Basketball from a fans perspective

Published daily except Tuesdays & Thursdays

WOW!!!

One of these things is not like the other, a new NBA arena in OKC, San Antonio and Philly. If you guessed Philly you might have been shocked as I was upon hearing the news. For months it seems we’ve been reading about the Sixers desire for their own arena in downtown Philadelphia. On Sunday came the news that 76 Place will only exist in our memory, the Sixers will remain at Wells Fargo Center at least for now. You might remember a major reason for this venture Sixer management wanted to play in a building they owned. The Sixers share Wells Fargo with the NHL Flyers and other events, naturally ownership of the arena would allow the Sixers the best dates they desired which doesn’t exist.  

The news which shocked all except the insiders is this, the Sixers ownership and Comcast have agreed to build a new arena in South Philly. In a strange twist NBA commissioner Adam Silver and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell were directly involved in the conclusion of this project. In an unusual resolution it now appears the Sixers will eventually play in their own arena however it will not be in the area of the city they first planned. The victor (if there is one) in this wrestling match is yet to be determined, as additional details are made known I will attempt to update you. So it would appear for now the issue of a new arena for the Sixers is technically resolved. Anything at this point from me would be pure speculation which I will not delve into until more detail is provided.

The first installment

Some might remember in the initial Matrix, the plot was to determine if Mr. Anderson was The One. I don’t remember now in what portion the other characters discovered he was the one, even Neo wasn’t sure himself doubting it up to a point. The question for the University of Missouri, is Dennis Gates “The One," the one who will establish a long run of successful basketball teams? Much of Mizzou Nation hopes that is the case because the history for basketball has not been very stable since Stewart left the scene back in 1999.

For some of you unfamiliar with the name, Norm Stewart served as Mizzou basketball coach from 1967-1999. During his time at the helm a number of quality teams and players led Mizzou to Big 8 Championship seasons, however the NCAA tourney was a far different matter. Ever since the forced retirement of Stewart it seems there have been continuing issues with a succession of coaches. There have been 6 head coaches hired who either were fired, resigned or took other head coaching positions after several years. The number might not seem like a massive number based on the years however it appeared none of the hires were able to provide stability or better yet able to build a cohesive program. It wasn’t all bad, Mizzou turned out some competitive teams, in addition there were a number of talented players who managed NBA careers.

Dennis Gates was hired with few players remaining on the roster, despite this fact he was able to lead the team to a successful season and an NCAA invitation in his first year.. Last season a series of injuries caused the team to flat out stink, they failed to win a single conference game. If you check the history numbers only Kim Anderson, who was a disaster, and Dennis Gates thanks to last season have losing records. Despite what you just read in my last statement just like in The Matrix movie and it’s sequels Dennis Gates is The One.

Am I off base?

A friend voiced objection to my concern, apparently he didn’t agree with me which is okay. A .com site listed the top 10 high school basketball players in the State of Missouri. After checking the list I found it objectionable for this reason alone. 5 of the 10 athletes they named attend Link Academy in Branson Missouri. For those who might not be familiar with Link it’s comparable to Montverde, Oak Hill, Montrose and other prep schools across the nation.

This is my objection, of the 5 athletes named none have home Missouri zip codes. Don’t misunderstand my rant, for me this is not a talent issue rather it’s a location issue. Because the roster is comprised of non-Missouri residents it’s not valid to me. I realize some of you reading this believe I am being too fussy in my observation, it’s possible a number of you don’t agree with my take and that’s okay too. My question to you who live in Florida, Virginia and other portions of the nation, do you have a similar circumstance in your area of the nation?

The problematic Jimmy Butler

I held off any discussion surrounding the Pat Riley-Jimmy Butler feud because I was awaiting a resolution. It remains unresolved however it’s my belief the Heat will make a trade, the bigger question who can afford Butler? In this instance his huge remuneration might be secondary to the “baggage” which might be included. Drafted by the Bulls in 2011 after 6 seasons he evidently decided The Windy City didn’t suit him. It was on to the Wolves, he only lasted there a season after calling out Karl-Anthony Towns and others on the team. Next stop it was the Sixers in 2018, he didn’t last long in Philadelphia either.

It was reported he turned down a contract extension, next stop South Beach in 2019. He’s been suspended by the Heat and President Pat Riley for “Conduct unbecoming” that’s the military term. Nowhere in this story have I stated Jimmy Butler couldn’t play, far from it he is one of the most talented players in the NBA. Beyond that issue he’s become a thorn in the side of another franchise. This series of events will end, I’ve read and heard comments from former NBA players. They have lined up behind Butler claiming Riley is old school in his dealings with Butler. I cannot counter that argument, the one thing Riley remains the decision maker, based on that fact alone Butler’s time with the Heat will be over before the NBA’s trade deadline.  

Basketball from a fans perspective

Published daily except Tuesdays & Thursdays

Win at home, steal one or two on the road

We can argue which basketball conference is the strongest in the nation, I maintain its SEC men. there are members of the media who cover college basketball claim a 9-9 conference record could lead a team to an NCAA invite. That says a team wins all its home games and steals one or two victories on the road. Mizzou must now go on the road to play Florida on Tuesday, then it’s Arkansas at home followed by a trip to Austin to play Texas. As for the business at hand Mizzou defeated Vanderbilt 75-66 yesterday.

At the end of the day the teams had identical records, 13 wins versus 3 losses. Any SEC game, especially this season, is going to be an MMA match as this one was. Again rebounding was a bright spot for me once again as the Tigers outrebounded the Commodores 33 to 29. The one area I believe could have been better is shooting from the line, the Tigers were only 68% as a team. Mark Mitchell led the team in scoring with 19 points, assisting him was Anthony Robinson (15 pts) and Caleb Grill (13). Based on play of last season Mizzou Nation is already a winner.

