I agree with what you said, generally. Coach K is a great coach and stresses team work to the core. Unfortunately in the NBA, if you wanna score 20+ points a night, you have to be super athletic (there's a difference between that and talent).
At least you have UConn to watch up there. :) Though I dispise them a bit for beating Duke back in '99 and this past season. :)
I too have grown away from the NBA since my youth. However I, having staid in the NE, love UConn, well I went there, so I kinda have to love them.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first time we won the championship a few years ago against your Blue Devils. And no I wasn't one of those crazy rioting people.
I'd say the biggest problem with college players going to the pros is something you touched on, sloppy play. In college, with the exception of the major teams, there's a lot of one man teams. There's hardly ever a full squad of high caliber players. Once they get to the pros, even though some pros don't seem to belong there, there's a different style of play and lot less of those sloppy players.
Plus a lot of pros don't seem to care about defense. That really bothers me, hence my affinity to college ball.
Anand, have you seen National Treasure yet? The wife and I went to see it this past Saturday and we both thought it was the best entertaiment we'd had in ages.
Fast moving, entertaining, funny, educational and with no foul language.
We were both afraid it was going to be one of those movies where all the good stuff was shown in the preview, but we were wrong.
I have noticed that about Duke players, it could just be that Duke players are used to playing with a certain type of team and team mentality that simply isn't present with any of the NBA teams these days. Or it could be that the players are great at the college level, but the true peak of their skill isn't far above that. I tend to believe a combination of the two, varying depending on the player, but I'm hardly the expert on Duke players.
Aquila76
Ahh I love basketball games, the problem is that up here it's just Vinney and I who are gamers. We've got some folks that we play with down in NC, but for our multiplayer gaming fix we'll have to wait until we move back down.
Play NBA 2k5. I can't stand watching the overpaid and undertalented posers on the courts today, either. Granted, there are a few players that are in it for love of the game; but on a whole, they're in it for themselves. I find it much more fun and entertaining to play the video games (or even the real thing) with a group of friends.
I like your thinkin' of basketball, Anand. However, our Duke players do not adjust to the NBA very well...or at least not superstar status. Maybe Boozer is the exception with the most recent crew. Any thoughts as to why?
Anyway, have a good one. College basketball should be interesting.
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john - Monday, November 29, 2004 - link
Anand,Please do not waste your money on Alexander the Great. Very interesting critique by the author and lecturer Victor Hanson at
http://www.victorhanson.com/
November 27, 2004
Culling From Among the Mediocre in Hollywood
A short review of Oliver Stone's Alexander the Great by Victor Davis Hanson
Robert - Tuesday, November 23, 2004 - link
Anand,I agree with what you said, generally. Coach K is a great coach and stresses team work to the core. Unfortunately in the NBA, if you wanna score 20+ points a night, you have to be super athletic (there's a difference between that and talent).
At least you have UConn to watch up there. :) Though I dispise them a bit for beating Duke back in '99 and this past season. :)
jake - Tuesday, November 23, 2004 - link
Hmm... an adversary...I too have grown away from the NBA since my youth. However I, having staid in the NE, love UConn, well I went there, so I kinda have to love them.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first time we won the championship a few years ago against your Blue Devils. And no I wasn't one of those crazy rioting people.
I'd say the biggest problem with college players going to the pros is something you touched on, sloppy play. In college, with the exception of the major teams, there's a lot of one man teams. There's hardly ever a full squad of high caliber players. Once they get to the pros, even though some pros don't seem to belong there, there's a different style of play and lot less of those sloppy players.
Plus a lot of pros don't seem to care about defense. That really bothers me, hence my affinity to college ball.
Kurt - Tuesday, November 23, 2004 - link
Anand, have you seen National Treasure yet? The wife and I went to see it this past Saturday and we both thought it was the best entertaiment we'd had in ages.Fast moving, entertaining, funny, educational and with no foul language.
We were both afraid it was going to be one of those movies where all the good stuff was shown in the preview, but we were wrong.
Daniel - Tuesday, November 23, 2004 - link
You should have seen Motorcycle Diaries then...Anand Lal Shimpi - Monday, November 22, 2004 - link
RobertI have noticed that about Duke players, it could just be that Duke players are used to playing with a certain type of team and team mentality that simply isn't present with any of the NBA teams these days. Or it could be that the players are great at the college level, but the true peak of their skill isn't far above that. I tend to believe a combination of the two, varying depending on the player, but I'm hardly the expert on Duke players.
Aquila76
Ahh I love basketball games, the problem is that up here it's just Vinney and I who are gamers. We've got some folks that we play with down in NC, but for our multiplayer gaming fix we'll have to wait until we move back down.
Take care,
Anand
Aquila76 - Monday, November 22, 2004 - link
"what's an old Celtics/Bulls fan supposed to do?"Play NBA 2k5. I can't stand watching the overpaid and undertalented posers on the courts today, either. Granted, there are a few players that are in it for love of the game; but on a whole, they're in it for themselves. I find it much more fun and entertaining to play the video games (or even the real thing) with a group of friends.
Robert - Monday, November 22, 2004 - link
I like your thinkin' of basketball, Anand. However, our Duke players do not adjust to the NBA very well...or at least not superstar status. Maybe Boozer is the exception with the most recent crew. Any thoughts as to why?Anyway, have a good one. College basketball should be interesting.