Basketball from a fans perspective   

Published Monday through Friday

The mystique  

Allen Fieldhouse located on the campus of Kansas University is counted among the most difficult for opposing teams to play and more specially to win. The others are Duke’s Cameron Indoor Stadium, The Dean Dome at North Carolina and Rupp Arena home of the Kentucky Wildcats. Kentucky found itself at Allen Fieldhouse in the SEC/Big XII Challenge, who wins? Headed into the game Kansas the number 5 team in the nation was favored as they should have been. Fans viewing the action on television and in Allen Fieldhouse were treated to an unexpected development, one unlike what we might have expected. A beat down was not the outcome most believed was forthcoming, an over 20-point lead at times was whittled down to 18 points at the end.

The final score had Kentucky beating Kansas 80-62. The game saw Kentucky’s team shoot nearly 51% from the floor while Kansas was at 41%, the Wildcats out rebounded the Jayhawks 41-19. The Jayhawks led in the game for 1 minute and 13 seconds in the first half, which was it. Although he wasn’t the leading scorer Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe proved to be one of the difference makers. He scored 17 points along with 14 rebounds and 61.5% shooting from the floor, Keion Brooks was invaluable for Kentucky as he scorched the nets with 27 points. What occurs going forward, in all likelihood it appears Kansas remains the best team in the Big XII despite the horrendous loss. Fans in Big Blue Nation won’t like this, but the Wildcats might be the second-best team in the SEC, second behind Auburn.

How to fix the Lakers

I’m replacing Laker GM Rod Pelinka in the Big Chair; this is my plan for fixing the Lakers. Allow LeBron to be LeBron the balance of his days, as for the others. This team requires an infusion of youth even if it means not competing for a while. This will not be pleasing to many in Laker Nation, but it must be accomplished, the team as its exists is too old. “Well Larry Laker how is that accomplished with few players to trade and practically no draft choices.” You add players in a stealth manner, consider this fact. The Lakers (if still in place) have one of the best scouting staffs in the NBA. The players below were drafted or signed by the Lakers in free agency.

Austin Reaves

Kyle Kuzma

DeAngelo Russell

Lonzo Ball     

Jordan Clarkson

Julius Randle

Those are but a few talented players that saw the floor at Staples Center in the past. Of course, with the exception of Reaves none of the names mentioned is a current member of the Lakers but that’s the point. The Lakers scouting staff is certainly capable of uncovering talent even though it might come in the form of a second-round gem like Clarkson. It is clear one of the pieces Stanley Johnson is secured, as this was being compiled came word after a series of 10-day contracts it is a 2-year agreement for the 25-year-old. What was accountable for the contract…Johnson’s tough defense and he’s got LeBron singing his praises.

In the category of keepers, I’m reluctant to include Anthony Davis in the group due to his propensity to suffer injuries that force him out of the lineup. AD’s age plus his ability make it difficult to exclude him. We add Davis to the roster of Malik Monk, Talen Horton-Tucker, Sekou Doumbouya, Kendrick Nunn, Austin Reaves. Of this group Davis is next to the oldest at age 28. Bradley is the elder statesman at 31 but is followed by two 21-year old’s, two 23-year old’s, and one 26-year-old. The balance of the roster would be comprised of youth and just a minimum number of oldsters. See I fixed the Lakers for the future although quite a few in Laker Nation might be upset with my roster. NOTE: This all changes rapidly should the Lakers pull a massive trade by the February 10 NBA Trade deadline.

No such thing

On my social media page, I wrote; “There is no such thing as a moral victory.” Like me you might have heard that expression used for a number of years. Simply stated it just infers your team played as good as it could but still managed to lose the game, it doesn’t matter how close the game might have been…it remains a loss. My friend Dwyane played college basketball, so he took me to task over my statement. He pointed to an example his team played while he was in college which he believed countered my statement.

After reading my friends view of the subject, he convinced me his counterview of the subject made sense and I could accept it. Perhaps I didn’t provide enough detail of the point I was attempting to make. Allow a further explanation, Mizzou lost its game against number one Auburn by a single point 55-54. Mizzou Coach Cuonzo Martin is on the hot seat with Mizzou fans over the inferior performance of the basketball team this season. To play Auburn tough down to the wire might have seen by a few fans (and maybe the AD) as “a moral victory” but it certainly won’t benefit this coach in maintaining his job. Cuonzo Martin has brought integrity to the Mizzou program but that just might not be enough.

3-point shooting

Two acquaintances read my account on the decline of the Big Man on January 25. They concluded I was somewhat opposed to 3-point shooting, which is not the case. I am more upset with 7 footers who take an overabundance of shots from distance, let’s take a glance at the numbers and a few names. According to information uncovered 40% and above is considered exceptionally good, P.J. Tucker of the Heat is best at this writing he’s 47% behind the line.

The all-time worst 3-point shooter for his career would be Charles Barkley, the TNT host shot 26.6%. Any percentage below 34.2% is just that, not particularly good. For purposes of this account let’s check out a few Big Men. For their careers the numbers for the best Big Men in the NBA, Joel Embiid is shooting 33% Nikola Jokic is 34.7%. I was surprised, the best percentage for a career is the Wolves Karl-Anthony Towns. Anthony Towns is shooting 39% and this might be the highest percentage for any of the NBA’s Bigs.

Basketball from a fans perspective   

Published Monday through Friday

“This is not what I signed up for!”

The story you are about to read is one of speculation consider that ahead of reading. It’s being reported James Hardin a.k.a. “The Beard” want’s an exit stage left from the Nets. No Kevin Durant and the other guy only playing on the road, the bearded one has been forced to carry a sizable portion of the offense. Daryl Morey is now with the Sixers however he spent time with the Rockets. Morey was responsible for the Rockets acquiring Hardin and the two are reported to have a working relationship. Hardin likely signed with the Nets figuring there was an opportunity to win an NBA Championship. If a championship is not in his future, is he willing to remain in Brooklyn? That question is the height of speculation currently, we shall see what occurs over the next 5-7 months.

The growth spurt

My growth spurt occurred when I was about 11, over the summer I grew about 2 inches. Despite the growth I never reached my hope for 6 foot in height. For others, especially athletes their growth spurt produced different results. Shaquille O’Neal claims he stood 6 foot 4 as a 10-year-old. If you remember the history Shaq’s stepfather was in the military and stationed in Germany. Dale Brown then LSU coach was conducting a basketball clinic which young Shaq attended. The coach was reported to have ask him “How long have you been in the Army?” Shaq was a teen by this time but stood about 6 foot 8, he told the coach “I’m still in junior high.”

