A fans perspectives

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“The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated”

Mark Twain, the renowned 19th-century writer and humorist, authored the well-known headline in reference to a rumor about his demise—an incident that underscores the significant differences in communication during his era compared to today. Similarly, many analysts (me included) had written off the Los Angeles Clippers earlier this season; after all by December, their record stood at just six wins against twenty-one losses, this lead to a widespread belief that the Clipper prospects were bleak and most likely impossible.

However, much like the mythical Phoenix rising from the ashes, the Clippers initiated a remarkable turnaround beginning in January. Since January 21, they have achieved fourteen wins with only two losses. Coach Tyronn Lue has set an ambitious target for the remainder of the season: at least thirty-five wins and no more than twenty total losses. While challenging, this goal is attainable. A key factor in the team's resurgence has been the exceptional play of Kawhi Leonard throughout this streak. The NBA season is demanding, with extensive travel and consecutive games often impacting team performance. So I believe the Clippers have taught all of us a lesson, “It ain’t over till it’s over.”

Finger pointing

From where I sit (mostly in front of my television) I am willing to admit it’s unfair at times. Unfair for me to be the voice of reason at times because I can’t see everything. In this instance my subject is the center of the Los Angeles Lakers Deandre Ayton. I’m not sure of the date however the Lakers began the season on a high note, an unknown date in December a downward slide began. Sure, injuries impacted the team’s effort however so has the defense. Over the last 10 games the Lakers have only reached .500 with 5 wins and 5 losses. There has been a great deal of finger pointing for the poor play of the team recently. Most of the ire I believe was/is aimed at center Deandre Ayton. Ayton’s comment from late November “I need touches,” as a Big Man he needs to feel he is component of the offense.

With ball dominate Luka Doncic and LeBron James its difficult for Ayton to retain his place in the Laker effort. Reading the last sentence you might believe I am critical of the offensive effort of Doncic and LeBron, that’s not totally correct. In my opinion both need to dial their game back a bit and include Ayton more in the offense which will help his defense. I didn’t see the game but this is the result in the Laker win over the Raptors, Ayton went to work. He scored 25 points on 10 for 10 from the floor, 1000% from the floor which included 13 rebounds and a single blocked shot. Ayton’s scoring binge allowed him to tie Luka Doncic for team high in scoring. Do I know what I’m talking about, maybe as I began this exercise I indicated it’s my television plus what I read from credible sources that help me formulate my opinion. There are several unnamed media types which I exclude as informative.

Not me

The Buffalo Braves/San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers have never won an NBA championship. They are not alone, there are others unable to win it all however this franchise is lacking for a unique reason. I’ve read what many of you have written and spoke of over the years, you claim “there is a curse” on the franchise. I’ve never subscribed to that belief for a number of reasons, let’s check the history of other sports. From 1945 till 2016, for 71 years the baseball Chicago Cubs lacked a championship. The ‘Billy Goat’ curse was the basis for the lack of a championship. In 1945 a tavern owner would take his goat to Cubs games, the goat plus the owner disturbed the fans and both were kicked out of Wrigley Field.

At that point, the owner of the goat placed a curse on the Cubs claiming, “they would never win a championship.” Another from baseball involved the legendary Babe Ruth, for 86 years (1918-2004) the Boston Red Sox would never win a World Series after selling Ruth to the Yankees. As for the basketball team, unlike the others, my research failed to uncover one specific thing just a series of stuff. Injuries to key stars, Playoff chokes, drafting opportunities, an example SGA drafted by the Clippers and traded to the Thunder becoming NBA MVP. There is more detailed history but I hope you get the picture. In conclusion, if the Clippers franchise is indeed cursed, it stands apart from other sports teams discussed because multiple events have repeatedly stopped this team from reaching the top.   

The difficulty

In a manner of speaking it’s difficult for me to follow college basketball anymore. As much as I uphold the belief players should be able to earn income there is a drain in talent. The best of the best leaves for the NBA in June, in the fall they are replaced by another best of the best who will repeat the cycle. It is extremely difficult to latch onto a school’s program when the cast of characters is ever changing. I can’t blame the athletes the risk of continued play and the possibility of injury. I can think of two instances a former player for Colorado and one at Mizzou. Neither left school for the NBA when they could have, both later suffered injuries which severely impacted their dream of playing in the NBA. On the other hand few are willing (or maybe desire) to travel the ‘Sean Elliott’ route to the NBA.

Elliott long since retired was a budding NBA talent, he could have left Arizona for the NBA after his junior year however his mother had other plans. Mom wanted her son to earn that degree by graduating, the injury issue would also impact any decision to be undertaken. I don’t remember the dollar amount however she initiated a policy with Lloyds of London, this policy would pay Elliott X dollars in the event of an injury preventing him from play in the NBA. There is the age factor too, most of those at least in the early portion of the draft were in their teens while others had just turned 20 or 21. Knecht was an ‘old’ 23 years of age when the Lakers drafted him. We have no idea if Dalton Knecht will be a star in the NBA but this we know….the primary reason for his ‘slide’ in the draft his age. There is no answer for this dilemma just my simple explanation why college basketball might be suffering in the eyes of all with the exception except of the student body, I certainly have no solution for this predicament.

A fans perspectives

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It’s really simple

Once again Mizzou found itself on the short end of a winnable game. This time it was those other Tigers…the one’s with LSU on the front of their jerseys, final score LSU 78 Mizzou 70. LSU managed to grab 16 offensive rebounds and score on 21 second-chance points. Literally that is the end of the story although I have additional gripes, once again Mizzou snagged a defeat from a game they could have…should have won. In a manner of speaking the game was a shocker as Mizzou managed an outstanding 80% from the line as a team however a box score contains more than a single item.

LSU did a much better job in the TO department only committing 7 for the game, Mizzou had 12. The rebounds were just about even except Mizzou was beaten badly in the offensive rebound department a contributing factor to their loss. Leading scorer Mark Mitchell didn’t have a terrible game but only scored 13 point, LSU double and triple teamed him at times forcing him from his usual offensive output. I will mention this once again, this Mizzou Tigers team is an enigma to me. So far this season they have managed to beat several good teams but lose to lower ranked one’s. There are troubling issues that continue for this Mizzou team, I’m unsure if they will ever be firmly addressed.

Draft for need over potential

In this blog in the past we’ve discussed talent hits and misses along with the difficulty it presents. I came across this story but I intend to present an NFL perspective too. In 2017 the NFL Bears were faced with a choice, they had the second pick in the draft, do they choose Mitchell Trubisky or Patrick Mahomes? The Chiefs had traded to move up in the draft, after the Bears made their pick the Chiefs chose Mahomes. Wonder how that worked out for both teams? Now back to the NBA, in 2018 the New York Knicks were in need of a small forward, all winter and into the spring they were focused on Kentucky’s Kevin Knox. I have no numbers but I’m sure Knick scouts were in attendance at several Kentucky games and saw his teammate point guard Shai-Gilgeous Alexander in action as well.

