Basketball from a fans perspective

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When it rains it pours

The old adage simply states when life events turn negative sometimes additional one’s pile on top of the others. That might be the case for Emoni Bates, the high school phenom once projected to be NBA ready at the end of his senior year of high school. I’ve mentioned at least one scout claimed Bates would be ready if the league rescinded its age limit. In any event Bates decided to re-classify and graduated high school early. After pledging to Michigan State, he decided on Memphis, at Memphis his freshman season was up and down mostly down. An injury while enrolled at the school didn’t help but his play on the court left a great deal to be desired.

After the school year was complete, Bates returned home and decided to enroll at Eastern Michigan. On Sunday evening a routine traffic stop uncovered a concealed weapon, he was arrested and faces two felony charges the concealed weapon and altered ID on the weapon. A lawyer for Bates claims he was driving a borrowed vehicle and the gun was already in the vehicle when he begin driving. As you might anticipate Bates been suspended by the university pending the outcome of charges. Friends this is not the end of the world for the young man, but it seems one thing after another after another continues to impede his path. Most I believe he’s got a measure of control and others not so much. As I told a friend if Bates intends to have any kind of basketball career, he’s got to make wiser decisions going forward.

Did you know?

The Globetrotters actually borrowed the name Harlem, the team was founded in 1926 in Chicago, they never played in Harlem until 1968. We must return to a time when segregation was the norm for America. Abe Saperstein a Jew was founder, owner and early coach of the team. The Trotters would schedule games all over the Midwest when first founded, many of the towns had a predominately white population and Saperstein wanted the residents to be aware they would be seeing an all-black team on the basketball court. The majority of black basketball players coming out of college would play for the Trotters due to segregation of the races that existed at the time.

Prior to World War II there existed a number of black and white teams although segregation was still the norm for the nation. It’s been reported after the NBA began allowing black players a large number continued to be attracted by the Trotters. Back to Saperstein it’s been mentioned previously the NBA was “minor-league” back then compared to the Trotters. NBA teams would often play double-headers inviting the Trotters and hoping the crowd would remain for the NBA game. Later Saperstein would go to war with the NBA based on what he believed was a handshake agreement. The NBA during that period was an east coast and Midwest league, Saperstein believed he was promised a franchise in California.

First it was the Lakers moving to Los Angeles in 1960 and then the Warriors to San Francisco in 1962 the largest markets in the state. So, what did Saperstein do, he formed his own league the American Basketball League, owned the Chicago franchise and was the leagues commissioner. The ABL underfinanced and no television contract would close shop after one and a half seasons. Years later many cynics would emerge regarding Saperstein regarding payments to his players and other issues. Despite the negatives there is no doubt Abe Saperstein played a key role in the growth of basketball and perhaps even black players being infused into the NBA. In 1971 Saperstein was enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame for his contributions to the game, he died of a heart attack in 1966 at the age of 63.

They attacked me

Several acquaintances expressed shock and disbelief reading my “Did you know” story on Wednesday September 14^th. “I can’t believe you’d write a story about Kansas basketball but fail to cover Mizzou.” I was threatened with expulsion from Mizzou Nation, at least two folks asked for my card. Okay I admit it the truth has been stretched a bit but not totally. I was asked “Why nothing on Mizzou” and the response is simple? I really don’t know at this point, early on with the Dennis Gates hire and recruitment I was excited. The coach hit the ground running, he got a de-commit to re-commit and that athlete is now in Columbia. That would be Aiden Shaw 6-foot 8 small forward and 4-star prospect from the Kansas City Metro.

In addition, Gates and staff managed to secure a number of other prospects including 6-foot 5 shooting guard Isiaih Mosley from Columbia. Mosley should have been at Mizzou all along but that’s another story. We are in the waiting period to see what develops with the coach and his program. There is only so much to write about when Mizzou is yet to play its first game with Gates in place. Truth is this, I don’t believe we can tell anything about the coach or the team until mid-February. By then we can do a sanity check and determine if it’s thumbs up or thumbs down on the season. If this account appears negative far from it, I remain excited but unsure what Mizzou Nation will see on the floor this fall and winter. Despite my hesitancy I remain a loyal part of the program and my hope for desire is a winning program, I’m out.

I like him

NBA Summer League I always look for a particular Laker player. One season it was Lonzo Ball although Kyle Kuzma outplayed Ball in my view. This past summer there were a two or three that stood out for me however that one player wasn’t drafted he signed as a free agent. That free agent Scotty Pippen Jr. was impressive at times during summer league play, he arrives in the NBA after three years at Vanderbilt. Pippen Jr. might be a long shot to earn a roster spot since he’s on a two-way contract. I’d sure like to see him when the Lakers open the season next month, is it that time already?

Pippen Jr.’s got size (6 foot 3) to play the point and a slim 170 pounds, it wouldn’t hurt to add a few more pounds in his case. I ain’t got the eye of a scout but one of the areas I saw requiring improvement is penetration, several games he got in trouble by over penetrating. Although he’s listed as a point guard similar to many of today’s players, he might be nearer to a combo guard. Pippen Jr. has a nice little tear drop similar to Tony Parker. His 3-point shot might be described as a work in progress. Overall Pippen Jr. will likely spend the season with the South Bay Lakers although it would be nice in my view to see him with the parent club.