Basketball from a fans perspective   

Published Monday through Friday

Bits n Pieces  

Being part of Mizzou Nation I was unsure if the Mizzou-Kansas game would be worth taking time to watch on Saturday. Kansas had lost but a single game (7-1) and Mizzou was 5-4 so that gives you an idea of the likely outcome, Kansas won the game rather convincingly 102-65. I guess it would be expected Kansas fans were quick to point out their team’s overwhelming success on the basketball court and the shortcomings of Mizzou. There is a downside to the win, and I tried to warn them. As the legendary baseball pitcher Satchel Paige once said; “Don’t look back; Something might be gaining on you.” That “something” could be Baylor, Iowa State, West Virginia or another Big XII member. I hate to admit it, but this is likely a down year for Mizzou basketball. As for Baylor, Iowa State and others they are closer to the competition Kansas represents over Mizzou.

The late John Thompson was a legend prior to his death last year at the age of 78. On Saturday the basketball court at the Capital One Arena was named in his honor, it became the: John Thompson Jr. Court. This shouldn’t be shocking, or even surprising news to anyone. If you are a basketball history buff you are aware Georgetown University basketball barely existed prior to 1972 when he was hired as head coach. In 1984 Thompson became the first black coach to win an NCAA Tournament when his Hoyas beat Houston 84-75. Big John managed to coach successful basketball teams yet found time to address civic and social concerns of the day.

Ordinarily an assignment to the G-League might be perceived as a negative, that is not the case here. It was announced over the weekend the Warriors have assigned Klay Thompson and James Wiseman to the Santa Cruz Warriors. It’s likely a hint they are ready to return to the varsity, but they need game conditioning to work out the kinks. Expect Thompson and Wiseman to return to the A team in the next 2-3 weeks. After both return speculation on my part says Thompson receives backup minutes and then is inserted into the starting lineup. As for Wiseman he assumes a relief role for the next few months of the season. 

December 10, 2011

Chris Paul would play in Los Angeles, but it would be the Clippers rather than the Lakers. 10 years ago, the Lakers made a trade involving Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom to obtain point guard Paul from the Hornets (Pelicans). There was great rejoicing in Laker Land until then commissioner David Stern stepped in and voided the trade. The New Orleans franchise was owned by the NBA back then, a search was conducted by the NBA in an attempt to locate a buyer for the team.   

The explanation by the commissioner’s office, the trade was not in the best interest of the NBA. We believe since the NBA owned the Hornets, they could make the decision. On December 12, a trade was consummated sending Paul from the Hornets to the Clippers rather than the Lakers. Consider NBA history would have changed substantially had Paul become a Laker rather than a Clipper. Chris Paul at the point, Kobe Bryant at shooting guard, Andrew Bynum at center plus Matt Barnes or Metta World Peace at small forward and Joe Smith at power forward. We can debate whether Laker reserves would allow this team to compete for an NBA Championship, but it is an interesting thought.

Covid-19

The NBA and college are managing covid games in a separate approach. In the NBA, the games are cancelled and rescheduled for a later date. As for college covid games are resolved in an entirely different manner. As an example, the University of Washington was to play Gonzaga this past Saturday, a covid issue involving UW caused the game to be postponed. This is where the water becomes a little murky as to how covid is resolved.

Last week UCLA was scheduled to play UW but this continuing covid issue prevented the teams from playing, how was it resolved? The game was noted as a victory for UCLA by forfeit and this is the difference. We guess because the Gonzaga-UW game was non-conference it was listed as a cancelled game and is not recorded by either team. Someone reading this has the 411 on this issue because I certainly am confused. Are non-conference games across the nation managed in this manner and only conference games recorded as a forfeit?

Undefeated no more

The Purdue Boilermakers were the number one team in the nation, notice WERE! On Thursday evening they faced the Rutgers Scarlett Knights on the home court of the Knights. The game went back and forth until Ron Harper Jr. hit a halfcourt shot for the Knights providing them with a 70-68 win over the previously undefeated Boilermakers. Just in case the name might sound familiar to you Ron Harper Jr. is the son of NBA veteran Ron Harper Sr. Jr. is about the same height of his dad standing 6 foot 6 inches but outweighs him 245 pounds to 214.

“Ron Harper Jr. is an athletic, energetic swingman that could project to be a solid role player in the NBA. He is a high-motor player that runs the floor well, and has good hands that allows him to finish numerous plays above the rim to score the basketball. He is a capable outside shooter, and he is an effective defender that can make plays on the ball to get stops for his team. He had a solid junior season. He will still need to improve his outside shot, but he is a talented player that is a second round prospect in the 2022 draft.” *

So goes a scouting report on Ron Harper Jr., does he make it? We saw an interesting case with the Lakers after the 2021 draft. Guard Austin Reaves agent was reported to have written down his client didn’t wish to be drafted. By avoiding the draft, Reaves was able to pick the team he wanted. Keep in mind this was no guarantee the plan would work out for Reaves. As for Harper Jr. it depends on where he might find himself in the draft. Depending on the team he could chose to become a second-round choice, or it could be the Reaves route to the NBA, we don’t know at this point.

*nbascoutinglive.com

A sense of urgency

This version of Lakers basketball evidently believes one thing. They can intimidate teams into losing against them, as proof we offer the Thursday evening game in Memphis. Sure, it was a road game for them but no Jae Morant. Memphis Nation is going to proclaim loudly they are more than a single athlete and they are correct. Apart from those injured the Lakers went into this game with LeBron, AD plus Westbrook healthy, three NBA All Stars. As usual the second half of the game proved to be their downfall scoring but 17 points in the 4^th quarter to the Grizzlies 23.

Truth is the first quarter was the only “winner” for the Lakers and that was only by 4 points. This member of Laker Nation is a bit tired of hearing excuses, players are injured but reserves need to step up and play as if they want to win. NBA teams are not going to roll over no matter who is in the starting lineup. Is the problem Frank Vogel and staff, they must be a contributing factor to this up and downplay? Is the problem “old legs” that become tired in the second half of games? I love my Lakers always will, but I must call this as I see it. Don’t mistake this rant, the Lakers are not losing on purpose. They appear to be not doing the “trivial things” which a competitive team manages to do to secure a win(s). A victory on Friday over the Thunder despite AD missing was a high, now to continue to play at this level.