Perspective

[bleediteveryday30]

Short article that is to the point. I tend to agree with everything the writer states here. We all need to take a deep breath and see what happens. Personally, I think we are in for a wild ride. Thoughts?

https://www.dukebasketballreport.co...e-need-some-perspective-about-duke-basketball

 

[SwatX1]

Short article that is to the point. I tend to agree with everything the writer states here. We all need to take a deep breath and see what happens. Personally, I think we are in for a wild ride. Thoughts?

https://www.dukebasketballreport.co...e-need-some-perspective-about-duke-basketball

I think it's spot on. I FIRMLY believe without any injuries, gonzaga is our only loss

 

[LouisiAaron]

This article sums it all up. This is why I'm not trippin about Duke losing last night at all. I honestly think we played well based on the circumstances. Close games can go either way. This one didn't go our way. Oh well. We always go through little runs where we lose games that we think we shouldn't lose. It's usually in January. This year we've had some injuries and that time has come. We will be fine

 

[BeerPoisoning]

Perfectly written article, thanks for sharing. I love the words “pointlessly hypothetical” put together. I’ll be adding that to my phrases.

There’s 2 facts to be had right now
#1 - Our record is 24-4
#2 - We are the best team in the nation when we’re at 100% health

Arguing the validity of our losses healthy or not, doesn’t change the fact that they are losses. Even if Z sits until the NCAA tournament** and we lose every single game until then, we are STILL the best team in the nation once that tournament starts.

** I do believe he’ll be back before then

 

[dukebluesTX]

The occasional loss is not a bad thing. It can prevent complacency. I'd rather lose a few games than go undefeated into the tournament.

 

[germantondevil]

Most losses aren't to bad EXCEPT for losing to the Cheats in your house. That's worse that getting kicked in the nuts by a soccer player!!!!!!

 

[Shatterthesky22]

The losses are extra frustrating this year because well, at full strength this Duke squad is the best college team since the 99 squad. They deserve better than a 24-4 record, because other than past week, they've been far and away the best team in the land. I'm the grand scheme of things these two losses don't really matter even a little, as we're still in line for a 1 seed and again, at full strength it literally isn't a competition who the best team is, it's just annoying because as fans we want the W/L record to reflect how good our team is, and 24-4 isn't even close to how good they truly are.

 

[bleediteveryday30]

The losses are extra frustrating this year because well, at full strength this Duke squad is the best college team since the 99 squad. They deserve better than a 24-4 record, because other than past week, they've been far and away the best team in the land. I'm the grand scheme of things these two losses don't really matter even a little, as we're still in line for a 1 seed and again, at full strength it literally isn't a competition who the best team is, it's just annoying because as fans we want the W/L record to reflect how good our team is, and 24-4 isn't even close to how good they truly are.

I agree with everything you've stated here. That said, I remember the team in '99 only losing early to Cincinnati on a late bucket and then we were not challenged at all until Michigan State in the Final Four and even then that game wasn't really as close as the final score. If I remembering correctly. So, going into Monday night I think the majority of us just expected Duke to beat uconn business as usual. I was stunned when we lost. And i'll admit a few tears left these eyes. I still believe if that team had lost a few more times in the regular season they could've won it all. Sometimes no adversity can lead to a slip up at the worst possible time for a team capable of winning it all. Look at Kensucky from '15. Hell, they should've lost to the Irish in the elite eight and barely got to the final four by the skin of their teeth where they lost to Whisky. Not that I am upset by that. I rather enjoyed the way the 2015 season ended All that being said, I do believe this team will be better from all of this adversity come tourney time. I think once Zion comes back the rest of the NCAA will be put on notice. Or at least, that's the positive part of me that wants it to happen.

 

[Shatterthesky22]

I agree with everything you've stated here. That said, I remember the team in '99 only losing early to Cincinnati on a late bucket and then we were not challenged at all until Michigan State in the Final Four and even then that game wasn't really as close as the final score. If I remembering correctly. So, going into Monday night I think the majority of us just expected Duke to beat uconn business as usual. I was stunned when we lost. And i'll admit a few tears left these eyes. I still believe if that team had lost a few more times in the regular season they could've won it all. Sometimes no adversity can lead to a slip up at the worst possible time for a team capable of winning it all. Look at Kensucky from '15. Hell, they should've lost to the Irish in the elite eight and barely got to the final four by the skin of their teeth where they lost to Whisky. Not that I am upset by that. I rather enjoyed the way the 2015 season ended All that being said, I do believe this team will be better from all of this adversity come tourney time. I think once Zion comes back the rest of the NCAA will be put on notice. Or at least, that's the positive part of me that wants it to happen.

I rather enjoyed the way 2015 ended as well hehe. Grayson and Tyus were amazing in that second half. I agree the adversity will be beneficial come tourney time, and I still feel once we get Z back we're gonna go an nab number #6, I just wish the adversity cost us 2 games instead of 4. Also, I'm so over stupid injuries to our best players.

