When I was a Trojan at Saginaw High School, games on television were rare. And when I was growing up near Morley Elementary during the 1950s, televisions themselves were not in every home, believe it or not.
This means we played more often than we watched, a far different experience than nowadays with endless games on TV every day. The basketball insights of we lifetimers therefore come from outlooks that are old-time but also original. With this in mind, I am honoring a request to offer some advice to help you gain maximum appreciation, and fun, on the TV and in person.
- Watch the ball first, of course, but at the same time learn to keep track of the player matchups, the offensive patterns and the defensive switching and help. We tend to watch the offense more than the defense, but try to keep this closer to a 50-50 balance.
- Pull for favorite stars with their own expressive styles, like my nephew Tony Smith at Saginaw High was known for his flair during the 1970s. Ja Morant would be a good comparison to Tony, exciting to see in action.
- At the same time, look for effort, which is best measured not by player theatrics, but by who just seems to be around the ball all the time, positioning for rebounds and diving for loose balls. For our hometown example, this is the bread-and-butter for our two-time Trojan state champ and four-time Warriors winner, Draymond Green.
- The European standouts, Jokic and Giannis and Luka, show that basketball is becoming more and more of an international game.
- All three-point shooters, even Steph, go through streaks. Check which ones keep their shooting elbows tight instead of flying out, because they will be most consistent.
- Also, regardless of distance, too many shooters do not follow their shots. When I played, I favored rebounding, especially on the offensive boards.
Finally, if you are able, don’t become a channel-flipping basketball couch potato. Now that the worst of the pandemic has passed, maybe get out to some high school games, or even check out some elementary contests. Please support Saginaw High first, of course, and also Arthur Hill, and all those squads in the suburbs that did not yet have their own high schools back when I enjoyed the privilege of being a Trojan. You can’t beat the bargain for a few bucks, all the seats are up close, and the young men and women who compete always will treasure the community’s support.
Ernie Thompson, an all-sports standout, led undefeated SHS to the 1962 Class A state crown with 42 points and 27 rebounds in the championship game. He is a Sports Hall of Famer both for Saginaw County and for Bradley University.
