Scrappy
I like the Urban Dictionary definition
best for Scrappy: “seemingly small
and unthreatening but shockingly able to kick your ass and anyone else’s”. Sounds about
right for a description of a Mizzou team many folks counted out, the “bump in
the road” three game losing streak was offered as evidence. With the overtime win 89-85 on Saturday
against Mississippi State the Tigers have now won four games in a row, as usual
we must claim team victory. Guard
Kassius Robertson led in scoring with 22 points, he was assisted by Jordan
Barnett and Kevin Puryear.
Guard Jordan Geist chipped in with 17
points off the bench, Jontay Porter in foul trouble for much of the game
managed to score 10 points. For the
second game in a row the turnovers were manageable by Mizzou with only 12. Close, close and close, they need to learn
how to close out teams. Ahead by 12
points with 1:27 remaining they allowed Mississippi State to tie the game
forcing overtime. The climate inside
Mizzou Arena is changed, no longer is it a house of gloom but one of winning
basketball.
Waived
In 2009 Derrick Rose
was NBA Rookie of the Year, 2011 the league’s MVP. The entire world lay in front of the Chicago
native. At the age of 23 he might have
been the youngest MVP in league history but all that has changed now, he’s been
dogged over the last several years with injuries. His hometown Bulls finally traded him to the
Knicks in 2016 but that would not be his last stop.
July of 2017, he would sign with the Cavs. A trade deadline deal last Thursday saw Rose move to the Jazz, on Saturday the team waived him. It’s possible a team might pick him up the Wizards are reported to be interested in signing him. Rose is only 29-years old, but the injuries plus off-court issues may be more than an NBA team might be willing to deal with.
July of 2017, he would sign with the Cavs. A trade deadline deal last Thursday saw Rose move to the Jazz, on Saturday the team waived him. It’s possible a team might pick him up the Wizards are reported to be interested in signing him. Rose is only 29-years old, but the injuries plus off-court issues may be more than an NBA team might be willing to deal with.
We have a problem
already
Channing Frye is
headed to the Lakers bench no surprise there, a 3-point specialist. As for Isaiah Thomas that’s a completely
different story, the Lakers indicate Thomas will come off the bench for his
first game in a Laker jersey but beyond that is a mystery. According to the agent for Thomas his client
has no desire to be a permanent resident of the bench i.e., he's a starter.
As rich as last season
We often must wait
several years to fully analyze an NBA Draft.
For the most part players drafted 1-5 usually turn out to be pretty
good. My barber accessing the 2018 draft
claims at one through five are interchangeable depending on team needs. His statement reminded me of the old Dallas
Cowboys view of the draft. They would
often draft the best athlete available despite the fact they might have two or
three players at the same position.
He mentioned Trae
Young, Michael Porter Jr. and Mohamed Bamba just a few who could fit any teams
needs. As I wrote previously we have
four months and days remaining prior to the draft. My Lakers had no pick in the first round
prior to the recent trade. I believe
they will now receive the Cavs number 25 pick, this is a deep draft and the
Lakers could receive a player who will benefit them. Jordan Clarkson who could have selected Sixth Man of the Year this season had he remained with the Lakers, he was a second-round draft pick.
Remember
Salaries for NBA
teams have risen drastically over the past few years. Teams that once were near the top (Lakers,
Knicks) are nowhere to be found.
Technically that’s just a play on words, they remain but not anywhere
near the top. The leaders for 2017-18
are:
\ 1. Warriors
2. Cavs
3. Thunder
4. Heat
5. Wizards
Where are the Lakers
and Knicks you ask, the Knicks sit in the number 19
position while the Lakers are number 21?
