Basketball from a fans perspective

“Ice water in his veins”
Michael Jordan had it, so did Kobe Bryant and they are not the only ones.  “Ice water in the veins” simply refers to players unafraid to take the shot that can win or lose the game.  Nike once ran a commercial where MJ mentioned how many times he took a shot and missed.  Kobe shot four airballs in the 1997 playoff game against the Jazz.  

As for 2016 this is no prediction of future basketball stardom for Kentucky’s Malik Monk however he fit’s the role.  Unafraid to take the shot in Saturday’s North Carolina-Kentucky game.  A teammate actually hit the last Kentucky baskets on free-throws however it was the two consecutive 3-point baskets that made me go WOW.  Monk scored 47 points in the game but he wasn’t just chucking up shots, he was .643 from the floor.  

For you man
My buddy Eric asked me; “What do you think about two Jayhawks on the Laker roster I guess Jordan Clarkson (Mizzou) balances things.”  Those were not his exact words but somewhat similar.  Eric was referring to reserves Tarik Black and Thomas Robinson both former Kansas players.  I think Eric believes as a number of the Kansas faithful I detest anything connected to the basketball team.  I have stated on a number of occasions I believe Bill Self is one of the best, he’s probably been better for Kansas than Roy Williams.  

The Jayhawks annually play one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the nation but that fact fails to aid them once conference play begins.  Much as the Big 12 desires to perceive itself as a strong basketball conference the truth hurts.  The conference is actually GIGANTIC Kansas along with many pretenders to the throne.  As this is written I have no idea who wants to take the crown from Kansas.  Every year the belief is Baylor will climb the summit but falls short. Oklahoma State has been in the mix so has Oklahoma even Texas and Iowa State.

Big Man Battles
We’ll never return to the days of Wilt Chamberlain-Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul Jabbar-Chamberlain and Shaq versus David Robinson or Shaq-Hakeem Olajuwon.  The 1950’s saw the NBA dominated by Big Men.  Every team did not have a quality center however a number were spread throughout the league. Disciples of center play such as Pete Newell spread the gospel of pivot play.  Was it really new this emphasis on fast-break small ball really new?  Maybe parts of it the impact of the stretch four power forwards shooting from the 3-point line.  

The advent of the stretch four and shoot first point guards meant an end to center play.  A team’s offense would no longer flow through the pivot or at least that‘s what we were led to believe.  A talented group of 7 foot centers and power forwards continue being added to the game whether from the college ranks or Europe.  They are not stiffs most are talented at varied aspects of the game.  You know many of them no need of naming names just check out the game any evening or afternoon.

I could see this
We’ve speculated since training camp somebody was going to be odd man out.  The Sixers with centers Joel Embiid, Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel somebody was leaving The City of Brotherly Love.  Noel complained to the media about his limited minutes after the Sixers-Lakers game.  A day later a rumor began circulating Noel was on the trading block headed to the Blazers.  

This is no done deal however with the emergence of Embiid we believed that would leave Okafor outside looking in.  Embiid at center and Noel at the power forward, the Sixers couldn’t utilize two seven foot centers would they?  Well it appears they might be the case as Embiid and Okafor have been in the lineup at the same time.  Who is left out of that picture that would be 6-11 power forward Nerlens Noel.