There is a distinction between lack of talent and lack of effort!
-------Larry Laker
“He’s not Michael”
I don’t know about you but I’ve been hearing the comment about Kobe Bean Bryant for as long as I can remember. Kobe haters have been quick to remind me “he’s just tryin’ to be Michael (Jordan).” My response should have been “I would expect a 17-year old Kobe to model a portion of his game after one of the NBA’s all-time greats.” There have been a number of potential heirs to the crown Jordan wore. One of the first may have been Grant Hill, although he had a long NBA career injuries severely crippled his time on the court and his skill. Occasionally he was able to exhibit flashes of what might have been if not for the injuries. Vince Carter was another heir to the throne; Carter was once dubbed by Kenny Smith of TNT “Half Man-Half Amazing.” Smith gave him the nickname because of Carter’s game above the rim.
Carter’s career has also been extensive and brilliant but nothing close to the early prediction he was the successor to MJ. There were others, we could include Tracy McGrady and Shaun Livingston in the mix as well. Consider the fact Kobe did not become a starter until his 3rd year, considered the fact he remained relatively injury free. Consider the fact he’s won 5 NBA Championship, its possible he might be closer to MJ than many of his critics take into consideration. There will only be one Michael Jordan however Kobe Bean Bryant is as close to Michael’s game as any player we can consider past or present. It’s my belief In 2024 today’s 5-12 year olds will have difficulty attempting to determine who was the best ever. You must give Kobe his due as he’s passed MJ to become the NBA’s 3rd leading all time scorer.
My Top Five
Who is the best point guard in the NBA today? You name your choice mine is Wizards guard John Wall. End line to end line he might be the swiftest in the NBA, I wonder if Wall has ever been timed in the 100 meter sprint. His season numbers to date; 17.8 points per game, nearly 11 assists and almost 5 rebounds a game, in a recent game against the Wolves he filled up the stat sheet. Wall scored 21 points and dished out 17 assists grabbed 4 rebounds and had 1 steal. In 38 minutes on the court Wall only turned the ball over three times.
I heard a discussion on NBA TV shortly after completing this account. The studio host questioned a former coach turned analyst on the Wall effect. The analyst said; “I don’t believe he (Wall) has moved into the top five point guards in the NBA,“ hearing the comment I wondered why he didn’t elaborate on who belonged in his top five. I’m skillful, I’m attempting to read his mind and provide you what I believe would be his list of top point guards in the NBA.
Russell Westbrook-Thunder
Tony Parker-Spurs
Damian Lillard-Blazers
Chris Paul-Clippers
Derrick Rose-Bulls
Rajon Rondo-Mavs
Deron Williams-Nets
Kyrie Irving-Cavs
There are pluses and minuses with each of the players named; I have no desire to dissect the game of each. You make your own call I believe John Wall is in my top five and closing in on number one.
Learn to win
I’m unsure who to credit this statement I once heard; “you must learn to win.” Sounds simple but somewhat difficult accomplish. A coach can’t roll a basketball on the court and win despite the talent assembled. The struggles this season of the Cavs have been documented by the guys who get paid. Despite the recent loss of Anderson Varejao there are other issues this team faces the first is lack of height in the front court. The Cavs are a collection of talented athletes with no clear direction idea how to pool their talents, strong statement but true. Coach David Blatt is also part of the struggle; Blatt has an extensive history coaching but is new to the NBA and this team.
There must be a certain amount of growth by him and the Cavs, the question becomes how patient will the front office remain? Hopefully this doesn’t sound like a hate LeBron thread far from it. In fact the games I’ve been able to see he’s a small factor in the struggle of this team. LeBron knows the sacrifices a team must endure to win a championship. You think Kyrie Irving knows how to win, how about Kevin Love? We could add Dion Waiters and Tristian Thompson to the mix too. Shawn Marion, Mike Miller and James Jones are reserves that’s why they were hired. If this sounds doom and gloom that’s not the intent, the objective is to detail why the Cavs are not playing at the level “the experts” believed.
Duke’s loss is SMU’s gain
Top 50 prospect Semi Ojeleye was unable to gain time on the court at Duke as written previously. . Ojeleye requested and received his release from Duke and began searching for another school. Word circulated the 6-8 230 pound forward’s services were being sought by Kansas and Mizzou. Word came last Sunday Ojeleye made his choice; he’s headed to Dallas and Southern Methodist University.
Naturally I would have preferred he sign with Mizzou however I believe this choice is a good one for him. Ojeleye will be vying for playing time against two holdover roster members. At SMU he will be coached by Larry Brown one of the best of the best and one of my personal favorites. This is no projection for an NBA future however if Ojeleye fulfills the balance of his early promise he will be well-schooled in the fundamentals of basketball.
Monday, December 29, 2014
There is a distinction between lack of talent and lack of effort!
-------Larry Laker
Figure this one out
Texas Southern has a losing record yet managed to beat Michigan State. Although they led most of the game they came up short against Auburn losing by one point. Yesterday afternoon they managed to squeeze by Kansas State 58-56. This should be a warning to SWAC teams once conference play begins you should be fully prepared for Texas Southern. Don’t allow Texas Southern's won-loss record to lull you to sleep.
Kentucky‘s best
There remain two bastions of basketball in the nation where basketball (high school & college) remain the preeminent sport. One is the State of Indiana the other Kentucky who also happen to share a common state border. This account focuses on the southern neighbor Kentucky or rather the University of Kentucky and Louisville University. This is written on Friday prior to the “Big Game” tomorrow. Saturday afternoon the Kentucky Wildcats will face the Louisville Cardinals at the home of the Cardinals. The two teams under Coaches Calipari and Pitino have been among the top college basketball teams in the nation. Kentucky is ranked number one and Louisville number four in most polls, Kentucky 12-0 and Louisville 10-0.
Pitino has been the victor in two NCAA Championships to Calipari’s one. In addition he was elected to the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2013 while Calipari is yet to receive the honor. Did you know history says the Kentucky Legislature had to step in and “force” the teams to schedule one another? For years Kentucky refused to play Louisville, I could discover no basis for Kentucky’s refusal. Years ago the Kentucky Legislature threatens to withhold state funds was able to “convince” Kentucky it was in their best interest to play Louisville. The schools began playing one another in 1983. For those unfamiliar with the geography the two schools are located less than 100 miles drive time from one another. I’m waiting with eager anticipation for this match up.
Who won?
How would the first match between the Heat and Cavs turn out? This meeting between the two buddies LeBron and Dwayne was interesting on several levels. The two who once opposed one another then became teammates were now on opposing sides. Miami won the game 101-91 as for the two former teammates the outcome might be considered a draw. After starting out slow LeBron eventually heated up and finished the game with 30 points 8 assists and 4 rebounds. Dwayne’s box score read 31 points 5 rebounds and 5 assists.
As for the Bulls and Lakers I was proven correct, all last season on one of the Laker fan website I read disparaging remarks regarding Pau Gasol. I’m not going to detail them, he proved his point. Gasol led his “Bulls” to a 113-93 victory over his former team. 23 points and 13 rebounds indicate he still has some game left in them “ol bones.” As for Spike Lee’s team they seem to be over-matched whomever they face. The Wiz run through over the top and around the Knicks in their Madison Square Garden home. The Knicks have little going at this stage except an offense (triangle) they seem to be unable to master.
Bits n Pieces
Congratulations to the Mavs Dirk Nowitzi and future hall of fame member. Dirk passed Elvin Hayes and moved into 8th place on the NBA’s all time scoring list. He’s now in select company that’s why the HOF is confirmed.
Andrew Wiggin’s game is steadily improving as he moves toward his February birthday. We forget (at least I did) this talented youngster is still a teen. He turns 20 years of age on February 23 and this Canadian import is a defiant keeper.
The 76ers “stockpiling” players are often a topic of discussion, however this account I fail to believe is convincing. CBSSports.com Sam Vecenie has projected the 2015 draft for the 76ers. He writes the team will make Duke’s Jahlil Okafor their top pick. At first glance we could see Okafor as a valid choice however where does that leave Joel Embiid? You remember Embiid, the 7 foot 250 pound center the third pick in the first round by these same 76ers. They drafted him aware an injury would prevent him from playing the 2014-15 season.
George Washington upset number 11 Wichita State which surprised all including yours truly. Trust me if you will the best basketball in the State of Kansas is still played inside the city limits of Wichita and not Lawrence. Okay Kansas fans call me a hater if you desire.
The final score read Kentucky 58 Louisville 50 but it wasn’t that close. After a somewhat ugly encounter that ranged back and forth Kentucky managed to extend its lead to double-digits with approximately 3 to 4 minutes left in the match. The remaining question will Kentucky remain undefeated the balance of the season? That question will remain unanswered for an extended period of time. I believe the strength of Kentucky is not their offense rather their stifling defense and shot-blocking ability.
-------Larry Laker
Figure this one out
Texas Southern has a losing record yet managed to beat Michigan State. Although they led most of the game they came up short against Auburn losing by one point. Yesterday afternoon they managed to squeeze by Kansas State 58-56. This should be a warning to SWAC teams once conference play begins you should be fully prepared for Texas Southern. Don’t allow Texas Southern's won-loss record to lull you to sleep.
Kentucky‘s best
There remain two bastions of basketball in the nation where basketball (high school & college) remain the preeminent sport. One is the State of Indiana the other Kentucky who also happen to share a common state border. This account focuses on the southern neighbor Kentucky or rather the University of Kentucky and Louisville University. This is written on Friday prior to the “Big Game” tomorrow. Saturday afternoon the Kentucky Wildcats will face the Louisville Cardinals at the home of the Cardinals. The two teams under Coaches Calipari and Pitino have been among the top college basketball teams in the nation. Kentucky is ranked number one and Louisville number four in most polls, Kentucky 12-0 and Louisville 10-0.
Pitino has been the victor in two NCAA Championships to Calipari’s one. In addition he was elected to the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2013 while Calipari is yet to receive the honor. Did you know history says the Kentucky Legislature had to step in and “force” the teams to schedule one another? For years Kentucky refused to play Louisville, I could discover no basis for Kentucky’s refusal. Years ago the Kentucky Legislature threatens to withhold state funds was able to “convince” Kentucky it was in their best interest to play Louisville. The schools began playing one another in 1983. For those unfamiliar with the geography the two schools are located less than 100 miles drive time from one another. I’m waiting with eager anticipation for this match up.
Who won?
How would the first match between the Heat and Cavs turn out? This meeting between the two buddies LeBron and Dwayne was interesting on several levels. The two who once opposed one another then became teammates were now on opposing sides. Miami won the game 101-91 as for the two former teammates the outcome might be considered a draw. After starting out slow LeBron eventually heated up and finished the game with 30 points 8 assists and 4 rebounds. Dwayne’s box score read 31 points 5 rebounds and 5 assists.
As for the Bulls and Lakers I was proven correct, all last season on one of the Laker fan website I read disparaging remarks regarding Pau Gasol. I’m not going to detail them, he proved his point. Gasol led his “Bulls” to a 113-93 victory over his former team. 23 points and 13 rebounds indicate he still has some game left in them “ol bones.” As for Spike Lee’s team they seem to be over-matched whomever they face. The Wiz run through over the top and around the Knicks in their Madison Square Garden home. The Knicks have little going at this stage except an offense (triangle) they seem to be unable to master.
Bits n Pieces
Congratulations to the Mavs Dirk Nowitzi and future hall of fame member. Dirk passed Elvin Hayes and moved into 8th place on the NBA’s all time scoring list. He’s now in select company that’s why the HOF is confirmed.
Andrew Wiggin’s game is steadily improving as he moves toward his February birthday. We forget (at least I did) this talented youngster is still a teen. He turns 20 years of age on February 23 and this Canadian import is a defiant keeper.
The 76ers “stockpiling” players are often a topic of discussion, however this account I fail to believe is convincing. CBSSports.com Sam Vecenie has projected the 2015 draft for the 76ers. He writes the team will make Duke’s Jahlil Okafor their top pick. At first glance we could see Okafor as a valid choice however where does that leave Joel Embiid? You remember Embiid, the 7 foot 250 pound center the third pick in the first round by these same 76ers. They drafted him aware an injury would prevent him from playing the 2014-15 season.
George Washington upset number 11 Wichita State which surprised all including yours truly. Trust me if you will the best basketball in the State of Kansas is still played inside the city limits of Wichita and not Lawrence. Okay Kansas fans call me a hater if you desire.
The final score read Kentucky 58 Louisville 50 but it wasn’t that close. After a somewhat ugly encounter that ranged back and forth Kentucky managed to extend its lead to double-digits with approximately 3 to 4 minutes left in the match. The remaining question will Kentucky remain undefeated the balance of the season? That question will remain unanswered for an extended period of time. I believe the strength of Kentucky is not their offense rather their stifling defense and shot-blocking ability.
Friday, December 26, 2014
There is a distinction between lack of talent and lack of effort!
-------Larry Laker
The “Price” Is Right
If the Lakers (and fans) receive an unexpected victory it requires a shout out a real loud shout out, that’s what occurred this past Tuesday. The Lakers were facing the Warriors with their league best 23 wins. There would be no Kobe earlier it was announced he’d begin resting sitting out selected games. This would be the first of an unnumbered selection of games, the result Lakers 115 Warriors 105. It should be noted the game was not as close as the final score might indicate, at the end of the third quarter the box score read Lakers 95 Warriors 73.
