https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/01/sports/basketball/nba-kemba-walker-celtics.html
Man, what a different attitude.
Man, what a different attitude.
I understand why as a Duke fan you'd embrace Tatum, but in general how attached can you really get to one-and-dones, unless their one season ends in a trip to the Final Four (or, better yet, an NCAA title)? They're gone from Durham almost before you get a chance to know them.I've said it before but as a Duke fan, it's really hard to believe that I love Kemba and loathe Kyrie, but here we are. Such a fan.
It's a good point, I absolutely hate one and dones, I barely associate them with the school. I will say I was super hyped about Tatum, because I thought he was the best freshmen to come through Duke that I've seen, and he seems like a very humble, determined dude. But I don't feel much, if any, extra "attachment" to him because of his Duke ties. You're absolutely right. One and done sucks.I understand why as a Duke fan you'd embrace Tatum, but in general how attached can you really get to one-and-dones, unless their one season ends in a trip to the Final Four (or, better yet, an NCAA title)? They're gone from Durham almost before you get a chance to know them.
I work at an ACC school (Virginia) and travel with its men's basketball team, and I had to look up where Gary Trent Jr. went to college after he went off against the C's in the bubble.
Earlier today I missclicked and found myself on page 2 of this subforum, where the Mr.Chemistry discussion rests untouched since march. I will not believe that it's a coincidence that this thread has exactly 666 posts...!I've said it before but as a Duke fan, it's really hard to believe that I love Kemba and loathe Kyrie, but here we are. Such a fan.
As an SU alum, there's one specific one-and-done that I'm particularly attached to.It's a good point, I absolutely hate one and dones, I barely associate them with the school. I will say I was super hyped about Tatum, because I thought he was the best freshmen to come through Duke that I've seen, and he seems like a very humble, determined dude. But I don't feel much, if any, extra "attachment" to him because of his Duke ties. You're absolutely right. One and done sucks.
I mean it makes sense since you only have one team to hold onto I much prefer the 2001 and 2010 veteran title teams...As an SU alum, there's one specific one-and-done that I'm particularly attached to.
Haha that's exactly it. Four final fours that resulted in no titles during my time as a fan - 1987, 1996, 2013, and 2016 - but just the one championship. So yeah, Carmelo's a guy I'll happily take as a one-and-done.I mean it makes sense since you only have one team to hold onto I much prefer the 2001 and 2010 veteran title teams...
Not only did he win their only Championship, but he went back and wrote a $3MM check for his Athletic Center.Haha that's exactly it. Four final fours that resulted in no titles during my time as a fan - 1987, 1996, 2013, and 2016 - but just the one championship. So yeah, Carmelo's a guy I'll happily take as a one-and-done.
Does Kyrie even qualify as a one and done? Didn't he play like 150 minutes of actual basketball for Duke?It's a good point, I absolutely hate one and dones, I barely associate them with the school. I will say I was super hyped about Tatum, because I thought he was the best freshmen to come through Duke that I've seen, and he seems like a very humble, determined dude. But I don't feel much, if any, extra "attachment" to him because of his Duke ties. You're absolutely right. One and done sucks.
Yes, and I’d argue his return in the NCAA tournament that year drastically hurt that Duke team too. They were 32-4, primarily without him for much of the season. It wasn’t an incredibly talented team, but they had Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler as seniors who had won the title the year before, and it was just a very savvy, selfless team that was fairly reminiscent of the 2009-10 team that won it all, just minus Jon Scheyer and Brian Zoubek, who became a rebounding monster in the second half of that year.Does Kyrie even qualify as a one and done? Didn't he play like 150 minutes of actual basketball for Duke?
EDIT: And is there any player that demonstrates the flaws of the winshare magic number than Kyrie? Winshares credits him for three wins in 20 games, yet they were a .400 team with him a .520 team without him.
fair point, UConn is/was probably the most impressive NCAA sports builds over the last 50yrs...I miss the old Big EastGentlemen, if we're going to talk college basketball in the Kemba thread can we keep it laser-focused on the 4-time national champion UConn Huskies please?
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Are Cory Maggette and Luol Deng the only two Duke one and dones before Kyrie in 2010?I understand why as a Duke fan you'd embrace Tatum, but in general how attached can you really get to one-and-dones
Say what???????????Are Cory Maggette and Luol Deng the only two Duke one and dones before Kyrie in 2010?
I remember Brand leaving early (after 3 years) being big for Duke at the time, but I don't remember Maggette being a big deal.
That 98-99 Duke squad might be the best college team ever, despite not winning the title.
Despite some really down and awful years lately, UConn still has more titles in the 21st century than anyone. Which is pretty crazy.Gentlemen, if we're going to talk college basketball in the Kemba thread can we keep it laser-focused on the 4-time national champion UConn Huskies please?
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Ok...counting 1999 forward...They have as many titles as anyone. Not more.
Apropos of nothing, I was at the Duke-UVA football game in October 2016 with my buddy that works at Duke and his brother, a UVA alum. As we walked around 2 tall guys walked by. My buddy said "That's our 2 freshman studs--Tatum and Giles".It's a good point, I absolutely hate one and dones, I barely associate them with the school. I will say I was super hyped about Tatum, because I thought he was the best freshmen to come through Duke that I've seen, and he seems like a very humble, determined dude. But I don't feel much, if any, extra "attachment" to him because of his Duke ties. You're absolutely right. One and done sucks.
