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Basketball from a fans perspective

Oh no

Alabama is the number 4 team in the nation, we knew that going into the game. Nate Oats might have the best team in the nation however Mizzou had an early issue. Mizzou’s Kobe Brown was a scratch due to an ankle injury, what could they do against the Crimson Tide without the scoring and defense of Brown? Bama would be the winner 85-64 over Mizzou, with that out of the way allow me to get to the upside. I’m a “glass half full guy rather than half empty” so you can quit reading at this point if you desire. The good, 6-foot 10-inch Mohamed Diarra would come off the bench and score 8 points and snatch 12 rebounds. For those who might not be familiar with his name Diarra arrived from Montreuil a town in France.

Once in this country Diarra would enroll at Garden City Community College. Prior to his arrival Diarra was Co-Defensive Player of the Year in the KJCCC last season and in 2021 Kansas Jayhawk Community College Player of the Year. Gates has brought him along slowly in an adjustment to SEC play. And leading Mizzou in scoring off the bench was The Invisible Man Isiaih Mosley, would score 19 very needed points. I certainly hope as Mizzou moves into the middle portion of SEC play Mosley is prepared for a stretch run. In closing there was one other noteworthy occurrence for me. This Mizzou team never gave up, never failed to hustle and never hung their heads despite being down double digits for a large portion of the game. I like this coach and I like this Mizzou team.

Don’t you play yourself into contention

I read and hear a great number of basketball things that make me scratch my head and say WHAT! I mentioned the other day a veteran (now retired) NBA player stated; “The Clippers are built for the playoffs.” All of us realize to win in the playoffs is the ultimate reward however there is a question on my part. If you have a non-performing team during the regular season how in the heck is that going to prepare you for the playoffs? This former player went on to state the Clippers are 8 in the Western Conference.

If the season ended as you are reading this, they would earn a playoff berth. Remember that thing continuity, where is with the Clippers? The reserves cannot play at a capable pace unsure if Paul George or Kawhi Leonard are available. If they are both on the court where does my game, go might be the questions for several of the reserves. You know my sayin’ which I haven’t used for a while, “I’m from Missouri, you’ve got to show me.” That’s what the Clippers must do…prove to me they are the best team in the NBA. I’m unsure if the Clippers are the best team in Los Angeles despite the Laker struggles.

Bits n Pieces 

How long…it’s been that long; I don’t remember which site I discovered the information. I thought it vital enough to post it in case you hadn’t seen it. LeBron James career has been long and storied how long you might ask. LeBron now in the twilight (a good twilight) of his NBA career has played against 9 father-son combos. Just a few of the names, Glen Rice and Glen Rice Jr. along with Kenyon Martin and Kenyon Martin Jr. Also Gary Payton and son Gary Payton II and Glen Robinson and Glen Robinson III.

Confusion reigns supreme for me, allow a further explanation. I read an article recently written by a baseball writer, he indicated MLB needs to change its rules regarding blackouts. Although there are differences in the sport my thoughts went immediately to my NBA dilemma, I’m sure this must apply in other areas of the country. This applies across the board, if a Thunder or Nuggets game is telecast on NBA TV, I cannot view it due to the NBA blackout rules. At the same time if those teams are on TNT, ESPN/ABC the rules go out the window. Any games telecast by the latter networks mentioned I’m able to view.

He said it but I can agree, I don’t believe in luck. Longtime writer Mike DeCoursey discussing a stretch of wins by a certain college basketball team made the statement to the radio host. If there is any such thing as luck, it’s my belief an individual or team makes their own. They play at 110% while others might only register at 85-90%. They reach down deep in their soul and will themselves or their team to victory. Michael Jordan had that ability while playing for the Bulls, I believe Magic Johnson and Larry Bird also had the “winning” gene in their DNA. Those are just a few players that come to mind. Teams, how about the 1983 NCAA champion North Carolina State team or 1991 when undefeated UNLV lost the championship to Duke 79-77. Houston and UNLV were both overwhelming favorites yet lost.

Ted Stepien

Because I digest basketball beyond my years I knew of Ted Stepien. This is what I didn’t know, The Stepien Rule, “which states that a team must have at least one first-round pick in every other draft moving forward. That pick doesn’t have to be their own, but they have to be guaranteed a pick from somewhere in every other draft.” The previous portion you read was from Sam Quinn NBA writer for CBS Sports. In case you were curious who was Ted Stepien and why did he make such an impact on the NBA? It’s generally agreed Stepien was/is the worst owner in NBA history. Think about this for a moment, in the rich history of this basketball league since 1946 up to the present.

Just consider the numbers who’ve owned teams during this period and for one guy to be identified as the worst owner. The Cavs were an expansion team, according to the records Stepien purchased a 38% interest in the team continuing to obtain shares until he owned 82% of the stock. Once he owned the majority of shares the circus moved into full effect. During the 1981-82 season Stepien fired 3 head coaches and hired 4 in their place…in a single season. Between 1981 and 1985 the Cavs traded five consecutive first round draft picks. The NBA at one point had to prohibit the team from making any additional trades. Team playing poorly, suffering at the gate so what does Stepien do? He threatens to move the team to Cincinnati, Toronto or Pittsburg after the attendance bottomed out.

You think the statements made by former Clippers owner Donald Sterling were racist and insensitive, allow me to introduce you to Ted Stepien? The history doesn’t provide us detail, but I believe the NBA forced Stepien to sell the Cavs. In April 1983 Stepien sold the team to the Gund brothers George and Gordon. As a businessman Stepien probably believed the moves he made were in the best interest of the team they were proven to be unwise. As for his racial comments unlike Sterling and Suns owner Robert Sarver made in private Stepien appeared to see nothing wrong with his racial comments since he made them to the media. This is a compacted version of the chaotic time when the Cavs had Ted Stepien as owner.