Keys to the victory was a team effort as everyone stepped up knowing Kobe wouldn’t be available to bail them out. Veteran Ronnie Price took two or three giant steps while matched against Steph Curry. Check out his stat line, Price managed, 17 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists and 3 steals in leading the Lakers to the upset victory. Veteran Carlos Boozer in a reserve role scored 18 points off the bench. While the victory is noteworthy unless they continue down this same path it becomes one less game on the schedule to be played. With apologies to Drew Carey and his long running television quiz program “The Price Is (was) Right.”
Christmas Day in the NBA
This account is prompted by an Associated Press story I read on the NBA on Christimas. In addition a thought back to a story that was news a few years ago. As for the AP story a writer quoted Jeff Van Gundy indicating he believed the NBA should begin its regular season on December 25. The writer and former coach voiced this view because the date is not shared with the NFL or college football. I cannot deny the view of Van Gundy or the AP writer however there is another side to the story. Dedicated NBA fans are going to pay more attention to their sport than any NFL or college football, it wouldn’t matter if the games began on July 25 or December 25.
In addition to that story three or four years ago consumer advocate Ralph Nader placed himself in the middle of Christmas games. In fact he wrote then Commissioner Stern “the NBA should cease playing games on Christmas.” He went on to state he believed the players preferred to be with friends and family. Needless to say nothing ever came of his request. To my knowledge Stern never responded and as you see games have continued to be played on Christmas December 25. The NBA has the strongest players union among the major professional sports; if the players stated they no longer wanted to play on December 25 I believe they would ask for the date to be open.
A 7-foot wide receiver?
The belief was Kentucky’s Willie Cauley-Stein was headed for an NBA career but maybe not. Reports have circulated the 7 foot 250 pound athlete has been projected by a number of NFL scouts as tight end. This is not quite as unusual as it might sound Cauley-Stein played wide receiver in high school. Can you imagine a 6-2 or 6-3 defensive back leaping to knock down a pass thrown to the 6-10 (in high school) Cauley-Stein. As for others you might remember LeBron James played football for St Vincent-St Mary High School in Ohio.
As for former basketball players in the NFL Tony Gonzalez comes to mind too. In fact remember seeing Gonzalez on the basketball court before he began his NFL career leading up to the Hall of Fame. The Chargers tight end Antonio Gates played basketball at Kent State. Mentioned earlier was wide receiver Randy Moss, his great leaping ability snaring passes may have begun on the basketball court. It’s likely there are other athletes who were omitted but the history is noteworthy. Morris Stroud a 6-10 center in basketball may have been one of the first; he was drafted by the NFL Chiefs in 1969.
Houston (we) may have a problem
After the Pistons released Josh Smith he didn’t remain a free agent long. Wednesday word began circulating the Rockets intend to sign him. He signed with the Rockets on the promise of a starting job. Smith can play both forward positions however we know small forward James Harden isn’t going anywhere. This leaves Donatas Motiejunas headed for a seat next to the coaching staff. There is no argument Smith has game and at age 29 should have 5 or 6 years productive years in front of him. Hopefully Smith can temper his game to fit the Rockets system. If not Rockets management is gonna adopt the phrase uttered by the Apollo 13 astronauts years ago---”Houston we have a problem.”
Bits n Pieces
I didn’t see the game only heard the final score; Texas Southern upset number 25 Michigan State 71-64 in an overtime game. Even more noteworthy Texas Southern’s record was 1-8 prior to the start of the game. The loss created a seismic shock in the college basketball world.
That wasn’t the only weekend shocker there were two more. We believed number 1 Kentucky would win its match against UCLA but we certainly didn’t expect an 83-44 final score. UCLA was held to seven (7) first half points. The Harvard-Virginia game was another match up one team was clearly superior over its opponent. Number 6 Virginia ran over Harvard 76-27
The subject of NBA teams losing on purpose was part of Commissioner Silver’s interview with ESPN’s Andy Katz. Naturally the commish said; "no team loses on purpose" which is what we expected. I don't know about you but I get so tired of hearing these stories. No other sports suffers the talk of losing games to qualify for a better draft position. This type of talk only exists with the NBA.
I cannot get inside Carmelo Anthony’s head in addition I have no doubt he’s hurting. The Knicks have said nothing as far as I know. We read his statement; “he’s been urged by multiple people to take some time off. “ What’s wrong with the statement you ask? Nowhere in the statement does Anthony mention any member of the Knicks medical staff or his personal physician making this recommendation.
-------Larry Laker
The “Price” Is Right
If the Lakers (and fans) receive an unexpected victory it requires a shout out a real loud shout out, that’s what occurred this past Tuesday. The Lakers were facing the Warriors with their league best 23 wins. There would be no Kobe earlier it was announced he’d begin resting sitting out selected games. This would be the first of an unnumbered selection of games, the result Lakers 115 Warriors 105. It should be noted the game was not as close as the final score might indicate, at the end of the third quarter the box score read Lakers 95 Warriors 73.
Keys to the victory was a team effort as everyone stepped up knowing Kobe wouldn’t be available to bail them out. Veteran Ronnie Price took two or three giant steps while matched against Steph Curry. Check out his stat line, Price managed, 17 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists and 3 steals in leading the Lakers to the upset victory. Veteran Carlos Boozer in a reserve role scored 18 points off the bench. While the victory is noteworthy unless they continue down this same path it becomes one less game on the schedule to be played. With apologies to Drew Carey and his long running television quiz program “The Price Is (was) Right.”
Christmas Day in the NBA
This account is prompted by an Associated Press story I read on the NBA on Christimas. In addition a thought back to a story that was news a few years ago. As for the AP story a writer quoted Jeff Van Gundy indicating he believed the NBA should begin its regular season on December 25. The writer and former coach voiced this view because the date is not shared with the NFL or college football. I cannot deny the view of Van Gundy or the AP writer however there is another side to the story. Dedicated NBA fans are going to pay more attention to their sport than any NFL or college football, it wouldn’t matter if the games began on July 25 or December 25.
In addition to that story three or four years ago consumer advocate Ralph Nader placed himself in the middle of Christmas games. In fact he wrote then Commissioner Stern “the NBA should cease playing games on Christmas.” He went on to state he believed the players preferred to be with friends and family. Needless to say nothing ever came of his request. To my knowledge Stern never responded and as you see games have continued to be played on Christmas December 25. The NBA has the strongest players union among the major professional sports; if the players stated they no longer wanted to play on December 25 I believe they would ask for the date to be open.
A 7-foot wide receiver?
The belief was Kentucky’s Willie Cauley-Stein was headed for an NBA career but maybe not. Reports have circulated the 7 foot 250 pound athlete has been projected by a number of NFL scouts as tight end. This is not quite as unusual as it might sound Cauley-Stein played wide receiver in high school. Can you imagine a 6-2 or 6-3 defensive back leaping to knock down a pass thrown to the 6-10 (in high school) Cauley-Stein. As for others you might remember LeBron James played football for St Vincent-St Mary High School in Ohio.
As for former basketball players in the NFL Tony Gonzalez comes to mind too. In fact remember seeing Gonzalez on the basketball court before he began his NFL career leading up to the Hall of Fame. The Chargers tight end Antonio Gates played basketball at Kent State. Mentioned earlier was wide receiver Randy Moss, his great leaping ability snaring passes may have begun on the basketball court. It’s likely there are other athletes who were omitted but the history is noteworthy. Morris Stroud a 6-10 center in basketball may have been one of the first; he was drafted by the NFL Chiefs in 1969.
Houston (we) may have a problem
After the Pistons released Josh Smith he didn’t remain a free agent long. Wednesday word began circulating the Rockets intend to sign him. He signed with the Rockets on the promise of a starting job. Smith can play both forward positions however we know small forward James Harden isn’t going anywhere. This leaves Donatas Motiejunas headed for a seat next to the coaching staff. There is no argument Smith has game and at age 29 should have 5 or 6 years productive years in front of him. Hopefully Smith can temper his game to fit the Rockets system. If not Rockets management is gonna adopt the phrase uttered by the Apollo 13 astronauts years ago---”Houston we have a problem.”
Bits n Pieces
I didn’t see the game only heard the final score; Texas Southern upset number 25 Michigan State 71-64 in an overtime game. Even more noteworthy Texas Southern’s record was 1-8 prior to the start of the game. The loss created a seismic shock in the college basketball world.
That wasn’t the only weekend shocker there were two more. We believed number 1 Kentucky would win its match against UCLA but we certainly didn’t expect an 83-44 final score. UCLA was held to seven (7) first half points. The Harvard-Virginia game was another match up one team was clearly superior over its opponent. Number 6 Virginia ran over Harvard 76-27
The subject of NBA teams losing on purpose was part of Commissioner Silver’s interview with ESPN’s Andy Katz. Naturally the commish said; "no team loses on purpose" which is what we expected. I don't know about you but I get so tired of hearing these stories. No other sports suffers the talk of losing games to qualify for a better draft position. This type of talk only exists with the NBA.
I cannot get inside Carmelo Anthony’s head in addition I have no doubt he’s hurting. The Knicks have said nothing as far as I know. We read his statement; “he’s been urged by multiple people to take some time off. “ What’s wrong with the statement you ask? Nowhere in the statement does Anthony mention any member of the Knicks medical staff or his personal physician making this recommendation.
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
There is a distinction between lack of talent and lack of effort!
-------Larry Laker
We don’t know if he can play
Laker rookie Julius Randle succumbed to injury in the first game of the season. The injury would force him to the sidelines for the remainder of the season. We don’t know for sure but the Lakers hope he can play effectively at the NBA level. One of the areas the Lakers have suffered this season is at the point. We have no idea if the story is true it was only a rumor. The Lakers were in the mix to secure the services of Rajon Rondo but the Celtics were reported to want Randle included in a trade. The Lakers turned them down so we must guess the Lakers believe he’s got NBA talent. On the surface no way would a Rajon Rondo lead the team to a championship. Rondo would certainly improve aspects however the Lakers must believe their future lies with Randle over Rondo.
They remain a good team
As this is written the Thunder is 13-15, naturally if the playoffs occurred today they would miss them. I will boldly predict they will make the playoffs as for the Western Conference Championship round that might be another story. What happened to the Thunder? The injury to star Kevin Durant got them off on the wrong foot. If you’ve read Words for any length of time you recognize I’m no fan of Russell Westbrook however I must admit he’s talented. Westbrook would also be injured also missing a significant number of games which impacted the Thunder too. The western conference is so competitive it’s difficult to believe they can make it pass the conference round and NBA Championship. Has the window of opportunity closed for the Thunder? The question remains unanswered and will remain so through the 2014-15 season.
Pronounce my name correctly----please
There are a number of players in the NBA with very difficult names to pronounce. In fact some have difficult first names. Watching the Bulls-Celtic game and listening to the player introductions reminds me of a story. Public address announcers might need to be more conscience of the correct pronunciation than maybe a television or radio broadcaster. On a personal note when meeting someone for the first time I try and place a mental photo in my mind how to pronounce their name.
It doesn’t always work however it sometimes it does. Naturally the easiest name to remember is someone with the same as yours. Back to the story early in his NBA career a P.A. mispronounced Robert Horry’s name during player introductions. The announcer said; “From the University of Alabama 6-10 Robert Horrey.” The player visited with the public address announcer after the game and said; “My name is pronounced orrey, the H is silent.”
Prove it
At some point during the Temple-Kansas game analyst Seth Greenburg made a comment regarding the strength of the Big 12 Conference. I don’t doubt his statement I doubt my earlier statement. At some point (don’t remember when) I pronounced Kansas 2014-15 Big 12 Conference champ. I made this observation prior to the basketball first being tossed in the air. Kansas is good, so are Texas, Iowa State, Oklahoma and possibly Kansas State. We can toss these teams into the mix as well TCU 11-0, West Virginia 10-1 and Baylor
9-1.
My pre-season observation may have been premature crowning Kansas champion in advance. I believed Kansas would lose to Kentucky loosing to Temple 77-52 was totally unexpected, Temple finished the night as an 8-4 team. Point guard Frank Mason appeared to be the only Kansas player on the court as he led the way with 20 points. No other Kansas player scored in double figures; in addition Temple not a particularly tall team blocked 8 Kansas shots. At this point Bill Self’s team must prove to us they are as good as advertised.
Division II plays the game too
Unless you reside in a nearby city or maybe a student few opportunities exist to witness Division II basketball occurs. The networks appear to only telecast the games of “Big Boy” Division I teams. While searching for a game Saturday morning I came across the CBS Sports Network telecast of Northeastern State (OK) and Central Missouri. As recently as 2003 Northeastern State was NCAA Division II Champions; University of Central Missouri won it all last season. Current Mizzou Coach Kim Anderson was at the helm last season for Central Missouri.
Calipairi, how does he do it?
