Unflappability
by Dave on Nov 24, 2008 12:04 AM PST
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PrintThe ongoing discussion of Greg Oden’s performance in the general vicinity of Shaquille O’Neal the other night (against him isn’t an accurate description) has brought up an interesting point I want to address further. First let me share that I don’t think there was anything unexpected, let alone wrong, with what happened against
I was trying to think of a way to describe the characteristic that Greg is missing right now and the closest word I came up with is “unflappable”. Certain guys will simply go out there and perform no matter what happens. Everybody goes up and down, of course, but these guys make down look good and up look great. You can’t shake them or intimidate them. They rise to the occasion.
As I was going over the roster I realized how few of our players really evidence this quality. The guy who stands out above all the others is Brandon Roy. A bad night for him is 16 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds. That’s not very far below his average. Furthermore he can miss shots, get bumped around, and get run ragged and still show absolute confidence taking his next shot or tenacity making his next drive. He never gets kept out of the lane for a full game. He never seems to get down on himself. He can be having the worst game of his life and he’s still the guy who will take the game-winner…and you’ll like it that way. He is truly unflappable, or as close as the Blazers get.
And really, if you’re talking prime specimens, he’s about it. You can make arguments for a couple other players. Steve Blake is pretty steady and always seems to pull himself out of the fire. He’s also on quite a streak lately. But he also has down games where he all but disappears, even in the subtle areas like smart defense or setting the offense which make him so valuable. Joel Przybilla is a candidate with his lunch-pail effort but he’s had good and bad months and seasons, not just games or quarters. You know he’ll give his all out there, but his all isn’t always effective. When he’s ineffective he tends to shrink on the offensive end in particular. Defensively he commits fouls. He’s one of the current most unflappable guys on the Blazers, yes. But he hasn’t evidenced that quality over the entire course of his tenure here.
After that things get sketchy quickly. Oden is going to be a cornerstone of the franchise but we already see that this isn’t a strong point with him. Aldridge doesn’t slump often but when he does he seems to go south big time. He also fluctuates in his rebounding and defensive effort. Travis Outlaw and Martell Webster have both been up and down depending on the situation confronting them. It’s a little early to tell on Rudy. He could be a strong candidate for eventual “unflappable” status. But right now he, too, tends to shrink away when things aren’t going right for him. Batum is another strong candidate but he’s been known for sporadic play in the past. Channing, no. Sergio, no. Jerryd, no…or at least not that we can see. He may possess that quality and just not have had the chance to show it yet.
Running down the list you see the value of Brandon Roy to this team and why he’s the clear leader here. This will become more pronounced as the Blazers start playing more important games. Good, veteran teams are in the business of making you uncomfortable. There’s no way around it. They’re going to knock you out of your tree. This is true in critical games leading up to the playoffs. This is true the first time you enter the playoffs. This is true the first time you advance to the penultimate and ultimate rounds of the playoffs. How you react in the face of uncertainty, discomfort, and the challenges they bring will, in large part, determine your success (or at least your early success).
Reaction number one is to say, “Thank goodness for
This doesn’t mean we need a crazy dude. We’re not looking for the next Vernon Maxwell or Xavier McDaniel here. We just need a guy who jumps at the prospect of facing the unknown, who flourishes in those circumstances, and who is steady enough that you can’t tell the difference between the nights he’s comfortable and the nights he’s struggling.
--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)
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Greg is soft.
He’s flappable and lacks that killer instinct.
KP better recognize all of this and find that Mad Max type of guy that you talk about. This team could have real issues in a playoff series if Brandon is the only one who is unflappable.
I agree that Batum may be that type of guy and I think Bayless has to be given the benefit of the doubt also.
Greg is soft? This guy knocked Beno Udrih nearly unconscious on accident. He hasn't been dominated or shown
that he is anything other than an immovable object. He is like a piece of steel. He just needs to start showing more effort and to stop fouling. He needs a lot of practice. The Lakers could have given up on Bynum after a year, and the Blazers aren’t giving up on Oden after 8 games.
by BRoyInThe4th on Nov 24, 2008 12:36 AM PST up reply actions
You're right!
