November 27, 2012
Contributors
Previous Posts
- The Purple v. Bears: Pre-Game Report
- The Rebirth of FTLOSBW?
- Postseason
- Roll Tide
- FTLOSBW Gets it up for Football: Purple Preview
- How do you know you are part of a lame blog nobody...
- What a beautiful culture!
- I had heard this...but it's more shocking when it ...
- FTLOSBW - The Return of Nishi
- FTLOSBW Moves HQ; Help Wanted
Subscribe to
Posts [Atom]
3 Comments:
I disagree with his analysis, but I agree with his conclusion. It's a competitive travesty and a cosmic joke that this kid basically took every shot the entire game, in a manufactured "set the record" effort. I don't give a fuck that they beat up on a crappy school with a tiny enrollment of Bible thumping non-athletes. I'm offended that this record stands without an asterisk and a footnoted explanation of "did not come in the flow of a legitimate basketball game." Because I fear some people out there will actually think it's more impressive than some guy in D-1 getting a mere 35 in the rhythm of a real game, with limited possessions, where his team actually moves the ball around instead of intentionally jacking up a shot within 5 seconds of gaining possession every time. I mean, really, what's more impressive: this kid, or Austin Hollins pouring in 41 against a ranked team the other night? Why is this kid everywhere and nary a peep about Hollins?
Grinnell wins a lot of games, and that's not objectionable. They intentionally employ a playing style that's easily outschemed if you have a decent coach and players and a little time to plan for it, but most of their competitors have none of those. And that's fine. Good for them. I had no problem with Loyola Marymount back in the day, either, from a purely competitive standpoint, or a basketball evolution vs. purity perspective. But when you sit in the locker room before a game and discuss how you're going to go out with the sole intention of setting an individual scoring record, it cheapens the game and the record immeasurably. It's completely different than a guy getting the hot hand and then his team and coach feeding him on almost every possession because it will give the team a better chance of winning. This is premeditated, and thus feels wholly inauthentic.
The response to this kid scoring 138 points on thoroughly mediocre shooting should be a big, collective "Meh" and not front page ESPN coverage. I might have accomplished the same thing in high school if you made a concerted effort to give me 120 shots in a live game.
More focus should go to things like, you know, Willie Burton dropping 53 in a real game against real NBA defenders. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sM2b0pNHO8&noredirect=1
Also, too...where's the pride on the losing team? For crissakes, by the time he gets to 65, 70 points, you think you'd maybe be on to the scam? Triple team the motherfucker. You're already getting crushed and going to lose by at least 60 points - just accept losing by 80 and give up some layups, rather than being the ignominious loser in a trivia footnote.
November 27, 2012 at 3:30 PM
Totally. I don't have a problem that this guy hung up the 138 but it's not a "sign of the times" like the author tries to point out about a morally bankrupt world we live in. The premediation point aside.
Why is it that we have a problem when a team goes out and scores points? Belichick goes out and tries to put points up every time he gets the ball on offense, should he not do that? If you want a mercy rule that's a different argument (and one reserved for girls sports.)
Good point on not defending this kid, double team him! If it was me and I was guarding him I would give him a hard foul after every shot, clean but HARD. Maybe make him think twice (maybe break his thumb?) then again this was a bible school so maybe not that Christian of me but . . .
November 28, 2012 at 6:22 PM
Good analysis fellas. I had forgotten that Grinnell essentially plays the Paul Westphal fastbreak game. Lame record.
November 29, 2012 at 3:51 PM
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home