Basketball from a fans perspective

Published Tuesday, Thursday plus Saturday & Sunday 

Meanwhile….

I tuned into the Nike Hoop Summit Game featuring Team USA versus Team World on Saturday evening. I wanted to see the number one rated high school prospect AJ Dybantsa in action, he is headed for the University of Utah in the fall. All Star games are not the best source to judge talent however I wanted to check various aspects of his game. The 6 foot 9 Dybantsa had an outstanding game however it was the other guy who really caught my eye, that would be Cameron Boozer, he’s listed as 6 foot 9 and 235 pounds. Boozer and Dybantsa were tied in scoring with 26 points in the 124-114 OT win however the better overall game in my view was registered by Boozer who included 16 rebounds and 6 assists. It should be of note at least three players from Team World will be enrolled at American Universities. Shon Abaev from Israel is headed to the University of Cincinnati, Tounde Yessoufou is off to Baylor and Eric Reibe is a UConn commit.

The playoff position has now been finalized for my Lakers, they will face the Wolves in the first round. I thought I’d take a look at the regular season matches between the two teams. Opening the season against the Wolves on October 22 the Lakers were winners with a 110-103 victory. A December 2 game saw the Wolves prevail 109-80, later that month on December 13 the Wolves won once again, this time it was a 97-87 victory. The final regular season game played on February 27 witnessed the Lakers as winners 111-102. I am unsure about the Wolves however the Lakers have been almost completely revamped, the February game between the two is the only one after the acquisition of Luka Doncic. In closing playoff basketball is unlike regular season play, I would imagine the Lakers might be favored but that means nothing once the ball is first tossed up by officials.

The Spurs Victor Wembanyama held the first news conference providing us a health update. His season was interrupted midway by a deep-vein thrombosis, i.e., a blood clot in his right shoulder. The public was made aware of surgery to correct the condition along with medication. He said, “I’m over this problem” which shut him down. I wasn’t there but I’m sure he was asked questions of a more personal nature; “I’m not going to expand on my medical record” was his response. Wemby stated he’s begun light weightlifting and on-court work in a controlled setting in preparation for his return. Unless there is some unforeseen setback we should prepare ourselves to see the Wemby of old we saw in his year and a half of play in the NBA.    

Patrick Beverley has placed words to my thoughts, based on that fact I’m going to give him credit, his focus was on Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant. I don’t believe you would find anyone who would deny the fact Morant is super talented. Of course that entails a responsibility that it appears he is unable or unwilling to follow. After being fined for his handgun gesture twice he’s adopted another “weapon.” Morant tosses a “hand grenade” toward the opposing team or player, Morant indicates he will continue the routine. Beverley sends out a warning, Morant is treading on dangerous ground and uses Allen Iverson as the example. This had nothing to do with Iverson’s ability however he admitted to Rachel Nichols long after he retired he wishes he’d changed his public perception. Is it a maturity issue for Morant, it is and unfortunately his father is unwilling or unable to give him the guidance needed.

Duke basketball

I happened upon this post after reading Bill Simmons assessment of Cooper Flagg to Zion Williamson. Consider this fact, this is an evaluation of success in college versus the NBA. It seems in earlier times Duke compiled an overabundant number of All-Americans, in recent times with one and done the number has dwindled. Considering the school’s success over the years on the basketball court it would seem there should be a larger contingent of players from Duke in the NBA but there not. Off the top of my head the best of a past era might be Grant Hill. Hill had a 19-year career in the NBA, he’s been enshrined in the Naismith and College Basketball Hall of Fame, that’s it.

Christian Laettner experienced a 13-year NBA career and would be considered successful but not close to his former teammate Hill. We could count Elton Brand as one in the number of Duke players who tasted success in the NBA. Paolo Banchero might eclipse both however in the preliminary stages of an NBA career it’s far too early to make the call. Zion Williamson has all the tools if he could only remain healthy for an extended period of his career, the same might be said for Brandon Ingram who is always on the injured list too. There are a considerable number of Duke players currently in the NBA other than named earlier. They have thrived in the NBA but at no level close to Hill or Laettner. Who knows at some future date someone besides me will extol the talents of Zion, Brandon, Paolo or Cooper and add their names as proof of Duke basketball success in the NBA.

Right place, right time

Oftentimes when an NBA prospect fails a number of issues could have prevailed. The most obvious, despite what might be presumed his skill set will not allow him to play successfully at the NBA level. He is not as talented as we believed…that does occur. This one certainly applies to Deni Avdija, you are probably saying who? If you check the 2020 NBA Draft Avdija was one of the highly rated prospects that year. Mock sites miss the mark but this is what nbadraft.net said at the time. “Avdija is not (Luka) Doncic, though he has some Doncic-like qualities with his feel and versatility.

He’s similarly not a pure shooter, but he understands how to play the pick and roll game and is a high level competitor.” Based on this assessment and several others he was deemed ready for NBA play. The Wizards made him the number 9 pick in 2020 and then poof, he disappeared. I am exaggerating he didn’t really disappear however playing for the Wizards that’s close to being the case. His first three years saw him barely on the court, his 4th year Avdija moved into the starting lineup for the Wizards. In July 2024 he was traded to the Blazers and moved into the starting lineup at power forward. His first year with the Blazers saw his game continue to grow as he adjusted to the league and his new team. He continues to provide us proof of the honors he won while playing in the Israeli League, MVP of that league and 3 times he was an Israeli League Champion.