When the June 2018 draft rolled around it witnessed the Knicks choosing Knox with the 9th pick in the first round. As for SGA the Clippers chose him with pick number 11, of course he would eventually be traded to the Thunder. So what occurred for Knox, he eventually moved from the Knicks to 4 other NBA teams and is now currently in the NBA G-League. As for SGA he would lead the Thunder to an NBA championship and be named league MVP. The Knicks certainly saw him in action but they were drafting for a position rather than potential talent. Back to the NFL for a moment, it was reported the old Dallas Cowboys drafted on talent (potential) rather than position. My guess is they have 6 linebackers on the roster, when their turn in the draft occurred if the most talented player available was a linebacker they would select him. They might pick that player but utilize him later in a trade. The point of this exercise drafting players is not an exact science, it’s actually a crap shoot. This is not intended as a criticism of the NFL Bears or NBA Knicks, they selected the player they believed would fulfill their need.

Play some defense

For the most part with the exception of reserves my Lakers can score baskets with anybody. The issue for them has been defense or the lack there of. For a variety of reasons focus for most basketball fans have been scoring and it’s easy to understand the why. If I told you Player A scored 45 points in the game you would be impressed especially if your team won. How can the defensive effort of Player A be detailed in order for you to see the important component of his game? We can see the defense played but rarely focus on that aspect of the game. There are a number of NBA players who made a career being able to play lockdown defense.

Probably one of the early pioneers was legendary Celtic center Bill Russell, although known more for his offense Wilt Chamberlain was a defensive wizard too. If we move forward in time we could add the names of Hakeem Olajuwon, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Michael Cooper and Gary Payton to name just a few. If we look toward the present we could add the names of Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, Rudy Gobert and Kawhi Leonard. I hope you are not of the belief those named couldn’t score baskets, some could however they spent just as much time working on their defense as they did offense. The ‘eye’ of the television camera has been complacent with its focusing on scoring over defense.

The issue remains

We are revisiting an old topic however it continues to exist for a number of readers. One asked the question, “Why aren’t Dr. J’s ABA numbers not counted in the all-time stats?” The answer is simple, I have long contended there was no ABA-NBA merger similar to what occurred in the NFL. At the time of the football merger, all the teams in the American Football League moved into the expanded National Football League. That is not what occurred in basketball, the NBA ‘chose’ the teams they wanted. To be honest the ABA was about to go out of business, its long been my contention if NBA owners had waited 2-3 years there would have been no ABA to speak of.

In any event rather than merger I prefer to use the term expansion. Expansion because the Denver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs, Indiana Pacers and New York Nets were the only former ABA teams allowed to move into the NBA. The Kentucky and St. Louis ABA franchises were disbanded with their owners being compensated and their players placed in a pool for draft dispersal into the NBA. The Virginia Squires had folded before the final merger agreement, the Baltimore, San Diego and Utah franchises had closed ahead of the ABA’s final season. If a league expands (as the NBA contends) there was no requirement to include records of any type established earlier. So there it is again the lookback at the American Basketball Association and the explanation why Dr. J. and Moses Malone (and several others) only have an NBA history.   

I hate Duke

Which is it, Coach K., Duke University or Duke players specifically Christian Laettner…I’m unsure how much hatred exists for each. The portion most interesting, Laettner’s been retired from the NBA since 2005 yet dare mention his name and the revulsion emerges. As for Coach K., he too is no longer patrolling the sidelines, he retired at the end of the 2022 season. There are plenty of NBA players past and present to hate. How about the Lakers coach, JJ Redick then we have Kyrie Irving, Grayson Allen, Jayson Tatum and Zion Williamson.

The names mentioned represent a small number connected with Duke who for a number of reasons are hated by fans. For unknown reasons much of the vitriol aimed at Duke players past and present are not evident whenever the name Grant Hill is mentioned…I have no answer why. I believe a portion of the hatred exist for fans due to Duke basketball being a continuous winning program. Perhaps part of this hatred exists due to the student body, it’s the schools’ prestige which is another reason. In addition the “Cameron Crazies,” the 9,000 capacity student body seated a few feet from the opposition is imposing. There is probably no single answer for the hatred other than the fact it’s simply the fact Duke is Duke.

A fans perspectives

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They love to hate

Although you read of my displeasure with the actions of LeBron James recently mine is not hatred. There is no requirement for me to defend him but I will. Now that you have an opportunity to determine this account you can cease reading before moving forward. This is written from the perspective of me, someone who claims he is not a LeBron fan. Allow me to clarify that last statement, LeBron chose to join my Lakers, the Lakers didn’t choose him to bond with them. I (you have too) read it seems like hundreds of letters from folks critical of LeBron. His talcum powder toss at the beginning of games probably even gets on their nerves. A large portion of the annoyance is aimed at LeBron due to son Bronny being drafted and on the Laker roster. I hope you remember Vince Carter an outstanding NBA pro.

Carter was nowhere near the level of LeBron at 41, the same could be said for Robert Parrish and one of my favorites Kareem Abdul Jabbar. All three are in the Naismith Hall of Fame…see where I’m going I hope? No single player wins an NBA championship alone but consider the fact he’s won 4 of them with three different teams. The Miami Heat won 2, the Cleveland Cavs 1 and the Lakers 1 indirectly owe their championships to the skill and talent of LeBron James. This defense is not going to settle anything if you are a hater this certainly will not convince you to come over to my side. Let’s just conclude by saying I have doubts if anyone eclipses a number of his records. He certainly belongs in the conversation about who is the G.O.A.T. however if you say Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant or someone else there would be no argument from me. The truth of the matter, it’s not just LeBron…whenever you are a celebrity someone is always attempting to negate your impact on a bunch of stuff.

Who said you can’t go home

Mizzou power forward Mark Mitchell can’t shoot free throws if he was paid. At least to date that appears to be the single issue for this 6-foot 9 230 pound power forward, where did it begin? He played a portion of his high school basketball at Bishop Miege located in Roeland Park (KS) a suburb of Kansas City MO. For his senior year Mitchell transferred and played at Sunrise Christian Academy in metro Wichita where he was a 5-star prospect and McDonalds All American. Although Mitchell had offers from Mizzou, Kansas, and UCLA he chose Duke as his school of choice.

