Basketball from a fan’s perspective

Black Mamba

It occurs in life; a person is born and impacts the population in a variety of ways.  Kobe Bryant was a man, a highly skilled basketball player.  It’s been said we’ll never witness another with his drive and determination.  I say hold on, that’s a bold statement considering none of us can see the future.  There will never be another Kobe, he’s gone from our midst however there could be another yet unborn human being with a similar mindset.  He or she will be driven to play the game of basketball at the highest level.  They will expect everyone to have the same dedication and mindset they have. 

The overwhelming desire to win will exist in their mind and body in the same manner of Kobe.  With all the praise laid on him he was just a man, a man who like us made and continued to make mistakes till the day he died.  He was brash, unapologetic and convinced he was the best and perhaps that’s what bothered some.  As for the basketball this was often said by his critics, “He’d take the shot over an open teammate.”  If you check his career numbers, they detail a shooting guard with nearly 5 assists a game over the course of his NBA career. 

There was no middle ground for Kobe, he was either hated or loved by those prior to his death.  His light shone brightly for a period and has now dimmed, he will forever be remembered by many basketball fans and countless who don’t follow the game. The light of Kobe like ours in time has or will dim but the impact of our coming will be long-lasting.  Check for yourself the number of NBA players who wore jersey number 8 or 24.  There might be no basis for the league to retire the numbers, it would appear NBA players have spoken volumes by their decision to change their jersey number.    

“Blind” loyalty

I hope my loyalty to my team(s) doesn’t involve stupid devotion.  This is an actual letter from a Kansas fan, I read it on the fan website, so I guess he’s loyal to the Jayhawks.  He questioned why David McCormick had been suspended due to the Allen Fieldhouse fiasco.  “Kansas State players threw the first punches (probably true), they should have suspended the entire K-State team.” 

The writer overlooked the fact Kansas players came off the bench as well.  He went on to state, “McCormick did nothing wrong.”  That last comment is interesting to me, Kansas has 12 or 14 players on their roster.  The Big 12 Conference decided to suspend McCormick because he was in the vicinity of the fight…I highly doubt it.  I certainly have no intention of pointing an accusing finger at McCormick however there must have been some reason for the suspension besides "being in the area."   

The view from 30,000 feet 

Help me, there is no argument James Harden is a very talented player.  From my view it appears he shoots the ball a great deal, will the Rockets win with Harden taking his usual high number of shots, let’s crunch some numbers.  The Beard is averaging 38 points a game, he’s shooting 45.5% from the floor 37.9% from the 3-point line and 86.2 from the line.  In his game versus the Hawks the Rockets took 92 shots 54 of them by Harden, over half of his team’s shots. 

As this is written Harden’s team is 25-11 and in the playoff picture, they are 3^rd place in the Western Conference.  An ESPN scribe wrote “They (Rockets) are slightly better with Russell Westbrook in the backcourt versus Chris Paul.”  The question becomes can they win the West, or better yet can they win an NBA championship as structured.  Normally I’m blabby about my view of a subject athlete or team, this time draw your own conclusions.   

Mutombo

Long-time NBA fans are familiar with the name Dikembe Mutombo.  Mutombo had an 18-year career in the NBA.  You read the name among high school prospects and your mind says, “I wonder if.”  Both Mutombo’s are nearly the same height, Bretner is 6-10 while Ryan stands 6-11, both weigh 210 pounds.  The Mutomobo’s are in the Class of 2021 and awarded three-stars by Rivals.com   

At this point we provide separation for the two, Bretner is no relation to Dikembe while Ryan is one of the Big Man’s sons.  Both Mutombo’s are uncommitted at this point but there is an additional tidbit of information, Ryan might be headed to Georgetown the school of his father.  Both Ryan and Bretner have Georgia Tech on their list, wouldn't it be interesting if both choose Georgia Tech?   

Basketball from a fan’s perspective

It was the location

This is pure speculation and no proof is offered, the untimely death of former Laker Kobe Bryant stunned the world especially the NBA.  As you might be aware the Tuesday Laker-Clippers game was postponed, it will be played later.  It’s my belief if the Lakers had been on the road and the Clippers at home the game would have still been postponed. 

Kobe spent all 20 years of his brilliant NBA as a member of the Lakers however he reigned over Los Angeles and Southern California sports.  The game could have been played although it clearly would have been difficult so soon after Sunday.  In connection with this story we read the NBA received a degree of criticism for playing games Sunday evening.  This member of Laker Nation finds no fault with the NBA regarding this matter.   