Tell me what you know, not what you think

The headline might appear to be double-talk but that is not the case. The explanation in brief is this, former NBA player Gilbert Arenas claimed in his podcast Duke’s “Cooper Flagg didn’t look like the first pick in the 2025 draft.” I questioned his statement and will continue to do so because the view of Flagg is based on what he thinks rather than what he knows. Flagg does a bunch of things on the basketball court he appears fundamentally sound. Where did we hear that term, it was Shaq the first to tag former Spurs forward Tim Duncan “Mr. Fundamental.” Duncan was not flashy on the basketball court but managed to get the job done, if the tag were hung on Flagg would it be a terrible thing?

This from ESPN’s Seth Greenberg a former coach. “He (Flagg) impacts winning, it’s plain and simple. Everyone wants one of those Zion Williamson viral moments. He’s not all about viral moments. He’s about winning, he’s about making winning plays…The guy understands what it takes to put his team in position to win…Points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, he impacts winning.” This from ESPN’s draft guru Jonathan Givony: “Cooper Flagg has been just as good as advertised, maintaining his spot at No. 1 on our board. He’s hit his stride in a major way recently, making shots more consistently while showing off his passing, finishing, defensive versatility, intensity, and feel for the game.” I stated this yesterday and will repeat it again, Gilbert Arenas is certainly entitled to communicate his belief. Based on what you just read there might be others with the position Arenas takes regarding Flagg. NOTE: Flagg had a monster game in the win against Notre Dame, 42 pts (11/14 FG), 7 assists, 6 rebounds, 4 3PT.

Scary NBA teams

As the new year has begun I’d like to check a few what I title scary teams. This is no Jason Voorhees or Freddy Kruger type of scary however opposing NBA teams don’t look forward to seeing them. It should be noted that the Celtics, Nuggets, Wolves and Lakers and others are not included in this account. The teams I see are rising to the next level, for obvious reasons the Cavs are the first team mentioned in this brief look. Spida and company appear ready to contend for a championship in the Lake Erie city, next up the Thunder. I can start and stop with SGA, a prime contender for MVP as he leads this team.

We now head south to Florida and the Magic, this team has key members missing due to injury but as this writing they remain contenders. The Pistons of Detroit are .500 but appear ready to turned the corner soon…this season maybe. The Grizzlies and Rockets look tough and preparing to rise to the next level. I’m including the Spurs for one reason alone, Wemby. Keep this in mind in the current standings there are several teams two maybe three rungs above those I’ve named. The chief key for each of these teams is to remain injury free the balance of the season. There you have my list, did I miss any you believe should have been included.

Youth will be served

I didn’t bother with checking the number, it’s my belief the two best teams in the NBA are the Cavs and Thunder. Hopefully, Celtic fans will not be offended by this account, it’s a focus on youth. For the Thunder SGA is clearly the leader of this youthful team, this veteran is 26-years old. As for the Cavs that responsibility lies with 28 year old Donovan Mitchell. Both teams (not the defending champion Celtics) have the best won-loss record in the NBA as of Jan 10.

As for the rosters of these teams, both contain two members over the age of 30 years. Leading the Cavs is Kenny Atkinson, remember him? As head coach of the Nets he’d stepped down in 2020 after 4 years of subpar play by his team. Did Atkinson use the experience of this in leading the Cavs, on the other hand perhaps the personnel of this Cavs team is simply better? Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault was an unknown to most of us. He led the Thunder G-League team before becoming an assistant and then was hired as Thunder head coach in 2020. Living in Kansas City my cable system allows me to view Thunder games more than the Cavs. My observation of the Thunder is in addition to offense they play outstanding defense, I would speculate the same set of circumstances exist for the Cavs.

Finally we arrive at the front office of each of these organizations. More and more I see the value of a cohesive front office relationship between GM, scouting and the head coach. It’s difficult to see this operation from a fan’s perspective but believe it to be represented by the success thus far on the court. In conclusion we have Eastern Conference powerhouse (Cavs) and Western Conference Thunder, could they face one another for the NBA Championship? This is January we are far too early in the season to make that determination…check back in the May-June time.

Basketball from a fans perspective

Published daily except Tuesdays & Thursdays

The best

Depending on your age or knowledge you might remember this college basketball history. Once upon a time the debate among fans and the media…which is the best and most competitive conference in the nation. The ACC with Duke, North Carolina argued against Georgetown, UConn and St. John’s in the Big East. Big 10 Michigan, Indiana, Michigan State and Ohio State would enter the discussion stating, “Hey look over here.” Sometime after that as the Big XII expanded Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas proudly said, “We here too.” Last season and into the 2024-25 season the SEC laid claimed to having the best men’s teams in the nation. As I once pointed out this was no overnight effort, there were many intangibles that saw the SEC rise to the position it holds today.

You can ask 5 fans the why and or liable to receive 5 different answers. SEC Athletic Departments in some instances took a chance hiring up and coming coaches, they managed to change the culture of SEC basketball. Other factors include NIL and the transfer portal, the SEC and other conferences were no longer dependent on recruiting top high school talent to their campus. The chief problem by the time the season ends in March SEC teams will have pounded one another, the won-loss record might not appear as outstanding as it does currently. There are a number of great teams in conferences other than the SEC, I certainly don’t wish to paint a misleading portrait regarding men’s basketball. Gary Parrish of CBS Sports says, “It’s possible the SEC could have 12 times in the NCAA Tournament in 2025,” that would set a new standard should it occur. The most teams ever invited in a single season is 11.

It’s a free throw

We’ve discussed free throw shooting in the past and how important it is to a team’s overall success. I stand behind the statement once made by Hall of Fame former player Rick Barry. He said, “It’s a free throw, no one is guarding you or contesting the shot.” Unfortunately, a number of players, especially in the NBA, fail to work at the task of shooting from the line. I thought it would be interesting to check out a list of the best free throw shooters in the NBA today, these are career numbers so these are compiled through the 2023-24 NBA season.

