Le Journal

We talk periodically about blocked shots and how so often they’re just wasted opportunities. Why? Because guys just throw the ball out of bounds and give it back to the other team. Granted, it’s fun to throw a shot into the fifth row and it projects a certain amount of power. All good fun. But really, it’s a turnover. If you could tip the ball like Bill Russell taught everyone to do, that’s ideal. If you can just deflect it like Tim Duncan usually did, you have a solid chance of getting it back. Most people don’t though. Most guys like to throw it as far as they can, only to give it right back to the other team and give them a chance to score again. It’s really dumb. It’d be great if basketball had style points but that’s not the case. Actually if you did have style points, one of the greatest blocks you could possibly do, along with one of the most intimidating, is simply to go up and not block the shot, but just catch it. Because the reality is, if you can throw it, you can catch it. And if you can catch it, there’s no play in basketball that’s more deflating than just catching a shot. Take this play by former Duke Blue Devil Mark Williams. Brooklyn’s Nic Claxton, who is 6-11 by the way, tries to drive on Williams and when he shoots, Williams waits for a second, gathers himself…then just goes up and plucks the shot out of the air. You can have the rim-rattling dunks and whatever else, but nothing steals another man’s soul like just pulling his shot right out of the air. It’s an incredible play. Plus Phoenix, for all intents and purposes, got a turnover and a chance to pick up points on their own end of the floor. If you can’t control it, then tip it and try to get it on the way down. But whatever you do, for God’s sake, don’t just give it back to the other team when you could take it away. What a stupid thing to do. You might as well hold the ball on the baseline and drop it out of bounds. Go to the DBR Boards to find Blue Healer Auctions | Drop us a line

Guess who is back? Jason has returned from Africa with tales of gorilla sightings and tea farming. But for his first episode back, the DBR Podcast doesn’t even mention the word “basketball” because the guys are all about the lawsuit Duke has filed to keep Darian Mensah from fleeing via the transfer portal. Luckily, in a legal matter like this we happen to already have a lawyer on staff in Donald Wine. Listen in as Donald uses his legal expertise to guide you through everything you need to know about Duke Football v. Darian Mensah. Make sure you’re following us! Head to our Linktree to get all our available social media and links to follow and subscribe to the show. That includes our affiliate partnerships, from Homefield Apparel (use the code DBRPODCAST to save 15% off your first order) and Fanatics to the NBA Store, NFL Shop, and even Fubo TV. And…we have some more coming! Save some cash on the latest gear or follow the Blue Devils on the go by hitting those affiliate links and it helps support the show as well. We are now on YouTube! Subscribe there, rate, and review our episodes on there and everywhere you get your podcasts. Also, follow us on Bluesky ⁠@DukeRoundup⁠! Go to the DBR Boards to find Blue Healer Auctions | Drop us a line