One Frame At A Time: Michigan State
I believe Jen Bielema has a term for this.
She calls it "terrible help defense."
[The rest of the MSU game in GIFs after THE JUMP.]
As usual, clicks the links/stills to open each GIF in a lightbox, and don't forget to vote for your favorite at the end of the post.
HONORABLE MENTION
Russell Byrd owned, part one. Russell Byrd owned, part two. Russell Byrd owned, part three. MSU floor slap, subsequent layup. Yeah, that's a charge. Yeah, Beilein's displeased. LeVert's "blouses" dunk. Stauskas unstoppable pull-up with friendly roll. Stauskas unstoppable pull-up off inbounds play. Stauskas unstoppable pull-up three over Appling. Stauskas unstoppable pull-up three over Harris. Wait he can do this too that's not fair. Neither is this.
10. Walton's ridiculous pass
This won't be the last time MSU loses GRIII on the baseline...
9. Yes, Zak Irvin Can Dunk
Seriously, people asked earlier in the season if Zak Irvin could dunk. Leaning towards 'yes'.
8. Stauskas Slams, Mattison Tents Fingers
Nik Stauskas's early dunk produced some great reaction faces; yes, that includes Greg Mattison doing his best Monty Burns impression. Uncaptioned version.
7. Various Tom Izzo GIFs
Tom Izzo, help defender:
An extra defender requires an extra screener, of course:
Izzo acknowledges instant makeup call in brief moment of sideline decency:
Now, please, get the f*** off our court.
6. Jordan Morgan, Magnet For Bad Calls And Basketballs
Not only did Jordan Morgan get the short end of two awful block calls, he couldn't even avoid getting hit in the face on national TV through no fault of his own. If that dude didn't have bad luck, he'd have no luck at all.
5. Various Maize Rage Reactions of Glory
There's a lot going on in this shot from directly after Irvin's dunk:
Zak Irvin's disembodied head makes an appropriate appearance. You've got Blue Blazer Guy Who Cannot Handle This Level of Emotion in the middle. Early in the loop, look to the right of the frame, where a man resembling Rapture Guy gets his American flag hat knocked off his head by either the forceful flick of a pom-pom or the guilty-looking dude behind him (I can't tell). Then there's the out-of-nowhere star: Yellow M&M Girl, two to the left of Blue Blazer Guy, jumping and jumping and jumping and DISAPPEARING INTO THE ABYSS. (Hope you're okay, YM&MG.)
After Glenn Robinson III's first-half and-one, two Maize Ragers perfectly imitate his "count it" celebration, high-five to mark their excellent coordination, and then...
HULK HAAAAAAANNNNDDDDSSSSS.
Dance, cameraman, dance:
The subtle head-bobbing kills me every time.
Finally, this GIF is titled "JUBILATION":
Fist-pumping, triumphant arm-raising, joyous embracing, general jumping around and screaming—this has it all, especially when you notice the girl in the second row let the moment sink in and then UNLEASH A SCREAM TO THE HEAVENS.
4. Mama Knows Best
First thing's first—what a ludicrous shot by Stauskas. I mean, good lord, that's an unguardable shot if there ever was one.
Second, yes, that's his mom saying "he's mad now" after Stauskas strutted to the bench following MSU's subsequent timeout.
Finally, his mom's friend is wearing a "Stauskas: Best Canadian Import Since Molson" shirt, and the NCAA needs to solve this whole pay-for-play thing right now so I can get one.
3. ANDREW DAKICH
I'm sorry, Max Bielfeldt, but Andrew Dakich is #1 on the Bench Mob Power Rankings until further notice.
The full sequence, featuring Caris LeVert's dagger, may be even better, as it reveals Dakich started his dance as soon as LeVert started to shoot:
His father is proud, and also still searching his own name on Twitter.
2. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
FRAMES OF THE GAME: LEVERT'S RUN-OFF TRIPLE
Picking between this and the GRIII alley-oop was beyond difficult. In the end, LeVert's outrageous swag won out. He's nearly level with the free-throw line when the shot actually hits net despite turning 270 degrees so he could mug the Maize Rage/MSU bench:
Replay angle featuring Spike losing his mind:
Yes, I'll re-post the Forrest Gump mash-up:
Run, Caris, run.
VOTE
I'm taking the edited GIFs out of contention here, so no Valentine Karma or Forrest LeVert—the latter, based on yesterday's reaction, would win in such a landslide voting would be pointless.
February 25th, 2014 at 6:03 PM ^
We are know sparts spart no matter what ... in this case, he was probably making an excuse for something.
February 25th, 2014 at 5:58 PM ^
Been said numerous times, but this is the best .gif post ever! Every single one is great.
February 25th, 2014 at 6:10 PM ^
I am now watching games to guess what will be picked as a top 10 gif.
February 25th, 2014 at 6:36 PM ^
Is Dakich mock-dribbling or is he sweeping the floor (to reflect the season sweep)? Whatever, it's definitely Vogrich-esque.
February 26th, 2014 at 1:33 AM ^
I think it's a version of Sam Cassell's big balls dance.
February 25th, 2014 at 6:59 PM ^
I voted dancing Cameraman. I can't believe I missed that during the broadcast. My roommate and I actually caught Nik's mom saying," He is mad now." We were dying laughing.
February 25th, 2014 at 8:51 PM ^
February 26th, 2014 at 2:08 PM ^
Let them keep doing it. I love that M scored on them everytime they've done it this year.
February 25th, 2014 at 9:23 PM ^
He's mad now?
or did she say He's a bad cow?
February 25th, 2014 at 10:10 PM ^
I think my favortie part of the "He's Mad Now" gif is that after the absurd behind the back dribble and fade away 3, Beilein shows a little exictement with a clap and slapping Jeff Meyer on the knee.
February 25th, 2014 at 11:05 PM ^
i love john beilein
February 26th, 2014 at 3:23 AM ^
I know I already complimented you once this week, Ace, but an Albert King reference (#6)?! You are awesome.
February 26th, 2014 at 5:31 AM ^
hope of being able to claim domination of the state of Michigan.
February 26th, 2014 at 7:21 AM ^
Thanks!
I wanted to vote for ref screens Izzo, but I refuse to since clearly there should have been two technical fouls on the douche.
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