Basketball from a fans perspective

Game three

The final score read Bucks 120 Suns 100, the game was pretty much even until a point near the middle or so of the 2^nd quarter. The Bucks began making shots while the Suns couldn’t toss the ball in the ocean. How bad was it for the Suns, the last 9 minutes of the 2^nd quarter they scored but 9 points to the Bucks 30? Half time saw the Bucks with a 60-45 lead led ably by Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks Big Man finished with a monster game scoring 41 points 13 rebounds along with 6 assists.

Jrue Holiday aided in the win with 21 points and sinking timely 3-point baskets along with his 9 assists. On the other side Devin Booker had a terrible game scoring but 7 points in the first half and a total of 10 for the game. It was mentioned how slow it appeared the Bucks played in the first two games. Sunday night was quite the opposite as they beat the Suns to most lose balls. Despite the Suns loss I remain convinced they win the championship on the other hand I could be wrong.

“Get your sea legs”

The headline is an expression made by veteran sailors, they claim after being on land your head and stomach had to learn how to deal with the motion of the sea. I can lay claim to that statement after suffering seasickness for days, that’s not the basis for the story. Just as your stomach must become accustomed to the motion of the sea the same applies for Team USA. They must play tight hard nose defense if they expect to advance in the upcoming Olympics, Nigeria beat Team USA 90-87 in the first exhibition game.

In addition to the defense aspects of this game you can cease reading at this point if the next statement appears an excuse for the loss. The 16-member team from Nigeria has 8 players with NBA experience. In addition, veteran NBA coach Mike Brown is calling the shots for the Nigerian team. It’s most likely teams from Spain, Germany, France, and several of the Balkan nations will contain a significant number of NBA veterans. NBA players will be on the court for a few nations so Team USA must improve play over the next few weeks. 

Par for the course

Allow me to state up front I’m no fan of ESPN/ABC analyst Jeff Van Gundy. This latest flap is par for the course for him. If you are unfamiliar with the incident during a portion of Game two, he made this comment about Devin Booker. “Looks like a choir boy, but he plays like a hoodlum.” It’s reported twitter blew up with many accusing Van Gundy of making a racially charged statement about Booker. The assertion wasn’t offensive to me just another example of Van Gundy making an incredibly dumb inappropriate declaration. This was reported previously but it will be repeated, the former coach turned analyst decided a few years ago the Lakers were mistaken.

During a broadcast from Staples Center he said, “The Lakers should only hang championship banners won in Los Angeles.” He wanted to exclude any banners hung while the team called Minneapolis home. To date the Thunder are the only NBA team with no connection to their past as the Sonics. This was a condition of the sale and move to Oklahoma City. My difficulty with Van Gundy has nothing to do with his basketball knowledge, as a former NBA coach I’m sure he’s got knowledge few of us fans hold. It’s the other things, as my wife often states with Van Gundy “What comes up comes out.” He appears to have no filter or maybe little thought process on what he’s about to state. From Bleacher report this didn’t occur this year, but it did during a Finals, Van Gundy decided he needed to discuss his haircuts during a broadcast. “It takes three minutes to cut my hair, and I still have to pay the full price”, tell us how does that relate to the game in front of us? 

It’s better now

It was 2012 when Mizzou left the Big 12 Conference for the SEC. The prevailing thought by many in this part of the country, “The SEC is Kentucky and Arkansas and maybe Florida” that was then this is now. Kentucky and Florida remain competitive however we’ve seen the rise of basketball programs at Tennessee, Auburn, Alabama and LSU. In between Mizzou has experienced three coaching changes, it was Frank Haith then Kim Anderson leading to Cuonzo Martin current coach. Yes, there’s been some stability issues however that’s certainly not offering an excuse just an explanation. The 2017-18 season witnessed the Tigers finishing in a 4^th place tie, that’s the high point for Mizzou basketball in the SEC.

We could be shocked however there is no hint the Mizzou team this fall is ready to compete for a conference crown. This should help you understand why several in Mizzou Nation are growing concerned over the lack of upward progress. This is the key if Cuonzo is fired who replaces him? A new coach arrives on the scene with his program and there is a delay in building a winning competitive program due to recruiting and establishment of his brand. I hope you see the dilemma this would cause for 3-4 years possibly.  If we look toward the 2021-22 season, we are led to believe the SEC will be just as competitive. ESPN’s early Top 25 list contains 5 teams, they are Kentucky (naturally), along with Auburn, Tennessee, Alabama and Arkansas. This is the year despite the mystery surrounding Mizzou basketball, this must be the breakthrough year regular season or an impressive NCAA post-season run. 

Talent wasn’t the issue…it was the other things

Apparently, Michael Beasley is attempting a comeback at age 32, you remember him, don’t you?  Beasley is signed to play for the Blazers Summer League team in hopes of reviving his NBA career. In 2008 Beasley owned a major portion of the basketball world, All American at Kansas State number two draft choice by the Heat. At 6 foot 9 this forward could shoot and rebound with the best, talent wasn’t the issue that saw him move from team to team it was the other things.

Attending 6 high schools, in the NBA he would become the traveling man playing for 6 NBA teams, this would include the Heat on 3 occasions.  There were also 3 seasons in the Chinese Basketball Association, as you can see, he’s been a well-traveled player. Despite the movement in checking his numbers they are not what one might first perceive, 12.4 points and nearly 5 rebounds a game for his 600 plus NBA career. Michael Beasley is an enigma, an athlete of tremendous talent who appeared to have difficulty getting his act together. Here’s hoping he manages to earn a roster spot with the Blazers in the fall, the guy can flat out play it’s the other things that have been his downfall.