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Did Mike Krzyzewski Create USA Basketball in Duke's Image?

Sportz Assassin — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 11:13:00 EST

Filed under: Duke Basketball, ACC Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, Carolina, USA Basketball, Americas

One of the biggest complaints about the announcement of USA Basketball's 12-man roster is the lack of big men. We are sending just one true center (Dwight Howard) along with two true power forwards (Chris Bosh and Carlos Boozer).

There are quite a bit of guys that excel at slashing to the basket (Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Carmelo Anthony) ... who also need the ball in their hands a lot. We also will send a gutty, defensive point guard in Jason Kidd.

Hmmm. This sounds an awful like how Mike Krzyzewski ... coach of Team USA ... constructs his usual team: the Duke Blue Devils.

Anyone who has followed Duke knows that they team has really had issues with depth and talent in the frontcourt in recent years ... while running a bunch of same-sized players on the perimeter. It works alright for a while, but them crumbles as the season wears on.

It could happen in Beijing as the group that Team USA will be in is rather weak, but they will see the big dogs in single-elimination play.

Sure, the talent level on this USA team is unreal and wearing down won't be an issue. The fact that Kobe, LeBron, Melo and Wade on the same team is unfair. Still, we've all come to find out that the most talent doesn't equal gold ... especially when the single elimination portion of the Olympics comes. The rest of the world have out-coached us by playing zones against our weak shooting teams (we bring just one true shooter this time around -- Michael Redd).

Now, that doesn't sound like Duke. The Blue Devils have become a firing squad from the three point line, running a spread offense of high screens and finding open shooters. If the rest of the world plays zone on us again, that may be what the red-white-and-blue do.

Oh, and they've had to use small forwards at the power forward spot. That's why the plan seems to be in Beijing -- using Carmelo Anthony as the big forward. That's great and all, but leaves the United States at a disadvantage there rebounding. Anthony is more likely to hang around the perimeter, leaving Howard, Bosh and Boozer to take care of the boards.

Ask the Devils' Kyle Singler about that.

Of course, it will all come down to Coach K. It seems ... at least in recent years ... that Olympic coaches want to enforce our speed and athleticism down the throats of our opponents. America then looks like an All-Star game where the guards and wings control the ball and the offense and no really intricate set plays are run.

Also, Coach K has never coached in the NBA and since pro basketball players have been able to compete in the Olympics, all we've had is NBA coaches heading up the team. The Olympics seems to be more like the college game (more physical, yet tighter calls, five fouls, more ball movement, less "star" treatment) which should serve Krzyzewski well.

I think Coach K will really excel in this setting ... and with the star power he has on this team (unlike recent teams) he will be willing to make adjustments that should turn an All-Star team into Olympic gold medalists. Sure, Duke has been in some tough times of late, but Krzyzewski has shown an ability to turn his most talented teams into champions.

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.

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Kobe Hearts Krzyzewski

Charles Rich — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:31:00 EST

Filed under: Lakers, Duke Basketball, Big East Basketball, March Madness, NCAA Basketball Coaches, NCAA Basketball Media Watch, NBA Media Watch

That is the new Zoom Kobe III from Nike. Actually it is the special edition of the sneaker made specifically for Duke at Kobe Bryant's request, because of "Kobe's admiration for Coach Mike Krzyzewski." Yes, Kobe had a special version of his sneaker made for the team he would have played for if he had gone to college. For the coach he would have played for, wanted the Lakers to hire a few years back and will be coached by him in the Summer Olympics.

The Blue Devils will be wearing these sneakers for tonight's opening round NCAA Tournament game against Belmont this evening. The "regular" version retails for $130. So Coach K, has his State Farm Insurance commercial running this year and now a special edition of a Nike sneaker in his honor. Is it any wonder there are so many Duke Haters.

It does makes me wonder, though, when Sebastian Telfair will come through for Rick Pitino that way.

Previously on FanHouse:
What Kind of Duke Hater Are You?

Kobe Hearts Krzyzewski originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:31:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Duke Brings Phoenix Suns Basketball to College and May Turn it Into a Championship

Sportz Assassin — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:49:00 EST

Filed under: Suns, Duke Basketball, ACC Basketball, Carolina

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.

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Remembering Chris Farley's Sports Impact

Sportz Assassin — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Bears, NFL Video, Bulls, Duke Basketball, Chicago

Yesterday marked the 10th anniversary of the death of comedian Chris Farley (hat tip: 100% Percent Injury Rate). Now you might ask yourself, 'what does that have to do with sports?' Everything.

Farley, despite having 'a little bit of a weight problem' gave us some of sports funniest moments off the field. Everyone's favorite is his part of the Super Fan skits . Those skits helped launch Mike Ditka into godlike status, introduced "Da Bears" into our lexicon and even made Michael Jordan watchable on SNL (even though he didn't do anything remotely funny).

There was also his ice skating skit and the one about Schmidt's Gay beer which was a knock off of all those beer commercials that laced our sporting timeouts during the 80s and early 90s. On the 15th anniversary of Christian Laettner's shot to beat Kentucky ... I posted this hilarious Farley spoof on the shot which I'm showing above.

Remembering Chris Farley's Sports Impact originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 19 Dec 2007 12:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nets Looking Hard at Josh McRoberts

Sportz Assassin — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 11:24:00 EST

Filed under: Nets, Duke Basketball, ACC Basketball, Eastern, NBA Draft, NBA Prospects, Carolina

According to Yahoo! Sports, the New Jersey Nets are liking what they see out of Duke forward Josh McRoberts. So much so that they may tell McRoberts that they'll draft him with the #17 selection if he's there.

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.

The Nets do need help at the forward spot. Clifford Robinson will turn 41 years old this year; Mikki Moore is a free agent; Jason Collins and Josh Boone are all that's left. Plus, McRoberts is more of a playmaking forward with great passing skills, a decent jump shot and plays tough defense.

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

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.

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Vitale Was Right: JJ Redick Will Be An NBA Star!

Sportz Assassin — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 04:02:00 EST

Filed under: Magic, Duke Basketball, ACC Basketball, NCAA Basketball Media Watch, Eastern, NBA Media Watch

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.

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Turning the Clock Back: Jason Kidd vs. Grant Hill, 1993

The Big Lead — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 13:05:00 EST

Filed under: Nets, Duke Basketball, California Basketball, NCAA Basketball Video

Pretty neat story in today's New York Times about the intertwined history of aging NBA stars Jason Kidd and Grant Hill. It made me nostalgic for the 1993 NCAA tournament, when the upstart Cal Bears, led by the freshman of the year (Kidd), knocked off the two-time defending champion Duke Blue Devils (and Hill).

And through the magic of Youtube, we've got some footage of the game. After a minute of this video, you'll get to Cal's NCAA tournament run, which began with a triumph over LSU on a circus shot by Kidd. The second round footage starts at about the 3:30 mark, and what's great is that it opens with a legendary story I wasn't familiar with.

The day before the Cal-Duke game, Michael Jordan was in the gym with the Bears. He decided to speak to the team, and referred to Cal's star player as 'Justin' Kidd. Awesome. If you like watching Dukies Thomas Hill and Bobby Hurley getting crossed up, you've enjoy this video, and as an added bonus, Verne and Special K had the call, and I love those guys.

March Madness can't come soon enough.

Turning the Clock Back: Jason Kidd vs. Grant Hill, 1993 originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 10 Feb 2007 13:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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