Basketball from a fan perspective

WOW!!!!

The NFL Chiefs and Falcons game was my focus; I didn’t see the Clippers-Mavs from the beginning.  I changed to NBA TV with minutes remaining in the first half, imagine my shock with the scored displayed at the bottom of the screen.  The half time score read Mavs 77 Clippers 27; this account should not be considered complete since I saw so little of the first half.  It was just as bad in the second half for me but even worst for the Clippers.  I went to sleep in my favorite chair and as I awoke as I heard the announcer providing the final score. 

It read Mavs 123 Clippers 73; most NBA fans were aware Kawhi Leonard would be sitting this one out.  After an erratic elbow by teammate Serge Ibaka stitches were required for Kawhi, but his absence shouldn’t result in a loss of this magnitude.  The game sat an NBA record, the largest half-time deficient in NBA history.  Someone stated the Clippers don’t have a real leader…that might be the case based on the outcome of this game.  One additional note, it was pointed out all required of the Mavs in theory was to score 1 point in the second half of the game.  If we check the math we discover the half time spread was the same as the end of the game.     

Friends & Fans

Several reading yesterday’s Words eye view might believe I was too tough on James Hardin yesterday.  I never maligned his talent or ability to play the game we love.  He is just like several professional athletes; he’s become a celebrity and with that status comes extra benefits.  Those benefits entail deciding where you want to play basketball, his status is no different in a sense than others.  Way back when Kareem Abdul Jabbar requested the Bucks trade him, years later we read he wanted his hometown Knicks. 

The Bucks traded him to Los Angeles where he’d played his college basketball, he would begin play with the Lakers.  Fast forward several generations, we cannot give you the day and date the late Kobe Bryant requested the Lakers trade him.  The circumstances why the trade was requested are unclear in my memory however it did occur.  Fortunately, somehow Kobe was placated and retired a Laker.  As for Hardin the remarks made yesterday have nothing to do with the talent, he demonstrates on the basketball court.  Can he change portions of his game to accommodate the desires of another NBA team is the question at hand? 

Empty arenas

The NFL and college football season has witnessed fans present although on a limited capacity basis.  As for the NBA and college basketball the situation is far different.  Athletes in football and basketball are playing without mask except on the sidelines it’s the issue of air.  Basketball is played indoor versus football played in the open air.  We are led to believe in the open air COVID is less likely to occur, as for basketball it looks different.  If the TV camera is aimed at the court the lack of fans is not quite as evident, pumped in crowd noise helps but it can be distracting at times.  The crowd cheering sometimes fails to follow the action accurately on the court, despite this issue within protocol it remains good to have basketball NBA and college played. 

SEC Conference play    

Mizzou escaped an upset last week as the Bradley Braves almost took out Mizzou in a game won by the Tigers 54-53.  As conference play begins the road ahead looks plenty tough.  On December 30 Mizzou serves as host to the Tennessee Vols, that game is followed up by a visit on January 2 to Fayetteville Arkansas and the University of Arkansas.  No need of looking ahead any further let’s just say the SEC race ahead looks difficult, how tough is it? 

The SEC is not Big 12 tough, it certainly isn’t at the ACC level either however Mizzou must bring its A game for every match this season.  The 2020-21 year is the Year of Cuonzo Martin for several reasons, number one he’s convinced all who will listen this is his best team since his arrival at Mizzou.  Despite the hiccup experienced last week versus Bradley it appears this team is ready to compete, naturally there are issues which cannot be addressed in this short account.  At the end of the season hopefully Mizzou Nation will witness a return to competitive play on the basketball court.