NFL rule changes: Running backs can no longer lower their “crown”
March 20, 2013NFL Free Agency: TE Kellen Davis to visit Browns today
March 21, 2013While We’re Waiting serves as the early morning gathering of WFNY-esque information for your viewing pleasure. Have something you think we should see? Send it to our tips email at tips@waitingfornextyear.com.
“It’s been brought to my attention by a certain editor-in-chief that there are people who consider themselves basketball fans yet don’t watch any college basketball until March Madness begins. Apparently, these people prefer the NBA. I guess these fans love following a regular season that drags on endlessly and hate seeing athletes play hard every night. The concept of playing for something bigger than oneself must seem really stupid to them. Either that, or they saw more than 30 seconds of a Wisconsin game and vowed to never again watch college basketball outside of the NCAA tournament. Whatever the case, I feel obligated to do whatever I can to get people interested in college basketball. This is why I’ve decided to help all the NBA fans who will watch their first college games of the season this week. Even though you probably like seeing upsets and thrilling finishes, I’m guessing that you’re most interested in scouting the players who will be in the NBA in the near future. Here are some of the prospects to keep your eye on as you watch the tournament.” [Titus/Grantland]
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“Noel is a freak athletically. He’s 6’11″ with a 7’4” wingspan, which gives him ample size to play center in the NBA. Running like a man 8 inches shorter and jumping like an NBA swingman, Noel possesses athletic ability that few can match at his size. One term that gets bandied about on draft-day is “re-jumpability,” and there are few NBA prospects I’ve ever seen who possess this skill in the way Noel does. “Re-jumpability” is the ability to jump, land, then jump again quickly in order to defend shots/rebound.
Where that skill benefits Noel most is in his shot blocking. This may come as surprising to some, but Noel is a better shot blocker than Anthony Davis was last year. Possessing an exceptional sense of timing and the ability to jump straight up and down (he rarely commits fouls in that circumstance), he will be a weak side defensive force in the NBA from day one.
His defensive skill isn’t limited to just shot blocking though. An active defender who always has his hands in the proper places, Noel looks for strips and steals in passing lanes constantly. With his high-level athleticism and length, he defends the pick-and-roll on the perimeter really well. Rarely overplaying either when closing out or off of screens on the perimeter, he knows exactly how to use his length to push players out of the paint or even dissuade them from entering entirely.” [Vecenie/Fear the Sword]
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Quick interview with Michael Bourn– “Note: Spring Breaks is a Big League Stew series that talks to players about their lives off the field during spring training. Today: Michael Bourn, the speedy centerfielder who joined the Cleveland Indians this offseason after years with the Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies.” [Oz/Big League Stew]
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Being the owner’s son has benefits– “Peter Dolan, 17, is a junior at Gilmour Academy located in Gates Mills, Ohio and plays on the varsity baseball team. Last season he hit .383 with 22 RBI in 88 plate appearances as a sophomore, and this season he figures to once again be a key component to the team at third base and is also their closer.
Peter is seizing the unique opportunity to practice with one of the Indians’ minor league teams all week. He arrived in camp on Saturday and will return home to the Cleveland area on Sunday, but the chance to practice and learn from some of the best coaches and instructors around is something he hopes to take something away from and make some strides in his development as a player.” [Lastoria/FSO]
3 Comments
Did anyone see that god awful flop by Chris Paul in attempt to draw a foul on (I believe) Demarcus Cousins? Did they already stop punishing flops, or does the superstar rule come into play here?
Titus’ article is fantastic. Encapsulates many of my thoughts on the players and he’s very fair to their NBA prospects IMO.
http://espn.go.com/blog/spring-training/post/_/id/1135/strangest-injuries-of-the-spring
sorry I didn’t get this link in, Rick. one of my favorite articles of the year. the “weird” injury list from MLB spring training.
former Tribesmen, Kotchman and Peralta make the list this spring. as well as one of the most fearsome little creatures in Arizona, the bark scorpion (those things are nasty).