This video was inspired by Kentucky shooting 4 for 12 from the line in the Final Four last night...oh and they lost by 1. It's 15 feet, not that hard
Showing posts with label Basketball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Basketball. Show all posts
Take That Nerdy Cornell Basketball Player
I recently saw, on one of the top sports blogs no less, a video of a Cornell basketball player solving the Rubiks Cube in the airport while his teammates looked on in utter amazement. It took the kid nearly 3 minute to complete the cube. I'm no expert and will not be competing for the world record any time soon, but I know I can destroy 3 minutes with my eyes closed and hands tied behind my back. Let's get it on!
Thats 2:50 by my calculations. My turn
Thats 2:06 by my watch. Cornell basketball players are easily amused I suppose
Thats 2:50 by my calculations. My turn
Thats 2:06 by my watch. Cornell basketball players are easily amused I suppose
FML
My plan was to get a nice nap this afternoon after sleeping about 7 hours the past 2 days in preparation for my biochem exam this morning. But as always, people wanted to play some basketball, and I am incapable of saying no to sports. Nearing the end of the 3rd and final 3-3 game I was playing, I collided with someone, not even sure who, went to the ground, and was instantaneously in pain. Being a man, I got up and finished off the game on one leg.
I thought it was just a bone bruise, but as the day progresses, I feel my knee giving out. I cant walk straight, i cant bend my knee, i cant lift my leg. Basically i'm immobile. Yet, I did what every man would do in the situation. I went back to the gym to "stretch" out my knee and literally walk it off on the basketball court. Obviously, this is a stupid rational to use, but thats the type of dumb shit men do.
Being a future doctor, maybe, I made an initial diagnosis of a torn ligament in the knee, possibly a meniscus too. Given the severe symptons, the location, and progression, it seems like a definite ligament tear. I'll give it a couple days and probably go in for an MRI to confirm. Personally, I have never been immobilized for a substantial amount of time, such that I have no clue what i will do if i cant play sports daily. I may go insane for all I know. It's that important to me. Being the arrogant schmuck that I am, I actually thought I was immune to bone breaks and other severe sports related injuries. I've strained more muscles than i can count, but I thought my bones and joints were on the stronger side and I would really have to be in a freak accident to suffer such an injury. But given that I play 2 hours a day, every day, I guess I was due.
The only similar injury occurred to me freshman year of college. I recall the day quick well because that was the day my old druggy roommate was forced to move out of the dorms and go live with his parents. I helped him pack, then went to the hockey rink for a morning skate, and fell at a high speed right on my knee. Now I have fallen the exact same way hundreds of times before, but that specific fall cracked my knee cap. It really sucked because I had to go to an orchestra performance right after, which luckily was on the other side of campus. Lets just say I didnt skip-to-my-loo all the way there. You could see the bone break through the skin. It took nearly 4 months for the knee to completely heal, god I hope this injury doesnt take nearly as long. Damn it, just sitting here writing this post has made my knee stiffen up...thats what she said.
I thought it was just a bone bruise, but as the day progresses, I feel my knee giving out. I cant walk straight, i cant bend my knee, i cant lift my leg. Basically i'm immobile. Yet, I did what every man would do in the situation. I went back to the gym to "stretch" out my knee and literally walk it off on the basketball court. Obviously, this is a stupid rational to use, but thats the type of dumb shit men do.
Being a future doctor, maybe, I made an initial diagnosis of a torn ligament in the knee, possibly a meniscus too. Given the severe symptons, the location, and progression, it seems like a definite ligament tear. I'll give it a couple days and probably go in for an MRI to confirm. Personally, I have never been immobilized for a substantial amount of time, such that I have no clue what i will do if i cant play sports daily. I may go insane for all I know. It's that important to me. Being the arrogant schmuck that I am, I actually thought I was immune to bone breaks and other severe sports related injuries. I've strained more muscles than i can count, but I thought my bones and joints were on the stronger side and I would really have to be in a freak accident to suffer such an injury. But given that I play 2 hours a day, every day, I guess I was due.
The only similar injury occurred to me freshman year of college. I recall the day quick well because that was the day my old druggy roommate was forced to move out of the dorms and go live with his parents. I helped him pack, then went to the hockey rink for a morning skate, and fell at a high speed right on my knee. Now I have fallen the exact same way hundreds of times before, but that specific fall cracked my knee cap. It really sucked because I had to go to an orchestra performance right after, which luckily was on the other side of campus. Lets just say I didnt skip-to-my-loo all the way there. You could see the bone break through the skin. It took nearly 4 months for the knee to completely heal, god I hope this injury doesnt take nearly as long. Damn it, just sitting here writing this post has made my knee stiffen up...thats what she said.
