THE LEAGUE^©

In 1891, armed with two peach baskets and a soccer ball, Canadian James Naismith introduced the world to the game of basketball.  He was 30 years old.  Although the game has improved drastically since its humble beginnings, I have often wondered how Dr. Naismith would interpret the modern NBA. 

On the most essential level, BEST DAMN GUARD (soon to evolve in scope and approach) represents my gift to the enduring legacy of Dr. Naismith, the NBA, and the untold millions of fans worldwide whose lives have been enriched by the game of basketball.

At its core, this endeavor is no more than rudimentary science, basic math, theory, and history.  It represents a bold and perhaps first of its kind attempt to scientifically quantify player and team dynamics in order to predict the outcome of the NBA Championship by following player performance.  As such, BDG uses basic physics (via the science of Superstring Theory) to comprehensively examine how the principles of force and energy combine to both create and offset symmetry and harmony in the field of play.

[FYI: BDG focuses predominately on post season play because its win or go home nature guarantees the integrity of play.]

My theory is based on the hypothesis that all players in the field of play vibrate at individual resonant frequencies, much like a guitar string when plucked.  Thus, each player also has his own unique harmonic value.  These various frequencies and harmonics determine the specific type and amount of force, and counterforce, to be applied on each play – because for every action there is an equal but opposite reaction.

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 UPDATED November 28, 2007 @ 11:41 p.m.

Best Damn Guard is no more than theory and hypothesis.  Now entering its third season, it has yet to prove anything quantifiable.  As such, and in keeping with the rudiments of Superstring Theory (the foundation of the BDG model), I assess a playmaker’s skill level by drawing a direct correlation between his floor leadership, and a musician’s ability to skillfully play an acoustic guitar.  However, unlike the guitar player, a playmaking guard is limited in his ability to play his instrument (orchestrate his teammates) in a finite way — that is until we factor in the resonant frequencies (skill level) of the unique set of teammates on the floor with him at any given time.

Consider this 5-tone bar from Steven Spielberg’s Academy award-winning film, Close Encounters of the Third Kind:

(duhm, duHm, dUHm, dUHM, DUHM)

Start with the tone – G
Up a full tone – A
Down a major third – F
Now drop an Octave – F (an octave lower)
Up a perfect fifth - C

A five-tone sequence can only be arranged in a finite number of ways.  But in terms of basketball, where each player operates on his own unique resonant frequency (octave), a highly-skilled playmaking guard can arrange his teammates in an infinite number of harmonic sequences, dependent upon his basketball I.Q., creative ability, and creative license.  Thus, the more skilled the playmaker, the more harmonically sophisticated his ability to orchestrate his coach’s offensive sets, and thus, the greater his ability to overcome the opposition’s application of force (defense) which, of course, is meant to disrupt his team’s offensive harmony, symmetry, and balance.

Today, Steve Nash’s court vision and ability to control tempo –aided by the sheer athleticism of his teammates – allows him to strum the most sophisticated two-note (scoring and assists) sequence in pro basketball.  Whereas Dwyane Wade’s vision and court awareness (pre- shoulder and knee injuries), combined with his uncanniness when taking risks, allows him to play the most complete five-note sequence (scoring, assists, rebounds, blocks, and steals) in the league today.  Wade, however, currently lacks the skill and precision to control tempo like Nash, but he is gaining fast, despite his high-turnover to assist ratio.  Not to be overlooked is assist machine, Jason Kidd, who is arguably the best modern day setup man since Magic Johnson.  However, Kidd’s scoring remains a huge liability; thus, I don’t rank him in my top five playmakers today.  In fact, I’d probably rank him sixth.  Some might consider this blasphemy, but it’s where I’d rank him nonetheless.

Equally as skilled, yet one rung down are Kobe Bryant and Lebron James who rank fourth and fifth, respectively, behind Nash and Wade on my barometric scale.  Although both Bryant and James are more naturally gifted athletes, Kobe has rarely proven he has either Nash’s or Wade’s ability to lead, while Lebron, is hampered by the unproven talent surrounding him — which makes his two most recent triple-doubles even more impressive.  Nonetheless, with Wade being only six games removed from the Heat’s inactive list, I currently rank both Kobe and Lebron ahead of him on my list of elite five-tooled playmakers.  Also to Wade’s detriment is his propensity to make simple passes complex (Kobe too at times), whereas both Nash and Lebron strive to make passing as routine as possible.  This suggests Nash and Lebron are not only more in tune with the talent around them, but they are also more innately skilled playmakers.   Wade, however,  is still in his experimental stage, whereas Kobe, to his credit, doesn’t believe there is a play he can’t make, and he’s probably right.  

As for the future of playmaking, there’s my #3 playmaker,  Tony Parker, who, after last season’s Final’s MVP performance, has officially arrived.  Then there’s Utah’s Deron Williams, who has the skill-set to combine Wade’s and Nash’s gifts into one stellar package.  However, Williams’ physical limitations may prohibit him from ever becoming as accomplished a playmaker as say, Magic Johnson.  The same can be said for New Orleans’  Chris Paul, who, like Williams, is a supremely gifted playmaker, but too physically limited for my taste. 

Analytics aside, and despite their myriad skills, none of the aforementioned playmakers are virtuosos in the likeness of Magic (Lebron, perhaps, has a shot) as his level of genius only comes along once, maybe twice, in a lifetime.

As this season rounds into form, look for an entirely new spin on the Best Damn Guard paradigm.  One that is sure to engage even the most casual fan of NBA basketball.

Photos:  McClaren Sports news, top; NBAE, bottom

BEST DAMN GUARD © 2007.  All Rights Reserved.

BEST DAMN GUARD, Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, NBA, NBA Finals MVP, Player Rankings, Steve Nash, Tony Parker | 32 Comments »

The NBA may be a big man’s game, but, today, it is undeniably a guard’s league. Gone are the days of Chamberlain and Russell, the sky hook of Kareem, and the guard-like footwork of The Dream.  How we lament the bygone era of Schayes, Johnny Red, and Mikan.  And what of Walton and Gilmore, or Moses and McHale?  Theirs’ were the good ol’ days.

Time, however, has moved on.  And so must we. 

But lest we be remiss, all hail Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Duncan — the last vestiges of old school post play in the NBA.  And, while we’re at it,  let us cheer Yao, and Howard, and Curry, and Bynum.  Most important, let us pray that Oden becomes the champion we’ve billed him to be; for today’s game truly needs him.  And let us hope that others like him, perhaps not yet born, will continue to embrace the age-old traditions of playing the low post.

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