Role Players. An undervalue aspect of the game of basketball that have severely impacted the Western Conference and Eastern Conference finals. Here’s the issue, no player ever grows up dreaming of being just another guy on the team who comes in for 10-15 minutes a game, hits a few shots and fulfills his assigned role. These players who fulfill all the little nuances of the game make it seem ordinary, something we all dread being. We all dream of being extraordinary, the one who hits the game winning shot, is adored by millions, has their own sneaker, and will be remembered for years to come. These stars are everything a child wants to be as they religiously practice Allen Iverson’s crossover on the playground, attempt Michael Jordan’s layup where he switches hands in mid-air, or daydream a scenario where they have the ball in a last second situation. In this day dream the role players are on the bench, rebounding their miss, or setting a screen for them, but they are not the center of attention. While these role players are not the players whose jerseys we wear or who we would pick in a fantasy draft, they have shaped both conference finals. In the east, Orlando leads their series not just because of the play of Hedo Turkgalou or Dwight Howard, but because their role players have answered the call. Rafer Alston, Michael Pietrus, Rashard Lewis (who’s not quite a role player, but still), Courtney Lee, and Anthony Johnson, have provided clutch shooting, defense and hustle when their team has needed it. They have made Cleveland pay for doubling Dwight Howard and for not recovering quick enough on defense. Conversely, Cleveland’s role players have turned this series in the Lebron show with their inability to provide help on offense. Mo Williams was an all-star this year, and carries himself with all-star like swagger as if to say, “that’s right, I’m Mo Williams” on the court but his inability to do the little things and hit open shots is a primary reason why his team is suffering from a 3-2 deficit.
Here’s the big issue, we live in a superstar driven society. Everyone wants to be the one hitting the last minute shot; no one wants to be the one defending it, making the pass or setting the screen. In baseball, we all want to hit the home run, but no one aspires to be the one bunting the runner over, being the situational reliever who’s come in to get the tough lefty, or be the Catcher studying the opposing hitters in order to call the game for the pitcher. The problem is, superstars don’t win championships, great teams do. Michael Jordan won 6 championships; however, it wasn’t until he got some help on offense (Pippen), big men to do the dirty work (Horace Grant/Rodman), some outsider shooters (John Paxson, Steve Kerr, B. J. Armstrong, etc.) and a coach to implement a winning system (Phil Jackson) that they won a championship. In 2004, the Lakers had one of the greatest teams ever assembled, with 4 hall of famers in starting lineup (Shaq, Kobe, Karl Malone, and Gary Payton). They squared off against the Pistons who featured Chauncey Billups (playing on his 6th or 7th team at this point, whom Rick Patino said would never be a good starting NBA point guard), Rip Hamilton (whom Michael Jordan traded out of Washington for an aging Jerry Stackhouse), Ben Wallace (played a D2 school and was not drafted), and Tayshaun Prince, whom prior to that year most people would have looked at and said, “that scrawny guy is an NBA player.” While the Lakers had the star power, they played selfishly. Detroit played defense, knew their roles, played within a system and had hustle players off the bench, they took the series in 5 games.
So we lift our glasses to the role players, the hard workers of the sport, who wait patiently for their opportunities but prepare for them with countless hours in the gym, shooting jump shots, studying game tape etc. You do not get the recognition you deserve, but great teams are built on your hard work.
Before I end, here are some predictions I’d like to make:
-the Lakers will take the NBA Finals in 5 games.
-Raul Ibanez will finish with less than 40 HR’s. He’ll stay hot, but teams will pitch differently to him in the second half.
-The Blue Jays will finish below .500.
-The Mets will get make a move to get some help on offense, but will fail to make the playoffs again.
-Stephen Curry will be taken by the Knicks with the 8th pick (I know this one is not a shocker). However, he will average somewhere 15-20 points per game. In D’Antoni’s offense he will always have the “green light” and will take full advantage of that, firing three pointer after three pointer.
-Write this one down, the Cardinals are my sleeper pick right now to appear in the World Series. They play smart baseball and have had great pitching so far. I’m interested to see how they play against the Phillies and Dodgers this year.
-Finally, the Magic will beat the Cavs tonight in Orlando. Home court and a burnt out Lebron will be too much for the Cavs to overcome.
