Basketball from a fans perspective

“It ain’t over till it’s over”

The headline was made famous by the late Yankee great Yogi Berra in 1973. I’m borrowing it for use in this account, after the game on Saturday night a reporter asked LeBron James about the future. The question was aimed at the 2024 NBA Playoffs. I don’t remember the exact response but it was something like Berra’s. The 123-109 victory over the Pacers was good, the Lakers won the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament Championship.

Have you ever witnessed an individual or team on a mission, that was the Lakers on Thursday against the Pelicans and Saturday night when they faced the Pacers. The Lakers could have lost either of the two game but they didn’t. Can you say it with me, “AD had a monster game” by as he led the way scoring 41 points along with 20 rebounds. In addition there were 5 assists and 4 blocked shots shooting 66.7% from the floor. AD took 0 shots from three, does that make him a less effective player, you are the judge? LeBron James contributed 24 points and Austin Reaves emerged from the bench with 28 points and 80% shooting from the field.

Using a combination of defenders the Lakers managed to hold the Pacers Tyrese Haliburton to 20 points. One more note someone asked LeBron about the future and he said, “We are getting healthy” and mentioned Gabe Vincent. The sharpshooter is the only Laker currently on the injury list, in closing there remains another account. Sunday afternoon I discover Austin Reaves had been battling a flu bug, someone said this will not match Jordan’s flu game however it might be a close second.

Who do you choose

You’ve got seconds remaining in a tight game, you need a 3-point basket to win the game. You have 5 players on the floor plus 3 reserves. As the coach you call a time out to designate one of the 7 to shoot, which one will it be to take this crucial shot? I didn’t inform you the makeup of the team, you have:

LeBron James

Kobe Bryant

Kevin Durant

Reggie Miller

Klay Thompson

Ray Allen

Larry Bird

Steph Curry

I titled this exercise who do you choose because as coach of this group it is your decision to pick the best player to take the shot.   

A different view

The late David Stern might have governed over the richest portion of NBA growth. Serving as commissioner from February 1984 through January 2014 was an impactful time for the league under his leadership. A few years before his retirement talk began circulating on expansion, Silver always dismissed talk of expansion instead growing the game internationally or expansion in Europe. Fast forward to the present day, Adam Silver has taken a different approach.

Silver wants to grow the NBA internationally but unlike Stern he’s made no mention of placing teams in Europe. Instead Silver’s focus is locations in the western hemisphere. In fairness to Silver a new television contract will be signed I believe after the 2024-25 season. Perhaps it might be one of the forces driving expansion and Silver willing to discuss it unlike Stern. You are familiar with the sites mentioned, Seattle and Las Vegas are at the top of the list. Secondary mentions have been made by Silver which includes Vancouver, Montreal and Mexico City. Would the NBA expand beyond U.S. borders to Canada and Mexico before adding an American city? That question is in the realm of the unknown and certainly cannot be answered. Speculating on my part Seattle and Las Vegas are there, the only requirement the NBA announce the addition of team 31 and 32, as for the others the water is a little murkier. History says the league is rare to return to a city loss previously and that would be Vancouver.

Montreal might be a better choice based on several factors chief among them population. The metro population of Montreal is over 4 million while Vancouver is 2.6 million. Mexico City is almost there however I believe there are issues unrelated to financing of a new team. The chief reason is not the language issue it’s the altitude, Mexico City’s elevation is higher than Denver. There will likely be no unbalance NBA, two teams will be added to make for 34. What do you think about NBA expansion, do you think it’s possible without watering down the talent?

Maybe it will…maybe it won’t

Over the last few weeks and months a stream of story’s have been written on plans for new NBA arenas. San Antonio, Philadelphia, Oklahoma City and Las Vegas are the city’s mentioned. I’ve reported on the possible issues in Philadelphia but Oklahoma City might be added to the list as well. Citizens of the city are to vote on Tuesday to determine if taxpayers will affirm a $900 million arena proposal. I realize this is Christmas and the giving season however a few of the residents don’t appear in the giving mood. What is the major issue, the one that’s evident in Kansas City’s attempt to build a baseball stadium.

Taxpayers question why they must assume the cost of these sports palaces when owners have deep pockets, deep enough to pay for them alone. This is an Oklahoma City and Kansas City issue but as I pointed out previously this doesn’t exist all over the nation. Steve Ballmer’s Intuit Dome under construction in Los Angeles is privately funded, in San Francisco Chase Center was also privately funded. The leadership in Philadelphia and Las Vegas claim the arenas in those two locales will be constructed without taxpayer funds. The proposal for San Antonio is in the talking stage at present along with that in Las Vegas. As for Oklahoma City I intend to monitor the vote to explore how it turns out, I will do a follow up for you later.

Basketball from a fans perspective

The unplanned outcome

The final score read Kansas 73 Mizzou 64, that was certainly not the outcome this member of Mizzou Nation wanted however that’s it. Takeaways, naturally I’m going to mostly focus on the good part. I was very pleased the Tigers didn’t appear intimidated by that boisterous Allen Fieldhouse crowd. Mizzou was not run out the building in a manner I’ve seen of other teams. In the second half they could never dent the Kansas lead which lead to the loss.

The rebounding margin weighed heavily in favor of Kansas and it proved once again to be a contributing factor to the loss. From the floor Mizzou didn’t shoot bad, they actually outshoot Kansas from three. In addition Mizzou had 16 assists to the 11 of Kansas and from the line it was 87% to 69.2%. Looking toward the SEC race the only troubling area for me is rebounding the basketball, the coaching staff has got to drill it into Mizzou’s heads they must hit the boards much better. Mizzou can place this game in the rearview mirror and prepare for Seton Hall on December 17.   

Are they fixed

The win on Friday evening allowed the Clippers to continue their winning streak, they now have 11 wins and 10 losses. Because they are winning, are the issues of the past now in the rear-view mirror, let’s take a closer look? The last 10 games have seen the Clippers win 7 games while losing only 3 but a closer inspection indicates there are questions to be answered. Of the wins 3 of them came against teams they should have beaten, teams with losing records, 2 against the Spurs and 1 against the Jazz.