Below are the Top 10 free throw shooters in the NBA in order, unlike Shaq they are more about making shots over talking about sinking them. To this day the story I read resonates with me about Shaq’s free throw shooting, he said “I make em when they count.” Despite his audacious statement during his NBA career he managed to shoot a paltry 53.3% from the line. He alone was responsible for the term “Hack a Shaq” come into usage in the NBA. Long after his career ended in tightly contested games of today you might witness teams foul the worst free throw shooter to place him on the line. As for the players below, try to avoid fouling any of them.   

Steph Curry 91.0%

Dame Lillard 89.8%

Kevin Durant 88.4%

Kris Middleton 87.9%

Danilo Gallinari 87.6%

Trae Young 87.3%

Chris Paul 87.0%

Devin Booker 87.0%

Kyle Korver 86.9%

Kyrie Irving 84.4

Williamson v Flagg

Comparisons sometimes don’t make sense yet we do them anyway. Years ago Ford people argued their vehicle was better than Chevys, Chevy people countered with their vehicle was better than a Ford. Both sides were attempting to say which was better and that might be the case for Gilbert Arenas. He said recently “Duke’s Cooper Flagg is a complimentary player” which confused me and I am sure others. Just to ensure you have the correct outlook Arenas made no indication Flagg was lacking in talent. He pointed to his belief that Flagg was not justified in being the number one NBA draft pick in 2025.

That is not a decision for Arenas, he is not a decider here despite his NBA background. Recently I listened to a podcaster who covers college basketball and believe he provided some insight for me. This paraphrases his statement (along with providing stats) “Zion Williamson is a different basketball player from Cooper Flagg, they both played at Duke however the difference ends there.” Keep in mind the stats for Flagg represent his first 15 games played while those of Williamson are his complete numbers his first year at Duke. 

Zion Williamson 22.6 ppg 8.9 REB 68% FG 33.8% 3pt FT 64% FT

Cooper Flagg 17.5 ppg 8.5 REB 45.8 FG 30.8% 3pt FG 77.8% FT

On closer inspection it appears there are elements of the game the Williamson numbers are better while other aspects indicate the Flagg figures are superior. The one area I am unable to check effectively is the defensive side of the game, is one better at defending over the other or they about the same. If we compare the game Flagg plays it’s much closer to Larry Bird and LeBron than one might surmise. Although LeBron certainly has overwhelming physical skills his game in my view has “get my teammates involved,” I could make a similar claim regarding the play of Bird. As for the comparison Williamson while at Duke is 6 foot 7 and 285 pounds…Flagg is 6 foot 9 and 205 pounds. In closing allow me to say this, Gilbert Arenas and anybody else is entitled to his or her opinion, the question for you, do you share the same view as Arenas? 

He arrived in obscurity

The headline might be a slight bit misleading, if you are chosen in the first round of the NBA draft someone is familiar with your play. This is no criticism of the school nor the basketball program. Anytime someone connects the NBA to Santa Clara University the first name mentioned is Steve Nash. Soon it might be two names, Nash and Jalen Williams. In the 2022 NBA Draft there was Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren and others at or near the top who dominated the headlines.

Despite his name not in the conversation NBA scouts were familiar with him, I located three NBA mock drafts and all had Williams projected as a first round pick in 2022. If you look at the success of the Thunder the Shai Gilgeous Alexander's name is  mentioned, so is the injured Chet Holmgren. Despite this fact the power forward has been key to the success of this team this season. Across the board the numbers registered by Williams are on an upward trend. In addition he plays tough defense for the Thunder. This youthful team appears ready to contend for an NBA Championship, they currently have the best won-loss record in the NBA.

Basketball from a fans perspective

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It’s been a while

There is no reason to provide the date, I will simply state it’s been a while since Mizzou won a game in the conference. You remember last season they lost every single conference game, no excuses offered. As with most of Mizzou Nation I was extremely disappointed but not to the extent of firing the coach. I read many of your letters, after playing in the NCAA in his first season a number of you wanted Dennis Gates gone in his second season, I was not one of them.

Tuesday evening the change Mizzou Nation wanted arrived in the form of a win. Playing in Mizzou Arena the Black and Gold Tigers turned in an 83-67 victory over the Purple and Gold Tigers. The leader in scoring for Mizzou was guard Tamar Bates with 20 points. He shot 66.7% from the floor as well as from the three line, in addition there were 8 rebounds and 3 steals. Although the spotlight is on Bates it was a team victory. One area of concern rebounding was addressed as well, Mizzou outrebounded LSU. On Saturday afternoon Mizzou will face Vanderbilt in Columbia.   

Is this necessary? 

The NBA is aware what a talent Victor Wembanyama is in his sophomore year. Is he alone the basis for a new arena being planned for San Antonio, apparently that is the case? I cannot called a halt to anything from my home in Kansas City, despite that fact questions will be raised by me. We are in a different age, cities are building baseball, football and basketball arenas in the downtown portion. Once upon a time with a few exceptions, downtown portions of large urban centers were abandon for suburbia, all that’s change now. Frost Bank Arena is located about 3 miles from downtown San Antonio.

Frost Bank (AT&T) Arena was opened in 2002, in April that would make it 23 years old, that certainly is not brand-new but replacing a building after a short space of time is mind boggling. I could think of all types of issues which might cause a team to desire a new building this is not one of them. In fairness to the Spurs it is my understanding unlike Kansas City and its desire for a new baseball stadium ownership has not pushed the project. The stadium opened in 1973 making it 52 years old. Apparently the Spurs have no issue with this project since it appears they had no part in bringing it to the citizens of San Antonio and Bexar County. I believe in progress when it serves a purpose, I’m not sure that is the case here.