My hope

In life we often never receive our desires, sometimes they are too grandiose.  This desire is not beyond the realm of possibilities.  There’s a McDonald’s All-American basketball player from Lakewood in Los Angeles County.  The players name is Josh Christopher and he’s a 6-foot 4-inch shooting guard.  Rivals awards Christopher 5 stars and rates him the number 11 prospect in the nation in the Class of 2020. 

The youngster has several schools with offers on the table, one of those schools is Mizzou.  Two rare occurrences, an eclipse and Mizzou recruiting a 5-star prospect.  Well that’s not quite correct, Michael Porter Jr. did arrive at Mizzou although his time was brief.  Football is so complex you must have outstanding talent in several key positions, basketball is totally different at least at the collegiate level.  An outstanding prospect or two coming on board and quality reserves can lead to a successful season.   

The change 

“The new system will level the odds at the top of the NBA Draft Lottery so that the teams with the three worst regular-season records will each have a 14 percent chance of winning the lottery. ... The odds for the remaining participants in the 14-team lottery will be reduced gradually after the top three.” *  This change occurred in the 2019 NBA draft and will be the basis going forward.  As for our current time frame there are no pending changes planned

*nba.com-draft-lottery-explainer

An enigma  
Tuesday evening provided another example of why Mizzou basketball is an enigma to me.  On paper Georgia didn’t appear to be much better than Mizzou I thought.  They had the top mock draft pick in Anthony Edwards in their lineup however the balance of the Bulldogs appeared to be on the same level as Mizzou.  Once Mizzou fell 20 points behind in the first half I thought “Okay here we go again.” 

Cuonzo Martin must have done some serious $%&* in the locker room at half time.  In the second half Mizzou came roaring back led mostly by reserve guard Xavier Pinson.  Mizzou briefly took the lead only to have Georgia move ahead by a single point.  Once ahead Mizzou held on by their fingernails, a block by center Reed Nikko proved to be the key to the win.  Final score Mizzou 72 Georgia 69, Nikko had 13 points and 5 rebounds, he was one of four other players who scored in double figures.  Pinson would score 16 points after he was inserted into the game for Mizzou.   

Do we know

Every time LeBron James takes a seat on the Laker bench, he sits next to Boogie Cousins.  We almost forgot the Big Man was on the team, the torn ACL in his left knee sidelined him prior to the season.  Nothing is ever set in stone however we continue to read and hear reports Cousins will return before the end of the season.  If the 6-11 Cousins returns and can play effectively that can only enhance the Lakers strength.  The Lakers as structured have a tall team, they might have the tallest front line in the NBA with the addition of Cousins to the rotation.

6-10 Anthony Davis

6-10 Dwight Howard

6-11 Boogie Cousins

7-0 JaVale McGee

6-9 LeBron James

6-8 Kyle Kuzma

6-8 DeVontae Cacok

Basketball from a fan’s perspective

An addendum

The story yesterday on octogenarians caused me to reflect on an earlier Dick Vitale story.   I wrote of it previously, but it’s certainly been quite a while.  My wife rarely sits down with me and views a basketball game, as for Chiefs football and Royals baseball that’s a different story.  Before my Man Cave was in place most of my sports consisted of viewing games in the Family room of my home. 

One afternoon while watching a game my wife came walking through the room on the way to the kitchen.  Dick Vitale was talking diaper dandy or dipsy doo and maybe other catch phrases in his over the top voice.  My wife stopped dead in her tracks look at me and looked back at the television screen.  “What is wrong with that guy?"  I informed her it was Dick Vitale and added he does that all the time when broadcasting games.   

A win finally

NBA viewership is down from last season how much is unknown.  We heard an ESPN media person claim its due to Zion Williamson being on the sidelines.  This person went on to state NBA fans were anxious to see him action, sitting on the sidelines till now meant fewer viewers.  I say baloney to that type of thought process.  The Pelicans were bad last year with Anthony Davis, it’s highly unlikely they make the playoffs with Zion in the lineup day one.  If this appears a slap at the Pelicans and Zion that is not the case, it was necessary to put the baby to bed on the ratings drop. 

In any event the issue in front of us, although Zion played well in limited minutes the Pelicans suffered losses in his first two games.  Sunday afternoon would be a different story, by the time the game concluded the Pelicans had a win over the Celtics with Zion playing 27 minutes.  In those 27 minutes Zion scored 21 points and pulled down 11 rebounds shooting 56% from the floor.  He aided the cause in the Pelicans 123-108 victory over the Celtics.  There are portions of his game he must continue to improve, the area clear to most of us is at the line.  Thus far he's poor from the free-throw line, unless Zion improves teams will employ "Hack-a-Williamson."   