In that schedule of games the only significant victory was the one they registered against the Nuggets on December 6. In the mix was a win and loss against the Warriors, the Clippers have shown signs of life however the question remains are they playing their best basketball? I found this statement by PJ Tucker telling in a manner of speaking. “There’s not enough basketballs on the planet for this team,” was the veteran Clipper forward serious or just joking? There is plenty of basketball remaining and time for them to get their act together.

On the decline

Has the NBA caught up to Dub Nation, I pose the question based on the evidence? I just witnessed them lose in OT to the Thunder 138-136, there is no shame losing to the Thunder. The team from Oklahoma is among the best in the NBA this season but it was the manner they lost, careless passes and committing fouls at inopportune times. The foul was committed by none other than Draymond Green who was once the glue for this team. In regulation Steph Curry shot in a three and at the other end of the court this occurred, on a missed shot the ball bounced to Chet Holmgren.

Holmgren was some distance past the 3 line but with the shot clock ticking down and little time remaining in regulation the rookie tossed up a shot and it was clear on television without replay Green fouled him. Holmgren takes his shots from the line and ties the game. I had no intention to be a harbinger of doom but some of you might remember prior to the season it was communicated this might be a rough year for the Warriors despite having Steph, Klay, Green and others. The Warriors are in 5th place in the Pacific Division of the NBA which is last place. If the season ended today (or tomorrow) the Warriors miss the playoffs.

Bad, really bad

Steph Curry might be this generation’s Rick Barry, the reference is outstanding at the free throw line. Back in the day Barry retired from the NBA with a lifetime average of 90.0% from the line. Curry is even better with 90.9%, to remind you again this was the Barry statement. “It’s a FREE THROW, nobody is guarding you” which probably says you should make your shots from the line. There are some terrible shooters, in history Wilt Chamberlain (51.1%) and Shaquille O’Neal (52.7%) were among the worst of the worst. To compound the issue Shaq once said, “I make ‘em when they are needed” which isn’t true looking at his career. Bleacher Report compiled a list of the worst free throw shooters in the last decade, several of the names were a surprise to me.

I believe most of us were aware Ben Simmons is a poor shooter from the field but that poor shooting also applies to the line as well 56.0%. Let’s add the name Mason Plumlee, over his career it’s been 56.7% from the free throw line. Dwight Howard is no longer in the NBA however his effort at the line echoes that of Plumlee 56.7%. What’s the problem with poor free throw shooting, there probably is no single answer. It was said poor free throw shooting was a Big Man’s lament but I don’t know if that’s true. Dirk Nowitzki stood 7 foot yet during his NBA career was 87.9% from the line. 7-foot 4 Victor Wembanyama is shooting a respectable 77% from the line while his counterpart 7 foot 1 Chet Holmgren is 87.9%. Can we conclude this by stating effective free throw shooting is similar to other facets of the game, practice and more practice to become proficient at the craft.

Worth another look

I’ve covered John McClendon previously but I felt he should be looked at again. McClendon’s basketball career was rich with historic events, how about this one? He learned the game from Dr. James A. Naismith the inventor of the game. By this time Naismith had left the east coast and became a teacher at coach at the University of Kansas. As a black student McClendon was prohibited from playing on the Kansas basketball team, he graduated in 1936 and from there a series of coaching stops and innovations can directly be attributed to McClendon. Basketball at that time was slow paced, the ball was walked up the court after a basket was scored, McClendon changed that with a fast break brand of basketball.

In addition there was the zone press and 4 corners offense. I mentioned the stops, North Carolina Central, Hampton, Tennessee State, Kentucky State and Cleveland State. His Tennessee A&I (State) team won the national championship in 1957, 1958 and 1959. McClendon would later be hired at Cleveland State in 1967 becoming the first black coach at a predominantly white institution. Historians name Bill Russell as the first black coach in professional basketball, McClendon was second having been hired in 1969 by the Denver Rockets (Nuggets) of the American Basketball Association. McClendon’s a double honoree having been enshrined in the Naismith and College Basketball Hall of Fame. John B. McClendon Jr. a name from the rich history of basketball that you should know.

Basketball from a fans perspective

44

That number is famous for several reasons, baseball great Hank Aaron wore the number. The late Hall of Fame player might be familiar to most sports fans. In the NBA 44 was on the jersey of Jerry West and George “Iceman” Gervin along with Derrick Coleman. Pete Maravich wore the number while a member of the Hawks although he later sported number 7. On Thursday evening in the play in tournament the Lakers performed a beat-down on the Pelicans 133-89, a 44-point difference. Prior to the game I was concerned if the Lakers were prepared to play. Worst yet was a pre-game story I read on a website that indicated the Pelicans could be trouble for the Lakers.

The game played in Las Vegas was earlier than the normal 9:30 p.m. start time in Kansas City so I was able to see the event in its entirety. LeBron James set the tone early and the balance of the roster followed his lead. The LeBron numbers are unbelievable for a 38-year-old guy, they might be incredible for any NBA player. 30 points on 75% shooting from the floor, 100% from three…100% from the line 5 rebounds and 8 assists. AD had another double-double game with 16 points and 16 rebounds on 50% shooting. Austin Reaves came off the bench with 17 points and 7 assists, the Lakers had six players score in double figures. What occurs in the game tonight against the Pacers, I have no idea…I hope the Lakers win but I can’t guarantee anything I’m just a fan of the Purple and Gold.

You don’t know his name

You are at that point, you rack your brain trying to remember a name. You then begin a website search which fails to provide the answer, that was me. I knew of him but could only remember the school and not his name. There was an all-out effort on my part to determine his name, friends informed me it was Lucius T. Mitchell I had found so difficult to uncover. Mitchell is one of those names from the rich history of basketball few can recall (like me).

