Kelenna Azubuike

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Kelena is the man! Hope to see him as a future NBA Superstar!

New McDwyane?

I think Kelenna has a top 5 NBA body (if you get me), he's up there with guys like Dwight Howard and Corey Maggette. Absolute workhorse.

And Axel, as I said before the season, Golden State will miss the playoffs. Everyone laughed when I said that over at RealGM, because my reasoning was that they would miss Richardson alot more than expected. We'll see.

[TheMC5]

I think G-State still has a reasonable shot at the playoffs, simply because the only real competition for the 7th and 8th spots are the Lakers and Hornets. It's far from a certainty, though.



EDIT: Also, College ball is for suckers. It's almost as boring as baseball.

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EDIT: Also, College ball is for suckers. It's almost as boring as baseball.

Are you serious? The majority of the most exciting games I have ever seen were college games. I would rather watch a college game than an NBA game, actually.

[Gundy]

Definite candidate? For me, he already wins it. Clearly, there is no competition.

Martell Webster? Rashad McCants? Heard of those guys?

[Indy]

EDIT: Also, College ball is for suckers. It's almost as boring as baseball.

Wow... You must be kidding me. You won't watch better team basketball. Or am I the only one that loves watching a good 5 player motion offense instead of star ball?

[TheMC5]

You guys are crazy. The 35 second shot is what kills it. So much of nothing happening, and guys making stupid decisions. I'll grant you that some of the better college teams can be entertaining, and March Madness is always good, but for the most part it's just painful. I have no interest in watching guys who can't shoot or dribble holding the ball for 20 seconds while some big man runs around setting screens for other guys who can't shoot or dribble. Don't get me wrong, I love team basketball and solid execution (I enjoy watching the Spurs, for instance), but the talent level is so bad, the games move so slow, and the lane is always so packed that there's very little that really skilled players can do to stand out in half court offensive sets.

Also, my plan worked perfectly. I was hoping to spark some discussion, as this place has been so dead the last couple of days.

[The X]

I'd agree with Shannon & Indy, college bball is where it is at....if you want isolations everytime down court, then by all means watch the NBA (Spurs excluded of course)....I think a lot of basketball players can associate more with teams that run set offences to get open shots & layups....of course the talent level is a lot less, but with school pride, & the atmosphere of college bball, college is better....the most exciting games that I have seen are college basketball, usually in February & March....there's nothing like watching a bunch of nobodies run with the UNC & Florida's of the world....that's what sports is about....

[TheMC5]

Like I said, I dig March Madness, but Jesus Christ is college ball ever slow and sloppy. I can deal with a bunch of turnovers and missed shots in the NBA, cause you've only got another 24 seconds to wait until something else happens. But the 35 second clock is atrocious, and I'm none too fond of the defensive rules and closer 3 point line.

[Its_asdf]

Definite candidate? For me, he already wins it. Clearly, there is no competition.

Martell Webster? Rashad McCants? Heard of those guys?

Don't forget John Salmons, Francisco Garcia and Ronnie Brewer.

[Gundy]

Point being that there is plenty of competition for MIP. Especially Ronnie Brewer like you said. He's really killing it.

[Indy]

I agree with you about the 3 point line being too close. There is no such thing as a midrange jumper in college basketball.

[TheMC5]

I agree with you about the 3 point line being too close. There is no such thing as a midrange jumper in college basketball.

And I think that hinders a lot of guys development. If they actually had to take the midrange J in college, maybe more guys would be adept at it by the time they got to pro. And I loves me some midrange jumper action. Nothing better than seeing a guy dribble in hard, pull up on dime, and nail the J in the defender's face.

I guess my biggest problem with college ball is actually just that, the lack of midrange game. It's like they only play 2/3 of the game. But, as I said, I don't like the extended shot clock, either. Hell, even a 30 second shot clock I could tolerate, but 35 seconds is just way too much.

[Gundy]

I see what you're saying but there is no doubt about it...college basketball is much more exciting than the NBA. (IMO of course )

[The X]

to me, being an NBA-only fan & not knowing the likes of Kelenna Azubuike from college, is like just watching Hollywood movies but never reading the novel first to get the full picture....

but that's only IMHO....it's alright & understandable that people want to watch the highest form of the game....for me, I like to see where the player comes from & the development of their games on & off the court throughout their careers....I'm sure a lot of so-called Dwayne Wade fans don't know that he carried Marquette deep into the tourney as a junior....they probably don't know that Quentin Richardson averaged 20-10 as a freshman & was one of best offensive rebounders in the country, & one of his weaknesses was his perimeter game & outside shot....

I don't know, I guess I like spotting talent early & following it....I like seeing a guy like Chase Budinger & thinking he's a got a chance to be really good....or seeing a guy like Jared Jordan & hoping he can catch on to a good situation in the NBA & develop into a solid, NBA role player or slightly better....so for me, it's not just about the quality of bball in college, it's about making the NBA more interesting too....

as for Azubuike, he always had the NBA-ready body & very good NBA potential, but he had a very unpolished game, so it came as no surprise that he went undrafted....I'm glad he landed in a good situation in Oakland where he'll get to use his athleticism, but also learn the other skills enroute to hopefully having a good career....

[TheMC5]

The X, I can totally understand and appreciate your position on college ball. And if there were any reason why I would watch it, it's for exactly the reason you stated. However, I only have a finite amount of time to watch and follow basketball, so I focus my energies on the NBA. If I had unlimited time to watch b-ball, I'm sure I could get more into college ball. But then there's also the problem of the absolute joke that is the "student-athlete", and how completely immoral the NCAA is, as well.

[J J]

I'd start liking College Bball if those damn cheerleaders would show more skin

[Andrew]

That dunk put-back was sick. He has a nice shot and real hops as well.

No question. That was a fun game to watch, all around.

I don't follow college ball all that closely either so I wasn't familiar with Azubuike before he made the Warriors' roster last season. I'm with Gundy and Its_adsf, there are other players who have had strong starts to the season and could well be contending for Most Improved honours by the end of the year - really, it's too early to give out any awards when no one has even played ten games yet - but Azubuike looks like he's heading for a breakout season, which is always a good story.

[J J]

[just read the whole topic]

lol, I was being sarcastic, I meant to say was there were many other prospects and not only him that is impressive.

Btw, Ronnie Brewer is starting to look like a thicker and black AK47 offensively IMO.

[Jugs]

Anyone can score in Nellie ball

my sister could score in Nellie ball.

[Drex]

Does everyone scores on her, too?

[SpaceFlare]

When I saw this kid play last season, I thought he was amazing, and that sick block he did against J.R. Smith got me off my seat.

[Spotlight]

Yes he progress season by season, but I think he doesn't score so much points if he not play in Warriors, Nelson's run gun basketball is the best possible choice for him, so that's big reason I think.

[Andrew]

The system certainly allows him the freedom and opportunity but at the end of the day he's got to put the ball in the basket and he's demonstrating he's capable of taking advantage of those opportunities.