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

My bad
Prior to the start of the NBA season I wrote a glowing report on the Lakers Jeremy Lin. I envisioned Lin in the starting lineup leading the team to numerous victories. My vision was incorrect based on later developments; Lin while remaining on the roster has taken on a reserve role. From all indications this move was made by the coach due to the player being a liability on defense. Lin isn’t bad defensively it seems he’s had lapses at times during games.

Former Mizzou Tiger Jeremy Clarkson was a question mark; he played well in the NBA Summer League however he “disappeared” once the season began. Whether it was injuries are his grit he made his way into the lineup. The question might be is the 6-5 Clarkson a point or shooting guard? Over the last 10 games he’s averaged nearly 14 points and 4 assists per game shooting .464 from the floor. Clarkson’s numbers are certainly not outstanding nonetheless Clarkson’s been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dreary season.

"I'm from Missouri--you'll have to show me”
The statement is age old; I’ve read several explanations over the years. I believe Dictionary.com might offer the best. It says the statement is an idiom; “unwilling to accept something without proof; skeptical.” There are a number of players and teams that must “show me.” These are a few I see, you might not agree however you might add several I may have missed. Several of these “show me” issues must go into next season.

  1. Mizzou’s Kim Anderson won at the Division II level are you a D-1 winner?
  2. Chris Paul are you a playoff leader, can you direct your team deep in the playoffs?
  3. Dwight Howard can you lead the Rockets to a championship?
  4. Atlanta Hawks- annual playoff team how far can you advance this season?
  5. Kentucky-prove to the world you are the best college team in the nation.
  6. Frank Haith provide Mizzou alum evidence they were wrong for forcing you out.
  7. Jim Buss will you step down as you said if you can’t turn the Lakers around?
  8. 76ers, assembling draft picks or really attempting to win games?
  9. Can Danny Ainge overall the Celtics and they become contenders again?
10. Phil Jackson and the Knicks--enough said.

He’s number one
Allow this upfront disclaimer; I’m not rushing anybody out of college. It’s my belief we all will be surprised if he returns for his sophomore year. Jahlil Okafor stands 6-11 and weighs a solid 270 pounds; the youngster is NBA ready according to Duke’s Coach K. His coach was criticized in some circles for making the statement immediately after Okafor began play for Duke. My take Coach K. was only reflecting the climate of today’s college game; super talents will continue to leave early for the NBA. My only advice from this corner is for the young man to “grow” because the league pays 7-footers more $$$$.

As for Okafor he’s a throwback in a sense, he’s a back to the basket center something we rarely see in this day and age. I like the idea we’ll witness no sighting of Okafor shooting three-point shots, if by chance the ball is in his hands and the clock is winding down well that‘s different. Although this account reflects on Okafor there will be others who leave school after their freshmen year, we might be shocked if any return of the super talents return for their sophomore year. Let’s not fool ourselves quite complaining about one and done college players. The hope in this corner is for an athlete to educate themselves however my mama didn’t raise no fool. Until the NBA Players Association changes it objections we’ll continue to witness Okafor and others leaving for the NBA after but one year.

Bits n Pieces
I’ve been reading complaints for years regarding Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau. I’m referring to the fact he “plays his players far too many minutes.” The amount of time spent on the court plus limited practice time eventually breaks the body down. True or untrue it’s not just Derrick Rose checked out the number of Bulls sidelined this season.

I especially enjoy a feature of basketball-reference.com. An athlete with limited minutes on the court or games played they project his numbers the course of a full game. Utilizing projected numbers the Heats Hassan Whiteside’s numbers are outstanding. 15.9 rebounds, 4.0 blocked shots and 17.9 points per game.

33 in a row
The 1971-72 Lakers won 33 games in a row a streak that remains intact to this day. In 2013 the Miami Heat came close winning 27 games. Bill Russell stated; “If they open the archives 100 years from now it’s likely the (33 game) streak will never be broken.” Can you imagine a team avoids losing a single game during a two month period, that’s home and road games? The Lakers won every game played during November and December? They would continue to win into January however they would lose on January 9 1972 to the Bucks.

Kareem Abdul Jabbar (then a member of the Bucks) and Oscar Robertson would lead the way to victory; Kareem scored 39 points versus the 15 by Wilt Chamberlain. Once the streak was broken the Lakers continued to win but not in so dramatic fashion. They would reach the NBA Finals lose the first game and then win four straight to win the NBA championship. This was the first of several NBA Championships the Lakers would win in Los Angeles. In the final game Chamberlain scored 24 points and pulled down 22 rebounds. He was named MVP of the series averaging 19.4 ppg, 23.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists.