Basketball from a fans perspective

The part he won’t discuss

Bronny James is showcasing notable statistics for the South Bay Lakers, although his shooting remains an area that requires improvement. With proper coaching, this issue can be addressed by a shot doctor.Whether Bronny will achieve the status of an NBA All-Star remains uncertain; however, his current G-League performance is noteworthy. Bronny is averaging 21.1 points per game, along with 5.4 rebounds and 5.3 assists, which are commendable figures for a 6-2 guard. Now we realize the G-League is not the NBA however it is a stepping stone to an NBA career. 

By comparison, Stephen A. Smith's collegiate statistics at Winston-Salem were less remarkable. He would average only one point per game, Smith claims his basketball career was interrupted by a cracked kneecap, he claims that injury prevented him from returning to play for the next four years. I wonder why he was never able to return to the court, was the injury so serious it ended his collegiate career? Regarding Bronny's time with the Lakers, he currently occupies a position next to the coaching staff. He plays only during non-critical moments, such as when the team has secured a comfortable lead or is significantly trailing. It would be beneficial for Mr. Smith to direct his focus elsewhere rather than critiquing Bronny's performance based on the skill’s he exhibited.

A second look

Last week, I expressed dissatisfaction with a Fox NFL media personalities assessment of Duke’s Cooper Flagg. Every Monday, the local sports talk radio co-hosts invite this individual to discuss the NFL. With the Super Bowl behind us, it appears that once they had exhausted NFL topics, one of the co-host decided to inquire about Flagg. In many classic western films, an "ambush" describes a scenario where the antagonist surprises the protagonist with a concealed attack.

The protagonist is unaware of the impending confrontation—this situation mirrors what transpired last week. Briefly this is what has occurred in the past, the NFL media guy is invited to their program weekly to discuss NFL matters; he is not there to analyze college basketball talent. To be fair, the question was likely unexpected and, rather than excusing himself, he chose to respond. In that position, I would have tactfully prefaced my response with “I’ve read” or “I’ve heard.” I would have avoided giving the impression of familiarity with Flagg and his abilities. Now, I turn to you: how would you have handled a comparable situation?

Under performers

A few weeks ago I wrote of those NBA teams that exceeded expectations, what about those who to date have underperformed. I selected 5 teams that have under-performed and they are in this order:

1.The Sixers must be at the top of this list, they added Paul George to the roster but received little from Joel Embiid. This season has been a disaster for the Sixers and their fans as Embiid is now shut down for the season. Tyrese Maxey has been the shining light in an otherwise dimly lighted season for the Sixers.

2.They have Durant, Booker and Beal and the highest payroll in the NBA yet the Suns are underwater with a losing record…why? Too many shooters and not enough defense, could that be the problem? One Interesting note, despite their record they have the Clippers number winning the season series 4 games to 0.

3.The Mavs find themselves here for all the wrong reasons. At the beginning of the season they were a contender but not now. Injuries plus trading a generational talent have all been contributing factors as they slide downward.

4.Why don’t the Hornets ever get better, I will leave you to answer that question?

5.I placed the Bulls as an underperformer for one reason alone. They make changes it seems every season in trades and the draft yet never appear to improve, they remain a below .500 team. They have talent potential at several positions so maybe you have an explanation for why.

College basketball

The number of men's college basketball teams is quite significant, with approximately 1,300 teams across the nation. These teams play from the west coast to the Rocky Mountains, the Midwest, the Southwest, the Southeast, and along the Atlantic seaboard. From the middle of October until the first weekend in April, teams compete to determine who is the best. There are over 200 NAIA schools, with the top 64 having their champion crowned in Kansas City on March 25. It's a little different for Division III programs, they have no championship and do not offer athletic scholarships; these students prioritize academics. The bracket for the Division II championship is currently being drawn up, with the location of the championship yet to be determined. Selection Sunday for the 68 Division I teams will be held March 16 and the semi-final and final games are scheduled to be played at the Alamodome in San Antonio on April 5 and 7.