Mitchell had several coaching stops over the course of his career at HBCU schools, it was Alabama State, Kentucky State and Norfolk State. It would be Kentucky State where he made history and joined a small select number of coaches in basketball annals. Led by Elmore Smith and Travis Grant his Kentucky State team won three consecutive NAIA Championships, 1970, 1971 and 1972. This achievement has only been accomplished by three other coaches in the history of the game, the legendary John Wooden at UCLA, John McClendon Tennessee A&I (now State) and Mitchell at Kentucky State. Over a 15-year coaching career his teams won 325 games losing 103, he was National Coach of the Year in 1970 and 1971.

Elmore Smith and Travis Grant were key contributors to the three-time championship winning Kentucky State teams. Why his name is only known to a few is unclear but it should be. Does he belong in the College Basketball Hall of Fame, I think so but I have no vote and I’m only a party of one? What do you think, should Mitchell be selected at some date in the future? It would have been his crowning glory to be honored prior to his death, Mitchell passed away at the age of 74 February 23, 2010.

Just shut up

Normally I’m not as blunt as the headline above but there is a basis for it. The headline, “Fans are disappointed in Victor Wembanyama” I thought disappointed in what?  I didn’t bother with reading the account but wanted to check out a few things. Number one, Wemby is a teenager, I realize he’s in the NBA but he won’t turn 20 until January. The second consideration is adjustment period, there is a vast difference between playing for the Spurs and Metropolitans 92. I don’t believe it to be better but certainly much fairer to compare Wemby to his fellow rookie Chet Holmgren. That might not be correct for two reasons, the Thunder are much better than the Spurs plus the Thunder power forward’s a year ahead of Wemby.

Repeating the story again, Holmgren missed what should have been his rookie year due to injury. Although Holmgren is a rookie too he’s got a year head start over Wemby. First you love Wemby than you point out all the stuff he doesn’t do well, are you ever satisfied. This won’t stop anything but this is what I see up to the early part of December. I see a highly skilled basketball player who stands 7 feet 4 inches in height, he is able to do stuff few have his athletic ability or talent. We are unable to peer into the future, however, barring any type of major injury Wemby is a keeper. He is a unique athlete talent and practically every NBA team would love the opportunity to add him to their roster.

Back on the court

The medical team for Southern Cal cleared Bronny James, according to accounts he will see limited action tomorrow in his team’s game against Long Beach State. I re-read it again, young James suffered cardiac arrest due to a congenital heart defect. A bunch of words that place fear in the heart of this writer. Medical people continue to inform us Bronny didn’t suffer a heart attack, okay was it similar to the emergency the Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered last January 2nd?

According to what I read no, Hamlin also suffered cardiac arrest however his medical condition was described as commotio cordis resulting from a blow to the chest. Am I a NERVOUS NED about seeing Bronny and Hamlin on the basketball court and football field, you’d better bet I am. In some instances I believe a person’s well-being should take priority over playing a sport. Who becomes the decider in this matter, it can’t be the athlete because they look at the subject entirely different than someone who is not participating in the sport.

Basketball from a fans perspective

He said…what?

If you thought LeBron James was the oldest active player ever that is not the case. He is the oldest active player at this point but not the eldest ever. That honor belongs to at least two other former players. Vince Carter was 43 years of age when he retired after an illustrious NBA career. Robert “Chief” Parrish is closely associated with those championship Celtic teams but ended his time in the NBA with the Bulls, he was 44 years old. I don’t believe either Carter or Parrish plus others were playing at the level of LeBron. You’ve heard the saying Father Time remains undefeated, well LeBron updated it. “Everyone is saying Father Time is undefeated, so I’m trying to give him one loss” so says LeBron James.

“Revenge is a dish best served cold”

If you are a fan of the original Star Trek you might recognize that headline. Captain Kirk’s adversary Khan reminded our captain of the ancient Klingon Proverb in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. The only problem Gene Roddenberry creator of the series “borrowed” the quote. It was actually French author Choderlos de Laclos who included it in his 1782 novel “Les Liaisons dangereuses.” Where am I going with this account you are probably asking yourself about now? Wednesday night witnessed a basketball game between Marquette and Texas.

Marquette coach Shaka Smart served as head coach at both schools, Smart was not fired however its likely the regents wanted him gone since he didn’t produce the winning program they desired. Smart resigned his position at Texas and later Marquette hired him in 2021. Wednesday afternoon the coach told his players to treat this game like any other, in this instance they paid little attention going out and blasting Texas 86-65. I know what you are thinking “Texas must not have been any good.” That might not quite be the case, going into the game Marquette was the number 8th ranked school in the nation while Texas was 12.  As for Smart’s time at Texas it wasn’t terrible however he failed to duplicate his record at VCU.

There are others

I plead guilty, I’ve been so preoccupied with Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren up to this point the other rookies have been ignored. In all likelihood they will not win Rookie of the Year, despite that fact they should have outstanding NBA careers based on their start. Who are they, well there is Jaime Jacquez Jr., he played at UCLA but is now one of the guards for the Heat. The Hornets chose small forward/shooting guard Brandon Miller while the Mavs got Big Man Dereck Lively II formerly of Duke. A friend mentioned to me the number of times Wemby was on television so far this season, he said he’d rather see other teams. My suggestion for him is to check out games featuring one or more of the trio of players covered in this account.

His catch phrase

At the beginning of every broadcast analyst Bill Raftery is part of you will hear this phrase. “They begin the game “mantoman,” he runs the words together intentionally indicating the competitors are playing man to man defense. This along with a bunch of other phrases have become catch phrases we expect and receive whenever 80-year-old Raftery is the analyst for a college basketball game. He’s done it all, a college player at La Salle University he was drafted in the NBA in 1963 but never played.

From there Raftery had two stints as a college basketball coach, Fairleigh Dickinson and Seton Hall. In 1983 he moved into the broadcast booth first working for CBS Sports covering college basketball. Later it would be ESPN briefly then he went to work for Fox Sports where he remains as this is written. There are no plans to retire, its clear Raftery loves his job…college basketball. He’s got several catch phrases you will hear during the course of a broadcast, I’ve mentioned on occasion the lack of characters in sports of today, Dick Vitale is certainly one and so is Bill Raftery. Below are just a few of the catch phrases for Raftery.

