* I don’t follow college hoops nearly as much as I do the pros, but I have to admire what the Virginia Commonwealth Rams have done in the tourney. This is a college whose last noteworthy pro player was Gerald Henderson, whose last pro was drafted in 1982 and lasted only a year (Edmund Sherod), and who has produced just four players in the entire history of the NBA. Regardless if any of the current guys make the pros, it’s been a great underdog success story for March Madness.
* I can hardly comprehend how badly the Knicks have been playing lately. I wasn’t one of the people who thought they’d become title contenders after a Carmelo deal (see my entry here back on January 10), but I did mention that I thought a Carmelo deal would help them even if their defense wouldn’t be good enough to make them a truly elite team. The Knicks will have to go back to looking long-term again because right now, things aren’t so hot. It’s doubly embarrassing that the Nuggets are playing so well.
* On the other hand, I can easily comprehend how badly the Jazz have been playing lately. They didn’t get a lot of short-term help in the Deron Williams deal, and it’s going to be awhile before players get used to Corbin’s philosophy after all that time with coach Sloan.
* Much has been made of the small market collapse in the NBA. Most of the attention has been focused on stars leaving for bigger markets, but now we are seeing Sacramento in the process of losing the Kings to Anaheim. It’s really quite sad, but what more can be done in this economy?
* The Celtics are nearly dead, at least as far as a championship is concerned. Sorry, Mike and Nathan (and mom), but I foresee a stampede of Bulls in the playoffs the way things are going now.
7 comments
GG says:
Mar 28, 2011
I know people are excited when underdogs make it to the Final Four, but I’m the opposite. I like to see the really strong and athletic teams make it because in the end, we’ll get the best game. The college game is so subpar to the NBA game when it comes to actual play. I’d rather see Kansas vs. Duke or something like that then what we’re going to see which is Butler or VCU in the final game. At least you’d know you’ll get the best game possible. I much prefer the NBA series style playoffs.
As for the Celtics, I’d agree with you, except for the fact that they were thought to be left for dead in the playoffs last year too and many people picked the Bulls to beat them at that time. I don’t know that they’re going to make that same run, but if there’s a team I’m not writing off in the East, it’s them.
Khendra says:
Mar 28, 2011
Yeah, the level of play is admittedly far worse at the college level, even among many of the top seeded teams, which is the main reason I watch it much less often. The biggest problem I always note is how most of the college guards have no idea how to feed the bigger players in the middle consistently (some of that is probably due to the 35 second clock as well; they have all day to dribble around, yet they still settle for far too many jumpers and three-pointers even as the clock comes close to violation).
I liked the Celtics last year when they got healthier. I really think they are going to miss Perk down the stretch this time; Krstic and their interior defense looked awful last night, and that was against the sad little Kevin Love-less Wolves.
GG says:
Mar 28, 2011
The Celtics definitely need to find out how to make up for the Perk loss. Shaq is the wild card. He’s not the same defensive presence, but he’s still somewhat of a presence.
College ball can be very guard dominated. Many teams play zone, which simply opens up the perimeter game. The perimeter passing can be fun to watch as they work for open outside shots, but I get sick of it after a while. Thinking about the recent dominating NBA big men, I can’t think of many whose college teams won championships. I guess Noah and Horford won a championship.
But Shaq, Duncan, and Bogut didn’t. Did Okafor? Camby, Hibbert, and the Lopez bros had decent runs in the NCAAs.
Looking through the centers, many came from high school and from international ball. So some of that may even be more reason why it’s so guard dominated.
blerd says:
Mar 28, 2011
Sometimes I feel as though the Celtics are playing possum-resting their folks until the playoffs start. I can’t imagine the Perk trade being so disruptive to their chemistry.
blerd says:
Mar 28, 2011
Plus, I have no idea why Ainge and Doc figured Shaq and Jermaine were going to stay healthy through the rest of the season.
Jay says:
Mar 28, 2011
I wouldn’t sleep on the Celts, they are definitely resting some players. I bet they really turn it on in about a week and a half.
As for the Knicks, I figured out how to fix them; we trade Billups, Anthony, Williams and Carter for Felton, Mozgov, Chandler and Gallinari. Then they can resign Chandler for 7.5M and get Jordan or Gasol in the offseason for about 9M. FIXED!
blerd says:
Mar 28, 2011
You’re not bitter or anything!