GO looked soft as an overripe tomato when he backed Al Jefferson down under the basket until AJ landed on his butt and stared at the ceiling in stunned disbelief. Then again Saturday night, you could see what a softie GO is when he dunked two-handed over Stoudemire, kicked him, then yelled at him. Add a minute later when GO ripped the ball out of Stoudemire’s hands like he was a little kid.
"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla
What I was thinking
What a softie!
-Shad
"If a doctor ever gives me six months to live, I want it in basketball time." - Marc Acito
We are sooo lucky to have fans here that are incredably brilliant ....
…. that they can can provide us with such in depth and decisive analysis on such little evidence.
The guy hasn’t played 10 NBA games yet and you already have him diagnosed. That’s sort of like me concluding you attend the School for the Mentally Challenged, based off of this one comment of yours.
I doubt that’s the case, just as I doubt Oden is soft and that KP should hit the panic button and start looking for a trading partner.
hakkaa päälle !
+1
A guy who can’t buy a drink. Barely removed from his teenage years.
And we complain that he doesn’t carry himself like a steely eyed vet?
Remember also centers cannot control a game, and thus are necessarily dependent creatures.
Get ready to see a more and more conditioned and nimble fully recovered stud settle into the low post and DEMAND the ball more and more.
Prepare to see him setle in down low and start talking head. I’m thinking " Don’t even think about coming into my house, little guy."
I have every confidence that he will find his comfort zone and come to trust his Broy to give him chances to dominate.
Patience, my friends.
Perfect practice makes perfect.
Yes
i agree with everything uve said basically. the one area, well one of many i guess, that i want oden to emulate shaq is what id like to call swagger. shaq, in his prime, knew he was the best and he was going to kill u every night. i just saw a post pop up that says “killer instinct” which sums it up pretty well. i think this can be developed as long as he improves. even tho he is a humble guy, he will get there. duncan is like that, hes the silent assassin. i think that will be gregs route because thats part of his personality. this all relates back to the idea that hes basically not 100 percent yet healthwise and simply hes a Rook. what more could u expect? as u said Dave, the small amount of time oden played against shaq, u knew what was going to occur. i just hope the opposite occurs over time, and hopefully more glimpses are shown this season as to his potential self.
Shaq would destroy the "Culture" here
We have worked hard to develop this team-first culture. Shaq is a me-first player. He is why LA didn’t win five straight. He is also why they won three.
when you’ve been in a dry land even a little dew looks inviting —Dave
"When you want to win a game, you have to teach. When you lose a game, you have to learn." - Tom Landry
I don't want Oden to swagger
until his play justifies it. It’s coming, but he’s not there yet.
The most amazing thing about my amazing ego is I have amazingly little about which to be egotistical.
The pick and roll this year will emphasize "roll" followed by "dunk", followed by the wailings and lamentations of your women.
I'm soooo glad you brought this up
I generally think “soft” is a overused sports lexicon but I think this team is definitley soft. I as of now this is finesse team and there’s nothing wrong with that for now but as this team transforms into a perennial playoff team we’re going to hear more and more how this team is soft, how they’re too nice, how they shrivel up when teams get physical. I do wish Oden had a more fiery personality, and gulp maybe even a little arrogance that “the Big A-Hole” Shaq has but he’s still getting adjusted so I cut him some slack.
The guy who really worries me is Aldridge, I don’t think he’ll ever reach his potential and become a force in the middle for us. I use to think if we had to choose between keeping Roy or Aldridge it’s be smarter to keep Aldridge because he had a higher ceiling but I changed my mind.
by neutroticblazerfan on Nov 24, 2008 12:38 AM PST reply actions
I would say they're less soft
than they are young. One of the things about being young is you haven’t experienced situations enough to be comfortable in them, so your ability to deal with discomfort (or not deal with it, as the case may be) gets exposed way more often. Veteran teams have either been through it before or at least have key players who have been through it before and light the way (or mask) the others.
The Blazers remind me a little bit of the teenagers at Camp Horror with no gun-and-flashlight-toting sherriff on the scene yet.
—Dave
Good points
I may be overreacting a little to the Suns loss a bit.
by neutroticblazerfan on Nov 24, 2008 12:53 AM PST up reply actions
don't worry
I and many others will be overreacting and saying they are going to the WCF after we clean Sacto’s clocks again tonight.
