I just finished watching Gonzaga beat Georgia State by a 92-73 score in the first round. This was the eighth time I’ve watched Gonzaga play this season.
In this game he did nothing in the first half, then padded some stats in the second half when Georgia State either through injury or fouls didn’t have any bigs left to challenge anything near the rim on either end of the floor. I mean, for crying out loud, Andrew Timme was basically shooting uncontested layups the last twenty-two minutes of this game.
His lack of a body is a concern of mine, plus with big players like that there always has to be the concern of some orthopedic issues of which altered the careers of Bill Walton, Sam Bowie, and Greg Oden just to name three former Portland Trailblazers.
If I were Sam Presti, would I leverage the Thunder’s future on him? My answer would be no, even though I think he could be a nice NBA player.
I think this is where a general manager has to seriously calibrate the risk versus the reward. Like a hedge fund manager in essence.
I know Sam Presti has that cute little saying of his where he says, “Scared money don’t make money.” But I don’t think the Thunder with their current roster plus all the other assets needs to be taking a risk at this point.
So, if I were Sam Presti, and I had the opportunity to draft Jabari Smith in some manner of assets being aligned…I’d take Jabari over Chet Holgren in this summer’s draft.
So, who’s my third player in this draft? It’s not Banchero any longer. I’ve dropped him to No. 5 on my list. Keegan Murray’s performance today was okay, but of course his Big Ten overrated Iowa Hawkeyes were ousted by the Richmond Spiders. Color my surprised…not. Michigan will be out next round after Tennessee sends them back home to Ann Arbor.
I don’t know who’s third and fourth on my list right now.
I love the first Thursday of March Madness. It should be an official national holiday. I never got out of my pajamas today. I rank today just behind Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, and the Fourth of July.
If Joe Biden could turn Super Thursday into a national holiday, he’d get a ten percent bump in his approval rating.
I guess if I’m going to do an official Final Four, I’d go…Baylor, Gonzaga, Tennessee, and the winner of Kansas vs. Auburn.
I’m very interested in the next round when Notre Dame plays Alabama…if the Dame beats the Tide that could be Cinderella knocking on the door…just a feel.
March Madness…I love you.
Sam Bowie…the player drafted behind The Dream and in front of Michael Jordon. A must-see video if you’re a younger NBA fan.
- Note to 405 Baller…send me 400 words on your analysis of Chet Holgren next Monday. Ask Luke if he wants to send one as well. At some point…you guys have to break clear of that shit. You’re better than that. If you need inspiration…just watch the Ukrainians. Ask Johhny Thunder as well. I’ve always liked him. For some reason…I just sense of a little bit of his spirit in you.