Bits n Pieces
The Cavs won the game 107-98 however I believe the Bulls won the pre-season game. Derrick Rose scored 30 points on 12-18 from the floor in addition to grabbing 5 rebounds. Could we say he resembled the roadrunner cartoon as he zipped up and down the court.

We know the Pacers Paul George will likely miss the 2014-15 season. The compound fracture he sustained in the FIBA trials forced him to the sidelines. Did you see the video of him on the court shooting recently? The reason for the likely miss George claims he will play at some point during the season.

Bo knows how to win, not that Bo (Jackson) I’m referring to Wisconsin Coach Bo Ryan. He might be the most successful “unknown” coach in the nation. We might drop 3 or 4 names of successful coaches Ryan would probably not be mentioned.  His Badgers finished 30-8 last season and in the NCAA Final Four, his lifetime coaching record reads 704-224 with a .759 winning percentage.

I’ve mentioned previously I am okay with the Kim Anderson hire at Mizzou. I do have an issue I didn’t discuss it’s age, the coach turned 59 earlier this year. He’s 11 years older than the departed Frank Haith and 5 years older than Mike Anderson. Should Anderson prove successful we cannot see a long tenure at the helm, he may face mandatory retirement due to age.

Got any spare change?
We received news majority Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov wanted to sell his share of the Nets along with his interest in Barclays Center. Now minority owner Bruce Ratner is reported to be also interested in selling his share of Barclays. Are you interested in becoming a team and arena owner? Your financial prospectus should be mailed to: Barclays Center 620 Atlanta Ave., Brooklyn NY 11217. Just in case you want to telephone the office number is (917) 618-6100.

Hopefully it’s okay
The NBA didn’t begin with Michael Jordan and the Bulls; LeBron James is driving the lane in the footsteps of Connie Hawkins and Dr. J. The acrobatic moves around the basket you’ve witnessed from Kobe were first made famous by the Lakers Elgin Baylor in the ‘60’s. I know the calendar says its 2014 and soon it will turn to 2015. Despite this fact my belief is you should always know your history whether it‘s the NBA or your nation. I hope this doesn’t’ sound as if I’m stating we must live in the past that is not the case. My hope is to familiarize you with the giants (literally) who paved the way for Tim Duncan, LeBron, Kobe and others. From time to time I will delve into the past for a story on one of the early talents in the NBA or ABA. My hope is you find it interesting and enlighten.

Double standard
If you check one of the stories I wrote on September 3^rd you’ll read what several might consider an indictment of Auburn’s Bruce Pearl. I decided to re-visit the report because it might be perceived Pearl gets criticized by me and I allowed former Mizzou Coach Haith an easy escape. Before reading this account consider this fact, the Mizzou Tigers are one of my favorite teams. That was certainly not my intention; Mike Greenberg of ESPN’s Mike and Mike stated “Both cases were similar.” 

His statement proved he never investigated both cases in their entirety. Both coaches agreed to violations of NCAA rules and both were admonished. It’s my belief (I could be wrong) if the organization had as much evidence on Haith as they did Pearl the penalties would have been similar. Tennessee fired Pearl and the NCAA imposed a 3-year coaching ban on him, Frank Haith continued in his position as head coach and was given a 5-game suspension. If the cases were the same as Greenberg indicated why was unequal justice dispensed?