It’s what we do. We’re only as good as our last game. Chicago and Sacto made us look great; then Phoenix made us depressed again.
by Bust a Bucket on Nov 24, 2008 3:20 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Well thought out analysis and well expresssed
But Greg is a rookie. How he plays against Shaq next time will be more indicative of how much grit is in him. He got a good lesson and now gets to respond tonight against Spencer Hawes. My bet is Hawes is going to be the one getting a lesson tonight.
I think you don’t give enough credit to the other rookies. They may all be gamers in a couple of years. Martell has shown he is willing to rebound and play defense even when his shot is not falling. The whole experience of the young guys needs time to adjust. We might not be ready this year or even next year. But there is plenty of quality players who need the collective to play well. They may not be unflappable but they will also feed on each other as they develop as a team.
when you’ve been in a dry land even a little dew looks inviting —Dave
"When you want to win a game, you have to teach. When you lose a game, you have to learn." - Tom Landry
I don't think Dave is saying
that none of these guys will be that way, just that they aren’t yet, except for Brandon.
That goes for Greg and the other players.
It’s time and experience. Our guys are going to be ready for Orlando and Dwight, because we went there and whipped them. If some things aren’t going right, we still have the confidence that comes from having done that. Over time, we’ll pick off all of these top teams, and once we’ve knocked them off once, we’ll have the confidence of knowing it can be done again. Experience, experience, experience.
We already learned when can play with these guys even when Rudy is 1-8 on three pointers. We’ll be a little more “unflappable” next time because of that, as a team and as individuals.
Rudy is an interesting case. We already know he’s capable of raising his game on the big occasion, and that he’s reasonably consistent. Perhaps Phoenix was just a bad game for him, it happens.
The most amazing thing about my amazing ego is I have amazingly little about which to be egotistical.
The pick and roll this year will emphasize "roll" followed by "dunk", followed by the wailings and lamentations of your women.
Bayless anyone?
We just need a guy who jumps at the prospect of facing the unknown, who flourishes in those circumstances, and who is steady enough that you can’t tell the difference between the nights he’s comfortable and the nights he’s struggling.
Though right now, he is rather “struggling every night” so you can’t tell the difference yet :)
But of all the guys on the team besides Brandon, I could see him become the unflappable slightly crazy one who doesn’t back down from anyone. Not “Ron Artest-crazy”, but still crazy enough you don’t want to mess with him if you are on the opposing team. Pryz is confident in his abilities, but he just isn’t continually dangerous enough on offense to really instill fear.
eventually, it's possible
rex just needs to learn how to finish in the nba; he’s trying to finesse layups where he should be throwing it down (easier said than done i know).
and yes, i know, he’s only 6’3’’, but he’s got incredible hops, no? and could probably beat up greg. he just dosen’t see the court like your nash, your paul, your parker, but that just takes time, or is it inate? the more i think about bayless the less i know! more PT nate!
You may be right about GO
But my hunch is that you’re wrong. To date, the biggest game GO has played was the NCAA championship game. And in that game, played when GO was reasonably healthy and in shape, he dominated. In fact, many commentators said that was the best performance of GO’s college career. Chalk up one piece of evidence supporting GO’s “unflappability.”
True, GO’s first few NBA games were high pressure as well, and he appeared plenty “flappable” in those. But that wasn’t “normal” pressure. Who else has had to deal with the pressure of playing his first NBA minutes under intense international scrutiny while dealing with the rust, tentativeness, and poor conditioning experienced by anyone coming off of microfracture knee surgery? Add to that the fact that GO was attempting to deal with all that at the age of TWENTY!
So I think it’s way too early to even suggest that GO may be “flappable.” Particularly, I wouldn’t make that suggestion based on how GO looked facing his idol, Shaq, for the first time. I clearly recall the young Shaq facing HIS idol, Hakeem, in a playoff series for the first time. Hakeem made Shaq looked like he didn’t even belong on the same court, he had him so psyched out. Yes, Shaq was completely rattled in that series.
