Basketball
Posted by: Bradley McDonald
I enjoy watching any kind of basketball. I can be entertained watching junior high kids play. I simply appreciate the skill and athleticism it takes to play the game. This is why I immensely enjoy watching NBA games. Some people argue that the college game is better because it's more of a team game with better defense and the players are not yet spoiled with the multi-million dollar contracts, etc. I agree with some of that, but if it's not March I'd rather have the NBA. (I will say that March Madness may be my favorite sport-time of the year.) If you're a true hoops fan, you've got to appreciate the talent of NBA players. And as long as there are guys like Steve Nash running around dishing out ten assists a game, there will be some team ball in the NBA.
Here are a few guys who I’ve seen play this year and really admire:
We’ll start with Nash. The way this guy runs the floor and makes a pass at the last minute to the perfect spot, you’d think he’s got ten eyes. It seems like he’s always running with the ball and if you don’t slow him down some, he’ll either knock down a jump shot or get a dunk for one of his teammates. I’d bet that he gets twice as many fast break assists than anyone else in the NBA. In just a few games, he’s already made the Phoenix Suns into playoff contenders.
I love the way Dwayne Wade attacks. You expect him to slice down the lane and dunk on a 7-footer anytime he has the ball. As a rookie last year, he really took off with the Heat in the playoffs. It didn’t seem like anyone could stop him when he wanted to drive to the basket. It’s that kind of fearlessness that’s going to make Wade a good player for a long time. He’s not built in the typical point guard mode, but he can still pass. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that he’s got some guy named Shaq to pass to this year.
Is there a better pure shooter in the league than Ray Allen? There are very few guys today that can break down teams based on their shooting the way Larry Bird did. Allen is one of them. When he gets his shot going, it opens up so much more for the offense. It’s a thing of beauty to see him run a defender across this court, come across a screen, catch a pass and rise above two defenders to sink a jump shot. He’s a big part of why the Seattle Supersonics are 7-1 at the start of the season.
I enjoy watching any kind of basketball. I can be entertained watching junior high kids play. I simply appreciate the skill and athleticism it takes to play the game. This is why I immensely enjoy watching NBA games. Some people argue that the college game is better because it's more of a team game with better defense and the players are not yet spoiled with the multi-million dollar contracts, etc. I agree with some of that, but if it's not March I'd rather have the NBA. (I will say that March Madness may be my favorite sport-time of the year.) If you're a true hoops fan, you've got to appreciate the talent of NBA players. And as long as there are guys like Steve Nash running around dishing out ten assists a game, there will be some team ball in the NBA.
Here are a few guys who I’ve seen play this year and really admire:
We’ll start with Nash. The way this guy runs the floor and makes a pass at the last minute to the perfect spot, you’d think he’s got ten eyes. It seems like he’s always running with the ball and if you don’t slow him down some, he’ll either knock down a jump shot or get a dunk for one of his teammates. I’d bet that he gets twice as many fast break assists than anyone else in the NBA. In just a few games, he’s already made the Phoenix Suns into playoff contenders.
I love the way Dwayne Wade attacks. You expect him to slice down the lane and dunk on a 7-footer anytime he has the ball. As a rookie last year, he really took off with the Heat in the playoffs. It didn’t seem like anyone could stop him when he wanted to drive to the basket. It’s that kind of fearlessness that’s going to make Wade a good player for a long time. He’s not built in the typical point guard mode, but he can still pass. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that he’s got some guy named Shaq to pass to this year.
Is there a better pure shooter in the league than Ray Allen? There are very few guys today that can break down teams based on their shooting the way Larry Bird did. Allen is one of them. When he gets his shot going, it opens up so much more for the offense. It’s a thing of beauty to see him run a defender across this court, come across a screen, catch a pass and rise above two defenders to sink a jump shot. He’s a big part of why the Seattle Supersonics are 7-1 at the start of the season.