This is written Friday evening prior to the Saturday meeting. The match of two of the most storied basketball programs in the nation UCLA and Kentucky. Tomorrows game is not the focus of this account rather how Kentucky will look next season, Calipari appears to have done it again. Luring some of the best high school talent to journey to Lexington Kentucky. It’s too early to discuss who’s staying versus who is going but consider this tidbit of information. I’m looking at the ESPN 100 the top high school seniors in the nation. The signings thus far reflect those signed in the early period.
Skal Labissiere 6-10 210 center Memphis (TN) ESPN number 11
Isaiah Briscoe 6-3 200 point guard Union (NJ) ESPN number 13
Charles Matthews 6-5 175 shooting guard Chicago (IL) ESPN number 44
A couple of points to consider, a number of athletes are unable to transfer the game they displayed in high school to the collegiate level. Maybe we’ll discover one or more of these guys can’t play at this level. Point two these are early signers its likely dependent on the NBA draft there might be additions in the late signing period.
-------Larry Laker
We don’t know if he can play
Laker rookie Julius Randle succumbed to injury in the first game of the season. The injury would force him to the sidelines for the remainder of the season. We don’t know for sure but the Lakers hope he can play effectively at the NBA level. One of the areas the Lakers have suffered this season is at the point. We have no idea if the story is true it was only a rumor. The Lakers were in the mix to secure the services of Rajon Rondo but the Celtics were reported to want Randle included in a trade. The Lakers turned them down so we must guess the Lakers believe he’s got NBA talent. On the surface no way would a Rajon Rondo lead the team to a championship. Rondo would certainly improve aspects however the Lakers must believe their future lies with Randle over Rondo.
They remain a good team
As this is written the Thunder is 13-15, naturally if the playoffs occurred today they would miss them. I will boldly predict they will make the playoffs as for the Western Conference Championship round that might be another story. What happened to the Thunder? The injury to star Kevin Durant got them off on the wrong foot. If you’ve read Words for any length of time you recognize I’m no fan of Russell Westbrook however I must admit he’s talented. Westbrook would also be injured also missing a significant number of games which impacted the Thunder too. The western conference is so competitive it’s difficult to believe they can make it pass the conference round and NBA Championship. Has the window of opportunity closed for the Thunder? The question remains unanswered and will remain so through the 2014-15 season.
Pronounce my name correctly----please
There are a number of players in the NBA with very difficult names to pronounce. In fact some have difficult first names. Watching the Bulls-Celtic game and listening to the player introductions reminds me of a story. Public address announcers might need to be more conscience of the correct pronunciation than maybe a television or radio broadcaster. On a personal note when meeting someone for the first time I try and place a mental photo in my mind how to pronounce their name.
It doesn’t always work however it sometimes it does. Naturally the easiest name to remember is someone with the same as yours. Back to the story early in his NBA career a P.A. mispronounced Robert Horry’s name during player introductions. The announcer said; “From the University of Alabama 6-10 Robert Horrey.” The player visited with the public address announcer after the game and said; “My name is pronounced orrey, the H is silent.”
Prove it
At some point during the Temple-Kansas game analyst Seth Greenburg made a comment regarding the strength of the Big 12 Conference. I don’t doubt his statement I doubt my earlier statement. At some point (don’t remember when) I pronounced Kansas 2014-15 Big 12 Conference champ. I made this observation prior to the basketball first being tossed in the air. Kansas is good, so are Texas, Iowa State, Oklahoma and possibly Kansas State. We can toss these teams into the mix as well TCU 11-0, West Virginia 10-1 and Baylor
9-1.
My pre-season observation may have been premature crowning Kansas champion in advance. I believed Kansas would lose to Kentucky loosing to Temple 77-52 was totally unexpected, Temple finished the night as an 8-4 team. Point guard Frank Mason appeared to be the only Kansas player on the court as he led the way with 20 points. No other Kansas player scored in double figures; in addition Temple not a particularly tall team blocked 8 Kansas shots. At this point Bill Self’s team must prove to us they are as good as advertised.
Division II plays the game too
Unless you reside in a nearby city or maybe a student few opportunities exist to witness Division II basketball occurs. The networks appear to only telecast the games of “Big Boy” Division I teams. While searching for a game Saturday morning I came across the CBS Sports Network telecast of Northeastern State (OK) and Central Missouri. As recently as 2003 Northeastern State was NCAA Division II Champions; University of Central Missouri won it all last season. Current Mizzou Coach Kim Anderson was at the helm last season for Central Missouri.
Calipairi, how does he do it?
This is written Friday evening prior to the Saturday meeting. The match of two of the most storied basketball programs in the nation UCLA and Kentucky. Tomorrows game is not the focus of this account rather how Kentucky will look next season, Calipari appears to have done it again. Luring some of the best high school talent to journey to Lexington Kentucky. It’s too early to discuss who’s staying versus who is going but consider this tidbit of information. I’m looking at the ESPN 100 the top high school seniors in the nation. The signings thus far reflect those signed in the early period.
Skal Labissiere 6-10 210 center Memphis (TN) ESPN number 11
Isaiah Briscoe 6-3 200 point guard Union (NJ) ESPN number 13
Charles Matthews 6-5 175 shooting guard Chicago (IL) ESPN number 44
A couple of points to consider, a number of athletes are unable to transfer the game they displayed in high school to the collegiate level. Maybe we’ll discover one or more of these guys can’t play at this level. Point two these are early signers its likely dependent on the NBA draft there might be additions in the late signing period.
Monday, December 22, 2014
There is a distinction between lack of talent and lack of effort!
-------Larry Laker
They are one of the best
Last season they won 29 games, in the 2012-13 season they won 32, the year before it was 26. You might believe I’m referring to Kentucky, North Carolina or Kansas. Those programs continue to turn out winning programs year after year but so does Gonzaga. The Spokane (WA) school earns an annual invite to the NCAA Tournament year after year. We must salute Coach Mark Few whose record at Gonzaga is 412-101 in 15 years. Coach Few has chosen to remain at Gonzaga despite lucrative offers from other schools over the years. As this is written Gonzaga is rated the number 8 team in the nation by the Associated Press.
Bits n Pieces
I was singing the praises of Jahlil Okafor however there is a dent in his armor. There is an area of his game he needs to clean up. He’s a “Shaq/Dwight Howard” player at the
free-throw line averaging 50% after nine games thus far. All other aspects of his game he’s “NBA ready.” On second thought poor free-throw shooting didn’t prevent either O’Neal or Howard from an NBA career.
What if I told you the NCAA block shot leader wasn’t a starter? What if I told you he’s now at his second school due to behavior problems? What if I told you he might be on his way to the NBA? The NBA may or may not be in his future however it appears the behavior issues are a thing of the past. His name is Robert Upshaw and he’s a 7-foot 250 pound center, after beginning at Fresno State he’s now a sophomore at Washington.
I wasn’t shocked by the Rajon Rondo trade, trade rumors regarding Rondo have been circulating since last year. As for the destination the Mavs probably had more to offer than any other potential trading partner. Despite the stories we might have heard at one time Rondo wasn’t headed for the Nets or any other Eastern Conference team. The Celtics have been in a steady rebuilding manner for several years, Rondo was the last holdover from their championship teams.
Why is the question? I don’t wish to give Laker haters fodder but here goes. Fighting uphill all evening against a Thunder team minus Durant and Perkins they could have won. Kobe had perhaps the worst shooting night to date with seconds left he took a contested shot and missed. Its quite possible Jeremy Lin may have missed the shoot as well however nobody was guarding Lin and his field goal percentage is higher than Kobe at this point in the season. End result-Thunder 104 Lakers 103.
After writing an account bragging about Miami Coach Jim Larrinaga a few weeks back his Hurricane team was embarrassed by Eastern Kentucky 72-44. I hope fans, students and alum of Eastern Kentucky don’t consider this a slam at your favorite team. Far from it, The Colonel was 5-4 going into the game facing the number 18 Miami Hurricanes. Oh well just proves “you play to win the game” which Miami didn’t. Sorry Coach Edwards.
Where are they now?
He returned to Texas-El Paso to complete his undergraduate degree shortly before retiring from the NBA. He then went on to earn a Masters Degree and began work on a PhD. In addition to sitting in a classroom as a student he’s also been upfront teaching school too. He holds a unique distinction; he remains the only NBA player to lead the league in scoring and assists in the same season. In the 1972-73 season Nate “Tiny” Archibald averaged 34.0 ppg and 11.4 assists for the Kansas City-Omaha Kings.
Without checking the records this diminutive point guard may have been responsible for 75-80% with his scoring and distribution of the ball. The woeful Kings had little offense at that time with the exception of Archibald. How good was Archibald he was voted to the Top 50 All Time NBA time, in 1991 he was elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Did I forget to mention he contributed mightily to the 1981 NBA Championship won by the Celtics? All this accomplished by an athlete listed at 6-1 (many believe he was 5-10) and 150 pounds. I’m sure there is no argument he may have been the best baller to ever come from the Bronx Borough of New York City.
My heart was ripped out
Mizzou basketball leading up to the Illinois game had been a disappointment for me; I knew there would be bumps in the road. I’d mentioned previously new coach, new system and new players however I expected them to be a little more cohesive. In The Annual Braggin’ Rights” match against Illinois Mizzou played at an up tempo throughout the game. Mizzou actually shot better from the floor than Illinois, this was noteworthy considering Mizzou was 5-5 and Illinois 8-3 leading into the game. The game was tied 59 all and Rayvonte Rice of Illinois hit a 3-pointer with two Mizzou players on him and 1.2 seconds left on the clock. Final score Illinois 62 Mizzou 59.
-------Larry Laker
They are one of the best
Last season they won 29 games, in the 2012-13 season they won 32, the year before it was 26. You might believe I’m referring to Kentucky, North Carolina or Kansas. Those programs continue to turn out winning programs year after year but so does Gonzaga. The Spokane (WA) school earns an annual invite to the NCAA Tournament year after year. We must salute Coach Mark Few whose record at Gonzaga is 412-101 in 15 years. Coach Few has chosen to remain at Gonzaga despite lucrative offers from other schools over the years. As this is written Gonzaga is rated the number 8 team in the nation by the Associated Press.
Bits n Pieces
I was singing the praises of Jahlil Okafor however there is a dent in his armor. There is an area of his game he needs to clean up. He’s a “Shaq/Dwight Howard” player at the
free-throw line averaging 50% after nine games thus far. All other aspects of his game he’s “NBA ready.” On second thought poor free-throw shooting didn’t prevent either O’Neal or Howard from an NBA career.
What if I told you the NCAA block shot leader wasn’t a starter? What if I told you he’s now at his second school due to behavior problems? What if I told you he might be on his way to the NBA? The NBA may or may not be in his future however it appears the behavior issues are a thing of the past. His name is Robert Upshaw and he’s a 7-foot 250 pound center, after beginning at Fresno State he’s now a sophomore at Washington.
I wasn’t shocked by the Rajon Rondo trade, trade rumors regarding Rondo have been circulating since last year. As for the destination the Mavs probably had more to offer than any other potential trading partner. Despite the stories we might have heard at one time Rondo wasn’t headed for the Nets or any other Eastern Conference team. The Celtics have been in a steady rebuilding manner for several years, Rondo was the last holdover from their championship teams.
Why is the question? I don’t wish to give Laker haters fodder but here goes. Fighting uphill all evening against a Thunder team minus Durant and Perkins they could have won. Kobe had perhaps the worst shooting night to date with seconds left he took a contested shot and missed. Its quite possible Jeremy Lin may have missed the shoot as well however nobody was guarding Lin and his field goal percentage is higher than Kobe at this point in the season. End result-Thunder 104 Lakers 103.
After writing an account bragging about Miami Coach Jim Larrinaga a few weeks back his Hurricane team was embarrassed by Eastern Kentucky 72-44. I hope fans, students and alum of Eastern Kentucky don’t consider this a slam at your favorite team. Far from it, The Colonel was 5-4 going into the game facing the number 18 Miami Hurricanes. Oh well just proves “you play to win the game” which Miami didn’t. Sorry Coach Edwards.
Where are they now?
He returned to Texas-El Paso to complete his undergraduate degree shortly before retiring from the NBA. He then went on to earn a Masters Degree and began work on a PhD. In addition to sitting in a classroom as a student he’s also been upfront teaching school too. He holds a unique distinction; he remains the only NBA player to lead the league in scoring and assists in the same season. In the 1972-73 season Nate “Tiny” Archibald averaged 34.0 ppg and 11.4 assists for the Kansas City-Omaha Kings.
Without checking the records this diminutive point guard may have been responsible for 75-80% with his scoring and distribution of the ball. The woeful Kings had little offense at that time with the exception of Archibald. How good was Archibald he was voted to the Top 50 All Time NBA time, in 1991 he was elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Did I forget to mention he contributed mightily to the 1981 NBA Championship won by the Celtics? All this accomplished by an athlete listed at 6-1 (many believe he was 5-10) and 150 pounds. I’m sure there is no argument he may have been the best baller to ever come from the Bronx Borough of New York City.
