Sweet Sixteen, check who’s left at the guard position that has the footwork and the handles that make the playground proud. Playgrounds build pros.
In the tradition of Kenny “The Jet” Smith (New York City Legend)
- The One Man Fast Break: N.C. Ty Lawson
- Wire to wire fast breaks and steals is the regular. Hand ready on defense and
anticipation is exceptional. Doesn’t have that “wreckless” footwork like Nash but his
straight-line speed is pro-ish.
In the tradition of Joe “The Destroyer” Hammond (Rucker Park Legend)
- Buckets at will: Stephen Curry
- Stephen Curry outscored the entire Chattanooga team in the first-half of a game, (27-26), on January 19, 2007. He goes for 30 in half against Gonzaga in the tournament, and then 20 in the second-half against Georgetown. Has some crosscade and quick transition into his shot like Nash. Looks like he needs some strength but did someone say “AI.”
In the tradition of Nate “Tiny” Archibald (All-City Legend)
-The controller: Derrick Rose
- Rose is quicker than help defense, always heads-up for the dime. His first step off the handles or the rip through is sudden, with hard finishes at the rim. Keep in mind that Tiny is the last man to lead the league in both assists and points. I think Rose has the ability to be this kind of player but has the versatility to do a Stevie Nash and lead his team to the final game averaging less than 15 points a game with double-digit assists.
For all you players that understand the importance of training on footwork whether it is within a sport or with a trainer, check this priceless video on Steve Nash.
March 27th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
g says:
SPEAKING OF FOOTWORK,DID YOU SEE YOUR MAN NASH GET BLENDED BY RAJON RONDO OF THE CELTICS LAST NIGHT? THAT FIRST STEP IS A LULU STEVIE!!! BODY IN THE TRUNK!!! LOL!!
March 27th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
funkalot says:
Here are some other names from the “sweet sixteen” who rate playground status:
Affirmative Action: Joe Alexander who is giving to bros like “Black Jack” Ryan. A scorer, with a mid-range and “bunnies”, and he’s from a DC suburb, I mean CC (Chocolate City).Dude’s a reverse oreo, for real.
Come Fly with Me: “Goat” impersonator: Russell Westbrook of UCLA. He has no regard for you, your fam or boys, its on your neck, like a brace.
Others who merit attention are: DJ Augustin - smooth and buckets like “Pee Wee” Kirkland; Derrick Caracter - A bag full of White Castles, alright, maybe two bags, with handles,rump, post up for a thousand points and clownism, at times.
Let me know, Sean, what you think!
Funkalot
“One wing, extra fly”!
March 27th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Sean Couch says:
Funkalot:
real words mean real things…
March 27th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Bobbito Garcia a.k.a. Kool Bob Love says:
I remember the first time i saw steve nash was at a nike party. you would never guess he played in the nba until you recognized his grillpiece. very unassuming dude, real chill vibe.
when project playground did the va. tech’s halftime show, i saw big banners and photos of their greatest alumni in the nba–dell curry. i wonder why his son didn’t go to the alma mater. it’s acc, good program, and he would’ve been the man!
March 27th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Kevin Couliau says:
Damn, Steve Nash could play in the french soccer team !
He looks at ease on a skateboard too…and no doubt that skateboarding is complementary to basketball…
I like the soundtrack, does anybody know the artist ?
March 27th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
g says:
surprised Virginia Tech didnt have a banner up for Vernell “Bimbo” Coles. He had a solid/decent career in the league and he only retired in 04 (last w/the Heat).
and we’re forgetting about “CR smooth”, Chalmers and Robinson @ Kansas Univ. Chalmers is from Alaska of all places to find ballers (although they did have Trajan Langdon and Carlos Boozer(by was of D.C)) and Russ straight from Harlem. They along with Sherrod (See-Ya) Collins might be the best backcourt combination in the nation right now.
March 27th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Jeremy Ripley says:
Sean-
Cool post. I’m heading to Detroit tommorrow to see Curry & Davidson take on the Wisconsin Badgers…I saw the C’Nooga highlights you referenced, seemed like every threeball he hit was NBA-range.
