We laugh and we cry. Our brains’ flood with dopamine as we celebrate our greatest achievements, while our hearts plummet as we anguish in our most miserable defeats. Both the best and worst are brought out in us when our body fills with anger, a furious and uncontrollable rage. There is no place where our expansive range of emotions is more evident than the world of athletic competition.
Anyone who has played a game of pick-up basketball at their local gym has seen someone overreact to a seemingly harmless play in a meaningless game of three-on-three. From that point on the game changes, as the subsequent play is determined by each players’ reaction to the influx of hormones now flowing through their veins. Some players use this as a spark to dominate their competition- think Kobe Bryant- while others can let this conflict deteriorate their skills for the duration of the game. While we think of trash talking and getting in an opponent’s head as a tactic reserved for games at the park down the street, the effect of these mental games is not limited to streetball.
As we saw in the now-infamous confrontation between the Celtics’ Kevin Garnett and Knick’s Carmelo Anthony earlier this year, the NBA is not immune to these emotional conflicts, and they certainly have an impact on the performance of those involved. There are the guys like Garnett and Rasheed Wallace, whose trash-talk is a weapon in their arsenal just as effective as their mid-range J. Then there are the guys who don’t usually partake in the trash-talk, but become even more deadly when they do they- ever wonder why no one talks trash to Kobe anymore? Finally, there are those who lose all effectiveness once they get that rush of testosterone- ‘Melo didn’t go cold after KG’s “honey nut cheerios” comment just by coincidence.
With emotions playing such an important role, it is incredibly interesting to take a closer look at how last year’s NBA Finals participants, and the favorites to meet in a rematch this year, have channeled their emotions to reach the level they are at.
The Heat, for all their showmanship upon the formation of the ‘Big Three’, took an unexpected and unique approach on their quest for a championship. After riding the proverbial roller coaster of emotions as the villains of the NBA, before being upset in the Finals by the Dallas Mavericks during their first year together, the Heat decided to press mute on their emotions. That meant no more LeBron getting frustrated by all his critics, no more Wade and James mocking Dirk’s illness, and no more Bosh crumpling to the floor in tears. Instead, LeBron refused to retaliate to the Pacers’ attempts to frustrate him both physically and mentally in last year’s playoffs, Wade became stoic, no longer finding the humor in losing, and Bosh began to channel that emotionally intensity to the court.
Then they won a championship, and they haven’t looked back. Sure, they have plenty of fun off the court, from Bosh’s postgame photo bombing to the team’s very own version of the “Harlem Shake”, but when they’re on the court, all that matters is the score.
Emotions are inevitable in sports, but the Heat have learned to control theirs. No longer do they let others’ opinions or actions affect their play, rather their emotions go only where they allow them to. The Heat can be beat, although even that proposition is beginning to seem questionable, but the Heat will not beat themselves anymore.
The Heat’s counterpart, the Oklahoma City Thunder, are often compared to them in almost every way possible- from the way they were formed to the big-market/small-market dichotomy. However the most striking, and perhaps surprising, difference between the teams lies in their emotional output. The Thunder, as polar opposites of the Heat, may be the NBA’s most emotional team. This is obviously apparent in players like Russell Westbrook and Kendrick Perkins, known for their tantrums and technicals as much as their screens and scoring, but is becoming subtly evident in their most even-keeled players as well. The casual fan might be shocked to find out that, like his commercials say, Kevin Durant really isn’t nice (he is currently second in the league in technical fouls, trailing only- who else?- Kobe Bryant).
Oh, and don’t forget about Serge Ibaka karate-chopping Blake Griffin in the groin region last weekend. Whether ‘Melo was right about there being some things you just don’t say to another man is debatable, what’s not debatable is that there are some places you don’t touch another man- and Ibaka definitely hit that place on Griffin (in fairness to Serge, I don’t think he was attempting to nut-check Blake. I think he meant to hit Blake in the wrist to break his grip on Serge’s shorts but Blake let go just as Serge’s arm was coming down. Either way, it was definitely a vicious blow).
This doesn’t make the Thunder dirty or mean players, but it is evidence of just how emotional they can be- something that comes with all their collective youth. Westbrook is incredibly explosive and can use his emotions to propel him to new heights- metaphorically and literally- but he is yet to figure out how to harness his emotions and they can negatively affect his performance at times. Ibaka and Perkins are both prone to these detrimental types of outbursts as well. Even Durant has become vulnerable to losing control this year- something most Thunder fans accept since it comes with an added aggression that has allowed him to take the next step as a player.
The Thunder are an emotional team, and that’s not changing anytime soon. This is part of what makes them so deadly, raising their ceiling when channeled correctly, but also can be their Achilles’ heel, as self-destruction can be the only thing holding them back.
Two great teams, two completely different approaches to their own emotions. Yet, somehow, they have both been able to find enormous amounts of success.
Sports are the ultimate competition- a combination of challenges equal parts physical and psychological. Emotions play an enormous role in who is successful and who comes up just short, and there is no clear-cut way one must deal with their emotions in order to win. There is just one thing a champion must do with regards to his emotions: as Laird Hamilton said, “Make sure your worst enemy doesn’t live between your own two ears.”
