A fans perspective 

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

Longtime student

For me it was baseball box scores, I discovered them at the youthful age of 10 I believe. I could uncover batting averages, earn one averages for pitchers and assorted other stuff. Much later it was the box score for basketball, throughout my life they have always interested me until recent years. Allow me to clarify, I remain interested it’s just the fact so much more has been added since the days of my youth. I might pose the question does it really aid a person in understanding what occurred in the game? I’m unsure if I have an answer however let’s check out additions to NBA box scores. These are not my definitions, they are AI generated I located on the web.    

USG% stands for usage percentage, which is a basketball statistic that estimates the percentage of a team’s offensive possessions a player uses while they are on the floor. It measures a player’s involvement in the offense by including their shooting attempts, free throw attempts, and turnovers, divided by the team’s total possessions. A player with a high USG% is heavily relied upon by their team’s offense, with star players typically having the highest usage rates.

TS% True Shooting Percentage in basketball measures a player’s scoring efficiency by accounting for field goals, 3-pointers, and free throws in one comprehensive metric.

TOV% stands for turnover, which is when a team loses possession of the ball to the opposing team before a shot is taken. While it can also refer to turnover percentage, an advanced statistic that estimates turnovers per possession, the primary meaning is the loss of the ball itself.  

PER In basketball, PER stands for Player Efficiency Rating, a single-number metric created by John Hollinger to measure a player's overall productivity per minute. It is calculated by adjusting positive and negative statistical contributions for pace and minutes played, with a league average set at 15.00. 

After you’ve studied these basketball terms don’t you feel as if your basketball knowledge has risen exponentially? That was a joke, if you judge them to be useful to you I certainly recommend they be used. On the other hand if you consider they are unneeded you certainly know what to do at this point.

A serious matter

I read the Friday morning news on ESPN’s NBA page, one of the stories I read indicated that former NBA player Damon Jones had pleaded not guilty to his involvement in the gambling scandal impacting the NBA. Jones out on bail is due to return to court on November 24. As you recall Jones plus current player Terry Rozier and Blazer coach Chauncey Billups were the most featured names in this betting/gambling probe. Despite “Nuclear Headlines” from most sources when the story first broke these three (to date) have been the only names connected thus far. At the time we received the news most probably guessed there would be a large number of players named.

To date the three named individuals are the only named connected to the NBA. At the slow pace this is developing its likely we go into 2026 with no more information than we have at present, as I wrote weeks ago this is an embarrassment to the NBA. There is nothing the NBA can accomplish attempting to speed up the process, the legal system moves at its own pace. This is a slowly developing story and there will be a time prior to it being resolved. If, for example, you are one of those who believe there is cheating going on at all levels that outlook will continue to prevail for you. There is no argument that will convince you to consider anything other than your conviction. Conversely, if you take into account the possibility that there could be some cases of misconduct you are also stating there is no large scale corruption.

It’s different

Someone who’s played the game at a high level might disagree…heck some of you who haven’t played might differ. In any event it’s always been my belief guards adapt to new teams different from other positions. Guards especially those who play the point adapt differently from other position players. All that to explain why I don’t wish the Lakers to make a trade for Ja Morant. There are rumors circulating throughout the NBA that the Grizzlies are entertaining an effort to find him a new home. Seeing him first play at Murray State (KY) it was my belief at the time he’s got NBA talent, sure enough I was proven correct.

It’s the other part of his personality I was unable to see. There is no denying the talent portion of Morant it’s the other stuff that leads me to believe he’s not good for a team. Mistakes made in the past are forgivable until one continues to build on them with others. Morant is now 26-years old no longer the baby-faced kid who embraced the NBA in 2019. Excuse the play on words, the ball is clearly in his court…there is no requirement for Morant to do anything other than make a commitment to himself. Doesn’t matter if it’s the Grizzlies or some other NBA team, my hope its not the Lakers. On the other hand I’ve seen a few knuckleheads I’d hope would never wear Purple and Gold did just that. If Morant becomes a Laker I will reluctantly accept him.

A plan   

There was a plan, the stories been told numerous times. Austin Reaves said to NBA scouts and teams, “don’t draft me, I will choose the team I want to play for.” That sounds quite arrogant for an unproven college player but that’s what he said after first playing at Wichita State and later the University of Oklahoma. Indeed he went undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft but he arrived in that first Laker training camp relatively unknown. That was then, this is now…the entire world is familiar with the name Austin Reaves. He actually came to the forefront previously but in this early season has really blossomed.

With LeBron missing first and Luka Doncic later someone had to step up and lead the way for the Lakers, that would be Austin Reaves. After 6 games he is scoring 32 points per game however it’s not only his scoring. Reaves is 91% from the free-throw line while dishing out 9 assists and grabbing nearly 4 rebounds. By the way in 38 minutes he is shooting 50.4% from the field with 36.2% behind the three line. Will he keep up this pace once LeBron returns to the lineup…not likely however he’s proven when called on he can produce. I’ve long been convinced NBA teams don’t require All NBA pros at each position on the court, they require guys willing to step up and provide whatever is needed by their team. If we look closely Austin Reaves is that guy so far this season.