Grantland's latest on Napier

[tzznandrew]

http://grantland.com/features/shabazz-napier-uconn-michigan-state-2014-ncaa-tournament-elite-eight/

"In the locker room afterward, Giffey marveled at Napier’s steady, calm confidence in his team this season. 'I’m missing shot after shot after shot,' Giffey said, 'and he still goes to me. He believes in me, probably more than I believe in myself.'"

 

[Sibeerian]

Great article, thanks for sharing. I only objected to these lines:
"When the Spartans came within two again, with 31 seconds remaining, Napier stood high above the arc and shot an air ball — but jackknifed his body as he did it, kicking out and reaching forward. Appling’s contesting hand brushed, barely, Napier’s wrist. It was Appling’s fifth foul."

Not how I saw it. Appling didn't barely brush the wrist (more like the elbow?) or it would not have been an airball five feet short of the basket. Not even sure Shabazz was trying to initiate the contact.

 

[Matrim55]

She's a hell of a writer.

 

[Husky25]

Great article, thanks for sharing. I only objected to these lines:
"When the Spartans came within two again, with 31 seconds remaining, Napier stood high above the arc and shot an air ball — but jackknifed his body as he did it, kicking out and reaching forward. Appling’s contesting hand brushed, barely, Napier’s wrist. It was Appling’s fifth foul."

Not how I saw it. Appling didn't barely brush the wrist (more like the elbow?) or it would not have been an airball five feet short of the basket. Not even sure Shabazz was trying to initiate the contact.

Appling hit Napier's wrist, preventing his follow-through. There is no air ball if he wasn't fouled.

 

[NorwalkHusky]

Thank god we finally get some praise on Grantland, That guy Titus has been crapping on us al season, even his latest one playing down of victory. You Serious Bro?

 

[tykurez]

Appling hit Napier's wrist, preventing his follow-through. There is no air ball if he wasn't fouled.

It was some redemption because he had been getting hit like that on numerous occasions throughout the game and it wasn't called. Oddly enough - the last one was probably the weakest.

 

[OkaForPrez]

Only someone who loves the game of basketball deeply could have written that article. And only someone who loves the game of basketball deeply can truly know Shabazz' greatness.

 

[Deadrody]

Great article, thanks for sharing. I only objected to these lines:
"When the Spartans came within two again, with 31 seconds remaining, Napier stood high above the arc and shot an air ball — but jackknifed his body as he did it, kicking out and reaching forward. Appling’s contesting hand brushed, barely, Napier’s wrist. It was Appling’s fifth foul."

Not how I saw it. Appling didn't barely brush the wrist (more like the elbow?) or it would not have been an airball five feet short of the basket. Not even sure Shabazz was trying to initiate the contact.

That's not how you saw it because that's not how it happened. It wasn't just an airball, it was a solid 5 feet short, because Appling fouled Napier on the shot. A blind person could see that on the replay. Thank goodness the official saw it in real time.

 

[dogfan96]

Doesn't matter if he barely brushed his wrist. If you hit a guy on the wrist while he's taking a jumpshot, it's a foul 100 times out of 100.

 

[Waquoit]

That's not how you saw it because that's not how it happened. It wasn't just an airball, it was a solid 5 feet short, because Appling fouled Napier on the shot. A blind person could see that on the replay. Thank goodness the official saw it in real time.

Clearly. What are these people thinking?