Medium range jumpers
Most basketball fans have heard the saving "the lost art of the medium range jumper". Basically, what this statement implies is that with the implementation of the 3-point line in the 80's, players focused less on jump shots from 12-18 feet. Players tend to practice ethier the 3 point shot or low post moves, but rarely anything in between. I wanted to explore this issue and figure out if this was fact or fiction.
The best place to explore such issues if the main "sabermetric" basketball site 82games.com. Here we see detailed shooting stats from all regions of the court. If you simply look at the overall shooting percentage, you will find that all but 4 players shot below 40% from the field, ranging from Shaq at 61% all the way down to Baron Davis at 37%. However, big tall players have their percetage inflated due to the high frequency of dunks and layups. We all know shaq couldnt make a 15 foot jumper to save his life. So are NBA players proficient in the medium range shot and who are the best? Only 74 players shot above 40% on 2 point shots outside the paint, just over half of all eligible players with Jason Terry leading the league at 49%. Based on the large number of players shooting above 40% from these intermeidate shots I cant say that it is a "lost art", however many of the games elite players have shockingly low percentages. Lebron shot 37.5, Carmelo shot 37.9, McGrady shot 35, and Iguodala shot 34.8%.
As I have stated before, the skill level in the NBA is other worldly. A guy like tyrus thomas who was fairly dominant in his one year in college due to his freakish athletisims was 4th to last in 2 point shots. If you can't shoot, you really cant play in the NBA. The low percentages of guys like Lebron and Melo is partly due to their shortcomings in that department, but it is also a product of taking so many shots, many of which are bail-out shots at the end of the shot clock. Clearly they make up for it by scoring inside shots and more importantly take 10 free throws a game. Other stars like Bryant, Wade, and Nowitzki shoot in the mid to high 40% range.
The best place to explore such issues if the main "sabermetric" basketball site 82games.com. Here we see detailed shooting stats from all regions of the court. If you simply look at the overall shooting percentage, you will find that all but 4 players shot below 40% from the field, ranging from Shaq at 61% all the way down to Baron Davis at 37%. However, big tall players have their percetage inflated due to the high frequency of dunks and layups. We all know shaq couldnt make a 15 foot jumper to save his life. So are NBA players proficient in the medium range shot and who are the best? Only 74 players shot above 40% on 2 point shots outside the paint, just over half of all eligible players with Jason Terry leading the league at 49%. Based on the large number of players shooting above 40% from these intermeidate shots I cant say that it is a "lost art", however many of the games elite players have shockingly low percentages. Lebron shot 37.5, Carmelo shot 37.9, McGrady shot 35, and Iguodala shot 34.8%.
As I have stated before, the skill level in the NBA is other worldly. A guy like tyrus thomas who was fairly dominant in his one year in college due to his freakish athletisims was 4th to last in 2 point shots. If you can't shoot, you really cant play in the NBA. The low percentages of guys like Lebron and Melo is partly due to their shortcomings in that department, but it is also a product of taking so many shots, many of which are bail-out shots at the end of the shot clock. Clearly they make up for it by scoring inside shots and more importantly take 10 free throws a game. Other stars like Bryant, Wade, and Nowitzki shoot in the mid to high 40% range.
2009 Basketball HOF Class
The title of this post is pretty self-explanatory. Today, five member were elected into the Hall of Fame, most notably, the greatest basketball player ever: Michael Jordan. The other four are: Utah Jazz PG John Stockton, Spurs C David Robinson, Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, and Rutgers (college) coach C. Vivian Stringer. I think this is a phenomenal class and here's a brief overview of the class.
-Michael Jordan, G Chicago Bulls: Not only he is loved by all of Chicago, but... by all! He was just a great player and arguable the best that have ever played so far. He led the Bulls to three straight championships, twice! His free throw rate is 9th best all time, 3rd best in the NBA in scoring, 2nd most in steals, 1st in points in the playoffs, led the league in scoring in 10 seasons (an NBA record), won 5 MVPs, one of the only players to win Defensive Player of the Year and MVP in the same year, was on the All-Defensive Team seven straight years, went to 14 All-Star games, and was the Rookie of the Year in 1984. Michael could score, make clutch shots, play defense, and he also had the ability to pass and rebound. Essentially, Jordan was just amazing.