“The truth…you can’t handle the truth!”

Sorry, I had to use the Jack Nicholson line one more time, in this instance it’s for members of Jayhawk Nation. Bill Self hasn’t forgotten how to coach, however, the landscape around him has changed. Once upon a time the best basketball prospects in the nation and internationally headed for Lawrence Kansas. That is no longer the case and as proof I offer this tidbit of information. I utilized Rivals.com as my source and a look at the Class of 2025 top prospects. There are 150 names on the list, as this is written KU has signed two and two others list the school as a possible choice. Do you see what I am attempting to point out, at the max there are liable to be 4 players arriving in Lawrence next fall.

Of course if these are outstanding players it becomes a slam dunk but what if it isn’t? Are you telling me 145 or so kids desire to play somewhere other than Lawrence Kansas? As I indicated previously who would have dared to believe BYU would snag the top high school prospect in the nation when Kansas was after him. That would be the case for AJ Dybantsa, now we could take into consideration he’s attending prep school in Utah. Mark Pope departed for Kentucky last April so he might have laid the groundwork however it was 43-year old Kevin Young who took over BYU’s program and apparently he’s made a connection with Dybantsa. If you are a fan of Kansas basketball or Bill Self don’t worry, the sky is not falling. Continue to support your Jayhawks but don’t expect them to be the dominant program that once was able to recruit prospects on Bill Self, Kansas basketball and Allen Fieldhouse mystique.   

Youth will be served 

The eyes of NBA front offices are focused on Cooper Flagg of Duke. Everything points to him being the top NBA pick in 2025 if he declares for the draft. As often occurs our focus has been somewhat misdirected. Recently at the time Mizzou played Illinois I had an opportunity to see Kasparas Jakucionis in action, he’s listed as a 2025 NBA mock draft pick. Jakucionis is a 6 foot 6 200 pound combo guard from Lithuania and boy can he shoot, store his name in your memory bank.

The next two prospects play for Rutgers, they are 6 foot 6 combo guard Dylan Harper and 6 foot 9 small forward Ace Bailey. Also possibly in the mix as a high draft pick is Egor Demin a 6 foot 9 shooting guard at BYU, home is Moscow Russia. Jeremiah Fears a 6 foot 3 point guard out of Oklahoma might be one of the reasons his school has a sparkling 13-0 record to date. This is really bizarre, you want to know why Dalton Knecht was considered “old” at 23 years of age? This upcoming NBA draft is liable to be loaded with freshman again, nbadraftnet’s Top 10 prospects list contains 9 freshman and one international player.

Basketball from a fans perspective 

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My MVP

The defending champion Celtics were in total control in the first half of their game. The second half of their meeting with the Thunder was a different story. The OKC bunch turned up the defense plus improved shooting led them to a 105-92 victory. This certainly was a team effort with Luguentz Dort leading the defensive charge (plus his 14 points). Directing the way for the Thunder is an athlete the Clippers will forever regret trading, Shai-Gilgeous Alexander a.k.a. SGA.

He can score the ball however it’s his defense which continues to stand out to me. The second half of the game witnessed SGA and team take apart the Celtics piece by piece on the way to the victory. There is an aspect of this point guard’s game that stands out for me and I will detail it. In this age everyone is complaining about the number of three’s taken, not SGA. He can certainly shoot it however his game is mostly midrange, he can shoot the three effectively however not as much as others. As for the headline, The Joker is having his typical triple-double leading season. I’m placing SGA above him this season because his game is similar to Jokic with the exception of rebounds.

For now it’s positioning, the Thunder are in first place in the West only one game behind the Eastern Conference Cavs. In the Western Conference The Joker and his Nuggets are in 4th place behind the Thunder, Rockets and Grizzlies. All this is likely to change by the time the MVP vote is held, SGA is the early leader in my book. By the way, the victory over the Celtics became number 15 in a row in the franchise setting win streak.

Bits n Pieces of information

I didn’t check this out only took The Athletics word as proof however it certainly sounds about right. They claim in the last 12 years since Vivek Ranadive’s owned the Kings there have been 8 head coaches. You do the math, in my head isn’t that close to the Kings replacing a coach every 18 or 19 months? That old saying about “coaches (managers) are hired to be fired” certainly is true in the case of the Kings. My question might be with so much instability who would take the job? On the other hand if I had a lengthy contract the prospect of being paid to not coach certainly would be appealing.

Some of you are tired of hearing Wemby stories, you can just ignore this one. We are witnessing history every time he steps on the court. Thanks to Basketball Network we have an idea how Wemby compares with some of the all-time greats:

Victor Wembanyama’s historic first 100 NBA career games put him in elite company:

Wemby first 100 games: 2273 pts

LeBron first 100 games: 2181 pts

Wemby first 100 games: 366 BLK

Hakeem first 100 games: 265 BLK

Wemby first 100 games: 225 3PM

Steph first 100 games: 200 3PM

The Rockets beat my Lakers on Sunday night 119-115 but there is more to the story. Any team must buy into the coaches vision for them with a change, consider this fact. Last season the first for Ime Udoka as head coach the Rockets finished the season with a 41-41 record. At this point so far they have 23 wins and only 12 losses, they are in second place in the Western Conference. As you can see the improvement in play this season is quite evident. I think the Celtics would have won an NBA Championship with him at the helm although I have no method to prove this point. It should be noted this is no criticism of Joe Mazzulla, who I believe is a good coach. A domestic issue forced the Celtics to fire Udoka and later the Rockets would hire him.

The Doctor, how did Julius Erving become Doctor J. or some derivative of that nickname? I once read someone claimed it was the manner he “operated on the basketball court. No, it was nothing close to that, just like Magic Johnson his nickname came about while he was enrolled at Roosevelt High School on Long Island. Erving says he labelled a high school friend “The Professor,” his friend returned the favor by calling him “The Doctor.” That’s how one of the most renowned nicknames in NBA history came into existence.

