Basketball from a fan’s perspective

What did he say?

I’m disappointed, once again the Lakers were unable to beat the Nuggets in Game one of their playoff series. No requirement to do a step-by-step analysis of the game I prefer instead to ask Darvin Ham for an explanation. Allow this brief departure, NBA rules mandate coaches and players must be available to meet with the media post-game. That’s got to be difficult especially in the playoffs for the losing team, in addition a question or several questions from the media might elicit a strange or unusual response.

In the Saturday night post-game conference among expressions by Laker Coach Ham this particular statement stood out for me. “The Lakers have a couple more adjustments for Nikola Jokic but didn’t use them in Game 1.” Hey coach you informing us you intend to wait until the second game before implementing the adjustments you claim are in the playbook, better yet how do you contemplate this statement? Yes, I am trying to figure out the statement too, with 32 points 12 rebounds and 7 assists shouldn’t it be timelier to use in Game one over a Game two effort? Ham cannot make shots or defend them but a declaration such as this is totally confusing for me.

Talk about growth spurts

Anyone can play basketball, even me, although the emphasis has always been taller players. What might have occurred we suppose if these next few named had maintained their height at high school graduation? Dennis Rodman a.k.a. The Worm, in his graduation photo Rodman was 5 foot 9 inches. Of course he would later grow to 6 foot 7, it was junior college and then Southeastern Oklahoma State. The Lakers Anthony Davis stood 6 foot 3 his junior year of high school, by the time AD left Kentucky he was 6 foot 10.

Over the years we heard the story about Scottie Pippen, he was the equipment manager at the time he enrolled at Central Arkansas. Pippen was a 6-foot freshman, by the time he was drafted by the Bulls he was 6 foot 7. David Robinson was a 5-foot 9 senior in high school who grew to 6 foot 7 by the end of the year. Four years later graduating from Annapolis he was 7 foot 1 in height. Now you might understand, I grew 3 inches in height over the summer after the 6th grade. I was on the way to 6+ feet in height, unfortunately I didn’t make it. My growth spurt was nowhere near these guys, I can admit at this point in my life I didn’t make it to 6 feet.

Whoa, not so fast there

From the time prior to and up until the 2024 NBA draft we heard the same story. Victor Wembanyama needs to gain weight, This conversation occurred last summer up through the start of the NBA season and it included ALL. The legion of folks included former NBA players and a number of fans. That mindset is understandable after all Wemby stands 7 foot 4 in height and a slim 210 pounds. Playing the center position in the NBA “he would be eaten alive by Embiid, Jokic and others.”

Well guess what, although the weight concerns expressed were valid they didn’t prove as significant as first believed. Wemby was slotted in at the power forward position and eventually moved to the post. Could the weight issue have been exaggerated by the naysayers? I’m going to say perhaps…here I am in the middle of this and able to offer no expertise besides my gut feeling. I hope you’ve been able to see games or highlights of this youngster moving back and forth on the court…he’s speedy. What occurs with an additional 20-25 pounds, I wonder if it would impact his speed.

Based on this hypothesis (with no scientific backing mind you) I am unsure if gaining weight would amount to an aid for Wemby, what do you think? Would additional weight be a hinderance to Wemby’s continued development? Moving to another area, Yardbarker.com indicates the Defensive Player of the Year will be a tight race with 5 players in contention. The criteria for the award was listed line by line with points awarded based on that particular players position. Guess what, according to Yardbarker Wemby wins DPOY in a tight race 34 points to 34 for Rudy Gobert.

Bits n Pieces

First the background, Sixer post man Joel Embiid was born in Cameroon on the African continent. In colonial times the nation was split between British and French interest. Although Embiid’s never traveled to France one of the languages he speaks fluently is French. The Olympics is upon on us and it was believed Embiid would play for France, two years ago Embiid became an American citizen. With citizenship papers it was guessed Embiid would play for Team USA however another issue was raised. A letter reportedly written by him addressed to President Emmanuel Macron claims Embiid pledged to play for France in the 2024 Olympics. At least one French player is protesting the change and claims Embiid should be banned from ever entering France.

This account is from the wit and wisdom of the late Al McGuire, he was the longtime basketball coach at Marquette. “It’s so ridiculous to see a golfer with a one-foot putt and everybody say, ‘shhh,’ and not moving a muscle. Then we allow a nineteen-year-old kid to face a game-deciding free throw with seventeen thousand people yelling.” I must agree with the coach it certainly doesn’t make a great deal of sense however that’s sport for you

It's that time of the year, the college basketball season has closed with UConn repeating as NCAA men's champs. Dawn Staley South Carolina coach was able to lead the women's team to the NCAA championship. From this point up to August news regarding college basketball slows to a crawl. Based on this fact Words eye View begin publishing on a Monday through Friday basis, there will be no weekend edition. As this is written there in no planned start date however you certainly will be provided advanced notice. Allow me to take the opportunity thank you once again for being a loyal reader.