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Basketball from a fans perspective

Stretch run

Gary Parrish CBS Sports confirmed what I’d written weeks ago. His words (paraphrased) “Mizzou (and Kansas State) played an adjusted schedule based on new coaches taking over. Dennis Gates and Jerome Tang worked their schedule to condition their teams to win.” I took the words of Parrish as I looked at the road ahead for Mizzou. Sidebar, this week’s KenPom has Mizzou rated number 59 in the nation which is certainly much better than most of us might have figured.

As for the recent past and present, the game and win against UCF was certainly a tough nut but nothing like the stretch run Mizzou must now face. In parenthesis are the Top 25 teams Mizzou will face beginning Thursday in the annual Braggin’ Rights game. Mizzou will face (16) Illinois, following that game will be (19) Kentucky, (10) Arkansas and Vanderbilt. No doubt they have a mountain in front of them, can they win? Of course they can, Mizzou has a roster of players who believe in themselves and trust coach Gates. It would be stupid for me to claim they will be winners in all four matches, the hope is competitive basketball.  

I knew it wouldn’t be long

At the time John Sherman purchased the baseball Royals he was an unknown name. We have the same situation in the NBA today, Mat Ishiba agrees to purchase the Suns for $4 billion. Ishiba is a billionaire mortgage lender and although his name is unknown to most of us its claimed many in the NBA are familiar with him. Why were the Suns placed on the market, you might remember commissioner Silver suspended former owner Robert Sarver. Rather than serve out a suspension Sarver decided to place the Suns on the market.

Without checking I cannot be sure of a start date, but this has also been mentioned. I can’t make the statement about other sports, as for the NBA its different. I can only think of one instance an NBA team remained on the market an extended period of time. The instance cited involved an owners death and sale of the team was delayed due to this issue. The information indicates Ishiba’s business is headquartered in Michigan, so we guess that’s where he lives. There is an additional item of interest, a report indicates Ishiba was a walk-on athlete for Tom Izzo at Michigan State and a member of the 2000 NCAA Championship team.

Top 25 by conference

The week of 12/19 the Top 25 by conference, this is no indication of conference strength strictly the numbers: 

1 West Coast

4 ACC

6 SEC

4 Big XII

4 Big10

2 Big East

1 American Athletic

3 Pac-12

Mexico City is ahead of Kansas City

Over the weekend the Spurs and Heat played a game in Mexico City. 20,160 fans were in Arena Ciudad de Mexico as the Heat beat the Spurs 111-101. Commissioner Silver indicated “one day Mexico City could have an NBA expansion team.” He’s never made a statement like that about St. Louis, San Diego, Vancouver or Kansas City or any other city to my knowledge. We must guess Mexico City’s moved in front of all those excepting Seattle and Las Vegas. Is it a bother for me, yes, it is and allow a brief explanation. The NBA can look at Mexico City or another Canadian city for expansion but why not explore all those in this nation first. I only caught a small tidbit on NBA TV unaware the game was being nationally telecast. As for the crowd it was difficult for me to judge because neither team represented a true home team. 

Zion

When healthy he can be a force on the basketball court. I speak of Zion Williamson Pelicans power forward, according to roster he checks in at 6 foot 6 inches in height and 284 pounds. A number of folks have stated since his NBA debut “He needs to lose weight, “one of the legion of critics was former NBA player Charles Barkley. As a reminder the Round Mound of Rebound also was the same height but weighed considerably less at 252 pounds. The running, jumping and general play of an NBA game can and does impact the legs, knees and feet.

Williamson now in his third year has seriously been impacted by the injury bug, boy when healthy he’s been amazing. Yes, when he’s able to play he’s been a monster on the basketball court. As for the weight issue that’s between him and his trainer, it’s not Barkley’s call or anyone else for that matter. This issue aside Williamson is now leading this team to a higher plain. As this is written the Pelicans have an 18-10 record and sit in second place in the Western Conference. The NBA season is lengthy, it remains to be seen if they can continue to play exemplary basketball.