We know the rest of the story Brown kept track of the youngster and when it came time for college, he’d kept track of Shaq who would later play for him at LSU. For some the spurt didn’t come or maybe it was different. The Lakers Anthony Davis was a 6-foot 3-inch point guard in high school, he now stands 6 foot 10. How about another example, as a high school freshman Kevin Garnett was 6 foot 3, he now is a towering 6 foot 11? Michael Jordan was 5 foot 8 his first year of high school, his growth spurt would take him to 6 foot 6. I know what you are thinking, these giants had gigantic parents, true in some instances not all. As an example, 7-foot 1 Wilt Chamberlain’s father was 5-foot 8-inch and his mother 5-foot 9. 6 foot 10 Moses Malone had a 5-foot 6-inch father, and his mom was a mere 5-foot 2-inches in height. We must believe somewhere in the genetics of these two families’ there was a grandparent or great grand who might have affected the growth pattern.

Boy, could he trash talk

You can stop reading this if you’ve heard the story! Larry Joe Bird was a notorious trash talker during his playing days. Teammates and opposing players claim, “He’d talk to anyone in ear shot.” He was a prolific shooter and depending on the location he would send the ball boys out, “What’s the scoring record in this gym?” Naturally, he would try to eclipse the record but there was more. The Hawks played the Celtics in New Orleans back in the day, Bird was so hot from the field he began shooting with his left hand.

Bird ended the game scoring 55 points, proof of his scoring ability. We all played H.O.R.S.E. but not in the Bird style, he took a shot and lost his balance falling into the Celtic trainer. Bird’s response, “Off the trainer and off the backboard.” He once asked an opposing player “Did you see that shot (referring to his shot), did your mama see it.” Now in some circles including your mother in any discussion is grounds for a fight. Those are just a few of the Bird stories which have circulated since the Celtic great retired in 1992. Rest assured there are probably hundreds more.

Best of the best-UCLA

Due to the legendary John Wooden UCLA has produced a wealth of basketball talent primarily while he was coach. As with other programs we decide to check out the Top 10 UCLA players all-time. Here goes and see if you agree with the list. 

Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul Jabbar)

Bill Walton

Keith Wilkes (Jamaal)

Sidney Wicks

Gail Goodrich

Walt Hazzard

Marques Johnson

Baron Davis

Reggie Miller

Curtis Rowe

Lucius Allen

I can count, that’s 11 former UCLA players and there are countless others who could have been included. If some of the names are unfamiliar to you look them up.

Which one are you?

Those of us not skilled enough to play the game often become fans of the sport. These Fans come in all varieties, but they share a common trait, due to this sharing I believe they fit in three (3) categories. The first one we cover is the one we often contend is the bandwagon fan, you never hear of them rooting for or discussing the team in conversation. Often when you hear them conversing on the team your first thought might be, “boy I’ve never ever heard them talk about ________.” The second type of fan is one who identifies with the team no matter their won-loss record. He is a proud  ________ Nation Fan, they will defend the team to the max in arguments. Don't say anything disrespectful about their team. 

This can be a college or professional team doesn’t matter, they are loyal to the core no matter. They proclaim, “If I get a cut I bleed (the team colors). The third and last type is the rabid fan, visiting the house you discover they have a room dedicated to their favorite team. In addition, if they attend the game in person, you might see them dressed in all manner of garish costumes designed by them fan to demonstrate loyalty to the team. You could be confused, sometimes fan 2 and fan 3 appear to be the same but they are not. Now that you read this little exercise have you decided what camp you fit in? Maybe you believe there might be more than 3 types of fans and you could be correct too.

Basketball from a fans perspective   

Published Monday through Friday

“I’m back”

The Lakers beat the Nets on Tuesday night 106-96, Anthony Davis returned to action after missing 17 games. Was AD responsible for the win, hardly because he scored but 8 points with 2 rebounds and 4 blocked shots. The win placed the Lakers at .500 again with a 24-24 record besting the Nets who now have a 29-18 won-loss record. With the game being played at Barclays Center there was no Kyrie Irving, he remains unable to play home games for the Nets, this will be my last This will be my last mention of the unvaccinated one unless it involves play.

James Harden led the way for the Nets registering a triple double with 33 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists. With Kevin Durant sidelined Harden was the only offensive weapon for the Nets. With AD back in the lineup are the Lakers prepared for a stretch run the last portion of the season? The question similar to others will remain unanswered for a while, consider this fact. The Lakers were not exactly sitting the world on fire prior to the AD injury, those in Laker Nation are expecting improvement. As for me I’ve adopted the state motto, “I’m from Missouri you’ve got to Show Me.” That’s where the Lakers stand in my book, they remain my team for life, but I expect better play than what I’ve seen this season. Later you will read an account on my grand plan to “fix” the Lakers.

Don’t slay the messenger     

Before we discuss this matter, whether you agree or not the basketball program at each of these institutions has been cited for improprieties by the NCAA. The AP poll places Auburn number one, Arizona three and Kansas five in its Top 25 poll. Let’s check the record, December 10, 2021 “In a case of corruption in men’s basketball, the NCAA largely accepted penalties Auburn imposed on itself after a former assistant coach funneled money to players. Bruce Pearl, the coach of Auburn men’s basketball, was suspended for two games on Friday.” As for Arizona, “Charged with 9 violations in Notice of allegations” the SI headline read. “Five of the charges are Level One violations. Penalties could include multi-year postseason bans and a full-season suspension for Miller.”

The announcement regarding Arizona was published was October 25, 2020. For Kansas basketball it read, “KU received its original notice of allegations on Sept. 23, 2019, as the NCAA Enforcement staff charged the athletic department with seven violations: five for men’s basketball and two for football. Each of the basketball charges were Level I-or the most severe. KU was also cited with lack of institutional control.” All the programs have been identified as guilty of violations yet will likely be in the field invited to the NCAA Tournament. There are coaches throughout the nation with no hint of violations yet because their programs have not succeeded, they are likely to be fired after the season is complete. Do I sound bitter, I hope not but it is time we quit saluting programs for their success when there are background issues? This is written by me however the quotes are from media sources.

Captain Jack

No, this is not a critique of Captain Jack Sparrow and Pirates of the Caribbean. Rather this Captain Jack spent his career in the NBA and his full name is Jack Sikma. Sikma was drafted by the Seattle Sonics with the 8^th pick in round one of the 1977 NBA Draft, he would finish his career with the Bucks in 1991. Now it is difficult to describe his game, he was actually the precursor to Big Man (he was 6 foot 11) shooting from three.     The NBA 3-point line was added in the 1979-80 season, although the 3-point shot was fairly new it was Sikma and not Dirk Nowitzki who perfected it and he would become the first Big Man to shoot it with success.