Mitchell played starter minutes during his freshman and sophomore year at Duke but decided to head elsewhere. That elsewhere became Mizzou where he played this past season averaging 13.9 ppg. He chose to leave Duke is unclear however entering the portal he decided to head home. Technically that’s correct because Mitchell’s from Kansas City Kansas, he attended a high school as mentioned in metro Kansas City Missouri. There is talk of a potential NBA career if he is able to spruce up areas of his game. I’d mentioned free-throw shooting however another area is the three line, Mitchell is not particularly good. In today’s NBA teams expect all players with the exception of centers to possess skill from behind the line. Setting the NBA aside for a moment, fans of Mizzou Nation can enjoy the show for this Mitchell’s senior year.

Your intention is….

There have been recent reports that NBA commissioner Adam Silver engaged in discussions about launching NBA Europe. According to The Athletic, the league was considering teams such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, ASVEL Basket of Villeurbanne, and Fenerbahce Istanbul. Progress seemed steady until January 9th, when the EuroLeague sent a letter to the NBA threatening legal action if talks continued with teams already in their league. Although this situation is far from reaching the courts, it demonstrates strong resistance to any NBA efforts to expand in Europe. While I cannot predict the future of NBA Europe, I do recall wondering early on whether European organizations would be receptive to the NBA's presence.

This latest development suggests they are not, at least for now, but things could change by the time NBA Europe might actually launch—potentially around 2030. It will certainly be interesting to see how NBA Europe evolves. On Thursday, the commissioner indicated that the NBA in cooperation with its FIBA partner would continue to pursue the establishment of this new league. Nothing is set however according to ESPN this is the vision. “Current target countries for the NBA-FIBA endeavor are known to include England (with the potential host cities their being London and Manchester), France (Paris and Lyon), Spain (Madrid and Barcelona), Italy (Rome and Milan), Germany (Munich and Berlin), Greece (Athens) and Turkey (Istanbul). On the surface this would appear to be quite a threat to EuroLeague and you can understand why elements with the league are displeased.

Is there a Blazer Big Man curse

Is there a Big Man curse with the Portland Trail Blazers franchise? After an All American college season at UCLA the Blazers made the 6-foot 11 Bill Walton the top pick in the 1974 NBA draft. After a relative pedestrian beginning he led the Blazers to their only NBA championship in 1977. Later he would play for the San Diego Clippers and remain for one season once they moved to Los Angeles. His time for playing major minutes were over, he ended his career with the Celtics being honored as Sixth Man of the Year aiding them to win an NBA championship. Based on his college and early NBA career Walton’s been enshrined in the Naismith and College Basketball Hall of Fame.

Injuries had seriously impacted Walton’s NBA career. Next up a look at Sam Bowie, he was an outstanding post player (7-foot 1) while in high school. His college school of choice would be Kentucky where he was declared an All American. All that remained for Bowie was the NBA and that came in 1984. This draft saw the Houston Rockets choose Hakeem Olajuwon at the top, the Portland Trail Blazers selected Sam Bowie two and at three the Chicago Bulls picked Michael Jordan. From the 1984 season through 1989 a series of injuries would see Bowie in an out of the lineup with an assortment of injuries. Bowie would spend four additional seasons with the New Jersey Nets, his career ended with the Los Angeles Lakers after two seasons. Despite the potential believed Bowie had it was never fulfilled due to the injury issues. Although Bowie had a 10-year career it was nowhere close to what was expected. Years later the Blazers had another opportunity to draft an outstanding prospect and why not? They saw a promising future and not the curse occurring once again.

Greg Oden had budding superstar written about his ability prior to setting foot on an NBA court, one scout even claimed the 7-foot 1 Oden would be “The second coming of Bill Russell.” He was made the top pick in the 2007 NBA draft, immediately behind him the Seattle Sonics chose Kevin Durant. Oden would spend 2007 to 2012 in and out of the lineup of the Blazers beset by a series of injuries. They finally gave up on him and he spent his last year in the NBA with the Miami Heat. Three college All Americans, three players who displayed tremendous talent while in college however their NBA careers were seriously impacted due to numerous injuries.

A fans perspectives

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Colander

If you are a cook on the amateur level or a top line chef you are familiar with a colander. Just in case I am providing a dictionary definition of the word, it’s “A kitchen utensil perforated with holes used to strain foods such as pasta or to rinse vegetables.” The defense of the Los Angeles Lakers remind me of a colander, they cannot stop anyone including the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday. No game in the NBA is automatic however the Lakers were favored to with the game plus it was at home, so much for what I wrote. 135-117 was the final outcome in the Hornets favor, but check this out. The Lakers didn’t actually shoot that bad however their defense was less than desired in this game. What occurred for the Lakers to play so badly, plenty if you continue to read.

The visitors shot a sizzling 54% from the floor and a meteoric 47% from the three-point line. This is my chief concern, Luka Doncic is a lights out shooter but a suspect defender plus LeBron James is no longer than guardian he once was. So this member of Laker Nation is extremely disappointed based on the last several games. I once wrote and will repeat it, the Lakers can score with any NBA team, the problem is the D. The Lakers are not terrible ranking 9th in team offense, they are near the bottom at number 27 in defense. Teams are not dumb, they see scouting reports and decide where to attack the opposition. For the Lakers, their Achilles heel or kryptonite is definitely the three line. A team effort is required to improve the defense from this area, it’s certainly possible but a question mark for me until I can see improvement. I realize the game was a blow-out win for the Hornets but LeBron James leaving the court with one minute left in the game is inexcusable to me.

One additional issue

The other day I attempted to detail for you the problems I believe exist in college basketball. The recent news indicates gambling was omitted from the commentary. I’ve avoided discussing it in detail because of my lack of knowledge on the subject. It’s difficult for me to describe an issue of unfamiliarity and that’s what gambling and it’s tentacles are for me. A story broke last week regarding college basketball. Of course you are aware of an earlier account facing two NBA players and a coach. I fail to write about something that is not an easy fix, I make that statement because this issue has long existed in professional and amateur sports.

A simple check would be the 1919 Black Sox World Series scandal, gambling elements attempted to ‘fix’ the World Series to their benefit. 1950 and 1961 saw college basketball facing major outrage involving the game. Of course since then and up to the present time, this tendency comes about once again as it has this past week. In my view there is no method under the sun to prevent occurrences similar to last week or those that occurred in the past. The only method is to depend on the integrity of the individuals involved. Humans are going to continue to do human things be they good or bad, in essence the hope is they do the good which is right thing however there is no guarantee. Sorry, I am unable to provide you with an answer, this is far too complicated for me and that’s all I could generate.

