With one month into the season, here are a few observations about some of the teams and the league in general. Lets begin with the NBA League.
It should be clear to the League by now that injuries are a serious problem for all teams. The absence of star players makes for unpredictable team building - and fan building. There is no doubt that the way the game has evolved into such a high flying acrobatics that the season is too long. Additionally, the first round of the playoffs is too long and should return to a five game series. It is also time for the NBA, as the Daddy of the teams, to do in-depth research into physical fitness training for its children with the emphasis on what kind of training is best suited to today's players. There needs to be creativity by trainers who think outside the box. I simply refuse to believe that teams can't do a better job of keeping players free from injuries. Look at cross-training, ballet dancers and other types of dancing. Look to martial artists, track and field. Look to Flexibility training, etc.
General Comments about TEAMS:
Wizards: They've made some solid draft choices and the youngsters should get the bulk of playing time. Go young, trade older players for draft choices and build around yout youth.
Knicks: Towns' trade was a mistake. They should have paid Harrkenstein, kept DeVincenzo and Randle.
T Wolves: Towns' trade was a mistake. They were doing fine. They needed tweeking, not a major trade.
76ers: No way to win with their two go-to stars and their health history. Cut your losses. George is still tradable. Get some youth with the same chops as Maxey. Fewer scheduled games per season should help a player like Embid, who certainly needs a more creative physical fitness regime. To start with he looks overweight to me.
Pacers: Haliburton's shooting mechanics is odd, so it was eventually going to happen, as teams picked up on it, that his three-ball % would drop.
Bucks: Lillard trade was awful. But it's too late to worry about that this season. They must stop talking about Middleton. He'll never be the player he was. Look for a trade for a wing defender.
Warriors: Loss of Melton will hurt, but the emergence of the Kiowa Kid, Lindy Waters, will soften the blow. As for free-throws: How about a practice contest for jelly bellies - a jar for each player. Fifty free- throws at the end of every practice day available during the season and 20 free-throws at shoot-arounds. Coaches keep the records. Sounds High School but athletes of any age love a competition.
Suns: Same problem as 76ers. Star players with a history of injuries. They did a good job creating better reserves. If KD and Beale are back to full strength toward the end of he season, they could surprise. Big IF.
Jazz: Are you going youth or not? Make a decision. The upcoming draft has got a ton of excellent players.
Clippers: How long are you going to wait for Leonard to stay healthy? Hardin is playing basketball in a truly adult way for the first time in his career. He has finally realized he can be a scorer and a point guard at the same time.
Mavs: I've never been sold on Jason Kidd's coaching.
Lakers: The Knicht draft choice is paying off. Be patient and get your injured players back.
Kings: I love DeRozen but it may be that he and Fox are not a good fit. The Kings need a better back-up center and more D off the bench. I thought Coach Brown was a D expert?
growing youth.