“Onions” (when a shot is made late in a close game)

“Send it in Big Fella” (A post player with a dunk)

“With a little kiss” (when a shot banks in)             

“A little nickel-dimer” (when a light foul is called)

"A little lingerie on the deck!" (when a player makes a nifty move with the ball and fakes out the defender)

"Man-to-man!", which he announces very fast and excitedly at the start of most games.

No, the other court

This is a story few remember I came across while conducting NBA research. Imagine this starting lineup for the Bucks, Kareem Abdul Jabbar at center with Oscar Robertson at the point. The small forward is Julius “Dr. J.” Erving, hold on a moment he never played for the Bucks. Erving probably would have if not for a court decision. In an earlier account it was mentioned Erving left UMass before he was eligible for the draft in the NBA. That was no issue for the ABA operating at the time the Virginia Squires signed Erving and he began play for them. In the 1972 NBA Draft the Milwaukee Bucks chose Erving although he was playing in the ABA. I will speed ahead, the balance of the story has a soap opera tinge to it, Erving would later sign with the Hawks and even play in a few exhibition games.

The Squires went to court gaining a ruling which prevented Erving from playing for the Hawks. In addition he was also required to return to play for the Squires, which he did for a year. Erving’s contract was sold to the then New York Nets who would sell it to the Sixers, that’s the shortened version of the account how Erving became a Sixer without being drafted by them. To add further thought it Erving had been allowed to remain with the Hawks he would have joined Pete Maravich, Walt Bellamy and Lou Hudson. The Hawks received financial compensation from the ABA in the court case that ensued, losers in the story were the Bucks who received nothing. Robertson would retire a few years later and Abdul Jabbar would demand the team trade him which they did to the Lakers.

Basketball from a fans perspective

On the other hand

I held a brief description on the State of the Lakers season thus far with a co-worker. This co-worker is also a Laker fan and this was my statement, “I wish there was a little bit more consistency with the Lakers, they appear on a roller-coaster. It’s up one game and down the next,” he nodded his head in agreement. On Tuesday night Laker Nation saw a win as they beat the Suns 106-103 and they now head to Vegas to play the Pelicans. Why the inconsistent play it certainly isn’t injuries I don’t believe.

Injuries always exist however the only ones in my mind considered major might be Jarred Vanderbilt who has only played 2 games and Gabe Vincent who’s seen action in 4. Did the late season and playoff run of last season lead us to believe they were better than they are? How about this one, they made key moves over the off season but so did every other Western Conference team. Despite these facts technically the Lakers are better over last season for several reasons. Up to this point AD has been able to remain on the floor and is playing outstanding basketball in the majority of games. In addition LeBron James is playing as if he's in his early 30's rather than playing in year 20. The Laker won-loss record is better than last season, I checked it out and discovered these numbers. With the Tuesday win the Lakers have now won 13 games versus 9 losses, contrast that with last season.

This time last year the record was 10 wins and 12 losses so it's not quite as bad as we might perceive, they are a slight bit better. What one wants is not always received but this is the Laker future for me. A lesser dependency on LeBron to be that guy, his game at 39 still eclipses players 10 years younger. It's time for AD, Rui, Reaves and others to step up and become THE MAN! They are the ones to raise the play of this Laker team to championship level.   

Hey coach

I’m unsure of the day, date and time of the first coaching staff, I do remember reading the legendary John Wooden who had Gary Cunningham as an assistant coach at UCLA beginning in 1965. I’m unsure if there were other college teams with assistants at the time or maybe even earlier. When Red Auerbach led the Celtics his sometimes propensity for being ejected from games meant someone had to take over. I never read or heard if there was an assistant during those days, the same applies to his counterpart Fred Schaus with the Lakers. By now you are asking the question where is he going with this discussion? Allow me to inform some of you of this bit of information. I was checking G-League Team Ignites 2023-23 roster.

In addition to head coach Jason Hart there are 5 players with assistant coach behind their name. There is an Athletic Trainer their assistant along with a video coordinator. You know what a video coordinator does don’t you, they become head coaches? Ask Erik Spoelstra, that’s how his NBA coaching career begin as a video coordinator for the Heat. My Mizzou Tigers have Dennis Gates as head coach and 5 assistants on the staff. The rosters of an NFL or college team are so huge they demand more than one coach, to a degree we could make the same statement regarding a baseball team. Question for you, has the game of basketball changed that much it now requires multiple coaches? I can’t answer that question however that sure appears to be the case as coaching staffs have expanded over time. 

Click Bait

Sometimes the teacher is not as good as the student, remember my warning about clicking on websites that look enticing? Well guess who did that very thing, yours truly…. prepare yourself for my excuse.  The story read “NBA Players who are now Broke,” I just finished a story on a former player who went through financial ruin so I was attracted to the story. It didn’t help they placed a photo of Charles Barkley next to the account.

After reading the first few lines I stopped and decided to check something. I was curious why Barkley had been featured so I began a web search and this is what I uncovered. Unless there is something hidden The Round Mound of Rebound is worth an estimated $60 million. Because I’m not Barkley’s accountant I have no idea if what I read and reported to you is accurate. During the NBA season I’m seeing Barkley at least twice a week on my television, I believe the financial figure I located on the web to be correct. As for the excuse there is none, I didn’t follow my own advice.

Best fit or best athlete

I’ve mentioned this in the recent past that the old Dallas Cowboys franchise would not debate the issue. The issue at draft time, “Do we draft the best fit for our team or the best athlete.” It was my understanding they always drafted the best athlete…how does this fit this account? Two of the three mock draft sites I utilize have Alexandre Sarr as the top pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. I’d mentioned earlier 7 foot 1 Sarr is from France but is playing for Perth in the NBL of Australia. A Spurs website is projecting Sarr as a possible addition alongside Wemby in the future.

