[ad_1]
Zion Williamson of Duke went to have an evening on Thursday. The phenomenon returned to the game after missing five games due to a knee injury to lead the Blue Devils to the semi-finals of the ACC tournament with a performance at the height of the hype around his stature. Williamson helped Duke tidy Syracuse 84-72 with a 29-point performance on 13 out of 13 shots. Oh, and he also added 14 rebounds, five flights and one block.
The game dispelled any concerns about Williamson's health and reminded all Americans that they should be terrified of what would happen in the NCAA tournament. It's also the kind of performance that lets you ask what you have to do to stop it. Certainly nothing legal seemed to work.
So, when Frank Howard of Syracuse was said to have tried to trip Williamson early in the game, many wondered if a deliberate strategy was to try to hurt the star again.
For his part, Howard then denied the complaint, saying that he had no intention of tripping Zion. Others who watched the movie said that it had appeared Howard stretched out his hand to hold Sion back, giving the impression that it was accidental.
Frank on Zion: I showed the video. I will not wait 4 years to get to this position to trip someone up. Said that he has a lot of respect for Zion.
– Donna Ditota (@DonnaDitota1) March 15, 2019
Whatever it is, it certainly looked like a trip, which is definitely a huge no-no. And the ESPN analyst and Duke graduate, Jay Williams, was quick to defend Zion and call Howard about the fundamental question:
My thoughts on the trigger situation #DukevsCuse @ Sports Center pic.twitter.com/RkHIlsGO6o
– Jay Williams (@RealJayWilliams) March 15, 2019
"Listen, I understand. Sometimes children get lost in the competition juice. But we do not need to stumble guys, man. I said it a few years ago. I was categorical about it then. And I'm categorical about it now. Frank Howard took a shot at Zion Williamson. It's right there on the black and white band. We do not have a place in our game for that kind of thing. Zion Williamson has a chance to make a lot of money. Everyone wants to see him play … Frank Howard should have been suspended. He should have been ejected from the game. Flagrant two. Take him out of there. I do not want to see that in basketball anymore. That's how guys get hurt.
Strong words from Williams that send a powerful message. Stumbling and cheating can not be tolerated.
But … that's not what Williams said in 2017 about Grayson Allen, of Duke, who has earned the reputation of being a regular tripper during games. Williams said Thursday, "I said it a few years ago. I was adamant about this at the time. But, thanks to Freezing Cold Takes, which merged Williams' comments with those of Thursday with those of 2017 when he asked about Allen, we can see that he's talking about a any other story about what is just basketball.
Here is an excerpt from @RealJayWilliams from tonight about Frank Howard tripping Zion & @RealJayWilliams in 2017 about the trigger players of Grayson Allen.
(H / T @SteveVoot) pic.twitter.com/hn0lOlIqqf
– Caught iced (@OldTakesExposed) March 15, 2019
Here's Williams in 2017 on Allen:
"You know what, I'm above." I like the fact that he stumbles. "Why not? Be a bad guy. </ P> <p> Enjoy it. </ P> <p> I'm not saying that's good, but I'll say that sometimes there is a tendency to overreaction because as a Duke player you are always hated, people always tell you that you are sweet, you are a choir boy. "
So, if you keep points, it's normal for Duke players to stumble over others and put their career in danger because they have to prove that they're tough guys, but it's not acceptable for others to stumble the Blue Devils as we have to protect their finances the future.
Maybe Howard did it on purpose, maybe not. But Jay was right on one point. It really seems that "sometimes, there is a tendency to overreact," especially when you choose and choose who can do what he wants on the ground.
[ad_2]
Source link