Mr. Fun-meter takes a back seat to Soap-Opera Bronny every day of the week and twice on Sundays!!! Go Rockets!!! ....... ....... .......
Yeah I mean my thinking on it though is that the NBA is so star driven in terms of the relationship and communication with the refs is that which it really has leant to constant diatribes with the refs that you really don't see in any sport. Even Euroleague which does have flopping of course, but I don't see the culture over there where it's sort of encouraged by the league to constantly be lecturing the refs. I know the league really just wants the Lebron's of the league to have those relationships, but it opens the door for even the rookies to feel it's okay to lecture refs after every play. I also blame Tony Parker and Manu for being a Spur more than being European just because I have a deep seeded hatred for that team. I couldn't stand Vinny Del Negro and Avery Johnson either before their time. The flopping though is only taking advantage of the rules. If the league wants to it knows how to officiate flopping out of the game if the player that is doing it isn't a player they are trying to promote. See Kevin Martin who was one of the most efficient 2 guards in the league for years, but they changed the rules to take away his signature move, and he was basically an irrelevant player the next season, and out of the league I think in 4 years. Harden also changed his game way more than we remember. I mean he attacked the rim constantly before the rule changes that they put in play mainly for him, and he then focused almost solely on the step back 3. But yeah I do still disagree with Ime at least at a surface level that the Euroleague is more whiny obviously, but I don't disagree that European players in the past have used their soccer/Futbol skills to better draw fouls under the league rules for hand checking... but you can't blame their Euro background for that. It's the leagues fault and they've shown evidence they can fix the rules when it suits them.... AKA when they aren't trying to promote & elevate a star like Steph Curry.
I watched it again. He said "don't get the European out of your game and play through stuff .. stop crying" (yes, he said DON'T) It sounds like he's saying that the European game is tougher, so don't expect ticky-tack foul calls (like the ones NBA stars get) and just play through it.
I watched it again too, and it's weird cause the first time I though he said "Don't" and the second time it sounds clearly like he's saying GET THE EURO... at least to me. I dunno... Doesn't really bother me because you could argue it either way. Without knowing specifically what means by "euro" either way it's sort of obtuse. I'm sure it makes more sense in practice, film etc. when he's coaching him on specific things. Without that context who the hell knows what he's talking about.
I clearly hear DON’T every time now, though I didn’t hear it the first time I watched the video. If you are not hearing DON’T, that's interesting - it's interesting that we hear different things... He’s saying don’t cry about fouls and concentrate on things you can control (you can't control NBA refs). Look to score and not try to get fouled. Play through contact and don’t look for a call. With that context, his meaning of Euro ball is implied (and that’s where DON’T or not come into play, lol).
He says "say to him", not "don't". He just says it really quickly. "say to him, get the European out of your game" It's fine.
"my biggest thing with him is I say don't get the European..." <--- this is what I hear every time now on the YT video "my biggest thing with him is I say to him get the European..." <--- this is what I heard the first time I heard it yea it's fine I do wonder if this could be due to video/audio compression...
The NBA used to be very physical, and very position specific and that stereotype has carried over, even though the NBA made rule changes almost 20 years ago that took away a lot of the physical nature of the game in the NBA. The style of play in Australia is more physical, where there is less overall athleticism but more strength and a hard hat mentality. The kids that come over from some parts of Europe tend to be a little softer, but really that has been over hyped. The USA is producing their own soft players as well, many of them playing the 4-5 spot. Also the NBA is global at this point, half the players are not from the United States. Udoka is old enough that when he played there was still some truth to the axiom about European players being softer. Even then, there were exceptionals like Arv. Sabonis - but in general, 20 years ago it was a more valid claim. People are over thinking it though - Udoka doesn't literally meal Europeans, but the style of play that they made popular years ago - he wanted the Rockets to be physical, and to maximize their mindset.
It's good that the Rockets run & hustle and that they're relatively successful - but oh boy, this roster/style of bad shooting basically requires the other team to concede huge quantities of offensive boards to even beat bad teams like the half-strength Clippers. THe other top offensive boarding teams by % are all tankers or semi-tank in Charlotte's case. 1. Houston 2. Toronto 3. Charlotte 4. Utah 5. Portland Not that it matters but, that's going to be an early playoff exit. But, better than last few years, not complaining.
Ime not being schooled on what European basketball actually is all about / what it looks like is disappointing but not surprising. Disappointed he felt the need to go there and say it publicly. I do agree Sengun needs to stop this throwing up his hands when he feels he gets fouled thing, but to just call out Sengun for it is again an odd thing for Ime to do. I see Green doing it a lot, Jabari does it, just Sengun is a bit too obvious with it.
THIS IS CRAZY. I hear it too now when before I was certain there was no “don’t”. I felt like I was being gas lit, lol. i’m glad you said you listened again, and it expired me to do the same.
I don't know what you all are arguing. If Udoka said 'get the European out of your game' he's very wrong - everyone knows players are allowed to be a lot more physical in the European league. We Americans love spectacle so a lot of defensive rules against like hand checking and the 3-second rule doesn't exist over there because we want to see the ball go in the hoop. Why do you think Sengun got into foul trouble all the time in his first year? Why do we complain about the US team not being able to match the physicality of opposing teams during the olympics? Google is your friend, you will find gazillion things to read on this from both players and sites that compare the rules. Maybe he actually says 'get the Luka out of your game' lol but didn't want to name names in the presser. Or he doesn't know this which would make me sad. His point still stands however, he complains too much and lets it get to him and disrupt his play. Not running back of defense because he's upset of some call is not acceptable and I've seen him do that a few times now. That being said Americans of course wouldn't want to give the upper hand on violence to any other nation. That's not surprising.
