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Basketball from a fans perspective

An unusual stat line

Big Man Nikola Jokic’ aided the cause for his Nuggets in beating the Grizz 105-91. If you check the box score for the game, you will note 13’s across the board for the Joker. 13 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists, he shot 50% from the floor and 100% from the 3pt line. His previous game against the Hornets the line was 40 points, 27 rebounds and 10 assists. The twice MVP winner is attempting a trifecta this season. In the past there have been several NBA players winning more than two MVP’s, three wins in a row would place Jokic’ in some exclusive company few have accomplished. You know the names all in Hall of Fame. They are Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Larry Bird but none since Bird.    

It caused me a return to his pre-draft days to determine the assessment for Jokic’ and it proved quite interesting, keep in mind this is one scout’s view. The strengths are important, but I always check what are perceived as weaknesses. “An average athlete lacking great speed and leaping ability…Foot speed is a big liability. He may struggle to stay in front of NBA athletes at the center position…Needs to improve as a post player, gain strength and develop a repertoire of back to the basket moves.” The speed part we can debate, leaping ability is a question now since he’s a constant double-double man. So there you have it, Nikola Jokic’ a.k.a. The Joker. One might ask who are the 40 players drafted ahead of Jokic’? In my view the only comparable player is his MVP rival Joel Embiid drafted at 3. Most are average to good; some are no longer in the NBA so you can easily understand my question. 

Have you heard this saying?

“The more things change the more they stay (or remain) the same.” 5-star prospect and 6-foot 11 center Makur Maker committed to Howard University a historically black college in the nation’s capital in July 2020. The landscape was to change at least that was the statement made at the time. It had been decades since a high-profile high school basketball player committed to an HBCU. For those who might not be aware of the history it was a different time. A larger number of black basketball players chose to attend HBCU’s over state or private schools. In the deep south strict segregation policies wouldn’t allow a Mississippi or Alabama black youth to attend Ole Miss or the University of Alabama.

Civil rights legislation and society changes would see these schools especially in the south begin to recruit black players. HBCU schools were no longer able to recruit the top talent in the nation. As an example today there is one black player in the NBA where once upon a time, HBCU players dominated the rosters of most NBA teams. As for Maker, it was said in 2020 “The landscape would change with his commitment to Howard.” We are two years down the road, Maker declared for the NBA draft after playing but two games when he suffered a groin injury. Maker went undrafted and would play in Australia, currently he is playing with the Wizards G-League team. As for the expected change for HBCU schools it never came about and there might be serious thoughts it just might not ever occur.

They need to make a move

Laker Nation (and sports media folks) claim the team needs to move Russell Westbrook. That might indeed be the case however it’s my contention rather than Westbrook it should be Patrick Beverly who gets the pink slip. Allow me to state this up front I was less than enthused when the Lakers chose to trade for Westbrook. I almost became violently ill when they announced the acquisition of Beverly. This doesn’t just apply for the Lakers I’ve always seen Beverly as a one-dimensional player, more than adequate on the defensive end. He couldn’t throw the ball in the ocean if you paid him (on second thought, the Lakers are paying him). I’ve mentioned in the past the scouting staff’s ability to spot talent and that might be the case for Max Christie.

The Lakers drafted Christie out of Michigan State in the second round with pick 35. I know this because I do, Christie will not impact the defensive side of the ball in the same manner of Beverly. He will score more that is a guarantee, so what do the Lakers do? Should there be a win now or build for the future attitude, my view is why not both? There is one more youngster to consider, point guard Scotty Pippen Jr., he’s also raw although his play with the G-League Lakers has been good. The Lakers called him back to the parent club so there might be minutes available for him in the future. Let’s face it they are in a jam; they are not very bad but not very good either. An infusion of youth even in a limited role for Christie and Pippen Jr. would sure beat in my mind what I’ve seen thus far…come on coach Ham make the move…please.

Really

A website bvmsports.com contained a story recently titled “Top 10 Missouri boys basketball players in the Class of 2023.” It is interesting the top four athletes on the list are all enrolled at one school, Link Academy in Branson Missouri. We probably think the best basketball players in the state might come from St. Louis or Kansas City with their large metro populations. No it’s not St. Louis or Kansas City containing the best basketball talent in the state its Branson in the Missouri Ozarks.

What comes to mind first if we discuss Branson, well how about family vacation destination. Located in   Branson is a theme park, Silver Dollar City and a significant number of entertainment venues throughout city and its surrounding area. As for the basketball question, how did this basketball talent make its way to Branson, turns out its not local talent. All four of the athletes mentioned attend Link Academy a high school containing grades 9-12.  The prep school is fairly new having opened in 2009, the hope is it becomes the IMG of the Midwest. Keep an eye on this Ozark school as it impacts boys basketball in the State of Missouri.