Dr Z

Prepare like Herb Brooks prepared for the soviets.

I just finished watching the movie and felt compelled to share. I bet a lot of the readers here have seen the movie 'More Than a Game' I’m not afraid to say that if you read ZipsNation basketball forum, you will enjoy “More Than a Game.’ First off, being an Akron basketball fan you get to see Dru, Romeo and KD being interviewed and shown extensively, but the movie itself is a great story of friendship and success. I was skeptical going into the movie, I thought maybe somebody was just trying to cash in on Lebron’s name with some video that they shot during high school. If that was the case, it turned out to be much much more. I learned so much. I wish I could have seen this movie before Dru and Romeo had come to play for the Zips, I would have even been a bigger fan than I already was, I gained a lot of respect for both, especially Dru. I gained even more respect for his Dad who was thrust into a head coaching job when KD left the team. An example of the honesty in the movie; as KD is leaving the team, Lebron is quoted as saying he was mad and never wanted to speak to KD again. I like the honesty of Dru Sr when he stated that he really didn’t know much about basketball, but since Dru wanted to play he decided to educate himself by reading plenty of books and watching lots of videos. The story made me realize how Lebron, Dru, Sian and Willy are true friends. It makes you understand how Romeo felt like he was the outside looking in. My point of this long winded example of how I’m a terrible writer is that if you haven’t seen this movie, I urge you to do so. You will be a better basketball fan after you have seen it. I have to thank GP1 for urging me to read the ‘Blind Side’, maybe you’ll thank me for urging you to watch ‘More Than a Game’ if you already haven't. I always thought that Lebron missed out on the college experience, I was wrong, he had the college experience in high school.The Lebron James story was told very well. The whole story was edited unbelievable. After watching the Oscar’s last night, I can’t believe this movie didn’t win more awards. A great story about friendship that all of us on this board can relate to. See it. Kristopher Belman is the writer, producer, director and cinematographer, he does each well. I hope I'm not building your expectations up so that you can't enjoy it, but I think you will. After the tough loss on Friday, it was a good basketball pick me up tonight. I'm ready for Thursday now.Article on Kris not making the movie "the Lebron movie"

That's an easy thing to do when your more talented than the other team. It will take more than quotes to beat Ken+ if we get to face them a third time. We must change. We can go in with the same game plan and hope that everything for us goes right, and everything for them goes wrong, OR, we can try something different. I would love to give coach Belichick the two tapes of the previous games and let him come up with something. The mouse can attack the cat all it wants, it ain't gonna beat it. There is a way though, but we have to change. Good luck staff. If we beat Ken+ in the MAC tourney, it will be because of you. I hope the staff is working tirelessly on that right now. I hope we get the opportunity. I got my DVR set.

This is pretty cool, you can watch the replay. If you wanted to see yourself on tv (maybe).

I enjoyed many a IC Lights in my life at The Sun. Joe was always happy to tell you a story. RIP Joe.

Akron has offered Jakarr, so has Xavier & Dayton

I think that may be one of the hazards of having a coach who is so focused on defense. I personally have no problem with stressing D if it results in winning more games. But obsessing over D to the point that it becomes a detriment to offense is not so good.I don't know if this is what's happening with KD and the Zips, but it's probably worth considering along with all the other possibilities. I recently had a ZN member tell me he attended a practice and all they did was focus on defense. Now granted this was just one practice, but I wonder about our emphasis on defense also. But to defend the staff...there is this. I can only go by what I see on the floor at games (where it counts), and it looks to me that we need to focus some more on offense.

And unfortunately, that was pretty evident throughout most of the 80 minutes we've played against those guys this year. So how do you beat a team like Ken+ if you know that they are superior to you? Can you come up with a scheme to beat them? Can you take away what they do best? Can you expose them defensively? Will we change something if we play them again? If our coach goes in with the same game plan and doesn't try something different, I will be disappointed. Does anybody have an example of KD beating a team that was superior where he "out coached" the other team? Will he tighten the rotation? How did other teams beat Ken+? I need some hope if we play Ken+ again.

Good topic. I considered starting this topic a couple times this year, but I figured most would just point to "we are doing it right", "look at our 20 win seasons" "the program is headed in the right direction" Timing is everything, and this is perfect timing for this thread. To answer you question, YES. Get me a POINT GUARD for next year. THAT is what this team is missing. It couldn't have been more evident than it was Friday night. I refuse to look at any silly stats that say otherwise. Ken+ is more athletic than us, period. I want to beat a good team, not just 20 crappy ones.