Sikma had more than 3-point capability as evidence by scoring over 17,000 points during his NBA career. Where did it begin, he arrived in the NBA from Illinois Wesleyan College then a Division III school? Sikma distinguished himself being named All American in 1975, 1976 and 1977. We always talk about centers being poor at the line, which was not the case for Sikma. Lifetime from the line saw him shoot nearly 85%, in the 1987-88 season Sikma was a sizzling 92% from the line. No Hack a _______ here, teams had no desire to place him on the line. Sikma was inducted with the Class of 2019 to the Naismith Hall of Fame.

Canada in the NBA or…

From all indications Toronto in the NBA has been successful, as for the Vancouver Grizzlies less so. The expansion Raptors began play in 1995, the Grizzlies also began play that year. From that point it was onward and upward for Toronto, for Vancouver it was a move to Memphis in 2001. There is no intent to lookback as to why the Grizzlies left for greener pastures but look toward the future. Will the NBA return to Vancouver, Montreal or some other Canadian city? The NBA is looking to expand and finances aside it would be a slam dunk to add a franchise in the same time zone as American cities. This scenario is the basis why European expansion is out of the question in my view. Even with supersonic transportation the time zone issue makes extension to Europe impossible for the near future.

Back to Canada a moment, could interests in Montreal, Calgary, Ottawa or some other city might desire an NBA franchise? This is written by someone who’s only visited Canada once, I have no idea of the basketball interests. This part I know, the Toronto metro is a hot bed for high school basketball but what about the balance of the nation? We checked out the northern border, what about our southern boundary? Exhibition and regular season NBA games have been played in Mexico City in the past. Our Latin American neighbor has a population in excess of 21 million people so attendance should be no problem, the finances would appear to be viable as well. As for both nations the question, is there a grass roots effort to secure an NBA team? We have no answer to that question at the present time.

Basketball from a fans perspective   

Published Monday through Friday

Practice

A light’s out shooter from distance, on the free throw line it becomes a different matter...why? The explanation is simple it’s the belief of many, coaches no longer emphasize shooting free throws. The question might be why, rest assured there is certainly little emphasis at the AAU level. We point the finger at AAU ball, but this trend probably exists at the high school level too. A number of athletes arrive in college with little aptitude for shooting from the line and guess what, it continues on into the NBA for some. How do you become a better free throw shooter, it’s simple practice? Over the years especially in the NBA we’ve witnessed players who were average or below that become better shooters from the line.

What does it take to become a better free throw shooter, “I mean, listen, we’re talking about practice, not a game, not a game, not a game, we talking about practice. Not a game.” Those are the words of Allen Iverson at the time he was a member of the Sixers. He wasn’t discussing free throws, but you get the point, he failed to see the need (in this instance) of practice. There is always a requirement in whatever you do to practice, how do you expect to improve without it? Many fans at the time laughed at Rick Barry when he played for the Warriors & Rockets, Barry shot the ball underhand. They said shooting the ball underhand was girly. As for Barry over his NBA career the lowest he ever shot from the line was his rookie year and that was at 86%. Barry had 7 seasons he shot over 90% from the line.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmAB_iAO_iM

Best of the Best

Who are the 10 best players in KU basketball history? The Kansas school has produced a considerable number of talented players over its 100+ years of basketball history. Many who wore the jersey went on to distinguished careers in the NBA however similar to our earlier account about Mizzou basketball this list is not professionals. This is comprised of the best players in the school’s history no matter if they had an NBA career. There might be unfamiliar names to a number reading this, in addition this list is an opinion. Rest assured there are players someone else might include in their Top 10. One other note, this is list is not in any order.

Wilt Chamberlain 1956-1958

JoJo White 1965-1969

Paul Pierce 1995-1998

Clyde Lovellette 1949-1952

Bill Bridges 1958-1961

Danny Manning 1984-1988

Joel Embiid 2013-2014

Cole Aldrich 2010-2018

Raef LaFrentz 1994-1998

Jacque Vaughn 1993-1997

A friend suggested Ochai Agbaji would soon add his name to the list of Kansas City metro talent, he might soon be on this list too. 

 

Can he play

One of the athletes brought on board at Mizzou was Amari Davis. He’s a 6-foot 2 combo guard who played his first two seasons at Green Bay. The coaching staff viewed Davis as adding needed offense, the only problem he didn’t. Davis boosted his scoring from 15.9 points to 17.2 points a game his freshman and sophomore season at Green Bay, can he play? That certainly was a question since his average at Mizzou was 10.3 points a game, there appeared to be a disconnect here.

Mizzou Nation asked the question, “why is he not putting up numbers close to at least his freshman year?” Can the adjustment from The Horizon League to the SEC be that much more difficult? We had all sorts of questions until January 18, that was the date Davis led Mizzou to victory scoring 23 points in a 78-53 victory over Ole Miss. Not only did he lead in scoring he was 10 for 10 from the floor shooting a blistering 100%. Should we expect this type of production in the future, it would be nice but highly unlikely? The hope for the balance of the season is for Davis to approach numbers near those of his first two seasons at Green Bay.

The NBA’s broadcaster 

Kevin Harlin is not the NBA’s lone broadcaster but is likely the one best known. He started his professional broadcast career at ancient age of 22, fresh out of college at Kansas University he began as the radio/television voice of the Kansas City Kings. From there he began broadcasting KU basketball and in 1985 he would became the radio voice of the NFL Chiefs. Harlin’s work with the Chiefs would last until 1993. It was Wolves of the NBA and then back to the NFL this time in a network capacity. Harlin would go on to announce NFL games for NBC and Fox Sports.

The NBA came a calling once again and he would become a broadcaster for Turner Sports. Although he’s bounce back and forth broadcasting all sports now it is primarily the NBA on TNT. Alternating between the NFL and NBA at a time Harlin joked, “The dog growled at me when I walked in the house, it was so unusual for me to be at home.” One other note, although Harlin was born in Milwaukee we guess because he attended KU, he settled in the Kansas City Metro to marry and raise his family. Although a broadcaster of all sports Harlin is now more closely identified with basketball and especially the NBA now.

Basketball from a fans perspective   

Published Monday through Friday

Anthony Black

Unless you follow high school basketball across the nation or live in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro Anthony Black might be a name unknown to you. Allow a brief explanation, Black is a 6-foot 7 185-pound point guard in his senior year of high school. He may be playing for Duncanville or maybe not based on an upcoming court decision. This is the family dynamics; Black says he considers the Duncanville coach his stepfather. This past year the family moved from Coppell to Duncanville, with the move Black transferred to Duncanville and that is where the problem surfaced. Questions regarding the move saw the youngster bench early in the high school season.   