8 points in 8.9 seconds

No one could score that many points in such a short space of time yet it occurred. From AI Overview: “Reggie Miller famously scored 8 points in 8.9 seconds (often rounded to 9 seconds) against the New York Knicks on May 7, 1995, hitting two three-pointers and two free throws to lead the Indiana Pacers to a comeback win in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.” An addendum to the story, Miller was made the first pick in the 1987 draft by the Pacers but he is not the player fans wanted. Some reading this will believe I am downplaying the career Steve Alford registered. As most are aware high school football is played in the State of Indiana but the chief sport was and remains…basketball, truth is Indiana might be the only state to make that claim. In any event Alford was a hotshot high school player, he was a star prior to enrolling at Indiana.

Alford was ‘Mr. Basketball’ his senior year as the top high school player in the State of Indiana. After experiencing a good college career the NBA draft was upon us, the Pacers had a first round pick with the number 11 selection. Fans wanted the Pacers to choose Alford however that would not be the case, instead they selected a skinny 6-foot 7 185 pound shooting guard. As for Alford he slid to the second round and was made the 26th pick by the Dallas Mavericks. You know about Miller, NBA All Pro…20,000 point career scorer, Naismith Hall of Fame, 75th Anniversary NBA team…you get the picture, what about Alford you might ask? He’s managed to taste success also but in a different manner, Alford took on the role of basketball coach. Currently he’s the head man at Nevada but in 30 years of coaching at several stops he’s only had two losing seasons. Alford’s still coaching while Miller is retired and has become a broadcaster.

It’s a mystery

We arrive in the middle of January and this Mizzou team continues to remain an enigma to me. They can’t shoot free throws that’s clear,  the question are they a good team or only an average one, allow for an explanation. After Mizzou’s win on January 14 win over Auburn they have 13 wins and only 4 losses, they have 3 conference wins against 1 lost…that’s the good. We saw blowout losses to archrivals Kansas and Illinois, in addition Mizzou found a method to turn a win into a loss against Ole Miss on January 10. Coach Dennis Gates remains positive for me but there are questions from me regarding his in-game adjustments. I decided to check last season’s results and was almost shocked to see the won-loss record was close.

As I pointed out above the 2025-26 this Mizzou team is 13-4 as this is written, last season near the same period Mizzou was 14-3. As you can see we find Mizzou close to last season. This also should provide evidence of my confusion, Mizzou is one of five teams tied for first place in the conference race. The team last season received an NCAA invite but lost their game against Drake 67-57. I am impatient, as I’ve attempted to point out the coach has been an outstanding recruiter but to date despite better personnel Mizzou has not advanced at the level I hoped for. Is this the year Mizzou earns an NCAA invite and makes a deep run in the tournament, I certainly hope that is the case? In the meantime I remain excited about the incoming crop of talent arriving in August.

A fans perspectives

Published Monday, Wednesday and Friday through Sunday

An adjustment was required

Portland Trail Blazer fans are very familiar with Deni Avdija although he might be unknown to many NBA fans. This focus is on Avdija because he is having a breakout year for his Blazer team…he’s been so good this season he should win most improved player in the NBA for 2025-26. What’s Avdija’s done so far through the middle of January:

Scored more points than James Harden

Has more assists than Shai-Gilgeous Alexander

More rebounds than Draymond Green

Has more threes than Kevin Durant

Made more free throws than Luka Doncic

You can see the type of year he’s experienced thus far, 26.1 ppg and 6.9 assists per game provide the evidence. Where and how, the where is Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel where he began his pro career prior to being drafted by the Washington Wizards in 2020. Avdija was the 9th pick in the first round of that draft. The how, the fact the Wizards were either unable or unwilling to see an adjustment plus time was required for the first Israeli player to be drafted into the NBA. 

IMO

This is written in the middle of January, I have no idea if the Los Angeles Lakers win the NBA championship. Whatever the outcome of the 2025-26 season for the Lakers in my opinion its time. Time for LeBron James to retire because despite his outstanding play over a 20 year plus NBA career he’s become a ‘millstone’ around the neck of the Lakers. He is the all-time NBA scoring champion, several of his records will never be eclipsed, LeBron is a four time NBA champion one of those, the 2020 with the Lakers. I could go on with the accolades this Akron Ohio native has compiled over the course of his brilliant NBA career.

The chief reason retirement should be in the forefront is a single reason, he is delaying his replacement. Let me re-state that, no one replaces LeBron, a rookie or veteran player would move into the position LeBron presently holds. I remember reading Kobe Bryant was a difficult teammate, I have no idea if the statement was true however the same might be evident for LeBron. Players of great talent have difficulty understanding why some not all around them don’t play at the same level as they do. I wouldn’t attempt to point out a possible replacement just say once again its time for retirement. The big difference, several NBA all-pros had farewell tours around the NBA. To date there’s been no planned farewell tour for LeBron although this is certainly no requirement. We shall see what eventually develops but now you know my view.

These issues require attention

Problems facing the college game have by mentioned by several in the media. I thought I would discuss this because it’s my belief these issues are compelling factors why some believe the college game is no longer the ideal product it once was. Over the last decades bunches of change have come into effect but from my view there have been none that have made the game a better product. Let’s take a look at some of the problems the college game faces, below are those I believe are causing issues for most fans:

 

*Name, Image & Likeness (NIL)

*Transfer Portal

*Euro professional players in college

*Eligibility

The NCAA is directly responsible for Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) coming into use across the nation. Should athletes be financially compensated is the question? Technically it’s a fine line between amateur and professional play however good or bad it’s become the law of the land. The transfer portal has got to be addressed fully, there should be a limit on the number of transfers. As an example an athlete in his junior year was enrolled in his third school in three years. Unless there are extenuating circumstances an athlete should be limited to two (2) transfers only. Athletes transferring from school to school need to end. Euro players in college is a gray area, for several years we’ve witnessed “pro” players enrolled and playing college competition.

There have been Euro players who arrived on these shores and begin play at  American high schools and then college. This will be mentioned once again, anytime a player is drafted into the NBA there is no allowance for him to play college basketball. The same for the two G-League players now enrolled and playing college basketball. More and more it’s my belief that a College Basketball Commissioner would handle these issues much better than the hodge podge method in place at present. I realize some issues have been missed while others were not detailed enough, I hope you see there is a huge problem facing college basketball today.

I informed you I don’t know

As this is written I have no idea how good a defender Kon Knueppel Charlotte Hornets guard is. I do know this at least for now, he can sink baskets and this is the proof. Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons tied Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Wolves for most three-point baskets made in consecutive games. Edwards set the standard with 14 in his rookie year, more recently Ivey tied the record but it now belongs to neither player anymore. Knueppel has set the new standard with 16 consecutive games sinking a three-point basket.

As far as Draymond’s Green questioning Knueppel’s defensive chops I said it before, Green needs to allow the youngster to fully adjust to the NBA. I believe this was stated by me previously, the spotlight was shining brightly last season on Cooper Flagg at Duke. That’s understandable, Flagg arrived on campus as a hype-machine with 99% of it media driven. Knueppel was content to play ‘Robin’ to Flagg’s ‘Batman’ probably content in his ability to play the game at a high skill level. Both players were fortunate in a manner of speaking, high draft choices allowed to move into their team’s starting lineup day one. I might have written this previously but will repeat it, if not for Flagg coming into the NBA at the same time Knueppel might have been deemed NBA Rookie of the Year.

A fans perspectives

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The return of a Kobe

His name is Kobe Bufkin, there remains a question if his parents named him after the Kobe which remains unclear. Since he just turned 22 in September it’s certainly plausible that could be the case. Bufkin’s had an unusual journey to arrive with the Los Angeles Lakers, allow an explanation. The 6-foot 4 guard was an All-State high school basketball player in Michigan, he was a 2021 McDonald’s All American. Bufkin had a slow start at the University of Michigan his freshman year but showed vast signs of improvement during his sophomore year.

He would then declared for the 2023 NBA draft, Bufkin was made pick number 15 in the first round by the Atlanta Hawks. From that point on it seems he fell off the edge of the earth, two years in which Bufkin received little playing time on the court. In September 2025 he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets and was waived by them in October prior to the start of the 2025-26 season. He was traded by Detroit’s G-League team to the South Bay Lakers, after appearing in 14 games for South Bay the parent club signed Bufkin to a 10-day contract. JJ Redick is looking for scoring off the bench and must believe this addition will prove beneficial for them. So there you have the story behind this Kobe and his connection to the Los Angeles Lakers.

A revolving door

The conference season has just begun and change is forth coming early, Kansas City or the University of MO-Kansas City is at the forefront. The school announced veteran coach Marvin Menzies will be replaced at the end of the season. I have long been unsure if the administration of my hometown university desires to play Division I basketball at a competitive level. The school moved from the NAIA level to Division I under Lee Hunt in 1987, memory says that was his only job….move the basketball program to the next level. Sounds somewhat easy however its been mostly downhill over the decades. Menzies is the school’s 7th head coach since 1996.

Every coach at the helm has a losing record with the exception of Billy Donlon (2019-22), in his three years his teams won 46 while losing 39 games. There must have been issues the public was unable to see, Donlon left the program at the end of 2022 and took the job as associate head coach for Clemson. I have long held the belief that without offering a shred of proof over time there’s been a divide between the athletic department and the school’s administration. Despite the passage of time the divide remains in place otherwise a high profile coach would have been hired day one. Once the school moved from the NAIA ranks to Division I my hope (and others) was a St. John’s or UCLA type program, an urban basketball power. My hope never materialized and the truth of the matter I’ve given up.

An uncommon occurrence

If you’ve read Off the Dribble any length of time you might be aware of this single fact. There are a number of concerns I’ve expressed 99% of them I can do nothing about except complain, one of those complaints is the NBA All-Star Game. I resent the change in the format of the game today, it reminds me of a playground or YMCA pickup game in the manner teams are place together. Despite that fact it is time to profile what might be a historic event, I checked all-star history and uncovered the fact there have been 45 rookies to play in the all-star game since it was first played in 1951, 25 of them since 1969. Since that year fewer and fewer rookies have been named NBA All-Stars, Michael Jordan was named to the 1985 game however since then only 5 rookies have been selected.  

Michael Jordan-1985

Shaquille O’Neal-1993

Grant Hill-1995

Tim Duncan-1998

Yao Ming-2003

Blake Griffin-2011

All-Star voting continues at the time of this account, with final selections pending there is a possibility of a 7th rookie being named to this year's NBA All-Star roster. Voting closes at midnight on January 14, and the starters will be announced on Monday, January 19. Current frontrunners in the voting include Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Stephen Curry, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama, and Anthony Edwards. Additionally, Dallas Mavericks rookie forward Cooper Flagg has attracted considerable attention, receiving a notable number of votes and potentially earning a position on the 2026 NBA All-Star roster. The starters will be announced first and then the reserves, in all probability, the balance of the roster might not be revealed until sometime next week.

He’s got an offer in middle school

This is a report only, I make that statement because the athlete profiled is only 13 years old, his name is Omar Muhammad and he’s in the 8th grade. Muhammad is an outstanding talent and appears more gifted than his competition on the basketball court however with that statement comes a warning. What will be his position by the time he graduates high school in 2029 or 2030 is the question, Muhammad is 6-feet 2 inches tall and is likely to continue growing. Muhammad could gain several additional inches by the time he graduates from high school. If you check out his Instagram video you will see video of him scoring on high wire dunks.  

Home for Muhammad is West Fresno California were he attends Reyburn Intermediate School. By now you are wondering “Why is he profiling an 8th grade basketball player?” For this reason, last week Kansas offered him a basketball scholarship but they appear late to the party. According to Muhammad’s Instagram account he’s received a total of 7 offers from Division I programs. Among the schools with offers for him are Tennessee, Missouri, Arizona State, Rutgers and now Kansas. If you followed the sport any length of time you are aware time to time we are made aware of a new phenom, sometimes that youngster goes on to great things and other times the competition catches up with them. In any event you should store this youngsters name in your memory bank for the future.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNM_-9yuGhF/?hl=en

A fans perspective

Published Monday, Wednesday and Friday through Sunday

It certainly fits for all

The headline read: “Lakers lose winnable game,” of course that statement could be applied to the Lakers-Bucks game however it could just as easily be applied to the game Saturday afternoon between Ole Miss and Mizzou. Sure it was a road game for Mizzou but losing 76-69 is a gut punch for Mizzou Nation. If we look at the stats and not the score you might believe the visitors won the game. From the floor they outshot Ole Miss 49% to 43%, from the three line was key, Ole Miss shooting 41% to Mizzou’s 29. The game didn’t begin in that manner as Mizzou was shooting lights out from three early in the game.

The free-throw line would also become Mizzou’s kryptonite, you can’t shoot 50% as a team from the line and expect to win any game Ole Miss or anybody. Mizzou had 13 TO’s to the 7 Ole Miss registered. Headed into the game Ole Miss had not played particularly well, they had an 8-7 record prior to the game while Mizzou was 12-3. This game was certainly frustrating considering much of what was presented earlier. Next up Mizzou will face a tough Auburn team at Mizzou Arena on January 14. Hopefully, the outcome on Wednesday will much different from the Ole Miss game.

