OtB is counting down the days 'til the NBA 2009-10 season tips off by ranking the top 50 players in the league. On Saturday there are 38 days left.
Boozer should be higher than this. He really should. He's an Olympian, sure. The Lost Olympian, sure, but still an Olympian. The argument about that, anyway, goes that Coach K didn't want to show favoritism to the former Dukie he coached. Of course, this was all before Boozer showed his true Benedict Arnold tendencies. It seems under Coach K's quiet tutelage, Boozer's a stand up citizen despite the last name. However, left to his own devices, Boozer does things like screw over Cleveland andLeBron James. He's in the process of doing the same to the Jazz. And if you're like me, you gotta be shaking your head and wondering why. Why angle oneself out of awesome opportunities? Pride? Masochism? I offer for your consideration a third reason. Bill Simmons has the Ewing Theory. I present to theblogoverse, the Nash Effect.
The Nash Effect states that when there are too many positives in a basketball equation, often catalyzed by one ineffable, uncriticizable player, it is inevitable that some positives will become negatively charged, usually due to low self perception and a general not-hugged-enough syndrome. The keynote example of this is, of course, the Steve Nash era in Phoenix. By all accounts, Nash is a great team mate and has made playing basketball a joy for team mates and fans alike. However, solid players seemed to hemorrhage out of Phoenix like car factories out of the US. (Ouch. Too soon?) You might blame it on the tight wallet strings of ownerSarver, whose reign over the Suns started just as the Nash Era was getting away.
You could certainly say Joe Johnson was the first victim to this penny pinching, though he did make comments about wanting to be more featured on a team. Shawn Marion, however, was a bit more vocal in his wish to leave just so he could be "the man" somewhere. Marion's now playing with the team that looks like Nash's "friend zone." Dirk and Mark Cuban, perhaps they were the first victims of the Nash Effect. And Jason Kidd should be seen historically as the man who got Steve Nash's sloppy seconds, even if Kidd will get into the Hall and Nash might not. Even Shaq, who wasn't exactly a beautiful meshing of talents with the Nash Era, got a bit of renaissance in him and then bolted.
Gymnastics Mississauga, originally uploaded by danpire.
Let's return to Boozer, though, shall we? How does Boozer fit into the Nash Effect? Obviously, he hasn't come across having Nash as a team mate, but he has had major facilitators who also demand the limelight, even if they don't demand it explicitly. (I remember a story about Deron Williams taking his interviews outside the locker room, but I can't seem to find it and perhaps it was another player...) Teaming with Lebron James for his development and subsequent prime? Uh, yeah, only idiots or legit 1A's should be getting up on that statement. Now, I'm not calling Boozer an idiot. It's regrettable really, because he fell victim to the Nash Effect. It could look like the sad lure of money that drew 'Los away or an egoistic streak that really doesn't seem apparent in his general comportment. Instead, I offer you the Nash Effect as a third angle with which to view Boozer's sad skittering away from success. Over the last year or so, Boozer's been rumored moving away from Utah. If the Jazz fans booed Derek Fisher for leaving because his daughter had a serious condition, what will they do if Boozer leaves?
go lakers!, originally uploaded by valerianicole.
In one way of looking at the Nash Effect, you could actually see the fall out meaning these victims are willing to play a less golden-boy role in this league. As in, be the villains? Alright, I'll get off my stupid soap box. But first, I salute you Carlos Boozer, for courageously taking yourself out of the highly coveted spots on contenders and teams of the future. Young bigs the world over thank you. Remember to take a photo of the fruitbasket they give you at the Memphis signing in three years after all the current and relevant talent has gone. Anyway, some details.
The Skinny: If LaMarcus Aldridge has a sweet, high release, Boozer has some other world, gonzo stuff going on. The ball seems to rock back with Booz and he cradles it well below his defender's outstretched arms, and then somehow it arcs slowly over the fingers of the well meaning defender. I've seen him arc shots like that over the healthy Yao, and that's no small feat. It has honestly reminded me of the Jordan fade-away at times. Plus, he goes for 20 and 10, at least, when healthy. Last season he was a little banged up, but all indications point to a healthy season.
Why he's #38: Boozer goes this low because you just don't trust him anymore. I gotta think that aversely affects that locker room. When you talk about irreplaceability, he's not exactly an untouchable when he has an open request to move on the table. When you talk about skills and talent, he's got 'em. He's kind of the talent-realization we hoped to see in the careers of guys like Elton Brand and Kenyon Martin (not in terms of skill set, but just in seeing them as undersized 4's who were looked at as potentially highly productive...they all have been, but it hasn't quite translated to the kind of career you'd hope for with the other two). The ineffables, though? That's where Boozer gets tripped up. It's fine that he's a solid player, and it's fine that he's going to make the best business decision for him and his family. But as a team mate, if you're not consciously questioning this guy's heart and love for the game, then certainly your subconscious is screaming it at you.