My heart was ripped out
Mizzou basketball leading up to the Illinois game had been a disappointment for me; I knew there would be bumps in the road. I’d mentioned previously new coach, new system and new players however I expected them to be a little more cohesive. In The Annual Braggin’ Rights” match against Illinois Mizzou played at an up tempo throughout the game. Mizzou actually shot better from the floor than Illinois, this was noteworthy considering Mizzou was 5-5 and Illinois 8-3 leading into the game. The game was tied 59 all and Rayvonte Rice of Illinois hit a 3-pointer with two Mizzou players on him and 1.2 seconds left on the clock. Final score Illinois 62 Mizzou 59.
Friday, December 19, 2014
There is a distinction between lack of talent and lack of effort!
-------Larry Laker
Will he play?
On Wednesday I wrote Semi Ojeleye was transferring from Duke. Ojeleye had established the high school scoring mark for the State of Kansas. Despite this fact he found little court time due to Duke’s deep and talented team. Wednesday afternoon came word Justin Robinson 6-7 combo forward will be a Duke walk-on player in 2015-16. Exactly who is Justin you ask, he’s the son of former Spurs center and Hall of Fame athlete David Robinson. The younger Robinson is not as tall as his 7 foot dad or as talented. The news release indicated Justin is a top notch student that sounds good because it’s likely we won’t see a great deal of him on the basketball court. A degree from an academic institution such as Duke is quite noteworthy to a potential future employer.
It’s my fault
Bucks forward Jabari Parker was projected to be Rookie of the Year by yours truly. His early numbers looked quite good and then came the terrible news. Parker was injured in Monday night’s game against the Suns; he was assisted off the court unable to walk on his on. Tuesday evening the Bucks announced Parker’s medical report pointed out a torn ACL, he will miss the remainder of the season. If I hadn’t predicted Rookie of the Year for him he might have finished the season unscathed. Because he’s only played 25 games thus far I wonder if he might be eligible for Rookie of the Year next season.
Can you say re-alignment?
I can agree with Mark Cuban to a degree, the NBA does require realignment but not in the manner he proposes. Awhile back I indicated the Grizzlies were in the Western Conference instead of the east where they belonged, why you ask? Memphis is in the Central Time Zone same as Chicago and Milwaukee. Geography places the city east of the Mississippi River; generally the river is considered the dividing line between the eastern and western portion of the nation.
How did we arrive here might be your next question? Many of you may have forgotten or were too young to realize the franchise came into the NBA as an expansion team in Vancouver. The Grizzlies began play in 1995 and lasted in the Canadian city until 2001, after the season they located to their present home base Memphis. A Vancouver British Columbia home meant the team came into the NBA as a Western Conference team. The NBA brain-trust allowed the team to change locations but failed to consider a west versus east move.
Aircraft Carrier
I was a little surprised Mizzou made an offer to Stephen Zimmerman; in case the name is unfamiliar to you he’s a 7-footer from Bishop Gorman High School Las Vegas. Zimmerman is a Rivals 5-star prospect and has received offers from all the usual suspects which usually excludes Mizzou. In most instances Mizzou has usually not even been part of the discussion for the services of high profile prospect like Zimmerman.
Consider the last high profile 7-footer at Mizzou played more than a generation ago. The name Steve Stipanovich might be familiar to several of you; he played from 1979-1983. He went on to play briefly in the NBA with the Pacers before injuries cut short a promising career. At Mizzou, Stipanovich became a 2nd team All-American in 1983. To borrow a Dick Vitale term I’d love if this 7 foot 240 pound “aircraft carrier” would chose Mizzou, I can hope can’t I?
Divided loyalties
Once upon a time NYC had three major league baseball teams. The Yankees, the Brooklyn Dodger and New York Giants. The latter teams left for Los Angeles and San Francisco respectfully in 1957. Expansion brought the National League Mets to the city thus an American and National League presence. Chicago has the baseball White Sox and Cubs however New York, Chicago and Los Angeles are the only baseball thriving cities. In the NBA the Knicks have a rival in Brooklyn with the arrival of the Nets.
The only other city with dual franchises is Los Angeles with the Lakers and Clippers. A rumor circulated a number of years ago there might be another team added in Chicago however nothing ever came of it. Whether we are talking baseball or the NBA fans are loyal to that one alone. Ask Brooklyn born Spike Lee which team he favors? It’s not just him I’ve never heard a Knick fan say; “I root for the Nets” and vice-versa. It might even be worse in Los Angeles since the Clippers and Lakers share Staples Center.
-------Larry Laker
Will he play?
On Wednesday I wrote Semi Ojeleye was transferring from Duke. Ojeleye had established the high school scoring mark for the State of Kansas. Despite this fact he found little court time due to Duke’s deep and talented team. Wednesday afternoon came word Justin Robinson 6-7 combo forward will be a Duke walk-on player in 2015-16. Exactly who is Justin you ask, he’s the son of former Spurs center and Hall of Fame athlete David Robinson. The younger Robinson is not as tall as his 7 foot dad or as talented. The news release indicated Justin is a top notch student that sounds good because it’s likely we won’t see a great deal of him on the basketball court. A degree from an academic institution such as Duke is quite noteworthy to a potential future employer.
It’s my fault
Bucks forward Jabari Parker was projected to be Rookie of the Year by yours truly. His early numbers looked quite good and then came the terrible news. Parker was injured in Monday night’s game against the Suns; he was assisted off the court unable to walk on his on. Tuesday evening the Bucks announced Parker’s medical report pointed out a torn ACL, he will miss the remainder of the season. If I hadn’t predicted Rookie of the Year for him he might have finished the season unscathed. Because he’s only played 25 games thus far I wonder if he might be eligible for Rookie of the Year next season.
Can you say re-alignment?
I can agree with Mark Cuban to a degree, the NBA does require realignment but not in the manner he proposes. Awhile back I indicated the Grizzlies were in the Western Conference instead of the east where they belonged, why you ask? Memphis is in the Central Time Zone same as Chicago and Milwaukee. Geography places the city east of the Mississippi River; generally the river is considered the dividing line between the eastern and western portion of the nation.
How did we arrive here might be your next question? Many of you may have forgotten or were too young to realize the franchise came into the NBA as an expansion team in Vancouver. The Grizzlies began play in 1995 and lasted in the Canadian city until 2001, after the season they located to their present home base Memphis. A Vancouver British Columbia home meant the team came into the NBA as a Western Conference team. The NBA brain-trust allowed the team to change locations but failed to consider a west versus east move.
Aircraft Carrier
I was a little surprised Mizzou made an offer to Stephen Zimmerman; in case the name is unfamiliar to you he’s a 7-footer from Bishop Gorman High School Las Vegas. Zimmerman is a Rivals 5-star prospect and has received offers from all the usual suspects which usually excludes Mizzou. In most instances Mizzou has usually not even been part of the discussion for the services of high profile prospect like Zimmerman.
Consider the last high profile 7-footer at Mizzou played more than a generation ago. The name Steve Stipanovich might be familiar to several of you; he played from 1979-1983. He went on to play briefly in the NBA with the Pacers before injuries cut short a promising career. At Mizzou, Stipanovich became a 2nd team All-American in 1983. To borrow a Dick Vitale term I’d love if this 7 foot 240 pound “aircraft carrier” would chose Mizzou, I can hope can’t I?
Divided loyalties
Once upon a time NYC had three major league baseball teams. The Yankees, the Brooklyn Dodger and New York Giants. The latter teams left for Los Angeles and San Francisco respectfully in 1957. Expansion brought the National League Mets to the city thus an American and National League presence. Chicago has the baseball White Sox and Cubs however New York, Chicago and Los Angeles are the only baseball thriving cities. In the NBA the Knicks have a rival in Brooklyn with the arrival of the Nets.
The only other city with dual franchises is Los Angeles with the Lakers and Clippers. A rumor circulated a number of years ago there might be another team added in Chicago however nothing ever came of it. Whether we are talking baseball or the NBA fans are loyal to that one alone. Ask Brooklyn born Spike Lee which team he favors? It’s not just him I’ve never heard a Knick fan say; “I root for the Nets” and vice-versa. It might even be worse in Los Angeles since the Clippers and Lakers share Staples Center.
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
There is a distinction between lack of talent and lack of effort!
----------Larry Laker
Exceptional
I refuse to blow this out of proposition but his game was certainly noteworthy. I’m referring to the double-double of Duke’s Jahlil Ofakor. Sure it was Duke against Elon University (NC) however 25 points with 20 rebounds are outstanding at any level. Interesting statement made by the color commentator at a point in the game. I’m paraphrasing his comment; “Okafor is one of those guys in college because the NBA does not draft high school players. It has nothing to do with academics he’s (Okafor) ready to play in the NBA.”
Just a belief
The temperature in my Man Cave rises significantly anytime ESPN’s First Take is on. My wife did not adjust the thermostat and neither have I, there appears to be no explanation for the increase in the heat except. Maybe it’s all the “hot air” Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith are dispensing, I could be wrong though.
Give him the props due
32,310 points and counting, Kobe has now moved past Michael Jordan and has become the NBA’s 3rd all time leading scorer. For those who claim Kobe is only a shooter or shoots too much consider this additional tidbit. Kobe is the only player in NBA history to score 30,000 points and dish out 6,000 assists. One more detail to consider he did not become a full-time starter until his 3rd year with the Lakers. Congrats to Kobe Bean Bryant.
Bits n Pieces
We make this statement with conviction, Pau Gasol alongside Joakim Noah provides the Bulls the best passing big man combo in the NBA. We’ve had numerous opportunities over the years to witness 7-0 power forward Gasol while he was a member of the Grizzlies and later the Lakers. 6-11 center Noah’s passing skills have been evident since his arrival in the NBA 7 years ago. The numbers don’t lie, over the course of their careers Gasol’s assist numbers are 3.3 while Noah is at 2.7.
The Kansas City Star headline could have read; “Local kid signs huge contract.” The headline never was run, allow me to explain. Alec Burks grew up in the Kansas City metro attending suburban Grandview High School. He headed west to The University of Colorado to play basketball and from there to the NBA Jazz. I haven’t had much of an opportunity to see him play in the NBA however management must be satisfied with his play. The Jazz signed the 6-6 guard to a 4 year $42 million dollar contract.
I’ve made a decision; hopefully I won’t retreat from this position. On more than one occasion I’ve mentioned the many media types who upset me with their commentary. I believe (could be wrong) it’s an attempt on their part to boost ratings. They become entertainers rather than expressing true opinions. I’m not going to name the individuals in question you know most of them.
While viewing the George Washington-Seton Hall game the play by play announcer provided the lineup, playing for George Washington was the name Yuta Watanbe. I researched the name and uncovered the 6-8 193 pound Watanbe (according to George Washington) is the third Japanese born NCAA I basketball player in history.
Caught up in the numbers
Ottawa Kansas is about 54 miles from downtown Kansas City Missouri. Too far to be considered metro however near enough for news and sports coverage. Several years ago a highly touted player emerged from Ottawa High School named Semi Ojeleye. This 6-8 230 pound talent went on to set the Kansas State High School scoring record. I was never able to see him play in person although I managed to see several games telecast by the local sports channel here.
Coach K. would eventually make his way to Ottawa and Ojeleye was on his way to Durham. Later he would be caught in the numbers first it was Jabari Parker and then others. He played little his freshman year and has now announced he’s transferring from Duke. As I have often stated I have no ability to spot talent but I believe this young man can play he just needs the opportunity to demonstrate his talent which it appears was somewhat non existent at Duke. I’m anxious to discover his destination.
----------Larry Laker
Exceptional
I refuse to blow this out of proposition but his game was certainly noteworthy. I’m referring to the double-double of Duke’s Jahlil Ofakor. Sure it was Duke against Elon University (NC) however 25 points with 20 rebounds are outstanding at any level. Interesting statement made by the color commentator at a point in the game. I’m paraphrasing his comment; “Okafor is one of those guys in college because the NBA does not draft high school players. It has nothing to do with academics he’s (Okafor) ready to play in the NBA.”
Just a belief
The temperature in my Man Cave rises significantly anytime ESPN’s First Take is on. My wife did not adjust the thermostat and neither have I, there appears to be no explanation for the increase in the heat except. Maybe it’s all the “hot air” Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith are dispensing, I could be wrong though.
Give him the props due
32,310 points and counting, Kobe has now moved past Michael Jordan and has become the NBA’s 3rd all time leading scorer. For those who claim Kobe is only a shooter or shoots too much consider this additional tidbit. Kobe is the only player in NBA history to score 30,000 points and dish out 6,000 assists. One more detail to consider he did not become a full-time starter until his 3rd year with the Lakers. Congrats to Kobe Bean Bryant.
Bits n Pieces
We make this statement with conviction, Pau Gasol alongside Joakim Noah provides the Bulls the best passing big man combo in the NBA. We’ve had numerous opportunities over the years to witness 7-0 power forward Gasol while he was a member of the Grizzlies and later the Lakers. 6-11 center Noah’s passing skills have been evident since his arrival in the NBA 7 years ago. The numbers don’t lie, over the course of their careers Gasol’s assist numbers are 3.3 while Noah is at 2.7.
The Kansas City Star headline could have read; “Local kid signs huge contract.” The headline never was run, allow me to explain. Alec Burks grew up in the Kansas City metro attending suburban Grandview High School. He headed west to The University of Colorado to play basketball and from there to the NBA Jazz. I haven’t had much of an opportunity to see him play in the NBA however management must be satisfied with his play. The Jazz signed the 6-6 guard to a 4 year $42 million dollar contract.