He’s da man 

I am sure this story was covered with many of you in the past, the one about Austin Reaves. Despite the fact I reside smack in the middle of Big XII country and plenty of opportunity to see Oklahoma basketball I don’t remember him. Reaves undrafted is now in his third season with the Lakers and this might be the best year for him to say, “I’m here and it’s mine.” Maybe he was hidden in plain sight all along, the position of mine refers to being the permanent starter at the point at least for now. The trade that sent D’Lo to the Nets as of this writing has greatly promoted Reaves, In the past Reaves has moved from occasional shooting guard to the point and back to shooting guard. He’s taken on the role of a starter and the first sub off the bench, it would appear he’s moved into the role of starting point guard now. 

In this age of combo guards it’s a bit difficult to define anyone except Chris Paul a point guard. In any event D’Lo no longer is the backup which certainly benefits Reaves. Prior to the Friday game against the Hawks Reaves reeled off four consecutive games with double-digit assist totals, this culminated with a 26 point 16 assist game against the Kings. He can score and dish out assists, how good a defender is he? Reaves has a 117.9 rating which places him in the category of a good defender. I continue to read the names of De’Aaron Fox, Melo Ball and Zach LaVine mentioned as trade possibilities. My preference would be to keep Reaves rather than including him in a trade for one of the above names. Am I claiming he’s better than any of those above, of course not however I would rather the Lakers keep him.   

Basketball from a fans perspective

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The return

The NBA world was curious regarding Kawhi Leonard’s return to action for the Clippers. Interesting in that he “recruited” Paul George and now he’s gone, there was little play together as teammates. Leonard had not played a meaningful game since last season so January 4 would be noteworthy after his extended absence. In the starting lineup Leonard managed to score 12 points in 19 minutes of action, he wasn’t particularly accurate from the floor but in time we’ll see if that aspect improves.

As for his time Leonard was in action for only 3 minutes and 36 seconds in the second half of the runaway victory for the Clippers. This from Leonard, “There was nothing hard about playing tonight” which is certainly understandable. The aftereffects from his play are most important to his continued rehab. Hopefully, Leonard is able to return to action and be NBA productive. At the same time based on his past medical history fans should need to be patient, this is likely to be a slow return and don’t expect the player you saw in years past. That Leonard will never appear again due to age, medical and the wear and tear on his NBA body.   

Of course that’s his opinion

I’m on a tangent it seems to me sometimes however there is always a basis I believe. I didn’t see the game in its entirety but I saw Cooper Flagg in action once again, this time he led in the victory over SMU. What I find a bother those who play the game pick at a college or international player prior to NBA action. In the spring of 2023 prior to the draft it was Charles Barkley throwing shade at Victor Wembanyama before he’d played a single game in the NBA.

I thought at the time, “Allow the kid to play before you decide he can’t play” after all scouts have sometimes errored. This was not an everyday discussion his was most vocal in my view indicating Wemby might have problems. We can debate this one as well, I don’t remember the number Barkley proclaimed. Whatever it was he said Yao Ming managed to exceed the scoring total. That’s two strikes against Barkley on his ability to analyze potential talent. He’s the first former NBA player, Gilbert Arenas becomes number two but in his case its Duke’s Cooper Flagg. Arenas says Flagg is a “complimentary” player and we can guess in the mind of Arenas the Duke standout does nothing extraordinary. Bottom line…Barkley and now Arenas are certainly entitled to voice their opinion on any particular subject matter. The problem for me in both instances there is a rush to judgement without offering any proof other than an opinion.

I’m quite sure there are facets of the game Flagg might not perform as well as some others. What I’d like to do is go back in time and locate scouting reports on Barkley and Arenas, I’m sure the report would indicate there are aspects of the game they didn’t perform at a high level. What do the mock drafts say, well I’m pleased you asked the question? The three I utilize all continue to list Flagg at the top of their revised January testimony.

“Revenge is a dish best served cold”

All these years later I discovered it wasn’t Captain Kirk’s nemesis Khan who first uttered those words utilized as a headline for this story. If you are a Trekkie you will understand without further information, in any event this is the true story. Author Dorothy Parker (1893-1967) is credited with originating the quote. How the heck is this connected to basketball you ask right about now? There is a basketball link in this manner, the Nuggets and Spurs played a back to back, although The Joker had an outstanding game on Friday his team lost.

Saturday night it was the opposite as his Nuggets bested the Spurs, before detailing further information I am going to point out the visiting team won its match. The Nuggets had to play an OT frame to gain the 122-111 victory. Wemby didn’t shoot particularly well but had a 20-20 game with 20 points and 23 rebounds. For the second night Jokic almost had another triple-double scoring 46 points along with 10 assists and 9 rebounds. MPJ and Jamal Murray provided backing in the Nuggets victory.  On the Spurs side it was Harrison Barnes and Devin Vassell who aided the cause for them. Although Jokic outweighs Wemby by 50 pounds the matches between these two are providing an interesting competition for now and into the future.

Basketball from a fans perspective

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The Alien vs The Joker

I mentioned this previously, there is no NBA League Pass for me. I don’t live in San Antonio nor Denver so I was unable to see the game or attend it. In addition I don’t remember a match between Wemby and the Joker previously although Friday night there was. Imagine my surprise on discovering the Spurs had bested the Nuggets 113-110, even more interesting the game was played in Denver. This is a box score and highlight report only but boy it must have been outstanding. The Joker almost registered another triple-double, 41 points 18 rebounds and 9 assists.

