Basketball from a fans perspective

Wire to wire

I had no idea what to expect on Sunday, Wichita State’s record was 7 wins versus a single loss. I didn’t know who they might have played but believed it would be a tough match facing my Mizzou Tigers. Mizzou got off to a swift start forcing the Shockers into numerous turnovers. Eventually they began to play better at a point near the middle of the first half. In fact the half time score read Mizzou 41 Wichita State 34 so you can see the contest was somewhat close. The second half Mizzou turned up its defense, I sent a text “Mizzou will win if they play defense” or something similar. Well that indeed turned out to be the case as my Tigers won the game 82-72.

Check out these stats, the Shockers shot 38.8% from the floor (27.6 from 3) while Mizzou was 40% (33.3 from 3). Mizzou had 15 assists to the 9 by Wichita State, Mizzou had 13 steals and 5 blocked shots. The only area of concern rebounding the ball, it went in favor of Wichita State 47-33. Guard Sean East had his usual game 22 points along with 9 assists, Nick Honor had 15 points including several clutch 3-point baskets, Caleb Grill chipped in 13 points along with 10 rebounds. As the headline indicates Mizzou led in this game wire to wire, a couple of instances Wichita State reduced the lead to a single basket but then Honor, East or someone else would score for Mizzou. Now the team must prepare for the next stop on Saturday December 9 against the Kansas Jayhawks in Lawrence Kansas.

A feel-good story

Every now and again you come across that story, this is that one. Knick center Mitchell Robinson is that guy, the 7-foot center has clearly placed himself in the category of good guy. It doesn’t matter what he does the balance of his NBA career, insert the bio for Robinson here. The basketball world first became aware of Robinson after his play at Chalmette High in Chalmette Louisiana in the New Orleans metro. His game exploded his senior year which led to his selection as a 2017 McDonalds All American. Due to a number of moves Robinson never played college basketball before deciding on a pro career.

In 2018 the Knicks chose him in the 2nd round of that year’s draft as pick 36. Fast forward to the present day, recently it was noted Robinson had invited his high school coach to live with him. His former high school coach had recently lost his wife and Robinson reached out to him. This from his coach, 1. “When my wife was in the hospital, Mitchell came each day to visit her. (He) became very close to myself and my wife. And after the funeral, Mitchell told everyone that he was gonna bring me to New York with him.” This is a story of an athlete giving back to his coach and it’s well worth sharing.

1. People Magazine

A style change

This is not new however it’s been noticeable by me and maybe you. No longer are coaches college or the NBA attired in suits or sports coats. Generally they can be seen with athletic pants and zipper tops with the team logo or name emblazed on the left chest. In other instances polo shirts with the team logo on the breast pocket is also in vogue. Where did this change begin, I’m unsure if this is correct it might have occurred earlier but I first noticed this relax dress code occurring during the covid pandemic. If you remember colleges ceased play all together although the NBA later resumed action and played in front of empty arenas until the playoff bubble.

At the time I noticed NBA coaches in relaxed dress on the sidelines. Later in the fall of 2020 college coaches begin adapting this more casual dress while patrolling the sidelines. Without checking Mizzou coach Dennis Gates along with Kentucky’s John Calipari are two coaches that continue the suit and tie dress, I’m quite sure there are others but those two come to mind immediately. This was noticeable recently at the time Mizzou played Pitt, the television camera caught Pitt coach Jeff Capel dressed casually as he led his Panther team. On the opposite end of the court was Gates in a suit and tie. What’s your view, do you like the more relaxed version of head coaches or is your preference dress up?

He blots out the sun

Zach Edey of Purdue is a big dude, he stands 7 foot 4 inches tall but don’t think Wemby. Edey is reported to weigh in the neighborhood of 305 pounds, when you check him out that weight appears to be valid. Despite being named AP National Player of the Year, Sporting News National Player of the Year plus numerous other honors Edey finds himself on the outside looking in. NBA scouts have not become excited over him, he declared for the 2023 NBA Draft but decided in favor of returning to Purdue. I wondered, what is the issue with him and scouts and I discovered this assessment of Edey from three NBA scouts.

“Twenty years ago he would have been a Top 20 pick, but hard to place him in an NBA game”, another said; “He’s a 2-rounder, number 3 center in the NBA. His mobility is better this year.” A third scout was a little more optimistic, “There’s a place in the league for him.” What struck me particularly was the comment of the first scout, has the NBA brand changed that much a guy with Edey’s height and weight is an afterthought? Maybe you’ve read or heard the same thing I have from Laker coach Darvin Ham. He wants 6-foot 11 253-pound Anthony Davis shooting 3-4 three’s a game. I’m unsure who said it but I heard a contradiction to Ham. Some analyst claimed, “you are not going to get that out of Davis.” Maybe the same holds true from Edey, don’t expect Big Men i.e. Brook Lopez to stand on the line bombing from 3-point range all game long.