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Basketball from a fans perspective

No excuse

Everyone, especially those in Laker Nation was aware Rudy Gobbert and Jaden McDaniels would be missing for the Wolves. Gobbert due to suspension and McDaniels sidelined by injury. I’m not sure what the game was, however, it appeared to be executed to perfection for a time. With little inside game except for KAT the Wolves rushed out to a double-digit lead at times. It helped Laker shooting was particularly good from the floor. The second half of the game proved to be different, defense contributed to the Wolves shooting sliding downward. As the clock ticked down and the game tied, the ball in LeBron’s hands, he dribbled down the right side of the court. Seeing Dennis Schroeder in the opposite corner shot a bullet pass cross court to the guard. With little hesitation Schroeder took the shot with 1.4 seconds remaining and sunk a three pointer,

The final score read Lakers 98 Wolves 95, that was not quite the end expected. Once the Wolves inbounded the ball it was in the hands of Mike Conley who took a three-point shot hitting the side of the backboard. Game over, not quite, AD fouled Conley on the shot attempt and the Wolves guard stepped to the line sinking all three free throws tie game. In the overtime the Lakers escaped with a 108-102 victory and will now face the Grizzlies. Despite AD’s brain fart as LeBron described it, AD contributed 24 points 14 rebounds and 3 blocked shots. As for LeBron it was 30 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists. The true hero in a reserve role Dennis Schroeder contributed 21 points including the apparent winner. Afterwards it was mentioned this was the second time Schroeder was in this position…he missed the crucial shot that time. As usual Charles Barkley was unimpressed stating “They (Lakers) didn’t deserve to win this game tonight. This was all about the Wolves choking this game away.” Guess what Charles despite your comment the Lakers won anyway. 

Bits n Pieces 

This is about Wemby and Ball, I’m going to retract a statement I made just a short time ago. Looking toward the NBA Draft I projected teams I felt would be the best fit for Victor Wembanyama, one of the team’s I omitted from the Wemby draft was the Charlotte Hornets. I didn’t provide you with a reason for this view but have now changed my mind, that’s my prerogative. The Hornet roster contains LaMelo Ball, the best of the brothers in all aspects of the game. Can you imagine a bullet pass to a streaking Wemby or a lob for a spectacular dunk? So now the change, the Hornets will be one of the teams I say okay if they draft Wemby. The Rockets become that team, leadership is in chaos. No Wemby for them (I hope).

The letters came pouring in and most of them were negative. I’m unsure who initiated it but it wanted to wish good luck to Mizzou players in the NBA playoffs. One of the names mentioned was Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. and many of the letters I read had nothing positive to say about MPJ. Honestly, he’s had a better NBA career than the single season he played at Mizzou. At Tolton High School in his junior year it was 28.5 points and 11.8 rebounds a game, I’m sure no one expected those numbers at Mizzou. There was a belief MPJ would play more than 3 games and score more than 10 points a game.  

“What in the Wide, Wide World of Sports is going on”, with the Mavs. Owner Mark Cuban is all about winning, he file a protest with the NBA over a near end of the season game. The league turned him down but contrast that with the last third of the season or so. You might have seen the same graph I saw; it    detailed the Mavs slide downward culminating with playoff elimination. It wasn’t Jason Kidd who sat Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, Kidd said as much. The Mavs will be closely monitored by me over the next few weeks and months.

Did you realize?

I saw a profile on Kevin Durant and I’d forgotten how many jerseys he’s worn in the NBA. Back in the old days a player playing for that number of teams might have been deemed a journeyman. With that said here goes, Durant was drafted by the Sonics and played in Seattle his first year, as for the others it became the:

Thunder

Warriors

Nets

Suns 

Technically speaking the Sonics/Thunder was essentially the same team with a different name and city. As for the others it was three seasons with the Warriors, four seasons with the Nets and this spring the trade to the Suns. I guess that is the new age, no one spends a lifetime with a team unless your name is Dame Lillard. LeBron’s worn a Cavs, Heat and now Laker jersey, at age 38 is this the last NBA jersey he might wear?