Basketball from a fans perspective

Published daily except Tuesdays & Thursday

NBA All Star weekend

I will talk to you all day and night about basketball especially the NBA variety. What will be missing from Off the Dribble the next few days is any mention of the NBA All Star weekend. Look folks I’m ole skool, this change in the format every season is just not for me. It’s my belief (without offering proof) that the NBA is aiming toward a different geographical group and I ain’t in it. So I will say this, go ahead and enjoy the weekend festivities and please don’t allow me to rain on your parade.

Auburn v Alabama

There is no system to determine this issue ahead of the scheduled date, how did the SEC know Auburn would be facing Alabama in a critical game. This afternoon number one Auburn will face number two Alabama, highlighting the top two teams in the nation from the SEC. While this has likely happened before, it stands out as the most recent example. I’m sure this has occurred in the past although this might be the most recent example.

Unfortunately, I will be unable to see the game, it’s not that I am forced to miss it on purpose. I won’t be able to watch the game live because Missouri and Georgia will be playing and the games will overlap one another, my plain is to check the progress of the Auburn-Alabama game during TO’s and half-time of the Missouri-Georgia game. I could DVR the game, but ESPN often displays other game scores on the screen which might spoil the outcome for me.

Why should take your word?

Many readers may recall the name Kendall Gill, a 15-year NBA veteran. Throughout his career, Gill played for various teams and maintained commendable averages. Since his 2005 retirement it’s unclear what his role is at present although it could involve the Chicago Bulls. Gill explicitly stated that Bulls rookie Matas Buzelis possesses more potential than Duke’s Cooper Flagg. The context of his conversation remains uncertain; however, the statement warrants scrutiny for several reasons. While Gill’s observation may hold merit, there is currently no definitive method to validate his claim.

At present, statistical comparisons are insufficient to support such an assertion. For instance, Buzelis holds a reserve role with the Bulls, whereas Flagg is a full-time player for Duke. Although I am willing to a admit Gill’s assessment could be accurate, it raises the question of how one can compare the role of a reserve athlete to one who is playing full-time effectively. The purpose of this discussion is to highlight the complexities inherent in such comparisons, which ultimately yield inconclusive results. This might be too wordy for some of you however I believe it to be much closer to reality than expressed by Gill. What do you think about the subject?

Is there an answer

Kansas State had gone into some kind of funk at the beginning of 2025. They experienced 6 losses in a row, then a strange thing occurred…the Wildcats won 4 consecutive games. Up next the cross state rival Kansas Jayhawks, the game would be played at home however I still didn’t give Kansas State much of a chance. Imagine my surprise when I saw the crawl on my television screen with the final score which read Kansas State 81 Kansas 73.

If you check the box score it appears the teams were almost even in most capacities except for one, the final score. Since the middle portion of December I have maintained the Kansas Jayhawks have been living on the reputation of their twice winning NCAA Championship coach. As I continue to scream to the hills Self is an outstanding coach, he is among the cadre of elite college basketball coaches. There are two issues at work here, 1. the team is not as talented as their number one ranking at the beginning of the season or 2. the coach has turned off some portion of his team. I am no advocate of the coach resigning…that’s a decisions for the administration.

Bits n Pieces of information 

An NBA team will be willing to take a chance in 2025, it’s the opportunity to draft Hansen Yang. You are probably asking “Who is this guy you speak of?” He’s a 7 foot 2 249 pound post player and he’s an international athlete from China. It’s difficult to access his potential based on the competition he’s faced thus far, Yang is 19-years old and is likely not ready to contribute. This is where the speculation begins, would my Lakers be willing to draft and train this youngster who just might be a budding talent. This is the issue as I see it, the Lakers might be looking for immediate help and may be unwilling to develop a post player although that is what’s often been mentioned. As we get closer to the draft I will follow the progress of this youngster whether it’s with the Lakers or some other NBA team.

There are legions of Mavs fans continuing to voice their disapproval of the Luka Doncic trade and Dalton Knecht is upset as well. The sharpshooting Knecht might have believed he was in the Lakers long range future plans and then it occurred. The trade sending him to the Hornets but then it got worse for him, it was rescinded sending him back to the Lakers. Not only was he a member of the Lakers again in front of him on the depth chart was the recently acquired Luka Doncic and 26 year old Austin Reaves at the guard. He would be buried even deeper on the Laker bench, you can see why forced to return Knecht might not have been happy. If the trade had been consummated he might have become the starter at small forward or two guard for the Hornets. For the time being Knecht must bide his time however I could see him being traded after the season concludes, in this instance it has nothing to do with Knecht’s ability rather an opportunity for him to see more minutes.