Ever since the bracket came out, I've been jacked up like a spider monkey mainlining methamphetamine, pouring over highlights and game replays, trying to pick out some of the little things that make me love this team so much. This is one of my favorite plays from the secT final, and an example of what KD brings to this team every game, even if his shots aren't falling.
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With 23 secs left on the shot clock the gators center, axel condom, sets a screen on KD at the top of the key. If you recall, this bloke is the giant former rugby player from Oceania. tv announcers tend to mention this a
lot, as if it's indicative of toughness, I guess. Anyway, he's got nearly a foot of height and 40-50 lbs on KD, but we'll soon see that the "No Fear" shirt you remember from middle school was actually correct. It aint the size of the dog in the fight...yadda yadda yadda.
Condom rolls to the low block after the pick. KD briefly switches to samuel, then directs Johni to take him, and picks up condom. As KD starts to body condom, Samuel gets the ball just inside the 3 pt line. JB is 4-5 feet away with his hands down, and condom is about 8 feet away, with position on KD. Samuel looks at making the entry pass but quickly thinks better of it. Little did he know, but KD was listening to Juvenile during pre-game, and he proceeds to back dat azzz up and drive condom completely out of the lane.
Condom regroups and tosses KD aside using both hands, but KD recovers in less than a second and is immediately back in front, preventing another entry pass to take advantage of this perceived "mismatch." Condom realizes he's the one who's overmatched, and rotates back to the top of the key.
Chad offers to switch and pick up condom, but KD says, "NO! This clown's no threat without an oblong ball," and waves him off. KD moves to double the driver as JB cuts him off. Once the driver picks up his dribble, KD immediately rotates back to condom, getting a body on him and preparing to drive him out of offensive rebounding position.
This subtle move allows Chad a split-second head start to move into the passing lane for the steal and run-out.
KD is fist-pumping and turning to talk shit before CBM even crosses mid-court, letting condom know just how useless he is, and telling him he's better off playing soccer than rugby or whatever it is they do in that penile colony.
Of course this is just a single play, but I was impressed watching KD assert his dominance over a big man for the majority of a possession. KD was a starter when we played yale in Auburn Arena in late 2021. Yes, he can be maddening at times, but you have to respect his willingness to embrace coming off the bench, and how he relishes the opportunity to take advantage of fresh legs and put pressure on the opposing defense.
One of the reasons this team is so dangerous is its depth, and the variety of role players. In order to make a run, we will need good performances from KD, CJ, C-Mo and Tre at different times. Few teams have 8-10 guys that can go get 10-15 on a given night. We are as deep and versatile as any team in the country, and we are primed for a run. ZFG about uconn and the seeding. We can beat anyone.
tl;dr: We back down from no one, and KD exemplifies that.
