Basketball from a fans perspective

Dreadful 3rd quarter

The Lakers might not have beaten the Celtics at TD Boston Garden, a dreadful 3rd quarter by them certainly didn’t help…they scored but 13 points. The Celtics Jaylin Brown had an outstanding game scoring 40 points but a closer look at the box score tells a different story. The teams were pretty much even across the board in the majority of numbers. Of course the ability to quantify the defense of both teams is difficult to evaluate from where I sit, the final score read Celtics 111-Lakers-101.

After winning 8 games in a row I thought at some point the streak would end however my hope was it wouldn’t be against their historic rival Celtics. Jaxson Hayes missed the game due to injury, Rui Hachimura remained out of the lineup. This game saw LeBron exit in the 4th quarter with a groin injury. It’s difficult to maintain winning with a running list of injuries—ask the Mavs about that. I’m the one that always says, “You can’t take one facet out of a game and determine the why for the loss.” Despite that I’m looking at LeBron exiting the game with an injury over that dreadful 3rd quarter.  

Mr. Anonymous

If you were asked to name UConn’s coach without hesitation, you’d name Dan Hurley. If the question were who is the coach at Kansas, Bill Self’s name would be mentioned quickly. As for Missouri’s coach, Dennis Gates remains relatively unknown to most fans, potentially even coaches in other conferences. SEC coaches, however, have become quite familiar with Dennis Gates over the last three seasons. Where did it begin, as a baller himself at Whitney Young High School in Chicago. From Chicago he played at Cal, where he was twice a member of the All-American Academic team. Graduating in three years, he was also a master’s degree candidate.

From there, Gates transitioned into coaching at several schools before Leonard Hamilton hired him at Florida State. He served as an assistant at FSU for 8 years before accepting the head coach position at Cleveland State. His first year, the school finished below .500, but the next two seasons saw NCAA and NIT invites. After three seasons at Cleveland State, there were questions when Gates was hired at Missouri. These were addressed in his second year despite a challenging season when the team performed poorly. Gates noted, “I don’t know of an 0-18 coach that ain’t got fired,” but he was retained and has since led the team successfully into the 2024-25 season. There are hints that Missouri should secure Gates with a long-term contract to maintain stability and create a winning tradition at the school which has been lacking at times under previous coaches. 

It’s his opinion

Former NBA player and current TNT analyst Charles Barkley is known for his unique approach to the NBA and life in general. Many people, including those who do not follow the NBA closely, appreciate his outspokenness. However, some find his candid comments problematic as I do. Recently, he went on the record criticizing ESPN for focusing more on the Lakers and Warriors especially analyst Kendrick Perkins. He indicated they covered these two teams while neglecting coverage of the Cavaliers and Thunder both with better won-loss records. Barkley's viewpoint differ from mine so it might be useful to explain a bit of history to Mr. Barkley.

The Lakers, despite their recent lack of championships, are a historic franchise with 16 NBA Championships won. In addition the Lakers have generational talent LeBron James and ascending Luka Dončić. As for the Warriors they too have several championships on their resume and are led by Stephen Curry, they have gained renewed attention with the arrival of Jimmy Butler. While the Cavaliers and Thunder have strong records, they do not capture the same level of widespread interest. If either team wins an NBA Championship, it would indeed be significant. Barkley, given his years of experience in the entertainment industry, likely fails to understand the nature of media focus. Major television markets count, we heard far more stories about the Jets and Aaron Rodgers than the Super Bowl Champion Eagles, must I explain it further to Mr. Barkley.

Meanwhile…

Last season Kevin Keatts led North Carolina State to an improbable Final Four run, this season he’s got no job. The school made the announcement Keatts had been fired on Sunday, the Wolfpack finished with a 12-19 record. In his 8 years at the helm the coach had one other losing season, overall his teams were 151-113. A contributing factor to his firing may have been a losing ACC record of 69 wins and 84 losses. With no official explanation his firing must be based in part on his losing conference record.

I’ve had plenty of opportunities to see Cooper Flagg in action. It’s been on television so keep that in mind on what you are about to read, I keep hearing stories “About dominating the NBA.” Anyone talking that language either hasn’t seen him play or plain don’t know basketball. I’m borrowing a term from another said, “Flagg is a complementary player.” That doesn’t entail less talent, for me it simply states Flagg is going to do his darndest to pass the ball, rebound, or block a shot. Also to take a charge, the shooting (although good) is last among those things mentioned. NFL guy believes because Flagg is the projected top pick he is suppose to arrive in the NBA ready to dominate, it doesn’t work that way.

Missouri State University, located in Springfield, is the second largest university in terms of student enrollment in the state. The school announced that it has received and accepted an invitation from Conference USA to join their ranks. Consequently, the Bears will be departing the Missouri Valley Conference, where they have been members since 1992. Conference USA competes at the highest level of Division I football, the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Bears basketball should be able to compete against Liberty, Middle Tennessee and other members.

Most of us are aware the Lakers lack front court depth, they thought the problem might have been resolved with the trade for Mark Williams but that was declared null and void. It would appear the Lakers will be joined by the Sixers as both teams are looking toward the 2025 NBA Draft. Joel Embiid has been shut down for the season, the long term plan for the Sixers is to replace Embiid so that entails both teams looking for help in the post.

Basketball from a fans perspective

He’s easy to hate

I initially intended to leave this story alone, but I noticed another blogger criticizing LeBron James. Some fans have expressed disapproval of LeBron James for confronting Stephen A. Smith before the Knicks game. It is believed that Smith was critical of Bronny James and the fact that LeBron appeared to be okay with his son sitting on the last seat of the bench. Smith explained on his ESPN program the next morning that it was a father defending his son, while some criticized LeBron for his actions. If the argument is that Bronny is on the Lakers due to nepotism, there may be some validity; however, it is important to look at what he is doing. Bronny is playing for the South Bay Lakers and occasionally for the parent club, mostly during "garbage time."

His G-League stats indicate that he is performing well in various aspects of the game. Regarding being the 55th pick, let's examine the past two draft classes. In the 2023 NBA Draft, the Pacers drafted Isaiah Wong, who played one game for the Pacers and 20 for the Hornets and is now playing for BC Zalgiris in the Lithuania League. In 2022, the Warriors made Gui Santos the number 55 pick, who has played a total of 23 games and is currently with the Santa Clara Warriors of the G-League. The point is guys who are drafted at this stage of the draft rarely see minutes. While it is likely that Bronny would have been drafted if not for his father, it is unclear why Stephen A. Smith feels it is his duty to question Bronny's abilities without a background in talent analysis himself. This provides us one more example why a player like Ant Man might decline on becoming the face of the NBA. Far too much social media coverage, as for SAS Kevin Durant has also expressed his displeasure with him.

It’s not Deja vu  

If you believe you’ve read this in the past you probably did, I wrote this for one of my social media pages. "Help, I've fallen and I can't get up!" Some of us might recall those television commercials from the past. This phrase now appears to encapsulate the current state of Mizzou basketball; they have stumbled and appear unable to recover. Multiple issues are contributing to their loss of focus, the latest setback was a home defeat to Kentucky, 91 to 83, which I believe they should have won. Remember what I wrote previously the other team manages to play slightly better leading to victory.

It should be noted that the Wildcats are ranked as the number 19 team in the nation, indicating their talent level. The Tigers, however, have encountered a slump and appear unable to regain their footing. It seems that no amount of coaching can rectify certain issues. For instance, years ago I was coaching sixth-grade boys, we were in a close game, and I called a timeout to diagram what I believed was a straightforward play. The official blew his whistle and handed the ball to my player. Despite the fact all five players indicated they understood the plan, they executed a play that bore no resemblance to my instructions. As a result, we lost the game by a margin of 2 or 3 points; the score escapes me now.  

