• Fri. Apr 19th, 2024

Bits and ‘nuggets’: a look at the NBA

Commentary

I love this game.

No, it’s not a play on the corny NBA slogan from years back, it’s a true emotion I have for the game of basketball.

I’ve been watching the NBA before I knew how to multiply-which was in the 2nd grade.

This is my favorite time of the year because the playoffs are in full swing and we inch closer to finding out about the new crop of basketball stars with the NBA Draft Lottery. I can talk about the NBA for hours on end, but I’ll try to keep it to 600 words.

“Kobe Doin’ (Bad) Work”

First things first, did anyone watch the Spike Lee documentary on Kobe Bryant, aptly titled “Kobe Doin’ Work?”

I am admittedly a Kobe-hater, but since I am a fan of Lee’s work, I decided to give it chance.

It was bad.

Meaning that it was the opposite of good.

It was boring, uninteresting and repetitive. It didn’t break any new ground on how the game is played. Instead Kobe just spouted off generic sound bytes on how he likes the toughness of the game, how he loves how detailed the game is, blah, blah, blah.

Personally, I think that the film would’ve been better-served if it was without the Kobe commentary. It was basically an interview of Kobe dubbed over an ESPN broadcast of the game.

I like my NBA with a dash of International

The NBA Draft Lottery was held on May 19 and with it comes the incoming 2010 class of future stars. With this year’s draft being one of the weakest in the past few years, there are two players I am keeping a close eye on. Point guards Ricky Rubio and Brandon Jennings.
Both Rubio and Jennings played international ball last season and are prepared to make an impact on whatever team they are drafted by.

Rubio, who played on Spain’s 2008 National Team in the Olympics, is an 18-year-old, 6″ 4′ and 180 pound-soaking wet, I might add-passing savant. To watch Rubio on the court is to see poetry in motion. He lacks a consistent jump shot, but has an uncanny ability of setting up his teammates. Plus, with his long wingspan he’s able to get steals. I see him as Spain’s answer to Rajon Rondo.

Brandon Jennings, who’s 6″ 1′ and 170lbs, is a little harder to pin. He gained a lot of notoriety for going overseas to play basketball professionally instead of going to college. I loved that he rebelled against the system-I hate the NCAA-and I made sure I kept tabs on him. Statistically, he didn’t have a good season, but I believe that his experience will give him the edge over collegiate guards coming into this draft like Memphis’ Tyreke Evans or UCLA’s Jrue Holiday.

Another reason that I’m partial to Rubio and Jennings is because point guard is my favorite position and these two are true point guards.

It sucks that the season is coming to a close, but all good things must come to an end.

And this season has been one for the ages.

Man, I love this game.