I’ve made a decision; hopefully I won’t retreat from this position. On more than one occasion I’ve mentioned the many media types who upset me with their commentary. I believe (could be wrong) it’s an attempt on their part to boost ratings. They become entertainers rather than expressing true opinions. I’m not going to name the individuals in question you know most of them.
While viewing the George Washington-Seton Hall game the play by play announcer provided the lineup, playing for George Washington was the name Yuta Watanbe. I researched the name and uncovered the 6-8 193 pound Watanbe (according to George Washington) is the third Japanese born NCAA I basketball player in history.
Caught up in the numbers
Ottawa Kansas is about 54 miles from downtown Kansas City Missouri. Too far to be considered metro however near enough for news and sports coverage. Several years ago a highly touted player emerged from Ottawa High School named Semi Ojeleye. This 6-8 230 pound talent went on to set the Kansas State High School scoring record. I was never able to see him play in person although I managed to see several games telecast by the local sports channel here.
Coach K. would eventually make his way to Ottawa and Ojeleye was on his way to Durham. Later he would be caught in the numbers first it was Jabari Parker and then others. He played little his freshman year and has now announced he’s transferring from Duke. As I have often stated I have no ability to spot talent but I believe this young man can play he just needs the opportunity to demonstrate his talent which it appears was somewhat non existent at Duke. I’m anxious to discover his destination.
Monday, December 15, 2014
There is a distinction between lack of talent and lack of effort!
-------Larry Laker
No Magic please no!
“If you are Going to Lose, You have to lose” so says former Laker great Magic Johnson. By this time even the most die hard Laker fan is willing to admit the team has played below expectations. The real world indicated prior to the season the Lakers didn’t have enough talent to compete effectively in the western conference. With the disclaimer out of the way back to Magic. Magic has certainly been more supportive of Byron Scott over the previous coach. We are sure a portion of this has to do with Scott being a former teammate of him.
I wrote an unpublished account for Words in which I hinted talent appears to exist in the collegiate ranks. A poor regular season would guarantee the Lakers prime drafts pick once again. I must re-visit the account but I don‘t believe I indicated in any portion of the account I stated the team should lose on purpose. If Magic and I are share a somewhat same view what‘s the issue? My words are those of a long-time Laker fan I have no connection with the team. On the other hand we have former All-Pro Magic Johnson stating; “You have to lose” carry far more weight than anything I might state. It appears Nick “Swaggy P” Young didn’t take kindly to Magic’s commentary
That time of the year
Arguments have begun already; “My _______ is better than yours _____why are they ranked higher?” That’s the argument we often here from students and fans of your favorite school. I’m referring to the Top 25 (or 26) college teams in the nation. A loss will result in a team moving down or in some instances being removed from the list. How important is the AP Top 25, CNN-USA Top 25 or other polls to anything? Bottom line the significance of a teams ranking carries very little weight. As an example the SMU Mustangs finished the
2013-14 season with a 27-10 record and tied for second in their conference.
In addition SMU spent the majority of last season in the Top 25. The reward for the basketball turn-around exclusion. The NCAA Selection Committee failed to chose the team for its post-season tournament. Although the record was good the committee believed they failed to measure up due to their non-conference record. There are probably other examples from the past the SMU may have been the most recent. How important is it to be ranked in the Top 25---not very depending on who your favorite team may or may not have played.
Is it an international game?
Major League Baseball has always contained a significant number of Latin American players. Over the last several years a growing number of European and Australia have managed to make it to the major leagues. As for American football or the NFL a small number on non-Americans have played the game. I was curious regarding basketball is it truly an international game?
If you check the FIBA world map it indicates few nations fail to produce teams.
There are a number of Latin and South America countries that don’t compete. Most countries on the African continent field FIBA teams however a few don’t. As for the balance of the world there are a smaller number of nations not competing. The FIBA map was comprised of nation teams which doesn’t take into account basketball is probably played in several nations even if it’s not number one in that particular country.
He agrees
You might refer back to the account I wrote on October 13 regarding Big 12 basketball? This is not exactly what I wrote but close; “With 10 championships won outright or tied Kansas is real good, as for the rest of the conference that’s a different story.” My barber read my column and said he agreed with my assessment. Brian stated; “K-State competed for awhile but fell back and Kansas continued to win. Texas did the same for a period of time fell in the pack, he continued Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and even Mizzou when it was in the conference.” I nodded my head and said “you forgot Iowa State which is on the upswing now but is yet to overtake Kansas.” I stated fans of Kansas basketball might believe I’m critical of them far from it I believe it’s an indictment of the other conference members.
Another big man on the horizon
He just entered his sophomore year of high school that’s the disclaimer. Both Rivals and ESPNU have him ranked number 4 in the Class of 2017. It’s difficult to project big men at the next level although at 7-1 and 260 pounds (230 one source claims) he already has the body of man. Zach Brown's numbers are staggering however matched against 6-5 or 6-7 opposing players we must reserve judgment. His upside video on the net details a number of skilled offensive moves around the basket. Nearly 19 points and 16+ rebounds and 7 blocked shots a game. No wonder all the usual suspect schools are recruiting him. The list includes hometown Miami U and Florida, as for several of the others they include UCLA, Kansas and UConn.
The Gold standard
It’s natural; we almost always compare a player’s talent to one who’s already achieved high marks. That’s why this former Kentucky centers game is being compared to that of LeBron James. He’s not alone, we have a tremendous amount of youthful NBA talent and it’s only going to get better. The athlete profiled was a 6-3 point guard in high school who now stands 6-10. He arrived from college with but a single year of high level play. I can’t speak for you however I’m always concerned after such a limited amount of competition. Often it’s my belief collegiate athletes don’t realize how difficult it is to play at the NBA level.
Davis wasn’t rookie of the year however his numbers were impressive for a player with only one year of college experience. Since his 2012-13 rookie year Davis has become a consistent Mr. Double-Double for the Pelicans. He’s at nearly 25 points a game while snatching 13 rebounds a game. To prove he plays both ends of the court Davis is nearly 3 assists and 4.2 blocked shots per game. Toss in his scoring and rebounding numbers you see they are outstanding for a 6-10 220 pound power forward. His most recent game against my Lakers 25 points 12 rebounds and 6 blocked shots.
-------Larry Laker
No Magic please no!
“If you are Going to Lose, You have to lose” so says former Laker great Magic Johnson. By this time even the most die hard Laker fan is willing to admit the team has played below expectations. The real world indicated prior to the season the Lakers didn’t have enough talent to compete effectively in the western conference. With the disclaimer out of the way back to Magic. Magic has certainly been more supportive of Byron Scott over the previous coach. We are sure a portion of this has to do with Scott being a former teammate of him.
I wrote an unpublished account for Words in which I hinted talent appears to exist in the collegiate ranks. A poor regular season would guarantee the Lakers prime drafts pick once again. I must re-visit the account but I don‘t believe I indicated in any portion of the account I stated the team should lose on purpose. If Magic and I are share a somewhat same view what‘s the issue? My words are those of a long-time Laker fan I have no connection with the team. On the other hand we have former All-Pro Magic Johnson stating; “You have to lose” carry far more weight than anything I might state. It appears Nick “Swaggy P” Young didn’t take kindly to Magic’s commentary
That time of the year
Arguments have begun already; “My _______ is better than yours _____why are they ranked higher?” That’s the argument we often here from students and fans of your favorite school. I’m referring to the Top 25 (or 26) college teams in the nation. A loss will result in a team moving down or in some instances being removed from the list. How important is the AP Top 25, CNN-USA Top 25 or other polls to anything? Bottom line the significance of a teams ranking carries very little weight. As an example the SMU Mustangs finished the
2013-14 season with a 27-10 record and tied for second in their conference.
In addition SMU spent the majority of last season in the Top 25. The reward for the basketball turn-around exclusion. The NCAA Selection Committee failed to chose the team for its post-season tournament. Although the record was good the committee believed they failed to measure up due to their non-conference record. There are probably other examples from the past the SMU may have been the most recent. How important is it to be ranked in the Top 25---not very depending on who your favorite team may or may not have played.
Is it an international game?
Major League Baseball has always contained a significant number of Latin American players. Over the last several years a growing number of European and Australia have managed to make it to the major leagues. As for American football or the NFL a small number on non-Americans have played the game. I was curious regarding basketball is it truly an international game?
If you check the FIBA world map it indicates few nations fail to produce teams.
There are a number of Latin and South America countries that don’t compete. Most countries on the African continent field FIBA teams however a few don’t. As for the balance of the world there are a smaller number of nations not competing. The FIBA map was comprised of nation teams which doesn’t take into account basketball is probably played in several nations even if it’s not number one in that particular country.
He agrees
You might refer back to the account I wrote on October 13 regarding Big 12 basketball? This is not exactly what I wrote but close; “With 10 championships won outright or tied Kansas is real good, as for the rest of the conference that’s a different story.” My barber read my column and said he agreed with my assessment. Brian stated; “K-State competed for awhile but fell back and Kansas continued to win. Texas did the same for a period of time fell in the pack, he continued Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and even Mizzou when it was in the conference.” I nodded my head and said “you forgot Iowa State which is on the upswing now but is yet to overtake Kansas.” I stated fans of Kansas basketball might believe I’m critical of them far from it I believe it’s an indictment of the other conference members.
Another big man on the horizon
He just entered his sophomore year of high school that’s the disclaimer. Both Rivals and ESPNU have him ranked number 4 in the Class of 2017. It’s difficult to project big men at the next level although at 7-1 and 260 pounds (230 one source claims) he already has the body of man. Zach Brown's numbers are staggering however matched against 6-5 or 6-7 opposing players we must reserve judgment. His upside video on the net details a number of skilled offensive moves around the basket. Nearly 19 points and 16+ rebounds and 7 blocked shots a game. No wonder all the usual suspect schools are recruiting him. The list includes hometown Miami U and Florida, as for several of the others they include UCLA, Kansas and UConn.
The Gold standard
It’s natural; we almost always compare a player’s talent to one who’s already achieved high marks. That’s why this former Kentucky centers game is being compared to that of LeBron James. He’s not alone, we have a tremendous amount of youthful NBA talent and it’s only going to get better. The athlete profiled was a 6-3 point guard in high school who now stands 6-10. He arrived from college with but a single year of high level play. I can’t speak for you however I’m always concerned after such a limited amount of competition. Often it’s my belief collegiate athletes don’t realize how difficult it is to play at the NBA level.
Davis wasn’t rookie of the year however his numbers were impressive for a player with only one year of college experience. Since his 2012-13 rookie year Davis has become a consistent Mr. Double-Double for the Pelicans. He’s at nearly 25 points a game while snatching 13 rebounds a game. To prove he plays both ends of the court Davis is nearly 3 assists and 4.2 blocked shots per game. Toss in his scoring and rebounding numbers you see they are outstanding for a 6-10 220 pound power forward. His most recent game against my Lakers 25 points 12 rebounds and 6 blocked shots.
Friday, December 12, 2014
There is a distinction between lack of talent and lack of effort!
-------Larry Laker
I’m a hater too
Much as I don’t like to admit it I’m a hater too. I hate the Clippers but not for the reasons you might believe. I’m sick of ESPN on SportsCenter and their website referring to the Clippers as “Lob City” or any of the other nicknames hung on this team. Okay I get it, Blake Griffin, Andre Jordan and company can dunk the basketball routinely. After years of futility under Donald Sterling the Clippers have become a really good team. They have become good but yet to really prove anything.
Once the playoffs begin the basketball court becomes much smaller. Playoff basketball routinely demands half-court basketball. Rarely do you see playoff teams tossing lob passes defense becomes a premium. The Clippers can play that style of basketball they have failed to do it the last two years once the playoffs arrive. Is this the year the Clippers compete for the Western Conference crown? Is this the year they lay the Lob City nickname to bed by competing once the playoffs arrive?
The complete story
Sometimes it’s quite easy to sit on the sidelines and make a judgment call. I’m guilty you’re guilty and Dennis Rodman is certainly guilty. We are keenly aware of the dreadful start of the Knicks season. In a recent interview Rodman claimed “The triangle is easy I picked it up in 15 minutes.” We don’t know the entire truth of the Rodman statement however an ESPN scribe pointed out; “When Rodman joined the Bulls they had (Michael) Jordan and (Scottie) Pippen.” His comment made me think isn’t that interesting. His comment regarding Carmelo Anthony can be stated very simply. If Anthony wants to win as he claims he must become skilled at sacrificing portions of his game.
Dennis Rodman on Derek Fisher as the coach of the Knicks. I have no idea of Fisher’s impact at this point however this is what I see. There are far too few games thus far to state the guy can’t coach. Despite the Rodman view from what I’ve read of others the offense is difficult to learn. I think the ESPN reporter was correct it might be easy to learn an offense a team is running. Tell us Dennis beside Fisher the coach and Jackson the president who else with the Knicks is familiar with the triangle offense. We conclude with the Warriors and Steve Kerr, Rodman was questioned on the Warriors record. Rodman said; “Kerr ain’t coaching @##%***. We can conclude the mercurial Rodman certainly didn’t miss anybody with the body shots he dished out.