The plan

There is a plan in place to revitalize the Knicks franchise, it begins with the team drafting LaMelo Ball.  The youngest Ball brother has been mentioned on more than one occasion how his draft stock has risen while playing in Australia.  The second part of this plan is for the Knicks to hire former player and current ESPN analyst Mark Jackson as head coach.  Let’s explore the first part, we don’t know for a fact, but it appears Ball will be a talent perhaps exceeding brother Lonzo, check. 

As for the head coach Jackson’s been sitting in the broadcast chair since 2014.  A few might have forgotten or didn’t realize his role in turning around a struggling   Warriors franchise.  For fans of Dub Nation this is no slam at Steve Kerr, he’s a very capable coach.  Many (not part of management) claim Jackson doesn’t receive enough credit for the Warriors success, check.  All this sounds good except for the author of this proposal.  You know the originator of this plan, its LaVar Ball.   

A favorite

Michael Porter Jr. is becoming one of my favorites, it’s easy to see why.  He’s beginning to display the prowess we expected but never witnessed while at Mizzou.  As this is written his numbers are not going to wow anybody.  Considering that MPJ is playing reserve minutes he is providing justification for the Nuggets drafting him in the first round.  Coming off injury he sat out last season, he’s shooting 50% from the floor and 46% from the 3-point line. 

MPJ is scoring nearly 7 points and 12 rebounds a game while playing quality team defense.  What does the future hold for MPJ, it’s possible he could move into the Nuggets starting lineup or they could trade him.  A trade might provide him the opportunity to move into a team’s starting lineup immediately.  This is not to say starter minutes cannot come as a member of the Nuggets.  A future potential star to keep your eyes on, Michael Porter Jr.  

Basketball from a fan’s perspective

All are equal

Other than Kobe and Gigi Bryant most of us didn’t know or were familiar with the other victims in the helicopter crash on Sunday. A great deal has been written or spoken on Kobe and daughter Gigi over the past 24 hours.  This is just a brief statement to say no life is more important than another, we are sports loving people, but we must stop and recognize pain exists in other areas. There are families besides the Bryant’s who are in agony this morning and we should be mindful of that fact. There is a ripple effect, this is a tragedy for several families let us not forget that fact. Let us be reminded of all the victims of the helicopter crash on Sunday, R.I.P. 😭

Hot seat…not quite yet

My friend asks the question, “Do you think Cuozno (Mizzou coach) is on the hot seat?  I don’t know but I think it’s getting warm.”  This was my response to him, “I think he’s under pressure to win.  Should the season continue at the present pace he could find himself on the hot seat.  I’m unsure the length of his contract and that’s always a consideration, “how much of his salary must we eat to replace him” might be the thought of the athletic department.  I’m not ready to fire Cuozno let’s say as part of Mizzou Nation I’m disappointed.  This his 3^rd year I believed we’d witness an improving team; I don’t suppose anyone seriously believed a Michael Porter Jr. would arrive every fall. 

I can’t speak for anyone else the bar was not set unreasonably high by this fan.  12-7 or 11-8 is in the ballpark for me, barring injuries, academics or something else that team could win 20+ games.  That number and playing in the SEC would almost guarantee an NCAA appearance.  At the present pace (1-5 conference, 9-10 overall) the type of finish which places them in line for an NCAA slot is just a dream.  Recruiting next season looks somewhat bleak, Mizzou has a roster of underclassmen with Reed Nikko the only senior.  With limited ability to recruit you see the dilemma, this scenario only becomes a negative if the airballs, unforced turnovers and the like are cured by next season’s team. 

Octogenarians at work

For those unfamiliar with the term octogenarian it refers to a person 80 to 89 years of age.  Most folks in this age range have long since retired as with anything there are always exceptions.  We have two basketball broadcasters; one covers the NBA exclusively as an analyst while the other performs a similar role for the collegiate game.  Who are they, ESPN/ABC’s Hubie Brown 86-years old and the “youngster” 80-year old Dick Vitale?  Both are long past retirement age and certainly must be financially solvent we might believe. 

The last few years has seen Vitale cut-back on his schedule however like Brown he too continues coast to coast travel providing insight into the game both love.  Naturally these two have extensive basketball resumes, there have served as    head coaches on more than one stop.  Brown was on the sidelines for the Grizzlies as recently as 2005.  For Vitale it’s been quite a bit longer, it was 1979 and the team was the Pistons.  Why force someone to retire just because they reach a certain age, it’s clear both enjoy working behind the microphone. 