Meanwhile…

Cooper Flagg and Duke have dominated the college basketball headlines this season. Despite that fact Auburn along with Johni Broome have played at a slightly higher level. Who is Broome some might ask, the first description he is the engine that drives the Auburn Tigers. He’s a 6 foot 10 235 pound power forward, his numbers will not wow anyone, 18 points and nearly 11 rebounds a game. To his detriment Flagg’s the name even casual basketball fans are familiar with, more are probably familiar with Auburn over Broome. With that I say I will be shocked if Broome wins College Player of the Year although he could.

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You may have forgotten the name Ben McCollum, he’d been a successful head coach at Northwest Missouri State a Division II program. He won 4 NCAA Division II championships at the Maryville, Missouri school. After last season Division I Drake hired him and in his first year in Des Moines his Bulldogs registered a 27-3 record and first place in the Missouri Valley Conference. Virginia lost its head coach when Tony Bennett decided to retire so the school will soon conduct a search for a head coach…hint, hint.

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Mark Cuban has finally issued a statement on the Luka trade. You might remember he’d retained 27% of the Mavericks but no longer holds a leadership role with the team. Paraphrasing his words, he expressed that the Mavericks should have received more in exchange for trading Luka Doncic. He concluded by acknowledging that what’s done is done, and there is no way to change the past. I continue to believe that if Cuban were still at the helm, the trade would not have occurred; and if it had, the Mavericks would have secured additional players or draft picks.

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Trey Jemison III is not widely known, serving as a reserve center for the Lakers. However, his story goes beyond this role. Following the nullification of the trade for Mark Williams, there was an ongoing need for a backup post player to support Jaxson Hayes. The Lakers considered themselves fortunate when Alex Len, initially set to sign with another team, chose to join them instead. Nevertheless, an unexpected turn occurred: the 6-foot-10-inch, 260-pound Jemison II has been fulfilling the backup role to Hayes, while Len has seen limited playing time since joining the Lakers. Jemison went undrafted in the 2023, he played at both Clemson and UAB. He spent limited time with three other NBA teams prior to the Lakers.

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Nikola Jokic achieved a remarkable feat on Friday evening, he recorded 31 points, 21 rebounds, and a career-high 22 assists. These numbers help lead his Nuggets team to a 149-141 overtime victory against the Suns, Jokic's performance was pivotal. While Russell Westbrook and Wilt Chamberlain have previously recorded 20-20-20 games, Jokic set an NBA record with this accomplishment. His game continues to amaze me, do you realize in the 2014 draft he was the 41st selection in the second round? There are first round players who are no longer in the NBA and Jokic almost missed being drafted period.

Basketball from a fans perspective

What a game

Prior to their road trip, the Los Angeles Lakers played their final home game on Thursday night against the New York Knicks. The Lakers had Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves listed as injured; however, Reaves was able to return to the lineup, offering valuable insights into his performance post-recovery. The game concluded with the Lakers securing a victory in overtime, defeating the Knicks with a score of 113-109.

Luka Doncic led the team with 32 points and 12 assists, while LeBron James contributed significantly with 31 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists. The Lakers' bench was also effective, with Gabe Vincent scoring 12 points and Dalton Knecht adding 11 points. Although the Lakers did not achieve a high shooting percentage, it was higher than that of the Knicks, with both teams' defenses playing a substantial role in the shooting outcomes. The Lakers are scheduled to face the Boston Celtics at TD Garden tonight, with the game being broadcast on ESPN and other platforms. During the Knicks’ game, their leader Jalen Brunson sustained an ankle injury at 1:04 in OT after stepping on Reaves' foot, leading him to limp off the court before the conclusion of the game. If not for Brunson the Lakers might have won the game in regulation, he was the offense with his 39 points and 10 assists. Despite this setback, he managed to make both free throws.

The extent of his injury remains to be determined as this is written. The Lakers' victory marked their eighth consecutive win as they prepare to compete against the Celtics. In the previous match, strategic defensive plays were noted, such as the 6-foot-9 LeBron matching up against 7-foot Karl-Anthony Towns and 7-foot Jaxson Hayes guarding the Knicks' small forward for the majority of the game. Additionally, Luka’s effort demonstrated his ability to contribute defensively.

I’m scared

There are a bunch of things that scare me, I’m not going to bore you with a list because it might be quite extensive. I will just state this, the influx of international players in the NBA is not scary or something that I must worry about for the future. I don’t remember who said it, I don’t wish to misidentify the players who made this bold statement. They said American players eventually “would be in the minority of NBA players.” Help, help the sky is falling is the mantra of these and others but I have no fear.

Truth is whatever the number of international players arrive overall play in the NBA will only become better. After all isn’t that what most of us desire better play, I know I do? Remember, no some of you are too young. Some of you might recall a time when the prospect of drafting a Euro player made some NBA fans cringe. There was a reason, although they exhibited talent in Europe it didn’t translate very well to the NBA for a number of them. In fairness Euro players had to adjust their game to fit that of the NBA which eventually would occur later. There might have been someone else, this is done from reading and reflection. That first Euro player to impact the NBA significantly was the late Drazen Petrovic who was born in Yugoslavia in the area now recognized as Croatia. Despite being drafted by the Blazers in 1986 he didn’t play much and it was a concern for him. Note what he later expressed about his time in Portland.

“I have to leave to prove how much I am worth. Never in my life did I sit on the bench and I don’t intend to do that in Portland.” That gives you an indication of how much he believed in himself, January 1991 Petrovic was traded to the New Jersey Nets and the rest of his short story is history. I cannot relate his defensive strengths however he became an offensive juggernaut for the Nets. June 1993 Petrovic’s ascending NBA career was cut short, an automobile accident in Germany took his life at age 28.

He was Akron first

Practically every NBA fan is aware of Akron, Ohio, and the city’s relationship to LeBron James. However, LeBron was not the first talented player from Akron; there were two others. These two were teammates at Akron’s Central High School: Gus Johnson and Nate Thurmond. Both players are in the Naismith Hall of Fame, indicating their prominent level of talent. This article focuses on the 6-foot-11 Thurmond, who played the post position. He played college basketball at Bowling Green before being drafted in 1963 by the San Francisco Warriors. Initially, Thurmond could not play his natural position because the team had Wilt Chamberlain as the center.

Thurmond was therefore required to play power forward and occasionally relieved Chamberlain in the post. In 1965, the Warriors traded Chamberlain to the Sixers, allowing Thurmond to move into the center position, where he was more comfortable. Thurmond was a two-time All-Defensive First Team member and a three-time All-Defensive Second Team member. Additionally, he was an NBA All-Star seven times during his career. Notably, Bill Russell retired the year before Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) was drafted. While Wilt Chamberlain was still a significant defensive and offensive presence in the league, Abdul-Jabbar stated that Thurmond was the most challenging player for him to compete against, not Chamberlain. Thurmond passed away in 2016 at the age of 74. His name is sometimes overlooked despite his contributions as one of the great post players in NBA history.

Meanwhile…

Duke’s Jon Scheyer is losing one of his top assistant coaches. Jai Lucas has been hired at the University of Miami, he will replace long-time Miami coach Jim Larranaga who announced his retirement.  Lucas will become the youngest Division I coach at the age of 36. Lucas went undrafted in 2011 from Texas, he began a basketball journey with a number of stops. In 2016 he took on the role of assistant coach at Texas where he played. In 2022 he was hired by Duke as an assistant and in 2023 he was bumped up to assistant HC for the Blue Devils. If his last name sounds familiar his father is John Lucas, the elder Lucas had an extensive playing career in the NBA.

