I have seen some pretty good overweight 6-6 guys, this isn't one of them.
#8 getting schooled by Jordan and Co.
One thing that always amazes me is just how many people have no idea how good people in the NBA actually are. I remember talking to a guy during pickup; he was probably about 6 feet and 180lbs and he was adamant that he could defend Steph Curry because he would "just push him around and be physical."I have seen some pretty good overweight 6-6 guys, this isn't one of them.
As for taking on MJ. SMH.
It was pretty common for guys in the CBA etc, to rag on NBA guys in a delusional way, usually bench guys. One guy I knew spent all summer ragging on how John Bagley was small, fat didn't belong in the nba and how he would post him up, and use his length to give him space, etc. The way he tells the story, he went for workout as a free agent, and a free agent at the same workout was...Mr. Bagley. He said he would from then on refer to him as "Mr". the beatdown was so complete, and humbling.
That may be a good thread "tales of beatdowns from real athletes"
One thing that always amazes me is just how many people have no idea how good people in the NBA actually are. I remember talking to a guy during pickup; he was probably about 6 feet and 180lbs and he was adamant that he could defend Steph Curry because he would "just push him around and be physical."
That was fun to watch. I think most of the guys underestimate just how big, strong, and quick these guys are (at least these guys with Scal). He just backed them down and got to the rim at will.That's why Scal did the "Scallenge" with Toucher and Rich a few years ago. Every time he would call in they got texts and calls "why is this guy on? He's a bum he sat on the bench". So they weeded it down a bit and got a few of them who could actually play (one guy had even walked on to Syracuse I think) and then Scal wiped the floor with all of them. Then he beat T&R and Wallach 1 on 3. These guys are all really really good
And he still had a fantastic jump shot. Whenever one of those guys tried to guard him close, he blew by them; when they gave him space, he just drained jumper after jumper. It was silly how good he was relatively speaking. And the "jamokes" he was playing were all legit athletes, just nothing close to an ex-NBA player.That was fun to watch. I think most of the guys underestimate just how big, strong, and quick these guys are (at least these guys with Scal). He just backed them down and got to the rim at will.
Simmons once told a story about how he asked Magic who the best pickup player he ever played with was and Magic emphatically answered it was Ice. Bill was like "Who else though?" And Magic responded "There is nobody else, only Ice!"At my peak I played 3 on 3, and my team went to the national championships in Canada. The team that beat us easily,with former Rapters coach and current Sun assistant Jay Triano went to the final big Reebok 3 on 3 in Houston. They were blown out in the 3rd round. The team that won was a bunch of former DIV 1 guys, a good 6-11 guy two great shooters, one point guard that had an NBA tryout. These guys were all 26-30. This was 93. As a reward for winning they played the Iceman (age 40 retire 7 years) MacAdoo 41 retired 7 years, and I can't remember the other two,but these old NBA guys played with these guys like they were children. I believe they went up about 14-0 before Ice started mugging for the crowd and missed a finger roll from the 3 point line before the other team got the ball. I remember you could hear the organizers say, 'Guys we need this to last ten minutes." The guys dribbled around like the Harlem Globetrotters for a while missing connecting on some Alley-oops or crazy passes. When the regular guys got the ball it was pretty clear the old pros would not let them score. They may have got a hoop or two, but half their shots or more were blocked. Macadoo casually went around the big guy and soft dunked like an NCAA warmup. One guy accidentally smacked Gervin in the face and he got mad and ended the broadcast early by scoring 4 or 5 times in row, with a max of one dribble each time.
That's the thing Scal is around Chara's size. Scal would turn and shoot over Gronk like he was not there. Everybody thinks about size in terms of being around the hoop, but length is such an advantage on D and if you are not close to the guy's size it is like you are not there guarding a bigger guy. And when guys can play it doesn't take much of a size advantage. The time I played when I got most of my stories, coaches liked me because I was a physical defender. I am 6-4 but many times I would be all over guys who were 6-6 and they just abused me. On the way out the door I asked the coach about trying to keep playing in Europe. "Lots of 6-6 guys who can shoot in Europe Reggie." Ouch, in other words get a day job.That was fun to watch. I think most of the guys underestimate just how big, strong, and quick these guys are (at least these guys with Scal). He just backed them down and got to the rim at will.