My statement is fact, despite the presence of Wemby the coaching expertise of Pop the Spurs are dreadful. Should they be willing to add another rookie to their lineup or would another player be a better choice? I mentioned Sarr’s height, he doesn’t weigh much more than Wemby, he’s 217 pounds but that is not as critical to me as having a rookie and second year player in the starting lineup. This is certainly not the NFL however the decision is yours, you become the Spurs brain trust. Should you have the opportunity to draft Sarr do you follow through or look at another prospect? The draft can be tricky in this regard, sometimes a player you expected to not be available to your team is. At this point do you turn from that intended draft choice?

Basketball from a fans perspective

A Fractured Fairy Tale

Once upon a time in a land far, far away…. some called it The Big Apple others referred to it as Gotham. Most of those living there simply called it New York City. We heard this whopper of a tale but before I begin lets pause a moment for an information update. Pacer guard Tyrese Haliburton is blowing up the NBA, he’s the 4th leading scorer in the league so far, his numbers are 26.9 points and 11.9 assists a game. We now return to the fairy tale and its aftermath, one of the characters was a wanna be wizard this is what he did recently. He went on television proclaiming his prowess with this, “I called a certain member of the Knicks and told him you need to draft this dude (Haliburton). You’d have him to pair with Randle. This person won’t acknowledge the fact I called him.”

Let’s take another pause for clarification, Haliburton was drafted by the Kings in 2020 and was made the 12th pick in the first round that year. Mid-season 2022 Haliburton along with a host of players was traded to the Pacers. Given more playing time his numbers across the board increased in successive years until the beginning of this season when he begin knocking it out of the park. Back to the wizard a moment, I don’t pay a great deal of attention to him but maybe you do. Think back to 2020, do you remember anytime the wizard claiming the Knicks should draft Haliburton? Do you remember in the last three years other than this week such a statement being made by the wizard? Anytime I mention a scenario similar to this Keenan's response is simple, “If it’s not on video it didn’t occur.”

What a difference a year makes

We always get into the argument it’s the coach that makes a team. Others argue it’s the talent a coach might have especially if we are discussing the NBA. Is it the coach or the players, check this out for reference. November 2022 the Suns then led by Monty Williams finished the month with a perfect record. They played 16 games winning all of them, now contrast that with November 2023. 

Williams was fired after last season by the Suns and was later hired by the Pistons. We just finished the month of November and the Pistons joined an exclusive club. They won 0 games in the month of November going 0-15. A coach being fired is not the solution to a problem in all instances, I happen to believe Williams is a good coach. In this instance this outside observer believes the problem is personnel rather than a coaching issue.

An old rivalry

The headline is a bit misleading, I’m unsure if a rivalry still exists between Kansas and Mizzou basketball. It evaporated when Mizzou departed the Big XII for the SEC in 2012. Some contend this rivalry has only a small connection to do with basketball or football but extends as far back as the American Civil War (1861-1865). That’s another story for another time for those of you who are history buffs. As for the all-time record its heavily in favor of Kansas, the two schools have met 146 times through last season with Kansas winning 94 times versus 52 losses.

Once Mizzou left the conference for the SEC I’m unsure how much of the rivalry remains. As for the history, the first meeting between the schools occurred in the 1906-07 season with Mizzou winning 34-31. Play was begun again in the 2021-22 season with Kansas winning 102-65 in Lawrence. In Columbia last season Kansas was a winner again this time it was a 95-67 victory. I’m getting ahead of myself however this explanation because the schools are now in two different conferences they signed a six-year agreement to play. The first year the covid pandemic forced the game to be cancelled, it’s unknown as this is written if the “covid” game will be added at the end of the contract. 

Why San Diego?

Is this SoCal city ready for professional basketball is the question? I’m unsure if there’s been an overwhelming desire for several reasons. The top one might be depending on where you live in San Diego a drive to Los Angeles is about a 4–5-hour drive. A weekend game and you might be able to catch a Laker or Clipper game. Whenever expansion is mentioned San Diego is on someone’s list. There was NBA basketball at one time in San Diego what happened might be the question? San Diego was granted an expansion team that began play in 1967, the franchise moved to Houston in 1971 after four losing seasons. The history indicates the team’s poor record was a contributing factor in attracting fans to see Rocket Games.

The second time around would witness the Buffalo Braves moving to San Diego after the 1977-78 season. San Diego would remain home until the spring of 1984, that’s when the owner Donald Sterling decided the pasture must be greener in Los Angeles. Sterling clearly wanted Los Angeles, he wanted it so badly he moved his team without league permission. The Clippers would play the 1984-85 season in their new home end of story. I’m not nitpicking with the City of San Diego however twice now it’s NBA franchises have move to other locales. We could include the NFL Chargers in the conversation as well, after first beginning play in Los Angeles they moved to San Diego where they played for years. There were issues which will not be detailed here, whatever the case the NFL Chargers returned to Los Angeles in 2017. My scale indicates the NBA should remain opposed to granting San Diego another NBA franchise. No disrespect to San Diego I'm just trying to keep it real, the NBA will never return to my hometown Kansas City either. 

Basketball from a fans perspective

The story…there is none to report   

As one might say there are too many moving parts to keep up with all the story’s circulating. The reference of course is the cloud of suspension hanging over Thunder guard Josh Giddey. It’s my understanding the investigation is ongoing but there is nothing to report those of you reading are unaware. Based on this it is my intention to cease writing anything about the alleged inquiry until there is an update from law enforcement.

As for the other portion of this story, the Stephen A. Smith/Malika Andrews tandem, I will leave that to you to draw your own conclusions. As I indicated Smith has been on my list for months now and Andrews just gained entry. For Smith I fixed my internet news feed to ignore news from him just in case you are wondering why now. A number of sources have mentioned Smith and come to the same conclusion I have. Smith wants to prove it's all about the story but in truth I believe it's all about him and the amount of clicks he can cultivate.