I want on those occasions I speculate on something hopefully its well thought out. That is not the case for what you are about to read. The article I read indicated the Celtics were top heavy in the front court and the roster members were named. Missing from the list was the name Al Horford, the writer indicated the 38-year old Horford might be bought out or something similar. This writer mentioned the lack of depth for frontcourt players for the Lakers. My first thought…why would the Lakers pick up Horford at 38, I realize some of you are saying LeBron is older however Horford ain’t LeBron.

Basketball from a fans perspective

I’m tired 

This narrative was unplanned, but here goes anyway. As an avid basketball enthusiast, I am often frustrated by "football analysts" discussing basketball. I prefer experts like Jay Bilas and Mike DeCoursey who dedicate themselves to covering college basketball comprehensively. They have an in-depth understanding of the game, focusing solely on college basketball rather than transitioning from other sports like football.

The discussion at hand began on local sports talk radio, featuring a guest from Fox Sports. After extensive conversation about the NFL, one of the hosts asked the guest about college basketball. His response included, “I’ve been trying to get into college basketball, but it’s a bad product.” He then commented on Duke’s Cooper Flagg, expressing doubt about Flagg's potential to dominate in the NBA. I found this offensive, considering he admitted his primary focus is the NFL. Furthermore, no credible analysis has suggested that Flagg will enter the NBA as a dominant force; instead, he is expected to be a "complementary player." While it is possible Flagg could struggle in the NBA, it is premature to anticipate such outcomes without seeing him play. Additionally, the guest remarked, “Unless you are a graduate or attended a specific school, that’s probably the only team you will follow.” Personally, I follow more than just Missouri basketball and frequently watch various games. Recently, I watched the Kansas-Houston game in its entirety.

While it is understandable if some individuals only follow one school, it does not apply to everyone. In closing, although I grew up loving NFL football, especially the Chiefs, the Fox guest's assertion that people only follow one college basketball team contrasts with my experience. However, I do follow only one NFL team—the Chiefs. It is worth noting that in a 4-hour sports talk radio slot, NFL football occupies approximately 3.5 hours of the discussion. I cannot speak for other parts of the nation that’s what exist for Kansas City sports talk radio. It’s clear that’s what the vast majority want Chiefs and NFL talk all day and into the evening. Am I being too tough on the locals…I don’t think so.

Meanwhile…

The focus here is on Laker center Jaxson Hayes. Though it may seem he has been in the NBA for an extended period, he is just 24 years old. Standing at 7 feet tall 220 pounds, Hayes first garnered attention during his time at the University of Texas. Following his freshman year, he declared for the NBA draft and was selected as the 8th overall pick in the first round by the Hawks in 2019. However, his rights were traded to the Pelicans on draft night, where he played until July 2023 when he signed a free-agent contract with the Lakers.  Prior to the Anthony Davis trade, Hayes primarily served as an occasional starter and backup to Davis. The trade subsequently elevated him to the role of starter. While Hayes may not evoke memories of the All-Star post players from previous Laker teams, JJ Redick, his coach has expressed satisfaction with his play in the post. It is worth a mention Hayes' father Jonathan had a 9-year career in the NFL, playing for the Chiefs and Steelers.

Leonard Hamilton, the longtime head coach at Florida State, has announced his retirement at the end of this season. FSU will be looking for a replacement for the coach, with Dennis Gates excluded as an option. For those unfamiliar, Missouri’s Gates was an assistant to Hamilton for several years and considers Hamilton his mentor. Recently, the name Sam Cassell has been mentioned. Cassell played in the NBA from 1993-2008 and has served as an assistant coach at three different NBA teams since then. He is currently an assistant with the Celtics. It is unclear whether Cassell is interested in coaching college basketball at this time, but it is expected that FSU will contact him to determine his interest in the position. 

A common issue in basketball analysis is that we often focus primarily on point totals. Following that, we may consider the number of rebounds, assists, or blocked shots a player accumulates in a game or over the season. However, we seldom critique individual or team defensive efforts, despite defense frequently being the key to victory. It is widely believed that playing defense requires significantly more effort than scoring. A player must exert greater energy in his defensive play compared to his offensive game. With this understanding, apart from the acquisition of Luka, are you aware of the Lakers' standing in terms of defense? Since January 15, their performance in this area has improved dramatically, with the Lakers ranking first in each of the following categories:

Defensive Rating    

Opp Points         

Opp Field Goals  

Opp 3-Point FG

Opp Pts in Paint

   

I cannot prove this to be true

Will San Antonio become a prime destination for free agents thanks to Wemby? That is the thought in NBA circles although no one probably is willing to admit. I’ve traveled to Texas primarily the Dallas-Fort Worth metro and Houston, I have a distant relative who lives in San Antonio but have never visited there. Once upon a time it was believed the NBA wanted its stars in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago or Miami. That was it, it recent years that scenario appears to be a non-issue. The NBA might have been pleased, LeBron James from nearby Akron drafted by the Cavs.

James would eventually leave however that’s another story. It was known that in 2019 Zion Williamson was going to be drafted by New Orleans one of the smallest NBA markets in the nation. In 2022 the Thunder drafted Chet Holmgren with the second pick, it’s apparent the league had no issue with this as well. There are a bunch of conditions that have caused the NBA to look at where a potential All Star plays as not that big a deal. I believe one of the factors is the ever expanding television contract. Currently we have TNT, ESPN/ABC, NBA-TV plus a host of Bally Sports Network channels, next season the contract changes. TNT leaves the family of channels but is replaced by the NBC Network and Amazon. 

Basketball from a fans perspective

Sorry Mavs fans

Mavericks fans have faced numerous challenges this season. It began with a series of injuries that took key contributors from last year’s playoff run out of the Mavericks lineup. Then a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit the American Airlines Center, Luka Doncic the generational talent was traded to the Lakers for Anthony Davis. An explanation was made by Mavs management but was greeted by skepticism by the vast majority of fans, the arena was even picketed for a time. In the meantime Anthony Davis played one very good game for his new team and then went immediately on the injury list.

Wait, there is more…the Mavericks announced an 8% ticket price increase for the 2025-26 season. The situation for the Mavericks worsened when Kyrie Irving sustained a torn ACL during a game against the Kings on Monday evening, ruling him out for the remainder of the season. Given these events, Mavericks fans are understandably concerned about what might happen next. In conclusion this might be the plight of the fans. “You trade the 25-year old (26 now) franchise player, then you raise ticket prices for next season. The injured Kyrie Irving returns at what point next season, you expect me to pay _________for this giant mystery?” In the space of roughly 6 weeks the Mavericks went from contenders to pretenders based on the series of events summarized in this account.

What I expected

The Lakers' winning streak would not come to an end at the hands of the Pelicans. The game was briefly tied early in the first quarter, but that was the extent. Leading the charge to victory for the Lakers were LeBron James and Luka Doncic, I now dub the Dynamic Duo. I know it’s not an original nickname however I like it. While the saying "Father Time remains undefeated" is still true, its impact can sometimes be postponed as in the case of LeBron. There is a marked difference between the Lakers team with LeBron and Anthony Davis compared to LeBron and Luka.

