Am I the only one who got all their Final Four picks WRONG??? I feel like the biggest dummy in the world for screaming “down goes Frazier,” and the #1 seeds that I picked to lose both ended up winning. I picked Louisville, due to their frontcourt, Pitt for the same thing, Memphis for the SAME THING, and OU for the same f*****g thing, and every single one of those teams let me down. The common theme of the opponents that beat them is all of their backcourts (with the exception of Memphis) were out-played. I figured the teams I picked would get just enough help from their guards to advance, but I was definitely wrong. But enough of the squads who didn’t make it; this is about the Final Four, the teams who found a way to make it to the Motor City, and the biggest reason they made it is due to their guard play.
Lets take a look at last year’s Kansas National Title team, and their three-headed monster of Mario Chalmers, Brandon Rush, and Sherron “The Chi-town Thrilla, UT Killa” Collins. We could even look at Memphis with Derrick Rose, Antonio Anderson, Willie Kemp, and that rotund brother that played back-up PG for Rose (mind’s drawing a blank, but you get the point). That matchup was dominated by guards, and in the end, they made the biggest difference in the game.
Fast-forward this year, and lets look at the biggest difference-makers left. With UConn, you have AJ Price, Craig Austrie, and Kemba Walker. Michigan State has Kalin Lucas (the Big Ten Player of the Year, and someone who’s game I used to HATE last year), as well as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in Travis Walton, whose ridiculous man-to-man defense terribly exposed the homie, Terrence Williams.
As for the other game, there’s no need to mention of value of Ty Lawson. If he plays his best, they’ll win by a million. Hell, if he plays bad, they still have a great chance to win. You also have to account for Wayne Ellington, who seems to be forgotten, but is still extremely effective, and is capable of a huge game anytime he steps on the floor. I’ll admit that I don’t know much about Villanova’s guards, except for what I saw over the weekend. The three-headed trio of Scottie Reynolds, Reggie Redding, and Corey Fisher (who also happens to be the most gangsta guard in the tourney, due to being the kin of NY former kingpin, Guy Fisher) are all pretty solid and steady, and that’s truly what you need this time of year. We’ll see how things shake themselves, but I can tell you one thing:
I’m not making any more predictions. Be easy.
-K. Masenda
www.edthesportsfan.com
Comments
7 Responses to "Guards Rule The World"I am with UConn all the way! My only pick in the final four...
Sorry a$$ Memphis. Now Coach Cal is possibly leaving for Kentucky. U of M will return to the world of "Slawville1"
You need any info on Nova's guards … I gots the dirt:
Scottie Reynolds is a maddeningly inconsistent player with all the talent in the world. At times, he'll make you pull your hair out with his decision making, but the guy can explode at any moment and never seems flustered. Dick Jerardi of the Philadelphia Daily News said it best: He's not afraid to fail. I give him a lot of shit, but he's a damn good player.
Reggie Redding is an understated player who, basically, is the best defender most people never heard of before this tournament. And really, he's more than that. Jay Wright loves him, calling him one of the smartest players he's ever coached. He's played amazing since mid-January.
Corey Fisher is basically the catalyst off the bench. Instant offense, tough defense, and no fear either. Nova's guards aren't going to blow you away with athleticism or a big wow factor, but they'll battle you to the end. And they're all pretty damn good.
Having said all that, Ty Lawson is by far the best guard left in this tournament, and that "if he plays bad …" doesn't even enter the conversation, because he hasn't played a single bad game in 2009.
I'm still going with UNC
I had Nova in my F4, I had Memphis's scummy ass team nowhere near there. Why was everyone on Memphis's jock? I kept telling everyone they were overrated.
I had UNC going down because I had no idea how healthy Ty Lawson was.
Guard play is important in the postseason but you also have to couple that with an inside force. Just look at each F4 team
MSU: Lucas and Suton
Conn: Price and Thabeet, Adriem
UNC: Lawson and Hansborough, Davis
Nova: Reynolds and Cunningham
Gotta have the inside-outside punch.
@mrsFAB - SLAWVILLE??? Lol, ain't heard that one in a cool minute...
@Rev PR - I'm just salty that Scottie transferred outta OU to Nova...yep, not over it.
@J. McFly - What happened to Rutgers???
@Joe D. - I was the stupid one that thought Memphis could do it again, I was stupid okay? Thanks!?!!?
I would disagree. I would say that wing players rule the world which includes guards and some forwards.
I'm pleased with the KU shout out. Also, BRush was more of a forward on the team. You had Chalmers and Robinson as the guards.
I think having a productive point forward player is also key in the tourney. You have a matchup problem on the floor all the time.
Uconn, no point forward. Michigan State, no point forward. UNC, no point forward. Nova, maybe if you consider Reggie Redding but not really.
Louisville, point forward. Um, apparently the point forward doesn't mean anything.
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