Second Chances
September 4th 2008 04:53
Back in the 2006 draft there were three players whose progress I followed with much interest, they were players who could do amazing things. Marcus Williams and Shannon Brown fell in the first round and I watched in horror as the draft edged to a close with the player I most wanted to see on an nba court still having not had his name called yet. Hassan Adams didn't get picked until pick 54, sending him to the New Jersey Nets.
What inspired me most about these players was that they were unconventional. Hassan Adams was 100kg (220 pounds) yet only 6'4, who was a big time shot blocking and dunking power forward stuck in the body of a point guard or a shooting guard. Shannon Brown was one of the most ridiculous athletes I had seen on youtube, jumping over his college ball opponent to dunk with fury. While Marcus Williams had been called so many names that my interest had been aroused to see what all the fuss was about. Despite all the negative press he had received about being unathletic and having a bad attitude, he has probably had the most success of the three with his unnatural passing ability and nba standard ability to knock down threes.
In spite of fairly humble beginnings that went under the radar (Hassan Adams didn't even play in the nba last season, instead hitting Italy where he averaged 20 ppg, While Shannon Brown's only game time seems to have been the few seconds he gets each week to break through the opposition's defence to to make the highlight reel on a sick throwdown. Marcus Williams on the other hand has been a back up point guard who is just itching to play 40 minutes a night, he is a legitimate point guard (see his 13 assist game) who can also make his mark on the scoresheet in limited game time. He was set to become the back up to the back up (the Nets added Keyon Dooling recently) which would have been a travesty. Now, however, he has gone to Golden State where he might just see some real minutes as long as Monta Ellis remains at the 2 where he can humble other teams with his quickness.
Williams is filling the void Golden State will have next season missing Baron Davis, another big-bodied point guard who can drop some serious dimes.
Shannon Brown has also been given another chance not to drift off into pro sports obscurity after being offered a one year deal in Charlotte which was perhaps a consequence of the monster dunk he put down against the shocked Bobcats last season. And last but certainly not least, the shooting guard who might just help out O'Neal and Bosh with some shot-blocking, Hassan Adams, has been added to the Toronto Raptors who are looking a treat this season with their new additions. Don't forget Nathan Jawai, the australian big man rookie who might cause Bosh and O'Neal some trauma at training camp if only due to his size, let alone his athleticism.
And if these second chances weren't enough, it seems as if D-Miles might also get another chance. Darius was recently given a one year non-guaranteed deal by Boston after only 2 trainings. He must have shown them something special in those trainings because D-Miles has missed the last two years due to knee injuries, Portland cutting him loose, calling his injuries career-ending. Good on Darius for proving them wrong. Lets see if he can play ten games with the Celts and in so doing receive the $27 million compensation Portland owes him if he plays ten games over the next 2 years.
What inspired me most about these players was that they were unconventional. Hassan Adams was 100kg (220 pounds) yet only 6'4, who was a big time shot blocking and dunking power forward stuck in the body of a point guard or a shooting guard. Shannon Brown was one of the most ridiculous athletes I had seen on youtube, jumping over his college ball opponent to dunk with fury. While Marcus Williams had been called so many names that my interest had been aroused to see what all the fuss was about. Despite all the negative press he had received about being unathletic and having a bad attitude, he has probably had the most success of the three with his unnatural passing ability and nba standard ability to knock down threes.
In spite of fairly humble beginnings that went under the radar (Hassan Adams didn't even play in the nba last season, instead hitting Italy where he averaged 20 ppg, While Shannon Brown's only game time seems to have been the few seconds he gets each week to break through the opposition's defence to to make the highlight reel on a sick throwdown. Marcus Williams on the other hand has been a back up point guard who is just itching to play 40 minutes a night, he is a legitimate point guard (see his 13 assist game) who can also make his mark on the scoresheet in limited game time. He was set to become the back up to the back up (the Nets added Keyon Dooling recently) which would have been a travesty. Now, however, he has gone to Golden State where he might just see some real minutes as long as Monta Ellis remains at the 2 where he can humble other teams with his quickness.
Shannon Brown has also been given another chance not to drift off into pro sports obscurity after being offered a one year deal in Charlotte which was perhaps a consequence of the monster dunk he put down against the shocked Bobcats last season. And last but certainly not least, the shooting guard who might just help out O'Neal and Bosh with some shot-blocking, Hassan Adams, has been added to the Toronto Raptors who are looking a treat this season with their new additions. Don't forget Nathan Jawai, the australian big man rookie who might cause Bosh and O'Neal some trauma at training camp if only due to his size, let alone his athleticism.
And if these second chances weren't enough, it seems as if D-Miles might also get another chance. Darius was recently given a one year non-guaranteed deal by Boston after only 2 trainings. He must have shown them something special in those trainings because D-Miles has missed the last two years due to knee injuries, Portland cutting him loose, calling his injuries career-ending. Good on Darius for proving them wrong. Lets see if he can play ten games with the Celts and in so doing receive the $27 million compensation Portland owes him if he plays ten games over the next 2 years.
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