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.