Link
Sort of a follow-up article about basketball statistics. What’s interesting is that the author sort of comes to the conclusion that you can’t use stats to measure everything— the mark of a true stat-head.
Link
Bill Simmons (the Sports Guy) talking about how the best NBA stats are secrets. Pretty interesting read. Like Bill, I crave the information, but unlike Bill, I disagree that “we are all in this together.”
Quote
[LeBron] kind of reminds me of a new and improved Ron Artest
Text
Some days, I can’t tell whether I am crazy or not. But after looking at the replay (near 1:40) from late in the most recent Wizards/Cavs tilt, and then the subsequent comments from LeBron James, I must be going crazy.
I am pretty certain that the video clearly shows a basic, back-to-the-defender dribble, accompanied by a hesitation move— something you’d see in the low post 10 times a game— followed by LeBron picking up his dribble, and then taking three steps towards the basket.
He was subsequently called for a traveling violation, then whined like a baby because the crab dribble is a legal move and that he had made the shot (with contact). Both are true, and both completely ignore the fact of the three steps after he picked up his (Crab) dribble.
He also implied that the free-throw he would have received was automatic, which is only true 78% of the time.
Odd as it is, I have to say that Jalen Rose is the only one keeping it real
Link
Pretty sweet.
(a starred item from my google reader)
Text
Text
Interesting subtext in the Memphis vs. Kansas game. Before this season started, Memphis was recruiting (and had commitments from) two towering post players (who happen to be twins): Marcus and Markieff Morris. They committed and decommitted from Memphis twice so that they could go to prep school. Then, they signed with Kansas for next season. Would the outcome have been different if they had signed with Memphis? Who knows… then again, would the outcome have been different if a couple of former Kansas recruits, who played for Memphis this season, had been playing with Kansas: Derek Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts?
Text
My Jayhawks are national champions after playing one of the most exciting and best title games in history. My respect for Memphis grew throughout the season, and I think that it was only until the Davidson game, that Kansas really understood how good they were.
Wouldn’t be interesting, though, if the biggest news in Kansas basketball this week wasn’t their first title in twenty years, but the departure of the coach who got them there. Reportedly, Self’s alma matter Oklahoma State is offering him a contract of $3.5 million a year, plus a $6 million signing bonus. FYI, that’s a boatload of money ( he’s making $1.5 million a year).
Apparently, Kansas’ AD and Self will speak soon (Wednesday, perhaps) and “iron out” some things, with Self citing security as a want- Kansas is already a premeir coaching job, and he enjoys his staff and players. Kansas would be dumb not to extend and fatten his contract, and perish the thought of them doing anything else.
But before the thought dies, I just want to throw out that there are probably a lot of excellent coaches who would love the Kansas job, and just for giggles, I’ll throw out one that I like: one of KU’s current assistant coaches, Danny Manning. He’s been riding pine for a while, and he certainly knows Kansas tradition. If Kansas didn’t like what Self was asking for, they could cut ties, bank on their tradition, program, and (hello!) the title they just won, and go with Manning (or someone better).
That said, I love Coach Self, just like I love Coach Williams.
Rock Chalk Jayhawk Go KU!
Text
Kevin Durant and Jeff Green (ballers) decide to take a break from basketball to go back to school. Notable in part because they are both rookies.
And while I’m talking about basketball, you’ll probably want to watch this video of Kevin Love (Freshman manchild at UCLA) “shooting” the basketball. Then, go and see how far you can throw a chest-pass, then go and see how trying to put a chest pass into the basket affects your distance, then realize that Kevin Love is the best outlet passer in College Basketball, and is proabably about two games away from being one of the best outlet passers in the NBA.
Page 2 of 3
