I like basketball. I enjoy watching it and I especially enjoy playing it. I derive enjoyment because at its best it is a constantly moving game of team work and cooperation. I would call it almost elegant when skilled players work together to score or defend. I have often critiqued players or moments when they do not live up to my ideal. Here then is a list of of my basketball pet peeves named after notable players.
The Kobe Bryant complex- Lets start here because it is perhaps the best known of my pet peeves.
Good Kobe: I will not debate that for several years Kobe Bryant has been the best all around basketball player. His skill is truly formidable. He is quick, agile and has the ability to drive past most players and since his jump shot is so accurate it is very hard to stop him from scoring. Oh and by the way he is a terrific defender.
Bad Kobe: Where is the cooperation? Kobe Bryant is always the best player on the floor and he knows it. It takes more than the best player to win a basketball game. The Kobe Bryant offense infuriates me. You might say that the Lakers were so lacking talent that Kobe taking 40 shots a game gave his team the best chance to win but you'd be wrong. All NBA players are elite athletes who have dominated at every level until the NBA, thats how you get to the NBA. Its not like Wilt Chamberlin vs 4th Graders. Team basketball is a better strategy and even allows less talented teams to beat more talented teams on a consistent basis.
The Steve Nash complex: Here is a pass-first team player. Just check the upward tick in his team mates statistics compared to their statistics when not playing with Steve Nash to see how a player who isnt gifted with top end athleticism can impact the game by getting his team mates involved.
Bad Steve Nash: Looks lost on defense. Just watching him pathetically chase the guy he should be guarding, constantly getting lost in traffic, often losing his man altogether drives me up the wall. It doesn't even look like he's trying out there.
The Swing Offense: Please try to score. Thats what you should be doing every second that you are on the offensive side of the half court line. Passing the ball around the perimeter for 10 seconds does not count as trying to score. Wisconsin wins games because they play great defense and rebound well, not because of the swing offense.
