Basketball from a fans perspective   

Published Monday through Friday

The key to winning basketball

It’s simple, you outscore the other guy something Mizzou is unable to do at times this season. I have no idea of the outcome; this is written at the half for the Utah-Mizzou game. Utah is in the lead 33-32 because Mizzou is shooting 36.8% from the floor, 13.3% from the 3-line and 33.3% from the free-throw line. Numbers like that are going to win few basketball games. From the half-time score you can reason Utah has not exactly shot lights out however 40.6% is certainly improved over what Mizzou’s shot thus far.

The first name that comes to mind is the late John Chaney, his Temple teams even in the shot-clock era were not scoring machines. Opposing teams playing Temple knew ahead of time they would face belly button-hand in your face defense for 40 minutes, that's what Chaney teams did. These Tigers never seem to lack hustle the larger problem appears to be the difficulty shooting the basketball. The second half turned out more successful, as Mizzou scored 51 points while holding Utah to 42. Shooting improved for the game to 43.9% although the 3-point shot for Mizzou (19%) was dismal. One more point Mizzou outrebounded Utah 41-33 so there is a little hope. With my coaching hat on perhaps the fix for Mizzou is to play belly-button defense and score when they can.

I don’t believe in jinxes

Several might remember reading on Friday morning before the evening game Lakers-Wolves I wrote, “Anthony Davis or AD is key to Laker success going forward this season, if only he can avoid those knick-knack injuries.” In the Friday evening game against the Wolves AD was injured no less than twice, both times he was forced to leave the game. The second injury the most serious compelled him to leave the court is certainly the most serious, an MRI will be done on his injured left knee. Most distressing in both instances he was not guilty of actions which caused the injury. The hope of Laker Nation is he can return with few games as possible missed. I stated early my dis-belief in jinxes I hope you are on my side…are you? UPDATE: An MRI revealed an MCL sprain, AD will be out of the lineup for the next four weeks.

“I’m Back”

March 18, 1995, Michael Jordan sent out a Fax with the words “I’m Back.” He was returning to the NBA after trying to play baseball, hardly anybody uses fax machines these days. There are a variety of methods to communicate without use of a fax. Kyrie Irving could be making the same statement according to late breaking news on Friday. Irving would be a part-time player, he would play in road games only, in addition our guess the Nets move their practice location which is in Brooklyn.

Irving would be available to play in any game outside New York City. These gyrations are to circumvent the NYC Health Department mandate, “Beginning December 27, workers in New York City who perform in-person work or interact with the public in the course of business must show proof they have received at least one does of COVID-19 vaccine.” I have my opinion on this issue but will refrain from providing it, your view of the matter. What do you think? Are you okay with this attempt to move Irving onto the playing floor?

Bits n Pieces

We are thick in the middle of this pandemic as it continues to mutate into other variants. At a point it was believed by most the NBA was managing the epidemic correctly (perhaps they are) however an increasing number of teams appear to be dealing with problems. My Lakers are one of them with their roster hit significantly over the weekend. This has caused them to reach out to Isaiah Thomas who played for the Lakers in 2018, he signed a 10-day contract. With those in health and safety protocol plus Trevor Ariza and Kendrick Nunn on the injured list…see where I’m going? floor?

We don’t know what to make of the Pelicans Zion Williamson. None of us (okay a few might) have no medical training, with Zion he’s having difficulty returning to the floor. He’d broken his foot in off-season workouts which prevented him from playing this season, on top of this the latest from the medical staff. Zion received an injection in his right foot to aid the healing, the timeline says he will be re-evaluated in 4-6 weeks. You see the dilemma; the Pelicans are thrashing about trying to compete with Zion on the sidelines. As more information is made known you will be apprised of it.

Closer inspection is needed, if my memory is correct, it was 2-3 years ago. At that point I pronounced Joel Embiid the top center in the NBA now I’m not so sure. “Please clue us in Larry Laker, are you claiming his game has regressed”? No, that’s not what I’m stating it “appears” the leadership I believed he brought to the table might be lacking. On the other hand, I could be missing something, granted I’ve seen few of the Sixer games as this is written. Perhaps as this was said at the beginning closer inspection of Embiid’s game is required by yours truly.

Correction (or is it?)

On December 16 we profiled "Pistol" Pete Maravich and his scoring prowess. We even detailed for you he is the all-time leading scorer in college basketball history. That statement is partially correct but not fully, see Maravich scored 3,667 points in NCAA Division I basketball. An athlete few remember Travis "Macine Gun" Grant, playing for Kentucky State University then an NAIA school scored 4,045 points at the school. He was nicknamed "Machine Gun" due to the point totals he registered during games at such a rapid pace.  

As for Kentucky State the school is no longer associated with the NAIA it’s moved up to NCAA Division II however the scoring numbers registered by Grant are still recognized. During his time at Kentucky State the school would win three consecutive NAIA Championships and his scoring was a contributing factor. Grant would be drafted by the Lakers in the 1972 NBA Draft, unfortunately he was unable to transfer the success he achieved at the college level to that of a professional. Grant exited the NBA by 1976 having spent time with three other NBA/ABA teams. The question, do we negate his scoring record because it wasn’t recorded at the Division I level?