NFL
“Neither a borrower nor a lender be”, is the wise advice of William Shakespeare. Yet all of us live on borrowed time; for even the biggest NBA stars, there’s just a few years to make an impact before he’s swept out of sight by a new generation of players. Today, the impetus for other teams to rise up and knock off the beast is even greater. Every team so far this season have given the Dubs a determined effort. And should they reach the Finals, a final determined player will likely be standing in their way. One always aiming to prove something, and ideally at the expense of a favored rival.
Man has an odd tendency to make comparisons. Is my lawn as pristine as my neighbor’s? Does our team have a better record than others in our division? Who’s better, MJ or Lebron? More sophisticated fans will probably dismiss this third as trite. Yet Lebron seems motivated by the success of the Bulls’ past, being on record as chasing the “ghost” of Jordan’s six rings. This made for a rather lacking storyline when the Heat was the best team in the league. With the Cavs now pitted against a contemporary, consistent challenger, the comparisons are fresher and easier. Lebron finally has his eyes fixed on a living, breathing target. And that makes for a much more compelling chase.
Most teams are trying to copycat the Warrior’s three point wizardry. Houston is shooting for 50 treys a game and lowly New Orleans outgunned Golden State (for a half) with a salvo of bombs. But I’ve never thought it made sense to fight fire with fire. Trying to out-shoot the Warriors is like charging at a machine gun with a super-soaker. It’s certainly a losing game when needing four wins in a playoff series. And that’s why the Cavs are trying something different this year.
The Cavs’ first game was overshadowed by a gruesome opponent injury, so Friday night’s showdown with the up-and-coming Bucks provided a first opportunity to make a statement. Although Kyle Korver did provide some heat from beyond the arc, most of the damage came in the paint. The team hit 17 of 17 free throws and wore down a team with usually fresh legs. This approach provides two key benefits against Golden State. First, such play will eventually get Warrior stars in foul trouble, already an issue in the team’s early games. Second, such a war of attrition sets the opponent up for a killing blow, which Lebron provided again with a showman’s, ex..tre..m..e..ly deliberate three to ice things late. Against a team accustomed to playing from ahead, a momentum-shifting play late could put the Warriors in an uncomfortable spot.
A sentiment has been expressed that Americans love to build up a hero, and then rejoice in tearing him down. If this is true, a worthy challenger usurping the NBA crown could broaden fans’ smiles. Most strong runs in pro sports simply run out of gas. But much more satisfying is when a determined underdog steals the baton. Lebron may have lost a step over the years, and the finish line isn’t too far away at this point in time. And yet it’s always a more indelible image to hold up a finger in a victory lap, than to have to always be craning one’s neck up at the podium.