As for Roy, yes: from his very first NBA game, he’s appeared remarkably unflappable. But he entered the league under normal circumstances: healthy, in shape, under minimal scrutiny, and with a game fully developed by four years of college experience. So Roy had every reason to be calm and confident in his abilities.
I feel like I’m preaching to the choir, Dave. Normally, you advocate for patience in assessing GO. But in this case I think you fell into the trap of trying to judge him too early. Please just sit back and let this kid at least get his feet wet in the league before we start labeling him flappable or unflappable. There’s no any way to even guess at that kind of thing at this stage. But after all this guy has been through, I’d like to give him the benefit of any doubt.
"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla
Excellent point
How quickly people overlook that NCAA championship game. People often jump on evidence that supposedly exposes a pervasive trait, when it’s often circumstances that create an situation that shouldn’t be overgeneralized too much. If Oden lacks unflappability, shouldn’t he have wilted in that game, which was the biggest stage of his career at that point?
Yeah, it’s tempting to produce conclusions off a small body of evidence. If we didn’t spend all our time overanalyzing everything we wouldn’t have much to talk about on here.
This actually proves the point
Most of the arguments here revolve around giving Greg more time to adjust. It’s true, that’s exactly what he needs in order for his game to improve. Which is the exact point of the post. He needs to be comfortable and not shaken in order to perform well…thus he needs more time to become comfortable and deal with what other good teams are throwing at him. By definition, then, he is not unflappable in the same way as Brandon Roy who gets something new thrown at him every night and has had fewer truly bad games in his entire career than he has fingers on his right hand. And that includes his rookie year.
This is not an anti-Greg Oden post. This is a post talking about a specific quality that nobody on the team outside of Roy had truly evidenced yet, including Oden.
—Dave
by Dave on Nov 24, 2008 11:56 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
rec
People don’t want to hear it, but the truth is the truth. It’s not a bad thing per se, but it is what it is.
by Bust a Bucket on Nov 24, 2008 3:49 PM PST up reply actions
Unflappability?
Dave, I totally hear you about the “flappability” issue with this team, particularly guys like Aldridge and Oden, though most of the team is still dealing with it in various ways. I especially like your take on Blake and Przybilla. That said, I have a different perspective on at least three of the guys on the roster:
Batum — I’m thinking you may be selling Batum short here. Yes he sometimes makes mistakes but, as you point out with the Blazers in general, those mistakes seem more about youth than about “flappability.” It seems to me that Batum might even be more solid in that regard than Roy — it’s just that Roy is a much better player to this point so it’s harder to see. But I’ve been amazed with the calm Batum continues to show in pressure situations taking (and often making) threes at the start of a 1st or 3rd quarter (virtually the only times he’s in), defending PGs, tipping balls away, etc. And yeah, he’s made mistakes of various sorts. The just seem mostly to be “normal” mistakes as opposed to “pressure” mistakes (such as those free throws Oden uncharacteristically clanked against the Suns, etc.).
Bayless — I have high hopes for Bayless in this regard, too. He certainly seemed unflappable in college. Still, he’s gotta play well enough to get in the games before that quality has a chance to emerge for him at the NBA level.
Fernandez — And finally, Fernandez certainly gets all kinds of points with me in unflappability — there’s no question in my mind. The games in China erased whatever question I might have had up to that point. And still, as you say, he can “shrink away” at times during a game. Somewhat as with Batum, though, I don’t think that’s a lack of unflappability so much as, in this case, the wisdom to stop forcing it when he knows he doesn’t have his legs under him, etc. This kind of schedule and travel is very different than what he’s used to. I think we’re agreed that as soon as even next season he’ll be more reliable but I really think that’ll be more about improved endurance and knowing the league better more than it will be about him becoming less flappable.
Did you see Batum in summer league?
He didn’t show up at all in a less-structured environment. It’s ok if Nic’s a “system” player, but he’s not a guy who’s going to come in and impose his playing style on others, like a Roy or a Bayless
This team needs a veteran big man who has been through the wars. Joel and Greg are OK, but they won’t be enough when push comes to shove in the playoffs, as the Phoenix/Utah/LA games have shown.
LMA and Frye are “pretty boys”—their game is too finese
Another basketball genius in our midst.
