There is a distinction between lack of talent and lack of effort!
-------Larry Laker
“An overnight sensation”
An overnight sensation was a term often applied in show business. Despite striving for years when the performer became known, we often said their fame occurred swiftly. The quick path to the top in show business or any other pursuit often takes years. As for Jim Larranaga coach of Miami, it has been 37 years since his first head coaching assignment. The coach was drafted in the sixth round by the Pistons but chose coaching over the NBA. From 1971 to 1976, he served as an assistant coach at Davidson. In 1977, he was hired at American International then a Division II school; Larranaga served for two years finishing with a 27-26 record.
The two years Larranaga coached American International is the nearest you are going to uncover anything approaching a losing record. He went on to Bowling Green for 11 seasons finishing with a 177-144 won loss record. In 1997, he took over a struggling George Mason program remaining there 14 years with a 273-164 record prior to his Miami hire. He has begun his 4th year with the Hurricanes and his record to date at the school is 70-36. We are often guilty of overlooking the Jim Larranaga’s of the basketball world for a variety of reasons. One thing for sure we might not recall his name in discussions but we can apply winner to “what’s-his-name. “
Is he that good?
Emmanuel Mudiay is in China, he was supposed to be in Dallas in particular enrolled at Southern Methodist University. Many basketball people believed it was quite a accomplishment Coach Larry Brown was able to lure the number two high school prospect in the nation. Somewhere in time the 6-5 190 pound point guard changed his mind, media reports indicate his family may have influenced his decision. In any event whether it was his decision or a member of the family the choice was made he would head to Guangdong China to play professional basketball.
Mudiay would begin play for pay as a member of the Guangdong Southern Tigers in the China Basketball Association. He’s signed a 1-year contract which might be an indication he will declare for the 2015 NBA Draft. Is Mudiay good enough to play in the NBA, DraftExpress.com list Mudiay listed as their number two prospect in its 2015 mock draft. NBADraft.net goes one step further declaring him the top choice on their site. This certainly shouldn’t be considered convincing proof of his draft stock however both sites have never been very far off-base in their past projections.
It‘s clear to me (and maybe you)
Whatever the sport we might study each athlete has a ceiling limit, their elevator can only rise so far. Based on our expectations we attach what we believe is potential to an athlete. Athletes can certainly grow their game but often these athletes fall short of our beliefs which is certainly unfair. I believe that might be the case with Kansas forward Perry Ellis. The 6-8 220 pound Ellis who hails from Wichita has entered his junior year at Kansas. As a freshman he started out slowly as he adjusted to the college game. He only averaged 5.8 ppg his freshman year, he managed to raised that average to 13.5 last year.
Sophomore Ellis did this despite the offense being aimed in the direction of freshman Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid. He’s begun his junior year at a slower pace but recently raised his scoring average to 15.0 ppg along with 6.6 rebounds. Prior to this a local newscaster announced “He (Ellis) needs to step up his game.” I wonder if the studio guy took into consideration perhaps Ellis is no 30 ppg 12 rebound player. Ellis is just a steady quiet player who will give his max effort while on the basketball court. On the other hand it could be the offensive scheme Coach Self utilizes. Who knew another former Jayhawk would become the consummate All-Pro he’d become, I’m referring of course to Paul Pierce.
Asian inroads
The NBA has attempted to gain Asian fans; the league opened an office in India several years ago. Yao Ming had a number of successful years prior to injuries curtailing his NBA career with the Rockets. He returned to China where he’s become an even greater ambassador for the league. A number of high profile NBA players including Kobe Bryant have conducted workshops in China over the years. In 2013 Vivek Ranadive majority owner of a group would purchase the Sacramento Kings. Ranadive was born in Bombay India (now Mumbai). This summer the Kings signed 7-5 center Sim Bhullar who played his ball at New Mexico State. Bhuller was born in Canada however his parents immigrated to the nation from India. He’s a long-shot to make the Kings roster however he could become the first Indian player in the NBA.
Jordan Clarkson had entertained Mizzou fans for two years before he entered the 2014 NBA Draft. He was drafted in the second round by the Wizards but traded to the Lakers. We now discover Clarkson is not who we believed him to be. It turns out his father is African-American however his mother was born in the Philippines. Filipinos now claim him as a native son despite the fact he was born in San Antonio and probably knows little about the Philippines, that’s okay it may still gain NBA fans in that nation. Professional leagues exist in China, Japan, the Philippines and South Korea which should continue the growth of basketball in those nations. At this point Asian inroads into the NBA is only a drop, don’t expect a future flood of athletes however don’t be surprised to see additional players from Asia make their way into the NBA.
“We’re talking about practice, man”
Remember the Anthony Davis who couldn’t toss the ball into the ocean? Well that might be an exaggerated he could shoot he just was not a consistent scorer. The offensive arsenal Kentucky had assembled Davis may have been the third or fourth option his defense was more important to the team. Once he arrived in the NBA, he must have believed he must be more than a one-dimensional player he began practice. “We're talking about practice, man We're talking about practice. We're talking about practice. We ain't talking about the game. We're talking about practice, man.” With apologies to Allen Iverson, that is exactly how Davis has become an improved shooter-practice.