LeBron led the team with 34 points, along with 6 assists and 8 rebounds. Luka also performed admirably, scoring 30 points and contributing 15 assists. Notably, Jaxson Hayes stood out by scoring 19 points and securing 10 rebounds. Additionally, reserves Knecht, Milton, and Vanderbilt played pivotal roles in safeguarding the 39th win of the season. This victory extended the Lakers' winning streak to seven games. The team now prepares itself for upcoming games against New York on Thursday and on the road versus the Celtics on Saturday and the Nets on Monday. Although the Lakers have not captured any championship yet, it is an enthusiastic time for members of Laker Nation.

College Arenas

In instances we speak of older college basketball arenas one of the first names that comes up is Allen Fieldhouse. The venerable home of the Kansas Jayhawks first opened its doors in 1955. That makes the arena nearly 70 years old but it’s not even close to being the oldest in continued usage. Cameron Indoor Stadium on the Duke Campus opened its doors in 1940 but it’s not the oldest. That honor belongs to Matthews Arena in Boston opened in 1910, it’s home of Northeastern University and holds 5,066 fans.

Next on our list is Rose Hill Gymnasium on the campus of Fordham, this 3,200 seat arena first opened its doors in 1925. Lavietes Pavillion at Harvard holds 1,500 fans and held its first basketball game in 1926. The next two arenas opened the same year 1927, they are the Palestra-Penn home of the University of Pennsylvania with 8,722 seats and Hec Edmunson Pavilion seating 10,000 for basketball. Hinkle Fieldhouse is home to Butler University, opened in 1928 it seats 9,100. If you saw the 1986 movie Hoosiers the state championship depicted in the movie was shot inside Hinkle. Next on our list is Williams Arena on the campus of the University of Minnesota, the 14,625 seat arena opened in 1928. Payne Whitney Gymnasium on the campus of Yale begin hosting games in 1932, it has seating for 2,500. 1933 saw Avron Fogleman and Haas Pavilion open their doors. Fogleman is on the campus of Tulane and contains 4,100 seating capacity, while Haas is located at Cal, it seats 11,858.

We close this look at college arenas with one located in my hometown, Municipal Auditorium is located in downtown Kansas City, it opened in 1936. This art deco arena was once home to the University of MO-Kansas City although the school has returned games to its campus 6 or so miles away. Municipal holds 10,700 for basketball but shares another unique record. Prior to the NCAA Tournament being played at football stadiums Municipal held the record for the most Final Four and Championship games.

Meanwhile....

It’s important to remember that it is just a game and should not be taken too seriously. After the Kansas loss to Texas Tech, one of the Kansas players received two derogatory messages on social media, presumably from upset Kansas fans. In a different context, Ant Man has faced criticism from some for declining efforts by the media to encourage him to become the “face of the NBA.” Back in the day Jerry West, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kobe Bryant received criticism but nothing like that of Kevin Durant and LeBron James today. It’s unfortunate but social media commentary is now commonplace in both college and professional basketball. Although we may not be able to resolve this issue directly, it is crucial to address and challenge those who believe it is acceptable to offer profane and disrespectful comments to players when they don’t perform at the level we expect.

Kevin Harlan is associated with Kansas City, although he was actually born in Milwaukee. He graduated from the University of Kansas and quickly embarked on a career in sports broadcasting. His first role was as the radio voice for the Kansas City Kings, followed by the Kansas City Chiefs. Harlan then moved on to become the radio voice of the NBA Wolves before transitioning to the national stage. For some time, he has been broadcasting NFL games for the CBS Network, in addition to covering college basketball games for CBS and NBA games for TNT. As this is the final season that TNT will partner with the NBA, it is likely that one of the new partners will seek to employ Harlan if he wishes to continue broadcasting both college and the NBA. When not airing sports Kevin and family have resided in the Kansas City metro for a number of years.

Basketball from a fans perspective

Since January

The Lakers have been performing exceptionally well since 2024 turned into 2025. Of the 27 games scheduled as this is written, the Lakers have won 20 of them. There is a distinction to be made before and after the acquisition of Anthony Davis (AD). Before the trade, he played outstanding basketball, scoring and blocking shots, fulfilling the role of a post player effectively. Despite AD’s performance, the Mavericks and Lakers executed a trade, sending him to Dallas for Luka Doncic.

Doncic has been adjusting his game to fit with his new teammates, showing progress. LeBron James has taken a secondary role in distributing the basketball, preferring Luka to take the lead, which appears to improve overtime. The team's defense has also shown improvement. Jared Vanderbilt, returned from an injury which impacted his play earlier, along with Dorian Finney-Smith, has contributed significantly to the team’s defensive effort. Rui Hachimura's contributions have been notable not just in scoring but in other aspects of the game as well. The Lakers' fanbase is optimistic about the improved performance potentially leading to an NBA Championship.

The game remains the same 

The term "mid-major" used to describe schools not associated with major conferences such as the SEC, Big XII, etc., is not frequently heard anymore. With the expansion of conferences, mid-major Houston moved from the American Athletic Conference to the power five Big XII. The Cougars have now won their second Big XII regular season crown, which raises questions about the relevance of the term. An example of significant wins by smaller programs includes Northern Iowa defeating Kansas in an NCAA Tournament game,

The win was notable but perhaps less surprising for Northern Iowa fans than Kansas fans. Another historical upset occurred when Chaminade University, then an NAIA school, defeated Virginia and Ralph Sampson 77-72 in the 1982 Maui Tournament. Chaminade now competes as a Division II school. These types of discussions often bring to mind a scene from the 1986 movie "Hoosiers." Coach Dale's team accustomed to playing in tiny high school gyms was overwhelmed with the vastness of Hinkle Fieldhouse. The coach had them measure the basketball hoop at Hinkle and they were amazed to discover it was the same height as in their gym, illustrating that players' skills are consistent across different levels of competition.

Building blocks

This is a story repeated several times however there is added information just revealed. I’ve mentioned this previously, the Kansas City Kings had an opportunity to draft a young Moses Malone. The ABA dispersal draft would have allowed them to choose Malone if management had only been a little wiser. This is my revised version of events, the Kings choose Malone in 1976 and develop and tailor his game to the NBA. Magic Johnson arrived on the campus of Michigan State in 1977, although just a freshman he excelled with outstanding numbers of 17 points, nearly 8 rebounds and 7.4 assists a game.

The Magic Man told a story few of us were aware, he indicates after this outstanding freshman year he’d received a telephone call from the Kings. The Kings were prepared to offer him a significant amount of money if he declared for the draft, they assured him they would chose him. A discussion with his father killed this effort by the Kings. There the story ends but think about this a moment, the Kings could have Moses Malone occupying the post and Magic Johnson at the point. That Kings team would have become the building blocks of a celebrated team and perhaps Sacramento might have found another route to an NBA franchise. I promise unless another story is revealed this is the absolute last mention of the Kansas City Kings. 

Is this the present & future

In San Francisco, the Chase Center and the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles were both built without public funds. Who is responsible for future maintenance costs is unclear, both projects involved billions of dollars in construction expenses. Meanwhile, in San Antonio, there is a plan to build a new arena and it’s attributed to the presence of Wemby. It is believed that San Antonio will attract more tourists with the tall French player in place.

The proposed replacement arena for Frost Bank Center is estimated to cost between $1.2-$1.5 billion. Frost Bank is located near but not in downtown San Antonio, whereas the new arena would be downtown. The current arena opened in 2002, making it 23 years old, which is newer than Madison Square Garden, Target Center, and several other NBA arenas. Another option being considered is renovating the existing building at an estimated cost of around $20 million. Reports indicate that the citizens of San Antonio and possibly Bexar County might financially support the construction. What do you think is the best direction for the Spurs?

