This is referring to a game that I really love to watch, a tournament that is truly like nothing else and it is slowly being destroyed by this rule.
I took a look at the list of underclassman that is coming out and the list is huge, of course it's early and 1/3 of them can still pull out, but the fact that you have too many kids that can make up their own mind. They are in college... they are learning how to make decisions for themselves that's part of what the whole college experiece is about. Going to school and learning how to be an adult, learning how to make sound decisions for themselves. If you take 90% of kids anywhere and tell them that they have a choice to make money without any grooming for their future they are going to take it. Not only that but the NBA has to take responsibilty for this as well... The League is only but 450 players deep. Every team has 2 draft picks, Most of those 2nd round picks don't make it. What happens to those kids? Does the NBA care? College doesn't. They are no longer eligible for a scholarship, they can go back but they definately won't be going back to a prestigous school and now this kid is in the black hole or on the tv show, where are they now..
Mark Cuban made a very good statement regarding this same issue, and I agree. He also stated that he thinks the Developmental league needs to be utalized a lot better, allow that to be a place where kids and truly come in and develop their skills, make them wait for 2 or 3 seasons, let teams hold onto their rights, and they don't have to be picked up as a free agent, you can expand the draft to 3 rounds, with 1 round dedicated to developing talented kids that have stayed for 3 years or maybe all 4 that just needs a chance.
The college game has too many flash in the pan kids or even system kids and they can look good but never really turn out to be nothing, you can also never get to see that one kid who was blocked off from showing how much he improved because he can't get the playing time because the next hot prospect came along and blocked his progress. This kid never developed.
We can't follow our favorite teams anymore, we are just a mascot or a cheerleader because all we are really cheering for is the banner, not the kids, they are not here long enought to get connected, and they don't get a chance to stay in the NBA long enough to make a life for themselves either.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Honorable Mentions
I want to take this time to mention the passing of Junior Seau...
I can't imagine the pain and heartache his family and friends are feeling, he isn't the first athlete to pass away and won't be the last... Athletes go through a tremedous amount of physical pain in order to get back up and ready to play a game that we love to watch..
I was not a fan of his because he played in the AFC west and I am a Bronco fan, but what I did appreciate was the way he played, he had passion for the game, he wanted to be good and he was. He left an impact on his teamates and that is something that doesn't come up in the boxscore.
I also want to make a mention to something that I don't think got enough press: Tampa Coach signing his former paralized player Eric Legrand to a one day contract.. Let's not over look this because If the Coach wasn't in position to do this I believe he would have done something else to acknowledge him, but what better way to show a sign of respect and love for a kid that he coached in College and giving him a wish that he would have never been able to fulfill due to his life threatning injuries.
Kudos to Coach Shiano, and showing everyone what you can do when you have the authority to make a good decision for a kid who he obviously cared for!!
I commend you!!
I can't imagine the pain and heartache his family and friends are feeling, he isn't the first athlete to pass away and won't be the last... Athletes go through a tremedous amount of physical pain in order to get back up and ready to play a game that we love to watch..
I was not a fan of his because he played in the AFC west and I am a Bronco fan, but what I did appreciate was the way he played, he had passion for the game, he wanted to be good and he was. He left an impact on his teamates and that is something that doesn't come up in the boxscore.
I also want to make a mention to something that I don't think got enough press: Tampa Coach signing his former paralized player Eric Legrand to a one day contract.. Let's not over look this because If the Coach wasn't in position to do this I believe he would have done something else to acknowledge him, but what better way to show a sign of respect and love for a kid that he coached in College and giving him a wish that he would have never been able to fulfill due to his life threatning injuries.
Kudos to Coach Shiano, and showing everyone what you can do when you have the authority to make a good decision for a kid who he obviously cared for!!
I commend you!!
NBA Playoffs Round 1
This NBA season wound up being a good one, with the first round almost over, I would like to give a synopsis of the happenings with the teams...
Western Conference:
OKC vs. Dallas
These two teams are on a different path, with the reigning champs Dallas it started right after the season was over, they left some key players leave and the players that they acquired were not good enough to make that same type of run deep into the playoffs again. The biggest loss was JJ Barera and Tyson Chandler, these players were replaced by Vince Carter and Lamar Odom. Too bad, because one can't play like they used to and the other just didn't want to play for them at all.
One the Other hand OKC has been on a mission and I can't see a reason why they can't keep this machine going to the Championship (My personal favorite to get to the Finals in the West) With The Duranchula, Westbrook and 6th man Supreme Harden, It's hard for teams to match with their offensive firepower and with all the role players that know their role, they are going to be a tough out for any team. To me they are the Home Grown Miami West..