-John Stockton, PG Utah Jazz: Stockton's big claim to fame is that he leads the NBA in assists (15, 806) and steals (3,265) (Not a bad claim to fame, huh?), He's been an All-Star ten times and been to the playoff 19 times! Stockton can also score a bit being 30th on the all time scoring list.
-David Robinson, C San Antonio Spurs: Robinson was the MVP in 1995, 10 time All-Star, Defensive Player of the Year, 4 time selection to the All-Defensive team, and was Rookie of the Year in 1990.
-Jerry Sloan, coach Utah Jazz/ Chicago Bulls: Sloan is one of the winningest coaches in history with a 1086-717 record, which is 4th best all time. He is one of only five coaches to notch over 1,000 wins. And while he never won a championship, he did make it to the big game twice. But when you're up against Jordan's Bulls, it's OK to lose. The man is a great coach and end up in the playoffs year after year after year after year
C. Vivian Stringer, coach Rutgers/ Iowa/ Cheyney State: Stringer is one of the only coaches to lead three different teams to the Final Four and is the third winningest coach in woman's college basketball.
-Michael Jordan, G Chicago Bulls: Not only he is loved by all of Chicago, but... by all! He was just a great player and arguable the best that have ever played so far. He led the Bulls to three straight championships, twice! His free throw rate is 9th best all time, 3rd best in the NBA in scoring, 2nd most in steals, 1st in points in the playoffs, led the league in scoring in 10 seasons (an NBA record), won 5 MVPs, one of the only players to win Defensive Player of the Year and MVP in the same year, was on the All-Defensive Team seven straight years, went to 14 All-Star games, and was the Rookie of the Year in 1984. Michael could score, make clutch shots, play defense, and he also had the ability to pass and rebound. Essentially, Jordan was just amazing.
-John Stockton, PG Utah Jazz: Stockton's big claim to fame is that he leads the NBA in assists (15, 806) and steals (3,265) (Not a bad claim to fame, huh?), He's been an All-Star ten times and been to the playoff 19 times! Stockton can also score a bit being 30th on the all time scoring list.
-David Robinson, C San Antonio Spurs: Robinson was the MVP in 1995, 10 time All-Star, Defensive Player of the Year, 4 time selection to the All-Defensive team, and was Rookie of the Year in 1990.
-Jerry Sloan, coach Utah Jazz/ Chicago Bulls: Sloan is one of the winningest coaches in history with a 1086-717 record, which is 4th best all time. He is one of only five coaches to notch over 1,000 wins. And while he never won a championship, he did make it to the big game twice. But when you're up against Jordan's Bulls, it's OK to lose. The man is a great coach and end up in the playoffs year after year after year after year
C. Vivian Stringer, coach Rutgers/ Iowa/ Cheyney State: Stringer is one of the only coaches to lead three different teams to the Final Four and is the third winningest coach in woman's college basketball.
A Sample Basketball Highlight
Here's an example of a prototypical basketball highlight:
Random ESPN announcer [highlights of the basketball game show over voice]: Now let's go to Chicago/Orlando game. Here's Derrick Rose, he's in between three defenders, he does an amazing spin move, he goes around Dwight Howard, and OOHHH look at that amazing jam. Derrick Rose again in the 2nd quarter. He gets the steal, he runs down the lane and makes the easy lay up. Rose later again, drives towards the lane, makes an unbelievable behind-the-back pass to Ben Gordan and Gordan get two. Last drive, two seconds left in the game, Derrick Rose throws it up at half court and MAKES THE SHOT as time expires. Derrick Rose had an amazing game: 42 points, 15 assists, 2 steals, and 5 rebounds.
Announcer again [a stat sheet up on screen]: Let's look, at the last Chicago players to get 40+ points and 14+ assists in Orlando. As you can see Rose joins an impressive list including Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen
OhByTheWayTheBullsGetBlownOutByOrlandoMagic132Chicago92
So here's the template for a basketball highlight
- Show three to four amazing plays that happen during the game. Overhype those plays. If you can find audio of the team's announcer over blowing the play, that would be even better. If you can't find an amazing play, just take a random play of a player everybody knows and make it sound like the player is doing more than he actually is.
- Compare what one person did during the game so some other great players. It doesn't matter what stat you make up to compare the players, this is just a time filler
- Say the score of the game. This is trivial. No one care about this. The highlight actually should not even coincide with the score.
