Basketball from a fans perspective

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

What to do…what to do

The Lakers pulled off a trade although it wasn’t the one most in Laker Nation (me included) believed would occur. Instead of Kyrie Irving arriving it would be Patrick Beverely. The Lakers acquired the 34-year-old defensive specialist in exchange for guard Talen Horton-Tucker and forward Stanley Johnson. I voiced my concern to a fellow member of Laker Nation. I expressed my belief Beverely can’t toss the ball in the ocean, I said they need scoring. He said, “Ya that’s right but if you can’t score you keep the other guy from scoring.”

Teams made inquiries about Horton-Tucker, but the Lakers always indicated they were not interested in trading him. As for Beverely he follows in the realm of Dennis Rodman and more recently Bruce Bowen. Rodman and Bowen were never expected to score but play tough hard-nose defense. Hopefully that will be the case for Beverely because this member of Laker Nation is not pleased. Despite my displeasure with the news, I am not turning in my Laker Nation card. As for Russell Westbrook he is more likely history with the Lakers now more than ever…how do I know? He and Beverely are adversaries, they have had more than a few difficulties while playing on opposing teams. I find it extremely difficult to believe they will sign a peace accord.

Bound for a pro career 

This is an introduction to one of the names recognized as an ascending basketball prospect, he's Matas Buzelis. He’s a 6-foot 10-inch shooting guard/small forward and the Rivals number 7 prospect in the Class of 2023. Buzelis has just begun his senior year at Sunrise Christian Academy in metro Wichita. As for home that’s Hillsdale Illinois a tiny populated village close to Moline Illinois/Davenport Iowa. As for the future Buzelis signed with G-League Elite and will begin a pro career in the fall of 2023. Due to his spindly frame, he’s been nicknamed the Praying Mantis, in any event check out the video of Buzelis in action.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1KPlQGMH9I

I’m a dinosaur, I’m willing to admit

On more than one occasion I’ve stated my difficulty with accepting much of which is disguised as “sports news” today. Try as I might the majority of times it’s simply ignored, then at a point it becomes overwhelming. Every time I promise myself “I’m not going to pay attention to what they say or do that next thing pops up.” Once again, we are discussing Skip Bayless Fox Sports and Stephen A. Smith ESNP. If you’ve viewed or read the words of Fox Sports Skip Bayless, you are aware he’s got a hate thing for LeBron James. He made a positive statement recently about LeBron at the expense of son Bronny James. Video (you might have seen it) was circulating on young Bronny dunking the ball on a break. This from Bayless; “Your dad would have done it better he would have used his left hand.” My first thought “This is a 17-year-old kid, there are many his age committing crime and mayhem.

Bayless decides to point out the Bronny dunk was with the right hand over his left, does that really matter in the Big Picture? Taking this matter one step further, hey Skip answer this for us. Could you dunk with either hand as 17-year-old, better yet have you ever dunked a basketball? You, Skip are a pathetic individual, there I said it. This doesn’t end here, wait there is more…Mr. Smith. Stephen A. decides to weigh in on an issue and this is the quote. “I’m hearing Jonathan Kuminga is shortchanging the Warriors, he lacks discipline.” The statement made by Smith might be correct but how do we know if its true? Is there anybody besides the Warriors coaching staff to provide us with a “He’s right?” We, know for a fact Kevin Durant despises Smith based on many of the comments he’s made about Durant over the years. Okay folks, Bayless and Smith have the right to say and write whatever they wish however oftentimes its more opinion over actual fact. Oftentimes there is no proof, “my sources” are not proof to me. Social media sports much in evidence in today’s climate is just not for me.

My dad can beat up your dad!

This is a story of two little boys in disagreement one says to the other the “My dad can beat up your dad!” A farfetched story, one little boy represents American basketball and the other Euro basketball, is this really that important or is the Euro League better than the NBA? Once upon a time I viewed Euro basketball as higher level than Division I but not on the same level of the NBA. There is a different view shared by former NBA player Mario Herzonja. He’s gone on record indicating his belief Euro League is much tougher. He said, “No offense to LeBron, but a guy like Luka Doncic is so much harder to defend---and we have 8 Luka’s here in Europe. The skill level is so much higher here.”

I believe Mario is correct but so am I, allow a brief explanation for my statement. At one time I believe Euro players did not play at the same skill level of American players, the gap has narrowed over the past several years. I can truthfully admit there are portions of the game played in the United States that are not as good as in the past. Europe has sent a number of very talented players into the NBA over the years, but I do have one question for Mario. When was the last time an NBA Olympic team from the U.S. failed to win a gold medal? I’ll provide the information for Mario and you, Latin America Argentina won gold in 2004 and in 1988 it was the former Soviet Union. This is not a fight I wish to have but just saying it as Mario states is offering us no proof his view is correct.