L.A. Lakers vs. Denver
Denver is a team that nobody wanted to play going into the playoffs... except LA.. They were the one team that gave Denver Matchup Problems.. They have one of the deepest teams in the league, they have one of the most offensively potent teams in the league, and they are young and well coached. But for all that they are, the Lakers were better at! They are a veteran team that have strengths where Denver wasn't. With Gasol's issue behind him he's been playing very steady, Sessions coming in and giving the Lakers what they haven't had in years.. A Point Gaurd, with Bynum playing up to his full potential and still, the Black Mamba, this series is over. The question is can they continue to play at this level because if they do they may see themselves back in the Finals and possibly raising that trophy again.
Spurs vs. Utah
This has to be the most split i've ever been with a team, I don't know if I should give no props to the Spurs or give them praise. This has to be the most boring 1st round match up in history! Utah? Are they even making this a series? Is San Antonio even playing their starters for 4 quaters? No one really knows and doesn't care unless you are a San Anton fan. One the other side, while they may bore you to sleep, you will pay attention when they move on to the next round and beat you with their sound game and a new leader.. Tony Parker..
Memphis vs. Clips
This series could honestly be 3-0 on either side. I want to take the time to give props to both teams and both of them start at the PG spot.
Chris Paul is showing why he is one of the top 3 PG's in the league, who has ever sat and looked at the Clippers and said, oh man they are a threat to beat anyone? CP3 has done that for the Clips.. He alone is making them be able to stay in and win these playoff games. On the Other side Memphis PG Mike Conley needs to get as much props as he can get, he has shown most fans from last season that he is able to lead his team, and pretty far. This season he has quietly put together another solid season and is leading them again in the playoffs, Not on the level of the Elite but he is a Star and he is giving CP3 all that he can handle this series. If you have missed any of these games you should tune it because they all have been good! Stay tuned.
Eastern Conference:
Chicago vs. Philly
This out come would have been different if D.Rose was in the line up, but I'm not one to give Chicago a pass. D.Rose was out for at least 1/3 of the season (remember it was only a 66 game season this year, and Rose has been out for just around 20) They maintained the 2nd seed with out him, had big wins in Boston and Miami without him, and wound up with the 1st seed in the East, and now they just can't score? The bigger question to me is how good is Chicago anyway? They don't have a true 2nd scorer, Boozer IS NOT THAT, Deng is a great defender and a solid 15 point man per game, and then what? Just with their matchup against Philly, they have 4 Andre Iguodala's.. Not great at one thing, but do all kind of players that can score from 4 points to 24 points per night.. Not to mention they happen to play good defense too. How can Chicago keep up with them? They can't and it shows.. Chicago may need to consider going after another big time scorer to go alone with Rose, and possibly look into trading Boozer and a couple of other pieces.
Indiana vs. Orlando
Please look at my Spurs vs. Utah Commments, with one exception, Indiana is not suprising anyone else, they Will Lose in the next round!
Boston vs. Atlanta
Atlanta will forever be one of the most frustrating teams in the NBA History, they are fully equipped with talent. Joe Johnson is one level under the Lebron's, Kobe's, D. Wade's and soforth, his jumper is sweet.. Josh Smith is a left handed freak of nature! But they can never win and it shows in this series because Boston is showing them what a team with a pulse and the will to want to win can do. Boston has arguably the best PG in the league in Rajon Rondo, and ATL has no answer (almost no team does) for him, and they are getting out played all the way around. I look forward to Boston playing in the next round they will be very tough
Miami vs. New York
I can't help but feel some sort of sorry for the Knicks, they lost Baron Davis today and they were already beaten by injuries before they played a fully loaded Miami team. Lebron this series is showing off and showing out. D. Wade is a player you just can't hate but he is so good. And despite what people may say about Bosh, he has truly shown that he has the ability to turn it on and off when he has to, being a true team player, he understands his role and he plays it perfectly, so much so that he's being called a bum or a non factor, but truth is if you lay off him he will kill you and before you know it, they win and his stat line will look like this 20pts 12 boards 2 blocks and you will wonder how did he do that? Easy... by playing his role..
Looking forward to Round 2
Western Conference:
OKC vs. Dallas
These two teams are on a different path, with the reigning champs Dallas it started right after the season was over, they left some key players leave and the players that they acquired were not good enough to make that same type of run deep into the playoffs again. The biggest loss was JJ Barera and Tyson Chandler, these players were replaced by Vince Carter and Lamar Odom. Too bad, because one can't play like they used to and the other just didn't want to play for them at all.
