Basketball from a fan’s perspective

By now
You’ve read and heard all you need to know regarding Game 2 of the NBA championship.  Well this is just a little more if you care to read (or skip all together if that’s the case).  Kawhi Leonard had his usual game (34 points, 14 rebounds) but could not prod and push his team to victory.  The Raptors as a team shot 37% from the floor and 29% from the 3-point line far below their output in Game 1.  In Game 1 the Raptors shot a sizzling 50% from the field including 39% from the 3-point line. 

DeMarcus Cousins only scored 11 points but he clearly outplayed Marc Gasol, in addition he clogged the lane effectively.  I believe it was Chauncey Billups who made this statement after the game, “They (Raptors) seem to have no sense of urgency.”  I cannot speak to the statement; Billups may have perceived body language he believed might have contributed to their second half play.  Did the Raptors allow the Warriors to escape might be your question? Don’t mistake this series is far from over, the Raptors may have missed a brilliant opportunity.  They may have been able to place the Warriors in an 0-2 hole, headed to California tied changes the landscape.   

Close the border
In this instance I’m not referring to international borders, the reference is those surrounding the State of Missouri.  There is a reason for closing the borders, 160 odd road miles south of Kansas City lies the City of Springfield.  Springfield might contain the top high school basketball prospect in the State of Missouri.  This statement is made regarding an athlete who’s just completed his sophomore year of high school.  

Aminu Mohammed is a 5-star Rivals Class of 2021 prospect and rated 11^th in the nation.  He’s a 6-foot 4 175-pound shooting guard, he’s gained a national following four schools have made offers although he’s just entering his junior year in the fall.  Mohammed is on Mizzou’s radar and he should soon have an offer from the Tigers as well.  The youngster attends Greenwood Laboratory School located on the campus of Missouri State University.  Store his name in your memory, I’m sure we’ll continue to hear about him in the future.    

Junior college
Once upon a time four-year institution recruited junior colleges extensively, talent could be discovered at many of these two-year schools.  The two-year schools often contained athletes without the required grade equivalency to enter higher institutions.  Sometimes the athlete attends junior college to improve aspects of his game.  Looking back in history witnessed many athletes who even made NBA rosters. 

How about the Sixers Jimmie Butler, he began his basketball journey at Tyler Junior College in Tyler Texas?  He would finish his college career at Marquette.  Jae Crowder now plays for the NBA Jazz; he began play at Howard College in Big Spring Texas prior to Marquette.  In the past names like Spencer Haywood, Artis Gilmore, Larry Johnson and Bob McAdoo all began in junior college.  They would later have success in the NBA and for Haywood, Gilmore, Spencer and McAdoo it would be induction into the Hall of Fame. 

Land down under
I found this quite interesting, the origin of the term that is.  “Australia is known as 'the land Down Under' for its position in the southern hemisphere. The discovery of Australia began when European explorers searched for a land under the continent of Asia.”  The next Ben Simmons……how about the first Josh Green? 

The 6-foot 6-inch shooting guard has taken his talent to the University of Arizona. Echoing Simmons parentage Green was born in Sydney, he’s got an American father and Australian mother.  He finished high school at IMG Academy in Bradenton Florida, Rivals listed this 5-star prospect number 13 in the Class of 2019.  He’s one of several prospects we should look forward to as he begins play at the collegiate level in August.