Never say never

Throughout NBA history, some extraordinary events have shaped the league’s development. One such episode involved two team owners swapping franchises—yes, they literally took control of each other’s teams. For me it is extremely difficult to imagine anything like this happening again. The story began with business interests however they were actually outside of basketball. John Y. Brown owned the Buffalo Braves at the time, having previously led the Kentucky Colonels in the ABA. After the expansion he became a minority, then majority owner of the Braves.

Next to enter this account, Irv Levin, then owner of the Boston Celtics, his business operations were located in Southern California. Levin a California type wanted the west coast, however, the NBA would have refused to let Levin move the legendary Celtics out of Boston. As a solution, Levin and Brown agreed to exchange ownership of their teams. At the time, the Braves were struggling both on the court and at the box office. After the swap, Levin received NBA approval to move the Braves to San Diego, rebranding them as the Clippers in 1978. Brown became the owner of the Celtics, and both men were content with their new arrangements. This summary is a simplified version of what happened, and there were likely more details involved than simply trading franchises. Despite my reluctance I’m going to say it anyway, ‘never would something similar occur again.’

He is the last name

If you were to list the top NBA coaches all-time or just those coaching now, his name probably would be missing. Who am I referring to…how about Erick Spoelstra head coach of the Miami Heat?  Spoelstra has been head man of the Heat since 2008 and how he came to be the Main Man is unique in itself. He was a point guard in college playing for the Portland Pilots, the NBA was not in his future as a player however coaching was a different matter. Few could claim they began their NBA career as a video coordinator, that’s was his first hire with the Heat. Later Pat Riley added Spoelstra to his staff at the time he was head coach of the Heat, in 2008 Riley stepped down from his role. As president of basketball operations and general manager Riley named Spoelstra as head coach.

My guess once Chris Bosh and LeBron James joined the Heat and Dwayne Wade who was already in place might have been Spoelstra’s most difficult coaching role initially. That first year (2011) the Heat played for the NBA championship but lost to the Dallas Mavericks. The following season the Heat would not be denied, they won it all in 2012 and 2013. The departure of LeBron and Bosh saw the Heat settle into a routine however they were always competitive with Spoelstra providing the coaching. This early 2025-26 season witnessed Spoelstra collecting his 800th victory as an NBA head coach. Recently retired Gregg Popovich former coach of the San Antonio Spurs is the all-time leader in wins and there is no active coach close to him in wins. Doc Rivers, with more than 1,200 wins, is the closest to Popovich. However, if— and that's a significant "if"— Spoelstra stays in his position long enough, he might have a chance to reach Popovich's record of 1,390 wins, though that would be quite a remarkable feat.

How about a non-move

It’s Los Angeles and it’s the Lakers, the spotlight shines intently on the franchise. An example, player acquisition…it seems there are always 55 people lined up to say, “Why it was a mistake the Lakers failed to acquire _________.” Those same 55 people never tell you about the potential drawbacks of acquiring a player, but that's exactly what I'm going to do now. Over the course of his NBA career Brook Lopez has been an outstanding player for several NBA teams, that is what many in the NBA expected as a free agent. Despite standing 7-foot 1 and 284 pounds Lopez was a decent shooter from three and could stretch the floor with his range.

Lopez had left the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency last summer, the Los Angeles Lakers were a team that needed a center and somehow this series of events occurred. Lopez would sign with the Los Angeles Clippers and that other team was forced to look elsewhere. That ‘elsewhere’ move arrived in the form of Deandre Ayton who arrived with questions regarding his attitude. Fast forward to the middle portion of December, although Ayton’s play to date has not been outstanding its met what the Lakers hoped would transpire. As for Lopez and his time with the Clippers, that is a different story. Ivica Zubac was to play major minutes in the post with Lopez providing a backup role, to date he’s underperformed in that role. The lack of change by the Lakers might have been a blessing in disguise based on the results.

A fans perspective

Published Monday, Wednesday and Friday through Sunday

Records are made to be broken

Friday evening an event of epic proportion occurred, Kevin Durant moved past the legendary Wilt Chamberlain in points scored. Over the course of his career Durant’s never come close to the regular season numbers of Chamberlain however he’s been consistent. Durant is now in 7th place (31,445 and counting) among all NBA career scoring leaders. I certainly didn’t wish to take anything from the accomplishment of Durant but my eyes led me to Moses Malone. His point total is listed as 27,409 and my initial thought, that must include his play in the American Basketball Association. A careful check indicated that was not the case, the numbers above represent the time Malone spent in the NBA.

Then I remember once reading the NBA didn’t include any numbers once expansion took place. If you are curious (as I was) I discovered Malone’s combined point total was 29,580. Malone would remain behind Chamberlain in points scored but exceed Shaquille O’Neal and several others. Back to Durant a moment, his career has proven quite interesting in another aspect. I’m unsure exactly when this occurred, he was required to power lift a weight I don’t remember the figure. In any event he was unable to lift it. At the 2007 Draft Combine Durant checked in at 215 pounds, that is quite skinny for someone 7-feet tall. Contrast that slim number with the Durant of today who is 240 pounds. Congratulations Kevin Durant, the next stop for you is the Naismith Hall of Fame.

The top pick 

I know what you are going to say, “Why are you checking NBA mock draft sites so far in advance, we are yet to play 10 college games.” This is done for a specific reason, to see the movement up or down for the Top 10 prospects. Let’s check a couple of sources on November 23, forward AJ Dybantsa of BYU is at the top of the list for nbadraft.net. As for nbadraftroom.com they place shooting guard Darryn Peterson from Kansas number one. Darryn Peterson is also number one for tankathon.com/mock, while bleachereport.com also places Peterson at the top of their mock draft.

Based on the NBA mock sites checked we might conclude Peterson would be the top pick in 2026 but I wouldn’t necessarily believe that holds true for the balance of the season leading up to the draft. Last year the Dallas Mavs Cooper Flagg held onto the top position in all the mock sites from October through the June draft. Two years ago it was the same for Victor Wembanyama leading up to his selection by the San Antonio Spurs, it seems to me last season was different. Most of the 2024-25 season the mocks had Zaccharie Risacher or Alex Sarr alternating most of the season, of course Risacher nor Sarr were named NBA Rookie of the Year. The rookie of the year honor went to Stephon Castle of the San Antonio Spurs.

19

We are nearly there, close to the anniversary of the second highest individual point total scored in NBA history. It was January 22, 2006, that was the night Kobe Bryant scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors. Dissecting the box score there were 28 baskets from 46 attempts (60.9%) from the floor with 7 for 13 from three (53.8%). At the free-throw line Kobe was 18 for 20, get this 55 of his point total came in the second half of the game. The balance of the box score read in 42 minutes he also had 6 rebounds 2 assists, 3 steals and 1 blocked shot.

