Well the dust has settled and the best player in the world has spoken! As I wrote in an earlier article, Lebron James is far and beyond the best! Light years ahead of Kevin Durant and a few notches above Carmelo Anthony. This article isn’t solely based on the exploits of King James, but a boatload of other NBA performers, who arrived and disappeared during the postseason. As I told my 11 year old son Jalen, “With sports it isn’t how you start, it’s how you finish. That’s what your lasting legacy will be remembered as. ” How you performed when you’re playing for all the marbles. Let’s start with the arrivals and then their impedning disappearances.
Courtesy: NY Daily News
1. Danny “Long Island” Green– After being nothing more than a highlighted role player, Green strapped on his hard hat and went to work during the NBA Finals. He shattered the NBA record books for 3 pointers made with a gigantic sledge hammer! His performance had commentators and sports enthusiasts alike, mentioning his name alongside some of the all time greats. Sadly enough, his horrible performance in games 6 and 7 (1 of 19 shooting) have all but guaranteed his absence from most major lists. Better luck in the future.
2. Tony Parker- For the entire post season and the first 6 games of the Finals, Parker was indeed the MVP hands down. After a sore hammy and his declining play in game 7, he too will just be a memory of things that got worse with passing time. Nothing close to vintage wine!
3. Tim “Timmy” Duncan- Greatest Power Forward EVER! Hands down! Played up to his title and never wavered. Hats off. Like every good fairytale there has to be an ending. Not the one he wanted but an ending nevertheless.
Along with this list of players there’s a list of players whose performances have them on the “they earn too much to play that bad” list. Joe Johnson, Chris Bosh (when Tim Duncan is saddled with foul trouble, why would a 6’11 big man constantly drift outside and shoot jumpers instead of demanding the ball in the post?) the Golden State Warriors (Game 1, blew an 18 point lead with 4:32 remaining and subsequently the series against the Spurs), Zach Randolph, OKC Thunder (played liked the 8th seed instead of the 1st seed against the Rockets. After leading the series against the Grizzlies, choked and eventually lost the series.
Courtesy: Miami Herald
Finally, for all the grief that he took for his 23% shooting percentage in the finals, Shane Battier stood on the front lines and took his beating like a man. After the smoke cleared, he showed what truly great players from Duke University do. Just win, win, win no matter what! When the title was on the line, Battier stepped up and put on a performance for the ages burying 6 of 7 3 pointers and helping his Miami Heat hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy. Classic example of finishing strong when the stakes are at their highest.
It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish!