What they accomplished

It’s unfair but we often use success in the NBA as the barometer of a successful basketball career.  Several are unable to duplicate their college output.  One of those OG’s was Kentucky State’s Travis “Machine Gun” Grant, his nickname should be a clear indication of his deeds.  Grant could fill up the basket and stat sheet.  In those days Kentucky State played in the NAIA however that should not negate his scoring prowess.  Grant averaged an outstanding 26.6 points per game his freshman year, his sophomore year raised it to 35 points.  

Grant’s scoring average dipped his junior year by 4 points as he averaged 31.2 a game. What did he accomplish as a senior, an outstanding 39.5 points per game?  Did I mention Kentucky State won three consecutive NAIA championships, 1970, 1971 and 1972?  Grant would score a total of 4,045 points (33.4 ppg) during his time at Kentucky State.  He was drafted and played in the NBA but had nothing close to the success he experienced while at Kentucky State.  In 2011 he was enshrined in the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in Kansas City, this was fitting, the hall is but 5 blocks from Municipal Auditorium the arena he and his teammates won multiple championships.

Basketball from a fan’s perspective

Kobe

This is extremely difficult, to provide a summary of one’s life especially when they pass away at such a young age.  With that said, this is the best I can offer I hope it provides a little insight for you reading this.  These are my words alone, I read reports of the helicopter crash however storyline is mine alone, it’s not been copied from any other sources other than my memory.  There are several personalities identified by one name exclusively, Cher, Sting, Bono and Madonna to name a few.  Some have existed in the NBA, you say Michael or MJ, Hakeem or LeBron.  Kobe Bryant was included in the group too, if you said Kobe in a sentence those inside and outside the NBA were familiar with the name and were aware who you were discussing.  He was a brilliant mind, good enough for Duke if he’d desired to attend college. 

His travels while a child contributed to him being fluent in several foreign languages.  For him it was the NBA and former Laker President Jerry West was ecstatic after seeing this 17-year old work out prior to the draft.  West was so confident in the youngster’s ability he arranged a trade with the Hornets.  In the 1996 draft the Charlotte Hornets drafted Kobe with the 13^th pick, the Lakers first pick was 24.  West traded center Vlade Divac to the Hornets for the draft rights to Kobe Bean Bryant.  Del Harris then Laker coach brought Kobe along slowly playing him in a reserve role his first two seasons in the NBA.  In the 1998 playoffs against the Jazz two consecutive trips down the court Kobe witnessed him shooting two air balls.  Kobe waived off teammates preferring to take the shot.  The Lakers went on to lose that series against the Jazz.  Kobe was a difficult taskmaster; he expected his teammates to play with the ferocity he did. 

He butted heads with Shaq and later with Dwight Howard due to the issue of how he perceived their effort during practice.  There were reports he was not a good teammate; how much is true has never been fully revealed.  This we do know he was an outstanding basketball player.  The career highlights and honors are far too extensive to attempt to list in this brief account.  We can look back at his career and state we saw this brash sometimes impulsive 17-year old become one of the NBA’s best.  By the time Kobe arrived in the NBA the Kings were a distant memory in Kansas City, I only witnessed his play in person once, a pre-season exhibition game.  As for television the times are far too numerous to even comprehend.  In retirement Kobe ventured into other areas even winning an Oscar and Emmy in 2018, R.I.P. Black Mamba from your fans.   

Blue Blood programs

Former 5-star prospect Kahlil Whitney is transferring from Kentucky, 5-star prospect Caleb Love is headed for North Carolina in the fall.  What do they have in common you ask, highly talented players who chose to play for Blue Blood programs?  There are few details on Whitney other than he’s fallen out of the playing rotation.  Whether this was a coach’s decision or an exceptional player in front of him we don’t know. 

As for Love the St. Louis kid was heavily recruited by Mizzou but decided in favor of North Carolina.  As bad as Mizzou’s played at times this year their won-loss record exceeds Carolina.  They could be much improved by the time Caleb arrives in Chapel Hill, but we don’t know that to be a fact.  The point is clear despite the possibility of not being in the player rotation or below average team play Blue Bloods still rule.  

