Basketball from a fans perspective

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I made an error big time

After I published my view of the top 2025 ROY candidates I omitted a rookie who is making a tremendous impact for his team. Spurs fans please forgive me for my failure to add Stephon Castle to my list of candidates. As this is written they are a single game above .500 a long range goal. A large portion of improved play can be laid at the feet of last season’s ROY Victor Wembanyama, this seasons rookie has proven he is ready to compete at the NBA level. 

The portion I find most unusual is this past Monday I detailed how the former UConn guard had moved into the Spurs starting lineup due to an injured starter. Because the team is operating with an assistant coach in place will Castle remain in the lineup when coach Pop returns. Spurs Nation please, this was just an oversight on my part. Stephon Castle is definitely in the mix for ROY.

Kryptonite

You’ve seen the movies or read the comic books…Superman is the strongest man in the world. He can defeat anyone or anything except that comprised of known Kryptonite. It makes Superman weak and he loses his ability to function. The Lakers have a Kryptonite foe in the form of the Nuggets. In 2020 winning the NBA championship they beat the Nuggets more than once in their playoff series. Since then my memory paints a completely different picture.They didn’t lose last season to the Nuggets in the playoffs because they didn’t play them. 

Prior to that it was a different story, on Saturday night everything was in place. The Lakers (at home) raced out to a first half lead and then the roof of Crypto.com literally collapsed on them. TO’s, poor shooting and poor defense as the Nuggets returned to form beating my Lakers 127-102. It was the usual culprits, The Joker plus MPJ but there was an addition. The Nuggets added former KU guard Christian Braun to the party along with a Laker of the past Russell Westbrook. All in all it was not a good night for the Purple and Gold and my closing statement is, hopefully next time they meet the outcome will be different.

There are others

Fairly or not our focus has been on Duke’s Cooper Flagg, several are referring to the 6 foot 9 Cooper as a generational talent. I intend to see him play as often as possible however there are others who will soon begin play in their freshman year. Is one of those profiled here in this account…wait and see. Rutgers might have struck the mother lode in recruiting Ace Bailey. Understand this, Bailey stands 6 foot 10 but is projected as a small forward/shooting guard. I want to see him in action for the Scarlet Knights this fall and winter. His freshman teammate Dylan Harper is one who is also expected to impact the college game, he’s a 6 foot 6 inch guard.

Dylan’s father is former NBA player Ron Harper who had an extended career for several teams. The next player we profile is named Valdez Edgecombe Jr. however he’s better known as VJ. He was born in The Bahamas however his family moved to Florida when he was a high school freshman. This McDonald’s All American is a 6 foot 5 shooting guard and is enrolled at Baylor. Duke recruited effectively and has more than Flagg this season. Kon Knueppel (6-7, 217) and Khaman Maluach (7-1, 250) are also freshman Blue Devils. As I close allow me to state there are some misses here, this was an attempt to point out several high profile freshman. I am sure some were missed while others profiled might not have the season projected. In any event, sit back and prepare to enjoy yourself for the 2024-25 collegiate basketball season.  

His audition

Scotty Pippen Jr. is not going to play point guard for the Grizzlies, they have Ja Morant penciled in at the position. He is playing due to an injury suffered by Morant which has sidelined him. Pippen Jr. will not remind folks of his famous dad, for one thing he’s a great deal shorter in height and weight. Standing 6 foot 1 to his fathers 6 foot 8 height and 170 pounds versus 228 however he can play…ask the Lakers? I’ve mentioned previously Pippen Jr. arrived in the NBA undrafted.

After time spent with the Lakers he moved on to the Grizzlies, he’s distinguished his play whenever the opportunity arises. So last season and the early part of this we consider this an audition, an opportunity for Pippen Jr. to show the rest of the NBA he’s got game. It’s a good thing to have talent a team can employ in the case of injury or just to accommodate a starter, Pippen Jr. belongs in someone’s starting lineup. He led the way in his team’s 141-131 victory over the Bulls, 30 points along with 10 assists and guess what? This outstanding game was played in the United Center the arena his father played in for the Jordan led Bulls teams. I almost forgot, he shot 81.3% from the floor with 50% of it from three and a sparkling 100% from the free throw line.