 

[bleediteveryday30]

I rather enjoyed the way 2015 ended as well hehe. Grayson and Tyus were amazing in that second half. I agree the adversity will be beneficial come tourney time, and I still feel once we get Z back we're gonna go an nab number #6, I just wish the adversity cost us 2 games instead of 4. Also, I'm so over stupid injuries to our best players.

So did I!! I remember that my friend and I woke up my neighbor downstairs because we were going so crazy after Tyus hit that three. And then when the final horn sound we just lost it, haha I like our chances with Zion. Without him I think it would be a pretty damn tall task. And for sure! I could go with a season without injuries to our best players. That would be swell!!!!

 

[FearTheBeard_rivals208808]

I think it's spot on. I FIRMLY believe without any injuries, gonzaga is our only loss

I agree. And, if Gonzaga wasn’t the third game in three days with 4 freshman starters in November I think that outcome may have been different as well. Not trying to take away from Gonzaga. They beat a fully healthy Duke team and deserved the win. I think Duke and Gonzaga would be a fun 7 game series to watch. I think it would go to 7.

 

[BeerPoisoning]

I agree. And, if Gonzaga wasn’t the third game in three days with 4 freshman starters in November I think that outcome may have been different as well. Not trying to take away from Gonzaga. They beat a fully healthy Duke team and deserved the win. I think Duke and Gonzaga would be a fun 7 game series to watch. I think it would go to 7.

You can’t change an aspect of the game but the first 25 minutes they were shooting off the charts. At “normal” percentages we were +13. Aside from that game, it’s hard to gauge how good Gonzaga really is... I can’t discredit them because they don’t control their conference quality but beating up weak mid-majors just isn’t impressive. I really think that’s why they get blasted every year (besides cakewalk ‘17) in the tourney because their last 20 games are against nobodies. Then they enter the real world and it’s upset city.

 

[Shatterthesky22]

I agree. And, if Gonzaga wasn’t the third game in three days with 4 freshman starters in November I think that outcome may have been different as well. Not trying to take away from Gonzaga. They beat a fully healthy Duke team and deserved the win. I think Duke and Gonzaga would be a fun 7 game series to watch. I think it would go to 7.

I concur, most years it's easy to dismiss the Zags because of their conference but, they absolutely annihilated it this year, I don't think they would have more than 3, maybe 4 losses in any conference. They are pretty scary. Would love to see them in the title game.

 

[Shatterthesky22]

So did I!! I remember that my friend and I woke up my neighbor downstairs because we were going so crazy after Tyus hit that three. And then when the final horn sound we just lost it, haha I like our chances with Zion. Without him I think it would be a pretty damn tall task. And for sure! I could go with a season without injuries to our best players. That would be swell!!!!

I watched the title game with my ex's mom, a UK fan Needless to say it was a great night. With a healthy Zion I really think we win it. Not just because we're the best team when healthy, but because they have that refuse to lose mindset, and I just don't see another team taking away RJ's hardware, dudes like Kobe when it comes to big games.

 

[nets on nets on nets]

I think Gonzaga is the most talented and best team after Duke.
Normally I think Gonzaga is at a massive disadvantage due to their joke conference schedule, but they are obliterating their competition every game, this year seems different. I do believe it helps to be "game-tested" though, playing OT games help, being down 1 with 1 minute to go helps, etc.

Gonzaga's best thing going for them is they are gonna be the #1 seed in the West and traditionally it seems like the West is the weakest region.
That Tillie dude is out too (was out against us,) but there is an argument that they are better without him.
When Tillie plays, they slide Hachimura down to the 3-man, and they have the "all 3 of our best players are big-men" problem.

 

[BeerPoisoning]

I think Gonzaga is the most talented and best team after Duke.
Normally I think Gonzaga is at a massive disadvantage due to their joke conference schedule, but they are obliterating their competition every game, this year seems different. I do believe it helps to be "game-tested" though, playing OT games help, being down 1 with 1 minute to go helps, etc.

Gonzaga's best thing going for them is they are gonna be the #1 seed in the West and traditionally it seems like the West is the weakest region.
That Tillie dude is out too (was out against us,) but there is an argument that they are better without him.
When Tillie plays, they slide Hachimura down to the 3-man, and they have the "all 3 of our best players are big-men" problem.

They’re beating up on conference opponents by an average 17 point differential.
2013 - 22pt diff
2014 - 12pt diff
2015, 2016 - 16pt diff
2017 - 25pt diff
2018 - 19pt diff

Gonzaga has smashed BYU by 30, but Mississippi St did it by 25. Loyola Maramount got rocked by 20 to Gonzaga, and UCLA. Pacific lost by 20 to them, they also lost by 20 to Nevada. If you look at WCC schools non-conference, they mostly have nobody noteworthy but the ones that do have the same jaw dropping final scores consistent with playing Gonzaga.

Don’t get me wrong - Gonzaga roughly belongs in the top 10 or 15, but they simply are not all that and a bag of snacks like everyone thinks every year. I’m not trying to discredit your opinion, you’re entitled to it and honestly, I don’t blame you. It’s easy to get sucked into “But they’re destroying teams!!!” hype. I just don’t buy it, they sell out the fans annually when it’s time to dance.