Basketball from a fan’s perspective

It is now official

The Lakers made it official; shooting guard JR Smith has been signed through the balance of the season.  We shall see how this move works out for the Lakers; we can make this statement with certainty the Lakers have plenty of veteran depth in their back court.  Whether the Dion Waters/JR Smith signings benefit and the other guards managed to play consistent basketball is yet to be determined.  In related Laker news after playing outstanding during his second tour Dwight Howard might not return.  Howard’s choice not that of the Lakers is what we read; in any case the team indicates there will be no replacement should Howard simply decide not to play.   

A different approach

The case against Kansas basketball and Coach Self has taken another unusual turn.  “The NCAA's infractions case against the Kansas men's basketball program has been accepted into a newly created independent investigation process that was created to handle especially complex cases.”*  If you remember the story the NCAA indicated Kansas was guilty of five level one violations, these are the most serious of offenses. 

Most interesting this is only the third instance this process will be utilized to resolve a reported infraction since its inception.  It was first utilized in the Memphis basketball and James Wiseman case; later former NC State Coach Mark Gottfried faced the same panel.  If this appears to be a vendetta against Kansas by yours truly that is not the case.  I have so very many concerns about the manner the NCAA has operated over the years. 

*Associated Press

This one will work

In several instances, it becomes unreasonable for me to compare players of different eras.  That is the main reason I try to avoid them usually.  We believe Oscar Robertson might be a better defender matched against Russell Westbrook, but we do not know.  Or this one, how about the better shooter…is it Steph Curry or Michael Jordan? 

My buddy finally put one together I believe I can formulate an opinion better; this is a matchup of two current players.  Do you have Team Kawhi or Team LeBron was his question?  I informed him I will receive pushback on this, but I chose Team LeBron although I said Team Kawhi is rising rapidly and closing.  How did I decide you ask, first Kawhi is 29-years old versus 35-year old LeBron?  Because this is an opinion and it represents my thoughts, it is just the facts Jack.

Defender-Kawhi edges LeBron

Shooter-LeBron slightly ahead of Kawhi by a narrow margin

Distributor-LeBron clearly better at dispensing the ball to teammates 
Rebound-Slight edge to Kawhi

Intangibles-LeBron defers to teammates making them better

There you have it, in a head to head matchup LeBron is the winner by a narrow margin.  Will the conclusion of the 2019-20 season provide proof one athlete has risen significantly over the other?  We shall wait and see what occurs in the playoffs and then formulate a brand-new conclusion. 

I guess it is not too early

Mizzou basketball is advertising the games early, we are 6 months and several days from December however we must guess it is not too early to begin promoting the game.  First up is a Saturday evening game December 12, the Tigers will be matched against the Kansas Jayhawks in Kansas City at the Sprint Center. The following Saturday December 19 Mizzou will face the Illinois Fighting Illini at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis.  The game with Kansas is a renewal of the long time series the teams once played when both were members of the Big 8 and later Big 12.  The Annual Braggin’ Rights game with Illinois has been played every season beginning in 1976.