Off The Bench
January 1, 2010 by K.I.M
Filed under Entertainment, Featured
So yesterday I attended the Clippers vs 76ers (sp) game in Los Angeles. I admittedly know nothing about sports, I just went to see my friends A.I. and Elton Brand play.
First I want to say this, wow what a game and not necessarily in a good way. It’s funny cus’ I’ve gone to other games but I usually go more for the “hang out” stuff rather than the actual game itself and it’s usually pretty cool. This game was kinda’ dull and borderline boring and it made me pay attention to things I would’ve otherwise probably overlooked.
The 1st thing I noticed was, damn not that many people come to see the Clippers play huh? I guess it’s hard being a second team in a city with a “monster” team such as the Lakers. In fact, somebody told me that people only go to the Clippers games to see other teams they want to see cus’ the Lakers tickets are so high.
The 2nd thing I noticed was, people seem to really take this “starting” thing serious huh? I didn’t and still don’t see what the big deal is about coming off the bench. There were a few hecklers in the crowd and every time Elton touched the ball he was booed CRAZY!!! I mean EVERY TIME, it was hilarious to me. The fans were so disrespectful.
Someone I was with told me that Elton started his career with the Clippers and asked to be traded so the fans hate him now. Damn! Really, as a player are you expected to play for the same team your entire career? I thought it was normal for players to move around. Anyway as the fans heckled Elton they brought up this bench thing, which made me think and here’s how I feel about it.
WHO FREAKING CARES WHETHER YOU START OR COME OFF THE BENCH????? As much as these guys get paid, I’d be happy enough to be on the team, they wouldn’t ever have to put me on the court AT ALL!!!!
Now from the athlete standpoint I can see where that would be a problem because the game is competitive. I look at this bench thing 2 ways. 1, why start my best players in the beginning of the game thus tiring them out for if you need them later? 2, start my best players in the beginning so that the other team is just crushed out the gate.
To me being on the bench could be a good thing either way; if you come out the gate dominating the ball and win, great and if you come off the bench later to save the game resulting in a win, GREAT! The overall problem at last night’s game from most people was that the 76ers coach “gave up” in the end and put Elton AND A.I. on the bench.
K.I.M
KIM!! You KNOW I’m a big basketball fan, so I gotta first say, no, nobody expects a player to stay in one city their whole career. Us as fans would like it to happen, and the salary cap rules are set up for big time players to not be able to be moved easily. But we accept trades. What NOBODY accepts is a multi million dollar player asking for a trade, essentially saying that my city or my time is beneath them.
Second, its more about minutes and being able to be in the game at the end then starting. If you come off the bench, but average over 30 minutes and are in at the end of the game, you usually don’t complain. But starting is a big deal because basketball is about momentum and reaction. Some players can’t heat up after sitting on the bench, so a coach may start them over a guy who can.
All that said, we were just talking about Elton Brand the other day. He has been horrible. He probably had 2 or 3 good years, and thats when he was on the Bulls, which is where he started his career. He had put up good personal numbers on the Clippers, but never made any team better.
The fans don’t know him personally, so as a fan of the game, their team and city, they boo and heckle because he asked to go, got out, and hasn’t done anything since. But, I’m a KNICKS fan, so so what!! LOL…
Hahaha ok, thanks 4 that breakdown cus’ as i told yall, I could care less about the game and they said he got 85 million with the new place & damn all that, it’s about provinding for your family in my opinion, but i feel you. The hecklers actually made my night.