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Basketball from a fans perspective

Bits n Pieces

Often, I’ve tried to avoid speculation regarding player gains, this applies to high school talent choosing a college or NBA players acquired through free agency or trade. With that out of the way allow a further explanation. A report is circulating the Hawks are shopping their star point guard Trae Young. Rob Pelinka Lakers GM claims “He would trade a first round pick if it meant a championship.” Two issues, it is clear the Hawks must have issues with Young. On the Lakers side do they make the trade with the possibility of upsetting the chemistry of the team?

I’ve been a fan of Zion Williamson since his high school days. This includes his single season at Duke and into the NBA with the Pelicans. I am providing you a disclaimer because I intend to explain why Williamson should not be a starter in the All-Star game. Notice I didn’t state he shouldn’t be selected however the role of a starter is questionable. As this is written the Pelicans have played 49 games, Williamson has played in 29 of them. He’s been sidelined due to injury, and I believe there are others more deserving of a starter role.

Mizzou needed a game like Ole Miss, it was a requirement because they must return to the cauldron of competitive basketball this afternoon. The SEC/Big XII challenge has Iowa State visiting Mizzou. Iowa State is ranked 12 in one poll and 13 in another and becomes the 6th Top 25 team Mizzou will have faced thus far this season. As for the remainder of Mizzou’s schedule it includes games against Tennessee (4) and Auburn (15). I have noticed a change in tone, we no longer hear discussions about the "soft schedule" Mizzou's played anymore.

An interesting fact, we’ve read and heard plenty of commentary regarding Victor Wembanyama’s weight but nothing about Emoni Bates. If the stats are correct Bates now stands 6 foot 10 inches but is a svelte 180 pounds. He’s listed as a small forward/shooting guard on most mock draft sites. Unless Bates gains significant weight, small forward is not the position for him in the NBA at least at the beginning of a planned career. 200 pounds is probably the smallest number we’ve seen listed for any NBA small forward. Could you see LeBron James at 250 pounds taking Bates down low on the block and physically abusing him.  

Laker ownership

It is quite interesting, in 65 years of operation only three ownership names are associated with the Lakers in Los Angeles. The first is businessman Bob Short, he purchased the Minneapolis Lakers in 1957, the team might have remained in Minnesota if they had continued to attract fans. George Mikan and others had retired, and the team was no longer experiencing the championship seasons of the recent past. Attendance began to slip, at that point owner Short looked west and decided Los Angeles would be the ideal market for his NBA team. Once in Los Angeles the team was revitalized partly due to Elgin Baylor drafted the last year in Minneapolis and rookie Jerry West. Plenty of playoff basketball but every season they ran into the roadblock known as Bill Russell and the Celtics.

In 1965 Short decided to sell the team, now entering the scene another businessman and sports owner Jack Kent Cooke. Cooke paid $5 million for the Lakers (equivalent to $41 million today). The Lakers home court was the Sports Arena, and it would become the motivation for Cooke to build the Forum. Cooke had gotten into a dispute with the city, owners of the Sports Arena so what did he do? He built his own arena which would become the Forum. The Lakers managed to win one NBA Championship while Cooke owned the team. Next up Dr. Jerry Buss real estate developer, he and his partner purchased the team from Cooke in 1979. Buss the showman was the innovator behind the success of the Lakers, he was key to many innovations that made Laker games the place to be, they won 10 championships while Buss was the owner. In 2013 Buss died and management of the team alternated between son Jim Buss and Jeanie Buss. Daughter Jeanie Buss is now the controlling owner and president of the team.

Listen to the folks in charge 

I wondered why Mohamed Diarra (6 foot 10) and Mabor Majak (7 foot 2) were not playing. I asked the question as each game saw Mizzou outrebounded, at least if they had some height in the lineup that would help. Well I watched the coaches program and got the answer at least on Diarra. I’m going to paraphrase coach Dennis Gates these are not his actual words. “Mohamed Diarra had come from international play (France) and Garden City Community College, we had to bring him up to speed to slowly to how the game is played in the SEC.”

The last two games has seen Diarra play a reserve role in one game and a starter in the other. These numbers are certainly not going to wow anyone, but they are proof Diarra is moving in the right direction. Against Alabama in 14 minutes of action Diarra registered 12 rebounds along with 8 points, facing Ole Miss in 17 minutes it was 6 rebounds and 11 points and a 3 pt basket. Based on the coaches statement I could see Diarra continue to improve over the next few games. With eligibility a non-issue I could foresee him continue to improve next season. Once again, I’m reminded of a fact, we need to listen to the folks in charge i.e. the coaching staff rather than sports talk guys.