T-Bone wrote:
Agreed Doc. He is probably one of the best slashers in the country but never seems to be able to
finish at the hoop. Maybe he'll get that straightened out. Still like his defense lately and a consistent
jumper would make him pretty scary.
Here are some of my thoughts on college hoops as they relate to the Illini and Meyers Leonard.
I listen to dan bernstein talking about how "superior" the NBA game is. And on pure athleticism that's obviously the case. The players are bigger and faster. But for a guy who fancies himself a "cerebral" sports fan, there is no comparison between the two games. The college game is much more strategic no matter how many times a radio guy says a particular NBA coach "runs a ton of stuff" in his effort to fetishize a profession.
Now, I understand why the college game installed the shot clock. It's all about television and money. And watching Duke and North Carolina play to a 7-0 score at the half (Yes, that happened. You can look it up. 1979 or 1980.) isn't going to hold the attention of the casual fan. But in adding the clock the rules have allowed defenses to simply collapse on a special center like Leonard and take him out of the game. In the days before the clock Tracy Abrams could have simply stood at the top of the key and waited until the opponent came out to play the ball. The short three-point line is supposed to be the antidote to that strategy.
And therein lies Illinois' problem. They desperately need a spot-up shooter who can really knock it down. They're loaded with slashers. His game last night aside, opponents don't believe Paul can beat them. Ohio State
made him beat them. But I doubt it will shake out that way on most nights against a team of that caliber.