16 Games

Working in the NBA

I sat with some friends and watched the thrilling end of the Kings / Warriors game.  As Steph Curry missed a final attempt as the horn went off, a massive celebration set off across the arena and city.

I looked at those with me and said, “Well, that’s the end of their run.  No way they can win a championship after using that much emotion for an individual game.  You can’t duplicate that 16 times.”

They looked back at me in somewhat disgust.  “Are you saying they shouldn’t be celebrating?!”  “Why shouldn’t they be happy!?”

“They should be,” I said.  “It’s a big deal for the franchise and city.  But you can’t duplicate that 16 times.” 

*

After several years of being out of the Playoffs, the Portland Trail Blazers returned in 2009.  To celebrate, the city through a parade.  Yes, we had a parade, not for winning a championship, but for returning to the Playoffs. 

Many were thrilled and thought, absolutely, we should be celebrating. While others who had been around the game long enough smelled doom.

We had our parade.  We even had home court advantage.  And we came out in Game 1 versus the Houston Rockets to a raucous crowd… and lost 108-81 before losing the series 4-2. 

A great accomplishment.  A fantastic season.  But also, I think we peaked at the parade. 

*

As the Grizzlies and Lakers came down the stretch with Austin Reaves hitting shot after shot and screaming, “I’m him!!” …I told those next to me, just watch.  He went to the sideline, jumping and shouting, teammates mobbed him, and then, there was LeBron.  Walking behind.  Silent.  The leader who knows this needs to be done 16 times, not once.  And when the game was over, there was no celebration of a 7 beating a 2.  Because this wasn’t a team playing for Playoff highs and lows.  It was a team playing to win 16 games, as directed by their leader who has gone through this many times before, LeBron James. 

There are teams excited to be in the Playoffs.  There are players excited to make big shots in the Playoffs.  And then there are the players who know you have to do it 16 times. 

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