Bol Bol is actually REALLY good. Aside from being 7-2 and long he is athletic with a good foundation of ball skills including a face-up game. An AAU buddy of mine raves about him.Dei won in overtime because their PG was like a white Chris Paul and was the best player on the court for the whole game. They also have Manute Bol's son who is like 8 feet tall and destroys people at the rim. If anyone should be talking about a billion dollar shoe deal it is that kid; holy shit.
It was pretty common for guys in the CBA etc, to rag on NBA guys in a delusional way, usually bench guys. One guy I knew spent all summer ragging on how John Bagley was small, fat didn't belong in the nba and how he would post him up, and use his length to give him space, etc. The way he tells the story, he went for workout as a free agent, and a free agent at the same workout was...Mr. Bagley. He said he would from then on refer to him as "Mr". the beatdown was so complete, and humbling.
Bagley used to put on an extra 20 lbs each summer and played in our summer league tournament back in the day. I never was out there with him but others I played against were......and he made good D-3 players and decent D-1 players look like Sully from the neighborhood competing in the Scallenge. It was one of my earliest experiences of truly understanding how the game slows down for some players while other less talented players are forced to play "too fast" to try and compensate.One thing that always amazes me is just how many people have no idea how good people in the NBA actually are. I remember talking to a guy during pickup; he was probably about 6 feet and 180lbs and he was adamant that he could defend Steph Curry because he would "just push him around and be physical."
This is spot on and aligns with my comment above on having to slow the game down to your skill/speed level to be successful. I've experienced it myself and grew up in an era of other great HS guards become limited college players (Jamie Benton, BC).....and seen some real good college guards become limited NBA players (Tommy Garrick, Chris Herren). The skill levels from one jump to the next is extraordinary.......at the guard positions it is more quickness and explosiveness, at the wings it is more height, length and athleticism. The old pure 5 was just size in many cases.To get to the league as a guard? That is like making MLB as a SS, NHL as a center, NFL as a skill position guy. It is one of the hardest things in the world to accomplish. So back to the 3Balls. The other two kids have work to do just to get there.
Oh I wasn't joking about Bol Bol. He has a Maker-esque highlight reel.Bol Bol is actually REALLY good. Aside from being 7-2 and long he is athletic with a good foundation of ball skills including a face-up game. An AAU buddy of mine raves about .
Those comments from Ball are totally respectful and exactly how we want competitors to feel.Lonzo Ball said he is a better player than Markelle Fultz, citing his ability to "lead a team better" than the Washington star.
"I think I can lead a team better than him," Ball added. "Obviously he's a great scorer -- he's a great player, so I'm not taking that away from him."
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19024163/lonzo-ball-says-better-fellow-nba-draft-prospect-markelle-fultz
The question, Lonzo, is whether you can be a good follower on a team that won't need you to lead
Exactly. The other thing is Ball's job description as a PG would be that of a leader.....not a follower.Those comments from Ball are totally respectful and exactly how we want competitors to feel.
I've enjoyed this aspect of the thread too. On the 7ft thing though I think it's not accurate. Hard to exactly quantify (are you really 7 foot?) but I've read closer to 3 or 4 percent. https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/3r0ema/busting_the_myth_that_17_of_american_7_footers/Love all the anecdotes about professionals destroying amateurs. Its easy to forget watching the pros play all the time just how amazing the things they do are.
Having said that, I think I read once that at some point about 50% of seven foot americans between the ages of 20 and 40 were in the NBA. In other words, if you can run without falling over and you are 7' you can play in the NBA.
Well you had two head to head matchups where Fultz' team lost by a combined total of 73 points. Sure, the Huskies were a hot mess but yeah, part of that "could" be attributed to a lack of leadership on that team. Ball saying he "thinks" he's a better leader isn't exactly LaVar-tone in answering the question that was presented to him.I get the Ball/competition thing, but my question is why are you going there at all and what do you actually know about Fultz's leadership?
It wasn't that bad but he did have the option of pulling a Brady and deflecting the question. End of the day, the media was going to latch onto whatever he said.Well you had two head to head matchups where Fultz' team lost by a combined total of 73 points. Sure, the Huskies were a hot mess but yeah, part of that "could" be attributed to a lack of leadership on that team. Ball saying he "thinks" he's a better leader isn't exactly LaVar-tone in answering the question that was presented to him.