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I hope you enjoyed reading! If you have any questions, comments, or other suggestions on how to improve the column or any other topic feel free to contact me at my email address [email protected], on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/adam.colman.9 or on Twitter @AdamRColman.
Thanks for the support!
Anyone who has played a game of pick-up basketball at their local gym has seen someone overreact to a seemingly harmless play in a meaningless game of three-on-three. From that point on the game changes, as the subsequent play is determined by each players’ reaction to the influx of hormones now flowing through their veins. Some players use this as a spark to dominate their competition- think Kobe Bryant- while others can let this conflict deteriorate their skills for the duration of the game. While we think of trash talking and getting in an opponent’s head as a tactic reserved for games at the park down the street, the effect of these mental games is not limited to streetball.
As we saw in the now-infamous confrontation between the Celtics’ Kevin Garnett and Knick’s Carmelo Anthony earlier this year, the NBA is not immune to these emotional conflicts, and they certainly have an impact on the performance of those involved. There are the guys like Garnett and Rasheed Wallace, whose trash-talk is a weapon in their arsenal just as effective as their mid-range J. Then there are the guys who don’t usually partake in the trash-talk, but become even more deadly when they do they- ever wonder why no one talks trash to Kobe anymore? Finally, there are those who lose all effectiveness once they get that rush of testosterone- ‘Melo didn’t go cold after KG’s “honey nut cheerios” comment just by coincidence.
With emotions playing such an important role, it is incredibly interesting to take a closer look at how last year’s NBA Finals participants, and the favorites to meet in a rematch this year, have channeled their emotions to reach the level they are at.
The Heat, for all their showmanship upon the formation of the ‘Big Three’, took an unexpected and unique approach on their quest for a championship. After riding the proverbial roller coaster of emotions as the villains of the NBA, before being upset in the Finals by the Dallas Mavericks during their first year together, the Heat decided to press mute on their emotions. That meant no more LeBron getting frustrated by all his critics, no more Wade and James mocking Dirk’s illness, and no more Bosh crumpling to the floor in tears. Instead, LeBron refused to retaliate to the Pacers’ attempts to frustrate him both physically and mentally in last year’s playoffs, Wade became stoic, no longer finding the humor in losing, and Bosh began to channel that emotionally intensity to the court.
Then they won a championship, and they haven’t looked back. Sure, they have plenty of fun off the court, from Bosh’s postgame photo bombing to the team’s very own version of the “Harlem Shake”, but when they’re on the court, all that matters is the score.
Emotions are inevitable in sports, but the Heat have learned to control theirs. No longer do they let others’ opinions or actions affect their play, rather their emotions go only where they allow them to. The Heat can be beat, although even that proposition is beginning to seem questionable, but the Heat will not beat themselves anymore.
The Heat’s counterpart, the Oklahoma City Thunder, are often compared to them in almost every way possible- from the way they were formed to the big-market/small-market dichotomy. However the most striking, and perhaps surprising, difference between the teams lies in their emotional output. The Thunder, as polar opposites of the Heat, may be the NBA’s most emotional team. This is obviously apparent in players like Russell Westbrook and Kendrick Perkins, known for their tantrums and technicals as much as their screens and scoring, but is becoming subtly evident in their most even-keeled players as well. The casual fan might be shocked to find out that, like his commercials say, Kevin Durant really isn’t nice (he is currently second in the league in technical fouls, trailing only- who else?- Kobe Bryant).
Oh, and don’t forget about Serge Ibaka karate-chopping Blake Griffin in the groin region last weekend. Whether ‘Melo was right about there being some things you just don’t say to another man is debatable, what’s not debatable is that there are some places you don’t touch another man- and Ibaka definitely hit that place on Griffin (in fairness to Serge, I don’t think he was attempting to nut-check Blake. I think he meant to hit Blake in the wrist to break his grip on Serge’s shorts but Blake let go just as Serge’s arm was coming down. Either way, it was definitely a vicious blow).
This doesn’t make the Thunder dirty or mean players, but it is evidence of just how emotional they can be- something that comes with all their collective youth. Westbrook is incredibly explosive and can use his emotions to propel him to new heights- metaphorically and literally- but he is yet to figure out how to harness his emotions and they can negatively affect his performance at times. Ibaka and Perkins are both prone to these detrimental types of outbursts as well. Even Durant has become vulnerable to losing control this year- something most Thunder fans accept since it comes with an added aggression that has allowed him to take the next step as a player.
The Thunder are an emotional team, and that’s not changing anytime soon. This is part of what makes them so deadly, raising their ceiling when channeled correctly, but also can be their Achilles’ heel, as self-destruction can be the only thing holding them back.
Two great teams, two completely different approaches to their own emotions. Yet, somehow, they have both been able to find enormous amounts of success.
Sports are the ultimate competition- a combination of challenges equal parts physical and psychological. Emotions play an enormous role in who is successful and who comes up just short, and there is no clear-cut way one must deal with their emotions in order to win. There is just one thing a champion must do with regards to his emotions: as Laird Hamilton said, “Make sure your worst enemy doesn’t live between your own two ears.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I hope you enjoyed reading! If you have any questions, comments, or other suggestions on how to improve the column or any other topic feel free to contact me at my email address [email protected], on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/adam.colman.9 or on Twitter @AdamRColman.
Thanks for the support!
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