The D-League

There is a huge misconception about the NBA D-League, it is not a indictment on a players career and or talent to be sent down. It is in fact the NBA equivalent to the minor leagues, in MLB no one criticizes a player for getting sent down. It is seen as a re-assignment and nothing more. When the same happens in the NBA, people make judgements and accusations about the player(s) that are being sent down. When players are brought up from the D-League, no one says anything other than positive statements about the teams bringing set player up. There are only 2 rounds of the NBA draft, there are many more players than there are picks every year. If the European players that get drafted get to be able to reamain in their countries until they are ready to contribute in the league, what is wrong with the players who get drafted being sent down to the D-League until they are ready to contribute? Is there a difference, it is still under popular belief that the NBA doesn't have a rival league..right? If that is truly the case than playing in Europe is no different than playing in the D-League other than name. If anything the D-League game resembles the game played in the NBA more so than any European league. There are many players who play vital roles on contending teams that were from the D-League, with only 2 rounds in the draft talent is often misjudged. A couple of weeks ago Hasheem Thabeet of the Grizzlies was sent down to the D-League, it made headlines because he was the first top pick to be sent down there. He was ridiculed for this move and made an example of for no reason, no one mentioned that it was for the opportunity to get minutes. In the Grizzlies' rotation there are not many minutes for front court players, Marc Gasol doesn't foul out much and he has a solid offensive game. Thabeet on the other hand does not, he is a gifted defensive player but truly lacks game offensively. After the story was made no one mentioned that he averaged 21 ppg, 10 rpg, and 3 bpg while down on his assignment. Gasol got hurt recently and Thabeet was called back up and has been starting the last few games and contributing. I wish people would rethink their views on the D-League and see it for what it is, an opportunity for young players who don't get the minutes. What do you think of the D-League, is it the minor leagues for the NBA in your oppinon or just another league?

1 and Done Rule

I have despised this rule since the day the NBA made it, I think it hurts kids more than it may help. The reason this came to mind was watching Derek Favors this year, yes college may help a player mature and create a structured environment for them. At the same time it's not like the athletes go to class for the whole year anyway, due to practice schedules and travel time for games you can't possibly be in class every day. I was told by my mother that "college" is not for everybody, to which I totally agree. Favors spent his whole freshman year being ignored by the guards on his team and his talent was wasted. All he did was become eligible for the draft, that is probably the reason that Dwight Howard and Amare Stoudamire took a pass on college. They learned more with on the job training, at 6'10 and 246 pounds Favors is not physically challenged. Do you think he couldn't of provided the same sort of raw spark Amare and Dwight provided for their teams?? Favors reminds me of Amare in Dwight's frame all while having that same kind of "freakish" athleticism for a man of that stature. I believe the rule was made because of the Jeremy Tylers of the world, for every kid that does make it many more don't. The league shouldn't be at fault, I believe every athlete knows if and when there game translates to the next level. If the athlete is not honest enough with themselves to make the right decision so be it. If there is any doubt, spend time at the college level tweaking your game. An example of a young player who made the right decision to go to school is Demarcus Cousins. Cousins has an NBA ready body, but lacked the necessary maturity coming into the year. So I think his choice to go to school was an intelligent one, yet he is not being lauded for it at all. I mean you have players who have to try to "psyche" him out because they can't compete with him. Jeremy Tyler elected not to go to school aka Brandon Jennings (even though his situation was vastly different) and went overseas, and he didn't see it through. It was reported last week that he quit and is on his way back to the states. Many players will continue to be forced to go to school or overseas even when it is a detrament to the them, do you believe this rule helps or hurts these young men?

NBA Draft Stock

The 1st week of the NCAA tourney has just passed, after all the upsets and drama it's time to start looking at who's making a name for themselves. On the other hand some of the so called "house hold" names have faltered and their stock has dropped signifigantly since they are no longer in the tournament. The tournament is a proving ground for those with NBA aspirations, both those who have made their aspirations known or not. You have the big schools get challenged and sometimes beat by their smaller brethern, that's what makes the tournament so great. Greg Monroe, Luke Harangody, Cole Aldrich, Scottie Reynolds and other "stars" had alot on the line when this started a week ago. Unlike the NFL where Bowl games don't have the weight that the NCAA Tournament does, these kids have to produce during the tournament. Work outs obviously are a requirement to the draft process but your body of work in college consists of what you did during the regular season and post season. If you are routinely in the tournament in you college career and you don't produce it doesn't bode well for you come draft time. The kids from Kentucky are making money right now, Omar Samhan is stealing the national spotlight, Evan Turner and Desean Butler are leading their teams to victories. Wesley Johnson is looking like one of the top 5 players in the country, maybe the best wing prospect. Who else do you think is making money for them right now in terms of the draft??

Kansas Go Down!!!