Sure but why would anyone expect a 19-year old kid to respond in a similar manner to a 39-year old and 17-year NFL veteran? Ball has showed tremendous maturity for his age when dealing with the media for a first-timer.It wasn't that bad but he did have the option of pulling a Brady and deflecting the question. End of the day, the media was going to latch onto whatever he said.
You don't have to be a 39 year-old NFL veteran to know when to deflect a question. With that said, I like his demeanor and don't think what he said was that bad.Sure but why would anyone expect a 19-year old kid to respond in a similar manner to a 39-year old and 17-year NFL veteran? Ball has showed tremendous maturity for his age when dealing with the media for a first-timer.
Except for the part where he "knows" that Fultz isn't as much of a leader. It's actually possible to show confidence in yourself without denigrating someone elseThose comments from Ball are totally respectful and exactly how we want competitors to feel.
"I think I can lead a team better than him,"Except for the part where he "knows" that Fultz isn't as much of a leader. It's actually possible to show confidence in yourself without denigrating someone else
Probably. I guess I just don't want what the Celtics have built to be distracted by the Ball Family Circus"I think I can lead a team better than him,"
You are reading too much into this
That's the problem. What Lonzo said wasn't really a big deal. On the heals of his dad's non-stop loud mouth for the last couple months it seems like a big deal. Kid is in a tough spot thanks to non-Baller Lavar.Probably. I guess I just don't want what the Celtics have built to be distracted by the Ball Family Circus
This is way off. We had a 7-1 kid on our team here in Canada and he never played, and went to JUCO. I know of at least 20 footers in college or JUCO the last 15 years or so in Western Canada and only Todd MuCullough, Kelly O, and Robert Sacre got to the NBA. Each of those guys was considered a generational talent when they were in high school. I think KO was maybe 14 or 15 when I heard about him. A 6-8 kid drilling 3s.Love all the anecdotes about professionals destroying amateurs. Its easy to forget watching the pros play all the time just how amazing the things they do are.
Having said that, I think I read once that at some point about 50% of seven foot americans between the ages of 20 and 40 were in the NBA. In other words, if you can run without falling over and you are 7' you can play in the NBA.
I find it hard to believe that someone 20 feet tall wouldn't have at least had a cup of coffee in the NBA. Also, isn't Sim Bhollar Canadian?This is way off. We had a 7-1 kid on our team here in Canada and he never played, and went to JUCO. I know of at least 20 footers in college or JUCO the last 15 years or so in Western Canada and only Todd MuCullough, Kelly O, and Robert Sacre got to the NBA. Each of those guys was considered a generational talent when they were in high school. I think KO was maybe 14 or 15 when I heard about him. A 6-8 kid drilling 3s.
here are at least 8 or 9 other guys I just ran into that either never played at all of were high school players. Go to 6-11 and another 20 or so kids, none in the NBA, Tinme you get to 6-10 too many to count.
Maybe the 20-foot centers had trouble with their mobility.I know of at least 20 footers in college or JUCO the last 15 years or so in Western Canada and only Todd MuCullough, Kelly O, and Robert Sacre got to the NBA.
Apparently, Fultz has "liked" a bunch of tweets that quoted Ball. http://nesn.com/2017/03/markelle-fultz-appears-to-be-using-lonzo-balls-trash-talk-as-motivation/. Good for him.Except for the part where he "knows" that Fultz isn't as much of a leader. It's actually possible to show confidence in yourself without denigrating someone else
“Realistically you can’t win no championship with three white guys because the foot speed is too slow,” he told The Orange County Register.
Couldn't agree more!Forget about the foot, LaVar Ball sticks the whole leg in his mouth:
http://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/lavar-ball-ucla-had-too-many-white-guys-with-slow-foot-speed-to-win-title/
Is this the last time 3 white guys have started and won a title? Lavars probably right.
NCAA title? You might have to go back further?Is this the last time 3 white guys have started and won a title? Lavars probably right.
Exception that proves the rule?Duke in 1991 had Laettner, Hurley and Billy McCaffrey.
Didn't UCLA just win no championship with 3 white guys?Forget about the foot, LaVar Ball sticks the whole leg in his mouth:
http://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/lavar-ball-ucla-had-too-many-white-guys-with-slow-foot-speed-to-win-title/