Basketball from a fans perspective

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Bits n Pieces   

We can’t be exactly sure however Tacko Fall’s short NBA career might be over. The 7-foot 6-inch Fall went undrafted in 2019 but spent time with the Celtics and most recently the Cavs over the last three seasons. It’s reported Fall’s signed a one-year contract with Xinjiang of the Chinese Basketball Association. Will this allow the gigantic Fall enough experience to return to the NBA? We don’t have the answer but will follow his progress as best possible. I happen to be a fan of the Big Man from Senegal; the key problem is change. If Fall had arrived in the NBA a generation ago there would likely be no question. With his height and a solid 311 pounds there’s no doubt in my mind Big Man Fall would be coached extensively.

Former Hall of Fame player Barry Sanders was one of the best running backs in NFL history. He retired from the Detroit Lions in 1999 at the age of 31 years, most believed he could have played at least two or three years more. For Sanders when he said it was over, he meant it was the end of his NFL career all spent with the Lions. Recently came news Nicholas Sanders had become a walk-on candidate for the Michigan State Spartans. Young Sanders approximates his father stature and weight at 5 foot 9 and 170 pounds. Why basketball over football is unknown, despite that fact here’s hoping he earns a role with the Spartans.

I must confess, I’ve never read the 13 original rules. At the time Dr. James Naismith “invented” basketball he laid out rules for the game. I love to say he invented the game because unlike most sports this one did not derive from something else…example. American baseball has its origins in cricket although some might argue this view. As for basketball the 13 rules were published in 1891 with implementation of the game. I just learned today dribbling was not the original method of moving the ball. The ball had to be passed forward player to player. “A player cannot run with the ball. The player must throw it from the spot on the floor which he catches it, allowance to be made for a man who catches the ball when running at a good speed if he tries to stop. After two 15-minute halves and five minutes of rest, the team with more scores would win the game.” In addition to no dribbling evidently traveling didn’t exist either. Just that brief explanation says this is not the game I see today, LOL.

It's going to be published anyway

In many cases accounts in this blog can be written up to a week in advance. Naturally in some instances the information or event might change prior to publishing. Generally, the account is deleted and is never read by you. In the instance of this Russell Westbrook story, it will be published regardless. As this is written Westbrook remains on the Laker roster, it would appear the team heads into the season with him in place. What occurs going forward, how about this view…Westbrook comes off the bench as a reserve? It could materialize but the question would Westbrook be so upset he would demand a trade immediately?

Naturally, none of the questions can be answered as this is posed. If Westbrook is willing to accept this role its likely to make the Lakers a better team in my view. The mercurial point guard becomes the leader of the reserve unit, it’s my belief there would be less pressure on Westbrook to produce in this role. It appears at least that’s the report Darvin Ham’s desire is for Westbrook to shoot strictly from the corners. The shot in the corners is less distance to the basket than any other location on the court. I have no numbers but if the Lakers are making the suggestion, it would appear he’s better from 3-distance in the corners. Is this farfetched, a figment of my imagination believing this change might work. All this becomes null, and void should the Lakers be able to secure a trade for Westbrook. NOTE: Of course, this was written prior to the Patrick Beverley trade.

Is he the problem?

As they might say, take this as a grain of salt…it is pure speculation. Nets Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving complained about management specifically coach Steve Nash. Before I begin this account allow me to state up front Nash is headed to the Naismith Hall of Fame, that’s the good. The bad, at the time the Nets hired him many of us questioned, why hire a guy with zero coaching background? In 2014 the Nets hired Jason Kidd with no prior coaching history, we can say that was kind of a success. After finishing his first season with a 44-38 record Kidd quit after the Nets failed to advance in the playoffs.

So that’s our background, hire a guy with no prior coaching experience and the team was okay. This was probably the thought process of Nets management, if we hire Nash, he should be able to duplicate the effort of Kidd especially with an improved lineup. We say all the time, what we foresee on paper is not always the end result and that was the case here. Nets management had no idea a city covid mandate would sit Irving for the greater portion of the season. At the time Irving declared his desire to play somewhere else he named Nash as a culprit. We are weeks from training camp, and it appears both stars will remain in a Nets jersey so what occurs?

Emoni Bates update

We first read of Emoni Bates when he was a 16-year-old, now the story is quite different. Back then a scout wrote “If the NBA allows high school players to be drafted Emoni Bates will be the first in ages.” Two things occurred; the age 18-rule remains in effect in 2022 into 2023. College has been a roller-coaster for Bates, it’s been nowhere near what was expected. Bates struggles were quite evident this past season, that’s what caused him to transfer from Memphis to Eastern Michigan. The road to the NBA will be no easier once he’s back in his home state playing basketball in fact it might become even tougher. There are occasions I find stuff I’m not looking for and that is the case here.

My two primary mock sites list Bates name but certainly nowhere near you might believe. The primary sites I utilize (nbadraftroom.com & nbadraft.net) have Bates drafted but in the second round far from what we might have believed just a short time ago. We see him projected either the 44^th or 55^th prospect depending on which mock site is utilized. Besides money there is one other issue with being a second-round pick. That player might not be drafted at all, over the years we have seen a number of players miss being drafted. This all could change if Bates has a breakout year at Eastern Michigan. We shall see how this plays out in the 2022-23 college basketball season. Despite what might appear to be a negative account I still desire the youngster to earn high marks.