For Wemby it was 35 points 18 rebounds and 4 assists. Both Big Men were bombing away from distance however Wemby was much better shooting 66.7% from three while Joker was only 30%. I do have NBA TV available to me, hopefully they will broadcast the game later today. This from ESPN’s NBA page, “I think he’s better this year than last year, and I think he’s going to get even better,” Jokic said of Wembanyama. “I think he’s a special player. I think he's one of a kind and is going to be remembered forever.” And this from Wemby, “Multiple-time MVP, soon to be MVP again,” he said of Jokic. “Can’t ask for a better way to get better.” As you can see The Alien and The Joker have a mutual admiration for one another. 

“Someone had to lose”

The Knicks arrived in OKC with a 9-game winning streak, the Thunder had won 13 in a row. As you can see by the headline “Someone had to lose,” and it turned out to be the Knicks. The final score read 117-107 but in between fans in the arena and on television were treated to playoff basketball in a seasonal game. SGA led the way for the Thunder with 33 points and 7 assists but there was plenty of help from his teammates. Aaron Williams came off the bench scoring 19 points along with 5 rebounds, there was Jalen Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein with a 14 rebound 7 assist game.

As for the Knicks all five starters scored in double figures led by Mikal Bridges and his 24 points. Then we had Karl-Anthony Towns along with Josh Hart score 17 and 22 points, respectively. If we look specifically at the shooting it provides us the clear cut reason the basis for the Thunder win. As a team they shot 51.2% with 51.9% coming from three. The NBA season is long plus the travel, it would figure there are nights fans might not see the maximum effort from teams. Anyone viewing this game in the arena or at home certainly couldn’t make that statement. We saw two heavyweight teams battle one another as I indicated earlier “playoff style basketball.”

I dreaded the game

This is a short report for one reason alone, Mizzou opened the SEC race with a journey to Auburn Alabama, I dreaded the game. Although it’s my belief this Mizzou version is better than last season facing Auburn would be a monumental task. Auburn is ranked second in the nation in practically any poll you can locate, the KenPom has them ranked number one. When the match was over the Auburn Tigers beat my Mizzou Tigers 84-68.

How did the other guys accomplish the win, outshooting the good guys from the field including the three line. One of my chief complaints regarding Mizzou was being outrebounded, not in this game, that didn’t occur as they beat the other Tigers off the boards 31-29. A little better shooting and continuing to rebound a respectable number and we have the formula for winning basketball. Enough of that, looking ahead Mizzou faces LSU on Tuesday of this upcoming week, that is followed by Vanderbilt on Saturday.

Journeyman

Once upon a time the headline above referenced an athlete who managed to play for multiple teams. Generally the player in question filled a role but was not considered a valuable member of the team. The term journeyman has changed since the days of Bill Russell, Bob Cousy and others who managed to play their long NBA careers for a single team. More recently we saw Dirk Nowitzki, Kobe Bryant and John Stockton play for the Mavs, Lakers and Jazz throughout their time in the NBA.

That one team rule no longer applies, is it free agency or something else that’s brought about the change. The main culprit must be free agency although players can (and do) demand a trade. What is most interesting at this time journeyman might reflect the names of several future members of the hall of fame. Already Shaquille O’Neal (6 teams) been enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame. Dennis Rodman is also in the hall, his resume includes 5 NBA teams. In the future we’ll see Kevin Durant and perhaps Russell Westbrook in Springfield as well.

The Suns become Durant’s 4th NBA team while the Nuggets are team number 6 for Westbrook. His former teammate James Harden could be added, the 2018 NBA MVP is working for his 5 team. Is the term journeyman appropriate in the age of free agency and forced trades? I cannot answer the question however I say again other than trades…why do some players manage to earn a paycheck from so many teams?

Basketball from a fans perspective

Published daily except Tuesdays & Thursdays

His government name

You are familiar with Temetrius Jamel, leaving his last name aside you probably have no idea who I’m referencing. He plays point guard for the Grizzlies and he’s better known as “Ja” Morant. I don’t know if this to be a fact however my guess Ja was taken from the first two initials of his middle name. He’s one of the best rebounders in the NBA certainly a defensive force for the Heat…his birth name is Edrice Femi. He’s better known to NBA fans as “Bam” Adebayo. This athlete goes by the name of Scoot but that’s not the name on his birth certificate. On the document is the name he was given at birth Sterling Henderson, he is one of the swiftest guards in the league,

This next player the NBA community knows him as Trae. He’s actually Rayford Trae Young so the name he plays under really isn’t a nickname because it’s his middle name which is used. Does the name Shiavonte Aician sound familiar to you, probably not? You are more familiar with Shai Gilgeous the name mentioned during NBA broadcasts and written in the media. Finally we arrive at a former player turned coach. Speedy had an NBA career, how he became Speedy is unknown. His driver’s license identifies him as Craig Elliott Claxton. Another retired player and the only one to lead the NBA in scoring and assists in the same season. His name is Nate Archibald however due to his small stature he was nicknamed “Tiny” in a considerable number of NBA circles. Ovinton J’Anthony has not played in the NBA since 2016, what did I state? You have no idea who we are discussing, it’s OJ Mayo who last played for the Bucks.

Mizzou and the SEC

This afternoon Mizzou men’s basketball begins SEC play against Auburn, of course as most are aware Auburn is highly rated and one of the best in the nation. It certainly would be noteworthy if the Auburn Tigers were defeated by the Mizzou Tigers today. What to expect from the Black & Gold Tigers is a question mark, they should be better than last season. You might remember what occurred, the horrendous season they lost every single conference game, there will be no repeat of that fiasco.

The larger problem, the SEC is perhaps the toughest conference in the nation. The “experts” which I am not counted in the number claim this, “If they can finish .500 they will earn a tournament berth.” Mizzou has compiled an 11 win 2 loss season during the non-conference portion of their schedule. If we add another 9 wins that adds up to a season ending total of 20 wins. Although the win-loss number might not be exceptional playing in the tough, tough SEC just might allow them to punch their ticket to the tourney. Should the Black & Gold Tigers exceed the .500 mark mentioned, that would certainly get them an invite?

