There is a distinction between lack of talent and lack of effort!
-------Larry Laker

Injuries
We can exclude Kobe Bryant from the discussion he’ll turn 37 in August and has a great deal of NBA, Olympic and FIBA mileage on his body. As for the others I’m unsure. It seems there have been a higher number of season ending injuries in the NBA this season than I can remember. In the first game of the season Laker rookie Julius Randle went out with a season ending injury before he could begin his career, others would follow. Josh McRoberts Heat, Tony Wroton 76ers, Alec Burks Jazz. My choice for Rookie of the Year Jabari Parker of the Bucks also went down. .

The Cavs suffered as a team particularly after losing Anderson Varejao, although the Nets Mirza Teletovic is loss for the season its health related rather than an injury.  Recently Pistons guard Brandon Jennings sustained a season ending injury. We held court on this subject in the barber shop a few weeks back. One of the barbers identified the problem as the shoes. I’m sure it’s likely something other than the shoes however the question is relevant. Basketball players of this era are better conditioned than ever yet have succumbed to injury at the same rate of their predecessors. Losing these players to season ending injury has affected each of these NBA teams.

Bits n Pieces
With LeBron James on the sidelines Kyrie Irving led his Cavs team to a victory over the Blazers. 99-94. Irving scored 55 points with 5 assists 4 rebounds and 2 steals. In 39 minutes of court work he only had 3 TO’s. After the Klay Thompson scoring explosion I held a brief discussion with a friend.  I informed him; “I’m going to research fathers whose sons also played in the NBA.”

Fathers and sons, current Laker broadcaster Mychal and father of Klay played in the NBA. You were already aware Kobe’s dad Joe played for the 76ers. The number of father and sons playing pro ball surprised me.  If we count the NBL (predecssor to the NBA) and ABA the total is much higher than most of us might believe, I ceased counting when I reached 20.

The rosters for the annual McDonald’s All-Star game are set. The game will be held at the United Center in Chicago 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time April 1. The number one prospect in the nation Ben Simmons will display his talent in the game; Simmons is head to LSU in the fall. Simmons is a 6-9 225 pound power forward. He will play alongside future teammate Antonio Blakeney 6-4 shooting guard from Orlando (FL). Both athletes are 5-star prospects by Rivals.

Are the rules different for Notre Dame athletics? I ask the question because the Fighting Irish football team is not conference affiliated. As for basketball that’s a different matter. They moved into the ACC two years ago after competing in the Big East Conference for several years. Without checking I believe Notre Dame might be the university playing an independent football schedule yet conference affiliated in basketball.

He’s good
According to his bio Bill Russell was a 6-10 215 pound center, we know the balance of the story as he led the Celtics to numerous championships. He was expert at blocking opposition shots rebounding the basketball, occasionally he’d be called on to score. The Pelicans Anthony Davis is a 6-10 220 pound power forward we know the early portion of his story too. He was a 6-3 sophomore guard who grew into a 6-10 high school senior. He would win an NCAA championship at Kentucky and depart after his freshman year for the NBA. His pattern of play was established at Kentucky however it’s become improved in the NBA.

Davis has become an expert at blocking opposition shots rebounding the basketball; he is a much better shooter than Russell. Before your head explodes I’m not stating Davis is anywhere close to Russell. Russell had a 13 year NBA with numerous MVP awards and NBA championships as mentioned above. As for Davis he is just entering his third year and the Pelicans are yet to win their first championship. He should receive MVP consideration for his 2014-15 NBA season. He’s certainly not Bill Russell however his game might come nearest to number 6. The only other athlete who might come close is the Clippers DeAndre Jordan although he’s a couple of rungs below Davis.

Bits n Pieces
Sometimes you hear a statement that causes you to laugh out loud. For you George Karl fans this is about your main man. The other day in his role as a studio analyst I heard him state a team “didn’t play defense.” I almost fell off my chair laughing, I asked myself the question did any George Karl team ever play defense? Okay the guy has a winning career record but so does Mike D’Antoni.

The arena inside Municipal Auditorium is one the oldest bastions of basketball still in continuous use. Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis (IA) and The Palestra in Philadelphia are the only arenas I believe are older. The “Muni” as it’s nicknamed originally opened in 1935 and has undergone renovations in 2007 and 2013.  The University of Missouri-Kansas City men's team has moved back to the Muni after several years playing games on campus.  The 7,300 close in seats also serves as host for the annual NAIA Men’s Basketball Tournament.

I believe I might be unfair in my criticism at times. That is the case with Chris Bosh, I never called him a bum I just wasn’t impressed with his game. In retrospect I didn’t see much of his game at the time he played for the Raptors. It seemed at times he was the only lost soul of the “Big Three.” Now that LeBron’s in Cleveland Bosh has proven to me he can play---sorry Chris.

Warrior sharpshooter Klay Thompson scored 37 points in the third quarter of the game. That output led him to score a total of 52 points. I’m sure his arm required icing after the game. Thompson broke the scoring record of 33 points in a quarter set by George Gervin and tied by Carmelo Anthony.