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Greivis Vasquez



If I hate a college basketball player, I generally learn to appreciate him as a pro (see: Redick, JJ). It's probably because I usually hate jump shooters and floor-slappers - two types of players that quickly become sympathetic figures when they face the NBA's math.

A superior jump shot means little in the League because guards are 6'7'' with 7-foot wingspans and 40-inch verticals. If you're getting a clean look, that is likely by design (see: Rondo, Rajon). And forget about power layups - you might as well hand the ball over to Dwight Howard. It'll certainly be less emasculating.

Mr. Hustle, you have a different problem. In a league of protected, savvy, and well-rounded (at least, in basketball terms) superstars, the most valiant floor-slappers die a thousand times before their death. Several players on every team can render your defensive effort inconsequential. You can't handcheck; refs call charges sporadically; and seven opposition coaches spend innumerable hours devising exotic ways to isolate you. Oh, and SportsCenter is on at 10. SportsCenter's not big on defensive highlights, but you'll see yourself every time you get dunked on (see: Mourning, Alonzo). Keep fighting the good fight and remember you have six fouls.