“Cleaning house”

I pointed out how unfamiliar I was regarding Dorian Finney-Smith acquired in the recent trade. It’s my understanding he’s a lock-down defender who can also shoot well from three. This was the role the Lakers believed was Jerred Vanderbilt. The only problem Vanderbilt was injured last season playing only 29 games, he is yet to make an appearance this season as the calendar turns to January. I am really unsure of his value or anyone to the Lakers if he never plays, that is a front-office decision.

At the time the team signed Gabe Vincent I was excited, I’d witnessed his outstanding play especially in the playoffs for the Heat. Injured most of last season Vincent played but 11 games, so far it’s been 31 however as I write this he is on a game to game status i.e., injured. Next up we have Christian Wood another who clearly demonstrated a higher level of play for the Mavs than I’ve seen with the Lakers. Wood played 50 games last season however surgery sidelined him for the 2024-25 season so far. In a manner similar to Vanderbilt we have yet to see Wood on the court. Finally we close this exercise with Jaxson Hayes, I thought the 7 foot Hayes seeing a potential opening at center would excel at the prospect. Laker Nation is fully aware AD hates playing center and this would be ideal for Hayes if he can remain healthy. Perhaps Hayes future is that of a reserve player only, if that is the case he needs to tailor his game as much as possible for the role. He’s played 11 of the 31 games the Lakers have played thus far, an ankle injury has sidelined him.

Hopefully, this doesn’t appear as mean-spirited as it might seem, the Lakers have a bunch of guys (under contract) who don’t play. They have until the end of the trade deadline (Feb 6) to address the issue of those missing roster members. Finally has the coaching change made a difference in the record? I’m unsure, last season the Lakers had played two additional games but a quick look says this. They were 17-18 this time last year, in 2025 they are 19-14.

The naysayers

I cannot named them for you however you are aware of most. These are the people who attempt to report “the game of basketball is headed downward,” they inform all within earshot “nobody is watching the NBA or basketball in general.” Both statements are far from the truth, THEY see portions of the game that displease them and decide it no longer functions. As a fan there are aspects of the game that concern me but unlike those folks the concerns they see fail to impact me in the same manner. I’m not going to toss the game in the trash because there are elements that displease me. One of the areas that is key to the continued evolution of the game is player development, if we look at the NBA there are plethora of budding stars.

LeBron James, Steph Curry and others are on the downhill side of their careers however new talent continues to arrive. Only time will tell if Victor Wembanyama, SGA plus Cooper Flagg and others become elite players, they appear to be that talented in 2024. As for the NBA if it were a losing proposition which some claim why is owner Glen Taylor fighting over ownership rights with pending buyers A-Rod & Marc Lore. That’s the good as for the bad I don’t see as much as you might. At the top of my list is Load Management I’m old skool, I realize the number of games has increased over time however players back in the day didn’t sit out games to rest. The in-season tournaments I plain don’t like, there are other negatives but those are at the top of my list.

Basketball from a fans perspective

Published daily except Tuesdays & Thursdays

Check this out

Most of you have read numerous complaints about three point shooting, especially in the NBA. It is a concern until you look at the numbers, this is just an opinion. There are no analytics involved just raw numbers. Before we begin let’s check this out, what is a good shooting percentage from three? I conducted research and located this AI Overview, “A good 3-point percentage is generally considered to be around 35% or higher; with a percentage of 40% or above being considered very good, especially at the professional level like the NBA.” Let’s check out the latest numbers, one complaint I hear consistently from Laker Nation is the team’s poor shooting from three. 

According to teamrankings.com/nba/stat/three-point-pct the Laker team is at 35% which places them at 19 in the NBA. There are 11 teams below them including the Magic who sit at 30 and last place yet have the 4th best win-loss record in the Eastern Conference. The Thunder are shooting 34% as a team and look at their sparkling 27-5 record in leading the Western Conference. As you can see pure numbers don’t always provide us a clear picture of this particular thing. The game, especially at the NBA level changes, perhaps this is not the area of concern we tend to believe it might be. On the other hand someone proficient in analytics might trash my effort, who really knows?

The announcement

January 1 Bryce James made his commitment known, the younger brother of Bronny is headed to the University of Arizona in the fall. Although he is the younger brother he’s much taller checking in at 6 foot 4 inches and 180 pounds. For now he plays the shooting guard but it’s unclear if he will remain at that position. Bryce is a 3 or 4 star prospect depending on which source is utilized. His height is questionable as well, most sites list him at the height reported above while one contends he’s 6 foot 6. He is reported to be more talented than older brother Bronny, we shall see if that is actually the case.

Top 5

Growing up the best boys basketball played in the State of Missouri still lies on the east side of the state. orders not changed much. With me living on the west side of the state it’s sometimes difficult to admit the truth, who are they? The Top 5 in the State of Missouri are:

1. Oak Park-Kansas City MO

2. Chaminade-Frontenac (St. Louis metro)

3. DeSmet-Creve Coeur (St. Louis metro)

4. Vashon-St. Louis

5. Principa-St. Louis 

Next door in the State of Kansas we have these high schools represent the Top 5:

1. Shawnee Mission Northwest (KC metro)

2. Shawnee Mission South (KC metro)

3. Baldwin

4. Goodland

5. Wichita Heights

From a distance 

Have you witnessed the growth of Shei Gilgeous-Alexander, like me? No…not his height or weight they remain the same it’s the other thing. The steady point guard who played his college ball at Kentucky continues his upward trend. After he dropped 40 points on the Wolves this was the response from Ant Man, “Unguardable SGA is MVP.” He accomplished the number shooting 65% from the floor with 60% from three, in case you didn’t know allow me to clue you in on something. SGA can shoot the three he just doesn’t because he’s a throwback. Although certainly youthful his game is that of the ‘70’s or ‘80’s mostly mid-range shooting.

