Storming the Floor

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College basketball love, founded upon the three pillars of information, analysis and humor. Curated by Eric Angevine

  1. naderm: Aww yeah, Duke.

    naderm:

    Aww yeah, Duke.

    (Source: mhermher.blogspot.com)

  2. Steve Kerr on the problems with the age limit in the NBA - Grantland

    My buddy Colin breaks down Steve Kerr’s thoughts on the NBA age limit. Personally, as much as I love college hoops, I fundamentally do not agree on restricting the employment opportunities of adults. Forcing kids who don’t care about education to attend college is totally wrong-headed.

    thethirdshift:

    There is so much wrong with Kerr’s analysis because he comes at it from a fundamentally flawed perspective: the one that is ultimately “what’s best for the NBA?” We should expect this from a former NBA GM and current analyst (and if rumor is to be believed, wants coach and GM titles the next time he returns to an organization.)

    The real question that needs to be addressed when we talk about increasing the NBA age minimum is why professional athletes are being made to sit in the collegiate pipeline. You can say they can go abroad, play in the D-League, but we all know that for all the work of NBA scouting departments, the eyeballs and draws are in college hoops.

    Footnotes 3 and 4 illustrate Kerr’s lack of facility with this argument, because 3 is all about how he cannot identify with freshmen whose lives are affected by a higher age minimum — he’s white, 6’3”, well-off, and not as skilled as an Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, or Kobe Bryant, and goes on to talk about how those were great years for him at Arizona. Poverty and a need to make money do not register for him.

    (Never mind his comparison arguments for Kobe, Garnett, LeBron, and Dwight Howard going to college. Part of Kobe’s legacy is being drafted by Charlotte and shipped to L.A. right out of high school, because if he’d gone to Duke for two years to play under Coach K, he’d have been a star but he probably wouldn’t have been able to develop under the watch of Phil Jackson into that kind of title-winning guard.)

    Footnote 4 is basically excusing the legal and moral argument because the NBA is a business. Yes it is: one with an anti-trust exemption, a cartel, and for those advantages it should be held to higher standards since it has no competition and wields a weak and underdeveloped minor league (the D-League.)

    The NBA should invest real money into the D-League and stop relying on college hoops to make its stars. Institute an MLB/NHL-style rule into the draft: if you declare and are drafted, you can go to the D-League or go play a few years in college.

  3. doublescribble: With Shump going down is there other rookie having as much impact as the Manimal?

    doublescribble:

    With Shump going down is there other rookie having as much impact as the Manimal?

  4. Ha, Thomas Robinson has the diplomatic answer down pat: “SLAM: The Draft, it’s coming up. Nothing is definite, but there is talk. Let’s say you go No. 2 to the Wizards. How amazing would that be? To return back to the DC area with an NBA contract. TR: It’ll be a great thing, man. Just the simple fact, you know, that’s where my dream started. Me wanting to play basketball, everything originated there. To go back home—that’ll be cool for me. But you know, I really don’t have a preference, man. I just want to be happy to get anywhere in the NBA.” (via SLAM ONLINE | » Q A: Tyshawn Taylor, Thomas Robinson)

    Ha, Thomas Robinson has the diplomatic answer down pat:

    “SLAM: The Draft, it’s coming up. Nothing is definite, but there is talk. Let’s say you go No. 2 to the Wizards. How amazing would that be? To return back to the DC area with an NBA contract.

    TR: It’ll be a great thing, man. Just the simple fact, you know, that’s where my dream started. Me wanting to play basketball, everything originated there. To go back home—that’ll be cool for me. But you know, I really don’t have a preference, man. I just want to be happy to get anywhere in the NBA.”

    (via SLAM ONLINE | » Q A: Tyshawn Taylor, Thomas Robinson)

  5. Did OJ Mayo shoot a three with his mouth?

    Did OJ Mayo shoot a three with his mouth?

  6. “Dr. Pate then goes on to make this point about an NBA career: According to the Collegiate Basketball News Company website, only 51 players, or 11.9% of the players on the 2011-12 NBA opening day roster have more than 10 years of NBA experience. The average length of playing time is approximately five years and the median salary is $2.33 million. That’s a big salary for one year, but not if it has to last you far beyond your playing years. What he appears to be arguing here is that because players, particularly black players, are leaving college without a degree, that they are being exposed to a potentially challenging life because they will only make approximately $11.65 million during their career ($2.33 million x 5 years). This is where Dr. Pate and I must part ways.” (via Education or Professional Sports: Is it Truly an Adversarial Relationship? - A Sea Of Blue)

    “Dr. Pate then goes on to make this point about an NBA career:

    According to the Collegiate Basketball News Company website, only 51 players, or 11.9% of the players on the 2011-12 NBA opening day roster have more than 10 years of NBA experience. The average length of playing time is approximately five years and the median salary is $2.33 million. That’s a big salary for one year, but not if it has to last you far beyond your playing years.

    What he appears to be arguing here is that because players, particularly black players, are leaving college without a degree, that they are being exposed to a potentially challenging life because they will only make approximately $11.65 million during their career ($2.33 million x 5 years).

    This is where Dr. Pate and I must part ways.”

    (via Education or Professional Sports: Is it Truly an Adversarial Relationship? - A Sea Of Blue)

  7. Oh, no, you just didn’t… Think Coach Cal is going to like hearing this about a former player of his, especially from a kid who played a grand total of 13 minutes last season for the national champs? Bad juju, Sam.

    Oh, no, you just didn’t… Think Coach Cal is going to like hearing this about a former player of his, especially from a kid who played a grand total of 13 minutes last season for the national champs?

    Bad juju, Sam.

  8. Could you please tell me nice tumblrs about nba?

    My reply: Check the editors and top contributors listed under the basketball tag. Then look at who they reblog and/or link. That ought to get you started, there are PLENTY.

    (Source: 3-points-shoot)

  9. I usually restrict myself to college ball, but this was too good to ignore.

    nbaleftovers:

    If you do only one thing today Do only one thing today, and make it watching this pass from Manu over and over and over and over.

  10. michaelhayes: Samuel L. Jackson, guest P.A. announcer, bitch. Video: Samuel L. Jackson does the Hornets intros

    michaelhayes:

    Samuel L. Jackson, guest P.A. announcer, bitch.

    Video: Samuel L. Jackson does the Hornets intros