Help wanted

The last game on the Lakers Grammy Road trip resulted in a loss.  LeBron James passed Kobe Bryant in career scoring but that’s the only positive.  Anthony Davis was there but those two were the only Lakers that managed to appear.  There were a bunch of guys in Laker jerseys, but they surrendered rather easily to the Sixers.  The final score read Sixers 106 Lakers 91, once again the Lakers confuse me.  With all the souls healthy and LeBron’s pronouncement the team was deep enough but maybe not. 

Basketball from a fan’s perspective

What’s in a legacy?  

That question might be familiar to all of us including athletes.  Several Laker fans were upset because LeBron James passed Kobe Bryant and moved into third place as the NBA’s leading scorer.  These Laker fans consider LeBron a “late” arrival in just his second year with the team.  On the other hand, Kobe spent 20 years as a member of the Lakers.  Briefly let’s journey to the past, we didn’t have social media as we do today perhaps there would have been the same outcry.  Wilt Chamberlain retired in 1973 after scoring 31,419 points and establishing the NBA all-time scoring record. 

11 years later Kareem Abdul Jabbar would break Chamberlain's record and by the time he retired his scoring total stood at 38,387 points.  As stated earlier were there complaints, probably.  We continue to discuss the exploits of Wilt; it doesn’t appear to affect his legacy.  In any event back to Kobe, how do we suppose he might feel now that LeBron has eclipsed him.  Kobe insists he’s comfortable with his legacy and why shouldn’t he be?  His trophy case is full of awards he can state with pride “I did that.”  We each establish our own legacy or standard, no one person can take that away from us. 

It was different

My barber was not going to be in the shop on Saturday, this meant a Friday visit and it just wasn’t the same.  The shop was practically empty not the usual Saturday morning crowd.  In addition, the small number meant no banter back and forth between the gathering which usually occurs.  We can have 5 or 6 conversations on a variety of sports accounts going on at the same time. 

My barber asked me about the LeBron statement about the present roster being complete, he said they need Derrick Rose.  My response, “Rose has certainly returned to form although nothing like his MVP year.  I’m unsure if he’s a good fit for them.”  I believe he could provide plenty of offense for the second unit however I could foresee a problem molding his game to that of LeBron.  With my statement my barber and the other barber both disagreed with my statement.  “He would adapt was the comment by both barbers.”  The old declaration, “We can agree to disagree applies here.”

Dynasty

Remember all the talk about a Warriors dynasty as recently as the middle of last season?  Well it’s just that talk based on the current state of the Warriors.  There are two issues NBA teams have no control, free-agency and injuries.  The one area there is limited control is the draft, teams now days don’t depend on the draft as they once did.  That’s not to say it doesn’t exist but a playoff team signing a high-quality pick is like catching lightning in a bottle.  The Warriors will remain a destination for free agents but the draft in my estimation is key.   

At this point we become GM of the Warriors, we don’t know how the draft plays out.  Likely the Warriors have an opportunity for picks 1-5, Steph Curry is 31-years old, so we exclude point guards LaMelo Ball and Cole Anthony.  They are passed over because D’Angelo Russell (as this writing) remains a member of the team.  He could play both point and shooting guard, so the pick becomes a front court player.Take a pass on shooting guard Anthony Edwards not his potential talent rather a personnel issue, Klay Thompson returns.  That leaves 7-foot center James Wiseman from Memphis or Dayton’s Obi Toppin a 6-9 forward.

Minutes versus winning 

The Pelicans are 0-2 since Zion Williamson’s been inserted into the lineup.  His play to date has been very good however there is an issue.  Which is more important winning versus winning?  At least one comment (maybe more) regarding Alvin Gentry and his ability to manage adjustments.  I refuse to defend the coach, not because of any any belief he's a bad coach it's the "other".    

The other being the Pelicans are a young team learning on the fly, Gentry must maintain the minutes restriction regarding Zion while attempting to manage the game.  If this was a veteran team it might be far easier to move a Zion into the lineup and win too.  Unfortunately (which is good for the future) the Pelicans are a youthful team which should improve. 

Basketball from a fan’s perspective

Who should we believe?

After the Laker win on Thursday LeBron James was asked his thoughts on the roster.  He indicated he believed this the Laker roster could compete for an NBA championship. Guess who doesn't agree with LeBron’s assessment, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith? We cannot assess LeBron’s observation until June which is quite a way away.  The bigger question becomes who you are going to believe, the guy who laces up his sneakers every night or the other guy?  The other guy is the one sitting behind a desk with a laptop and a cell phone close by.  Who should we believe LeBron or Smith? 🤔

Football versus basketball

Smoothie King Arena was electric earlier this week, the debut of Zion Williamson was the basis for the excitement in the building.  New Orleans is a football city, it begins and ends with Saints football.  The Hornets/Pelicans probably haven’t given fans much of an opportunity to become excited about them.  That was then, this is now as the Pelicans were able to draft Zion.  The jury is still out regarding Williamson is there a viable NBA career in front of Zion? What’s needed by the Pelicans is unknown to me, we believe he can play, the next move(s) are left to GM David Griffin.

