Bits n Pieces
Steve Nash is shooting 91% from the line this year, over the course of his career he’s a 90% shooter. Over the weekend in a highly contested game against the Pistons Nash free-throws would seal the victory. Nash goes to the line and bricks both shots, fortunately the Lakers still managed to win the game by one point.

In the same game Piston guard Brandon Knight indicated Metta World Peace punched him. The video is not concise and after checking it multiple times I am unable to determine if Knight is correct. MWP certainly looked as though he was utilizing a WWE move on Knight. In any event MWP was accessed a flagrant foul and given a 1-game suspension. Often the deeds of the past continue to empact your career.         

Jack Harry a local television sportscaster referred to Mizzou basketball as “a work in progress.” Much as I’d like to disagree with his assessment he might be correct. The areas I thought sound have developed cracks. Those I thought might exhibit weakness have been even more flimsy than I foresaw.

A presidential pardon might not even be enough to save his job!  UCLA's Ben Howland is not the only Pac-12 coach on the hot seat. President Obama’s brother-in-law Craig Robinson is seated next to Howland.  As this is written Oregon State is 11-11 and 1-8 in the conference. This is Robinson’s fifth year and last years 21-15 has been the best showing.

He might not be All-Star but Greivis Vasquez has proven steady if nothing else. I’ve followed his career from his Maryland days. After being drafted by the Grizzlies he was traded two years ago to the Hornets (Pelicans). This 6-6 point guard scores 13.8 points per game 4.5 rebounds and 9.3 assists.

Winning streak
The win streak of Kansas came to an end last weekend---33 home games in a row. The Jayhawks should be praised for the win streak. How did this compare to other basketball winning streaks? Other winning streaks consisted of home and road victories. Bill Russell and K.C. Jones San Francisco Dons would be the first streak team to cover in the modern era. The streak began in 1954-55 and ended after 60 straight wins. The streak consisted of two NCAA Championships. The Dons would later be eclipsed by John Wooden's UCLA Bruins.  They now hold the men's team record having won 88 games before the streak was broken.  Their streak would begin on January 30th 1971 beating UC Santa Barbara.  Over the next three years Wooden's team became the best in history breaking the recor set by USF.  Notre Dame upset the Bruins 70-59 on January 19th 1974.  It might be mentioned UCLA won two national championships durin the streak.  As for the NBA the Laker set the modern day record.  They won 33 games beginning November 5th 1971 and lost of January 7th 1972.  Although the streak was broken this Laker team went on to win the 1972 NBA Championship beating the Knicks 4 games to 1.  12 of the participants in the series would later be enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame Springfield (MA).

They ain’t done noting yet!!!
Have the Lakers turned the corner you ask? Far from exhibiting consistent play there are encouraging signs. The annual 7-game Grammy trip will be the true test if this is just “smoke n mirrors.” I’m unsure exactly who to credit for the teams improved play, I don’t know if this is D’Antoni or Kobe/Nash. They have “exchanged” roles with Kobe becoming the de-facto point and Nash the shooter. Nash is scoring more and Kobe less but this change has produced wins. Despite the teams record the Bryant/Nash combo might have the highest assist numbers since the Magic Johnson/Norm Nixon back court. In addition all the post-game interviews almost to a man (including the coach) is the mentioned of defense. Of course we all realize D’Antoni teams “don’t play defense.” This team had no problem scoring the ball the problem was on the other end of the court, slow to rotate and other defensive shortcomings. They haven’t been eliminated but the defense has certainly improved.

I don’t know if this has ever occurred
The Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield contains several teammates. There are Celtics and Lakers and perhaps others. To my knowledge the Springfield Hall is the only one that has high school teammates enshrined. The younger generation knows Akron Ohio as the birthplace of LeBron James; older folks remember it as the home of the late Gus Johnson and Nate Thurmond. Johnson wasn’t the first but the term power forward came to fruition to describe his defensive and offensive play. At the time Johnson graduated from Akron High School he headed to Boise Junior College and the University of Idaho in the early ‘60’s. Johnson was drafted by the Baltimore Bullets (Wizards) in 1963 and played for them over the next 9 years. He concluded his career with the Suns and the ABA’s Pacers. Johnson’s duels with the Knicks Dave DeBusschere were legendary; the 6-6 235 pound Johnson was one the few men to break a basketball backboard and goal.  Johnson averaged 17.1 points and 12.7 rebounds during the course of his career.

Johnson died in 1987 at age 48 from an inoperable brain tumor.  Johnson's senior year a skinny sophomore joined the team, his name Nate Thurmond.  In that day it was rare for freshman to play at the varsity level so it's likely Johnson and Thurmond were teammates for only a year.  How good was Nathanial "Nate" Thurmond you ask?  The 50th Anniversary of the NBA the league selected its 50 greatest players.  Among those chosen as the NBA’s best was Thurmond. Unlike his high school teammate who ventures half-way across the country Thurmond remained close to home. He attended Bowling Green University in Bowling Green Ohio 150 miles from Akron. Thurmond was drafted by the San Francisco Warriors in 1963 and remained with them through 1974. He concluded his NBA in 1977, his career numbers; 15 points per game and 15 rebounds a game. Only 4 players in NBA history have recorded a quadruple-double, Thurmond is one of the 3. On October 18, 1974 while a member of the Bulls he scored 22 points, pulled down 14 rebounds dished out 13 assists and blocked 12 shots.