Basketball from a fans perspective

“Hotter than fish grease!”

The headline’s context can be explained with an anecdote: I once heard a play-by-play announcer describe a particular player’s impressive shooting performance. Not being well-versed in cooking, I asked my wife if frying fish required a higher temperature compared to chicken or other meats. She responded that it was not necessarily the case. Now, shifting our focus to the main topic---basketball. The Battle of Los Angeles was renewed again Sunday evening this time with the Lakers missing, Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves both injured.

Two vital starters sidelined as the Lakers faced the Clippers for the second time in two days. The final score read Lakers 108 Clippers 102 as Luka led the way scoring 29 points along with 9 assists and 6 rebounds. Dorian Finney-Smith and Gabe Vincent filled in for the missing Lakers, while there was certainly a drop off in scoring and maybe defense but not as much as might be expected. You remember Dalton Knecht don’t you, he came off the Laker bench scoring 19 points on 7 for 10 shooting from the floor? Despite Kawhi Leonard’s 33 points the Laker squad managed as a team to outshoot the Clippers 49.4% to 43.7% from the floor. The Lakers shot a sizzling 43% from three while the Clippers were a respectable 31%.

Back to the headline, this win represented the Lakers 6th in a row but it’s not the longest winning streak, that honor belongs to the Cavs who possess a 10 game winning streak. As for the Battle of Los Angeles, at least this season the Lakers are clearly the winner. After dropping the first game they have beaten the Clippers three consecutive times. It should be noted the Lakers won the match wire to wire, on a couple of occasions the lead was whittled down to one but the Clippers never were able to take the lead. It is possible the two may face one another in the playoffs.  

Meanwhile

We all have opinions and for the most part that’s okay. The danger zone is giving our opinion on a subject without having all the evidence in front of us. On Thursday evening the Lakers-Wolves game Ant Man Anthony Edwards was given a technical his second which meant ejection from the game. On Friday morning Stephen A. Smith claimed the call was bogus or something similar. Smith was in New York watching the game just like me in Kansas City, there are numerous instances where a call by an official could be questioned. “Did he foul the opposing player or not,” certainly is in that category. Smith sitting in front of his television was certainly not privy of what Ant said to the official that got him ejected.

This is certainly speculative on my part so consider this as fact. If Pop fails to return to the helm of the Spurs who replaces him, who is brave enough to stand in his gigantic shoes? The writer of a .com site mentioned interim Mitch Johnson, makes sense he’s been a long-time assistant to Pop. The question remains would management turn over the reins to him. It seems as though Sam Cassell been serving as an assistant coach since 1999 (just kidding), when does he get the opportunity for a head coaching job? He’s currently an assistant with the Celtics. The last name to consider might be the most controversial…Becky Hammon. In 2014 Hammon became the second female to serve as an assistant coach when Coach Pop hired Hammon. Is the NBA ready for the first seat to be occupied by a female?

Mock drafts, particularly those from sources such as nbadraft.net, nbadraftroom, and tankathon.com, tend to be accurate up through the first ten picks. Since the beginning of the college season, Duke’s Cooper Flagg has garnered significant attention and scrutiny. Former NBA players have analyzed his game, and while many acknowledge his talent, there remains a question of whether he is a generational player. This question may not be answered definitively for several seasons. Throughout the college season, Flagg has consistently held the top spot in all mock drafts, without any change. Another consideration is whether he will declare for the draft; Flagg has indicated that he may return for his sophomore year.

I am pleased number 77 is in Purple and Gold, despite that fact this is the other side. Many reading this might disagree however I believe Luka Doncic to be a generational talent. Members of the media and fans continue to ask the question how the Mavs could have made such a lopsided trade. From my perspective it’s not as bad for them as might first be perceived. Guard Max Christie was inserted in the Laker lineup and exhibited how he knows how to play the game, in addition he’s young. AD is injured but just as soon as he’s able he will demonstrate his quality play to Mavs fans. Daniel Gafford is also injured but was a valuable member of the Mavs playoff run last season. I refuse to deal in draft picks because a team has no idea if the pick is good or bad until the athlete provides us an assessment of his potential. The trade is not as one-sided as some have hinted.

Basketball from a fans perspective

Not this time

I must consider both the good and the bad of Missouri’s basketball strategy, “Win all your home games, steal 1-2 on the road.” This effort fell short Saturday afternoon, Missouri had a chance to steal this road game but lost in OT to Vanderbilt, 97-93. Missed free throws and shots, along with being outrebounded by 11, hurt them considerably. Crucial 3-pointers by Vanderbilt forced the game into overtime. Caleb Grill coming off the bench once again managed to 28 points for Missouri, while Mark Mitchell added 20.

In addition Anthony Robinson and Tamar Bates added to the Missouri total scoring 16 points apiece for the visitors. Vanderbilt is a good team, this win gave them a .500 record in the conference race however their 20th win of the season. Missouri is now 10-6 in the conference and 21-8 overall. This might appear to some reading this I’m pumping up Vanderbilt’s record, they are a good team however not as good as Missouri despite being the winner of the Saturday contest. Although this might appear to be an excuse, that is not the case I believe Missouri could have won if not for critical errors down the stretch. Missouri will receive a tourney invite, Vanderbilt is trying to ensure they receive one.  

Believe what you wish

The February 2 trade that saw former Laker Anthony Davis to the Mavs in exchange for Luka Doncic continues to reverberate a month later. It seems every other day a negative story on Luka appears in social media and makes its way to the mainstream news reporting. I have no intention of discussing each and every one of these accounts only the why. This we know, GM Rod Pelinka of the Lakers and GM Nico Harrison have a relationship from years back. We heard nothing about the trade because the two maintained contact only between themselves.

As I indicated there have been a wealth of stories on why the trade occurred but once again the stories. I’ve got to believe the stories regarding Luka emanate from Dallas and the reason is clear. What would be the purpose of the Lakers trashing an athlete they just acquired and one considered generational by some? These negatives are definitely coming from Dallas but the larger question might be why? The trades been finalized by both parties so there is no going back on this one. This is pure speculation so consider that prior to reading this next portion. I believe a month later ownership is still receiving so much flack for the trade they are attempting to slow the tide, just my thoughts on this matter, what about yours?

He could declare

A key reason for the sound play of Michigan basketball this season can be attributed to Danny Wolf, he’s a 7 foot 250 pound post player in his junior year at the school. Wolf attended Northfield Mount Hermon School in Gill Massachusetts although he was born and grew up in Glencoe Illinois a village in the Chicago metro. One scouting report listed him as “A 7-foot guard.” That might be a stretch although he certainly is quite mobile in and around the basket. In addition to being mobile on the offensive side he’s got 3-point range at least for the college game.

Wolf is not all offense as he plays a defensive game as well. His numbers are not overly spectacular (12.6 ppg), the offense is not built around his skill set however Wolf manages to accomplish the job. His nearly 10 rebounds a game indicate he is capable of going after the basketball off the defensive or offensive backboard. If you’ve read this blog any length of time you know I have an affinity for Big Men who can play effectively. As for Wolf he’s given no indication he intends to declare for the 2025 NBA draft. I sure hope the Laker scouting staff has noted his play and manages to maintain a file, he could declare. It’s possible he could fill the void at the center position.

Are they legitimate contenders

Without confirmation of the exact date whether it was December or January, remains unclear. At that time, conclusions were made by me which I am now retracting. I wrote that the Lakers would not be contenders for the 2025 NBA championship due to concerns about the team's composition, which appeared to lack development potential. Moving forward to the present, this question remains relevant. However, the team now includes Luka Doncic in the backcourt alongside LeBron James.