The question might be asked, “who was ‘watching him’ that evening” based on his scoring binge? I’m sure the entire Raptors team at a point, despite this fact when you are in a zone it’s difficult to stop or even hinder an opposing player. Kobe Bryant had one advantage over Wilt Chamberlain…video evidence. Mostly everyone from the Wilt time period is no longer living except for Tom Meschery who was a teammate of Wilt. He’s 87 years old now but probably has a vested interest in maintaining the myth of Wilt’s 100 point game. I have come to a simple conclusion, you witnessed Kobe’s 81 point game. Why couldn’t Wilt have scored 19 additional points in his game against the Knicks? Let’s check single game high scorers in history:

Wilt Chamberlain 100 pts

Kobe Bryant 81 pts

Wilt Chamberlain 78 pts

Luka Doncic 73 pts

David Thompson 73 pts

Wilt Chamberlain 73 pts

Starter minutes

This isn’t intended to disparage Los Angeles Laker reserve center Jaxson Hayes, it’s only an explanation. Last season after Anthony Davis was traded to the Mavs Hayes moved from a backup role at center to a starters role. It wasn’t Hayes along however he played rather well until. Once the playoffs began he found himself overmatched, in a number of games he was missing from the starting lineup all together. In July, despite concerns about his past performance, the Lakers signed Deandre Ayton to a two-year deal—this is where we begin.

It’s likely since elementary school most playing basketball have been in the role of a starter, nobody wants to sit on the bench and play a reserve role. Once we reach the NBA a number believe they should be playing starter minutes, the only problem it’s a talent issue. Hayes and others can still play, but limited talent often shifts them from starters to reserves once they reach the NBA. Despite what might appear to be a negative is a positive for many, over the history several players experienced sterling careers and actually preferred the role over starting. The Bad Boy Pistons had Vinnie ‘Microwave’ Johnson emerge from the bench and aid the cause for the Pistons. The Showtime Lakers had Michael Cooper who was a defensive dynamo, he’s in the Naismith Hall of Fame to illustrate his contribution to those championship Laker teams. Robert Horry was nicknamed ‘Big Shot’ Rob due to his timely shooting as a reserve for a number of NBA teams including my Lakers.

Former Celtic great Kevin McHale actually was a 6th man for the Celtics prior to his move into the starting lineup. Just a few names in today’s NBA, Payton Pritchard of the Celtics, Alex Caruso Thunder guard along with Gary Trent Jr. and Bobby Portis valued Bucks reserves. In conclusion everyone probably wants to play starter minutes, everyone is not talented enough offensively or defensively enough to play major minutes. Reserve players, especially in the NBA, serve a valuable role. A coach once said; “It’s more important who is on the court at the end of the game over the beginning.”

A fans perspective

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Meanwhile….

Anytime a discussion is held regarding injuries everyone seems to get an excuse except the Los Angeles Lakers. This week they lost their match against a very good San Antonio Spurs team. One pundit said; “The Lakers missing LeBron James Wah Wa Wa Wah Wa Wa” (think adults talking in the Peanuts Charlie Brown cartoons). They received commendable play from Luka Doncic but that was it, then I thought out his comment and said, “he’s only looking at a portion of the problem.” Starting guard Austin Reaves has been missing from the lineup with a grade 2 left calf strain, he’s out for another 2 weeks at least. Starting forward Rui Hachimura has a calf industry he might play in the Friday evening game against the Bucks. Rookie Adou Thiero hasn’t played major minutes however he is sidelined as well. If all are healthy the Lakers beat the Spurs but that is not . The answer cannot be determined except to say the Lakers might have stood a better chance than missing major parts of its roster being unavailable to compete.           

The losing streak is over at least for now, the New York Knicks were in some kind of funk having lost 4 games in a row. On Wednesday they would face the hot and streaking Los Angeles Clippers at Madison Square Garden. The Clippers held a slight lead at the half but much later witnessed a resurgence by the Knicks, the final score would read Knicks 123 Clippers 111. So what happened, for one thing the Knicks had all 5 starters score in double figures plus reserve Jordan Clarkson scored 12. Jalen Brunson led in scoring with 26 points, he and Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 7 assists a piece. The Clippers didn’t actually roll over they just ran into a Knicks team determined to break out from a slump. The Clippers were held to 43% shooting meanwhile the Knicks were at 50%, three point shooting saw the Clippers at 36% compared to the Knicks 42%. The Clippers had 4 players score in double figures, they were led by the 25 points scored by Kawhi Leonard.

Not much going there

Jeff Borzello, who covers college basketball for ESPN.com had an interesting column on Friday. It was a guesstimate which team would win the conference race and who were the contenders. Of interest to me the Big 12 and SEC race, it would appear he believes Kansas and Missouri will come up short. As an example in the Big 12 he’s got Arizona favored (no surprise) but the biggest threats to them are Iowa State, Houston and BYU. Did you notice among the missing….the Kansas Jayhawks. Folks around these parts including plenty of Kansas fans continue to revel in the mystique of Allen Fieldhouse and Bill Self. Kansas will field a competitive team one with tournament aspirations they will not win the Big 12 regular season crown.

Let’s check out the SEC, he’s got Vanderbilt as the favorite. That says something, the school once referred to as “The Harvard of the South” has quite a competitive basketball team this season. Borzello list the biggest threat to the top rung as Florida, Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee. Each of those schools could win the SEC regular season championship however there is a missing school. The Missouri Tigers are absent from his list however the chief question can they contend with the other named conference members? This is what I think, this is not what I know, a couple of those teams will not finish at the level to be considered contenders. That will allow Missouri basketball to succeed in passing them in the standings, could it happen? I am allowed to dream ain’t I?

He is the man….at least that’s what I believe

Recently without offering a shred of evidence I pronounced Cooper Flagg the leader of the Dallas Mavericks. I came to this conclusion after seeing several Mavs games plus highlights from others, this was done from the beginning of the season through games played in December. I can now offer what I believe is credible proof of that leadership that Flagg’s demonstrated on the court to date. This rookie small forward leads the Mavs in four categories, they are:

Points 682

Rebounds 233

Assists 151

Steals 44

Check this portion out, a healthy Anthony Davis and Flagg is probably in second place in point totals, he also might be behind AD in rebounds too. As for the assist department a healthy Kyrie Irving might find Flagg behind him as well. As for the steals category that’s a tossup in my view, he could lead or exceed even with a healthy Irving in the lineup. On the other hand maybe Flagg is only providing us proof he is a Bonafide NBA talent for now and injuries aside should have a successful career. Flagg is clearly The Man in Dallas. As further proof the Mavericks announced; “Everyone on the roster is subject to trade except for Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg.” That’s a strong statement coming from management, a closer look reveals Irving while certainly valuable and talented is 33 years old while Flagg just turned 19.