The athletic association says it’s investigating the purpose regarding the move, was this made strictly for athletic reasons is their question? Black spent the early part of the season on the Duncanville bench but would see action later. As for the athletic association the body will decide in February a course of future activity for Black and Duncanville basketball. Should Black be ruled ineligible not only could he not finish the season Duncanville would be forced to forfeit all the games he would have played. As for his future beyond Duncanville, ESPN.com rates Black a 5-star prospect and he’s got several offers currently. Among just a few schools interested in him playing for them are Alabama, Arizona, Auburn, Duke plus Texas and Oklahoma State. I will attempt to provide a follow up to this story in February.

There are doubts

What do you think about Aikansh Chaudhary’s piece in Fadeaway World.com? He wrote “Chet Holmgren Has A Chance To Be The First White American To Be Drafted No. 1 Overall Since 1977.” In 1977 the Bucks made Indiana's Kent Benson the top pick in the draft that year. As for Holmgren the Gonzaga freshman appears to have made the adjustment from HS basketball to Division I basketball. As this is written these are the numbers put up thus far for Holmgren, 13.6 points, 8.5 rebounds along with 61.8% shooting from the floor. Those are good numbers except for a 7-foot power forward can we say they are only average or maybe slightly below? We expect more from an athlete projected to be the top draft choice in 2022 or any year for that matter.

Holmgren must improve those numbers exponentially if he is expected to be the top draft pick in 2022. At this stage there is serious doubt Holmgren would be the top pick. Understand, no one is questioning his ability he is certainly talented. Now for the last part, that issue Chaudhary raised in his account, is a players race important as it relates to the NBA. We have seen perhaps the most level field of all professional sports as it relates to race in the NBA. In addition, we’ve witnessed all races, creeds and colors fail being drafted in the top slot, Kent Benson was just one of them. He didn’t fail because he was white, he failed because he wasn’t a quality NBA player despite displaying skills at the collegiate level. As for Holmgren, currently the numbers don’t justify him being the top pick in 2022 in my view and it has nothing to do with race.

Best of the Best

ESPN rated the Top 25 high school basketball teams in the nation. At the top of their list was not Oak Hill, Montverde or IMG Academy. The top team week ending January 24 was Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas located in metro Wichita. The school was founded in 1983, it began as a grade school emphasizing academic excellence and Biblical teaching. The school’s website provides us no date when basketball was first introduced.

The school’s produced a number of athletes who went on to attend Division I programs across the nation. Two names of note the Kings Buddy Hield played at Sunrise prior to the University of Oklahoma, Ron Baker first began play at Sunrise prior to play for Wichita State. The school has brought a number of international players to the school and its basketball court. Don’t be surprised in the future to continue hearing the name Sunrise Christian Academy as it relates to talented high school basketball players.

Future NBA Big Men

Recently we wrote of a throwback game between Purdue and Illinois. The game was only given that title because for the first time in recent memory two 7-foot centers were matched against one another. The game featured Zack Edy 7-foot 4 295-pound Purdue center and Illinois’s 7-foot 285-pound Kofi Cockburn. Surely a Big Man battle has occurred in the recent past, but this was unique in more than one instance. Neither of these athletes was shooting from the 3-line, this has been the evolving process of today’s basketball. Big Men drifting out and shooting from distance. Question, what if Kareem Abdul Jabbar had come along in the present age?

A 7-foot talent with a hook shot which couldn’t be blocked i.e., skyhook. Would a coach attempt to develop his talent or relegate him to a secondary role? There are 7-foot centers who certainly could be titled “projects”, despite being in the NBA for two years 7-foot 6 Tacko Fall is just that. We could also add the name of Jamarion Sharp 7-foot 5 Western Kentucky center as a possibility too. The question of a Big Man offense remains unanswered for now it would appear. If we look about there are numerous instances of circles, what was once popular and innovated falls out of favor but returns later. Fashion might be at the top of this list but so too might be Big Man play, it could become prominent again. Don’t misunderstand this account coaches are not searching for the next Kareem or Wilt however one day in the not to distance future Big Man play will become important once again.

Basketball from a fans perspective   

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Memorialized

We don’t cover the woman’s game in this blog very often, it’s not a chauvinist thing its simple. This writer is not as comfortable discussing the game as he is the men's. Despite this fact there are occasions when we must acknowledge an individual or team. Over the weekend came word Lusia Harris died at the age of 66, for those unfamiliar with her just a few notes. Harris playing at Delta State was almost solely responsible for the woman’s game changing and coming to the forefront.

Without Harris there might not be the WNBA or play in Europe for women. How good was Harris, she remains the only woman ever drafted by the NBA? In 1977 the New Orleans Jazz drafted her with we believe the intent to add her to their roster. Needless to say, she never entered the NBA but briefly played professional basketball. Honors, Delta State Hall of Fame, the first woman enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame. Those are just a few of the honors accorded Lusia Harris, a basketball pioneer and the reason the woman’s game has reached its current level, R.I.P. to this basketball pioneer.

My apology

For Nuggets Nation and fans of Nikola Jokic allow me to apologize. Last Friday the exploits of the Sixers Joel Embiid for the last week or so were place in front of you. Near the end I said, “Jokic is the reigning MVP however Embiid might be on an equal plane this season.” Nikola Jokic a.k.a. The Joker was shortchanged by yours truly, he is having another MVP season despite the fact the Nuggets are missing Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr.

We can debate the best center in the NBA however this fragment is clear, the Joker is the best passing Big Man in the NBA. If we check the numbers his 7.5 assists per game places him in 9^th place in the NBA exclusive company for a guy 6 foot 11 and 284 pounds. The 8 in front of him are all point or combo guards, truth is his assist totals are higher than several point guards. His other numbers speak volumes too, nearly 26 points and 13.9 rebounds a game. The Joker exceeds Embiid’s assists 7.5 to 4.2. Now fans of Embiid don’t shoot the messenger I am only looking at stats, it is up to you to debate who is the NBA’s best center.

The coach is hot

Pre-season polls placed Memphis in the Top 25, since those lofty projections the Tigers have come down to earth. We’ve mentioned wunderkind Emoni Bates adjustment (plus his injury) to college basketball has slowed his development. It must be pointed out Bates should be in the spring semester of his senior year of high school. It’s not only Bates, but the team also comprised of freshman has stumbled as evidence of their most recent game. Thursday evening Penny Hardaway’s team was a loser 70-62 to conference rival SMU.

