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Basketball from a fans perspective

This is what occurs

My son-in-law put me on the spot earlier in the week, he said, “Who wins the basketball game between Mizzou and Kansas?” I really have no idea however I tried to make an assessment or snapshot of what I believe to be the breakdown of various aspects of this game. No analytics were involved in this estimation I don’t comprehend that stuff; after consideration of various features of each team this is what I foresee. 

Coaching advantage KU, the veteran Bill Self facing Dennis Gates, the Mizzou coach appears to be a good hire however this will be his first true test in a big-time game. We have no idea how Gates will coach in a close game; he might have done this at Cleveland State, but we just don’t know. Interesting that both head coaches have a connection to Leonard Hamilton longtime Florida State head coach. From 1986-1990 Self was an assistant coach for Hamilton. 2004-2005 and 2011-2019 Gates served in the same capacity, assistant coach for Hamilton.

Defense advantage Mizzou, among the teams KU has beaten are Duke and Southern Utah. In both games the Jayhawks won close matches mostly due to their defensive effort. In their only loss Tennessee beat KU playing tough belly button to belly button defense and outshooting the Jayhawks. Expect the veteran Mizzou team to attempt the same, hold Jayhawks shooting below their standard.

Offense even, KU can score the ball but so can Mizzou. Kansas is averaging 77.7 points per game shooting 47% from the floor. As for Mizzou in their “weak” non-conference schedule the Tigers are scoring at a 93 point per game clip shooting 52% from the floor. KU averages 18 assists and Mizzou 21.6 assists a game. KU is 35.75 while Mizzou is 35.00% from the 3pt line. 

Bench advantage Mizzou, the Jayhawks while certainly talented cannot go much past 6 or 7 players. Is it the “soft schedule” played or something else at work, during the 9-game winning streak the majority of games we’ve often seen Mizzou send out 9 to 11 players on the court.

Intangibles advantage Mizzou, two issues the baby Jayhawks will be playing before a rambunctious Mizzou crowd. They must be able to neutralize the hostile environment of Mizzou Arena including the Antlers. Mizzou is a “spliced-together” team, i.e. a bunch of 5^th year players and seniors facing a young KU team. Can the veteran Mizzou presence overcome the talented but youthful Jayhawks?

Who wins-KU should win the game although I’m going to follow the Jamie Fox line from his BetMGM commercial. Mila Kunis approaches Fox and says, “I’ve got a tip for you, always go with your gut, Fox then says, “I like that (and yells at the gathering) lets go with our gut.” Mizzou wins by the slimmest of margins so it will likely be under 10 points. On the other hand if Kansas should win, I’ll be proven wrong, but consider this fact Las Vegas is also incorrect at times and those guys are paid certified professionals.

No, they are yet to turn the corner

I tried to not become too excited, over the past week or 10 games. The Lakers with all hands-on deck were playing good basketball. There was a smile on my face and then it occurred. First it was Anthony Davis who missed games having contracted flu, then it was LeBron. LeBron tweaked his ankle, and he too was out. I’m not a fan of Patrick Beverley but he too was out action. I have no idea where this Laker team is headed but without injury or illness they are going to remain exactly where they are.

I’m beginning to wonder if it might be time to “blow up” this team. A viable trade is the first belief on my part, second to that determine if youngsters (Troy Brown Jr., Max Christie, Scotty Pippen Jr. & Wenyen Gabriel) plus others can play major minutes for the Lakers. I have no control over anything the Lakers might do, where I sit there is no evidence of progress. Darvin Ham is yet to be proven a viable head coach however the general belief he needs time. It is clear Anthony Davis when healthy is a talent, as for LeBron James he needs less minutes on the court which I’m sure might be displeasing to him. Despite my complaint I will continue to support MY Lakers no matter the record.

Another career in his future

Most of us have seen Boban Marjanoic’ in action, after all the Serbian Big Man has played for 6 NBA teams over his 7-year career. As for the headline I speak of, it’s not on the basketball court, this 7-foot 4 290-pound Boban is a star in a manner few would have figured. The future for him is in front of a television or movie camera, the guy seems to be a natural. I’m not sure where it began i.e. the film career. He’s made a series of continuing commercials for State Farm Insurance

In addition he can be spotted in the movie John Wick Chapter 3-Parabellim. He portrayed a villain who fought the John Wick character in the library scene. Boban was also seen in the Netflix movie Hustle with LeBron James and Adam Sandler. He's filmed a series of commercials for the fish-shaped cracker Goldfish with former teammate Tobias Harris. He and Harris have become friends as both have been traded twice and landed on the same team. It’s really very easy to spot Boban…if he’s standing look for the tallest guy on the screen.

I love me some Austin Reaves

“Don’t draft me I want to select my own NBA team” or similar words were expressed by Austin Reaves in the spring of 2021. He made this pronouncement shortly before the 2021 NBA draft would occur, sure enough heeding his word not a single team drafted him. The 6-foot 5-inch combo guard decided in favor of the chose Lakers signing a 2-way free agent contract. Reaves is no SoCal guy, he was born in Arkansas and played for Wichita State and Oklahoma prior to the NBA. 

As you are aware last season was not a good one for the Lakers however for Reaves it was different story. He played in 61 games and started 19 as a rookie. He shot a respectable 46% from the floor and 32% from three for last year’s team. Near the end of last season Reaves registered a triple double with 31 points 16 rebounds and 10 assists. In his sophomore term we’ve seen him in both a starter and reserve role, we have seen Reaves raise his numbers over his rookie season. His teammates especially LeBron James love his hustle and all-around ability. I love his moxie as a rookie telling all NBA teams his intention to choose his team rather than the other way around.