Basketball from a fans perspective

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Bits n Pieces 

Just in case you are unfamiliar with his name it’s A.J. Dybantsa and he is a 5-star prospect and number one in the Class of 2025. Check it out Rivals.com, On3.com and 247Sports.com all list him at the top. Last week he reduced his choice of schools to Alabama, Auburn, Baylor, BYU, Kansas, Kansas State and North Carolina. Dybantsa hails from Brockton MA in spite of this he traveled on the other side of the nation to attend school at the Utah Prep Academy in Manti UT. Dybantsa indicates he’ll make his decision know by February, it should be of note Kentucky was on his list however the Wildcats have been eliminated after his list was reduced. Pure speculation on my part but I believe if Calipari was still at Kentucky they might not have been eliminated so soon.  

I can’t use the name “Palace” to describe The Intuit Dome so I will not. In any event the opulent basketball arena and home for the Clippers opens officially next week. It’s not the Clippers who first occupy the floor it will be a Bruno Mars concert on August 15, if it seems I’m captivated with this arena that is indeed the case. Since architecture is one of my favorite subjects YouTube video of the exterior around the building and the interior view amaze me.    

No way could this occur today

This reads like a tale of fiction only its true, imagine this. You play no high school basketball yet manage to attend a major university where your role is a reserve. Eventually you make your way to professional basketball as a first-round draft choice. This occurs despite the fact you started 0 games in college, sound farfetched to you. It most certainly appears to be a work of fiction but it represents a portion of Sven Nater’s basketball journey.

As a youth Nater liked the game of basketball, the only problem his stepfather didn’t and discouraged his effort. His stepfather did this despite the fact the young man stood 6 foot 9. In any event Nater shows up for practice with no shoes, his coach informed him he cannot play. The result he stole a pair of shoes from a teammate which guaranteed he wouldn’t make his high school team. Nater did play at Cypress Junior College in Cypress California, he would earn Community College All American honors by his sophomore year. Nater earned a scholarship to UCLA where he backed up Bill Walton. Nater and Walton would battle one another in practice but game time it was Walton playing major minutes. Nater never started a collegiate game but help establish Walton the dominate player he would become. In1973 the Bucks with pick number 16 chose Nater in the first round despite his almost invisible play as a college player.

Nater chose the Virginia Squires of the ABA where he was named ABA Rookie of the Year, he would play for several ABA teams before league expansion brought him to the NBA. He played for the Bucks, (San Diego) Clippers and Lakers. His combined ABA and NBA scoring 8,980 points (12.4 ppg) along with 8,340 rebounds (11.6 rpg). Sven Nater born in Holland emigrated to the U.S. as a child, this is a Hollywood story, too bad no one decided to make it into a movie.

This is ruining youth basketball

I’m unsure about you but I’ve heard 1,001 complaints about youth basketball and 99% of it has nothing to do with the players or their lack of skill. After all they are often learning the game as 7, 8 or 9 year olds. I didn’t originate the portion you are about to read however a slice of it I claim. Number 1, Making the tall youngsters stand or play under the basket only. Just because that child is the tallest in the 5th grade it’s possible by middle school that shrimp standing beside them might be the same height or taller than your “post” player. Coach the youngsters in all facets of the game no matter their height. 

Number 2, Running complicated offenses (and defenses). In elementary school most of the children are out to have fun and in some instances parents want them away from video games. Bottom line don’t make any portion of the game so complicated the youngsters are confused as to what is to be accomplished. Number 3, This portion is difficult to control…pricing. By the time a parent’s paid for jerseys, travel fees and other stuff they should be given a pass. Don’t charge the parent(s) an admittance fee to see little Johnny or Janie play their games. In order to play sports today in this instance basketball parents pay a small fortune.

What can I say

ESPN took a way too early look at the 2024-25 NBA season. They project the Clippers the number 18 team in the NBA, if you believe I’m laughing far from it. The Lakers are 17 in their list so that says on paper and as this is written it’s going to be a long season for NBA fans in SoCal. The opinion is mine, there is no basis but here goes. If the Clippers miss the playoffs Clipper Nation will be extremely upset, on the other hand if the Lakers miss the playoffs there are no words to express the displeasure voiced by those in Lakerland.  

So this is what occurred, the Clippers lost Paul George after back-and-forth talk between his agent (his uncle I believe). George had no problem expressing his principle of what he wanted from the Clippers and it was more than money, he wanted a more cohesive team on the court. Based on that view (and money) PG thought it might be better if he took up residence in Philly. The Clippers re-signed James Harden and picked up Derrick Jones Jr. and Nicolas Batum. Late last month Russell Westbrook was traded to the Jazz who released him, he’s now a member of the Nuggets signing a 2-year contract with them. The problem as I see it for the Clippers and Lakers is simple, both teams can place a reasonably good team on the floor. The question that continues to plague the Clippers (and Lakers) is there anyone capable of leading them to championship level.

For the Clippers Kawhi Leonard could be that man, he’s certainly talented enough however there are questions. His injury history certainly causes concerns, so here we are. The multi-billion-dollar Intuit Dome opens in October but the team presented to those in attendance is valuable but nowhere close to the value of this arena. What do you think, am I off base here? It’s clear I might not be alone, listen to the words of one Charles Barkley. “I’ve been poor, I’ve been rich, I’ve been fat, I’ve been in the Hall of Fame, and one thing I can tell you is that the Clippers have always sucked.”