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 3:53 PM ^
I need the "Best Import" shirt NOW
February 25th, 2014 at 4:16 PM ^
Speaking of imports, it's hard to believe Bieber comes from the same place from whence has come the most glorious of long range bombers who can do more than just shoot.
February 25th, 2014 at 4:34 PM ^
And speaking of Bieber did you see this sign before the US - Canada olympic hockey game?
February 25th, 2014 at 5:34 PM ^
So, what rules would be violated if the MGoStore produced the blue Maple leaf flag shirt with the words "Best Canadian Import Since Beer"? I say none. While not as glorious as the actual shirt worn by Ms. Stauskas's friend, it would still be cool, and enought people would get it. (At least as many as "We had subs. It was crazy.")
BTW - Well played Ms. Stauskas's friend, well played indeed.
February 25th, 2014 at 6:09 PM ^
I don't want a "Best Import" shirt because it would imply I think Molson beer is a good import. Canada can keep that swuzz.
February 25th, 2014 at 6:54 PM ^
Best Canadian Import Since Shania Twain? Stana Katic?
February 26th, 2014 at 9:38 AM ^
Definitely Stana Katic.
February 26th, 2014 at 1:57 PM ^
Kokanee?
February 25th, 2014 at 3:55 PM ^
Izzo accknowledges replay call/state of rivalry. Not because of the GIF but because of your clever title.
February 26th, 2014 at 2:02 PM ^
moment of sideline decency still comes off as dickish to me. His smile always comes off as incredulous.
February 25th, 2014 at 3:58 PM ^
Did anyone catch that when Spike hit a shot in the first half, CBS flashed up stats of Staukas? That could be a nice gif as well.
February 25th, 2014 at 4:03 PM ^
At 8:29 left in the first half they put up the graphic of Stauskas' 3pt shooting % right after Spike made a 3. Hmm........
February 25th, 2014 at 4:09 PM ^
Just went back and looked—there's about a 10 second gap between Spike hitting the shot and the graphic popping up. Doesn't really work for a GIF, unfortunately.
February 25th, 2014 at 7:08 PM ^
February 25th, 2014 at 3:59 PM ^
Are you sure you can't .gif Izzo going full Bobby Knight on Russell Byrd? Pretty please?
February 25th, 2014 at 4:00 PM ^
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
February 25th, 2014 at 7:54 PM ^
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
February 25th, 2014 at 9:22 PM ^
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
February 25th, 2014 at 4:02 PM ^
I love how he's turned around before the ball even gets to the rim and is gone as it goes in. Classic.
February 25th, 2014 at 4:05 PM ^
Run Caris, Run wins. I think its as good as most LSU freak stuff.
February 25th, 2014 at 4:06 PM ^
I can't stop watching the Forrest Gump mash up. haha.
February 25th, 2014 at 4:12 PM ^
Game 1: Byrd blocks a shot out of bounds. Michigan goes on a run.
Game 2: Valentine starts talking trash on sideline, Michigan goes on a run.
Karma is fun like that.
February 25th, 2014 at 4:16 PM ^
These are so much fun Ace. Thank you for putting them together.
February 25th, 2014 at 4:22 PM ^
I vote for the alley-oop and chirping-Denzel-Valentine mashup gif.
February 25th, 2014 at 4:26 PM ^
Thanks for focusing on the fun of victory and the agony of defeat.
February 25th, 2014 at 4:34 PM ^
February 25th, 2014 at 4:34 PM ^
It's gotta be "AHHHHHHHH" for me (broadcast).
I love that moment when the ball meets GRIII's hands at the apex of his jump and just comes to a total standstill ... just for a fraction of a moment, it hangs there like a priceless work of art on display for all to see. GRIII's not in a hurry to immediately stuff it through the hoop. He wants the Spartans to behold their downfall ... he wants them to watch. There's a perfect rhythm to it, almost like the eerie calm before a tornado lands. And then wrath.
February 25th, 2014 at 4:35 PM ^
February 25th, 2014 at 5:28 PM ^
What was he saying?
February 25th, 2014 at 4:46 PM ^
Maybe I missed it, but I thought for sure there would be a GIF of the play where Levert had a wide open three, but seeing an open lane to the basket, he decided to dunk it instead. IIRC there was a huge reaction from the Michigan bench which could be seen in the background.
Obviously a great week for GIFs so perhaps inevitable some good ones don't make the cut.
February 25th, 2014 at 4:55 PM ^
It's in the Honorable Mention section, labeled, "LeVert's 'Blouses' Dunk."
February 25th, 2014 at 4:59 PM ^
Edit: well shit, I apparently type too slow.
February 25th, 2014 at 4:55 PM ^
Since Ace is too polite to do so, I'm just gonna drop this here once more...
February 25th, 2014 at 4:55 PM ^
After one of Byrd's many mistakes, I turned to my Dad and said, "How in the hell does this guy have a D1 scholarship...at MICHIGAN STATE?"
He's pure garbage.
February 25th, 2014 at 4:58 PM ^
In addition to MSU, Byrd had offers from UK, Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, and a few others. Looks like Izzo really took one for the team by adding Byrd.
February 25th, 2014 at 4:57 PM ^
These gifs are up there with our tourney run last year. What a great montage. Need to add the lights going out on Izzo's post game conference.
February 25th, 2014 at 5:05 PM ^
I like the count-it coordination.. but there are also 2 asians behind them that coordinate the same motion half a second after the other 2 which I thought was very clutch.
And Andrew Dakich is awesome. Look at this superior balance as he stands on one foot for the duration of Robinson's oop:
February 25th, 2014 at 5:09 PM ^
then there is no correct answer
February 25th, 2014 at 5:21 PM ^
The gesture Izzo makes- is he telling them to slap the floor? I guess the Harris O Snap wasn't gif-worthy. Still, I enjoyed it.
Edit: I see it in the honorable mentions. Maybe he is just calling for the ball.
February 25th, 2014 at 5:33 PM ^
The edited Run, Caris, Run gif was one of the best ever!
But of the unedited options I had to give the slight nod to AHHHHHHHH broadcast due to the timing and pure awesomeness of the play. Nik penetrating and everyone collapsing on him only to have him lob it to Robinson, who seems to hang in the air, catch the ball slightly behind him and then slam it home, was just oh so sweet!
February 25th, 2014 at 5:36 PM ^
What is Valentine saying?
February 25th, 2014 at 5:46 PM ^
That's what I thought live - hard to tell from the gif. I took him to mean "You're my bitch" and assumed he knew he couldn't quite say that.
February 25th, 2014 at 6:26 PM ^
"... You a bum, boy. You a bum."
I love that Horford just calmly pointed and nodded while Valentine is all swole up in the chest with his fists balled, yet backing away.
February 25th, 2014 at 5:45 PM ^
Was actually during/after the Stauskas triple at 8:38 in the 2nd (the one after which Stauskas' mom indicated that Nik was mad). It's some sort of river dance. So glorious.
February 25th, 2014 at 5:54 PM ^
The LeVert turn and run was awesome to watch live. He knew it was going in and as soon as he turned around right after release I knew it as well.
If LeVert and Stauskas are both here for their junior years... oh my..
February 25th, 2014 at 5:54 PM ^
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