penn nation
Professor
Posts: 21311
Reg: 12-02-04
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03-07-23 10:45 PM - Post#353420
In response to SRP
This is why Michael Jordan will always be #1 in my book. He was "on" for every single game, well aware that for some this was the first time they would see him perform--and perform he did, night in and night out.
He never, ever, took a night off. He was the ultimate competitor and took basketball to new heights, figuratively and literally, in the process. And as unbelievable as he was in the regular season, he was unsurpassed in the playoffs.
One thing underrated about NBA superstars IMO is their ability to play hard for so many minutes (even in these days of "load management"--if anything that makes them work harder when they do hit the court).
I think I was first struck by this years ago at a game where Kevin Garnett was visiting the Mavs while playing for the Timberwolves. He wasn't only super-talented, he was involved in the outcome of every possession on both sides of the ball, like a giant Energizer Bunny. Antetekoumpo is similar in that respect. And you could see, toward the end of last year, when Chris Paul's age was maybe catching up to him a little bit and he couldn't expend the same two-way effort deep into playoff series.
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