YouTubeTuesday: The College Baron

by Fantasy Junkie on Feb 26, 2008 9:47 AM PST in YouTube Tuesday

I was surfing around YouTube last night I thought I'd post a couple highlights I found from Baron's college years. Just for fun.

The first is one a dribble fake that I'm sure all Warrior fans are familiar with - the behind the back dribble in the open court back to the same hand. The thing about this one is not so much the move - for someone who can dribble, the move isn't that difficult - it's the reaction of the defender in the paint. Dude gets completely faked out. Just watch.

One more highlight after the jump...

This is Baron before the injuries mounted up. Look at the lift, the explosion and where he takes off from. Maybe a few times a year we'll see something like this from Baron (such as the dunk on AK-47), but at UCLA and his first year in the league, it seemed to happen with regularity. Imagine how his career would have been without the injuries. As amazing of an athlete he is right now, he could have been even better.

Update: And another UCLA Baron highlight video. Thanks to Luusiic for posting the link to this one. Some jaw dropping, fun stuff.

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the second video. But the first one is sick, the defender gets his ankles completely broken.

then we will fight in the shade.

by Swamp Thing on Feb 26, 2008 10:01 AM PST reply actions

Hmmmm

Not sure why it doesn't work. I changed the link, hopefully it works.

If not, here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdvEMNCQGlk

by Fantasy Junkie on Feb 26, 2008 11:28 AM PST up reply actions

Thanks FJ

you da man.

then we will fight in the shade.

by Swamp Thing on Feb 26, 2008 4:42 PM PST up reply actions

I never saw either...

WOW that was an awesome behind the back!! DAMN

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by GreenLightJerky on Feb 26, 2008 10:05 AM PST reply actions

Anything to move that hawks recap off the top

Plus, these are some nasty plays.

by SkipT on Feb 26, 2008 10:15 AM PST reply actions

+1

yeah

"We're all corrupt bastards." - Don Nelson

by GameSix on Feb 26, 2008 11:47 AM PST up reply actions

Not to burst the excitement bubble

But the dunk was called an offensive foul.

Still unbelievable though

My pictures never show up here, so this is my new Signature

by sloth11 on Feb 26, 2008 10:29 AM PST reply actions

Haha

Yea I noticed the ref waving it off but for the sheer athleticism, it's off the charts.

by Fantasy Junkie on Feb 26, 2008 11:22 AM PST up reply actions

UCLA Days were amazing

I can't see the video here at work but I'm pretty sure I know what it is. It was Baron's last game as a Bruin vs. UW. I was at the game as a student. He had 3 jaw dropping dunks: One over 7'1 Todd McCullough, the one where he's running the fast break and dribbles behind his back, breaking the defender's ankles (this video I believe), and a huge windmill dunk from the baseline.

The entire student section after the game kept chanting, "One more year, one more year..."

by diggitydawg510 on Feb 26, 2008 10:40 AM PST reply actions

He was a legend

I was at UCLA when Baron went there.
It was a treat to see him kill the PAC-10.
As a freshmen, you knew he was only going to be a there only a short time.
But man, what a time it was.

by warriordean on Feb 26, 2008 10:44 AM PST reply actions

Baron in UCLA

http://youtube.com/watch?v=hLch7JBvXEQ

Even better video from UCLA days. With 2 or 3 more sick dunks :)

Gotta love that guy!

GSW FTW!

by Luusiic on Feb 26, 2008 10:57 AM PST reply actions

the warriors should only draft

ucla players. if we had darren collison/russell westbrook/kevin love on the bench next year, we'd be money. k love would throw dimes all day to monta. he'd do webber's roll, except better, and off the bench. wesbrook is monta without the jumpshot, and collison would be a great backup point guard (hella quick, great defender). considering where we're finna draft next year, one of these dudes should be there.

actually, we should just take lorenzo mata with our first pick. he's nasty.

by Iggy_Zohn on Feb 26, 2008 11:14 AM PST reply actions

a quick analyzation of your comment

A) Kevin Love: Sure he is is tearing up the ncaa, but for some reason, flashbacks of Todd Fuller are staying with me. Granted, he has a better skill set than Fuller, but still. I dont think i'm the only one who thinks this guy just wont be a good pro

B) Russel Westbrook: According to you, he is Monta without the jumpshot....So basically, he can dunk and lay up, and that is it?

c) Darren Collison: He is quick and a good defender, but that might be about it. He has way too many games where he really does nothing

and last but not least

D) Lorenzo Mata-Real: Please tell me you arent serious. He is nasty to look at, but that is where the nastiness ends.

Not trying to call you out at all. Just trying to stir up some more discussion

My pictures never show up here, so this is my new Signature

by sloth11 on Feb 26, 2008 12:12 PM PST up reply actions

briefly

analyzation is not a word. i think you were looking for "analysis."

a.what do k love and fuller have in common besides the fact that they're white centers? k love, while he is limited athletically, has an amazing skill set. he would be a great backup to biedrins. he'd be the best passing big man in the league, he can shoot, execute the pick and pop, create his own shot, you name it. i'd be hella juiced if we landed him. we could have a front court rotation of biedrins, harrington, wright, and love. that's kinda money.

b. lemme go a bit further with my case for westbrook. he's more than just monta without the jumpshot. first, he's a much better defender than monta. his shot's improving...he would be a bit redundant on this team, but he would be a helluva bench player, and that's basically what the warriors need, more depth on the bench, considering barnes and pietrus will be gone after this year. we could use some more swingmen, westbrook fits, and he's getting much better every year, kinda like monta. nbadraft.net has westrbook going 10 over all.

c. no, collison is not a consistent scorer, but he's a great spot up shooter (over 40% from 3 pointers), he runs a 4.1 (look it up. it's true. he's quicker and faster than monta. great ball handler. great in the half court offense. he'd just be a great backup poitn guard for us. he'd be our jordan farmar, but better.

d. yes, i was joking about mata. but he's still NASTY.

i think the warriors are settling into their starting lineup for the next few years. assuming biedrins and monta get signed, baron comes back, our only position that's somewhat up in the air in the 4, but i'm pleased with harrington and wright. so we just need to improve on the bench. look at the lakers, they're 10 deep. next year, we'll be 6 or 7 deep.

recent ucla draftees have been good bench players (farmar, afflalo). they're well coached, play hard defense, sink their shots, know their roll. we could use players like that on this team.

by Iggy_Zohn on Feb 26, 2008 12:30 PM PST up reply actions