One more account    

Last Friday some of you were introduced to Kansas Citian Warren Jabali. After re-reading my account I thought perhaps there are a few who might have thought he chose the ABA because he wasn’t good enough to play in the NBA, that was hardly the case. The basketball landscape was different back then, Wichita State where he played was on the same level as a Texas or Kansas State. Jabali was a double-digit rebounder his sophomore and senior year, his junior year his total dipped to 8.6. His senior year at Wichita State saw him score at an 18.6 point 11.6 rebound and 7.5 assists a game. Those are outstanding numbers for a 6-foot 2-inch guard in anybody’s book.

In 1968 the Knicks picked Armstrong (Jabali) in the 4th round as the 44th pick in that year’s draft. This portion cannot be confirmed but I’m going to report it anyway. It was said Red Holtzman then Knicks coach did not want Armstrong on the team. It was never made clear why the coach didn’t want him, I’m going to take a privilege and make this prognosis. The Knicks had drafted Walt Frazier the previous year, they must have believed Frazier was the future rather than taking a chance on Armstrong (Jabali) who was described as a “hot head.” One of the issues to consider when evaluating him was the 1960’s a time of civil unrest and Jabali was tagged a black militant, which was not true.

Is he proving he can play

Emoni Bates is blowing up in the G-League, if you remember he was made a 2nd round draft pick by the Cavs in 2023. The Cavs are not loaded with veterans but it’s been difficult for the 6 foot 8 Bates to gain playing time. In order to allow him play the Cavs sent the youngster to their G-League team the Cleveland Charge. As this is written Bates is scoring at a 26.4 point a game clip along with 5 rebounds. Despite the astronomical promise once held for him we remain unsure if he is a legitimate NBA talent, you remember don’t you? Gatorade National Player of the Year as a high school sophomore.

I’m reminded over and over the words of one NBA scout. “If the NBA eliminates its age restriction Bates will be the first name drafted” or something along those lines. He changed high schools, then reclassified which saw him enrolled at Memphis as a 17-year-old. From there he transferred to Eastern Michigan played a season and then declared for the NBA draft. The road’s been quite bumpy at times for Bates but despite that fact someone in the Cavs organization believed he was worth a draft pick. What occurs from this point going forward is certainly an unknown. He could earn playing time with the A team or it might be play in Europe. He could have a pro career in Europe and earn a good salary if that is the case. I will continue to follow his progress wherever it might lead him.

The Denver thing

If you read this account to its conclusion you will understand the meaning of the headline. On Sunday I turned my television on to catch the Mizzou-Wichita State game, the Auburn-Appalachian State game had about 3 minutes or so remaining. The game was quite tight scoring and to my surprise Appalachian State was holding onto a slim lead. The game was not decided until there was a little under a minute remaining.

The Mountaineers won this match defeating Auburn 69-64, as for “The Denver thing” allow this brief explanation. An end zone television shot captured a sign which read Welcome to Holmes Convocation Center elevation 3,333. Appalachian State is located in Boone North Carolina and its one of the highest elevations in the nation for a college. Ball Arena in Denver home of the Nuggets is 5,280 feet above sea level so I’m guessing the Mountaineers just like the Nuggets desire visiting teams to realize the altitude is higher than they might be accustomed to.  

Basketball from a fans perspective

Wire to wire

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

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

A feel-good story

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

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

1. People Magazine

A style change

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

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

He blots out the sun

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

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

Basketball from a fans perspective

Josh Giddey

There have been several opinions expressed “Why is Giddey still playing?” The answer is simple, as this is written Giddey the subject of a criminal investigation is incomplete. Up to this point he’s not been formerly charged with anything therefore neither the NBA nor Thunder can do anything but play him for the time being. Naturally any resulting investigation leading to criminal charges being filed will demand an NBA suspension. As for the media portion of this story I turned off Stephen A. Smith in the middle of last summer. His over the top persona finally got the best of me, I figured it was time to extricate myself from him on ESPN’s First Take and his NBA coverage.  

Up to this point I neither liked nor disliked Malika Andrews because I rarely view the pre-game, half-time and post-game programs she is a part of, she’s been virtually unknown to me. The last week or so I’ve discovered in videos and posts I don’t like her. All of us realize there are plenty of negatives existing in the NBA and world for that matter. It appears, notice the word I used, Andrews presents the viewer with negatives that could be omitted from the story. Am I stating censor the news…of course not that would be the worst thing in the world. On the worst day of former NBA player Andrien Payne shot dead at age 31 in reporting his death she includes his past indiscretions. Don’t take my word, find the YouTube video and see what I’m talking about.

No ring

Former Laker, Knick and Heat coach Pat Riley might be the culprit. He coined a phrase which has become synonymous with winning championships, “No rebounds, no rings. I’m unsure how the conversation began however Carmelo Anthony began a discussion on the subject, “No Ring”. Right at the beginning he named Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller and himself, I can agree all of them had outstanding NBA careers.

How good were they, well Barkley and Miller are enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame and it’s not based on their collegiate years it’s the time they spent in the NBA. I’m sure at some point in the future Anthony will be enshrined as well. In any event Anthony details how the ring issue probably came into being with the Magic-Bird championships. Later it was the 6 rings Michael Jordan won playing for the Bulls, what I find interesting Anthony could have mentioned Bill Russell but didn’t. Russell won 11 rings during his brilliant career with the Celtics. Back to the subject at hand I guess the ring has become a symbol of success which is certainly understandable.

The AARP assembly

Young men play the game but for the most part the coaches they play for are qualified for AARP membership. For those unfamiliar with the abbreviation it stands for American Association of Retired Persons, in order to join the organization one must be 50 years of age. Consider a few of the well-known names, Kentucky’s John Calipari is 64 years old, Bill Self Kansas coach is age 60 and Mark Few Gonzaga’s coach is also 60 years of age. The other AARP qualifiers are Tom Izzo Michigan State (68), Rick Barnes Tennessee (69), Kelvin Sampson Houston (68), Dana Altman Oregon (65) and Rick Pitino St. John’s (71).