Earl “The Pearl” Monroe
I thought I knew all there was to know about Monroe but found out something brand new. According to Wikipedia he was given a nickname I was unaware. “His high school teammates at John Bartram High School called him "Thomas Edison” because of the many moves he invented.” Monroe a Philly legend in high school headed to Winston-Salem then a D-II school. In 1967 his senior year he averaged 41.5 points per game and was named NCAA College Division Player of the Year.
In the May 1967 NBA Draft Monroe would become the 2nd pick of the first round by the Baltimore Bullets (Washington Wizards). No question Monroe could score however NBA opponents were to discover the nickname applied to him in high school was true. Monroe would be 1968 NBA Rookie of the Year an NBA Champion later (1973) with the Knicks. Perhaps chief honors were being selected to the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-time Team and his selection to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
“Twins from a different mother”
The headline is really a play on words; it references Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker of the Wolves and Bucks. Prior to the emergence of Joel Embiid the two talented wing players jockeyed back and forth as to which one would be chosen number one in the 2014 NBA Draft. Neither the Wolves nor Bucks are very good we’ve only glimpse them through highlights unless you live in one of their home cities. I’ve often stated numbers don’t give us a true picture of an athlete however this might be the easiest method to compare the two. Note there numbers are almost eerie.
Wiggins 12.4 ppg, 1.4 apg, 3.9 rebounds
Parker 12.5 ppg, 1.7 apg, 5.7 rebounds
The figures represent their play through games of December 11. Prior to the season I made a bold prediction Parker would be named Rookie of the Year. If their numbers remain this close can I say “Co-Rookies of the Year?”
Are we forever haunted by our past?
We make a misstep in life and some will never forget it. Allow me to explain, when it was announced Chris Webber was interested in purchasing the Hawks out come the boo-birds. In 1993 near the end of the NCAA Championship game Webber called a timeout for his Michigan team. Michigan had no timeouts remaining which allowed North Carolina to shot a technical foul shot. Am I missing something, why did the writer choose to make that a point of concern in 2014? We all make crucial mistakes in life, unless there is a pattern of repeated misbehavior why is it necessary for some to mention shortcomings we all have skeletons in our closets.
Coach Kelvin Sampson left Oklahoma under a cloud of suspension; he was forced to resign at his next stop Indiana. NCAA violations in the past sidelined him for a number of years. Sampson is now head coach for the Houston Cougars. Bruce Pearl was a winner at Tennessee before an NCAA violation sidelined him as well; he’s been hired to coach the Auburn men’s basketball team. Errors in judgment were made, in the case of the coaches the errors caused them to lose their jobs. In the case of Sampson and Pearl they should be forbidden from ever coaching again in life----right? Just kidding, until you error repeatedly everyone deserves a second chance---maybe a third.
-------Larry Laker
I’m a hater too
Much as I don’t like to admit it I’m a hater too. I hate the Clippers but not for the reasons you might believe. I’m sick of ESPN on SportsCenter and their website referring to the Clippers as “Lob City” or any of the other nicknames hung on this team. Okay I get it, Blake Griffin, Andre Jordan and company can dunk the basketball routinely. After years of futility under Donald Sterling the Clippers have become a really good team. They have become good but yet to really prove anything.
Once the playoffs begin the basketball court becomes much smaller. Playoff basketball routinely demands half-court basketball. Rarely do you see playoff teams tossing lob passes defense becomes a premium. The Clippers can play that style of basketball they have failed to do it the last two years once the playoffs arrive. Is this the year the Clippers compete for the Western Conference crown? Is this the year they lay the Lob City nickname to bed by competing once the playoffs arrive?
The complete story
Sometimes it’s quite easy to sit on the sidelines and make a judgment call. I’m guilty you’re guilty and Dennis Rodman is certainly guilty. We are keenly aware of the dreadful start of the Knicks season. In a recent interview Rodman claimed “The triangle is easy I picked it up in 15 minutes.” We don’t know the entire truth of the Rodman statement however an ESPN scribe pointed out; “When Rodman joined the Bulls they had (Michael) Jordan and (Scottie) Pippen.” His comment made me think isn’t that interesting. His comment regarding Carmelo Anthony can be stated very simply. If Anthony wants to win as he claims he must become skilled at sacrificing portions of his game.
Dennis Rodman on Derek Fisher as the coach of the Knicks. I have no idea of Fisher’s impact at this point however this is what I see. There are far too few games thus far to state the guy can’t coach. Despite the Rodman view from what I’ve read of others the offense is difficult to learn. I think the ESPN reporter was correct it might be easy to learn an offense a team is running. Tell us Dennis beside Fisher the coach and Jackson the president who else with the Knicks is familiar with the triangle offense. We conclude with the Warriors and Steve Kerr, Rodman was questioned on the Warriors record. Rodman said; “Kerr ain’t coaching @##%***. We can conclude the mercurial Rodman certainly didn’t miss anybody with the body shots he dished out.
Earl “The Pearl” Monroe
I thought I knew all there was to know about Monroe but found out something brand new. According to Wikipedia he was given a nickname I was unaware. “His high school teammates at John Bartram High School called him "Thomas Edison” because of the many moves he invented.” Monroe a Philly legend in high school headed to Winston-Salem then a D-II school. In 1967 his senior year he averaged 41.5 points per game and was named NCAA College Division Player of the Year.
In the May 1967 NBA Draft Monroe would become the 2nd pick of the first round by the Baltimore Bullets (Washington Wizards). No question Monroe could score however NBA opponents were to discover the nickname applied to him in high school was true. Monroe would be 1968 NBA Rookie of the Year an NBA Champion later (1973) with the Knicks. Perhaps chief honors were being selected to the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-time Team and his selection to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
“Twins from a different mother”
The headline is really a play on words; it references Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker of the Wolves and Bucks. Prior to the emergence of Joel Embiid the two talented wing players jockeyed back and forth as to which one would be chosen number one in the 2014 NBA Draft. Neither the Wolves nor Bucks are very good we’ve only glimpse them through highlights unless you live in one of their home cities. I’ve often stated numbers don’t give us a true picture of an athlete however this might be the easiest method to compare the two. Note there numbers are almost eerie.
Wiggins 12.4 ppg, 1.4 apg, 3.9 rebounds
Parker 12.5 ppg, 1.7 apg, 5.7 rebounds
The figures represent their play through games of December 11. Prior to the season I made a bold prediction Parker would be named Rookie of the Year. If their numbers remain this close can I say “Co-Rookies of the Year?”
Are we forever haunted by our past?
We make a misstep in life and some will never forget it. Allow me to explain, when it was announced Chris Webber was interested in purchasing the Hawks out come the boo-birds. In 1993 near the end of the NCAA Championship game Webber called a timeout for his Michigan team. Michigan had no timeouts remaining which allowed North Carolina to shot a technical foul shot. Am I missing something, why did the writer choose to make that a point of concern in 2014? We all make crucial mistakes in life, unless there is a pattern of repeated misbehavior why is it necessary for some to mention shortcomings we all have skeletons in our closets.
Coach Kelvin Sampson left Oklahoma under a cloud of suspension; he was forced to resign at his next stop Indiana. NCAA violations in the past sidelined him for a number of years. Sampson is now head coach for the Houston Cougars. Bruce Pearl was a winner at Tennessee before an NCAA violation sidelined him as well; he’s been hired to coach the Auburn men’s basketball team. Errors in judgment were made, in the case of the coaches the errors caused them to lose their jobs. In the case of Sampson and Pearl they should be forbidden from ever coaching again in life----right? Just kidding, until you error repeatedly everyone deserves a second chance---maybe a third.
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
There is a distinction between lack of talent and lack of effort!
-------Larry Laker
A prince and a king---kinda of
America’s fascination with royalty was over the top this past Monday. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge chose to attend an NBA game while in America; the game of choice was the Nets and Cavs. Prince Harry his wife and company did not arrive until the second half of the game we must speculate other business must have delayed their arrival. In any event they may have witnessed the best portion of the game “King“ James was at his best and elevated his game even higher in the third quarter. LeBron was not the Cavs high scorer (18 points) however his game was key to the Cavs victory as he shot and assisted on several baskets. After the game the prince his wife and the king met and exchanged pleasantries.
This would be funny if------
Remember the numerous complaints we’ve heard regarding the BCS and college football over the last several years. They (whoever they are) said; “We’ll fix this, we’ll assemble a committee of experts, they will decide a system that’s fair to everybody.” This is Monday after the weekend decision by the committee and all we’ve heard are complaints by fans, coaches and the media. Even funnier the ESPN college basketball page contained a headline above photos of the top four teams. It read; “What if a committee decided hoops’ Final Four right now?” Of course this was an overt slam at the football committee. The final proof of course is the basketball tourney which is superior to the BCS or the 2014 method to determine the top college football team.
In college basketball usually the only argument for discussion occurs when a 20 win team fails to receive an NCAA invitation. 72 collegiate basketball teams guarantees almost no team in any portion of the nation is overlooked. About the only argument we hear is the basketball committees seeding of teams. As for the football side this is just one of the arguments I’ve heard; “The Big 12 has no playoff system, other conferences were benefited by playoffs.” I can’t speak to the logic of the disagreement all I can say is basketball is much cleaner. Can we state with conviction the best basketball team wins the tourney every year probably not. We can state with certainty at the end of 40 minutes the best team on that date is crowned NCAA Basketball Champion.
Change in the other direction
The change must be coordinated with the players association so it’s no slam-dunk. I’m referring to the minimum age issue for entry into the NBA. Commissioner Silver is likely to cast a vote with those raising the age limit, Silver has gone on record indicating he wants to raise the age limit from 19 to 20 years. Raising the age limit would resolve the one and done issue, athletes might continue to leave early for the NBA but only after their sophomore year. What do you think about the possibility of an age change for entry into the NBA?
They share a border too
I have lamented the loss of the Kansas-Missouri rivalry with the SEC move by the Tigers. For those who might be unfamiliar with the geography Kansas and Missouri share a common border. Missouri also shares a border with several others including the State of Arkansas. Arkansas and Mizzou have played one another over the years in football and basketball however until the move two never competed in the same conference. Arkansas was a member of the defunct Southwest Conference for 76 years the only non-Texas school.
In 1990 Arkansas became a member of the Southeastern Conference. Mizzou had been a founding member of the conference which would eventually become the Big 12 Conference, Mizzou made its move to the SEC in 2012. The “Bottlelike Trophy” has been implemented; this is a traveling trophy in football awarded to the winning school. As for basketball that’s a different matter, it’s been mentioned on several occasions Mike Anderson left Mizzou to coach Arkansas basketball. There might not yet be a basketball equivalent of the Battleline Trophy however due to the coach a natural rivalry is already in existence between the two border schools.
Reminds me of Tyson Chandler
The basketball world was introduced to Tyson Chandler as 8th grade student/basketball talent. The time was 1996 and Chandler’s introduction occurred on the television news magazine 60 Minutes. There was no 19-year old rule then Chandler was drafted in the 2001 draft out of high school. Willie Cauley-Stein’s game at Kentucky is on the same path limited offensive skills but a defensive/rebounding specialist. Cauley-Stein would suffer an injury which may have been a blessing in disguise for him.
Instead of submitting his name for the NBA draft he returned to school where he worked on improving his game. The early portion of his college career was spent as a backup to Nerlens Noel. Although his offensive game is somewhat limited he can score when called on. His game against Texas proves he can score when necessary. His box score read: 23 points, 12 rebounds, 3 blocked shots and 5 steals. On the other hand he could follow in the footsteps of another Kentucky center Anthony Davis. We’ve been witness to his offensive growth once Davis arrived in the NBA.
-------Larry Laker
A prince and a king---kinda of
America’s fascination with royalty was over the top this past Monday. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge chose to attend an NBA game while in America; the game of choice was the Nets and Cavs. Prince Harry his wife and company did not arrive until the second half of the game we must speculate other business must have delayed their arrival. In any event they may have witnessed the best portion of the game “King“ James was at his best and elevated his game even higher in the third quarter. LeBron was not the Cavs high scorer (18 points) however his game was key to the Cavs victory as he shot and assisted on several baskets. After the game the prince his wife and the king met and exchanged pleasantries.
This would be funny if------
Remember the numerous complaints we’ve heard regarding the BCS and college football over the last several years. They (whoever they are) said; “We’ll fix this, we’ll assemble a committee of experts, they will decide a system that’s fair to everybody.” This is Monday after the weekend decision by the committee and all we’ve heard are complaints by fans, coaches and the media. Even funnier the ESPN college basketball page contained a headline above photos of the top four teams. It read; “What if a committee decided hoops’ Final Four right now?” Of course this was an overt slam at the football committee. The final proof of course is the basketball tourney which is superior to the BCS or the 2014 method to determine the top college football team.
In college basketball usually the only argument for discussion occurs when a 20 win team fails to receive an NCAA invitation. 72 collegiate basketball teams guarantees almost no team in any portion of the nation is overlooked. About the only argument we hear is the basketball committees seeding of teams. As for the football side this is just one of the arguments I’ve heard; “The Big 12 has no playoff system, other conferences were benefited by playoffs.” I can’t speak to the logic of the disagreement all I can say is basketball is much cleaner. Can we state with conviction the best basketball team wins the tourney every year probably not. We can state with certainty at the end of 40 minutes the best team on that date is crowned NCAA Basketball Champion.
