In today's society, it seems more premium is placed on noting people's mistakes. In today's NBA, everyone is waiting constantly for the next team with the next failed experiment. The problem with this, though, is some mistakes turn out to be delayed strokes of genius. Just take a look at the final four teams in this year's NBA playoffs.
Senior Moment
It's amazing how quiet the Dallas Mavericks have been this year. Even outspoken owner Mark Cuban has been a good little boy. Perhaps, they long knew what others are only discovering now. After yet another playoff flameout last year, everyone wanted the Mavs to blow up the veteran line up and rebuild. They didn't heed the calls and kept the team intact, hoping another year together would see the development of the team. Many were quick to call that a mistake, yet here they are, in the Western Conference finals after demolishing the defending champions the Los Angeles Lakers. The extra year together has seen the development of JJ Barea, the resurgence of Shawn Marion and the full maturation of Dirk Nowitzki as a franchise player. With home court advantage against the Thunder, keeping the team intact may make GM Donnie Nelson a legendary executive.
Trade OK'd
The Oklahoma City Thunder were the envy of the league with it's financial flexibility and very young roster of great players with great attitudes. Everyone kept talking of the future and how the Thunder would be kings then. The future couldn't come soon enough, though as GM Sam Presti pulled the trigger on a deal sending Jeff Green and Nenad Krystic to the Boston Celtics for Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson. He then proceeded to sign Perkins to a long term deal. Both actions drew wagging fingers from doubters, but they were silenced soon enough. Perkins, while not putting up great numbers, has been a great locker room presence for the young Thunder, especially during their losses. Meanwhile, Green's departure opened the door for James Harden and Serge Ibaka to shine, with both players piling up career numbers almost immediately after the trade. If that big mid season trade was a mistake, more team should make mistakes as the Thunder are a series away from the NBA finals.
Heat Check
Of course, the biggest mistake this season was Lebron James publicly spurning his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat on national TV. The Heat haters, though, pointed to a different one in castigating the Heat. The acquisition of the "Big Three" of James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh may have been a coup, but others pointed out that that left the Heat thin in the support department, especially up front. People said it was a mistake to load up on superstars and that the lack of help will tell on the Heat in the playoffs. Now, though, critics are slowly biting their tongue. The Heat have flourished in the playoffs, not just because Wade and James have learned to play off one another, but also Coach Erik Spoelstra has finally gotten though on his team and have them playing choking defense. While Lebron's PR choices continue to be errors, forming the superstar trio with Bosh and Wade seems to be a good "decision."
Bullish Run
In the off season, the Bulls were in great shape. A promising young team, a new defensive-minded head coach and lots of money to get Dwayne Wade, Lebron James or Chris Bosh (or two of three). Then, amid the pandering and ego stroking of the superstars, the Bulls' stars Derrick Rose and Joachim Noah, made it clear that they could care less if any of the three stars joined them. People were horrified as their statements meant none of the three would join them. It was a mistake, they said, as the Bulls were at least two years away from being great. Fast forward to the playoffs and the Bulls have home court advantage, the league Most Valuable Player in Rose and a vaunted, unforgiving defense. Rose has become the superstar people thought the Bulls needed to get in the off season, and the supposed weak line up has become one of the NBA's deepest teams. Now, the people are talking about how the Heat can compete with the Bulls, and not the other way around.
With my meager 50% success rate in playoff series predictions this year, I won't be blogging any previews. What I will be doing is checking out which "mistake" turns out to be the most genius of strokes.
photos courtesy of Getty Images
0 comments:
Post a Comment