Did Mike Krzyzewski Create USA Basketball in Duke's Image? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 28 Jun 2008 11:13:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Let me tell ya: this whole Ty Lawson saga just keeps getting weirder. After announcing he will enter the NBA Draft, he's had nothing but drama.

• He bitched about people saying he's testing the waters.
• He didn't like Tar Heels fans slamming him.
• He announced he'd come back to school if he wasn't guaranteed to go in the top twenty picks.
• After playing one game in the NBA's Pre-Draft camp, he sat the rest of the time with a hip pointer.
• He doesn't show up to a workout with the Nuggets, who hold the #20 pick.
• He gets arrested for drinking, playing loud music and other stuff.

Mind you, he still has a week to make a decision on whether or not to come back to North Carolina (he hasn't signed with an agent, keeping his eligibility), so lord knows what else could go wrong.

Well, add this to the list: Lawson rolled his ankle while working out for the Washington Wizards. The Wiz hold the #18 pick and ... let's just say ... they have a thing for UNC players (Antawn Jamison, Brendan Haywood, assistant coach Mike O'Koren).

Remember that Lawson has hurt his ankle during the past season at UNC.

Is this a trend that will scare off NBA teams? I'm sure it will. Lawson missed a lot of time last season due to hurting his wrist early in the season (causing him to miss some time) and his ankle late in the season (causing him to miss a month of action). Add the mysterious hip pointer at the pre-draft camp and this ankle injury ... and NBA teams have to be concerned.

After all, whomever drafts Lawson will do so because of his speed and quickness. Bad ankles and hips really take a bite out of those things -- as we saw from Lawson when he came back from his injury.

With the arrest (which isn't a huge deal, but it does show a lack of good judgement) and missing workouts (word now is that Lawson cancelled due to a minor injury which was before he was hurt in the workout with the Wizards), teams have to be scared off.

So, what is Lawson going to do? He seems to have his heart set on going pro, yet doesn't seem to be that highly regarded. If he stays in the draft, he runs the risk of being drafted very late, not getting a nice payday and missing on an opportunity to be on a great college team. If he goes back to UNC, he faces the wrath of Roy Williams' doghouse (he's been there before) and fans in opposing gyms in every ACC city. Do you think the Cameron Crazies will forget any of this?!?!?!

Again, he has one more week to figure this out. Judging by this past week, we have no idea what he may decide to do.

Ty Lawson Rolls Ankle. Again. originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:09:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

You want to see how the NBA's Phoenix Suns run their offense? Just watch the Duke Blue Devils. They do it pretty darn well. A team filled with a bunch of 6-6 guys who all can dribble, drive, pass and shoot may be the best team in college basketball.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski doubles as the USA Basketball head coach where he works alongside the Suns' coach Mike D'Antoni. Coach K came away from that experience with an idea of how to incorporate what the Suns do to the college game ... where three pointers are shorter and zones are more prevalent.

Does it work? Watch Duke's spanking of North Carolina last night. The Blue Devils spread the Tar Heels out used movement and high screens to create mismatches and ended up with any shot they wanted. It also negated the Tar Heels' biggest advantage -- their size. UNC had to go smaller and ended up so spaced out that they weren't in good rebounding position.

What amazes me is that fact that Coach K has done this at all. This is a man who has had as much success as any coach could want, yet flips it all and tries something new. It has paid off very, very quickly. This Duke team had the ACC's worst offense last year; now they rank 3rd in the nation. Duke has five guys averaging between 10 and 15 points per game ... with four guys averaging between four and six rebounds.

Last year, this team struggled to create any kind of shot on their own. This year, they are so tough to stop.

Of course, the big test will come in March during the NCAA tournament. While the NBA's Phoenix Suns have been so successful during the regular season, they don't have any championships nor a trip to the Finals to show for it. The playoffs slow down with defense and an inside game becoming the style. In a slow down game, it hasn't worked that well for Phoenix.

This idea doesn't hold up as much in college hoops. The NCAA tournament comes down to guard play and Duke has about six pretty darn good guys who can fit that spot. As we saw against the Tar Heels, they can give up 28 points to a guy like Tyler Hansbrough and still win handily. Not to mention that it will be extremely tough for a coach to prepare his team for an offense that they have yet to see.

Duke Brings Phoenix Suns Basketball to College and May Turn it Into a Championship originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:49:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Josh McRoberts is intriguing to the New Jersey Nets at No. 17, so much so there was some discussion within the franchise of guaranteeing the 6-foot-11 Duke forward the spot.

Nets Looking Hard at Josh McRoberts originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sun, 03 Jun 2007 11:24:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Nice airball on the layup, J.J.

Dick Vitale spent much of the 2005-2006 season telling everyone in earshot of his voice that Duke's J.J. Redick will make in on the next level. Now, I'm not sure if by 'next level' he meant the NBA. He could've meant the USBL or the D-League....because nothing so far has me believing that Redick can make it. As of now, he's averaging 6.2 ppg, barely over 1 rpg and barely under 1 apg. Meanwhile, co-Player of the Year Adam Morrison is averaging twice that with the young Charlotte Bobcats....and has scored 16 or more points [which is Redick's season high] in 22 games this season.

Over the last five games, Redick has played just 18 minutes....and includes three DNPs. To be fair, he did come out a bit blazing in early February, averaging 12.6 ppg in the first five games on the month. In the 7 games since, he's scored a total of 18 points.

If you notice, this shot above was in the closing moments of a home loss to the Knicks. Redick, tried the ol' finger roll and it just didn't work out too well.

Vitale Was Right: JJ Redick Will Be An NBA Star! originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 28 Feb 2007 04:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments