Basketball from a fan’s perspective

Some are passionate too

We are viewing highlights of the Lakers-Raptors game, immediately afterwards there is video of Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic playing. My friend and I are listening to Rajakovic complain about the discrepancy in fouls in the 4th quarter. Almost immediately I said, “He’s going to be fined by the league for those remarks.” My friend said, “That’s okay I really wish Andy Reid (Chiefs coach) would be that passionate about the game.” Well the NFL is far different from the NBA, maybe due to the violence associated with it perhaps there is a requirement for a fiery type coach. On the other hand Andy Reid certainly has tasted success without being considered a firebrand.

I reminded my friend of former Laker coach Phil Jackson. I’m unsure what occurred while he was head of the Bulls this occurred with the Lakers. Rarely do I remember seeing him animated with a game official or a player. I told my friend, “Phil would give his player a book to read” which was true. I’m unsure who this was, I know it was not Phil Jackson though. This coach said “I always coach in the same manner if my players see me ushering profanities and other expletives at officials they might follow suit. That doesn’t say there are often issues that upset me during the course of a game. I never allow them to get to a point where they might affect my reasoning.” So I ask you the question, can you be just as passionate about your team without uttering foul language or kicking chairs and throwing stuff.

Back in the day

This is certainly a subject open to debate, back in the day players could leave HS for the NBA. There were a large number of misses but the others who made it big might have made up for it. Who are the best ever to arrive in the NBA from HS, it’s your choice. Before I begin allow me to speculate and who may possibly have done it but didn’t. I believe Wilt Chamberlain could have left Overbrook HS in Philadelphia and earned a roster spot, he’s in the Naismith Hall of Fame.

Who else, The Big O, Oscar Robertson might have been ready too after his time at Crispus Attucks HS in Indianapolis, Naismith he’s also in the Naismith Hall of Fame. A slight Lew Alcindor who played at Power Memorial HS in New York City might have been able to play immediately in the NBA, Naismith Hall of Fame. There are others that could have made the leap, these three stand out for me. Keep in mind I’m not stating the rookie was inserted into the lineup immediately, despite this fact within a short time they became a major contributor to their team. The first name that comes to mind is Kobe Bryant, he attended Lower Merion HS in Philadelphia, of course he’s in the Naismith Hall of Fame. Next up Moses Malone, Petersburg HS in Petersburg Virginia, also in the Naismith Hall of Fame. Tracy McGrady moved from Sunrise Christian Academy in Durham NC to the Raptors and to the Naismith Hall of Fame.

This would be incomplete without including the NBA’s All-Time leading scorer LeBron James, he played at St. Vincent-St. Mary’s in Akron Ohio. We close this exercise adding the Big Ticket, Kevin Garnett who played at Farragut Academy in Chicago, he’s also been enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame. Unfortunately there have been more misses then hits however the names above are certainly the best of the best. Did I leave anyone off the list you believe should have been included?

Mizzou’s issue

This is not good, not good at all, Mizzou’s begun the season 0-2, this past Saturday they lost their game against Georgia 75-68. On Tuesday evening it was a loss against the Kentucky Wildcats 90-77 in Rupp Arena. Despite the lopsided score Mizzou did hang with Kentucky for a time, receiving scoring from Sean East II (19) along with Noah Carter (20) and lefty Tamar Bates (18). The key problem, the balance of the roster only provided Mizzou limited help.

Kentucky shot lights out from three which certainly didn’t help Mizzou’s cause, a portion was sound shooting while the remainder was inadequate defense by Mizzou. The Achillies heel once again was rebounding the basketball, it was Kentucky 45 and Mizzou 28. The key in my view was on the boards once again, Kentucky had 12 offensive rebounds to Mizzou’s 7, that will not work if Mizzou expects to progress in the tough SEC race. Mizzou must prepare to host South Carolina on Saturday, the Gamecocks are 13-2 and 1-1 in the conference. As you can see SEC teams ain’t no pushovers.

The Top 25

I said this in the past and believe it continues to be true. The Top 25 list during the college season is strictly a “beauty contest.” My alma mater Good old Podunk University was voted into the Top 25 of best teams in the nation. During the collegiate season it means your school is top rated, that’s about it. In the Wooden-UCLA era the Top 25 list had meaning, UCLA was number one at the beginning of the season. They would often remain number one until the NCAA Tournament held in April.

I hope you see where I’m going here, that first Monday in April is the true test. On that day the champion becomes official with the win. If your team is in the Top 25 I certainly am not criticizing them, I believe what I believe…during the season it’s a beauty contest. There are other methods of determining the better team, there is the BPI or Basketball Power Index. There is also the NET rankings utilized as a rating tool also. If you make use of the Top 25 continue to do so, I’m certainly not claiming the tool is useless it’s just the fact I no longer believe in the accuracy of it.

I guess it’s only me

This is not intended to point out a difference, it only makes for a question. Other than historical events in writing this blog I’m often providing you my opinion of a subject, I NEVER approach it as if I have the answer. At the same time I’m not writing this as a gottacha blog, my desire is you read because you wish to. No blaring headlines or electrifying statements are required for you to include it in your daily reading. By now you are wondering what prompted this piece, Shaquille O’Neal. The other day I wrote of and perhaps you saw him on TNT Inside the NBA, he was placing Bol Bol on the same level of Victor Wembanyama. Shaq’s got more firsthand basketball knowledge in his size 22 shoe than I have in my entire body.

Whether Shaq played at a high skill level all the time is subject to debate but he knows the game and talent. My question for you why place Bol in the same category of Wemby? I could move on to former NBA player and current podcaster Gilbert Arenas. Arenas has an opinion on just about everything and has no problem sharing it. More often than not I found him to be a little too off base for my taste. My issue with some in sports media is this your opinion or an attempt for clicks. There are others who love to interject themselves into their reporting, Stephen A. Smith, Jason Whitlock, Skip Bayless and others. I’ve heard it said by one of the trio “I don’t care (the public) what you think about my view.” That can be a two-way street, there is no requirement for me to think highly of your journalism skills either.