One the Other hand OKC has been on a mission and I can't see a reason why they can't keep this machine going to the Championship (My personal favorite to get to the Finals in the West) With The Duranchula, Westbrook and 6th man Supreme Harden, It's hard for teams to match with their offensive firepower and with all the role players that know their role, they are going to be a tough out for any team. To me they are the Home Grown Miami West..
L.A. Lakers vs. Denver
Denver is a team that nobody wanted to play going into the playoffs... except LA.. They were the one team that gave Denver Matchup Problems.. They have one of the deepest teams in the league, they have one of the most offensively potent teams in the league, and they are young and well coached. But for all that they are, the Lakers were better at! They are a veteran team that have strengths where Denver wasn't. With Gasol's issue behind him he's been playing very steady, Sessions coming in and giving the Lakers what they haven't had in years.. A Point Gaurd, with Bynum playing up to his full potential and still, the Black Mamba, this series is over. The question is can they continue to play at this level because if they do they may see themselves back in the Finals and possibly raising that trophy again.
Spurs vs. Utah
This has to be the most split i've ever been with a team, I don't know if I should give no props to the Spurs or give them praise. This has to be the most boring 1st round match up in history! Utah? Are they even making this a series? Is San Antonio even playing their starters for 4 quaters? No one really knows and doesn't care unless you are a San Anton fan. One the other side, while they may bore you to sleep, you will pay attention when they move on to the next round and beat you with their sound game and a new leader.. Tony Parker..
Memphis vs. Clips
This series could honestly be 3-0 on either side. I want to take the time to give props to both teams and both of them start at the PG spot.
Chris Paul is showing why he is one of the top 3 PG's in the league, who has ever sat and looked at the Clippers and said, oh man they are a threat to beat anyone? CP3 has done that for the Clips.. He alone is making them be able to stay in and win these playoff games. On the Other side Memphis PG Mike Conley needs to get as much props as he can get, he has shown most fans from last season that he is able to lead his team, and pretty far. This season he has quietly put together another solid season and is leading them again in the playoffs, Not on the level of the Elite but he is a Star and he is giving CP3 all that he can handle this series. If you have missed any of these games you should tune it because they all have been good! Stay tuned.
Eastern Conference:
Chicago vs. Philly
This out come would have been different if D.Rose was in the line up, but I'm not one to give Chicago a pass. D.Rose was out for at least 1/3 of the season (remember it was only a 66 game season this year, and Rose has been out for just around 20) They maintained the 2nd seed with out him, had big wins in Boston and Miami without him, and wound up with the 1st seed in the East, and now they just can't score? The bigger question to me is how good is Chicago anyway? They don't have a true 2nd scorer, Boozer IS NOT THAT, Deng is a great defender and a solid 15 point man per game, and then what? Just with their matchup against Philly, they have 4 Andre Iguodala's.. Not great at one thing, but do all kind of players that can score from 4 points to 24 points per night.. Not to mention they happen to play good defense too. How can Chicago keep up with them? They can't and it shows.. Chicago may need to consider going after another big time scorer to go alone with Rose, and possibly look into trading Boozer and a couple of other pieces.
Indiana vs. Orlando
Please look at my Spurs vs. Utah Commments, with one exception, Indiana is not suprising anyone else, they Will Lose in the next round!
Boston vs. Atlanta
Atlanta will forever be one of the most frustrating teams in the NBA History, they are fully equipped with talent. Joe Johnson is one level under the Lebron's, Kobe's, D. Wade's and soforth, his jumper is sweet.. Josh Smith is a left handed freak of nature! But they can never win and it shows in this series because Boston is showing them what a team with a pulse and the will to want to win can do. Boston has arguably the best PG in the league in Rajon Rondo, and ATL has no answer (almost no team does) for him, and they are getting out played all the way around. I look forward to Boston playing in the next round they will be very tough
Miami vs. New York
I can't help but feel some sort of sorry for the Knicks, they lost Baron Davis today and they were already beaten by injuries before they played a fully loaded Miami team. Lebron this series is showing off and showing out. D. Wade is a player you just can't hate but he is so good. And despite what people may say about Bosh, he has truly shown that he has the ability to turn it on and off when he has to, being a true team player, he understands his role and he plays it perfectly, so much so that he's being called a bum or a non factor, but truth is if you lay off him he will kill you and before you know it, they win and his stat line will look like this 20pts 12 boards 2 blocks and you will wonder how did he do that? Easy... by playing his role..
Looking forward to Round 2
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