I hate the "He's got a basketball background" line

[AndrewP6]

Re: I hate the "He's got a basketball background" line

I quite like Andrew Bogut however clinging onto a basketball ring and falling awkwardly is similar to a kid hurting themselves attempting a stunt at a skateboard park.

Take a look at the average NBL player, they are built like Jarrad Grant but ten cm taller. The game has no tackling bumping or kicking. Who cares if a seven foot tall guy can dunk a basketball. Most of these tall guys should be able to.

I am sure there are many more guys that are elite at cricket that also excel at footy. There are many athletic freaks out there that are good at whatever they do.

Basketball is a good to develop a bit of peripheral vision and maybe speed, but it is soft boring game that discourages vigorous attack on the ball. It has no bumping, kicking or tackling. Give me a footballer any day over someone that has chosen basketball over footy for an extended period of time...

So you've never watched European basketball then...

[AndrewP6]

Re: I hate the "He's got a basketball background" line

Had you already made up your mind prior to posting in the first place?

If you put Grant up against the majority of NBA or NBL players he'd not only be shorter than all of them, he'd also be a fair bit smaller than them in terms of muscle mass.

These guys aren't pushoevers at the elite level. With such a small space to move within, free space becomes premium and to earn it you have to be extremely strong (especially within your core) to create space without giving away a foul, and smart.

Basketball at the elite level is a physical sport, that takes a lot of body contact to excell at. It's not a collision sport mind you, but when you have a bunch of built guys that are quick and over 6"5' working within a 3m radius each it's a tough environment.

There are plenty of collisions.

[Dancin' Douggy]

Re: I hate the "He's got a basketball background" line

I think the best thing about basketball is learning how to set up CHAINS of possessions in limited space.
It's not just quick hands and spotting a target amongst traffic.
It's about seeing 3 or 4 moves ahead.
Scott West was a master at this.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: I hate the "He's got a basketball background" line

I think I understand some of the sentiment behind the OP.
In the past, like the 70s, football was a pretty simple kind of game.
There was also a kind of blue collar ethic associated with it which has been eroded.
We live in a bit of a nanny state, and while AFL remains a tough game to play, it has lost a bit of it's manly charm.
basketball and maybe even soccer have all influenced the game. Some might think for better, others for worse.

[Remi Moses]

Re: I hate the "He's got a basketball background" line

I quite like Andrew Bogut however clinging onto a basketball ring and falling awkwardly is similar to a kid hurting themselves attempting a stunt at a skateboard park.

Take a look at the average NBL player, they are built like Jarrad Grant but ten cm taller. The game has no tackling bumping or kicking. Who cares if a seven foot tall guy can dunk a basketball. Most of these tall guys should be able to.

I am sure there are many more guys that are elite at cricket that also excel at footy. There are many athletic freaks out there that are good at whatever they do.

Basketball is a good to develop a bit of peripheral vision and maybe speed, but it is soft boring game that discourages vigorous attack onRe: Jayden Schofield - Delisted
I have no pitty for him we treat kids today with cotton glove's.
He needs to harden up and get a clue.
He has broken his contract and it should be mandatory he has to sit out next season at least.
__________________
If it's not in the heart, the head and muscle mean FA !!

the ball. It has no bumping, kicking or tackling. Give me a footballer any day over someone that has chosen basketball over footy for an extended period of time...

Total Rubbish

[LostDoggy]

Re: I hate the "He's got a basketball background" line

Like a lot of AFL trends, it's copied from America. It was a pretty big hit about 10 years ago producing two all time greats in the NFL.
I guess the problem here is the pro basketball is generally considered a step lower than AFL so many younger athletes with a 50/50 choice choose footy, but it's only time before the find an elite athlete who will become one the league's best key players

[jeemak]

Re: I hate the "He's got a basketball background" line

There are plenty of collisions.

Yeah there are indeed. But, games like Gridiron, Rugby (both types), Ice Hockey and Australian Rules are colision sports. Basketball, as physical as it can get will never be one.