The coach went off on reporters in his post-game press conference apparently tired of responding to his belief many of the questions were not valid. It sounds as if the losing streak has impacted Penny’s vocabulary too as the public witnessed profanities spread throughout the post-game press conference. “The Top 4 scorers have not played together in any of the team’s last 7 after all played in the first 10.” Memphis at full strength has beaten a number of competitive teams and they share the same theme with Mizzou. Just like Mizzou Penny has a team comprised of mostly freshman attempting to make the adjustment from high school basketball to Division I. Later the coach would apologize for his profanity laced press conference. 

Haters be hatin’

I took on the role of defending the late Kobe Bryant, I wasn’t asked to do this but there was a reason. I believed much of the critical remarks read and heard were bogus. “He shoots too much” or “He’s not a team player” or other disparaging assertions made about him. There were a million more folks who loved Bryant over the haters, the problem…the yellers and screamers often took over. After Bryant’s 20-year career concluded in 2016 many of the haters disappeared. They didn’t go away, it’s my belief with no “public” Kobe Bryant the remarks were no longer valid.

They (whomever THEY are) began a search to find a replacement for the ilk they often aimed at Bryant. Within a brief period, the haters uncovered a target, it would become LeBron Raymone James Sr. Unlike Bryant the civic stance often expressed by LeBron made the target on him even larger. He plays NBA basketball at an exceptional level into his late 30’s an accomplishment few have been able to achieve. Before you come to the wrong conclusion ponder this, LeBron is not perfect he’s a human being. His presence causes the media to seek him out and often his view differs from yours. Don’t forget this particularly critical issue, LeBron is entitled to his opinion on a subject matter even if you don’t agree with it.

He’s good

Try as I might no doubt I miss local talent, which is the case with KU’s Ochai Agbaji. We mentioned earlier how Agbaji had flow beneath the radar of most college coaches. If not for the fact he wanted KU’s Bill Self more than the coach wanted him this account would have taken a different direction. In his junior year, the 6-foot 5 215-pound guard is clearly the leader on this KU team. Did anybody have an idea three years ago we’d be looking at Agbaji as a first-round draft choice? The issue for him now is to be drafted by the “right” team, what does that entail? An NBA team Agbaji can be inserted into the starting lineup immediately, if he drafted by a veteran team, he won’t receive the opportunity to play immediately. The most recent example might be LaMelo Ball with the Hornets.

Basketball from a fans perspective   

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Buyer’s remorse

For those who might be unfamiliar with the term Buyer’s remorse it’s explained in this manner. The consumer purchases a thing and later regrets buying the product. That could be the case for the Lakers regarding Russell Westbrook, although acquiring him in a trade wasn’t a purchase it could have been avoided. I remember at the time Westbrook was acquired the talk was the intent to land Buddy Hield from the Kings. Although teams in the same conference are not often trading partners this one looked good. In the NBA, the former University of Oklahoma guard has become a light’s out shooter especially from the three line.

 Acquiring Westbrook caught me unprepared, first the shock and then the question…can this work? Based on his past I concluded at this stage Westbrook wanted to win a championship, becoming a Laker might be his last opportunity. I reasoned he would make the adjustments required to aid in winning it all. This is written on January 20, 2022, the Lakers are no closer to a championship than this time last season. It would be easy to blame Westbrook for the present state of the Lakers, he is not responsible alone but is certainly a factor. Laker management (at least on paper) have given a vote of confidence to Coach Frank Vogel. If Vogel remains in place who goes, apparently that would be Westbrook.

The Golden State

California has the most NBA teams in the nation, of the four only the Warriors are playing particularly good basketball despite a recent short losing streak. As this is written California can state boldly it contains one of the best basketball teams in the nation. As for the others that’s a slightly different story, the Kings of Sacramento have talent however not much movement. As this is written they have 18 wins and 29 losses, they will miss the playoffs for…fans have stopped counting the number. Heading south on Interstate 5 we arrive in Los Angeles; we knew ahead of the season start Kawhi Leonard would be missing for the season.

The absence of Paul George has the Clippers at a standstill, they are not bad but not really good either the Clippers have 22 wins and 24 losses. Perhaps when the walking wounded return, they should compete for a playoff berth however that remains questionable at this time. Finally, the Lakers, the team built to compete for the 2022 NBA Championship. This team faces the same future as their Staples Center mates (sorry it remains Staples to me). With 22 wins and 23 losses they are treading water floundering about.  The shining star for the State of California must be the Warriors, last season it was 50 losses. They are 32-13 and the second-best winning record in the NBA.

Quite an appetite

Wilt Chamberlain the Man, the Myth, the Legend. In this instance we are discussing the Man and his reported appetite. Teammate Jerry West tells the story of visiting Chamberlain’s hotel room when the team was on the road. West claims Chamberlain’s appetite was enormous, if you stand 7 foot 1 and weigh 275 pounds you most likely consume large quantities of food. West claims he saw Chamberlain with 3 giant racks of ribs, 6 7-Up’s, 2 one-pound brisket sandwiches, coleslaw, potato salad, barbequed beans and barbequed chicken. West asked Chamberlain “how are you going to play tomorrow night?” West went on to state Chamberlain recorded 25 rebounds in the game. West claimed there was enough food consumed by Chamberlain that night to feed 10 men.

Portions from basketballnetwork.com

In exclusive company

This focus is an account on Sixer center Joel Embiid, Embiid had a game that placed him in exclusive company. He tied his career high as he scored 50 points against the Magic in a 113-110 Sixer win. Get this he scored the 50 points in 27 minutes of action. Embiid filled the box with his 50 points with 12 rebounds and 3 blocked shots. His season stats, 27.3 points along with 10.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. The assist total provide us proof of Embiid’s ability to share the wealth. Embiid is the second player in Sixer history to record multiple 50-point, 10 rebound games. Chamberlain had 11 of these games while a member of the Sixers. Last season I wrote my belief Embiid had been surpassed by Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets. This statement, Jokic is the reigning MVP however Embiid might be on an equal plane this season.

In case you missed it

When you think of Chicago professional basketball the Bulls are probably your first thought. That’s understandable the expansion Bulls were born in 1966 which makes them 56 years old. America’s Second City has a rich basketball history much of it dating back to the early years of the professional game. Check out these teams and leagues from the early days.