The challenge

Today the Big 12-SEC challenge kicks off, for the first time in years Mizzou will be part of the challenge.  Mizzou’s participation is only part of the story, this writer long believed the Big-12 was a superior basketball conference to the SEC.  As for football that was a different matter.  SEC football is among the best in the nation offered as recent proof is LSU National Champions.  Alabama, Auburn along with Florida almost always field outstanding football teams. 

Once Mizzou left the Big 12 for the SEC it was believed by me and others, they would struggle with football but could compete effectively against SEC competition.  This was a (mistaken) belief on my part, I believed Kentucky, LSU and perhaps one other team might be the primary foes the Mizzou would face.  Unfortunately, that’s not been the case at least to date. Mizzou has not played at the level expected and SEC basketball has improved dramatically from the time Mizzou joined the conference.      

We have no control

Numerous issues exist in our life we have no control, despite this fact we often become upset we need to place it in the back of our mind.  There might be an issue or concern you could affect directly or indirectly, that’s a different circumstance.  As LeBron James gets closer to exceeding Kobe Bryant’s scoring record a few Laker fans have become upset.  Kobe Bryant spent 20 years wearing number 8 or number 24, LeBron is a “hired gun.”  The Lakers drafted Kobe, but LeBron chose the Lakers through free agency.     

Kobe and LeBron arrived in the NBA straight out of high school, however their careers took different paths thereafter.  Kobe would spend his entire career a Laker, as for LeBron he wore a Cavs, Heat and Laker jersey during his brilliant career.  Time and circumstance marches on for everyone, we might use John Stockton as an example.  No, he wasn’t a Laker great, but he bested one.  Magic Johnson was on his way to an all-time assist record if not for the HIV virus which forced him to retire earlier than he might have planned. 

Stockton eventually caught Magic passed him and now holds the individual assist record for the NBA.  The assist record represents just one of many in all professional sports, we cannot or rather should not get caught up in those things we have no control.  Rest assured Kobe might have an issue with LeBron eclipsing his scoring record but he’s the only one.  Just ignore the accomplishment when it occurs if it’s that bothersome. Someone once stated, “Records are made to be broken” and that adage still holds true today in 2020. 

Basketball from a fan’s perspective

I admit it, I was caught up in the hype

A week ago, the Pelicans announced Zion Williamson would make his NBA debut on Wednesday January 22.  Hearing the news, I wrote, “I hope the game is televised.” ESPN announced later the game would be telecast so the basketball world had an opportunity to see Zion in action.  It took a while to get going, in fact his first half was somewhat pedestrian due to the minute’s restriction on Zion.  The second of the game especially the 4^th quarter might have exceeded our expectations.  Two numbers 3 minutes and less than 20 minutes those are the numbers to store in your memory banks. 

Zion sank four 3-point shots not exactly his shot of choice while at Duke, he continued his offensive output.  The veteran Spurs came alive despite Zion’s effort, he’d given his team a temporary late lead.  The medical staff prevailed; he was taken out of the game by his coach.  Zion’s totals 22 points, 17 in the 4^th quarter for the game.  It was clear practice plays no role in readiness as Zion labored up and down the court.  It’s clear losing a few pounds will aid his NBA development, most of us enjoyed the show despite the Pelican loss.  

“Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated”

Those were the words of the writer, political pundit Mark Twain, those words could also be aimed at Larry Laker.  Recently I wrote the Spurs might missed the playoffs, this would become the first time since Bill Clinton was president.  It was just about publishing time when the Spurs went on winning trend. 

The Spurs remain below .500 however they have moved into the 8^th spot in the Western Conference playoff picture.  The Spurs must continue to play at or near this level to remain in the running for a playoff berth.  With the NBA season half complete do the Spurs have a run left in them?  The next few weeks should tell the tale, one thing for sure Larry Laker will wait for the completion of the season before pronouncing a Gregg Popovich led team dead. 

