Bits n Pieces
This reported information is not good news, there
is an indication the Bulls Derrick Rose could miss 8-12 months. 12 months from
today would take us into the middle of
May, the 2012-13 season would have
been completed. Worse case scenario Rose misses the entire season, would he try
for a comeback in the playoffs? That's only a question he could answer but it
might be highly unlikely. Hopefully his healing will be closer to 8 months
rather than season long.
We all know basketball has continued
to grow internationally, there have been an ever increasing number of European and African players in
the NBA. An interesting trend has begun to occur, many have journeyed to the
nation's universities and colleges to hone their basketball skills. We can
use Florida State University as an example, Coach Leonard Hamilton has added three big men to
the program all international athletes. Recently signed was Micahel Ojo a 7-1 290 pound center who hails from Lagos Nigeria . Earlier the school inked 7-3 210 pound
Boris Bojanovsky from Slovakia and Robert Gilchrist 6-9 from London England.
All three will arrive on campus in August for the 2012-13 basketball
season.
A flagrant foul is not always worthy of
suspension. Check out this action from the second game of the Heat-Pacers
series. Dwayne Wade throws a body block on Pacer Darren Collison. That block
would bring a smile to several NFL defensive backs. The official deemed it a
flagrant foul however the NBA office didn't view it warranted a suspension. The
commish claimed the suspension of Metta World Peace was based on his "past
history." Apparently Wade has no past otherwise he would have been suspended at
least one game. Oh, I forgot this is a Heat player we can't suspend him!
In news that really isn't news Lamar Odom
received no playoff share, his former Mavs teammates voted against sharing. I
don't think anyone would find fact shocking based on Odom's contributions to the
Mavs this past season. For a variety of reasons Odom's body while in Dallas his
head remained very much in Los Angeles. Many said although he demanded the trade
he didn't really want to leave the Lakers, insert old adage here, "be
careful what you wish for." I
confess I'm a Lamar Odom fan and it has nothing to do with him being a former
Laker. I've followed his career since his high school days, I was a little
surprised when he chose Rhode Island over several others but he only played his
freshman year. After he came to the Lakers in the Shaq trade he'd arrived home,
one of my favorite players with my favorite team. I wanted him to remain a Laker
for life but after last season and the teams hasty first round exit I knew
change was in the air. There have been a number of Laker players I was happy to
see leave, Kwame Brown and Elden Campbell to
name a few. I hope Odom's able to return to the Lakers minus the huge contract,
I think not only does he want to be in Los Angeles he wants to be a
Laker.
It's rather unusual for a player to make a
college choice this late in the year. That's the decision in front of Devonta
Pollard of Porterville Mississippi, Pollard the number 22 player in the Class of
2012 remains uncommitted. This 6-7 190 pound forward is the only remaining high
profile player yet to chose a school. His choice will be among the six schools
with offers currently on the table, this includes Mizzou. Reports indicted it's
likely he's headed to Alabama or Texas according to The Sporting News.
