Patty O'Shoot: Sparks' showtime
[Ed. Note: I apologize that due to other events, my post today will be a short one.]
Watching Patrick Sparks play, for most of us 5'10"ish white Kentucky fans, hits awfully close to home. He doesn't jump very high, he uses a scoop shot and his hair is, well, disappearing. But it's also akin to a basketball fantasy, because when he's on -- and in last night's 81-66 solid win over Mississippi State, he was most definitely on -- any gym is like a rec gym.
Sparks led Kentucky with a season-high tying 25 points on an array of spin moves, deep jumpers and even an unathletic tip-in for good measure. He also tallied 4 assists and 4 rebounds, all while manning the point for much of the game. His unconscious trigger helped guide UK to a season-high 13 three-pointers as a team.
Credit both the players for approaching their coach about Sparks running the point and Rajon Rondo playing off the ball and Tubby Smith for being man enough to listen. The difference in this team with a more engaged and functional Sparks is palpable. Put bluntly, it has saved this season.
The shift opens up Rondo to use his athleticism all over the court, something that was on display last night when the sophomore from Louisville put up the kind of line that makes pro scouts drool -- 7 rebounds, 9 points, 8 assists and 4 steals. Two blocks, including a blocked dunk, kept Rondo from another 4 points and a certain Sportscenter highlight reel. But the aggressiveness is what impressed me most, and the same could be said for the whole team.
Joe Crawford returned to form, dropping 4 of 6 threes on his way to 14 points. Randolph Morris, while battling fouls (again) and a good shot blocker, had a quiet scoring night but grabbed 7 rebounds, 5 of them early in the game. All in all, the team showed up to win, and they did just that.
This was exactly the kind of follow up that the Cats needed after the great second half Sunday against the Gamecocks, and in advance of Saturday's grudge match in Gainesville. The surprising number of three-point attempts (25) scares me a bit. This team cannot afford to become beholden to the trey. But as in their win over West Virginia in November, the Cats show they have versatility, and that they can handle a zone defense begging them to shoot.
All in all, a satisfying win, especially if you like your players short, white, unathletic and victorious.
Watching Patrick Sparks play, for most of us 5'10"ish white Kentucky fans, hits awfully close to home. He doesn't jump very high, he uses a scoop shot and his hair is, well, disappearing. But it's also akin to a basketball fantasy, because when he's on -- and in last night's 81-66 solid win over Mississippi State, he was most definitely on -- any gym is like a rec gym.
Sparks led Kentucky with a season-high tying 25 points on an array of spin moves, deep jumpers and even an unathletic tip-in for good measure. He also tallied 4 assists and 4 rebounds, all while manning the point for much of the game. His unconscious trigger helped guide UK to a season-high 13 three-pointers as a team.
Credit both the players for approaching their coach about Sparks running the point and Rajon Rondo playing off the ball and Tubby Smith for being man enough to listen. The difference in this team with a more engaged and functional Sparks is palpable. Put bluntly, it has saved this season.
The shift opens up Rondo to use his athleticism all over the court, something that was on display last night when the sophomore from Louisville put up the kind of line that makes pro scouts drool -- 7 rebounds, 9 points, 8 assists and 4 steals. Two blocks, including a blocked dunk, kept Rondo from another 4 points and a certain Sportscenter highlight reel. But the aggressiveness is what impressed me most, and the same could be said for the whole team.
Joe Crawford returned to form, dropping 4 of 6 threes on his way to 14 points. Randolph Morris, while battling fouls (again) and a good shot blocker, had a quiet scoring night but grabbed 7 rebounds, 5 of them early in the game. All in all, the team showed up to win, and they did just that.
This was exactly the kind of follow up that the Cats needed after the great second half Sunday against the Gamecocks, and in advance of Saturday's grudge match in Gainesville. The surprising number of three-point attempts (25) scares me a bit. This team cannot afford to become beholden to the trey. But as in their win over West Virginia in November, the Cats show they have versatility, and that they can handle a zone defense begging them to shoot.
All in all, a satisfying win, especially if you like your players short, white, unathletic and victorious.
1 Comments:
At 12:24 PM, jrob said…
i think it's interesting that tubby listened to his players about sparks running the point. and i like to hear it. it's that kind of coaching that may not only turn this team round but help us all stop making excuses for being tubby supporters. that's not to say that this team(and tubby) doesn't have a long way to go... and they aren't going to get there solely from the three-point line.
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