The backcourt duo of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves presents defensive challenges for the Lakers. Supporting them are two defensive minded wings, Jarred Vanderbilt and Dorian Finney-Smith. While Vanderbilt and Finney-Smith have offensive limitations, their defensive capabilities partially offset this shortfall. Replacing Anthony Davis in the pivot are Jaxson Hayes and Alex Len. Hayes brings athleticism, enhancing lob scoring and shot blocking, whereas Len, as a veteran center, provides stability in the pivot.

Len has been planted on the bench with his minutes now belonging to 6 foot 10 260 pound Trey Jemison III. Whether this Laker trio can compete effectively against players like Nikola Jokic, Ivica Zubac, along with Hartenstein/Holmgren remains an open question for now. Regarding the overall team effort, the Lakers have demonstrated improved defense since the beginning of the year, potentially positioning themselves for a deep playoff run and improved three-point shooting. However, whether their defense is sufficient to secure the Western Conference crown remains unresolved. Ultimately, the legitimacy of their contender status will be determined by their outcome at the end of this season and not by me.

Basketball from a fans perspective

Published daily except Tuesdays & Thursday

An ugly game

Despite the headline, there were positive outcomes as the Lakers secured another victory over their cross-town rivals with a score of 106-102. It is noteworthy that since January 15, the Lakers have achieved the best won-loss record in the NBA, which is certainly notable. This game became the 5th consecutive win and the Lakers have now won 8 out of their last 10 games. Rui Hachimura was sidelined and did not play, while Austin Reaves managed only nine minutes before exiting due to a calf injury. As a result, it was left to Dorian Finney-Smith, Jarred Vanderbilt, and others to lead the team to victory.

Although Luka had a poor shooting performance, he still managed to score 31 points, contributing significantly to the win. LeBron James continues to defy age, delivering an outstanding performance with 28 points and 13 rebounds, a remarkable feat for a 40-year-old athlete. On the Clippers' side, Kawhi Leonard, Ivica Zubac, and James Harden led the way for them. The first game between these teams on January 19 saw the Clippers victorious, but the Lakers have now won the last two encounters. The two teams are set to face each other again tonight, with hopes that Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves will be available to play for the Lakers.

This is more in the form of a question

The transfer portal has changed the basketball landscape in America, also included in this variation is Name, Image & Likeness. High school recruiting has been knocked down a couple of rungs on the recruiting ladder. I am probably old fashion but I continue to believe adding high school talent remains viable for the majority of teams. Last year Missouri had the highest recruited class in its history, due to the sizable number of portal transfers on court appearances for Missouri’s freshman has been limited this season.

Based on this factor alone I checked the 2025 recruiting and the ranking is not as high as 2024 and its clear why. They have yet to prove themselves however depending on the site Missouri’s recruiting class was ranked 7-10 in the nation. For 2025 the numbers are different, Rivals places the Tigers at number 36 in the nation while On3 list them at 41. The last one mentioned is 247Sports which positions Missouri at 50 which is still good, it’s my belief that anytime a school (or individual) is Top 50 in the nation that’s a good thing. What are your thoughts, do you believe high school recruiting remains valid or have transfer portal players become the priority?

Black hole

What is it, this is the book definition not mine: “A black hole is a massive, compact astronomical object so dense that its gravity prevents anything from escaping, even light.” That’s what occurs for head college coaches moving to the NBA, the basketball bounces the same but the game is far different. Everyone has a starting point, even for these coaches, it could be similar to Pat Riley. After playing in the NBA he went from play by play analyst to assistant coach to head coach.

Jason Kidd and JJ Redick did it quite different, they had no head coaching experience prior to becoming one. This exercise is based on comments made by a local radio guy, he seems to believe Bill Self could become a successful coach in the NBA. I’d wait prior to assuming something of an enigma, truth is college coaches in the NBA have disappeared into the Black hole. Larry Brown is the exception, this is not in any order but he’s coached the Sixers, Pistons, UCLA, Kansas and SMU. He won an NBA Championship with the Pistons and an NCAA Championship with Kansas, no one has ever done that. What do we use as a guideline of success, it might vary from team to team. Currently Billy Donovan is coaching the Bulls and Quin Snyder the Hawks, how do we wish to grade them? Without checking the balance of coaches were either assistants or head coaches with other NBA teams.

As you might surmise the NBA rarely looks outside its circle of names and the reason is clear, although the components are the same the NBA game is almost totally different from that played in college. Could Self coach successfully in the NBA, I have no clue and the only true test is for him to be hired. Even that might be an issue at 62 years of age. I just looked this up, the average age of NBA coaches is between 49-52 so as you can see Self would be over the age of most coaches at the beginning of his NBA debut.

Basketball from a fans perspective

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You haven’t seen him

He’s 7 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 235 pounds, it’s likely your first thought was Victor Wembanyama. That is not the case, this athlete is Trent Burns and he plays…rather he will play for the University of Missouri. You’ve not seen this freshman in action all season long due to an injury. He’s now been cleared to play but I’m sure this late in the season that probably will not occur. The question pending currently will Burns be given a red shirt, this is reported to be an area coach Gates is unaccustomed to utilizing.

He’s done

The Sixers Joel Embiid has missed more games in the 2024-25 season than he’s played, on Friday came news he was through for the year. The announcement from the Sixers office indicated Embiid along with the team’s medical staff are looking for a method to resolve his troublesome left knee. At this point allow me to insert this comment, the matter of retirement belongs to Embiid and not anyone else. Stephen A. Smith has decided for Embiid that he should possibly consider retiring.

What I find most interesting all the time missed by Kawhi Leonard I don’t ever remember Smith making a similar type of statement. Leonard missed the 2021-22 season and has been absent from major portions of other seasons since becoming a Clipper. The Clippers have played 410 games since Kawhi came on board, he’s played in 229 of them excluding this season. The 229 games played is a little more than half of the total games the Clippers had scheduled. I certainly am in no position to suggest Kawhi retire and believe Smith is in no position to decide Embiid should do the same. In both instances it’s up to the player to decide they can no longer compete at their previous level.

Remember

This from Twitter or X: “The father of the young fan who swapped jerseys with Victor Wembanyama has taken legal action to stop Goldin Auctions from completing the sale of the game-used Victor Wembanyama jersey that sold for $73,000 this past weekend. He states that his son didn’t want to sell the jersey.” Do you remember the December news of this event, the father had taken his son who maybe was 7-8 years old to a Spurs-Nets game in Brooklyn.

The youngster had a child size Wemby jersey which the player spotted after the game, Wemby traded his game jersey with the youngster. Fast forward to the latest news, I cannot presume to understand the why, I am questioning the fact the father evidently sold the jersey to the auction house his son certainly couldn’t have done this. I believe without offering you any proof this is what occurred, although the father was paid a sum of money for the jersey he later discovered the Goldin Auctions sale price, based on this fact he decided to revisit his earlier arrangement with the business.

They are contending

The Pacific Division standings show the Warriors in third place less than 2 games behind the Clippers. After the team acquired Jimmy Butler I questioned the Draymond Green guarantee “They would contend for an NBA championship.” I continue to believe their lineup lacking height will not win a championship. The part I didn’t figure was the arrival of Jimmy Butler, he’s managed to infuse the team with a great degree of competitiveness. Don’t misunderstand my statement any team coached by Steve Kerr and containing Steph Curry will compete,

The roster of the Warriors required an upgrade in height in my view. The Butler factor appears to have impacted Curry as well based on his Thursday evening game against the Magic. The Warriors after falling significantly behind the Magic came roaring back thanks in large part to Steph. He scored 56 points in the game, video indicated many of the shots Steph took came from the “parking lot” of the arena. Okay that’s an exaggeration however one shot was measured at 54 feet I believe, the official measurement for the length of an NBA court is 94 feet. I continue to doubt Draymond’s words…but certainly not Steph’s shooting.

