Words eye view 

Basketball from a fan perspective

Now is the time

The NBA playoffs are yet to begin, in March and early April college basketball dominates our thoughts.  With the good comes the bad, we must discuss the dark side or underbelly of the game.  Details of the five Level One violations regarding Arizona basketball were detailed.  This is no attempt to detail them one by one but to provide an information update.  The NCAA has turned this case over to an Independent Accountability Resolution Process, in addition this body is also handling Kansas, Louisville and the NC State cases. 

Your guess is as good as mine how these cases are to be resolved however this is my thought.  The NCAA must believe it has too much skin in the game to justify making a judgement without independent counsel.  This thought might have been made considering the Bill Self threat to sue the NCAA.  It’s my belief this panel can only make recommendations and the NCAA will issue appropriate punishment based on their findings.  Keep in mind this view is only a presumption on my part I’ve read nothing indicating this to be the case.  In addition, I might add I have no formalized legal training. 

Surprise, double surprise

The Lakers announce they intend to sign center Damian Jones to a second 10-day contract.  Since his arrival in Purple and Gold his field goal percentage is 100% having sunk all the shots he’s taken. Keep in mind that number represents a small number since his time on the floor has been limited.  Rest assured nobody in Laker Nation expected him to supplant Marc Gasol, but we did expect to see him play more minutes.

Perhaps that is the future for the 6-foot 11-inch Jones, additional play to determine if the investment in him works for the long-term future.  Jones is only 25-years old and perhaps, with emphasis on the word perhaps under the umbrella of LeBron James and others he learns.  The key of course is Jones himself; he cannot remove all the negatives that might have impacted and limited his game in the past.  He can work at improving those and minimizing the shortcoming to improve his game.   

All SEC

The SEC all conference first team contained Mizzou guard Dru Smith.  Witnessing his play for the last two seasons this is not surprising news.  As a senior his leadership has been clear to the winning record of Mizzou.  At the time he transferred from Evansville University we didn’t know what to expect, we believed he could play but the SEC is a step above the Missouri Valley Conference.  As mentioned previously we don’t know if there is a pro career in his future, but the 6-foot 3 combo guard could find a role in the NBA as a reserve or in the G-League or Europe.  Job well done Dru Smith, those in Mizzou Nation appreciate your play and leadership. 

Earning a spot on the second team was 6-10 center Jeremiah Tilmon.  Many of us remember four short years ago the potential, but he was never able to fulfill it.  Continuous foul trouble kept him seated on the bench much of his first two seasons, last season it was injuries that kept him sidelined.  In his senior year Tilmon has finally come full circle, he’s managed to remain on the floor and be productive.  Remember his foul issues of the past, his 27.5 minutes on the court were the third highest on the team? Tilmon was the third leading scorer (12.5 a game) and led Mizzou in rebounds and blocked shots.  This East St. Louis young man had now come full circle and lived up to the promise Mizzou Nation hoped.        

Naismith Hall of Fame

During his playing days Michael Cooper was an all-everything player for the Lakers.  He was the Lakers first reserve in the game and his defense would often be the difference in a win versus a loss.  Although he stood 6 foot 5 and was a slender 170 pounds, he often took on the task of defending taller and heavier players during his time. 

Cooper’s career points, assists and steals provide no indication of his value to those Showtime Laker Teams.  The 6-foot 9-inch 220-pound Larry Bird claimed, “Nobody played defense on me tougher than Cooper.” Coop made the preliminary hall of fame cut along with 13 other former players, coaches and others.  There is no guarantee Cooper makes the final round and is enshrined but he should be.  He was a five-time NBA champion with the Lakers and in 1987 was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year.