The penalty

The Big-12 Conference moved swiftly, the conference announced penalties for athletes involved in the bench clearing fight between Kansas and Kansas State.   Kansas players David McCormick is sidelined for 2 games and Silvio DeSousa will miss 12 games.  James Love and Antonio Gordon of Kansas State will be sidelined for 8 and 3 games respectively. 

Of all those involved DeSousa is probably history with the Kansas program.  Remember he was the player involved in the Adidas trial and after being sidelined for a portion of the season he was finally cleared to play.  This latest suspension will allow DeSousa to return for the last regular season game, after that it’s likely he’s headed to Europe or Australia to begin a professional career. 

Athletes as owners 

The Suns announced on Wednesday NFL wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald of the Cardinals purchased a share of the Phoenix Suns.  He joins several active and former athletes as NBA owners.  Aaron Rogers quarterbacks the Packers but is also an owner of the Milwaukee Bucks.  Former NBA player Grant Hill has been a minority owner of the Atlanta Hawks since 2015.  All the athletes mentioned own a share of the respective NBA team.  Michael Jordan has a long history as an owner but assumed controlling interest of the Hornets in 2010 and is now the majority owner.  In 2013 Shaquille O’Neal purchased 5% ownership of the Sacramento Kings. 

He’s on the move

Shareef O’Neal son of Shaquille and Shaunie O’Neal has decided UCLA is not a good fit for him.  After a heart problem was detected and surgery required the 6-9 O’Neal sat out last season.  The 2019-20 season would be his breakout season although it never occurred at least at UCLA.  UCLA has barely begun conference play as this announcement was made.  As this is written there is no destination announced although his dad’s former school LSU could be the choice.  It’s sometimes difficult to play in the shadow of your famous dad and Shareef has been aware of this for quite a while. 

Basketball from a fan’s perspective

Punishment

Kansas acted swiftly, in lieu of the Tuesday brawl Silvio DeSousa is suspended.  At this point we don’t know if it’s one game or 10 but he is permanently sidelined.  Like me I’m quite sure you’ve read letters on both sides of this issue.  The one argument heard the most is baseball and hockey fights, defenders of DeSousa point a finger at these sports.  As sometimes occurs I cannot provide documentation to back up my claim. 

It would appear there are smaller numbers of baseball fights as there once were, even hockey has attempted to tone down the violence.  Regardless of this information DeSousa is suspended for a single reason.  It’s got nothing to do with his blocked shot, it’s nothing to do with DeSousa looming over the K-State player.  He picked up a stool and intended to use it as a weapon.  I’ve witnessed the video on several occasions, did the Kansas coach convince him to drop the chair?  Better yet he might have realized the consequences of his actions. Despite what might appear to be heavy handed in my position that is not the case.   

The other guy

For a variety of reasons in the State of Missouri the university in Columbia receives all the sports headlines…why?  For a variety of reasons beginning with football.    Mizzou plays football, St. Louis University fielded a football team for 71 years but closed shop in 1949.  Mizzou is a state university SLU is a private Catholic university, SLU’s undergraduate enrollment is nearly 8,000 versus the 23,000 at Mizzou.  We assume bigger is better, that might not always be the case especially with basketball this season. 

Mizzou has 0 chances of earning a post-season tournament this season, on the other hand SLU is a totally different story.  The Billikens are 12-4 in the Atlantic 10 conference to this date.  Rest assured the school likely receives its share of media coverage on the east side of the state, as for the Kansas City metro totally different.  The only occasion we hear anything regarding SLU basketball is when they play a nearby university.  Rumor is back in the day Norm Stewart refused to schedule them and to date every succeeding Mizzou coach has followed suit. 

Why, the “Bill Self” excuse long held by the Kansas coach.  “If we play Mizzou and they beat us that’s a boost for their program, if we (Kansas) beat them it’s supposed to occur.”  That might have been the belief of Mizzou’s Norm Stewart.

The Billikens are not in first place that spot belongs to Dayton, but coach Travis Ford’s has his team playing competitive basketball.  Just in case you questioned Billiken as a mascot for SLU.  “The Billiken is a charm doll created by an American art teacher and illustrator, Florence Pretz of Kansas City, Missouri, who is said to have seen the mysterious figure in a dream. ... Billiken is known as "The God of Things As They Ought to Be." 1.

1. Wikpedia

He’s not the first

Evansville University fired head coach Walter McCarty.  This is big news; educational institutions normally don’t terminate coaches until the end of the season.  In 2013 Rutgers fired their head coach however that occurred in early April after the season ended.  Further research details Cal terminated its head coach in 1996-97 as play began.  As for McCarty he’s from Evansville and attended Kentucky prior to an NBA career mostly spent with the Celtics. 

