The Bobcat Nation

great game last night. i have stated before that i really don't like gonzaga. they seem to be the college basketball version of the broncos, in that so many montana people have tried to inherit them as "our" team because they are good, and semi-close to home. and after working for few in his camp a few years ago, i went from not really caring for, to boarderline-hate for this school. all that being said, i actually am pretty fond of many of their players. morrison especially. you can get into the whole argument about how good he is, or how overrated he is all you want. but their is no denying the fact that he played his ass off every second of every game, and wants to win more than anyone. i have been reading some of the crap over at egriz on him, and it has me searching for perspective. to actually call a man out, for letting his emotions show after a loss baffles me. when i saw him start to cry, it actually brought a smile to my face. not because i was happy he was shattered,, but because it's nice to see a man who is so passionate, and plays to win, and hates to lose. i hope he has a bright future in the nba, and hopefully the next time i see him cry, it will be of joy after winning an nba title. props to morrison and the zags.

I have no problem what so ever with the emotions. I truly felt for him, but he had a lot to do with them losing. Bad shots in the final couple of minutes, then when the final basket was made by UCLA he was just watching when he was close enough to give a hard foul to make UCLA win it at the foul line. Flavio (sp) was much furhter away and was the only one that even tried to stop the UCLA guy. THen MOrrison was too busy looking at the clock and Flavio (sp) was half way up the court and way ahead of Morrison by the time he figured out what was going on. THen on the jump ball he just watched while everyone else close to the ball was on the ground. Then for there last shot to win it he is ball begging at the free throw line only it was the free throw line 10 feet form the inbounder on the wrong side of the floor.

Maybe I was looking for things because I really don't like Morrison's game or I was so pissed because I hate UCLA especially with Walton in the stands, but that is what I saw.

I agree that he made some mistakes toward the end of the game, but his effort in any game can't be questioned. I don't like Gonzaga and I was so excited to see them lose, but seeing Morrison cry made me stop for a minute and appreciate how much passion for basketball he has. It is awesome so see someone that competitive and with that much fire. I have no problem with him crying on the court and actually respect him more after that then I did before.

Overall that was a classic basketball game that will go down as one of the NCAA tournament's many great games.

That is pretty harsh on Morrison. My view is that with the lead, they got conservative and tried to run the shot clock down on every posession. Then Morrison would get the ball and end up forcing a shot just to get one off. The two biggest mistakes were Batista being lazy with the ball and getting it stripped leading to the layup, and Shavio getting in to big a hurry, forcing the ball up and turning it over.

Be nice to a Glendive boy. How many NBA basketball players can you name that came from Montana. Not many. We should be proud of his achievements. At least I think he was born in Glendive since his old man was the Coach at DCC.

I'll offer an alternate view.

I was disgusted that he started crying with 3.9 seconds left on the clock. If that is your leader, and if he gives up w/UCLA still only up by two, then I don't want that guy leading me. Maybe I'm old school, but the crying on the court after the game left a bad taste in my mouth as well. I have no problem with the emotion, but do that stuff in the locker room with the guys you just fought your heart out with. I'm sure he cares, but that moment made it all seem about him and how he wanted it more than his teammates.

It reminded me of my 2 year-old having a meltdown. The passion is fine, but really Adam, you aren't a kid anymore.

I went from really liking Morrison to somewhat liking Morrison after that act he pulled on Thursday. I hope he redeems himself in a Blazer uniform.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/st ... ons/060328

Ponycat wrote:http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/st ... ons/060328

Kinda....choked...me.......up. Not!

rtb wrote:I agree that he made some mistakes toward the end of the game, but his effort in any game can't be questioned.

I watched him a few times during the regular season and thought I saw something. But it was undoubtable in the tournament. MORRISON SLACKS ON DEFENSE. He doesn't fight for rebounds. He doesn't put any pressure on the guy he's defending. He might play passing lanes, but that is because he is lazy on D. He gets beat back on transition D every single time. One time I noticed 3 opposing players and 2 from his own team pass by him on a break. Had it been a Gonzaga offensive break, I'll guarantee Rocket Ismail couldn't have even caught Adam. He is a phenominal offensive player, but he looks at the defensive side of the court as his opportunity to relax and conserve energy.

