Basketball from a fans perspective

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Why no complaining?

We are unsure if the Nets are finished with compiling their roster however this is interesting. Everybody and their brother has weighed in on the off season moves made by the Lakers. They have complained, compared and every other thing possible. On Thursday the Nets signed Paul Millsap late of the Nuggets to a 1-year contract. Do you remember LaMarcus Aldridge, the veteran power forward signed with the Nets but was forced to retire due to health concerns?

It’s being reported Aldridge’s been cleared medically to play once again. Guess who’s got the inside track to sign Aldridge, you got it. Wonder why the Nets can make all these moves yet we hear nary a word of negativity? Every time there is a report of a possible Laker move the haters come out of the woodworks often before anything is done. I asked the question of a co-worker, and he provided a simple answer…LeBron James. He might be correct; LeBron James is a walking lightning rod for controversy regardless of what he does. 

The strange and usual journey

After being a member of the Celtics for two seasons Tacko Fall is now in Cleveland. The 7-foot 5-inch giant has signed a 1-year contract with the Cavs according to his agents. I followed the young man’s progress throughout his 4-years at UCF, somewhere in the middle of his junior year I concluded Tacko had 0 NBA future. I was not surprised in not hearing his name called in the 2019 NBA Draft, the surprise later would be the Celtics signing him to a two-way contract.

Now that Tacko’s in Cleveland he faces the same issue of Udoka Azubuike who barely plays for the Jazz. The NBA game of today is not tailored for 7-foot centers and that’s unfortunate for one clear reason. Mentioning this dilemma to a friend he stated, “Well, Giannis can play on the perimeter” they should be able to adapt.” My friend is partially correct however every 7-foot player cannot become a Giannis Antetokounmpo or Dirk Nowitzki. They are rare talents at their height. As for Tacko (and Azubuike) I would hope a Big Man coach could work with both to at least allow them on the floor for a period.   

A rival

We have annually discussed the ability of Kentucky’s John Calipari to recruit. He now has a rival 500+ road miles southeast of Lexington in Memphis Tennessee and Penny Hardaway. Much has been made regarding the incoming prospects of 6-foot 10 Jalen Duran Rivals number 3 and 6-foot 8 Emoni Bates both designated 5-star by Rivals, there are others. These are all incoming freshman in the Class of 2021, they are: Josh Minott 6-8, 195-pound SF and 4-stars, he’s rated number 32. Next up Sam Ayomide Onu 6-11 255-pound C and 3-stars, he is 106.

We also have Jacobi Wright a 6-foot 2 180-pound PG, he’s 3-stars, we close with John Camden 6-7 185-pound SF who is also a 3-star. On paper this crop of freshman might appear imposing however there is a key component required. Six new Tigers must adapt to the coaching philosophy of Hardaway and company. The second, the imposing mountain college basketball presents over even good high school competition. Everybody will not play, notice the number of prospects who play the same position as another. The entire squad must have the ability to check their egos at the door. With so much potential talent arriving regardless of the season expect transfers next season. 

Bits n Pieces  

Rudy Gobert of the Jazz is a preeminent defensive player in the NBA. Gobert can score but he’s known more for his defensive prowess, but it wasn’t always that way, sometimes an adjust period is involved. After playing for Cholet a French team from 2011-13 Gobert submitted his name for the NBA draft.  The 7-foot 1 inch center was made the 27^th pick in the first round of the 2013 draft. After initially earning a roster position Gobert was sent to the Bakersfield Jam of the G-League in December but was recalled later in the month. Since then, Gobert has become a defensive rock, NBA Blocks leader in 2017. Three times he’s been named NBA Defensive Player of the Year and the honors go on and on and on.

If we look back to last season the impact of COVID forced cancellations and reschedules of football and basketball games. That will not be the case in the 2021-22 season in the SEC and several other conferences across the nation. If a game is not played due to COVID it will be listed as a forfeit, the teams forced to cancel will noted as a loss, the opposition will be given a win. It’s not just the SEC operating under this new policy at least 3 other conferences intend to follow the same guidelines. If we read the tea leaves, they are simply stating “NCAA athletes should be vaccinated against COVID.” 

My wife and I were driving home, and a tune came on the radio.  A portion of the lyrics sung by the artist contained the words “24 seconds” and it caused me to think, “I told my wife, as much as I know about basketball and especially the NBA, I have no idea how the league arrived at a 24-second clock?”  Well, I had to discover the answer, for many of you too young the leagues not always operated with a clock. 

“The NBA introduced the 24-second shot clock during the 1954-55 season to speed up the game.  The number 24 was devised by Syracuse Nationals owner Danny Biasone, who divided the game’s 48 minutes into 120, the average of 60 shots per team in games played from the previous three seasons.”   Like anything else over time, the average number of shots has probably varied up or down however the NBA continued to use the 24 second shot clock as it’s barometer. 

ESPN.com