Words eye view

Basketball from a fan perspective

MIZ-ZOU

Most of Mizzou Nation had no idea which team would show up, after all Mizzou had lost 4 of the last 5 games played.  Bear with me through a portion of this review it’s the fan in me, I don’t believe they are as bad as the last 5 games idicate.  On the other hand, they are not the same team that beat Illinois, Arkansas, Tennessee and Alabama during the season.  Headed into the game Florida and Mizzou would appear to be two evenly matched teams, playing at home Florida must be favored although I never bothered to check.

The game was as most believed, it would be like a heavyweight championship bout each team throwing haymakers not being able to knock out the other.  A reverse baseline layup by guard Dru Smith with 0.7 seconds remaining would become the winner to a 72-70 victory. It should be expected the winning basket would be scored by Smith who led the way with 17 points and dished out 9 assists along with 6 steals.  Mizzou has one additional regular season game scheduled; LSU will be the opponent on Saturday.  The SEC tournament follows and then the NCAA tournament, how far Mizzou travels your guess is as good as mine.  The key to winning  is which Mizzou team shows up for battle. 

59 years ago

I subscribed to NBA League Pass at the time, I was present in front of my television and watched Kobe Bryant score 81 points against the Raptors January 12, 2006.  I can only imagine what it must have been like the night Wilt Chamberlain set the single game scoring record.  It was March 2, 1962, Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia Warriors would score 100 points against the Knicks…it remains the highest point total by an individual player.  The game was not played in Philadelphia it was “farmed” out to Hershey Pennsylvania about 100 miles east, this practice was common in the NBA during this period. 

The game was played before 4,124 fans in the Hershey Sports Arena although literally thousands more NBA fans claimed to have witnessed the game in person.  It was   played in the “dark ages” of the NBA no film or video of the game exists.  Now for the stats of the historic game, Chamberlain notoriously poor at the line managed to sink 28 of his 32 free throws, for his career it was .511 from the line.  He shot .571 from the floor on 36 of 63, Chamberlain also managed to pull down 25 rebounds in this momentous game.  The only known photo existing is one of Chamberlain with a handwritten 100 on a sheet of paper.  Below is the link to a brief portion of the only known radio broadcast.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Agchvbxd8A

10-day contract

Damian Jones made his Laker debut Sunday evening; he could have played Friday however the coach decided to withhold him.  This is the portion that confuses, a player’s 10-day contract could be extended, or he could be released after the contract lapses.  His team’s game against the Warriors would become a blow out so coach Vogel inserted Jones into the game in the second half.  Jones would play 8 minutes scoring 8 points along with 3 rebounds, he was 100% from the field and 100% from the free throw line.  The box score also detailed 2 blocked shots in Jones limited time on the floor.  I had no belief he would supplant Marc Gasol but held the belief the 7-foot Jones would play more than 8 minutes.   

5 Reasons why I dislike Jeff Van Gundy

The headline is actually “read me bait” regarding ESPN/ABC analyst Jeff Van Gundy, there is only one reason why I dislike him.  It’s his tendency during telecast to go into the twilight zone, I’ll provide an example.  In the middle of a broadcast Mike Breen begins a discussion on the number of Laker championships.  Van Gundy: “I think they should only count the championships won in Los Angeles.” 

The first five championships were won while the team called Minneapolis home however what team fails to count their total championships.  The last time the Kings won a championship was two cities ago (Kansas City, Cincinnati), it was the 1951 Rochester Royals who won it all that year.  If you check the Sacramento Kings list it as part of their history.  If you are one who enjoys him so be it, I want my analyst to discuss the game in front of us, not revert and attempt to change a historical event(s).