BASKETBALL FROM A FANS PERSPECTIVE
They messed around and got a triple-double
Lonzo Ball registered an outstanding game Saturday evening. The Lakers were 128-100 winners with both Lonzo Ball and LeBron stuffing the stat sheet. Ball wasn’t the leading scorer but that’s never been an issue, the Lakers desire him to run the team's offense. That’s exactly what Ball accomplished shooting .636 from the floor, his stat filler read 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists along with 5 steals and 1 blocked shot. LeBron's triple-double read 24 points, 11 assists and 12 rebounds. According to Dave McMenamin ESPN staff writer, "The first time Laker teammates did it in the same game? Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul Jabbar on January 22, 1982." We can now register December 15, 2018 as a significant date in Laker history.
Lonzo Ball registered an outstanding game Saturday evening. The Lakers were 128-100 winners with both Lonzo Ball and LeBron stuffing the stat sheet. Ball wasn’t the leading scorer but that’s never been an issue, the Lakers desire him to run the team's offense. That’s exactly what Ball accomplished shooting .636 from the floor, his stat filler read 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists along with 5 steals and 1 blocked shot. LeBron's triple-double read 24 points, 11 assists and 12 rebounds. According to Dave McMenamin ESPN staff writer, "The first time Laker teammates did it in the same game? Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul Jabbar on January 22, 1982." We can now register December 15, 2018 as a significant date in Laker history.
Living on the edge
The last five have witnessed games of 74-71, 63-60, 72-47, 90-84 OT and 87-81 OT. The numbers represent the last five Kansas basketball final scores, the Jayhawks have landed on the left side of the page indicating the game was a win rather than a loss. It’s clear to a few the number one team in the nation is clearly living on the edge based on the number of close contests.
The last five have witnessed games of 74-71, 63-60, 72-47, 90-84 OT and 87-81 OT. The numbers represent the last five Kansas basketball final scores, the Jayhawks have landed on the left side of the page indicating the game was a win rather than a loss. It’s clear to a few the number one team in the nation is clearly living on the edge based on the number of close contests.
It’s quite possible the Big 12 conference race
will provide a reprieve for the Jayhawks.
On the other hand, we could conclude a win is a win is a win, close
games won by the Jayhawks indicate the mark of great team? I cannot use the Big
12 conference as a barometer they rule the conference with an iron fist, the
NCAA Tournament becomes a truer test. As
for Jayhawk Nation it’s lonely at the top be prepared win or lose.
Chamberlain like
They say back in the day Wilt Chamberlain had similar games to Joel Embiid. Chamberlain would exhibit his skill on the court score in huge numbers grab large numbers of rebounds, but his teams would often lose especially when facing Bill Russell’s Celtics. He once said, “If I had the teammates of Russell the contest might be far different.” On Friday evening versus the Pacers Embiid was an offensive juggernaut.
They say back in the day Wilt Chamberlain had similar games to Joel Embiid. Chamberlain would exhibit his skill on the court score in huge numbers grab large numbers of rebounds, but his teams would often lose especially when facing Bill Russell’s Celtics. He once said, “If I had the teammates of Russell the contest might be far different.” On Friday evening versus the Pacers Embiid was an offensive juggernaut.
Embiid utilized every shot and move in his
extensive arsenal scoring 40 points and snatching down 21 points. Despite his valiant effort his Sixers lost
the game. The Pacers playing tough
hard-nosed defense and balanced scoring most of the evening were able to
overcome Embiid’s monster game. There
could have been some revenge at work, former Sixer Thaddeus Young led the way
for the Pacers scoring 26 points in a 113-101 win.
First, he’s here, then gone but not really
At the time I retired for the evening I read on the net Trevor Ariza had been traded by the Suns, a three-team trade involving the Suns, Wizards and Grizzlies had been consummated…. or had it? Waking up early Saturday morning I again begin my morning routine and discover the trade had fallen apart. The parties involved, Trevor Ariza, Austin Rivers, Kelly Oubre and MarShon Brooks were still members of their respective teams. I’m not even sure I can report why the trade fell apart its almost comical in scope.
At the time I retired for the evening I read on the net Trevor Ariza had been traded by the Suns, a three-team trade involving the Suns, Wizards and Grizzlies had been consummated…. or had it? Waking up early Saturday morning I again begin my morning routine and discover the trade had fallen apart. The parties involved, Trevor Ariza, Austin Rivers, Kelly Oubre and MarShon Brooks were still members of their respective teams. I’m not even sure I can report why the trade fell apart its almost comical in scope.
Let’s just say we don’t know if it was
MarShon or Dillion Brooks to be part of the package. Over the years NBA teams have often
experienced trades that were not consummated.
As a rule, the athlete fails a physical causing the trade to be voided. This proposal to my knowledge is a first, for
the first time in NBA history a trade has been dissolved in this manner. In closing ESPN.com reports, “The Wizards, Suns still seeking Trevor Ariza
deal after trade falls apart.” UPDATE:
Before publishing this account, the trade was completed, the Wizards sent
Austin Rivers and Kelly Oubre to the Suns for Ariza.