I called this like 2 months ago, "Rock Chalk" go home!!!! They fooled all of you all year long, they couldn't pull the wool over my eyes, with close games against the likes of Colorado St. and Cornell (No offense to either school). I've been saying for a couple years now how accidental that shot Mario Chalmers took against Memphis went in. Please don't tell me Bill Self called that play for Mr. Chalmers, if Collins had not stumbled Chalmers would have never had the ball. But back to this game, as the so called "Number 1 seed overall" in this year's bracket how do you go down to Norhern Iowa???? Earlier I was talking about brackets and how they were dying, well they're offically over we are no just watching to see what happens!!! Thanks for playing I hope all of those in pools didn't spend too much money because its officially a wrap. Vegas has to be absolutely loving this, not as much as I of course but loving it all the same. I have never ever ever liked a Bill Self Kansas team, let alone the conference they play in. I will try to bring my gloating to an end, and try to find the Kansas fan I guranteed an early oust to so he can take the remains of my boasting. Did any one other than me see this happening, or was it an intense case of wishing or hoping that Kansas would be shown the door? Sherron Collins had a great collegiate career and I hate to see it come to an end for him, but I am loving how early the "best team in college basketball" has exited this year's tourney. Now that one number 1 seed is down, tell me who the next one to go down in flames will be? I'm nominating Duke....

Dying Bracket

Now that another top seed has died, what shape is your bracket in now?? This is crazy, in one weekend a whole bracket is gone!!!
Will someone please tell the top seeds to show up, or at least scout the lower seed before the game?? Don't show up and find out that the smaller school has a 7 footer with League talent. What are the scouts for these schools doing, or allegedly doing when they're supposed to be working? Did no one on Villanova know that St. Mary's had a bunch of shooters and one of the only guys in the country to average 20 and 10? Or did they misinterpret the kid's 1st round line of 26 and 12, and blame it on "a good day"? Omar Samhan can hoop!!! 32 points, 7 boards, and 2 blocks tell me he didn't accidentally learn how to play ball yesterday. So Scottie Reynolds essentially stayed 4 years in school to lose in the 2nd round of his senior year to St. Mary's? I'm as big a Big East fan as anyone but after Villanova,Georgetown, and NotreDame's performance I wish Cincinatti, South Florida, and Seton Hall were there instead!!! At least the last 3 would have shown up for their games, that is not to say I am dismissing what the lower seeds accomplished. I am not blindly backing these schools, I have long had a disdain for all 3 Big East teams that lost especially the way that they are built. I haven't liked the Hoya's offense ever, it's not indicative of the offensive talent they actually have. Notre Dame never really lets their guards loose due to their dependence on Luke Harangody, even though their guards are extremely talented. Villanova needs to recruit a true big man, stop being blinded by raw athleticism of players who are really extremely tall small forwards and power forwards. During their losses none of those teams showed their true talent, don't tell me that Austin Freeman, Chris Wright, or Greg Monroe couldn't have went off and won that game if they had scrapped that "sharing" offense. Or that Tory Jackson, Tim Abromitis, and Ben Hansbrough couldn't have taken control of that game in the back court. In Notre Dame's loss their bigs were at a disadvantage not the guards, why not let the guards free and attack? Okay I'm going to let that go now, but I still think even bigger upsets are on the way. Not because of talent, but the contrast in playing styles. That is why this years bracket for many many many many many people are already dead. Have patience, bigger trees stand to fall yet. That's why I love this time of year, even though my brackets dead I can't wait to see how many top seeds are left going into the Elite Eight and Final Four!!! I think a lot of people will be shocked....Who do you think the next top seed to fall is going to be?

Broken Ankles

This is a short post, but I couldn't keep this to myself. Did anyone see the highlights from Thursday nights Heat-Magic Game? Well the Magic came back to win, but Matt Barnes didn't come back from a Dwayne Wade crossover!!! Wade had Barnse 1on1 on the right baseline, gave him a little hesitation,crossed over and then stepped back as Barnes stumbled to the right out of bounds. Wade then fired a pass to a cutting Jermaine Oneal who dunked the ball as the crowd went nuts. I want you all to enjoy this as much as I did, please go to the NBA tab on ESPN.com and check the scores for Thursday March 18. Once their select the Heat-Magic game and click on the highlights tab...then enjoy the show!! I've been watching the tournament during the last blog post and it's the 1st half of the Syracuse-Vermont game, Scoop Jardine just came down on and hit a Vermont player with an unsavory crossover on way to an and 1. The result of that play led me to this post, I usually laugh when it's a pro player getting used. When it's a college player I try to wait before laughing or at least there is a little remorse on my part. Either way, I need you all to check both of these incidents out. I don't want to be the only one enjoying it, if you do check it out let me know how it made you feel whether it's the victims pain or the culprit's delight!!!

Blown Brackets

It's not even the end of the 1st round in the Mens Tournament and for many it's already over. Due to the parity or lack of good teams in my opinion this year's tournament is up for grabs. The only good teams that treated the lower seeded teams like they were supposed to be treated were the number 1 seeds. From the 2 seed down the games were toss ups!! I like many had Georgetown taking a nice little ride deep in this tournament...so much for that!!! Vandy went down in flames, Villanova and Michigan St. needed some home cooking to get out of their 1st round games. I originally wasn't that excited about this tournament before it started (other than the fact my huskies had a bad year), because except for Kansas and Kentucky everyone in the country is extremely vulnerable. It's been 2 days and March Madness is already over for some fans, my pre-tournament favorite was Kentucky and Georgetown. Now that the Hoyas are gone, I'm taking Syracuse and Kentucky in the National Championship Game with Kentucky winning by 5 due to big time 3's being hit by Eric Bledsoe(my pick for MOP). Let me know how messed up your brackets are..or how perfect they still might be? Either way this year's tournament finally has my attention!!