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Basketball from a fans perspective

Best ever

I had no idea what to expect, Mizzou was coming off a tough win against UCF. Illinois came into the game the number 16 team in the nation so you can see my concern. My hope was a good game and hopefully a Mizzou win. This Tiger team gave me so much more than I expected as they ran past Illinois winning the game 93-71. How did they win, outstanding shooting from the floor 59% from the floor and 50% from 3pt? 

They added 23 assists and 13 steals against Illinois at one point in the game the Tigers had a 35 points lead and that was the scoring in another area. The Tigers scored an astounding 35 points off of Illinois turnovers. Senior Kobe Brown led the way with 31 points and 8 assists but it was a team effort by these Tigers. They played belly button defense on Illinois holding them to 40% shooting from the floor. Mizzou came close to playing as perfect game as possible, the team plus Mizzou Nation has 24 hours to celebrate the victory because always tough Kentucky is next as SEC play begins. 

51 years ago

It was December 22, 1971, the Lakers beat the Baltimore Bullets (Wizards) 127-120. The win became number 27 in a row breaking the professional team win record established by the 1916 New York (San Francisco) Giants.  That 1971-72 Laker team might have been the best NBA team in history despite the fact the Celtics had won more championships at the time. That team had Wilt Chamberlain-center, Elgin Baylor-small forward, Hap Hairston-power forward, Jerry West-guard and Gail Goodrich-guard.  

Envision this, four of the five starters on this Laker team are enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame. I’m unsure without research if any other team might have contained a similar lineup with the exception of the Celtics. From that December 22 game they would go on to win 33 games in a row establishing the current record. Since 1972 no professional team in any sport has broken that record. The 2012-13 LeBron led Heat came close, they won 27 games in a row before their streak ended. Back to the Lakers, that team finished with a 69-13 record which has since been eclipsed by the Bulls and Warriors.

What I’d like to see

We see and some attend a number of tournament games early in the non-conference portion of the season. It’s likely to never occur however I’d like to see Division I teams in Missouri play a round robin tournament during the non-conference portion of their season. One year the tournament could be played in Kansas City, the following season it would be held in St. Louis. How it would be set up I am unable to offer any plans in advance, I would leave that to those who do that kind of stuff.

It would be great to see these teams play one another which almost never occurs. Mizzou’s played Southeast Missouri State and University of MO-Kansas City in the recent past but never the others. The “others”, Southeast Missouri State, St. Louis University and UMKC. Could it occur, of course its certainly possible. I believe without offering any proof it would be well attended. Does it sound feasible to you, it does to me?

Eastern domination

Is the NBA following the lead of the NFL, that parity thing. Generally speaking we always see the Western Conference as the dominant one. Don’t get me wrong there are very good teams in both conferences, but this season is different. In the east we have four teams with 20 or more wins, Bucks, Celtics, Cavs and Nets. Checking out the Western Conference we have none, the leaders are Nuggets, Grizzlies, Suns and Clippers with 19 each. 

This is really not critical in a sense we have ¾ of the NBA season remaining. Usually by Christmas one or two Western Conference teams are playing dominant basketball, this is a distinctive season. The defending champion Warriors suffering injuries and other stuff have been spanked big time. The Lakers also expected to contend in the Western Conference cannot seem to get out of their own way. Despite the unusual standings there is still ample time for each of the Western Conference teams mentioned and perhaps others to improve their win-loss records.   

I don’t hate KU basketball

Many friends and associates perhaps some reading the blog look at the headline and say Yaa. Contrary to popular belief that is not the case, the historical record of KU basketball has been exemplary. The small cadre of head coaches allowing them to attain the degree of success cannot be compared anywhere in the nation. I have no deep issues with anyone playing for KU with the exception of Paul Pierce. As for Pierce it’s actually an incident while a member of the Celtics involving my Lakers. In my opinion maybe the best player ever matriculated at KU…Wilt Chamberlain. I have two issues which continue and cause me to look at the school side eyed. The coach, Bill Self and the small number of arrogant students, alumni and fans. Self for his downright refusal to play Mizzou after the Tigers left the Big XII.

As I’ve pointed out on more than one occasion Nebraska and Colorado two border states also left the conference, they departed a year prior to Mizzou. I cannot remember the other school, but I read Rutgers and this unidentified school changed conferences. Because they were such fierce rivals, they scheduled a home and home (similar to what Mizzou and Kansas are doing currently). Immediately after leaving the Big XII I approached a KU fan with my belief, and this is what he said. ‘If Missouri got in the NCAA more often, they might have a chance to play Kansas.’ I realize this was one individual however it’s my belief there are a small minority of fans who possess similar arrogant attitudes toward Mizzou basketball. In closing I get it; KU is either second or third in all-time wins which speaks highly of the program. One of the coaches was the guy who invented the game. Despite these facts come down to earth, everybody fails to see KU basketball as highly regarded as you see yourself.