Numbers
don’t always provide a true picture
Temple whipped Mizzou 79-77 in Columbia on Tuesday evening no doubt about that, the game was not as close as the final score might indicate. This was a game of statistics, field goal percentage, offensive rebounds and turnovers. Mizzou outshot Temple 52% to 51.6%, rebounds Mizzou 38, Temple 25. Offensive rebounds 11 for Mizzou and 8 for Temple along with 15 Mizzou turnovers compared to the 5 for Temple had for the game.
Temple whipped Mizzou 79-77 in Columbia on Tuesday evening no doubt about that, the game was not as close as the final score might indicate. This was a game of statistics, field goal percentage, offensive rebounds and turnovers. Mizzou outshot Temple 52% to 51.6%, rebounds Mizzou 38, Temple 25. Offensive rebounds 11 for Mizzou and 8 for Temple along with 15 Mizzou turnovers compared to the 5 for Temple had for the game.
Those
numbers would lead you to believe Mizzou won the game and they could have
however the game is more than simply numbers.
They fail to detail the blown defensive assignments, poor shot selection
or turnovers which resulted in opposition points. A graphic was displayed on our screens in the
first half indicating Temple scored 12 points off Mizzou turnovers. The box score failed to point out the number
in the second half.
Moving
on up
LeBron James passed the legendary Wilt Chamberlain recently, he’s now in 5th place among the NBA’s all-time leading scorers. We know the story, LeBron emerged from high school at age 18-years old. If we look at the others above and behind him in the Top 25 all likely had extensive coaching except Kobe, Dirk and Moses. In the instance of Kobe, it was likely his dad Joe Bryant as for the others it was talent alone. Early on I admit my guilt, I probably didn’t realize the impact LeBron James would make on the NBA. I might compare it to seeing a movie or a music recording that becomes legendary.
LeBron James passed the legendary Wilt Chamberlain recently, he’s now in 5th place among the NBA’s all-time leading scorers. We know the story, LeBron emerged from high school at age 18-years old. If we look at the others above and behind him in the Top 25 all likely had extensive coaching except Kobe, Dirk and Moses. In the instance of Kobe, it was likely his dad Joe Bryant as for the others it was talent alone. Early on I admit my guilt, I probably didn’t realize the impact LeBron James would make on the NBA. I might compare it to seeing a movie or a music recording that becomes legendary.
Viewing
LeBron in real-time I failed to acknowledge his ever-evolving greatness, I did
question his will to win at a point however that’s all in the rear-view
mirror and has been for a while. Some
will say “You only changing your tune because he’s a Laker now”, that’s
totally incorrect. I was pleased at the
time LeBron returned to Cleveland, I was satisfied he was able to lead the Cavs
to a championship. If you check Words eye view leading up to free-agency
I ignored all the speculation and stated I believed he would remain in
Cleveland. The best player in the NBA on
my team of course it was quite a coup.
At this point we have no idea if LeBron will lead this version of the
Lakers to a championship. This Laker fan
is pleased that he is in Los Angeles because he is a winner. Yes, I said it, WINNER.
Bethlehem
Pennsylvania is located some 70 miles north of Philadelphia. The city is home to Lehigh University one of
the most prestigious research universities in the nation. Despite the heavy emphasis on academics the
university fields teams in most major sports. Over the course of time there have been 19
football players drafted in the NFL who played at Lehigh. As for basketball that’s been a different
matter, the university has produced but one (1) NBA player but he’s a good
one. Christian James McCollum or C.J.
played for Lehigh from 2009-2013, he was made the 10th pick in the
first round of the 2013 draft by the Blazers.
Despite having an outstanding college career, the NBA at the beginning appeared
to be slightly more difficult.
McCollum
even spent time in the D-League before returning to the Blazers. The 2015-16 season would be the break-out
year for this 6-foot 4-inch shooting guard scoring 20.8 points per game as he
became a starter. Since that time his
average has never dipped below that mark.
It might be more interesting to discover McCollum wasn’t highly touted
coming out of high school. He stood but 5
feet 2 inches in his freshman year of high school, a growth spurt saw him stand
6 foot 2 and 165 pounds as a high school senior. In conclusion McCollum proves a point, I’ve
always maintained if you have a degree of talent an NBA scout is generally
going to discover you no matter where you play.
We could make that same statement about his Blazer backcourt mate Damian
Lillard. Lillard played his college ball
at Weber State University in Utah.
“Young”
Aristotle
Shaquille O’Neal was a monster early in his NBA career, in a manner of speaking he was like Mike Tyson. Many believed Tyson won many of his heavyweight bouts intimidating the opposition, this was true of Shaq. Whose brave enough to stand in the lane and absorb a charge from the 325-pound freight train bearing down on you? In November 20, 1993 his Magic team faced the Nets while they were in the Meadowlands.
Shaquille O’Neal was a monster early in his NBA career, in a manner of speaking he was like Mike Tyson. Many believed Tyson won many of his heavyweight bouts intimidating the opposition, this was true of Shaq. Whose brave enough to stand in the lane and absorb a charge from the 325-pound freight train bearing down on you? In November 20, 1993 his Magic team faced the Nets while they were in the Meadowlands.
With
this outstanding game the Magic only managed a two-point victory, 87-85 as for
his game. 24 points okay that figure is
somewhat noteworthy, his 28 rebounds that’s the beginning of an outstanding
game. The crème de la crème the 15
blocked shots yes, the figure you are reading is correct. In this game Shaq stuffed the stat sheet that
evening, 24 points 28 rebounds 15 blocks and 3 assists along with 1 steal. In this game Shaq was close to the all-time
single game record established by the Lakers Elmore Smith with 17. Smith sat the record October 28, 1973 against
the Blazers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKWs8kWPnJgBlazers.
I
don’t own the rights to this video