Chicago American Gears-National Basketball League 1944-1947

Chicago Stags-National Basketball Association 1946-1950

Chicago Packers-National Basketball Association (now the Washington Wizards)

Chicago Bruins-American Basketball League I 1925-1955

Chicago Majors-American Basketball League II 1961-1963

There were three other Chicago pro teams, the Rockstars, Skyliners and Soldiers who played in the American Basketball Association. The records provide no proof however it’s believed these were three separate leagues all formed at various times.

Basketball from a fans perspective   

Published Monday through Friday

How about this one?

Numerous times we have news story’s which pose interesting questions, this is one of them. A story broke on Wednesday which sounds interesting, if you’ve not heard the story, we must place it in the category of true points and speculative points, it will be broken down in that manner. Speculation: Ben Simmons is traded to Brooklyn for James Hardin. A trade of this magnitude to occur but with so many moving parts will entail major work on the part of both teams.

True, Hardin did not sign an extension with the Nets. True, Hardin played for Daryl Morey now in Philly and they have a relationship from their days in Houston. Speculation, Hardin is reported to be tired of all the drama surrounding Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. Speculation, if this trade were to occur Simmons would sit out the balance of the season. What occurs should the Nets win the NBA Championship; would Hardin be okay with a trade from a championship team to one (Philly) hoping to win it all.

Timing is everything

It’s been mentioned in the past how important it is to be in the right place at the right time. A further statement might say timing is everything and that always applies. A few of the stories you read in Off the Dribble are not fresh, i.e., historical reports could be written a week ahead of the published date. On the other hand, there are stories in this blog you had no opportunity to read! Why did this occur you might ask, events occurring prior to publication cause the story or parts of it to no longer be precise. In addition to that a closer inspection of the story by the editor (me) might decide “this story is not as relevant as I believed when first written.” Despite the difficulties in attempting to publish this blog the hope is to provide stories of interest regarding the game we all love…basketball.

This is the now  

It was said awhile back an NBA rule change would and allow high school talent in the NBA Draft again. It was further stated Emoni Bates would become the first high school player drafted into the NBA since 2005. That was then this is now; we are into 2022 the NBA rule never changed however the landscape changed from the time Bates was a high school freshman. There is a gigantic difference now versus four years ago. These are not in order of priority just as its written. Option 1, four years ago, the NBA G-League existed but Team Elite did not. As you are aware most members of Team Elite are recent high school graduates, those who the scouts deem NBA ready will be drafted in 2022.

Option 2, we have the National Basketball League of Australia, LaMelo Ball and RJ Hampton left for the land down under after graduation. Both players would become NBA first round draft choices in 2020. Option 3, Overtime Elite or OTE is a startup league beginning in the fall of 2020, the league places no restrictions on entry in fact there is no requirement for a player to have graduated high school. What’s most interesting Euro basketball has never made the impact one might believe? We have change although not the change that might have been anticipated four years ago. In closing the One n Done phase continues to occur, outstanding prospects attend college for one year and then declare for the NBA Draft. Technically this could be considered Option 4 now that players can earn income through Name, Image & Likeness.

The Dream Shake

It’s believed Hakeem Olajuwon was the first athlete from the African continent to play in the NBA. He arrived on these shores from Nigeria in 1980, extremely raw he was red-shirted in the 1980-81 season by the University of Houston. The following season he would become the Cougars 6^th man but wanting to improve his game led him to seek out Moses Malone. Olajuwon would work out during the summer with Malone then playing for the Houston Rockets.

The next few years would see Olajuwon increase his skill in the game for the Cougars and this would extend into his NBA career. He would become a 2X NBA Champion with the Rockets in 1994 and 1995 and 2X Finals MVP. Olajuwon become the man of many moves; he credited these moves to his youth when he played soccer in his native Nigeria. Olajuwon would spend his final NBA season 2000-2001 as a member of the Raptors. As for the “Dream Shake” this is a reminder for some and an introduction to others. For a 7-foot 255-pound athlete Olajuwon had the smoothest moves for a player his size, check out the YouTube video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9J-WJ5739Tg&t=14s

Basketball from a fans perspective   

Published Monday through Friday

Well, he could have said it!

Forrest Gump might say this, “Mizzou basketball is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.” Mizzou men’s basketball has been embarrassing to say the least this season. No one in Mizzou Nation expected this team to win the SEC Championship. What was expected was competitive basketball which hasn’t occurred. There’s been the hot (the win against Alabama 92-86) this game was followed by the cold (the 87-43 loss to Arkansas) which was followed by a 67-64 loss to Texas A&M.

What could be expected Tuesday as Mizzou faced Ole Miss at home. What was expected and the actual occurrence were far different, Mizzou won 78-53. Analyst Jimmy Dykes pointed to a fact, “Mizzou is not a good 3-point shooting team, practically all the shots in this game were of the 2-point variety.” It should also be of note the transfers Boogie Coleman, Amari Davis along with holdover Kobe Brown led the way to victory. Davis made every shot he took from the floor, 10 for 10 with 23 points. Coleman only scored 8 points but had 13 rebounds and 7 assists, Brown would add 15 points. As a team Mizzou shot 62.7% from the floor, should we expect this every future game? It sure would be nice although there are serious doubts.

We cannot save him

Laker coach Frank Vogel is on the hot seat, you say “tell me something I didn’t know!” The bonfire under the coach’s feet has continued to grow as the Lakers won-loss record continues to go south. Is the problem Vogel, of course not however as they often say, “It’s easier to fire the manager (coach) than to fire the team?” There have been few positives in what was anticipated to be a championship season. There are bunches of reasons why this Laker team’s not played at the level it should, if they were all listed it would appear an excuse. That is not the case here, excuses only work for those offering them. There are positives, LeBron James has defied logic.

Logic says he should not be playing at this level at age 37 but he’s LeBron. Another shining star has been Stanley Johnson, the 6 foot 7 forward recently signed his 3^rd 10-day contract something which doesn’t happen often, more on Johnson in a related account below. LeBron is impressed by Johnson’s game. Another bright light is Austin Reaves, the 6-foot 5 guard who told the NBA “don’t draft me, I’ll pick my own team.” That team turned out to be the Lakers and in a reserve role Reaves has been invaluable this season. Finally, we close with Malik Monk picked up from the Hornets in the off season. Monk has become that sniper who is valuable to a team. In closing allow this statement, I’m not in the fire Vogel camp however something drastic must be done if this Laker team intends to earn a playoff berth.

The name

His government name is Temetrius Jamel Morant, we are unsure when the youngster first picked up his nickname. The basketball world first saw the brilliant point guard while he played at Murray State, we learned his name was Jae we guess this was a take on his middle name, Jamel. He played in the NBA in his first two years with that spelling, year three would see a change. The spelling of his name would be shortened in year three in the NBA.

