Room For Improvement

Michigan State (MSU) starting point Keith Appling led his team in both points and assists during his junior campaign last season. For most, this seems like quite an accomplished feat worth noting. For Appling, however, this is far from enough. For Michigan State to be a serious contender and make a run at the 2014 Final Four in Arlington (TX), Appling, I believe, needs to carry his game to the next level more than any other senior basketball player in the BIG Conference.

Spartan head coach Tom Izzo has made a living assisting decent point guards in becoming MSU legends as well as fan favorites. During the 2012-2013 season, Appling averaged 13.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per contest while serving as Izzo's point guard. These are very respectable numbers, and there is a greater number out there who would love to be able to put up such statistics on a division one college basketball team. But for the (co-) captain of the Spartans, these numbers represent mediocrity at best. If he wants to be compared to the likes of his predeccesors before him, he must learn to do what it takes to lead his team to a final four just as Mateen Cleaves, Drew Neitzel, and Kalin Lucas each did. If next season's Appling-led Spartans fail to reach Arlington, the 6'1, 190 pound point guard will be the first four-year player ever under head coach Tom Izzo to not reach a final four. One major factor separating Appling from the likes of the point guards who came before him is that he, unlike Cleaves, Neitzel, and Lucas, often fades in big-game situations.

With the exception of an early victory over Kansas and a double digit win over barely ranked Wisconsin, Appling was not at his best when his best was needed against top competition last season. Even when Sparty mopped inner-state rival Michigan off court with a 75-52 win at the Breslin in February, Appling still only scored 11 points on 14 shots and dished out only one assist. He shot a distressed 28.6% from the field, 16.% from three point rage, and 40% from the charity stripe. The Izzone, MSU's highly touted student section, clearly paid more attention to the score than Appling's numbers as they controversially shouted in unison, "Appling's better!" This bold yet mindless statement referred to the on-going comparisons between Appling and last season's Naismith Award winner and current member of the Utah Jazz, Trey Burke. Though I too was cheering for the Spartan guard in that game, I am not willing to lose my credibility by blindly deeming Appling the better of the two floor generals.

Burke usually showed up when it mattered, as evident by the distinct reality that he took his team to the NCAA championship. Appling can't say the same. In two games against the BIG champion Indiana Hoosiers (IU), he scored only nine points and nearly matched that number with six turnovers. After struggling against IU, Appling then scored only three points and had one lone assist against the always tough Ohio State Buckeyes. Later in the rematch against the Wolverines, he scored in single digits yet again with 9 points and was pick-pocketed ( in the final seconds of the game) by Burke, who managed to score the winning layup for Michigan as he stole not only the ball but also the game for the maize and blue. This play, I believe, solidified Burke's superiority over Appling. Unforuntately for Spartan fans, it got worse.

MSU basketball fans also know March Madness as the month of Tom Izzo. Izzo consistently has his guys ready come tournament time. For some reason, that was not the case for Appling who scored only two points in 28 minutes in the team's second round victory over Memphis, and had not a single assist in the sweet 16 loss to a better, more disciplined Duke Blue Devils team. He is the starting point guard. He is the captain. For a team's leader and point guard to not manage a single assist against the Blue Devils in a win-or-go-home situation is completely unacceptable for Spartan Nation.

The fact of the matter is Appling has been a good point thus far in his three seasons played under coach Izzo. Good, however, does not suffice for a program with championship level aspirations. In comparison to the guys who came before him, Appling has been mediocre at best. When Appling scored 49 points in the high school basketball state championship game to conclude his junior season at Detroit Pershing High School in 2009, the bar was immediately set higher than most can reach. Expectations sky-rocketed following that performance, and many thought Appling would be among the nation's top PG's.