Maybe, just maybe, if Portland was a surefire contender for the Western Conference title, your observation might hold water. But that is not the case. By the end of the season, we could very well be, but that is not the plan. And if we just happen to be in the hunt come the end of the season, well, what does that say about us needing a veteran big man?
How many times does it need repeating – Portland is a young, talented team that just needs time. Time to learn, time to develop together, time to become experienced. Why in the world do we have to go out and add something that a) will likely cost us something in terms of talent we now have and b) may or may not represent an improvement.
Why is it people can’t simply appreciate what we have in this team? We don’t need changes, at least not 14 games into the season. Instead, how about we sit back and enjoy the ride, rather than trying to tell the driver what he should be doing or where he should be going?
hakkaa päälle !
I think patience has been redefined as being willing
to wait almost two full weeks.
I had kids who were more patient waiting for Santa Claus.
Okay
You may be right about Batum, at least on the offensive end. But still, that, to me, is less about “flappability” and more about skill set, talent, role with the team, etc. My point is that he never seems particularly nervous to me — even in the summer league action he looked young and new to everything more than he looked nervous.
As another example, Bruce Bowen has never seemed particularly flappable. He’s a steady player who plays great defense and occasionally hits open threes. And, at least on the offensive end, he’s not going to “impose his playing style” because he’s not that sort of player. Batum seems similar to me, though I’m also optimistic that he’ll eventually be stronger than Bowen on the offensive end due to better ball-handling skills, etc.
I like Aldridge and Frye a lot for this team, particularly Aldridge, but I expect you’re right that, at the very least, this team will eventually need a Mark Bryant type of player off the bench and potentially in the starting line-up. Maybe eventually Aldridge (who’s certainly got more trade value) is moved for a new starting 4 and Frye is kept as the big with outside touch?
Nice addition, TimG
Patience is almost certainly a virtue with this team as the guys getting PT are all so young — even Blake and Przybilla are just now entering the “sweet spot” in their careers. Aldridge may yet toughen up, for example, and I already love all the ways he can affect the game, such as shadowing opposing PGs. And Oden is still making significant leaps forward every few games and is presumably still not in game shape.
That said, changes of some sort or another are coming, almost certainly within the year, if only because of LaFrentz and his contract — I really can’t imagine the team letting LaFrentz walk at this point and if they do then they must have some other sort of plan they’ll be moving ahead with soon.
Toughness and unflappability need frequently time and development too and now coaches probably have other priorities.
It´s not that I think coaches and players are not working on it, but it´s a process that perhaps they can´t accelerate collectively, so they better wait for knowing who really needs help and is worth the effort, who can get it by himself and who never will even with help. I don´t think we have a single player once and for all soft or flappable.
Sergio + Rudy = 16
Sergio + Bayless = 16
Batum 8+8=16
Sorry, I meant "we don´t have a player whom we can say he´s once and for all soft or flappable."
Sergio + Rudy = 16
Sergio + Bayless = 16
Batum 8+8=16
That seems reasonable.
That said, off the top of my head I’m not sure if I can come up with a player in the league who fits that description. I suspect they figure that part out or are moved on.
Hm. Well, I suppose there’s poor Mr. Nowitzki, who plays well enough to stick in the league (and, in fact, earn an MVP) but who has quite a reputation now for melting down in the biggest games.
It may also be worth noting that a bunch of the guys like Dudley who’d clank free throws at roughly the same rate that they’d make ‘em actually shoot at something like a 90% clip when the lights aren’t on and they’re alone in a gym — or even there with other players, coaches, and the like on hand. There’s just something about the pressure of an actual game that seems to get to some of even the best players while other very pedestrian players can be much less flappable.
Like most players and even stars in the league, Nowitzki is neither flappable nor unflappable
I have seen Dirk take over and come through in some huge games in international competition (e.g. EuroBasket last-second game winners against Russia, Spain and others), or against Houston (lost both initial home games, then went on to win the series crushing the Rockets in game 7) and the Spurs in the 2006 playoffs (drive to the rim for the AND1 against Duncan and Ginobili). Even last season he had some big game winners. But e.g. the Warriors managed to take him out of the game in 2007.
