Basketball from a fan perspective

He did it again  

Playoff Rondo versus regular season Rondo was on the scene again Thursday evening against the Rockets.  He only scored 11 points as a reserve, 62.5% shooting with 50% from the 3-point line.  In addition, the 6-foot 1-inch Rondo grabbed 10 rebounds and found teammates for 8 assists.  Can he continue to play at this level, who knows.  This we are somewhat sure; Laker Nation is pleased with the game they are witnessing on the court. 

In no surprising development the Rockets out shot the Lakers from 3 however the overall shooting was somewhat close.  The final score read Lakers 110 and Rockets 100 as turnovers and reduced shooting allowed the Rockets to make a run.  Question, do the Lakers close out the series tonight?  Rondo wasn’t the only reserve with an outstanding game, combo guard Alex Caruso contributed 16 points on 56% shooting.  We heard stories beginning last October the Laker bench was not very strong, that may well indeed be the case, it appears each time (at least in the playoffs) the team’s received excellent production against the Blazers and now the Rockets.   

John Wooden  

Anytime the name John Wooden is mentioned the success of UCLA basketball is often the first thought by most.  Wooden’s Bruin teams dominated college basketball like no other in history during the mid-60’s through the middle ’70’s, he retired in 1975.  John Wooden coached Indiana State then known as Indiana State Teachers College, hired in 1946 he served as head coach until 1948.  In 1947 his team won their conference title and were invited to the National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball Tournament predecessor to the NAIA. 

Wooden refused the invitation, the NAIB Tournament held in Kansas City had a policy barring black players.  The Indiana State had one black player on its team, in 1948 they received an invite once again.  We don’t know for a fact, but the policy was replaced and Wooden’s objection may have been key to the switch.  There was one additional change, black players were allowed lodging in the same hotel as the white players.  We don’t know because the coach never spoke of it, he was a force in changing the racial mindset of 1947 America.  The coach was enshrined in the Naismith and College Basketball Hall of Fame, in 2010 he passed at the age of 99. 

And you thought it was me  

I have been wailing and wishing for an NBA franchise like forever.  When the Kings departed Kansas City for Sacramento in 1985, they left a void in this city for NBA basketball.  This abyss was filled with minor league basketball and soccer, the soccer in the form of Sporting Kansas City has made inroads with fans and that is good.  Good in the fact it is my belief professional sports rarely compete with one another.  If Kansas City had an NBA team fans would continue to attend the NFL Chiefs, baseball Royals and Sporting Kansas City.  Is my hope for an NBA return here a real possibility, I do not know however here is what I discovered? 

An internet search located 7 websites published at various times a writer believed possible NBA expansion could occur, guess which city was listed on all 7?  Just because your name is registered fails to make one an automatic qualifier, there are other key considerations.  The chief one a benefactor with deep, deep pockets, the cost of an NBA expansion team is not for someone unwilling to take the risk.  Is there a Kansas City area mover and shaker willing to hazard this, currently that is an unknown but consider this fact?  Hardly anyone knew the name John Sherman prior to him purchasing the Royals baseball team, is there another unknown potential owner somewhere in the metro? 

Class of 2021  

This is quite interesting, so I decided to share it with you.  From the columbiamissourian.com, “Mizzou’s class now ranks 4^th in the SEC and 26^th nationally.”  As was pointed out the other day this has no impact whatsoever unless the proof of excellence exists on the basketball court.  This is the portion most encouraging, under the former coach basketball recruiting had just about come to a full stop. 

This is not intended as an attack on Kim Anderson, this Mizzou fan believes he was overmatched in his ability to recruit.  As for currently the proof might not be evident next fall and winter.  After all these are freshmen and must adjust to the difference in college basketball versus what they faced in high school.  Some will succeed while others will only exhibit nominal skill adapting.  Whichever might be the case Mizzou Nation should feel good, there are always prospects who gravitate to other schools, this occurs for Duke, North Carolina, and others.