I wonder is you'll make ZW's "Quit on the Zips HOF"?

Somebody else could beat Ken+. We obviously can't. But if somebody else beats Ken+, we are as good if not better than anybody else. I'll be there. You should too.

check your pm

Wow, nice read. I learned something. Erick Howard should read this story for motivation.

I would like to know Josh's vertical.I don't know if you ever seen Jimmal play, but his vertical stat was not inflated. I wish this listed his vertical.

I see a few not wearing the official Oakland Zoo shirts.

That stadium pictured is AWESOME. I noticed the scoreboard, that is the score I predicted for that game.Hire Gensler, they did PNC Park, it's a great view of a not so spectacular space. Somehow when you sit in PNC park the view of Pittsburgh is awesome (for what it is). It's easy when you have majestic mountains. It's not as easy in Akron. Possible, but it will take talent.

Congrats on your #4 seed Buffalo!

Bluto bases the popularity of an article or the mac by the amount of comments he gets under the article? Most people that respond to those things are trolls anyway. Read the comments under a Browns or Indians article. Nobody commented on his Can't/Akron article but 6,000 people figured out how to get tickets to the game tonight. If he wants comments, tell him to get a Facebook page or Twitter. I'll save my comments for Rasor's blog. He is a true Zips fan.

I disagree.What you described is how we have been winning, true. What I described is how I want to win. I think our potential to become a better/dangerous team exists with my "formula" This formula is dependent upon Zeke staying out of foul trouble. I think when he learns that, he will become offensively dynamic. Once that happens Steve is going to see a lot of open spot up 3's. IMO that is a deadly combination. Zeke will be a big part of us winning on the offensive end of the floor in the coming years, but he isn't there right now. For tonight's game, and for the big games next week we need to stick with what our strength is now. Tonight isn't the night to try to force him into being the offensive threat we want him to become eventually.I cut and paste the below quote from Rasor's site. I'm not really disagreeing with you, I'm just excited about Zeke doing well. He is a player (physically/talent) like we have never had before and IMO he is the key to competing with good college basketball programs. Let's get started sooner rather than later.

I disagree.What you described is how we have been winning, true. What I described is how I want to win. I think our potential to become a better/dangerous team exists with my "formula" This formula is dependent upon Zeke staying out of foul trouble. I think when he learns that, he will become offensively dynamic. Once that happens Steve is going to see a lot of open spot up 3's. IMO that is a deadly combination.

I wish I would have heard that!I stopped listening to KNR about 7 years ago. Whenever they had Couch, Holcomb, Couch, Holcomb debates on all day long. I just couldn't take it anymore.Yesterday I clicked on the link when you posted. Rizzo and Bernie were doing the EXACT same thing when I shut it off 7 years ago! I'll turn it backon 7 years from now to see if there still doing it.

Here is how I would like to win. Take advantage of our strengths. (Zeke & Steve / Inside & Out). Work Z down low, work to get open looks for Steve's 3's. That should be 40 percent of what we do on offense. The other 60 percent of offense will take care of itself. Next year this should be 50/50. Do what ever on defense. I don't care about defense in basketball. Personally I like zone, but I'll give up that dream as long as KD is coaching.

We did. Jimmal Ball. His vertical was insane. Correct me if I'm wrong, wasn't it 51". He was in SI with his vertical next to him in a college preview one year.What is Josh's vertical, does anybody know?

Put me down in the don't like Bluto column. While he does have a talent to write that I don't have, he lacks material and good opinion. I agree this is one of his better articles. At the very least he got quotes from the coaches. I have no issue with this article. I wish I learned more in general when I read his articles. I'm going off the days I lived in Akron and subscribed to the BJ. I remember being super psyched when the Indians got Roberto Alomar, the one time Bluto did have an opinion was the next day when he wrote what a terrible move it was for the Indians to sign such a player. Roberto was such a bad person. He spit on an umpire once...blah blah blah. He acted like he was so righteous. And all along, Terry was addicted to porn. Wonder how that is working out for him. With the invention of the internet there are plenty of good writers with talent that have opinions that I enjoy much more than TP.

I like Big Zips idea. Good thinking.I'll go a more traditional route, get the Duece and the seats will fill. If Cleveland St gets this kid, I may go to more of their games.