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

Coach
As this is written not a single NBA coaching job has been filled. Three teams, Orlando, Denver and Oklahoma City are still conducting their searches for someone to hire. There are a small number of coaches on shaky ground but appear safe for now. This is a follow up based on a story written last week. Florida’s Billy Donovan and others have been on the job long enough to know all the intricacies of coaching. I believe there is one key reason college coaches have been less successful in the NBA.

In college the coach is in charge, in the NBA the athlete is in charge it’s that simple.
Gregg Popovich, Doc Rivers and others are clearly in charge but only with player “approval.” I believe the NBA is more a player’s league than many of the other professional leagues. We need look no further than the David Blatt and the Cavs. Blatt had plenty of past pro experience yet clearly had coaching difficulty initially. In fact there were unsubstantiated reports Cavs assistant Tyronn Lue and LeBron were calling plays.

Small forward
The Lakers drafted Julius Randle as a power forward, Eric Pincus writing for Laker Nation indicates the team might work him out at small forward. If this experiment should occur it will not be immediate because Randle is a power forward at 6-9 and 250 pounds. This move might not be as strange as it sounds the former Kentucky big man handles the basketball well for a man his size. Think he might be too large for the position LeBron James stands
6-8 and weighs 250 pounds. Don’t misunderstand my intent by no means am I comparing Randle’s ability to LeBron. The 2014-15 season will be Randle’s first because he suffered an injury in his first game and was sidelined for the season. As for LeBron we know full well his skill especially as an assist man.


Breakout
I’ve had little opportunity in the past to see the Jazz in action; this account is based on numbers rather than witness. I’ve noticed big man Enes Kanter became a double double man after his trade to the Thunder. Across the board all his numbers were are up except his free-throw shooting. Could a portion of his game be credited by the absence of Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook? Is it the offense of the Thunder a cut above for this game?

Kanter made a rather negative comment about the Jazz and a Utah fan took issue with some of the things he said. This fan hinted Kanter “under-achieved” while he was a member of the Jazz. In any event his 13.8 ppg average rose to 18.7, rebounding is up 11.0 versus 7.8 previously. Field goal percentage has risen from .491 to .566. We are sure the Thunder hope he continues to exhibit the type of play they have received since the trade.

The Big 12 Tourney
The Big 12 Tournament concluded weeks ago; the 2016 tournament will be the last to be held in Kansas City as it will begin rotation again. This report covers the tournament itself rather than who won the games. Kansas City (MO) has long served as host going back to the days of the Big 8. Once the conference expanded adding the Texas schools it was decided the tournament would be rotated. Oklahoma City served as host in 2007 and 2009, it was held in Dallas 2003-2004 and 2006. There was talk of the event heading north to Omaha until Nebraska like Mizzou left the Big 12 Conference.

Mizzou no longer a conference member however the tournament continued to be held in Kansas City. The event has been a financial bonanza for the Kansas City Metro. Although Oklahoma City and Dallas have experience hosting events the tournament doesn’t appear to register with citizens and fans as it does with Kansas City. The period the tournament was held in Oklahoma City and Dallas the attendance was spotty at best. There is no clear explanation at to why this rather lukewarm view of the tournament is exists.

Extinct species
A glance at the headline and you might believe this is a dinosaur story. That’s not the case although it is an account of athletes that have vanished from the NBA. Rivals.com indicates Mizzou is scouting several junior college players for next season. This caused me to reflect on Keanau Post who plays center for Mizzou. Two years ago Post was recruited from Southwestern Illinois Community College. His numbers were not outstanding but appeared adequate. He wouldn’t be the focal point of the offense because there were juniors and seniors who would carry the bulk of the load. At 7 feet and 260 pounds it was believed his adjustment to division one basketball would be enhanced by his size. His senior year was slightly better than his junior year but though he’s been adequate his play was nowhere near the level expected. What is the impact of junior college athletes to a college program?

Once upon a time a number of highly successful NBA players began their journey at a junior college. The list I located is not complete it only represents junior college players who played in at least one NBA All Star game. The only active players on the list are the Bulls Jimmy Butler who played at Tyler Junior College and the Cavs Shawn Marion Vincennes Junior College. Hall of Fame athletes Tiny Archibald, Artis Gilmore, Mitch Richmond and Dennis Rodman first played at a junior college. Coaches Lionel Hollins, Bob McAdoo and Sam Cassell former players first attended junior college. Spencer Haywood destined soon for the Hall of Fame played at Trinidad State Junior College before the University of Detroit. Larry “Grandmamma” Johnson of the Charlotte Hornets (1991-1996) was enrolled at Odessa (TX) Junior College before he headed west to UNLV. The junior college player successful at the next level and into the NBA might indeed be history.

Junior college players in the NBA, jucorecruiting.com