Basketball
from a fan’s perspective
Did he, or didn’t
he?
Since the 24th of February we’ve been reading
stories, “Did LeBron attend the Kobe Bryant Memorial Service?” None of us can answer the question except for
LeBron himself or those in his immediate circle. The television cameras never caught sight of
him, is this issue really that important?
We’ve read accounts LeBron was shaken by the death of Kobe, whether they
were close or not is an unknown.
I read an account the writer claimed, “The coverage surrounding
LeBron has been out of bounds and disrespect to the legacy of Bryant.” There are numerous instances we the public
have a need to know, in my view this is once instance it’s not required. Each of us grieves in a different manner, we
cannot decide who grieves and when and how long it is to last. Allow us to simply focus on Laker basketball
and forget about the side noise.
Southeast Division
We discuss the strengths and weaknesses of NBA teams all the
time. If you check the Southeast
Division it is certainly appears rather anemic compared to the other divisions,
in fact it might be the frailest in NBA history. The Heat lead the way with a 37-22 record and
from that point it’s all downhill. Sitting
in second place 10 full games out of first place with a 27-32 record is the
Magic.
The Hawks with an 18-43 record are in last, if we look
closely at each team it’s evident there is talent. Can we state between management, coaching and
talent “these teams are lacking something?” It would appear every season a team
would begin a season with the mindset, “We gonna with this whole thing.” That might not be the thought other than in
Miami.
They keep getting taller
and taller
Hearing stories of the exploits of Laker great Jerry West you
might tend to believe he stood 6 foot 6 or at least 6 foot 5. In today’s NBA Jerry West would be a point
guard, this prolific scorer and Hall of Fame guard stood a mere 6 foot 2. The late Jim McMillian was one of the key
contributors of that Laker team that won 33 games in a row. McMillian drafted in 1970 played small
forward at 6 foot 5 his entire NBA career.
He wasn’t alone, former Senator Bill Bradley was placed in
the Knicks backcourt.
It was written he didn’t do so well; in his second year the 6-5
Bradley was moved to the small forward where he blossomed. The same scenario existed at the center position;
Wilt Chamberlain was 7 foot 1 but for the most part not all opponents were near
his height. The average center during
that period stood about 6 foot 9, that was the height of Celtic great Bill
Russell.
Today we have power forwards some standing 7 feet tall, that
was not the case back then. The battle
under the boards between Knicks power forward Dave DeBusschere and Gus Johnson of
the Bullets was the stuff of legend.
Both weighed about 230 pounds, DeBusschere and Johnson stood 6 foot 6. As you can see the average height of NBA players
by position has continued an upward trend.
A recent NBA scouting report on a prospect read, “He’s a shooting guard
in a point guard’s body,” translation he’s less than 6 foot 3 inches tall.
NAIA basketball
The 83rd Annual NAIA Basketball Championship Tournament
will begin play March 18 in Kansas City.
Just in case you were unaware this tournament is older than the NCAA and
NIT Tournament, the media spotlight regarding the NAIA has become dimmer and
dimmer over the years. The NAIA was once
the bastion of basketball talent for the NBA and other professional
leagues. An increasing number of
universities that once called the NAIA home are now NCAA Division I or II. Missouri State in Springfield then known as
Southeast Missouri State University won the 1952 and 1953 NAIA Championship,
the school is now Division I.
Tennessee State won the tournament 1957, 1958 and 1959, they
now compete at the NCAA Division I level.
Kentucky State also won three consecutive NAIA Championships from 1970,
1971 and 1972, they are a now Division II.
Numerous others omitted in this account moved up and no longer are
NAIA. Basketball was quite competitive
at one time but nowhere near the level and prestige it once held. Most of the NBA names who played at NAIA
schools is well known, Willis Reed and Dennis Rodman played at Grambling State
and Southeastern Oklahoma State. There
are others who came into prominence playing for NAIA schools those named are
just two.