Inconsistent shooting and turnovers remain Appling's achilles heel, however, and have hindered him from being honored among the game's elite. His turnover average has not declined at all since his sophomore season. Appling's assist to turnover ratio from the past two seasons is at 3.6 assists to 2.3 turnovers a game, which is hardly impressive given the expectations that dawn on him. Equally unimpressive was his 41% shooting from the field last season, and his 28.5% from three point range over the last two seasons. Appling's free throw percentage from last season (74.9%) also warrants public criticism.

If next season is to be the year of the Sparty, such numbers will have to climb. In fact, everything about Appling's game will have to trend in an uphill manner. With Derrick Nix now gone, Appling has to make his presence felt as the leader. His shooting needs to improve, but there will surely be games where he struggles from outside. It will be in those games that his legacy will be unfolded, revealed. It will be then that Spartan fans either celebrate or scrutinize, and find out if their man is capable of carrying the torch. It will be then that Appling's intangibles, leadership, and grit must emerge. It will be then, in the big games, when his shot might feel rusty, that Keith Appling must find a way to get it done.

94 Feet

     I don't know a single basketball player who doesn't like to put the ball in the hoop. Everyone likes to score. People will sprint the floor if they know they'll get an open dunk or layup as a result of doing so. What I find telling about a person's game is if that same player will sprint the floor in order to stop an opposing player's attempt at a finish in transition. While the majority of basketball players love to score, the minority, I believe, truly love to defend.

     An official basketball court is 94 feet long. You can tell who loves to defend by who uses all 94 feet of the court. There's something honorable, in my opinion, about a player who uses the entire court on both sides of the ball. A player who mans up chest to chest with the offensive player before the ball is even inbounded is the player I want on my team. He is the player who will sprint the floor on both ends of the court. He is the player who will dedicate his body and his intentions to being not only a ferocious defender, but a selfless teammate as well.

     There is something beautiful about a defense-first mentality. They say defense wins championships, so why not direct every ounce of your energy to locking up on that end of the court? Well, many players choose not to because the glory doesn't lie on D. More recognition comes with "getting buckets" or "dropping dimes." Some players are smart enough to know they won't be in the newspaper for making an extra and necessary rotation on defense, or for applying ball pressure that didn't result in a steal (but might have worn down the ball handler). These same players, unfortunately, are also dumb enough to care about how best to get recognized. Others simply choose not to defend because they decide to succumb to their fatigue. They lack the necessary will power to ignore their heavy breathing. These are the selfish  players. Fortunately for the game of basketball, not every one is like this.

     When a player dedicates his efforts to do everything in his power not to let the other team score, his mind is in the right place. The best teammates are the ones who find the beauty in getting nasty on D. These are the ones who sacrifice their bodies for the good of the team, because picking up full court man to man and applying relentless ball pressure on each possession is a tiring process. To put it short, it's one heck of a workout, both physically and mentally. The toughest players don't relent, don't stop, but continue to pressure play after play. They have the strongest will power because they continuously overcome the mental facade that their body needs to rest. They believe being tired is simply a choice they do not partake in. They believe they can draw a ten (or eight) second violation all on their own, because the offensive player doesn't need the luxury of having room to breathe. The best examples of NBA talent exhibiting such a mindset are former Detroit Piston Lindsey Hunter and Hall-of-Famer Gary Payton, who is better known as "The Glove." Former Hawk Mookie Blaylock, current Houston Rocket back-up point guard Patrick Beverly, and current Boston Celtic Avery Bradley also come to mind. Because they were so dedicated to playing both ends of the court, getting low in a defensive stance was instinctual, or second nature for these guys. These five are the guys I study most when attempting to pick up defensive habits for my own game. Fortunately for me, I've had the privilege of playing with great defenders, though less well-known than these pros, in person for quite some time.