Change in the other direction
The change must be coordinated with the players association so it’s no slam-dunk. I’m referring to the minimum age issue for entry into the NBA. Commissioner Silver is likely to cast a vote with those raising the age limit, Silver has gone on record indicating he wants to raise the age limit from 19 to 20 years. Raising the age limit would resolve the one and done issue, athletes might continue to leave early for the NBA but only after their sophomore year. What do you think about the possibility of an age change for entry into the NBA?
They share a border too
I have lamented the loss of the Kansas-Missouri rivalry with the SEC move by the Tigers. For those who might be unfamiliar with the geography Kansas and Missouri share a common border. Missouri also shares a border with several others including the State of Arkansas. Arkansas and Mizzou have played one another over the years in football and basketball however until the move two never competed in the same conference. Arkansas was a member of the defunct Southwest Conference for 76 years the only non-Texas school.
In 1990 Arkansas became a member of the Southeastern Conference. Mizzou had been a founding member of the conference which would eventually become the Big 12 Conference, Mizzou made its move to the SEC in 2012. The “Bottlelike Trophy” has been implemented; this is a traveling trophy in football awarded to the winning school. As for basketball that’s a different matter, it’s been mentioned on several occasions Mike Anderson left Mizzou to coach Arkansas basketball. There might not yet be a basketball equivalent of the Battleline Trophy however due to the coach a natural rivalry is already in existence between the two border schools.
Reminds me of Tyson Chandler
The basketball world was introduced to Tyson Chandler as 8th grade student/basketball talent. The time was 1996 and Chandler’s introduction occurred on the television news magazine 60 Minutes. There was no 19-year old rule then Chandler was drafted in the 2001 draft out of high school. Willie Cauley-Stein’s game at Kentucky is on the same path limited offensive skills but a defensive/rebounding specialist. Cauley-Stein would suffer an injury which may have been a blessing in disguise for him.
Instead of submitting his name for the NBA draft he returned to school where he worked on improving his game. The early portion of his college career was spent as a backup to Nerlens Noel. Although his offensive game is somewhat limited he can score when called on. His game against Texas proves he can score when necessary. His box score read: 23 points, 12 rebounds, 3 blocked shots and 5 steals. On the other hand he could follow in the footsteps of another Kentucky center Anthony Davis. We’ve been witness to his offensive growth once Davis arrived in the NBA.
Monday, December 8, 2014
There is a distinction between lack of talent and lack of effort!
-------Larry Laker
They are capable of losing
Kentucky looks mighty powerful, after witnessing the Wildcats destroy his favorite team a Kansas fan queried me as if I was an expert. Bill said; “You think Kentucky will lose a game this season”? My response was almost immediate “of course they can lose.” In fact they might lose tonight this is written prior to the tall, talented Wildcats play the Longhorns of Texas. Should be a good game regardless of the outcome.
I hope
Jordan Barnes is a 5-11 150 pound point guard; don’t permit his height and weight to fool you he can play. This dynamo led his St. Louis CBC High School team to the 2014 Missouri State Championship as a sophomore, rarely is an underclassman able to provide this type of leadership. Barnes recently made a visit to Mizzou and indicated he was pleased with the facilities and coaching staff. Barnes is a 2016 prospect and has made no commitment to any school as this is written. Here’s hoping he decides on Mizzou.
Specialist
I’ve told this story previously; a friend asked me if Dennis Rodman would be elected to the Naismith Hall of Fame. I didn’t hesitate answering him with an emphatic NO. I believed his value as a rebound/defender might not be Hall of Fame worthy. Of course I was wrong Rodman was elected in the Class of 2011. There are other specialists who may be HOF material. How about Robert Horry, he’s worn more championship than Michael Jordan with his total of seven. He won NBA Championships with the Rockets, Lakers and Spurs.
One of the greatest clutch 3-point shooters in championship history. Derek Fisher won three NBA Championships with the Lakers he too proved clutch at crucial times and won more than one game with a crucial 3-point basketball. Neither Horry nor Fisher scored much during their careers, Horry a reserve was never in the lineup as a starter. Fisher the starter always deferred his game to other betters scorers on his Laker, Warrior, Jazz and Thunder teams. In conclusion does either of these specialists or somebody I’ve missed become Hall of Fame candidates?
Bits n Pieces
Will Jimmer Fredette have an NBA career? Only the Pelicans (if they become the stop) can truly answer the question. He emerged from BYU as “Mr. Everything” as he scored and scored and scored. He was a lights-out shooter in college but has tasted limited NBA success.
There was an old adage that says; “It’s difficult to close the door after the cow is out.” Simply stated it’s difficult sometimes to fix an on-going problem. The problem according to Louisville’s Rick Pitino is the influence of the shoe companies on recruiting. He hints Nike and Adidas are often key to the kids’ decision as to attend a particular school.
Watching a game the other night the commentator mentioned one of the athletes had played for the Pelicans. Remember all the snickering and laughter at the time Hornets management announced the team would become the Pelicans? The first thought of an attack bird might be eagles or hawks not a Pelican. Don’t sell them short Pelicans like their other predator cousins are meat eaters. According to my research their diet consists of fish, turtles and other amphibians.
This is for all the Kobe haters, he set a record that will no be easily eclipsed. His
triple-double against the Raptors allowed him to become the only player with 30,000 points and 6,000 assists. The assists are particularly noteworthy since you claim he never passes the basketball.
Just got my NBA Store catalog and I have a question. How come I can purchase a Seattle Sonics baseball cap but not one containing the Kansas City Kings logo? The Kings left Kansas City after the 1985-86 season while the Sonics headed for Oklahoma City after the 2007-08 season.
-------Larry Laker
They are capable of losing
Kentucky looks mighty powerful, after witnessing the Wildcats destroy his favorite team a Kansas fan queried me as if I was an expert. Bill said; “You think Kentucky will lose a game this season”? My response was almost immediate “of course they can lose.” In fact they might lose tonight this is written prior to the tall, talented Wildcats play the Longhorns of Texas. Should be a good game regardless of the outcome.
I hope
Jordan Barnes is a 5-11 150 pound point guard; don’t permit his height and weight to fool you he can play. This dynamo led his St. Louis CBC High School team to the 2014 Missouri State Championship as a sophomore, rarely is an underclassman able to provide this type of leadership. Barnes recently made a visit to Mizzou and indicated he was pleased with the facilities and coaching staff. Barnes is a 2016 prospect and has made no commitment to any school as this is written. Here’s hoping he decides on Mizzou.
Specialist
I’ve told this story previously; a friend asked me if Dennis Rodman would be elected to the Naismith Hall of Fame. I didn’t hesitate answering him with an emphatic NO. I believed his value as a rebound/defender might not be Hall of Fame worthy. Of course I was wrong Rodman was elected in the Class of 2011. There are other specialists who may be HOF material. How about Robert Horry, he’s worn more championship than Michael Jordan with his total of seven. He won NBA Championships with the Rockets, Lakers and Spurs.
One of the greatest clutch 3-point shooters in championship history. Derek Fisher won three NBA Championships with the Lakers he too proved clutch at crucial times and won more than one game with a crucial 3-point basketball. Neither Horry nor Fisher scored much during their careers, Horry a reserve was never in the lineup as a starter. Fisher the starter always deferred his game to other betters scorers on his Laker, Warrior, Jazz and Thunder teams. In conclusion does either of these specialists or somebody I’ve missed become Hall of Fame candidates?
Bits n Pieces
Will Jimmer Fredette have an NBA career? Only the Pelicans (if they become the stop) can truly answer the question. He emerged from BYU as “Mr. Everything” as he scored and scored and scored. He was a lights-out shooter in college but has tasted limited NBA success.
There was an old adage that says; “It’s difficult to close the door after the cow is out.” Simply stated it’s difficult sometimes to fix an on-going problem. The problem according to Louisville’s Rick Pitino is the influence of the shoe companies on recruiting. He hints Nike and Adidas are often key to the kids’ decision as to attend a particular school.
Watching a game the other night the commentator mentioned one of the athletes had played for the Pelicans. Remember all the snickering and laughter at the time Hornets management announced the team would become the Pelicans? The first thought of an attack bird might be eagles or hawks not a Pelican. Don’t sell them short Pelicans like their other predator cousins are meat eaters. According to my research their diet consists of fish, turtles and other amphibians.
This is for all the Kobe haters, he set a record that will no be easily eclipsed. His
triple-double against the Raptors allowed him to become the only player with 30,000 points and 6,000 assists. The assists are particularly noteworthy since you claim he never passes the basketball.
Just got my NBA Store catalog and I have a question. How come I can purchase a Seattle Sonics baseball cap but not one containing the Kansas City Kings logo? The Kings left Kansas City after the 1985-86 season while the Sonics headed for Oklahoma City after the 2007-08 season.
Friday, December 5, 2014
There is a distinction between lack of talent and lack of effort!
-------Larry Laker
Bits n Pieces
They are winners and there are losers. Wednesday evening the 76ers could count themselves as winners at the close. They did not break the losing record established by the Nets a few years back. The 76ers beat the Wolves and now stand 1-17. The record established by the Nets is safe and preserved for posterity. Despite the results they are still the worst team in the NBA despite the assemblage of talent. You think they might be losing on purpose to improve their draft position?
Also Wednesday evening a freshman laden Duke team managed to beat a senior led Wisconsin team 80-70. In addition they accomplished this feat on the Madison (WI) home court of Wisconsin. I don’t know about you but I certainly was a little surprised at the outcome, how bout you?
Tony Kornheiser had a response to a Mark Cuban comment. Cuban suggesting “the NBA needs to do away with conferences.” I believe the suggestion was made by Cuban due to Western Conference teams being superior to the Eastern Conference. Mr. Kornheiser said; “these things are cyclical, look back to the Bird, Jordan era the Eastern Conference was much stronger than the west, only the Lakers were consistent.” That might be over stated to a point there were other teams in the west besides the Lakers but in the 80’s the east was definitely stronger.
A ripple effect
Wichita native Conner Frankamp headed off to Kansas to play his college basketball however there was a problem. The talented high school athlete found limited playing time his freshman year and decided it wasn’t in his best interest to remain in Lawrence. The school announced in October he would be transferring. Many including this writer believed he was headed home to play for Wichita State. Sure enough that appears to be the case however it makes for another question. Near the same time Frankamp was deciding where he was headed Kansas City native Tyrone Taylor made a decision.
After briefly considering the University of Texas Taylor decided instead to attend Wichita State. Talking to his dad I informed his I believed Wichita State might be a better fit now the situation has changed. Next fall Taylor and Frankamp will be battling for the same amount of court time. That might be the case unless Taylor decides the Shockers back court might be too crowded. Both came out of high school as shooters however Frankamp is a 6-footer and Taylor is 6-2. At the collegiate level both athletes must become ball distributors rather than shooters.
He’s the best?
Nate Thurmond is the best athlete Bowling Green University has ever produced. He and power forward Gus Johnson were the best basketball players from Akron (OH) prior to that other guy coming along. As for Thurmond he was a 7X NBA All-Star, 2X All Defensive First Team, 3X All Defensive Second Team and a member of the NBA‘s 50th Anniversary All Time Team. In addition Thurmond was elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. In his 14-year career this 6-11 225 pound centers’ point total closely matched his rebound totals, 14,437 pts (15.0) and 14,464 rebounds (15.0). Thurmond was the first and perhaps only player to record a quadruple-double.
In 1974 in his first game for the Bulls his box score read: 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists and 12 blocked shots. Thurmond spent the bulk of his career as a member of the Warriors but later played for the Bulls and Cavs. His jersey number 42 was retired by the Warriors and the Cavs. How he became one of the best was an interesting journey. Center Thurmond was drafted by the Warriors in 1963 at the time Wilt Chamberlain was playing the position. Thurmond was forced to play out of position at the power forward position. Once Chamberlain was traded Thurmond moved in the center position where his career blossomed.
Different history
The history of the Bucks may have been different if they hadn‘t made that trade. I’d forgotten about the series of events until I began my research. Dirk Nowitzki recently eclipsed Hakeem Olajuwon and moved into 9th place as the NBA all-time scorer. Scouts believed he was talented but somehow the Bucks allowed him to slip through their fingers.
Interesting number 9 played a role much earlier in his career; he was the number 9 draft pick by the Bucks in the 1998 NBA Draft. I had to discover who the Bucks received in exchange for this future Hall of Fame player. The Mavs received Pat Garrity and Dirk for Robert Traylor. The late Robert Traylor was to have only a 7 year NBA career although he played professionally mainly in Puerto Rico until his death in 2011. A shout out to Dirk for his outstanding NBA career to date including an NBA Championship.
-------Larry Laker
Bits n Pieces
They are winners and there are losers. Wednesday evening the 76ers could count themselves as winners at the close. They did not break the losing record established by the Nets a few years back. The 76ers beat the Wolves and now stand 1-17. The record established by the Nets is safe and preserved for posterity. Despite the results they are still the worst team in the NBA despite the assemblage of talent. You think they might be losing on purpose to improve their draft position?
