Dr. J's Rock-The-Cradle dunk (in the 1:21 min mark of the video below) against the Lakers in the 1980 Finals was perhaps one of the most esthetically pleasing act of athleticism ever seen on an NBA floor. A lot of players have dunked harder, a lot of players have jumped higher but no one, to my mind, has ever brought that grace, that effortless quality of an artist creating his version of the Mona Lisa, while in the air. And it wasn't just his dunks. Check out his physics defying layups that seem to stop time amidst the chaos among the giants patrolling the paint (see this jaw-dropping move at the 1:01 min mark of the video below).
I sometimes wonder what would have happened if Dr. J played in today's day and age of constant media sharing. His dunks, his balletic moves to the basket, the drama, the suspense would probably have made him into a much much bigger star than he was in the dark ages of the NBA (the 70s). But either way, what an athlete. Enjoy Dr. J taking off in this quick compilation:
Friday, September 14, 2012
Steve Nash: Best Lakers PG Since Magic...Hope They All Make Use of Him
The Lakers simply never had a point guard with the passing acumen of Steve Nash since the heydays of Magic and the Showtime Lakers. I know a million articles have been written this summer about how Nash will fit in with the Lakers, will he be effective without the ball, how his defense is non-existent, etc. But the point is, once again - Nash is the BEST passing point guard the Lakers have had in two decades (yes, with all due respect to Gary Payton in 2004) and he is also probably one of the best SHOOTERS the Lakers have ever had (the statistics back this up unequivocally). That alone counts for some serious improvements. Don't forget, Magic wasn't exactly breaking grounds on the defensive end. So Nash will be just fine. And no one can stay in front of the new breed of cat quick guards like Westbrook, Rose, Irving, Rondo and so on...that's why you got the myriad of modern defensive schemes (Memo to Mike Brown: please earn your money dude).
Even if Nash plays at the level of last season (All-Star), he will make everyone around him better, including this guy named Kobe (who can work more off the ball instead of pounding it into the ground 20 feet away from the basket).
I just really hope everyone in the Lakers, and by that I mean both the players and the coaching staff, does whatever necessary to make sure Nash is able to do his thing (in spite of the triangle like benefit of the newly anointed Princeton Offense).
Here's Nash dropping 17 dimes against the Pacers last season. Hope he can do that wearing the Purple and Gold. Enjoy:
Even if Nash plays at the level of last season (All-Star), he will make everyone around him better, including this guy named Kobe (who can work more off the ball instead of pounding it into the ground 20 feet away from the basket).
I just really hope everyone in the Lakers, and by that I mean both the players and the coaching staff, does whatever necessary to make sure Nash is able to do his thing (in spite of the triangle like benefit of the newly anointed Princeton Offense).
Here's Nash dropping 17 dimes against the Pacers last season. Hope he can do that wearing the Purple and Gold. Enjoy:
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