     Growing up in Rockford, Michigan, I played at a school that brainwashed us with a defensive mentality. Former Rockford High School head coach Steve Majerle and current Rockford High assistant Ryan DeKuiper instilled in me (along with many of their past and present players) an attitude that deemed defense the perfect time to get nasty and go all out. While offense should be smooth like Alicia Keys's voice, Coach Majerle would say, defense is scream-o, its heavy metal, its Metallica. I not only got to pick their brains about this mindset, but I also got to watch and learn from some of Rockford's best. I credit much of my desire to play great defense to two former Rockford point guards. Jarad Smith and my big brother, Nathan Van Pelt, are without a doubt a pair of the best on-the-ball defenders the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) have ever seen. Unfortunately for point guards in the OK-Red conference, they played on the same team. I still credit Nathan for introducing the one-handed face guard to high school basketball in Michigan, and Jarad for the most intense, active hands I've ever witnessed from a basketball player. Each of these guys did not wait for their man to get to half court before they hounded the ball, but they picked up immediately. They used all 94 feet of the court. In other words, they got nasty.

     Like Nathan and Jarad, I too have a passion for picking up opposing ball handlers before they even turn around to see the court. I've been recognized by my previous coaches as an above average defender. However, I must admit I don't think I've ever even been the best defender on my own team.

     Throughout my high school years I was fortunate to team up with two other guards very similar to myself. Though we all have much different skillsets, we were all small, quick guards. Gabe Vanderjagt, Brogan Bibler, and I, as a result of our speed, made a living running various presses designed by our coaches, Majerle and DeKuiper, who are two great basketball minds. Brogan Bibler, or "Bibby" as I call him, I also must admit, was a better defender than I. Playing alongside him was a pleasure because he had a lock-down mentality like no other. Whether he was checking former University of Michigan speedster Kelvin Grady or simply guarding the tough guards of the OK-Red, Bibby did his thing. In college he pursued football at Grand Valley University where he also played on the defensive side of the ball. But had he wanted to, Brogan could have played small college basketball because of his unyielding ability to shut down opposing team's stars. I always thought of myself as a good defender, but in hind sight, I must say Bibby was the best of the best. While we were very similar in our mindset and our ability to pressure the ball, he was a little faster, a little stronger, and a little bigger than I was. That put him over the top.

     Much like my high school coaches stressed defense, my college coaches also believed that defense was one thing that could and should always remain consistent. You can shoot lights out one night, and go cold another night. Individuals and teams alike can have off-days on the offensive end of the court. But, defense, moreover, is something that can be brought day in and day out, as my coaches would constantly preach to me and my teammates at Spring Arbor University (SAU). I was a defense-first guy in college too, but stand by my opinion that there were guys better than I. Willie Pickvet might be the best defensive player SAU has ever seen, with his length, athleticism, and ability to guard multiple positions. He, however, did not consistently pick up full court because he was a big man. He, instead, dominated the paint. There were others, however, who I feel could defend the perimeter better than myself.

     While I was able, for the most part, to apply pressure, stay in front of my man, and occasionally draw five-second violations, I only led the SAU Cougars in steals my freshman season. During my sophomore, junior, and senior campaigns, my fellow classmate and back-court mate Chris Bellamy led the team in that category. He even finished 8th in the nation this past season with 2.4 steals per contest. He was not only better than I in the passing lanes, but Bellamy guarded four different positions while I usually checked opposing point and shooting guards. Bellamy had the ability to pressure guards as well as block shots and pull down boards (as evident by the fact that he is a member of the 600 rebound club at SAU). Every SAU follower knows he can score, but Bellamy also has a better feel for the game than anyone I've ever played with, which is precisely why I deem him an underrated and better defender than myself.

     I have a great deal of appreciation for great defenders, which guides my intentions in writing this short piece. I am very passionate about defending, doing the little things, and getting "dirty", as well as playing with players who don't make boosting their offensive stats their top priority. As a result, I'd like to thank all of the guys who "got nasty" and locked up with me during my high school and collegiate years. I also owe a great deal of thanks to the guys who went before me and set that foundation. That foundation has programmed in me a defense-first mindset in which I am extremely enthusiastic about. I call that foundation the "94-feet mentality." It's my favorite part about the game of basketball.