Now we have another change, his nickname has been shorten once again. The pronunciation of his name remains the same however the e has been dropped, it’s now written as Ja. Years ago, when I attended high school, I had a teacher who explained it this manner. “You (students) have the right to pronounce (or spell we guess) your name any way you wish.” Was this change in the spelling to Ja made by those in the media or did the owner decide to make the alteration to his nickname…inquiring minds want to know.

Timing

We’ve heard for ages timing is everything, being in the right place at the right time. Is the latest example of this adage the Lakers Stanley Johnson? The 6-foot 7 242-pound Johnson has now signed his 3^rd 10 day contract a highly unusual accomplishment. It’s been reported previously LeBron James likes him on the court as a teammate. He might never become a star however we believed the potential was there. 2014 McDonald’s All American, 2014 California Mr. Basketball, 2014 First Team All American Parade Magazine so the potential was there early.

Johnson would head to Arizona for a year and then declare for the NBA Draft. The Pistons would make him the 8^th pick in the first round of the 2015 draft, from that point on he was “missing.” Missing in that he began the bounce, moving from team to team. Two G-League stops along with time spent with the Pistons, Pelicans, Raptors and finally the Lakers. There is no prediction of future stardom or anything that glorious, however value in a player is not always in points scored, rebounds or assists. Sometimes it’s the trivial things fans sometimes don’t see, the things that cause a LeBron James to praise a teammate. Does Johnson remain a Laker through the end of the season, we shall see?

Didn’t you use to be Shabazz Muhammad?

Actually, his name remains the same it’s just the fact he’s no longer in the NBA. At Bishop Gorman HS in Las Vegas Muhammad was all everything, Mr. Basketball and Naismith Player of the Year in 2012. He was also a McDonald’s All American and the game’s MVP plus he was First Team Parade Magazine All American 2012. Muhammad would attend UCLA for his freshman season and then declare for the NBA Draft. He was made the 14^th pick in the first round of the 2013 draft by the Jazz who traded his rights to the Bucks.

From this point on his hopes for an NBA career were dashed by a series of injuries, it seemed he couldn’t remain healthy enough to stay on the court. Muhammad was waived by the Bucks in October 2018, he then signed with the Shanxi Brave Dragons of the Chinese Basketball Association. In 2019 Muhammad signed with the Shenzhen Aviators also in China. Last month he signed with the Grand Rapid Gold of the G-League in an attempt to return to the NBA. Here’s hoping the 6-foot 6 222-pound shooting guard can return to the form he displayed early in his youth, the form that tagged him as a “can’t miss” NBA prospect.

Basketball from a fans perspective   

Published Monday through Friday

A throwback game

This Martin Luther King Holiday one of the many games scheduled could be considered a throwback to a previous era. The game featured a rarity, two Big Men battling for supremacy in the middle. No, it wasn’t Chamberlain against Abdul Jabbar nor was it Thurmond against Bellamy, it was Purdue versus Illinois. Illinois Big Man Kofi Cockburn 7 feet 285 pounds facing Purdue Big Man Zack Edey 7 foot 4 295 pounds. We might also state it was Jamacia (Cockburn) against Canada (Edey).

Purdue was the winner in double OT, Edey was the winner in both instances, he outdueled Cockburn 20 points to 10. In addition, Edey totaled 8 rebounds to Cockburn’s 5 and finally the winner. Number 4 Purdue took down 17 Illinois 96-88. No, it wasn’t a throwback game in the traditional sense, this match between Big 1G rivals featured 3-point shooting something that didn’t exist in the days of Chamberlain and Abdul Jabbar. Check out an earlier written account below on Big Man Cockburn and the possibility of his NBA future.

We didn’t expect this

At the beginning of the NBA season the “experts” laid out their view of the 2022 NBA Champion. Most said the Nets would be crowned champions while others thought it would be the Lakers. Smaller numbers picked last season’s finalist the Suns, others figured the Bucks would repeat. Finally, there was an even smaller number picking the Warriors, they believed with Steph getting help from Klay Thompson, well you get the picture. Bet none of them picked the Grizzlies to win it all, at this writing we have three teams with 30+ wins, the Suns, Warriors and the GRIZZLIES!

Yes, the team from The Home of the Blues is playing with the Big Boys and performing well. Other than Ja Morant the Grizz remain somewhat of an unknown team, but they know how to play the game. Most of us don’t know the head coaches name, he is Taylor Jenkins and he’s been on the job since 2019. Taylor has served as an assistant in the G-League and with the NBA Hawks and Bucks, at 37 he is the second youngest head coach in the NBA. You don’t win 11 games in a row as the Grizz did recently without having an effective team. We are getting ahead of ourselves; the Grizzlies might not become NBA Champions however we can say in 2021-22 they are authentic.

Almost

Mizzou almost beat A&M however almost certainly cannot be considered satisfactory. After roaring out to a lead against the Texas school they would lose the lead and eventually the game 67-64. “Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades” is the quote familiar to some. “Being nearly successful or accurate is not the same as being successful or accurate; being close to achieving something does not provide any benefit.” At the present Georgia appears to be the only SEC team Mizzou might be capable of beating. There might be a win or two ahead like Alabama however upsets (which they would be) are impossible to project. The road ahead for Mizzou appears chock full of land mines with Alabama, Auburn, non-conference Iowa State and A&M again in the immediate future.

Is there a place for him?

The “him” is Illinois Big Man Kofi (KO fee) Cockburn (Co-burn) at the University of Illinois. Cockburn stands 7 feet tall and checks in at 285 pounds, so he qualifies as a Big Man. Is he a potential NBA prospect in today’s NBA with the emphasis on small ball and 3-point shooting? As this is written the youngster from Jamaica is scoring at nearly a 22 point and 13 rebound a game clip. On top of his efficient scoring and rebounding he is shooting a blistering 62% from the floor. One report indicates Cockburn is a 2^nd round draft prospect, “Needs to improve his face-up game.

Must extend his shooting range” is one scouting report, this from another. “Overall, he’s not the most natural fit in today’s NBA but he’s such a powerful presence on the floor that he’ll find a way to make his mark. Look for him to rise up draft boards.” Two scouting reports detailing the adverse side, this was done on purpose for a simple reason. The positives expressed by scouts exceed the negatives expressed. On July 29 will the commissioner or his deputy will step to the podium and say, “With the ___________ pick in the 2022 draft the __________ select Kofi Cockburn from the University of Illinois.”