Also Wednesday evening a freshman laden Duke team managed to beat a senior led Wisconsin team 80-70. In addition they accomplished this feat on the Madison (WI) home court of Wisconsin. I don’t know about you but I certainly was a little surprised at the outcome, how bout you?
Tony Kornheiser had a response to a Mark Cuban comment. Cuban suggesting “the NBA needs to do away with conferences.” I believe the suggestion was made by Cuban due to Western Conference teams being superior to the Eastern Conference. Mr. Kornheiser said; “these things are cyclical, look back to the Bird, Jordan era the Eastern Conference was much stronger than the west, only the Lakers were consistent.” That might be over stated to a point there were other teams in the west besides the Lakers but in the 80’s the east was definitely stronger.
A ripple effect
Wichita native Conner Frankamp headed off to Kansas to play his college basketball however there was a problem. The talented high school athlete found limited playing time his freshman year and decided it wasn’t in his best interest to remain in Lawrence. The school announced in October he would be transferring. Many including this writer believed he was headed home to play for Wichita State. Sure enough that appears to be the case however it makes for another question. Near the same time Frankamp was deciding where he was headed Kansas City native Tyrone Taylor made a decision.
After briefly considering the University of Texas Taylor decided instead to attend Wichita State. Talking to his dad I informed his I believed Wichita State might be a better fit now the situation has changed. Next fall Taylor and Frankamp will be battling for the same amount of court time. That might be the case unless Taylor decides the Shockers back court might be too crowded. Both came out of high school as shooters however Frankamp is a 6-footer and Taylor is 6-2. At the collegiate level both athletes must become ball distributors rather than shooters.
He’s the best?
Nate Thurmond is the best athlete Bowling Green University has ever produced. He and power forward Gus Johnson were the best basketball players from Akron (OH) prior to that other guy coming along. As for Thurmond he was a 7X NBA All-Star, 2X All Defensive First Team, 3X All Defensive Second Team and a member of the NBA‘s 50th Anniversary All Time Team. In addition Thurmond was elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. In his 14-year career this 6-11 225 pound centers’ point total closely matched his rebound totals, 14,437 pts (15.0) and 14,464 rebounds (15.0). Thurmond was the first and perhaps only player to record a quadruple-double.
In 1974 in his first game for the Bulls his box score read: 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists and 12 blocked shots. Thurmond spent the bulk of his career as a member of the Warriors but later played for the Bulls and Cavs. His jersey number 42 was retired by the Warriors and the Cavs. How he became one of the best was an interesting journey. Center Thurmond was drafted by the Warriors in 1963 at the time Wilt Chamberlain was playing the position. Thurmond was forced to play out of position at the power forward position. Once Chamberlain was traded Thurmond moved in the center position where his career blossomed.
Different history
The history of the Bucks may have been different if they hadn‘t made that trade. I’d forgotten about the series of events until I began my research. Dirk Nowitzki recently eclipsed Hakeem Olajuwon and moved into 9th place as the NBA all-time scorer. Scouts believed he was talented but somehow the Bucks allowed him to slip through their fingers.
Interesting number 9 played a role much earlier in his career; he was the number 9 draft pick by the Bucks in the 1998 NBA Draft. I had to discover who the Bucks received in exchange for this future Hall of Fame player. The Mavs received Pat Garrity and Dirk for Robert Traylor. The late Robert Traylor was to have only a 7 year NBA career although he played professionally mainly in Puerto Rico until his death in 2011. A shout out to Dirk for his outstanding NBA career to date including an NBA Championship.
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
There is a distinction between lack of talent and lack of effort!
-------Larry Laker
Bits n Pieces
I’m watching the Duke-Furman game, the camera focuses on Mike Krzyzewski Coach K. A thought crossed my mind so I decided to check his bio. Did you realize his first three teams at the school finished 17-13, 10-17 and 11-17? Do you believe a coach would last very long today with a losing record? Of course 1980 was a generation ago much has changed in the collegiate world since then including patience.
There was no denying DeMarcus Cousins had talent when he arrived in the NBA. The tantrums he often displayed at Kentucky followed him into the NBA. I thought “this guy is never gonna get it.” Play mad but control your temper to allow you to remain on the court. It “appears” maturity has finally set in; his Kings probably won’t win the Western Conference however he’s been a key contributor to their improved play.
I often think to myself Footlocker and other companies don’t need me to pimp their marketing efforts. You need to check out the latest James Harden commercial for the sports apparel store. I won’t give it away I think it’s really funny---check it out when you have a chance.
As Gomer Pyle would say “surprise, surprise. “ November 28 the Eastern Conference team with the best record----allow me to introduce you to the Toronto Raptors. But wait there’s more, in the Western Conference it’s not the Thunder, Clippers or somebody else leading the way. It’s the Grizzlies, technically Memphis is kinda in the east but that’s a discussion for another time. Both Toronto and Memphis are tied with the same 13-2 record.
Dear ESPN,
I’ve come to the conclusion you have assigned extra duties for your on-air personalities. The additional duty is to report daily the horrible 2014-15 Lakers. This is my discovery after the teams Sunday night victory over the Raptors. Their 4-13 record is better than the 76ers, in no particular order there are other teams sharing the “worst label.” In the Western Conference the Wolves, in the east it’s the Pistons, Hornets, Knicks and Celtics. It should be pointed out the Thunder are a better team at 5-12 however they have an excuse, injuries. I forgot the Lakers have injuries too, oh well I guess it doesn’t matter when you just love to hate the Lakers especially Kobe. Can you do me a favor please; forward this email to Charles Barkley at TNT. Barkley also belongs to the group informing us just how turrible the Lakers are.
Sincerely,
Larry Laker
Splash brothers
Bet you hadn’t thought about this fact, the Splash Brothers backcourt are sons of former NBA players. Shooting guard Klay Thompson’s dad Mychal currently serves as one of the radio voices for Laker basketball. The elder Thompson had a 14-year NBA career and was a valued member of a 2X NBA Champion Laker team. Point guard Steph Curry’s dad Dell spent 16 years as a shooting guard in the NBA with a number of teams. The elder Curry also works in radio serving as commentator for Hornets basketball. Although Klay and Step are early in their NBA careers it’s easy to see both are on the path to exceed numbers produced by their fathers while still early in their careers. How valuable are they, at the time Kevin Love was on the trading block the Warriors attempted to secure his services.
Why is Love in Northern Ohio rather than California? The Warriors refused to include Thompson’s name in any trade. As for Curry we believed he could score but could he become adept at distributing the ball as a point? He’s falls into the category of a “shoot-first” point guard (24.0 ppg) but managed to also produce 8.5 assists per game. Curry’s assist total placed him 5th in the NBA last season. With a youthful back court of Thompson (24) and Curry (26) we can understand why Warrior fans are excited about the future. I watched the brothers “shoot-down” my Lakers in a pre-season game recently, unbelievably quick with the shot.
Reason #5 why I love college basketball
I love Dick Vitale, Dickey V.’s enthusiasm for the game in legendary. I know a number of folk’s claim he refuses to discuss problems that exist in the sport. When questioned I’ve not heard him refuse to answer a question. He and Jay Bilas (whom I also like) are from different generations. Bilas will take on all comers when discussing the evils that exist within the game.
As for Vitale he claims he is going to cut-back on the number of games this season. “Diaper dandy,” “baby” and “aircraft carrier” are just a few of the terms he’s directly responsible. An example of his enthusiasm, years ago I’m watching a game in the family room. My wife walks through on the way to the kitchen, on hearing the animated Vitale for the first time she said; “what’s wrong with that guy?” Vitale is 75-years old now so we can understand why he might want to reduce his broadcast schedule.
Craig Sager
The man has been missing this season; he’s been battling leukemia but claims he’ll return in February. I’m referring to Craig Sager TNT sideline reporter, it’s been my belief the outlandish suits he’s sports sometimes draw more attention than his questions. Sager is a serious competent reporter, he asks insightful questions and the suits. Well I’m unsure where that started but it’s become a trademark of his.
Sager is another NBA personality with Kansas City connections. He once served as anchor for one of the local television stations in Kansas City before moving to Atlanta and Turner Sports. Sager’s covered a variety of sports for the network since his 1981 hire although he‘s more closely identified with the NBA. Sager has roamed the sidelines covering NBA games for 17 years on TNT. I for one look forward to his return and yes his bizarre clothing stylings.
-------Larry Laker
Bits n Pieces
I’m watching the Duke-Furman game, the camera focuses on Mike Krzyzewski Coach K. A thought crossed my mind so I decided to check his bio. Did you realize his first three teams at the school finished 17-13, 10-17 and 11-17? Do you believe a coach would last very long today with a losing record? Of course 1980 was a generation ago much has changed in the collegiate world since then including patience.
There was no denying DeMarcus Cousins had talent when he arrived in the NBA. The tantrums he often displayed at Kentucky followed him into the NBA. I thought “this guy is never gonna get it.” Play mad but control your temper to allow you to remain on the court. It “appears” maturity has finally set in; his Kings probably won’t win the Western Conference however he’s been a key contributor to their improved play.
I often think to myself Footlocker and other companies don’t need me to pimp their marketing efforts. You need to check out the latest James Harden commercial for the sports apparel store. I won’t give it away I think it’s really funny---check it out when you have a chance.
As Gomer Pyle would say “surprise, surprise. “ November 28 the Eastern Conference team with the best record----allow me to introduce you to the Toronto Raptors. But wait there’s more, in the Western Conference it’s not the Thunder, Clippers or somebody else leading the way. It’s the Grizzlies, technically Memphis is kinda in the east but that’s a discussion for another time. Both Toronto and Memphis are tied with the same 13-2 record.
Dear ESPN,
I’ve come to the conclusion you have assigned extra duties for your on-air personalities. The additional duty is to report daily the horrible 2014-15 Lakers. This is my discovery after the teams Sunday night victory over the Raptors. Their 4-13 record is better than the 76ers, in no particular order there are other teams sharing the “worst label.” In the Western Conference the Wolves, in the east it’s the Pistons, Hornets, Knicks and Celtics. It should be pointed out the Thunder are a better team at 5-12 however they have an excuse, injuries. I forgot the Lakers have injuries too, oh well I guess it doesn’t matter when you just love to hate the Lakers especially Kobe. Can you do me a favor please; forward this email to Charles Barkley at TNT. Barkley also belongs to the group informing us just how turrible the Lakers are.
Sincerely,
Larry Laker
Splash brothers
Bet you hadn’t thought about this fact, the Splash Brothers backcourt are sons of former NBA players. Shooting guard Klay Thompson’s dad Mychal currently serves as one of the radio voices for Laker basketball. The elder Thompson had a 14-year NBA career and was a valued member of a 2X NBA Champion Laker team. Point guard Steph Curry’s dad Dell spent 16 years as a shooting guard in the NBA with a number of teams. The elder Curry also works in radio serving as commentator for Hornets basketball. Although Klay and Step are early in their NBA careers it’s easy to see both are on the path to exceed numbers produced by their fathers while still early in their careers. How valuable are they, at the time Kevin Love was on the trading block the Warriors attempted to secure his services.
Why is Love in Northern Ohio rather than California? The Warriors refused to include Thompson’s name in any trade. As for Curry we believed he could score but could he become adept at distributing the ball as a point? He’s falls into the category of a “shoot-first” point guard (24.0 ppg) but managed to also produce 8.5 assists per game. Curry’s assist total placed him 5th in the NBA last season. With a youthful back court of Thompson (24) and Curry (26) we can understand why Warrior fans are excited about the future. I watched the brothers “shoot-down” my Lakers in a pre-season game recently, unbelievably quick with the shot.
Reason #5 why I love college basketball
I love Dick Vitale, Dickey V.’s enthusiasm for the game in legendary. I know a number of folk’s claim he refuses to discuss problems that exist in the sport. When questioned I’ve not heard him refuse to answer a question. He and Jay Bilas (whom I also like) are from different generations. Bilas will take on all comers when discussing the evils that exist within the game.
As for Vitale he claims he is going to cut-back on the number of games this season. “Diaper dandy,” “baby” and “aircraft carrier” are just a few of the terms he’s directly responsible. An example of his enthusiasm, years ago I’m watching a game in the family room. My wife walks through on the way to the kitchen, on hearing the animated Vitale for the first time she said; “what’s wrong with that guy?” Vitale is 75-years old now so we can understand why he might want to reduce his broadcast schedule.
Craig Sager
The man has been missing this season; he’s been battling leukemia but claims he’ll return in February. I’m referring to Craig Sager TNT sideline reporter, it’s been my belief the outlandish suits he’s sports sometimes draw more attention than his questions. Sager is a serious competent reporter, he asks insightful questions and the suits. Well I’m unsure where that started but it’s become a trademark of his.
Sager is another NBA personality with Kansas City connections. He once served as anchor for one of the local television stations in Kansas City before moving to Atlanta and Turner Sports. Sager’s covered a variety of sports for the network since his 1981 hire although he‘s more closely identified with the NBA. Sager has roamed the sidelines covering NBA games for 17 years on TNT. I for one look forward to his return and yes his bizarre clothing stylings.
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