BASKETBALL FROM A FANS PERSPECTIVE
Half full rather than half
empty
The Mizzou Tigers lost the final game of the regular season 73-68 to Mississippi. Looking ahead to next season the basketball program should be in better shape boosted by Xavier Pinson and Torrence Watson. Pinson scored 20 points while shooting .667 from the floor, he also had 3 rebounds and 6 assists.
Pinson handled the ball well only 2 TO’s playing major minutes at the point. His backcourt mate Torrence Watson scored 14 points also playing the bulk of minutes in the backcourt. Because this was a loss and I’m attempting to be positive It’s natural to look toward next season. Half full rather than half empty, freshmen Pinson and Watson will be sophomores and should be equipped for the rigors of SEC play next season.
The Mizzou Tigers lost the final game of the regular season 73-68 to Mississippi. Looking ahead to next season the basketball program should be in better shape boosted by Xavier Pinson and Torrence Watson. Pinson scored 20 points while shooting .667 from the floor, he also had 3 rebounds and 6 assists.
Pinson handled the ball well only 2 TO’s playing major minutes at the point. His backcourt mate Torrence Watson scored 14 points also playing the bulk of minutes in the backcourt. Because this was a loss and I’m attempting to be positive It’s natural to look toward next season. Half full rather than half empty, freshmen Pinson and Watson will be sophomores and should be equipped for the rigors of SEC play next season.
Nobody would believe it
Brandon Ingram is now out for the season; Deep Venous Thrombosis in his arm is the culprit. We understand injuries are part of the game, but this Laker team has just been totally devastated this season. The following represents just a portion of injuries which has seriously affected play, LeBron James was injured Christmas Day December 25 and didn’t return to the lineup until January 31. Point guard Rajon Rondo was injured December 27 and was out of action until January 21.
Brandon Ingram is now out for the season; Deep Venous Thrombosis in his arm is the culprit. We understand injuries are part of the game, but this Laker team has just been totally devastated this season. The following represents just a portion of injuries which has seriously affected play, LeBron James was injured Christmas Day December 25 and didn’t return to the lineup until January 31. Point guard Rajon Rondo was injured December 27 and was out of action until January 21.
One returns and another leaves, on
the date Rondo returned Ball was injured and 3-4 weeks on the injured list has
now become season ending. Finally, it
was announced Ingram was out, he too is gone for the season. Kyle Kuzma and Lance Stephenson are out
listed as day to day. The Laker training room must resemble a hospital with all
the players injured. If you informed
someone a team had these many injuries to starters and reserve players nobody
would believe it.
Are you like me?
There is an ugly under belly that exists in all sports. It’s bothersome in all instances but more telling when it occurs in the game, we love…. basketball. LSU recruit Javonte Smart has been linked to an FBI wiretap involving head coach Will Wade. The school suspended Wade immediately once the news broke, in addition freshman guard Smart has been sidelined. Any of the sports channels will do a more diligent job of detail than this short account.
There is an ugly under belly that exists in all sports. It’s bothersome in all instances but more telling when it occurs in the game, we love…. basketball. LSU recruit Javonte Smart has been linked to an FBI wiretap involving head coach Will Wade. The school suspended Wade immediately once the news broke, in addition freshman guard Smart has been sidelined. Any of the sports channels will do a more diligent job of detail than this short account.
Are you like me, you hope cheating in
any form is not wide spread however we must acknowledge it exists? What does the future hold for LSU basketball,
that’s yet to be determined? All I do at
this point is speculate, I would be shocked if Wade holds on to his job. If money changed hands its possible Smart may
not have been involved or even had knowledge.
His name is attached to controversy even if he’s proven innocent. For Smart it might be trading his LSU jersey
for a pro jersey if it’s Europe or later a future in the NBA.
Bits n Pieces
I love it, you are aware of my obsession with the game’s big men, Miami of Ohio has freshman point guard Mekhi Lairy on their roster. Lairy stands 5 feet 8 inches and weighs 140 pounds. He’s only averaging 6 points a game in a reserve role, in a rare start against Evansville Lairy scored 14 points and dished out 4 assists in his team’s 70-67 win over Evansville.
I love it, you are aware of my obsession with the game’s big men, Miami of Ohio has freshman point guard Mekhi Lairy on their roster. Lairy stands 5 feet 8 inches and weighs 140 pounds. He’s only averaging 6 points a game in a reserve role, in a rare start against Evansville Lairy scored 14 points and dished out 4 assists in his team’s 70-67 win over Evansville.
This is interesting, I’m sure many of you
are aware of this feat. In 15 years of
NBA play Wilt Chamberlain saw 47,859 minutes of action. He never
fouled out of a single NBA game, did officials play favorites with Wilt
once he reached a point? We have no idea
if that might have been the case, all I can state he’s got three numbers never
equaled. Single game scoring record (100
points) career rebounds 23,924 and having never fouled out of an NBA game.
Bells
He’s been the forgotten man in many eyes, Walt Bellamy had a 14-year NBA career. Bells as he was nicknamed played in the “dark ages” of the NBA, it was a time a single network game of the week existed (1961-1974). No ESPN or Turner Sports to see 6-8 games a week plus an unknown number of games on local area sports channels. If you were fortunate enough to live in a city with an NBA team it’s possible you never had an opportunity to witness his play. How good was he, the 6-foot 11-inch Bellamy is enshrined in the Naismith and College Basketball Hall of Fame?
He’s been the forgotten man in many eyes, Walt Bellamy had a 14-year NBA career. Bells as he was nicknamed played in the “dark ages” of the NBA, it was a time a single network game of the week existed (1961-1974). No ESPN or Turner Sports to see 6-8 games a week plus an unknown number of games on local area sports channels. If you were fortunate enough to live in a city with an NBA team it’s possible you never had an opportunity to witness his play. How good was he, the 6-foot 11-inch Bellamy is enshrined in the Naismith and College Basketball Hall of Fame?
He played collegiately at Indiana and was
an All-American, he was the first pick in the 1961 draft by the Chicago Packers
(Washington Wizards). His best years
were spent as a member of the Atlanta Hawks from 1970-1974, Bellamy retired
after the 1974 season spent with the New Orleans Jazz (Utah). He left the NBA with a 20.1 point and 13.7
rebound a game average. Nightly he
battled on the boards with the likes of Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell and Nate
Thurmond. Bellamy died November 2, 2013 at the age of 74, Walt Bellamy one of the forgotten forerunners of today’s NBA
centers.