Las Vegas vs. Kansas City

The question is when, the NBA will expand to 32 teams? After failing to entertain the question under the late David Stern his successor Adam Silver indicates expansion is/has been under discussion. Seattle will get the first franchise that’s a slam dunk no requirement for further discussion on the matter. Why are we discussing it now, it’s come up again as 2021 ends and we move into 2022? As for the competition Las Vegas has several advantages over Kansas City. First Las Vegas has served as host for NBA Summer League play for umpteen number of years something Kansas City cannot claim. According to reports the median income in Vegas is about $2,000 more annually than in Kansas City. The city is new to the professional ranks with the NHL Golden Knights coming into existence in 2017 and the NFL Raiders moving to the area in 2020.

Despite the longtime connection to the NBA reports indicate there is no grassroots effort to secure a franchise for Las Vegas. As for Kansas City its record supporting the NFL Chiefs, MLB Royals and MLS Sporting Kansas City is established, in addition there are plans in place to build a stadium exclusively for women’s soccer. The two cities are even in at least two aspects, 1. both have NBA ready arenas and 2. oddly the arenas have the same corporate name T-Mobile in front of the entrance. Finally in closing there is a grassroots organization in place to secure a franchise for Kansas City. All the city requires is for a billionaire to step to the forefront. Could it be Royals owner John Sherman who was relatively unknown or well-known Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes? On the other hand, it could be a name unfamiliar to all. Anytime we begin this type of discussion it’s always believed we are talking expansion team. This team for Seattle, Las Vegas or Kansas City could be an existing franchise, could it be New Orleans or an unknown?

Basketball from a fans perspective   

Published Monday through Friday

Single minded  

This account is being repeated for those who might not be aware or ask the question, a writer wanted to know how Ochai Agbaji a Kansas City basketball product came to choose Kansas. The explanation is simple Agbaji wanted Bill Self and Kansas basketball more than Mizzou. On the other hand, Mizzou might not have made much of an effort to recruit him, Agbaji wasn’t considered a high-profile prospect while enrolled at Oak Park HS. He arrives at Kansas as a redshirt prospect, even the coaching staff believed the 6-foot 5 shooting guard needed work. It just so happened Kansas had a down year and were desperate for help on the court, Agbaji’s “red shirt” was taken off and he began play as a freshman.

That first season, he finished with 8.5 points a game but displayed his budding talent in all areas. By his sophomore season he raised that scoring to 10.0, he ended his junior year at 14.1 points per game and a declaration for the NBA Draft. Fortunately for Kansas basketball Agbaji would withdraw his name and return to school in the fall. In his senior year, the scoring has risen to almost 22 points a game and he is the clear leader of this Jayhawk team. Is the NBA in Agbaji’s future, that certainly appears to be the case, he’s moved from a possible 2^nd round pick into the first round in at least two mock draft sites? Will Agbaji hear his name called in the NBA June draft, we don’t know that to be a fact. So, thus the story how a relatively unknown Kansas City kid came to be enrolled at Kansas rather than Mizzou. In addition, how he managed to blossom into a genuine NBA prospect.

Nets drama continues

The Nets have dealt with no Kyrie Irving since the beginning of the season based on his anti vax stance. They finally relented and decided he could play on the road and practice with the team. (See a related Irving account below) Now for the latest news, on Sunday the team announced Kevin Durant had suffered a sprained MCL in his left knee. The preliminary indication is Durant will be out a minimum of 4 weeks, but it could be up to 6. We acknowledge the fact he’s been the offense for the Nets this season with James Harden playing up and down. So, we shall see what prevails over the next few weeks with a part-time Irving and Harden forced to expand their roles.

Hot dog

According to the dictionary the word hot dog has more than one definition. For our purposes, the main focus will be on two.

“A frankfurter, especially one served hot in a long, soft roll and topped with various condiments.”

Informal-North American

“A person who shows off, especially a skier or surfer who performs stunts or tricks.”

It’s interesting the second definition is informal and likely used in North America more than other parts of the world. The definition says “a skier or surfer” it’s my contention the term could also be applied to any athlete, and it’s been used in the past to describe a few basketball players. There have been plenty of Big Men passers but for purposes of this discussion we feature point guards only. There was Pistol Pete Maravich, Maravich toned his game a bit in the NBA but the “hot dog” in him continued to exist throughout his NBA career. Later Earvin Johnson arrived in the NBA from Michigan State, he was nicknamed Magic for one reason.

It was Magic’s basketball handle; many of the no look passes the late Chick Hearn would describe some of them as “dipsy doo” whatever that meant. In 1998 the Kings drafted Jason Williams from the University of Florida, J-Will or White Chocolate was also a magician with the basketball as he zipped passes to his teammates. The point, the NBA’s always contained a player usually a guard with an unusual flair for passing the basketball. Currently we have Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball who is the best of the best with his nifty passes, he might also be considered the best “hot dog” performer in the NBA. Purest of the game detest the behind the back or no look passes, I say bring it on I love it. Check out the YouTube videos below for evidence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nBAv8dIVe8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhJYZo6ZSKQ

He’s got a point

You know if you’ve read this blog over the past few weeks this writer has been rather critical of the Nets Kyrie Irving. I considered him being shortsighted in his anti vax stance, during a conversation with a friend he defended Irving and I had to admit my friend made a valid point. When I voiced my concern about Irving this is what I got back. “At least he’s not doing an Aaron Rogers, (Green Bay QB) lying about his condition, Kyrie’s been up front with his view on the vaccine.” I thought a moment and concluded he is right, there was no question, Irving didn’t lie he told the truth even though guys like me didn’t appreciate his opinion.

Big House

Big House was only his nickname, his full name was Clarence Edward Gaines Jr. We might ask the question how did he acquire the nickname, as a 6-foot 3 265-pound football player he was given the tag “Big House” while playing at Morgan State? Gaines found time to play basketball and even played the trumpet in high school. How did he become known more associated for basketball than football is an easy explanation? At the time he first began coaching at Winston-Salem there was a single coach for all sports, Gaines coached football and basketball.

In 1949 he quit coaching football to concentrate on basketball alone. Gaines was head coach for the Winston-Salem Rams from 1946 to the 1993 season, he would lead the Rams to 18 20-win seasons. His 1967 team was Division II NCAA Champions, this along with a sparkling win-loss record of 828 wins and 447 losses. The coach became a legend long before he retired in 1993, Gaines was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1986 and the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006. This but a brief look at one of the games great coaches and one who few might be familiar with. There is much more information on the honors and impact made on the college basketball game. Gaines died in 2005 at the age of 81 from a stroke, R.I.P. coach.