Basketball from a fans perspective

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

He’s got a right to his opinion…but!

If you’ve read this blog for any length of time you are aware of this issue. I’ve had a long-time difficulty with the accuracy of specific story’s reported or written by ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith. Opinions are one thing accurate reporting is another, allow me to cite the latest example. A few weeks back I read (maybe you did too) a story from Smith regarding the Warriors Jonathan Kuminga. From Smith, “Kuminga lacks commitment and discipline and was shortchanging the Warriors.” Warriors coach Steve Kerr questioned the account even stating he'd contacted Bob Myers general manager wondering where the story originated.

This Kerr quote: “Because it (the report) made no sense. JK’s been great, he’s done everything we’ve asked of him. He’s working hard. I enjoy coaching him. He’s right where he needs to be, and just gotta keep getting better every day.” We’d expect a coach to defend his player no question, it's likely someone provided this information to Smith however that can present a problem. My issue with the Smiths of the world are the “reliable sources” might not always be so dependable. We once used the term for malfunctioning computers, “garbage in-garbage out.” As I’ve stated over and over the ESPN guy’s got a right to his opinion, he doesn’t have the right to make up stuff.

What is wrong with us?

We’ve reached a strange point in time in my view. The last few years has seen us believe no one besides Michael Jordan represented greatness in the game from its founding in 1949. This latest rant is based on a photo of Artis Gilmore blocking a shot and the commentary from fans. Oh, you are unfamiliar with the name? Gilmore is a 7-foot 2 center who began his professional career in the ABA. He would go on to play outstanding basketball for the Bulls and Spurs from 1976 through 1987, look up the numbers if you care.

The point of this latest rant is more than Gilmore, a number of appear to believe “If I didn’t see it, it didn’t exist.” Those who came before Michael Jordan to put it in the jargon of JJ Redick were “plumbers and carpenters.” I am going to attempt once again to ignore those who claim “__________ played in 1957 he couldn’t have been very good.” Rest assured there are several athletes of that generation who could have played in any age. Stop shortchanging athletes because of the era of their play it just doesn’t make sense to me. Keep in mind this is coming from a guy who believes the athletes of today are better conditioned (training, diet etc.) than most of those of the past.

Interesting

I saw another YouTube video featuring Victor Wembanyama which is the basis for this account. The 18-year-old French youngster has been termed by many a generational talent. Countless scouts are stating the 7-foot 5 youngster is the best NBA prospect since 2003 when LeBron James was drafted. It is noteworthy Wembanyama was born the year after LeBron’s NBA debut. Back to this from the video, it points out only two players his height and taller have tasted success in the NBA. The players are, Kristaps Porzingis (7-3) and Yao Ming (7-6). We know Porzingis has suffered injuries which have sidelined him from time to time since his NBA debut.

Porzingis finished this past season playing 51 games for the Mavs and Wizards. As for Yao despite an effective NBA career injuries forced him to retire at a relatively young age 31. We have no idea what Yao might have been if not forced to retire early. In an earlier time 7-foot 4-inch Rik Smits had an outstanding 12-year career all spent with the Pacers. Let’s face it injury or not several of the players 7-foot 3 and taller were not very good or were simply specialists. Despite the promise 7 foot 3 Hasheem Thabeet was not a quality NBA player although he managed to play at UConn. 7-foot 7-inch Manute Bol who played from 1986-1995 was strictly a specialist for a number of NBA teams.

We also could look at 7-foot 3 Arvydas Sabonis, he was the Nikola Jokic of the 1980’s. Unfortunately, once he reached the NBA (1995), he was a shadow of his former self due to injury. Sabonis was prohibited from playing in the U.S. as a member of the Soviet Union's basketball team. As for Wembanyama the future is in front of him, there is no sure-fire method to avoid injury. He must continue to develop his game and play it as best he can. Get this, Wembanyama might actually be taller than 7 foot 3. In a video he is standing next to Purdue center Zach Edney who is reported to be 7 foot 4. Wembanyama is clearly half a head taller than Edney.

They are just being cautious

A 10-year-old probably could tell us Kawhi Leonard is key to the success of the Clippers. Paul George is good; John Wall was good at a point in time but unless Leonard is able to return and impact the game…well. A piece I read recently reinforced the view stated in the first paragraph. Leonard missed all of last season recovering from a torn right ACL tear, the Clippers indicate he’s been cleared to play. Despite the optimistic tone given by management I was surprised to discover Leonard’s yet to play a 5 on 5 game.

Clippers president Lawrence Frank indicates training camp moves will be at the discretion of Leonard, it’s further pointed out his play in exhibition games might be limited as well. Athletes in the NFL and NBA have returned to action from similar injuries in the past but there is a question. The question will Leonard come back on the court as the player we remember? I hope this doesn’t appear a doom and gloom account, but all the money sunk into constructing Intuit Dome won’t be worth squat if Leonard is not playing on the floor in two years.

We don’t know

During the mid to late 1990’s I checked, the Celtics made the playoffs for 7 consecutive seasons. They failed to win it all but were a good team. They still had Larry Bird although he began to show signs of slowing, they had Kevin McHale. Two players who might have led them to great heights never fulfilled the promise and both by death. In 1986 the Celtics made Len Bias the second pick in that year’s draft, an All American at Maryland it was believed the 6-foot 8 210-pound Bias would eventually replace Bird in the Celtic starting lineup. Two days after the draft celebrating with friends in his dorm snorted cocaine, the result Bias suffered a cardiac arrhythmia from the cocaine, attempts to revive him at the hospital and he died. We can only speculate; Bias was reported to have all the tools to gain success in the NBA. How good was the potential, just recently Bird said he would have retired in 1986 if Len Bias had lived.

In 1987 the Celtics with the 22^nd pick chose Reggie Lewis from nearby Northeastern University. Lewis would play a reserve role in his rookie season with only 49 games. The 1988-89 season would be his breakout year Lewis was a starter in 57 of the Celtics season, he would average 18.5 points a game that season. The career of Lewis would continue ascending upward until April 29, 1993, in a playoff game he collapsed on the court and after several minutes rose. That game would turn out to be his last action in an NBA game, in the hospital Lewis was diagnosed with focal cardiomyopathy a disease of the heart muscle.

Lewis was informed this would be career ending so probably like us he sought a second opinion. Another medical team identified his condition as neurocardiogenic syncope. On July 27, 1993, while working out at Brandies University Lewis suffered cardiac arrest, attempts to revive him failed and he died that same day. The second medical group indicated they did not suggest Lewis begin workouts again. We can only speculate on Len Bias, perhaps he might not have been great as an NBA player. Those with the opportunity to see him play claim there was no doubt regarding his ability. As for Lewis it was a different matter, brief as it was, we saw him in action for the Celtics. He too was thought of as a rising NBA star after he was chosen to play in the 1992 NBA All Star Game. The account of two Celtics who could have led them to NBA greatness.