    

All-Star Snub

     If you have been following the world of sports lately, you probably know all about Dwight Howard's move to Houston, Aaron Hernandez's situation with the law, and Andy Murray's dominant performance in his own country at Wimbledon. If you watch SportsCenter much, baseball fan or not, you've probably also heard the name Yasiel Puig.
     Puig is a 22-year old Cuban right fielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He's been in the news as of late not just because he is a 6'3, 245 pound machine, but because his potential position on the National League's (NL) All-Star roster has been highly debated. He is now in my news because his name is not on that roster, and it's quite a shame.
     I have heard multiple arguments as to why #66 for the Dodgers doesn't belong in the "Midsummer Classic." Not one of them convinces me that Puig should not be playing under the lights of Citi Field next Tuesday night.
     The man has quickly built himself a resume proving his worth as one of Major League Baseball's rising stars and best players. Puig is the complete package with a wide range of impressive skills that should rank him among the game's elite. His batting average (just less than .400) has caught the attention of baseball followers around the world. In fact, it belittles what all-star starter Bryce Harper has done this season. Harper, who will be starting in the all-star game for the first time in his career, has hit for .274 in 55 games. After seeing such numbers, I assumed Harper's power must have propelled him to earn him a starting spot. That, however, is not the case since he has only hit for 13 home runs, which is pretty comparable to the 8 home runs Puig hit in the highly scrutinized amount of games he has played in (36).
     Puig's critiques continue to point to the number 36. He's only played in 36 games, they keep repeating. Well, in those 36 games he's shown what he can do. In those 36 games he's made a name for himself and become one of baseball's most popular players. In those 36 games he's put up league-leading numbers that cannot be ignored. 36 games is enough to recognize if a player can play or not. And there is no arguing he can play with the best of the best.
     I have also heard that he might have fallen into a slump and gone cold from the plate had he played more games. I don't think any person in the world can refute that. He MIGHT have. A lot of things MIGHT happen. Last I checked, there is no all-star committee that analyzes a series of "what-ifs." The fact of the matter is he hasn't hit a slump. Even if he does experience a hitting drought, which is very possible because hitting .400 is a rare feat, it doesn't change the great things he's done thus far. He's been consistent ever since day one. He's been consistently electrifying, and has brought hype and attention to a sport that lacks the ratings of the NBA or NFL. He's only been in the league since June 3rd, and he already has a top ten selling jersey in the league.
     The fans appreciate him, and the MLB should too. He is living in the city of angels, which draws the second highest amount of television ratings in the nation. He not only has baseball fans captivated, but non-baseball fans have also been drawn to the sport through their intrigue of the Cuban superstar (but not all-star). 

     Many fans love him, and many opposing players hate him. He's already been labeled arrogant by the opposition because of his business-like mentality. Puig, not used to the media and bright lights when he first arrived, would refuse to speak to media. He doesn't want the attention. This is something I admire. While some view this as cocky and dismissive, I read into it differently. I see a humble kid who doesn't want glory, but just wants to play baseball at a high level. He has a get-down-to-business mentality which seems to work nicely for him on the field.
    Puig is not only an excellent hitter, but he has speed around the bases on offense, and has shown flashes of his potential to become one of baseball's best defenders in the outfield. He covers ground while chasing down fly balls and has a potent arm just waiting to rack up assists. His skillset and passion have energized the city of L.A. and the Dodgers fans who have often given him standing ovations and requested curtain calls. More importantly, his team is now winning. The Dodgers were 23-32 when Puig arrived, and are now trailing the Arizona Diamondbacks by only a 1 1/2 games with a winning record of 46-45.
     The numbers don't lie. Yasiel Puig can do it all. He can hit, he can defend, he can create a spark, and he can lead his team to wins. He has not played as many games as the other outfielders on the N.L. All-Star team, but he is certainly just as talented and successful, and consequently, just as worthy of a roster spot. Baseball's 2013 All-Star game will be missing the most exciting player the sport has to offer. If that's not a snub, I don't know what is.