What is going on

At the time Ben Simmons was drafted out of LSU it was evident there was a ‘hole’ in his game. The Philadelphia Sixers were aware his shot range only extended about 10 feet from the basket i.e., there was no jump shot. There were other elements Simmons brought to the table which made him a potential talent, in his first few seasons with the Sixers that appeared to be the case. His first 4 seasons saw him average 16 points and nearly 8 assists a game, despite no shot from distance his low from the floor was .545% and a high of .580%.

A back injury saw Simmons miss the entire 2021-22 season, by the time he returned it was all downhill after that. The promise that was once held for him ended, from there it was 3 years with the Nets and last season spent with the Clippers. As the 2025-26 season approached, not a single NBA team contacted him. The season began and Simmons was without a team for the first time in years. So what occurs in the life of Ben Simmons at present, he’s taken up another sport. Simmon’s is focused on sport fishing, he’s become the controlling owner of South Florida Sails in the Sport Fishing Championship. According to reports I uncovered he is hoping to return to the NBA at some point in the future. So there you have it, an update on the latest developments in the life of Ben Simmons.

A fans perspective

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Meanwhile….

How to lose a game you should have won. The final score read Kansas 104 TCU 100 in OT, TCU appeared to win the game in Lawrence Kansas in regulation. That was not to be as TCU provided numerous methods to ‘give the win’ to Kansas. Darryn Peterson would sink three free throws to tie the game 87-87 after TCU surrendered a lead which was up to 16 points during a portion of the game. How do you lose a game where your team held such a large lead it’s simple…you choke. On a tip in Kansas cut the lead by TCU to three and a short time later Peterson was fouled, Kansas would hold the lead throughout the OT. Some reading this critique would believe I am overly critical of TCU and maybe I am, perhaps I will stop at the coach, Jaime Dixon. I’m unsure of the number of  time outs that remained for TCU in regulation however I don’t remember one being called. So now we have both teams 11-4 and with one win and one loss in the early Big 12 conference race.

There are a number of poorly run NBA franchises, this is not the plan however it is what exists. These teams hire coaches and general managers allow them to remain for a time then fire one or both. In addition the selection of players might be a key why these teams never improve, they draft players who are not NBA ready and at the same time trade or free agency sees a few blossom at other locales. In addition a number of these teams appear to have owners who success in the business world allow them to believe they can run an NBA franchise in the same manner. It just doesn’t work that way although few are willing to relinquish their ‘hands on’ approach with their teams. Every season whenever prospects are discussed, these teams are never considered contenders for a championship. Who are they, how about the New Orleans Pelicans, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards and surprise the Atlanta Hawks. It’s not the fact that these teams don’t desire to win they simply have not been shown the way. I realize that statement sounds elementary and it is.

“Human sacrifice! Dogs and cats living together! Mass hysteria!” Okay it’s not terrible enough to use the line uttered by Bill Murray’s character in the 1984 Ghostbusters movie but it is not good. I speak of the NCAA allowing “professional” basketball players in the college game. No requirement to detail what’s been reported previously it’s just a concern. Someone, I’m unsure who to credit claimed, “College basketball needs a commissioner.” I don’t know if that solves all the issues facing the game at this level however it’s my belief it would be a beginning. I could use Adam Silver or NFL commissioner Roger Goodell as examples. They are the ‘face’ of their respective league and critical decisions no matter how controversial they might be become law. At the same time I don’t believe in any instance decisions are made by these two without input from all parties. The other issue the NCAA at this point has a spokesperson but no one the public sees.

I have mentioned the lack of defensive cohesiveness by the Los Angeles Lakers at times this season. There is one additional shortcoming that has not been detailed by me. It’s the fact they have been abused, opposing teams have physically beat up the Lakers. This issue was quite evident in their playoff loss last season to the Wolves. I cannot point to a specific game this season however in their 11 losses (as this is written) there have been a number of blowouts. It is clear to me the Lakers need to become a more physical team over the balance of the remaining season. If not they will find themselves coming up short once again in the playoffs.

Come on Draymond….go easy on the youngster

Before I begin this rant allow me to state at the beginning, I saw Kon Knueppel play numerous times in a Duke jersey last season. As for seeing him in action with the Charlotte Hornets it’s been infrequent except for highlights. The stats indicate Knueppel is having an outstanding rookie season, truth is he might edge out his college teammate Cooper Flagg for Rookie of the Year. I believe the praise Knueppel’s received is bothersome to Draymond Green of the Warriors. How annoying you ask, enough for Green to comment on the play of Knueppel. I would guess someone compared Knueppel’s 3-point shooting to former Warrior Klay Thompson and that’s when it occurred.

Keep in mind these are not Green’s exact words however he alluded to the defensive skills of Thompson over that of Knueppel. Friends, I have literally no idea how good Knueppel is defensively. What I witnessed last season at Duke can in no way be compared to the NBA however there is a difference and I will offer an explanation for you and Green. I see evidence constantly, we make comparisons all the time to a player we are familiar with. I’m sure that is the case here, now let’s check the stats other than defense as this is written. After 36 games Knueppel is scoring at a 19.3 per game clip, his field goal percentage is 47.4 with 42.9% coming from the 3-line. As for Green my response is simple, allow the youngster to grow his game, maybe his defense will equal or exceed Klay Thompson one day.

Winning ugly

The final score read Mizzou 73 Kentucky 68, I will get that out of the way first. After the win over last season’s defending NCAA champion Florida those in Mizzou Nation wondered what might occur on Wednesday evening. This game against Kentucky will take place at the renowned Rupp Arena, a venue where Mizzou has yet to achieve a victory.  The first half of the game both teams appear sluggish, was it the defense probably. Was it turnovers, most certainly, despite the poor play Mizzou led at the half 33-32 despite a half court made shot by Kentucky.

The second half commenced with Kentucky quickly gaining an advantage; however, Missouri responded effectively, capitalizing on Kentucky's missed shots and turnovers. Statistically, Missouri achieved a shooting percentage of 52%, outperforming Kentucky's 43%. Kentucky recorded 13 turnovers, while Missouri committed 12. In terms of rebounding, Kentucky secured 31 compared to Missouri’s 29. During the second half, Missouri outscored Kentucky 40 to 36 based on a 15-2 run and subsequently took the lead. Checking the updated SEC standings they reflect Missouri, Texas A&M, and Mississippi State in a three-way tie for first place, each with three victories. Missouri’s next matchup will be played away on Saturday against Ole Miss.