How to reconfigure your body

I have no idea how this might be accomplished.  Allow me to go there, there is a report Zion Williamson is “learning” aspects of walking and landing.  In football we have athletes with the size and bulk (285 pounds) of Williamson, however there is a difference.  NFL players are not leaping in the air attempting to block shots or dunking the ball.  I’d really like to know how you teach this, is it possible a physical therapist is involved in this process.  Stay tuned there will be a follow up I intend to share with you.  As this was being completed, I heard this on ESPN’s Get Up.  Former NBA player Richard Jefferson said, “He’s got to lose weight.”

Basketball from a fan’s perspective

No call for this

Fights have occurred in basketball since the beginning of time.  We witnessed a brawl Tuesday evening near the end of the Kansas State-Kansas game.  The outcome was known, Kansas was leading 81-59 another home win over there in state rival.  This is no longer a rivalry between the two state schools when K-State loses consistently.  A K-State player stole the ball went in for a dunk and the Kansas player blocked the shot. The Kansas player then stood over the K-State player in a taunting manner which precipitated the fight.  

A player emerged from the K-State bench threw a punch and both benches emptied, and the fight was on.  Throwing punches is one thing picking up a stool and threatening someone is a totally different matter.  Fortunately, a Kansas coach wrestled the chair away from him.  The real shame, a few Kansas fans are playing the victim for their team.  Wrong is wrong is wrong, there is no excuse for either team.  K-State was awarded a technical foul and sank the basket, final score Kansas 81 Kansas State 60.   

Random thoughts    

The world might be headed for disaster on a catastrophic basis, we really don’t know.  This we do know; the world did not end Monday evening with the Celtics-Lakers game.  No argument from this member of Laker Nation the Celtics ran over my team, they backed up the truck and ran over the Lakers again.  We shall wait for the second meeting whether it occurs in the regular season or playoffs. 

I’m not that smart but I ain’t stupid either.  Many in the media believe they know more than us, they take this position because they often have access to athletes we don’t.  That fact alone doesn’t allow them ability to formulate opinions on a subject any better than you or I.  Sometimes the opinions expressed by these so-called experts is downright asinine, it causes us to scratch our heads wondering.  How in the heck could he or she come to that conclusion?    

A question has been in the back of my mind for quite a few years.  The question is posed without the ability to offer you proof.  I've held a longtime belief "bad teams" don't get calls from officials.  In other words if the play is 50-50 the team perceived to be the superior of the two the verdict will be awarded to them.  Is this just a theory or does it have validity, your view.  

The young man, the legend and the myth 

The myth, Emoni Bates cannot leap tall buildings in a single bound.  The still growing youngster (15 years old in January) at 6 foot 9, he might be able to leap small buildings very soon.  What do we know about Bates besides the obvious fact he’s talented?  He’s from Ypsilanti about a 40 minute or so drive from Detroit, rivals.com list him as the top prospect in the Class of 2022 and awards 5-stars.  It appears he’s a self-starter, doesn’t need anyone or anything to boost him in preparation for basketball.  Currently there is no college preference listed which is an early indication of his future effort. 

We read he could move into the Class of 2021 play a year of college ball then declare for the draft.  Bates could also take the path of LeMelo Ball and RJ Hampton, head overseas to play for one year.  What if the NBA Players Association and the NBA do away with age restriction, he could be in the NBA draft of 2022?  It’s been said there’s not been this much publicity surrounding a high school player since the days of LeBron James.  Will Bates continue to progress at the rate many believe?  We certainly cannot guarantee anything except the youngster appears to be the real deal at least as a high school sophomore. 

“Is he Larry Bird or Magic Johnson?”

That was the comment by a broadcaster while discussing Luka Doncic’s NBA game.  How about this one, being the best version of Luka Doncic.  The comparison to Bird and Johnson is not fair in a sense but that’s what we do.  We utilize the standards set by past greats as a barometer of the talent and skill of the newcomer.  The youngster had an outstanding rookie season, his sophomore year has been even better. 

We have yet to reach 30 games as this is written, his numbers across the board eclipse those of last season.  Doncic is the principal reason the Mavs are in the playoff hunt this season.  I just listened to a debate regarding Doncic from two former NBA players.  One said, “until he leads the Mavs into the playoffs, I will reserve my view regarding his greatness.”  I could find an argument for that view but that’s another time later.  In any event Luka Doncic needs to be Luka Doncic end of story.