Basketball from a fans perspective

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Next 7 years

The Spurs have been really bad over the last few years, this despite veteran coach Pop is still at the helm. Last season the prospects for improvement began with the 2023 draft where they added Victor Wembanyama to their ranks. In addition Jeremy Sochan and Devin Vassel, although young played well at times for the Spurs. This upcoming season should be even better, veterans Chris Paul plus Harrison Barnes along with UConn rookie Stephon Castle have become Spurs.

The Spurs won but 22 games last season and that record should improve in the upcoming season…how much of course depends on a number of factors. The key to improved play by the Spurs is the health of Paul who’s past injuries have impacted teams he’s played for. The next question, what about the future, the Spurs have always built successful teams through the draft and it’s unlikely that changes. Guess what, over the next 7 years the Spurs own all their draft choices. Coach Pop will be gone however his replacement should be successful in at least one area, the ability to add talent through the draft. In addition the hopeful success on the basketball court will be an enticement for free agents to journey to San Antonio.

The headline read, “The Spurs haven’t won a playoff series in five years, the front office doesn’t want them to become like Cowboy fans.” No booing and hissing at me fans of the NFL Cowboys I didn’t write it I’m only reporting it. It’s clear using the draft plus free agency the Spurs intend to make some noise in the 2024-25 NBA season. The promise is there, now it’s up to the Spurs to fulfill the potential of improved play. Finally 75-year old Gregg Popovich and the coaching he presents to these mostly youthful Spurs.

The question

I was pleased with the additions coach Dennis Gates made over the winter and spring. Mizzou had one of the best recruiting classes in its history…at the same time the transfer portal brought in talent from other college teams. That’s the upside, what about the potential problems it might create? I look at this as it relates to the crop of incoming freshman, transfers not as much. The key is minutes on the court, that hot shot freshman believes he’s ready to play because he “smoked” the high school competition he faced.

Time on the court or PT as Dick Vitale might say is critical to the mindset of that freshman. Forced to sit on the bench and wait his turn can be a concern. The Mizzou roster for 2024-25 contains 7 freshman which is a good and at the same time an unpleasant situation, it’s probably the hope of the coaching staff many can become building blocks for the future. The key as I see it Mizzou has a number of portal transfers who are probably listed ahead of the incoming class on the depth chart. I ask the question once again, can these freshman be willing to wait their turn to play.

Naismith Hall

Over the weekend two former Lakers were enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame. Michael Cooper so vital a contributor to the Showtime Lakers and Jerry West. I remember once reading Larry Bird claimed the skinny 6 foot 7 170 pound Cooper played the toughest defense in the NBA on him. Although his specialty was defense, unlike some defensive specialists he could score when called on. It’s said he could guard 4 positions on the floor.

What can I say about the late Jerry West, The Logo was enshrined for the 3rd time something no other individual has accomplished to date. Earlier West was enshrined as a player and executive, this time it was for his contribution to the NBA. This is not a sugary report, he left the Lakers and worked for the Grizzlies and Clippers before his death this past June. It’s been reported despite his long association with the Lakers he was upset with the organization at a point. Despite this issue son Jonnie made no mention of it during his introductory speech before the Naismith gathering. Congratulations are due all those who were honored by their hall of fame enshrinement.

NBA Rookie of the Year

Who becomes 2025 NBA Rookie of the Year, at this point it’s really unclear who that might be. Despite being drafted number one in 2024 the Hawks Zaccharie Risacher is not the favorite to win the honor nor is the second pick Alex Sarr. Most oddsmakers are going with the Grizzlies Zach Edey which is a story by itself. Listed right behind Edey is Rockets guard Reed Shepperd who is the subject of this account, Shepperd was the number three pick in the 2024 draft.

Interesting isn’t it, Edey who was told to “go home” last season he wasn’t ready for the NB and Shepperd a point/shooting guard with a good pedigree although he was not highly touted in high school. His dad and mom both played basketball at Kentucky so it wasn’t exactly shocking when he headed for Lexington last fall. Just because you might be drafted at the top of the draft is certainly no guarantee of future success in the NBA. It will be interesting to see how the season turns out for Edey and Shepperd and other 2024 draft choices.  

He joins a cast

Earlier this week I wrote of Lou Williams and his view of a questionable NBA record. Williams former NBA player doesn't believe Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a March 1962 game. No film/video evidence exists therefore in his mind there are questions whether it actually occurred. It’s not only the NBA that we might question all sports records. Former Yankee great Joe DiMaggio holds MLB's hit record, DiMaggio hit in 56 consecutive games. Little if any film is available...did it occur? In the NFL Alvin Kamara scored 6 TD's in a 2020 game, he joined two others Gayle Sayers (1965) and Dub Jones. Jones playing for the Cleveland Browns established the record in 1951, I ask the question again did Jones actually score 6 TD’s in a single game, there is likely no film to confirm whether it occurred.

As I see it there are literally thousands of records in all sports that might be called into question if we align ourselves with many of the opinions of today. I’m not being more critical of Williams than other present day or former NBA players. We must place Sixer guard Paul George in the group of disbelievers too, there is a conspiracy by the NBA to force us to believe the game occurred. It’s really unnecessary for me to provide you proof that the Chamberlain game happened, whether you believe it or you don’t it’s that simple. The vast majority of noteworthy sports events are likely set prior to the time video evidence was available, even film verification is limited. Once upon a time mankind believed the earth was flat, and a vast number of people refused to believe in the curvature of the earth. Is Lou Williams a flat-earth believer?