Basketball from a fan perspectiv

The game from a fan’s perspective

MIZZ-ZOU

The Tennessee Vols came into Mizzou Arena on December 30 and kicked some Mizzou butt 73-53.  Memory says they must have sunk their first 10 shots on the way to the 20-point victory.  What would the return match be Saturday night with the Tigers traveling to Knoxville to face the Vols again?  Mizzou led from tip off to the final buzzer winning the re-match 73-64.  Mizzou was led by fast-moving guard Xavier Pinson who would score 27 points along with 3 steals and 2 assists. 

Dru Smith pitched in with 18 points no other Tiger finished in double figures no matter.  It was Mizzou’s belly button defense which contributed greatly to the evening win.  Mizzou is now 10-2 and has 4 wins versus 2 losses in SEC play, next up another road trip for the Tigers.  They will pile up more road miles next week traveling to Alabama to face the always tough Auburn Tigers.  This has been mentioned previously but it is worth mentioning again, these guys really like one another.  No glaring look by a teammate with missed passes or bad shots.

I’m surprised, are you?

As this is written the Warriors are 8 up and 7 down hardly what we expected.  Keep in mind with no Klay Thompson rest assured few believed they would compete for the NBA Championship.  Rookie James Wiseman would be inserted in the lineup, but he would be the weakest link.  The weakest due to his lack of NBA experience, the others are a different matter.  The Warriors have young veteran depth at every position except center (Wiseman). 

For unknown reasons Kelly Oubre cannot hit the broadside of a barn, a career 42.7% shooter from the floor he’s shooting 35.5% thus far.  Even Draymon Green is suffering although he’s never been a force offensively it’s the other things he does.  Perhaps that is the problem, Draymon’s not been able to be Draymon.  Have the reserves come up short, that cannot be answered because I haven’t seen them play enough to make that judgement.  Let’s just say expectations were certainly higher than the product we’ve seen on the court.  It’s early so perhaps they get it together and begin to play better. 

We like what we see

Many remember Montrezl Harrell from his days at Louisville, he was a high energy guy crashing the boards and providing the Cardinals scoring punch.  In 2015 the Rockets made him the 32^nd pick in the second round of the 2015 NBA Draft, the records indicate Houston would be a way stop.  It was a June 2017 trade to the Clippers we witnessed his play; in the role of 6^th man, he became the Energizer Bunny off the bench for them.  Fast forward to the end of the 2019-20 season, Harrell entered free agency and most expected him to re-sign with the Clippers. 

That was not the case as the Lakers made “Him an offer he couldn’t refuse.”  Since Harrell’s move across the hall in Staples Center he’s provided a spark the Lakers were missing last season.  The 6-foot 7-inch Harrell with his 7-foot 4-inch wingspan battles opposing power forwards and centers.  In addition, he scores the ball although the Lakers run no plays for him.  Laker Nation shouldn’t be surprised after all Harrell won 6^th Man of the Year last season.  Witnessing the game from a fan’s perspective to date we’ve seen little evidence of the negatives laid at his feet.

Another possible shut down

It is always difficult to debate a subject yet to be finalized but here goes anyway.  There is talk of the collegiate basketball season being shut down for the second year in a row, nothing is final as this is written.  Despite this fact the NCAA has set in place a championship tournament to be held exclusively played in Indianapolis alone.  This is no NBA bubble; teams are housed on campus in dorms, much as we’d desire players remain in their rooms it just ain’t happening. 

Has your favorite team cancelled or postponed any games, to date Mizzou’s cancelled or postponed a total of 3 games which certainly isn’t huge?  I’d bet there are other teams with larger numbers of cancelled or postponed games.  Bottom line, the health and safety of the athletes is the most important part of this matter.  If the decision makers come out in favor of cancelling the season, I’m okay with it, are you?