Basketball from a fans perspective

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Only half the game for me

Due to sleep, I was unable to view the entire Lakers-Mavericks game. The match took place in Los Angeles (Pacific Time) against Dallas (Central Time), with a start time of 9:00 p.m. My error was believing I could watch the second half of the game from my bed, which proved to be a mistake. I woke up at 12:45 a.m., knowing the game had concluded, and switched my television to the NBA channel. I would have been surprised if the Mavs had won the game based on what I’d seen up to sleepy time. The final score read Lakers 107, Mavericks 99.

Key factors contributing to this outcome included a triple-double performance by Luka and other elements. Luka contributed significantly to the Lakers' effort with 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists. During a moment in the game, when Nico Harrison was on the line, the crowd began chanting, “Thank you, Nico,” acknowledging his role as the General Manager who traded Luka to the Lakers. From the highlights, it was evident that after the Lakers led by a comfortable margin, the Mavericks launched a strong comeback, even tying the score at a point in the second half. Initially, the Mavericks missed several shots but managed to improve their accuracy and made a notable defensive effort. As for the Lakers LeBron James was the leading scorer with 27 points. Austin Reaves has become the Lakers' third option, though opinions see to vary among a number in the media.

Unless another player takes his place, Reaves holds that position and it will continue until someone is able to replace him in this role. I must note the game played by Rui Hachimura, the power forward is at a place for me he’s untradable. He only scored 15 points but it’s the other stuff he manages to accomplish while on the floor. The NBA season is far from over, and the next 6 games for the Lakers should prove quite noteworthy. Upcoming on the schedule are games versus Minnesota, the Clippers twice, Pelicans, Knicks and Celtics.

A potential future move 

This could be considered a good news-bad news conclusion. I read an article claiming there is little benefit to the Memphis Tigers to continue play in the American Athletic Conference. If you are a fan of a particular conference you can stop at this point. The conference does not wield the power or glitz the Big XII, SEC or Big 10. The writer suggested Memphis would be in a better position league wise and the NCAA if they joined the Big XII.

As for the unwelcome news part of this story the existing powers in the conference, especially Houston, Kansas and Arizona would have one added power team to face. If Memphis should apply for admittance I could hardly see them being turned down. The school has a rich basketball history that existed long before Penny Hardaway played for the Tigers. I had mentioned earlier that Brett Yormark Big XII Commissioner is still in the expansion mood, he is amenable to adding teams. This is pure speculation but it might be beneficial to the Big XII, the SEC is at the maximum number of teams. Should Memphis be extended an invitation it should be interesting.

Who is at fault 

I prefer to write or speak what I believe is true. There is no intention on my part to insult anyone’s intelligence; it is simply to present the why. Kansas City sports media may not fully recognize how SEC men’s basketball has grown. The reasons involve the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas Jayhawks. The Chiefs have been consistent Super Bowl contenders since Patrick Mahomes joined the team. Each season, they play football until mid-February, drawing substantial attention from the media. This focus on the Chiefs can sometimes overshadow other sports especially college basketball.   

Similarly, Kansas basketball under Bill Self has become a strong program, often advancing far into the NCAA tournament, which again captures significant media attention. About ten years ago, the SEC decided to invest heavily in men’s basketball to ensure all teams, not just Kentucky, were competitive. The schools began hiring successful coaches from other conferences and promising newcomers. The introduction of NIL also enhanced the conference's ability to attract top athletes. Over recent years, SEC men’s basketball has improved significantly. However, the Kansas City sports media’s focus on the Chiefs and Jayhawks might have diverted their attention from the growth and talent in SEC basketball. Despite the evidence being in front of them the Kansas City sports media have unintentionally overlooked the growth of SEC men’s basketball.

Meanwhile

The win against South Carolina was expected, with an 11-17 record (1-4 conference) Mizzou dominated the Gamecocks from start to finish. The final score read Mizzou 101 South Carolina 71, for the 4th time this season the Tigers managed to eclipse the 100 point mark. Caleb Grill was the high man, coming off the bench he scored 22 points and Anthony Robinson II managed to stay on the floor avoiding foul trouble. Robinson II scored 14 points and dished out 8 assists, next up for the Tigers are the tough Commodores of Vanderbilt on Saturday. The Tuesday evening win became number 21 versus 7 losses, the Tigers find themselves with a 10 win 5 loss conference record in the SEC.

Next, I make the declaration because everyone along with their brother, sister, mother, father and cousin must make a statement regarding Duke’s Cooper Flagg. The latest Sixer Paul George in his podcast, he didn’t say Flagg wasn’t talented he just claims Rutgers Ace Bailey has “more upside.” Define your statement would you PG, that confuses me and a bunch of others. No argument here practically every mock draft site has Bailey listed as the number 2 or 3 pick but you’ve got some explanation to do.

A story about Nate ‘Tiny’ Archibald's 1972-73 season recently appeared on my social media feed. During that season, while playing for the Kansas City-Omaha Kings, the point guard led the NBA by scoring an average of 34 points per game and also led the league with 11.4 assists per game. This was the first time in NBA history that the leading scorer also led in assists, and it has not been repeated since. Despite this achievement, Archibald finished third in MVP voting, behind Dave Cowans of the Celtics and Kareem Abdul Jabbar, who played for the Bucks at the time. The bio says Tiny was 6 foot 1 and 150 pounds, he was more like 5 foot 10 or 11 than 6-1.

I am sure a portion of this figure might be AD related because it represents the season thus far. Several media members appear to be focused on “the bad Laker defense,” hold on there for a moment. It ain’t nearly as bad as the cynics claim, truth is the Lakers are in 8th place defensively out of 30 teams. Without looking at the entire picture I’m sure the Lakers might come up short in some areas. Teams are not always at the top of their game however what I’ve been able to witness to date details a team making a concerted effort to address the issue.

Basketball from a fans perspective

Published daily except Tuesdays & Thursday

I can’t see it

To provide context, some of you may not be aware that Gregg Popovich, the Spurs coach, suffered a mild stroke. He has not coached the Spurs since early in the season, and the front office recently announced that Popovich will miss the remainder of the season. At 76 years old, he is the oldest coach in the NBA. Soren Petro of WHB 810 Sports Radio reports that Spurs GM RC Buford and Bill Self are friends. The suggestion is that if Self is tired of coaching college basketball, he could consider moving to the NBA. However, I have some reservations about this scenario. Age—Self is 62 years old. If he had been offered an NBA head coaching job 10 or even 5 years ago, it might have been feasible.

Unless Self is seeking a brand new challenge, why risk tarnishing his legacy by moving to the NBA? The Transition—The NBA has proven to be a challenging environment for many college coaches. The only coach who has successfully transitioned between college and the NBA is Larry Brown. Quin Snyder is at the Hawks but he was an assistant and later head coach for the Jazz prior to the move to Atlanta. Billy Donovan is at the Bulls after first coaching the Thunder, he certainly was a success at the college level. At the NBA he’s 399 wins and 319 losses, his teams have never made it out of the first round of the playoffs except the Thunder team his first year in the NBA. While it's important to keep an open mind, Kansas fans should note that Self would likely consider a position at Oklahoma State (for obvious reasons) before moving to an NBA coaching role.