Of course it's too soon
In fact Dave specifically said that Greg hasn’t evidenced “unflappability” yet. Unless you’re replying to someone else. You just reinforced Dave’s point.
"I believe in [Joel]. I just love the way he plays." - Nate McMillan
Loved the post....can I comment on the Suns game.
As lousy as the Blazers played, the Blazers last night would have beat the blazers that played the L*kers in game one.
I thought as a team they showed at least a little bit of unflappability, i.e. yes we don’t have it tonight, but your still going to have to work your behind off to beat us. This was not a push-over game for the Suns. The Suns were up for this game, and still had to work hard to get it.
Maybe I wasn’t watching the same game…but I thought there many aspects to the game that had a good feel.
There’s a lot of work ahead, like making a 3 on 1 look easy instead of nearly impossible. But these guys as a team will get to unflappable…3 months..6 months…, don’t know but it’s coming.
GO
THE TEACHER ......come into my classroom "THE PAINT" for some tutelage.
...meant to throw a Greg comment in there but thought I was getting too long.
Greg will get there…book it.
GO
THE TEACHER ......come into my classroom "THE PAINT" for some tutelage.
Minor gripe
I like this team alot, I like that they work hard in the off season but????
Im no genious at basketball but its time to bring some things to attention, LMA has got to stop shooting outside shots and establish a post game, all Ive heard all summer is how he worked on his three. SO WHAT!!!! Theres a ton of interior players that cannot play in the post, is LMA being told to work on his outside game? The 1-2-3 should be working on there outside games, they should be busting there tails on the nuances of perimeter D. I listened to Barrett and Wheels all summer on how LMA was shooting the three really well, we do not need a pf shooting threes or 18 footers or 16 footers we need him posting up and being a presence on the block. (Mo Lucas, Buck Williams anyone)Sheed gets a ton of praise for his play but he is an elite level defender and always has been, his outside game that people like to bring up was sporadic at best he had alot of nights he was cold as ice but he was/is an elite level defender.
Oden is working on what he is supposed to be working on guarding the basket and becoming an intimidating force in the paint, he needs help, consistant help. I like LaMarcus you can just see him oozing with talent but man, work on the game and the position you play, master that before you start working on 3 point shots. I am not 100% on pf spot on this team, all Im saying is if the right deal came along??
you have to think 2-3 years down the line
in a couple years when this team is (hopefully) contending for a championship, it will be the big fella who will be commanding the paint and setting up shop on the block. In contrast, we are going to need a PF that is more of a high post/face up player that wont crowd Greg on the block. This is why I think LMA is working on the right parts of his game for the future.They will learn to play off of each other and will be extremely hard to stop…..just my 2 cents
LMA's post game
is nearly unstoppable, so to say he needs to establish it—he already has. He’s scoring a ton of points in the paint.
He’s definitely the right guy for this team. And he generally cans the outside shots he takes. I don’t think we could upgrade what we have with him.
"I believe in [Joel]. I just love the way he plays." - Nate McMillan
I wouldn't exactly call the referenced post...
… an ongoing discussion, so much as a dialogue between howling and hurryup.
I think those two spent more time talking about Garnett than they did Greg.
hakkaa päälle !
It's to soon to conclude
Sounds like you’re jumping to conclusions about Greg. Not even a full year of college ball compared to Brandon’s 4 years. Greg did play his best in the NCAA championship. You may be right about Greg but it’s to soon to tell. I’m going to give him a year or more before I pigeonhole him. One thing is for sure about Greg, he get’s people to jump off that even keeled boat.
There was one point late in the game when the Blazers (LMA) were too scared to foul Shaq hard
…right before he made a game-clinching dunk. That was really disappointing. Other than Joel I’m not sure any of our other players are men.
Blazer Fan
Rumor has it none of them wear a cup.
That’s proof enough for me this team belongs in the WNBA.
hakkaa päälle !
And I don't know that GO soft as much as he is dispassionate
Maybe he;ll prove me wrong. So far I’m 100% correct.
