Words eye view

Basketball from a fan perspective

Jamal Murray is a talent too

The Nuggets guard had a career night on Friday scoring 50 points, however this report is focused on Joel Embiid.  If you are a fan of Murray this is no intent to downplay his outstanding game or his talent for that matter.  If you’ve read Words eye view any length of time you realize this writer loves to see Big Men play as Big Men.  Embiid becomes the 3^rd Sixer center with 50 or more points in a game, who are the others? 

One of the former players was named Wilt Chamberlain and the other Moses Malone, as you can see his game versus the Bulls places him in exclusive company.  Although we are discussing centers Allen Iverson must be mentioned when discussing single game point totals for a Sixer.  AI once scored 60 points against the Magic on February 12, 2005.  As for Embiid in this game he also pulled down 17 rebounds and dished out 5 assists while shooting 65% from the floor. 

No, I didn’t ignore him

Fool you didn’t I, you thought I was going to ignore Jamal Murray?  Murray of the Nuggets is an enormous talent, he’s proven it since he first arrived in the NBA.  In 2016 he was the 7^th pick in the first round of the NBA draft by the Nuggets.  On Friday Murray had one of those games for the ages with a terrific 50-point output versus the Cavs. 

This was no case of Murray just jacking up shots, he was 21-25 from the floor and 8 for 10 from the 3-line an amazing 84%.  This the most remarkable portion of the story, despite Murray’s enormous output he never ventured close to the free-throw line, he was 0-0.  I don’t have NBA League Pass so there was no opportunity to see the game.  Surely someplace during the game Murray must have been close to being fouled…oh well. 

A forgotten name

For unknown reasons, the name Elvin Hayes is rarely mentioned in a discussion of past basketball greats.  At the time, the NBA’s 50^th Anniversary team was selected Hayes was one of the numbers, he scored over 27,000 points while in the NBA.  If we return briefly in time the 6-foot 9-inch Hayes was the leader of a Houston Cougars basketball team from 1965-1968.  In January 1968 Hayes and his basketball team would play in the Game of the Century versus UCLA.  The game featured Hayes matched against Lew Alcindor and was played before 52,000 fans in the Houston Astrodome.  

The significance was more than two powerhouse teams matched against one another it was the first ever nationally televised college basketball game.  Hayes would score 39 points along with 15 rebounds while Alcindor with a scratched cornea suffered previously would score but 15 points.  Houston won 71-69 ending UCLA’s 47 game winning streak. Hayes would be drafted by the Rockets later that year becoming the first pick.  His NBA career was divided between the Rockets and Washington Bullets, in 1978 he would become an NBA Champion with the Bullets.  This is but a bit of information on one of the games outstanding players and a name from the past basketball fans should be aware. 

In complete

Mizzou beat South Carolina 93-78, not much to offer so this might be in complete.  Jeremiah Tilmon returned to action and his inside scoring (17 points) certainly was a valuable contribution to the win.  Dru Smith scored 17 and Mark (The Invisible Man) Smith chipped in 13 along with Xavier Pinson’s 16.  I must agree with analyst Jimmy Dykes the problem for Mizzou especially during the losing streak is leadership.  No one Mizzou player appeared capable of stepping in and saying follow me. 

Mizzou has played good in the first half of games and fallen apart in the second.  Today for the first time in weeks they played a complete game and one they certainly should have won.  South Carolina came into the game with a 5-10 record and it was clear why they have a losing record.  In the NCAA Tournament seeding Mizzou is reported to have dropped from a potential 4 seed to 6 during this losing streak.  Seeding is no big deal if you beat the team in front of you.