Dan Hurley who led UConn to the 2023 NCAA Championship is a “youthful” 50 years of age while Jim Larranaga Miami (FL) is 74, and up the road at Florida State Leonard Hamilton had his 75th birthday this past summer. This is Jim Boeheim’s final season coaching Syracuse basketball, he will retire at the end of the year, Boeheim celebrated his 79th birthday in November. There are a number of young and upcoming coaches, hopefully no one will misunderstand my intent here. There is no effort to state young coaches are unsuccessful, the intent is to simply point out these grizzled veterans are still loving the game. We could ask the question why would one go through the motions doing something just for the pay.  

A double meaning

When I was a kid I’d hear adults on occasion say, “_________ painted himself (herself) into a corner.” I thought it was so funny, how could someone paint the floor of a room and not make provisions for an exit. As an adult I now realize there was a double meaning with their statement. I now take it to describe a move or moves to aid oneself that winds up being the wrong decision, it comes back to bite you in the butt. That’s what appears to have occurred with the Clippers and their acquisition of James Harden.

Once again there is no argument from me that Harden is an incredibly talented basketball player. He’s a basketball player who almost demands the ball be in his hands the majority of time. On any other team other than the Clippers this might be okay however there is ball dominant Russell Westbrook plus less prevailing Paul George. I’m probably leaving out someone but you understand the direction I’m headed. This becomes a make-or-break year for this Clippers team, next season they move into the Ballmer Palace the Intuit Dome. Other than to view the inside of the arena how does management expect to draw fans based on play thus far this season? A brief look toward next season, The Claw, Kawhi Leonard will be 33-years old, Paul George will have turned 34 and Russell Westbrook turns 35 in November.

Harden’s 35th birthday will have occurred earlier in August. This Clippers team MUST win it all this season…period end of story. I genuinely believe they cannot win in 2025, they will be too old a team by NBA standards. To compound this “painted into the corner” picture they have little to offer in trade. I could be wrong regarding what I just composed, perhaps by the time this is read the Clippers will be several games above .500 and truly competing in the Wild, Wild West! UPDATE: They are not above .500. 

Basketball from a fans perspective

I waited and waited….

This is an opportunity at the beginning to stop reading, this will cover a subject some of you might find objectionable and maybe offensive. I’m writing this because I too was complicit in the past with accounts of a salacious nature. I know I wrote of Kyrie Irving when he was a member of the Nets, I did the same thing regarding Jae Morant. In this instance my ire is aimed at the media over that of the NBA. Reports have circulated for over a week Thunder guard Josh Giddey allegedly had a relationship with an underage female.

After time passed the NBA indicated it would undergo an investigation but that’s where my account begins. Several of the most vocal critics of NBA players at times were strangely silent while this news was circulating. Stephen A. Smith even went on the air later claiming he could have been sued if he’d discussed it. The threat of a potential suit didn’t stop him from commenting on Kyrie Irvin, Kevin Porter or Jae Morant. His co-worker Malika Andrews mentioned an incident at the time Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla was hired, Mazzulla had been arrested for domestic battery while in college. Why this member of the media decided to bring this up 14 years after his hire is beyond me. During the 2023 NBA Draft she believed this was the appropriate time to mention the tragedy of Brandon Miller and his part in the commission of a murder. After an investigation by Alabama law enforcement they reported there was no reason to include Miller’s name in this tragic event. As for Giddey this same media member was strangely silent until this past Monday, when Andrews read what sounded like a prepared script regarding the Thunder guard.

This is what I fail to understand, the media including the two mentioned to my knowledge never minced words when it came to the players named at the beginning of this account. Why are they so worried now about being sued when apparently that was not an issue in the past? I’m just not sure why these and other media members fail to do their job. As this is written I have no idea if Giddey is guilty or innocent, he may have allegedly committed a crime. This I believe is a story and should not be ignored in the manner Smith and Andrews two high profile ESPN media types and others have done.

Bits n Pieces

The medical staff has given Bronny James permission to begin working out. He will be reevaluated next week, if cleared he will be able to return to the USC court at a future date. This is the portion unclear and yet to be determined. Bronny returns at some point this season or waits until the 2024-25 season. I’ll keep track of his progress and give you an updates.    

My Lakers are improved record wise over last season, despite this fact they have not played as well as I would like but at least they are competing. I’m unsure how I would handle myself if I were a fan of the Detroit Pistons. It was pointed out they went THE ENTIRE MONTH OF NOVEMBER with 0 wins, 30 days with not a single win. An NBA team going a month without a win has only occurred 12 times in the leagues history…now it’s 13.

This is worth a visit, you might remember reading the route taken by Dr. J. to move from the ABA to the Sixers. It was mentioned that the doctor played in several exhibition games for the Hawks before a suit was filed prohibiting his play. On that Hawks team was also another legend Pete Maravich, the website points to the greatness of that team if Dr. J. had been able to remain with the Hawks. There is no method to determine the success however a team having two legends is certainly no guarantee of accomplishment on the court. Sacrifice of your game is required, ask the present-day Clippers.

Yesterday you read a brief bio regarding Warren Jabali because I always hope to encourage study of a subject additional information is provided for you. There are at least two books worthy of reading, they are available kindle, hardcover or paperback. “Thanks to You: Memories of Warren Edward Armstrong Jabali,” the author is widow Mary Alice Beasley. Another publication is “Jabali-A Kansas City Legend”, written by David Thomas PhD. There are other publications available however these two are the most highly rated in my view.

Load management…surely you can’t be serious

The headline above says it all, the late Randy Smith played an NBA record 906 consecutive games. His record has since been broken by A.C. Green, how about this bit of additional information? At Division II Buffalo State Smith was an All American in three sports, basketball, soccer and track. A pro in all three sports certainly might have been possible, he chose basketball over the other sports. In 1971 potential earnings in soccer and track was not as lucrative as they are today.