Blazer Fan
Unflappability is a learned behavior
Being unflappable is not a hard-wired portion of one’s personality. It falls under the area of self-management which is a building block of emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence can be learned:
http://www.teleosleaders.com/pdfs/Emotional_Intelligence_Summary.pdf
Self-Management: ability to keep negative emotions and impulsive behavior under control, stay calm and unflappable even under stressful situations, maintain a clear and focused mind directed on accomplishing a task. The required competencies for this dimension are: optimism, self-control, transparency, and adaptability.
Research suggests that an individual who uses her/his feelings or emotions intelligently, that is one who has emotional intelligence, can be more successful in work and life in general than a person lacking awareness of the effects of his/her emotions. Unlike an intelligence test score, which is said to be fixed, emotional intelligence can be learned and improved on with age.
MLB2PDX!!! (someday...)
by The Cactus Leaguer on Nov 24, 2008 7:30 AM PST reply actions 3 recs
rec
any lesson on improving emotional intelligence? is there a how-to guide?
by Bust a Bucket on Nov 24, 2008 7:59 AM PST up reply actions
Lesson #1
Stop posting on sports-fan websites.
The most amazing thing about my amazing ego is I have amazingly little about which to be egotistical.
The pick and roll this year will emphasize "roll" followed by "dunk", followed by the wailings and lamentations of your women.
you don't suck at life
life sucks at you; i’m not sure what that means, just trying to make you feel better :-)
gee thanks
that’ll be my new motto… i don’t suck at life, life sucks at me.
by Bust a Bucket on Nov 24, 2008 9:15 AM PST up reply actions
how many lessons are there?
Can I get all of them upfront so I have time to digest them over the holiday weekend?
by Bust a Bucket on Nov 24, 2008 3:51 PM PST up reply actions
Towit:
they must get good and sick and tired – to the pit of their stomachs – about losing. If, instead of hoping for wins, they actually commit to punishing second-tier teams like the Suns, Rockets and Hornets, then we can start talking championships. That kind of commitment is learned and not dyed in the wool.
Exactly, I personally am a lot less flappable in situations
where I’ve been before and know what the heck I’m doing.
Whoa
I didn’t see how GO got dominated like everyone said he did. Sure his stats were bad and he looked liked the season was catching up with him. I saw Shaq’s dunk and that was not getting dunked on. Shaq was already dunking and GO came to help out. Big difference then someone shoving a dunk down the defenders throat. I think this “unflappable” characteristic with come with Greg over time. No need to worry, he’s doing a great job adjusting and learning the league imo. Shaq’s a punk and will get his soon enough, we all know this.
He has arrived:
G.O. for R.O.Y.
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he did effect a shot or two by shaq
his simple presence caused shaq to turn the ball over as well. people hyperbolized the game because the blazers lost and all were as cold as rudy’s custom baskin robbins gym shorts. Greg didn’t play that much and it’s true, he feeds off his teammates succeeding and is not unfudgewithable, but, eventually i think he will help ignite his teamates, once he shakes off the nervousness of playing against his childhood heroes.
With Greg?
With Greg Oden I think it’s just a matter of youth and experience. The level of confidence you are looking for might not even begin to show this season. It’s going to take some time but I think it will come. Individual evaluations of players are okay, but I like to evaluate unflappability or what I like to call resiliency of the team as a whole, and I’d have to say that I’m happy with that. We have a lot of competitors on this team, the best of which probably is Brandon, but Blake, Pryzbilla and the team as a whole seems to be competitive and resilient. So far this season I’ve only seen two games where for some reason the team seemed scared or unconfident, the to never be mentioned directly game #1 of the season, and The Phoenix game. IMO for some reason The Blazers seemed hesitant and almost scared in those two games. The positive side is I think they have been unflappable as a team in every other match-up. This is still a young team, consistent confidence and/or learning to compete confidently regardless of how your personal game is going is something that might take some time to gain for individuals but I think McMillan has this team for the most part acting very unflappable.
"Mother Nature started this fight, I think it's about time we ended it!"
Greg has shown some fire though
Give him a year or two. He’s really young, and once he realizes that he can compete and dominate day in and day out, I think you’ll see that cocky-side that seems to be missing now. Anyone who has missed a whole season is likely to suffer from self-doubts, and then to get injured in the first game on top of that… I think it is ridiculous to even talk about this now. Wait, at least, until after the all-star break.
Chris Dudley for three!
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