Originally Posted by
OZZIE4DUKE
OK, boys and girls, y'all are in some serious need of Duke Blue colored glasses here, and I'm just the man to provide them. All in agreement, please say "aye". All who disagree, please leave the room.
1. What do we know? Not much. Kyrie has ligament damage to his toe. It's swollen. He's had all the diagnostic tests that can be initially done but results aren't conclusive (and we certainly aren't being told much, even if his parents and the coaches are.) More will be known in the next week to ten days, and I'm sure information will slowly leak out as it's known, some true, some made up by our favorite "journalists".
2. We have a team full of fabulous basketball players. We have two senior All American candidates who wear (or have in storage or on display at home) National Championship rings that came back to Duke to compete for another National Championship. We have talented big men who have the same rings and have both shown significant improvement from last year - Mason and Ryan consistently and Miles last night. We have two sophomore wing guards that are incredible all around players and shooters, one with a National Championship ring and one that contributed mightily to the effort but who was denied the ring due to NCAA rules and wants to earn his own. Dre's improvement to his overall game from last year has been evident since the first game - did any of you see the feature on him on last week's Coach K show on Sunday? He worked tirelessly on improving his shot, conditioning and defense over the summer, and it shows. And Seth Curry has the potential to be the most complete player on the floor for us. He's been in a bit of a shooting slump, but he started to come out of it last night in the second half and the sky is the limit for him. Our other two freshman - well Hairston is a bull with a nose for the ball and a deft touch, and Thornton is a blur and can burn you in a heartbeat if you let him. Great depth at point guard behind Nolan and Seth. And isn't it great that Seth got to run the Blue team all last year in practice against Jon Scheyer and Nolan Smith! He has a full year's experience playing point guard - who woulda thunk he'd have needed that this year? Wasn't that going to be Kyrie and Nolan's job, with Tyler as the third point? Funny how things work out, isn't it!
3. Anyone notice who is still sitting on the bench, wearing the black suit? Guy named Krzyzewski? He has more than just a teensy tiny bit of experience in adjusting to adversity on the fly, to changing strategy when necessary, especially when he has a few days to do it, like now. And he's flanked by some of the same guys who were on the floor to experience those changes in strategy, leading to a National Championship. Guys like Nate James and Chris Carawell. Wojo and Collins might have a thing or two to add to the mix too.
No folks, there is no need for an "All is lost" thread. Far from it. 40 - 0 may be in jeopardy, but all our other goals are still in play, with, or without, Kyrie Irving. Kyrie is an exciting, dynamic player who adds a phenomenal dimension to our play that we have rarely seen and he's a joy to watch. I hope he heals quickly and comes back this season. Duke medicine has been known to work miracles for athletes and everyday folk, and let us all hope the doctors, and God, can work one for Kyrie.