Can I say two teams missed the ship on him, the Hornets and Clippers. SGA was made the 18th pick in 2018 by the Hornets but was traded draft night to the Clippers. After spending his rookie year with the Clippers in a reserve role he found himself on the way to OKC. He along with several others was included in the trade that sent Paul George to the Clippers. The Thunder are playing outstanding basketball however it appears NBA eyes are focused on the defending champion Celtics and ascending Cavs. This Thunder team is ever improving, after Chet Holmgren went down with an injury they have continued to play inspired and high level basketball much can be attributed to SGA. Don’t sleep on this team, they will be noisemakers come playoff time.

Pick apart his game

A number of former players have been critical of Victor Wembanyama due to his limited inside game. It’s easy to understand why they take this approach, he’s nearly 7 feet 5 and some believe he could dominate the game with additional weapons in his arsenal. There is no argument from me other than why, I am going to point out several NBA All Stars Wemby’s 35.5% shooting from three is above theirs. As the top of the list is the Mavs all everything player Luka Doncic…yes Wemby tops him.

I realize Doncic is injured but his number was compiled prior to. Next up on our brief list Jamal Murray of the Nuggets and then Suns guard Devin Booker along with Clipper James Harden. I could include Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the discussion however he doesn’t shoot near the amount of three’s a game as the others, SGA is more a mid-range shooter. We must also include the Sixers Tyrese Maxey and Trae Young of the Hawks in our brief count. The point I’m attempting to make all the names on this list have clearly demonstrated their talent to their fans and teammates. I’m sure no one has told them to stop shooting three’s.

Basketball from a fans perspective

Published daily except Tuesdays & Thursdays

Kansas aura

For a number of years the Big XII Conference has been KU basketball plus the others. KU ruled the conference, on occasion a Baylor would rise to the top and challenge Kansas for conference supremacy. More recently the word for the conference became change, as was pointed out new coaches, conference additions along with NIL the transfer portal and slowly the basketball landscape transformed, but it would not be in favor of KU. After being pronounced the number one team in the nation by the Coaches and A/P early this season we’ve seen a slide. This season KU could look to quality wins over North Carolina, Michigan State and Duke, that was the upside.

The downside losses to Creighton, Mizzou and on Tuesday West Virginia 62-61, all three of these losses occurred against unranked teams. The loss yesterday came at revered Allen Fieldhouse the building KU rarely loses. The next few words will upset those close to the program as alumni or fans. It’s my belief Bill Self remains a good coach probably at the top currently of any list. I believe in the eyes of media members and coaches KU is living in their minds based on past glory. How do you explain within a week of the loss to Mizzou they began a slow rise in the polls. This rise occurred after KU registered victories over North Carolina State and Brown University. KU will continue to play highly competitive basketball, I imagine they will not rule the upgraded Big XII as they once did in the past.

I’m guilty too

Why do we equate an athletes success or lack thereof with a championship? I’m including myself in the account allow an explanation, on social media this popped up. Bills QB Josh Allen has 76 wins in his first 7 years more than Russell Wilson or Patrick Mahomes. My first thought “Mahomes has 3 Super Bowl Championships while Allen has none.” After making the statement I thought a moment, unless an athlete competes individually how can we compare one’s career when they play a team sport? Allen cannot play defense he’s the QB, football, basketball and baseball plus soccer are team sports.

If an athlete is responsible for a part and he or she plays at their maximum why do we disparage the lack of a ring? I could begin with Charles Barkley, the Round Mound of Rebound has been enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame. He’s got plenty of accolades however he’s never won an NBA Championship. Chris Paul is near the end of his brilliant NBA career, the man nicknamed The Point God is likely to retire with no ring. There is Patrick Ewing, Reggie Miller, Karl Malone and a host of outstanding NBA players who lack a championship. A championship is the culmination of a brilliant career however it should not be the single symbol of a successful NBA career or how we evaluate an athletes ability.

Do we really care what he says?

Former NBA player and current podcaster Gilbert Arenas has decided again to provide us his insight into the ability of an athlete. Let’s begin by stating Arenas believes Duke’s Cooper Flagg is no longer the top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Arenas claims Flagg is more a complimentary player over one who might be deemed the top pick. The problem for me and others we lack expertise in this area, the question I might ask Arenas is simple, what is a complementary player?    

Why can’t a top draft pick be a complementary player if he able to aid his team to secure a better record. I looked at the 2020 and 2021 NBA Draft, Anthony Edwards and Cade Cunningham were the top choices. Edwards and Cunningham have adapted their game and have shown improved play since their rookie year. It’s my belief the term Arenas uses is certainly understandable however I’m unsure if it’s one containing validity. This is not me alone, the three mock draft sites I extensively use have not relegated Flagg to the number two position. The calendar has turned to January and there’s been no movement, what do you think?

A KenPom report

Recently I reported on the Big XII teams based on KenPom numbers. It is now time to check out what I believe is the best college basketball program in the nation…SEC basketball. I’d mentioned this previously, once upon a time it was Kentucky and everybody else in the conference. It was established Kentucky would finish in first place, the remaining members would seek second or third. Don’t misunderstand, nowhere was this written that’s just the way it was at one time.

It wasn’t the fact other members didn’t compete they just couldn’t play consistently at the same level of Kentucky. I cannot point out a specific date but some years back SEC teams became concerned with the one team dominating the conference. Athletic directors began to hire young and upcoming coaches. In other instances they signed coaches from other conferences who compiled successful resumes, with that said we move on, the number behind the school is the KenPom rating, let’s check the programs out below:

Auburn 1

Tennessee 3

Florida 7

Alabama 9

Texas A&M 12