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Basketball from a fans perspective

Rope a dope 

The headline is the term coined by boxing aficionados for the ring strategy used by Muhammad Ali back in the day. It applied especially in those fights against George Foreman, back then Foreman had a powerful punch when it landed. Ali would dance around the ring throwing glancing blows at Forman who tried to lay his powerful punches on the dancing Ali. In the later rounds Foreman out of energy and punching power fell victim to Ali. That’s what is offered as an exhibit for the Nuggets-Heat match, the Nuggets become Ali while the Heat become Foreman. 

For much of the Finals Aaron Gordon has sacrificed his scoring to play defense. It’s not the fact Gordon can’t score for the most part he leaves that up to his teammates. Game 4 on Friday evening proved very different as he went on a scoring binge. This might have occurred due to Jamal Murray being closely defended, Murray scored 15 points but only shot 29.4% from the floor but did manage to dish out 12 assists. Gordon led the way for the Nuggets scoring 27 points and continued his sparkling defense. The Joker failed to record a triple-double but contributed 23 points along with 12 assists. The Heat were led by the trio of Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Kevin Love. 

Duncan Robinson and Kyle Lowry came off the Heat bench providing scoring and defense it just wasn’t enough. The Nuggets now return to Denver with a 3 Games to 1 lead. In NBA history one team was able to resurrect itself from a 1-3 deficit but it appears quite dire for the Heat at this point. The Heat are a very good team, they have battled the Nuggets as best they can. It simply appears to me the Nuggets have more in their arsenal than the Heat.  They appear too strong for the Heat to beat in a series.  This thing might be closed out tonight…who knows?

One more thing

I attempted to provide an update on Mizzou Big Man Connor Vanover. The pros and cons were provided for the 7 foot 4 Vanover however I missed a thing. A friend reading my piece came back at me and said, “He does shoot some 3’s too. 32% from field.” This part of Vanover’s game should be added to my earlier report on him. I’m going to make a bold prediction with this signing. Mizzou was salivating over Jamarion Sharp in the transfer portal however Vanover’s numbers are equal and, in some instances, exceed Sharp. It should be of note Mizzou is team number 4 in 5 years, however the explanation as to the why is understandable. I’m not going to speculate just state Conover’s positives outweigh perceived negatives.

In other Mizzou basketball news Isiaih Mosley decided he wanted a pro career rather than a return to school. Briefly a look back, the Columbia (MO) shooting guard chose to attend Missouri State after high school rather than hometown Mizzou. He arrived this past season as a portal transfer after 4 seasons at Missouri State. Mosley played little this past season at Mizzou and the coach when queried by the media continued to state “He (Mosley) was working on personal issues.” He remains one of those mysteries which forever will continue to be just that unless someday we are offered an explanation. Despite his brief appearance in Black and Gold it would appear he’s got talent, maybe not of the NBA variety but enough to receive pay.

Turner, Irving & Paul

Strung together the names might appear to be a law firm, Turner, Irving & Paul. That is not the case, it actually represents three players the Lakers could secure possibly in the off season. We begin with Myles Turner who remains a member of the Pacers at this writing. The 6-foot 11-inch Turner’s upside is very good, the problem is he is a clone of Anthony Davis and would bring nothing new or change to the Lakers. Realizing the delicate nature of AD I could state Turner might be less injury prone. Next up is Kyrie Irving, a super talent point guard who despite that fact seems to be missing that one element (you name it). Finally I’m going to close this out with Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul, he’s now been waived by the Suns. Do you remember the history, I certainly do?

Paul was traded to the Lakers in 2011 and it seems in less than a week former commissioner David Stern vetoed the trade. Stern said at the time he was cancelling the trade in the best interest of the league. Of the three names mentioned Paul is the one who I’d most want to see in Purple and Gold but there are two key issues. At the top of the list of issues are the $$$ it would take to sign him; Paul is certainly not going to sign for chump change. Can the Lakers afford him, however there is a much bigger question? Paul has a history the last few seasons of suffering a late season injury or during the playoffs. The bottom line I cannot see the Lakers acquiring any of the three although it’s certainly not a talent issue as much as a money matter. What occurs if one of the three is signed by the Lakers, I will reluctantly accept it? If I could accommodate Russell Westbrook surely, I could accept one or more of the three names mentioned.

Bits n Pieces

A Las Vegas sportsbook figured odds on what city’s would be next for expansion. Let’s focus on those international locations the sportsbook mentioned, they were Mexico City and London. Interesting in that commissioner Adam Silver indicated he like to see an all Euro NBA by 2033. Makes sense and it would operate similar to NFL Europe. This makes more logic than the Lakers jetting off to Berlin or Paris to play but it also creates a problem. Although Paris France wasn’t mentioned by the sportsbook it’s got to have an NBA Euro team as would Barcelona Spain and maybe some cities I’m overlooking. Those are just a few European cities and now for the real dilemma, would this upstart league be able to compete with Euroleague Basketball? For now we have no reaction to the question and it will remain unanswered until 2033.

The Raptors hired Darko Rajankovic as their head coach replacing Nick Nurse. Rajankovic is a relative unknown name having arrived in this country in 2012 from Serbia. His resume includes G-League head coach for the Thunder, then a seat on the Thunder bench. He’s also had stops with the Suns and Grizzlies, with the Grizzlies he would become associate head coach. For all those complaining about re-cycled head coaches we have a new name in the coaching ranks. Just in case you wondered, there are currently 6 Euro assistants Jordy Fernandez, Kings, Darius Songaila, Spurs, Igor Kokoskov, Hawks, Dejan Milojevic, Warriors, Ognjen Stojakovic, Nuggets and Vitaly Potapenko, Grizzlies. Rajankovic hired by the Raptors becomes the first Euro head coach hired by an NBA team.

At the beginning of the college basketball season forward Jaylen Wilson of Kansas was projected to be the Jayhawks leader. After all he was a red shirt junior and he proved he was worthy as he led the team in scoring and just about everything else. Teammate Gradey Dick was an incoming freshman; he was projected to be accomplished but would play Robin to Wilson’s Batman. With the close of the season the roles have now been reversed. Dick is projected a lottery pick on three NBA mock sites I regularly use, as for Wilson is a probable second-round pick. It would appear scouts believe Dick’s game is projected at a higher level than Wilson. Don’t confuse this, Wilson is a genuine talent he’s not projected as highly as Dick.