Although he was drafted maybe he might have been an afterthought there as well. Smith was chosen in the 7th round of the 1971 NBA Draft and would become the 104th player chosen that year. Because the Buffalo Braves were an expansion team he might have had a greater opportunity to demonstrate his talent over an established NBA team. He was a two-time NBA All Star, in 1978 he was NBA All Star game MVP. Smith managed a 12-year NBA career for several NBA teams and might have been the fastest player racing up and down the court. Randy Smith died in 2009 suffering a heart attack during a workout. He is a name from the past you should be familiar with.

Basketball from a fans perspective

Who is leading?

It’s my belief the contest to determine the 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year is a two-man race. Sure there are plenty of rookies to consider but at present only two have solid credentials November 30, 2023. Chet Holmgren Thunder power forward and Victor Wembanyama Spurs center are their names. One website claims the lead at this point belongs to Holmgren, I beg to differ which is my prerogative. If we simply look at stats the two are tied in my book at this time. My claim since the beginning of the season remains the same. Holmgren plays on a better team at this point, the Spurs are not terrible but they are certainly nowhere near as good as the Thunder.

This provides Holmgren with a clear advantage over Wemby, please note I said advantage I didn’t say he was more accomplished. In addition the Thunder rookie had an NBA season where he didn’t play due to injury to prepare, he became accustomed to his team and the rigors of an NBA life. What do I expect at the end of the season, one or the other could be named ROY. On the other hand we could have co-Rookies of the Year, its occurred three times in NBA history. In 1971 Dave Cowans and Geoff Petrie tied for the honors, in 1995 it was Grant Hill and Jason Kidd gaining the award. 2000 was the last year we had two winners, this time it was Elton Brand and Steve Francis. In closing, never say never it could occur again in 2024. By the way, remember all the talk about both being too skinny prior to the season start? Well I can't speak for you but I haven't heard anyone mention weight in quite awhile. 

The best ever

You just read the name Warren Jabali recently and might question it since most you probably never heard his name. How about a little background on him, if we are discussing the best basketball player from New York City or Los Angeles we could drag out bunches of names. His name was Warren Armstrong as a youth and into his play at Wichita State but I’m getting ahead of myself in a look at this talent. He was born in Kansas City Kansas and began to grow his talent in junior high school there. In the early 1960’s the best basketball on the Missouri side was played by Central High School under the leadership of coach Wilkinson.

I don’t have the full story but somehow the Armstrong family moved across state line and he began play in his sophomore year at Central High School. From day one it was clear Armstrong was extremely talented and a superior athlete. Seniors on the basketball team looked to this sophomore due to the leadership he exhibited on the basketball court. No one in Kansas City had ever witnessed an athlete with his great leaping ability. In 1964 Wichita State basketball was superior in some circles than the majority of Big 8 schools, so it off to the Kansas school for Armstrong. He continued to grow his game and in the 1968 NBA Draft he was chosen by the Knicks, the new American Basketball Association Oakland Oaks also drafted him. He was Rookie of the Year and help lead that Oaks team to the league championship. A physical rock standing 6 foot 2 and 200 pounds, Jabali was a high wire act no one had ever existed in the Kansas City metro previously.

If you think this is just me talking listen to the words of the legendary Dr. J., Julius Erving. The Hall of Fame Erving certainly faced a number of talented players during his ABA-NBA career, Jabali is one of them. 1. “There were two guys. Warren Jabali and Jumping Joe Caldwell-Pogo Joe, they called him Pogo Joe. So I think I averaged like 28 against the rest of the league. But those two guys, I think I averaged like 24. So they weren’t really busting me, but a 4-point difference in scoring is worthy of note.” Jabali passed in 2012 at the age of 65, in life the cerebral Jabali stood much taller in basketball circles than his height.

1.Knuckleheads, Basketball Network

Too much?

Could this be too much recruiting on Mizzou’s part…maybe that is the question. On the roster is freshman Jordan Butler 7 foot 3, 230 pounds, arriving next fall are two more huge guys. 7-foot Peyton Marshall 300 pounds and 7-foot 3 210-pound Trent Burns. Count it that’s 21 feet 6 inches and 740 pounds of Big Men with Mizzou on their jersey. The first statement, all three are raw or at least that’s my belief. Butler’s just arrived on campus this fall to begin play in the tough SEC, the other two are still in high school.

Question number one becomes, can any of the three play effectively at the college level? Number three, I’m not the coach but could we possibly see a twin tower lineup on the court? We’ve held a number of discussions regarding the game no longer being low post oriented. After watching Jordan Wembanyama play could we envision Burns on the perimeter shooting from distance? I’m picking on Burns for no other reason than he fits the Wembanyama profile, tall and lanky. Sure as I’m being held down by gravity one of the three is likely to not be in Columbia for the long term. Hopefully, it will be a pro contract rather than a transfer to another school’s program.

Reserve role

In the NBA’s history a significant number of players were placed in the role of 6th man. In some instances the player preferred the role while others were probably not suited to fulfill time as a starter.  Generally speaking the reserve player is to change the complexion of a game in a number of different manners. If its scoring he does that, if the situation calls for more defense he can do that as well but there should be something of significance he provides. 

Let’s check out the Clippers once James Harden was acquired, a number of fans questioned if he and Russell Westbrook could play in the same backcourt. After a few games we discovered this would not work with two ball dominant players, one of the two must take on the reserve role but who would it be? My vote for what it’s worth was Harden, I stated this at one point and continue to believe he’s the one. Despite the fact I believed Westbrook had not played up to expectations with the Lakers it appeared he done just that role for the Clippers. This next portion is a little murky, it was pointed out Westbrook had approached coach Lue about coming off the bench or as the team’s 6th man. 

Now who’s suffering on the Clippers, it’s Westbrook, his numbers have clearly gone down the drain? This from memory says Westbrook only came off the bench a few times for the Lakers, with the Clippers early he was inserted into the starting lineup. So the James Harden effect is at work for another team, previously I expressed my belief they could win an NBA Championship…now I’m not so sure.