Yeah I saw Giles around a couple times when I was living in Chapel Hill. I thought they were different classes though?Apropos of nothing, I was at the Duke-UVA football game in October 2016 with my buddy that works at Duke and his brother, a UVA alum. As we walked around 2 tall guys walked by. My buddy said "That's our 2 freshman studs--Tatum and Giles".
I think he was their most hyped prospect, like, ever.Wasnt Giles at one time considered a guy that was going to be some combination of what Tatum is and Zion could become?
As a high school player. Then he blew out both knees. I'm pretty sure that he had three operations while still in high school. It's a pity he had such shitty knees, he could have been Garnett 2.0.Wasnt Giles at one time considered a guy that was going to be some combination of what Tatum is and Zion could become?
UConn's defense as a whole was very good in that tourney. Their last three games they held Michigan State, Florida and Kentucky to 54, 53 and 54 points respectively.Despite some really down and awful years lately, UConn still has more titles in the 21st century than anyone. Which is pretty crazy.
Which leads me to the 2014 championship. The way that Calipari coached that Kentucky team in the final was nothing short of - if you'll pardon the expression - criminal. UConn had two guards, Napier and Boatright, who were both 5'10" or smaller (don't believe for a second that Napier was 6'0" tall). Both were lightning quick and real gnats out on the perimeter. Kentucky had two guards, James Young and Andrew Harrison, who were both 6'6" tall, both averaged in double figures. They kept those guys on the perimeter, having them take 13 three pointers during the game (making just 4), and being harassed all game long by the UConn guards. At no point did they try to take Napier and Boatright down low, despite 8-inch size advantages. You don't even have to have any moves. Just post up, turn around, and shoot 7-foot jumpers over them. It's really not that hard.
And they only got 7 shots out of Julius Randle in that game.
Ugh I hate crappy coaching. Calipari didn't change a THING from how Kentucky normally played, even though UConn took them out of their game. Zero adjustments. They just let UConn dictate everything and played right into Connecticut's hands in that game. It was a shameful effort by Calipari.
He gets some credit, but Stevens' and the Celtics defensive schemes get the majority I think. Their last 3 point guards have been IT, Kyrie and Kemba, three guys whose defense (outside of Boston) has ranged from bad to historically awful, and they've all looked significantly better on D in Boston. Some of this was as expected - in Charlotte he was by far the best offensive player on every team and he needed to save his energy for scoring. Right now he's got 2-3 teammates who are better offensively than anyone he played with in 8 years in Charlotte, he can actually spend some of that energy and effort on defense and rest up on offense occasionally.Kemba didn’t shoot the ball the way he wanted to at the end of the series but I’ve been impressed with his defense. In Charlotte he was known as a minus defender, someone who would be picked on and have to be covered for. Well, teams like Toronto are hunting that matchup and Kemba has held his own; he has quick hands, positions himeself well and tries hard. He isn’t a stopped but that matchup hasn’t been as favorable to other teams as they may have imagined.
Injuries aside, Kemba is probably fine, but he has a lot of mileage on those short legs. They probably need to get him down to about 25mpg with some built in rest days for a long season, even though that's not what he's being paid for.As the season wraps, my prevailing thought is that Kemba isn't very good, and this contract is somewhere between bad and albatross. He just seems to regularly disappear in the 2nd half of games.
see, now I fee bad that I talked shit. Great guy, has to put it through the hoop. C’mon Kemba, you couldn’t go for 40 tonight?View: https://twitter.com/ByJayKing/status/1310406381493723136
Knee aside, someone has to tell him he isn't allowed to wear a Yankees hat.
Sure, but it’s not clear to me that he’s getting better. Same for Hayward.If Kemba needs 6-8 months to get over his knee problems, then by all means the team's medical staff should give it to him. There is zero need to rush him back; it's not a "disaster" if he needs to miss games in January, February, and March.
Hayward was playing great in the bubble before another random injury. If it was the regular season I’m sure he’d be worked back in slower.Sure, but it’s not clear to me that he’s getting better. Same for Hayward.
Hayward had a broken hand that healed completely, and rushed back from a severe ankle sprain, which will certainly heal completely. Neither are predictive.Sure, but it’s not clear to me that he’s getting better. Same for Hayward.
As was noted in another thread, Hayward's injuries this season (hand and ankle) were total flukes. It's not like he had recurring hamstring issues or degenerative knee problems. He had a strong season overall.Sure, but it’s not clear to me that he’s getting better. Same for Hayward.
If the rest of the association is as bullish on Hayward as you, he’s not going to opt in. You want to sign him long term?As was noted in another thread, Hayward's injuries this season (hand and ankle) were total flukes. It's not like he had recurring hamstring issues or degenerative knee problems. He had a strong season overall.
Not on another max deal, but if a reasonable compromise could be reached, he's a fantastic No. 3 (or No. 4) option when healthy. We saw in Game 3 what he means to this team at both ends of the court.If the rest of the association is as bullish on Hayward as you, he’s not going to opt in. You want to sign him long term?