Father Time remains undefeated”

LeBron James recently returned to the lineup on Friday, despite this fact the Lakers would lose his first game back against the Kings but that’s not the news.  LeBron said, he’s uncertain if he will ever be 100% healthy again.” The injury witnessed him missing 20 games over six weeks however we forget a key factor.  LeBron is 36-years old and despite playing at a high skill level even he cannot expect to continue at the pace prior to his injury. We forget one key factor, “Father Time remains undefeated” and perhaps we see LeBron in the future at 90 or 92% rather than 97 or 98%. I will take LeBron at whatever the skill level he plays. 

Outstanding games

This is not a report on either game, I witnessed neither however two of the NBA greats had outstanding games over the weekend and both occurred Saturday night. Luka Doncic led the way for his Mavs in their 125-124 victory over the Wizards.  Doncic filled up the box with his 31 points, 12 rebounds and 20 assists…yes, I said 20 assists.  The Joker, Nikola Jokic led his Nuggets to a 110-104 victory over the Clippers.

Joker scored 30 points along with 14 rebounds and 7 assists. Doncic joins a small group of NBA players who recorded 30-point 20 assists triple doubles. The list of names include Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson and Russell Westbrook. As for the Joker it’s been my contention for quite a while, he is the best passing Big Man in the game today. Zion Williamson led the way in an OT victory for his Pelicans over the Wolves. Zion scored 37 points and dished out 8 assists long with 9 rebounds. 

HBCU news

We reported in March the son of entertainer Master P., Hercy Miller committed to HBCU Tennessee State. May 1, we discover Shaqir O’Neal a 6-foot 6-inch shooting guard is headed to Texas Southern. This O’Neal is one of the sons of former NBA player and entertainer Shaquille O’ Neal. Another son of the Big Aristotle is enrolled at his alma mater LSU oldest son, Shareef O’Neal.     

“Youth is wasted on the young”

The title above are the words of George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) legendary Irish playwright. It was simply meant to imply “The young fail to appreciate what they experience” which might include swift healing. As an example, the Lakers desperately needed LeBron, but the healing process took like forever. LaMelo Ball suffered a fractured wrist on March 20 and was forced from the Hornets lineup. 

On Saturday May 1 he would return to action missing a little over a month of play. He probably fails to appreciate his youth allowed him to heal much quicker than an older athlete. Facing the Pistons, the 19-year-old Hornets point guard shooting touch was not quite there.  He only scored 11 points but managed 7 rebounds 8 assists and 2 blocked shots. Ball aided the Hornets in their 107-94 victory over the Pistons. We are unsure if anyone moved in front of Ball in the rookie of the year race however it appears he is back and ready to claim the top spot.