Meanwhile

The Spurs are optimistic about a complete recovery for Wemby by next season. I conducted a brief hunt for deep vein thrombosis and this is what I discovered. “A condition where a blood clot (thrombus) forms in a deep vein, usually in the legs.” That was the portion that’s most interesting to this non-medical person, Wemby’s thrombosis is in his shoulder.

The situations that makes fans feel more comfortable is downright laughable at times. It was pointed out Kansas had the second longest streak in the Top 20 before they were omitted in the week 17 poll.    Houston now has the longest which prompted this from who I take to be a Kansas fan. “How many championships Houston won?” Okay, Kansas won it all in 2022 if that makes you feel better, Houston has 0 wins, there I wrote it…I hope that helps.

I need help with this matter and perhaps you can aid me. I continue to ask the question why America appears so in love with Charles Barkley? He is constantly discussing any and everything 40% or so of his conversation is often unrelated to basketball. Did I miss the memo, when did he become the consultant on EVERYTHING?

A friend asked, “Have you purchased your 77 jersey yet?” I laughed and told him, “After all this time I am yet to add a LeBron Jersey to my Man-Cave.” There was no particular reason except LeBron remains an active player, every jersey I have hanging represents a retired Laker. As soon as LeBron retires I will buy a number 23 jersey, as for Luka at age 25 it’s going to be awhile lol.

Overvalued

The Mark Williams saga is no longer the conundrum I once believed it to be. As of now you are aware Dalton Knecht and Williams have rejoined their respective teams. According to an Instagram post by Williams: “I didn’t think I had failed my physical. That didn’t even cross my mind.” For those who might be unaware it is important to note that HIPAA regulations likely apply to professional athletes just as they do to the general public.

Hence, while it is understandable that Williams would make such a statement, the Lakers' medical staff is legally prohibited from disclosing any information regarding the health status of an individual. But wait, perhaps it was more to the story than simply failing a physical. What you about to read I am offering you 0 proof, I believe Williams might have been overvalued. Williams has tools but based on players that would be given up by the Lakers and draft choices he was overestimated. Would the Lakers be willing to take him on during the summer, my guess is yes.

Wrong time…maybe wrong place

Tamar Bates’ stats, 13.4 points and 50% shooting from the floor with 40% from three, may not stand out, but his true value lies in his grit. Some might be unfamiliar with the term, what is grit. I had to retreat to the dictionary for a definition, it’s as follows. “Grit is a personality trait defined by determination and perseverance for long-term goals,” and Bates certainly embodies this. Despite initial setbacks, including negative comments from former Indiana coach Dan Dakich, Bates has shown tremendous resilience.

A Kansas City native, he began his basketball journey first at Piper HS in KCK and then transferred to IMG Academy. He was recruited by the University of Indiana but there his career almost stalled. With the success of Missouri basketball an old tweet from the former coach associated with Indiana surfaced. Coach Gates would attribute the negative remarks to someone else and not the Tamar Bates he knows. Last season, Bates remained consistent even during Missouri's 0-18 struggle. This season, with improve team play and fewer injuries, Missouri excels with Bates, who always aims to meet his team's needs.

Basketball from a fans perspective

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5,280

The City of Denver lies 5,280 feet above sea level the highest altitude city in the NBA. It’s always been an advantage for the Nuggets although that’s certainly not the only reason for their winning record over the years. There have been a wealth of outstanding players that have graced the Nuggets roster. The city would be the first true test in my mind for the fresh look Lakers with Luka Doncic. After all it was pointed out that the last 14 games the Lakers played in Denver have resulted in one win. Denver or more precisely the Nuggets have become the Lakers Kryptonite but that would not occur Saturday evening. Truth is they were on a 9-game winning streak when they faced the Lakers so they were certainly hot.

The final score read Lakers 123 Nuggets 100 but in between was a thing of beauty if you are a Laker fan. The Luka Magic was in full effect as he led the way with 32 points, 10 rebounds along with 7 assists and 4 steals. He was the high point man however all the other starters with the exception of Jaxson Hayes was in double-figures. LeBron 25 points and outstanding defense…he was assisted by Rui with 21 points despite guarding The Joker much of the night. Austin Reaves played his usual steady game with 23 points and 7 assists. Is this Laker team ready to compete in the playoffs, I still have no answer for you. In closing I can say this, the win over the Nuggets was quite impressive considering past efforts against them.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Much like the iconic 1966 Clint Eastwood Western classic, this evaluation pertains to Kansas basketball. We are examining the schedule through games of February 22 to determine which games which parallel the film's themes.

The Good—The victories by Kansas men over North Carolina ranked 9 at the time, Michigan State, and Duke number 11 early in the season are certainly noteworthy wins, the appeared to justify the number one pre-season ranking given Kansas by the AP and coaches polls.

The Bad—The loss to Missouri was certainly not what Jayhawk supporters anticipated or desired. Additionally, the defeat by Kansas State, a cross-state rival that has experienced an inconsistent season, is notable. Currently, Kansas State is trending downward once again. Another significant setback was the double overtime loss to Houston, 92-86. Kansas had secured a win in regulation with seconds remaining but failed to maintain their lead. The narrow 62-61 loss to West Virginia in Morgantown was also a missed opportunity for Kansas. Was the tip of the iceberg the Creighton game? After all they had won 7 consecutive games against several powerhouse teams before the loss to Creighton.

The Ugly—The substantial defeat by BYU, 91-57, on Tuesday stands out, although there may be other matches considered equally disappointing. The double-OT loss to Houston could be placed here but I’m going to leave it where it was positioned originally. Despite recent challenges, it is likely that Kansas will reach 20 wins once again. Kansas is recognized as a Blue Blood program; however, both last season and the current one they are a victim of their own success, the standards they established. While optimists anticipate a return to form in the 2025-26 season, I prefer to adopt a wait-and-see approach.

Not good news

More unwelcome news for the Spurs, first it was Wemby and his deep vein thrombosis which has shut him down for the balance of the season. A few days came further news of a negative nature to Spurs and NBA fans, the Spurs front office announced Coach Popovich would be sidelined the balance of this season. We know Pop suffered a stroke but how extensive is an unknown. I could speculate until the cows come home however that’s exactly what would occur. We shall keep track of Pop’s progress as news is made known.

Trap game

I’m unsure when the term “trap game” came into sports usage, I’ve always understood the definition in this manner. A team (NFL or NBA) wins a highly contested game, the follow up game they face competition that might not be on par with theirs. Missouri-Arkansas fit the description, earlier in the week number 15 Missouri had bested number 4 Alabama. Next up on the schedule would be Missouri’s road game against Arkansas. If you believe in trap games you could say that’s what occurred Saturday evening. Arkansas managed to beat Missouri 92-85, the Razorbacks outplayed Missouri during portions of the game especially the second half.

At the same time after holding a 48-41 halftime lead Missouri allowed the Razorbacks to eclipse them scoring 51 points in the second half while only scoring 37. Caleb Grill had 13 points in the first half and was well defended to the point he didn’t score in the second half. Missouri allowed Arkansas to shoot 54.7% from the floor most of that in the second half of the game. I’m sure Mizzou Nation is disappointed with the loss and I don’t wish to blow smoke in their face I wanted this victory badly. Despite that fact this game is not the end of the world, Missouri has won 20 games this season and has 9 wins in the SEC. I guess you might say “I’m a glass half full guy rather than half empty.” I’m disappointed in the loss but not demoralized, we shall see how the balance of this season concludes for Missouri basketball.