G-Rondo straight up got at Nash last night…If he can improve his offensive game, I think he can make a name for himself.
Peace_
Jeremy
March 28th, 2008 at 7:50 am
Nhamz says:
Nash’s footwork is tight - no doubt, but it is his feel for the game that takes him to that next level. His footwork puts him in positions to deliver on that feel. His soccer background obviously is a good look. Soccer is a good look for building better agility and foot co-ordination. I remember Hakeem Olajuwon said that was the foundation to his footwork back in the day - and everybody knows he has the best footwork of any bigman in the history of the game.
Oh, Rondo cooked Nash on that in and out the other night though. Extra nice. Now if he can only find a J…
March 28th, 2008 at 8:57 am
g says:
Jeremy- you’re dead right on Rondo. if he can find a J in his alphabet,he’d be tough(er). He’s crazy athletic for a 1 and he gets pockets too.
Super Bob- i met Nash @ John Jay College during the lockout year (99). He came thru and worked out with Corey (the dancer) Williams and some other local dudes. Offensively they couldnt do anything with him. dude shoots running floaters, lay ups off the wrong foot and had the deep stroke cooking. but defensively he was spongebob,meaning they were running right thru him, especially Corey. at first i though he didnt want to get hurt being a league dude playing against non-league dudes. but he was honestly trying to bag them and without screens they kept getting math on him,real easy too (atleast thats how it looked). but afterwards he was real cool and unassuming, not stuck on himself. was even asking Corey for tips on some of his moves.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Bobbito Garcia a.k.a. Kool Bob Love says:
well good point, geroy, cuz everyone is so amped on rondo’s move but nash is not really known for his D like that. if rondo did that on joe dumars, then i’d be like word! haha. people forget about the older corey williams, the one before homicide. i remember he dropped 74 points at west 4th. his he he he hesitation would have doing jumping jacks on D it seemed trying to figure when he was shooting.
i bet you rondo will get mad nicer now that cassell is there to show him some basic offensive moves and how to use the body lean. watch next year.
oh, and va tech did have a bimbo coles banner, in the practice gym!
March 28th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Randy C. Millard says:
Its crazy how Stephen Curry kills his opponents. He scored 11 in the first half against Michael Flowers and the Badgers and then he ends up with 30 and change.Rondo move on Nash was nice but think how many times Steve Nash makes the defenders look real bad.Everyone gets a nice move off at one of the game. Stephen Curry to the Knicks baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!lol
March 30th, 2008 at 8:05 am
sweet and nutty says:
Nice post. You know what? Nash should have been on the cover of the White issue. Seriously. He lives in nyc for the summer, always randomly shows up and plays on the playground, skates around the city on his board, and has real street in his game.
March 31st, 2008 at 10:45 am
sean couch says:
Stevie Nash is one of the best transition guards in NBA history. He demonstrates his ability to control tempo each and every game he plays. As the playoffs approach his team in built to challenge on the weakside with Shaq deferring to Stoudamire and picking up offensive rebounds off the glass.
Another thought… the guard play in the final four is going to be crazy. I see the three Kansas guards going 94-feet on everybody. I expect a UCLA vs Kansas final.
March 31st, 2008 at 12:37 pm
ali says:
good stuff sean,
another player the playground should be proud of is chris douglass-roberts from calipari’s ill memphis backcourt w/ derric rose. he’s definitely following in the motown tradition of silky guards w/ some boogie on his skates.
also like the cat terrence williams from louisville and ucla’s darren collison in terms of that playground bounce. how ’bout kareem and jaron’s baby bro at Kansas -brandon rush?
oh, and dj augustin at texas has thet nyc, small pg swagger.
and i also like kansas, very deep. and you gotta go for the nyc kid from rice, russell robinson, who i call human velcro. back at the jordan classic a few years back, when dwight howard towered above the comp, i saw russ lock down rondo, joe crawford, jordan farmar, aj price and every other guard in practices that were only open to the media.