I'm sorry to rain on people's parade. He might be everyone's next "Great White Hope". I know he has Montana roots. But I really had a hard time rooting for him after I focused in on how he played defense. I will have no problem embracing him as a fan, as soon as he puts for even a little bit of effort on the defensive end.

WolfPtCat wrote:

rtb wrote:I agree that he made some mistakes toward the end of the game, but his effort in any game can't be questioned.

I watched him a few times during the regular season and thought I saw something. But it was undoubtable in the tournament. MORRISON SLACKS ON DEFENSE. He doesn't fight for rebounds. He doesn't put any pressure on the guy he's defending. He might play passing lanes, but that is because he is lazy on D. He gets beat back on transition D every single time. One time I noticed 3 opposing players and 2 from his own team pass by him on a break. Had it been a Gonzaga offensive break, I'll guarantee Rocket Ismail couldn't have even caught Adam. He is a phenominal offensive player, but he looks at the defensive side of the court as his opportunity to relax and conserve energy.

I'm sorry to rain on people's parade. He might be everyone's next "Great White Hope". I know he has Montana roots. But I really had a hard time rooting for him after I focused in on how he played defense. I will have no problem embracing him as a fan, as soon as he puts for even a little bit of effort on the defensive end.

Good points! I actually didn't watch his defense during the tourney, but the few games I caught this year he definitely was a slacker on D. I am in no way a fan. I would like to see him have some success just because he is from MT, but yes he does need to hustle on D or he won't ever be a great player in the NBA.

rtb wrote:

WolfPtCat wrote:

rtb wrote:I agree that he made some mistakes toward the end of the game, but his effort in any game can't be questioned.

I watched him a few times during the regular season and thought I saw something. But it was undoubtable in the tournament. MORRISON SLACKS ON DEFENSE. He doesn't fight for rebounds. He doesn't put any pressure on the guy he's defending. He might play passing lanes, but that is because he is lazy on D. He gets beat back on transition D every single time. One time I noticed 3 opposing players and 2 from his own team pass by him on a break. Had it been a Gonzaga offensive break, I'll guarantee Rocket Ismail couldn't have even caught Adam. He is a phenominal offensive player, but he looks at the defensive side of the court as his opportunity to relax and conserve energy.

I'm sorry to rain on people's parade. He might be everyone's next "Great White Hope". I know he has Montana roots. But I really had a hard time rooting for him after I focused in on how he played defense. I will have no problem embracing him as a fan, as soon as he puts for even a little bit of effort on the defensive end.

Good points! I actually didn't watch his defense during the tourney, but the few games I caught this year he definitely was a slacker on D. I am in no way a fan. I would like to see him have some success just because he is from MT, but yes he does need to hustle on D or he won't ever be a great player in the NBA.

Because the NBA is known for it's great defensive play?

suckitgriz wrote:Because the NBA is known for it's great defensive play?

Very true!

rtb wrote:

suckitgriz wrote:Because the NBA is known for it's great defensive play?

Very true!

ya, he is definitely doing something right because out of 10 nba scouts polled, 8 said he was the best player in the country, and a top 3 pick in the draft. bag on the kid all you want, but tears and all, he is one of the best, and is going to be set for life doing what he loves to do. my 2 cents....let the bashing continue.

whitetrashgriz wrote:great game last night. i have stated before that i really don't like gonzaga. they seem to be the college basketball version of the broncos, in that so many montana people have tried to inherit them as "our" team because they are good, and semi-close to home. and after working for few in his camp a few years ago, i went from not really caring for, to boarderline-hate for this school. all that being said, i actually am pretty fond of many of their players. morrison especially. you can get into the whole argument about how good he is, or how overrated he is all you want. but their is no denying the fact that he played his ass off every second of every game, and wants to win more than anyone. i have been reading some of the crap over at egriz on him, and it has me searching for perspective. to actually call a man out, for letting his emotions show after a loss baffles me. when i saw him start to cry, it actually brought a smile to my face. not because i was happy he was shattered,, but because it's nice to see a man who is so passionate, and plays to win, and hates to lose. i hope he has a bright future in the nba, and hopefully the next time i see him cry, it will be of joy after winning an nba title. props to morrison and the zags.

Michael Jordan cried.

bearBAC cries every night before he goes to bed.