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Killa4luv
Posts: 27768
Alba Posts: 51
Joined: 6/23/2002
Member: #261
USA
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Hey guys. Here I am, and here it goes.
I don't have the muckracking skills to dig up articles in the same way and I could off the top of my head to mention the praise he has been given by coaches such as scott skiles & Flip Saunders. I could also point out parts of those posts where there were not quotes, but comments by the reporters, and I guess we should take that as fact. BUT, I wont do any of that because, imo, it is not necessary.
I want to teach you all something about logic. I have tried to argue using logic against many of you emotional & irrational thinkers, all season long, to no avail. Perhaps I can use this oppurtunity to bolster my claims to intelectual superiority. LOL! No, but I would like to use this as an example of how one ought to respond when confronted with solid evidence.
First I'd like to say this case that is being made is much stronger than the "everywhere he leaves gets better" argument because that argument does not withstand scrutiny. Although I do see how this particular argument could be used to bolster that claim. What is apparent to me is that Steph has had some strained relationships with some of his former teammates. He seems to have responded immaturely in situations and there are signs he has not taken responsibility for his actions. I would say the evidence of strained relationships is overwhelming. Many of the other claims being made are weak 3rd party conjecture, but I would say they are bolstered mainly by the apparent fact that he has not been good at maintaining relationships with several players.
I never defended many of those things, because its not who I am, and its not how I think people should conduct themselves. I manage to get along with nearly everyone, it really isn't that hard, but I realize that for some it is, and apparently Steph is one of those people.
But even when I read things like what has been posted, I read it with a critical eye. I read actual quotes from players and coaches and that holds some weight with me. I read opinions of sportswriters and write it off. Having said that, I remember guys giving credibility to Kurt Thomas' & Tim Thomas' claims about not getting the ball and having a pg that shoots too much. Well, I watch damn near every game, so regardless of how they feel about, I form my own opinion based on what I see in front of me. I can't take either one of those guys seriously with that. To me, thats more reflective of KT & Steph's strained relationship, and Tim's overall fugazyness.
In Phoenix I can mainly only go by what players say, and statistics, because I didn't see many games. When I hear Marion speak, and I look at the stats, I see inconsistancies. Marion's stats are nearly identical in every way now to when Steph was there. The major difference is fg%. This difference means that when he says he had to work harder to score, it seems true. This also would lead me to the conclusion that J. Kidd, and Steve Nash are better passers than Steph. I agree with that assessment. When I see Amare's rookie year stats, his touches and ppg seem appropriate.
In NJ, I saw a fair amount of games. I saw Kenyon play, but my feelings are that he is not realy such a talented player period. Nevertheless, in his rookie season with Steph he averaged 12 and 7rebs with about 11 shots per game. That seems appropriate to me for a rookie, especially a player of his calibur. during his height with the nets he average 16 and 5. He may not have gotten along with Steph, and perhaps that was Stephs fault, but claims of him being held back or not getting enough shots, don't seem credible to me.
But overall, with the Knicks, when I have seen what happens at each and every game (about 90-95% of the games) I definitely cannot take seriously what any of these players say. The bottom line is they have not performed. They have missed shots, blew assignments, and played below their ppotential. This season, more than any other, I saw Steph playing at the top of his game. I saw him playing defense, giving it all guarding guys like Kobe Bryant. I saw him trying to adapt to LB's wishes. I saw him talking to players on the court. I saw him cheering teammates on. I saw him trying to do what was asked, and figure this thing out. I saw him being criticized for the team's failure, and did not see it to be his fault. I saw a coach bashing him in the paper even as it was CLEAR that he was trying to do things differently. Then I finally saw some of the other players step up more or less consistantly and we began to win. Then he got hurt, came back injured, played hurt the rest of the season, and we were back to square one as no one else stepped up, until it was much too late. He played more games (1 or 2 more)in the month of March (after the injury) than he did in any other month and his overall numbers were down in every statistical category.
Its like LB's history, his winning percentage and history is one thing, what happened here is another. I was happay LB was here, but as I watched things unfold, I saw things happening that I held him directly accountable for. Steph, I don't know about his relationships with players on this team. I know he and Kurt didn't get along, but I also know they played very well together. I knew Q and Steph were going to get into it, but I can't see what that has to do with Q or Steph's play. From all accounts that I have read, the team gets along fabulously. In fact, it has been a complaint that they were too jovial in losses.
So, in conclusion, Stephs history is checkered, he appears to not be the best communicator. He definitely has not been a good leader. But I base my life on the premise that human beings always have the potential to change and grow. I believe Steph has displayed his willingness to do those things especially this season. I don't think he is finished in that process, and I still have hope that he will grow, and thrive while making the knicks a better team.
Sorry this is so long.
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