Basketball from a fans perspective

Published daily except Tuesdays & Thursdays

I hate it!!

The word hate is a word I rarely use, it’s clear why but no further explanation is required. I hate the 3-point shot, it makes NBA games unwatchable. And then we have this as the example from the Friday evening Hornets-Bulls game. The Bulls were winners 109-95 but the story of the game for me is the missed baskets. The teams set an NBA record with the number of MISSED 3-point shots taken, the total a staggering 97. It doesn’t take a scientist to figure out 3 is more than 2 but the emphasis on shooting it is driving me batty. It’s clear it must be bothering fans as well, if you attend a game you are “captured.” You the fan must sit there and be punished, if, for example, you are in front of your television set something different occurs.

You decide this is not worth seeing and you turn off the television. There are not numbers provided to back this up but check for yourself, viewership numbers are down. I have long believed the NBA game is superior to that we see on college campuses, at this rate the NBA is close to changing minds. How do you address this issue, honestly I don’t believe Adam Silver’s office can do anything about this matter. I do believe the issue should be a subject of discussion at the next owners meeting. It’s up to the NBA coaches, someone must have (if it’s not already done) track the number of three point attempts. When a team reaches that number whatever it might be he’s got to inform his team no more. Will it work, probably not, however that’s the only solution I can find, what about your suggestion?  

Move over Wemby

I bet you didn’t realize there is a younger version of Victor Wembanyama, he just turned 19 in May! This athlete’s name is Trent Burns and he was a 4-star prospect who hails from Houston Texas. As for the comparison to Wemby check this out, he stands 7 feet 5 inches and weighs 235 pounds, there are two reasons why you might not be familiar with him. For one he’s a freshman and adjusting to the college game and secondly he’s injured. As for the injury it appears to not be a season long issue but at this writing it’s unclear when he will be able to return to action.

Once Burns is able to play his time might continue to be limited, it’s got nothing to do with ability its people. He’s got 7 foot 260 pound Josh Gray playing major minutes. Behind him is 7 foot 300 pound Payton Marshall also a freshman, wait there is more. There is 6 foot 10 Trent Burns and 6 foot 9 Aiden Shaw along with 6 foot 9 Mark Mitchell. I have no intention to mislead you but to simply point out Mizzou has an extremely tall front line this season. Burns will be contending for playing time from Gray or Marshall only. Last season saw the opposition outrebound Mizzou for much of the season, this time around coach Gates is attempting to ensure that issue is not repeated again this season.

This pains me

I don’t care to write this but it’s finally time to admit the truth, Laker management requires an intervention. Owner Jeanie Buss and GM Rod Pelinka have done their best to convince Laker Nation that nothing is wrong when that is clearly not the case. This team has a 40-year old as a leader on the court, despite a stellar career just like an automobile there are signs of “wear and tear.” LeBron James can no longer produce at the level he once did and its clear why…he’s 40 years old. He’s at an age 99% of those who played the game in the NBA would have been retired 5-7 years ago. 

Up next is Anthony Davis who certainly is talented but is expending his effort for a Laker team that is treading water. I don’t believe in Rod Pelinka any longer, that ship has sailed for me. He’s failed to perform in those areas he is highly paid to do. I’ve witnessed the Lakers draft players that could have been foundational pieces. Could they have won a championship with these players, probably not but I really can’t say they couldn’t. Who are they, Jordan Clarkson, Kyle Kuzma, the injured Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso I could go on. The 2020 championship team had a two-headed center combo Dwight Howard and JaVale McGee. Both are history with the Lakers but have continued to play at the present. The Lakers have no first round pick in 2025 but have two in the second round, it might be an innovative idea to hold on to both picks.

The Lakers need to play the youngsters they have on the team right now it matters not whether they win or lose. It is now time to “blow this team up,” they need a new cast of athletes to wear Purple and Gold. Management stated Darvin Ham was the problem, the Lakers have hired 7 coaches since 2011 and fired all of them with the exception of the present coach JJ Redick. I didn’t include Bernie Bickerstaff in the count since he was an interim head coach. At one time I held the belief that the Lakers were the best run franchise in the NBA, I no longer subscribe to that picture.

It’s still early

By the time this is published the numbers will have changed a bit, I speak of the top college freshmen. The following five including Cooper Flagg are likely to be announced as the number one pick by commissioner Adam Silver. We figure Cooper Flagg will be drafted number one in June should he declare for the NBA. What if some other athlete comes to the forefront between now and the draft, who is it? Including Flagg who else comprises the Top Five for the 2025 NBA draft?

Please note these are not in any order of projection by the NBA or me for that matter. One of the other issues to consider is the impact of this particular freshmen, some will be in dissimilar roles on their team than others. We begin this look-see with Ace Bailey 6 foot 10 shooting guard, he’s nearly 18 points and 6 rebounds a game for the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers. Up next, teammate Dylan Harper 6 foot 6, he’s scoring 23 points and nearly 5 assists a game. We head west to BYU where we locate Egor Demin a 6 foot 9 guard, he’s at 13 points and 6 assists per game. There might be someone else who comes to the forefront in between time.