Luka’s Corner

The time has come. Tonight, the Boston Celtics will face off against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of the 2010 NBA Finals. I will not analyze the two teams for you and give you an in-depth breakdown of the series, nor will I offer any insider information because, honestly, I have heard enough of this pre-game analysis on ESPN and the local Boston and Los Angeles stations. It is time for the Finals to finally start.

So, without further ado, here is my pick to win the 2009-10 NBA title:

Boston Celtics in five games

All I will say is that the C’s have shown to me this postseason that they are for real, especially on the road. They have taken the phrase “road warriors” to a whole new level against Miami, Cleveland, and Orlando. But, I also think that the time has come for the C’s to actually regain that dominance and swagger at the TD Garden.

They will do this against the Lakers and win Game 2 at Staples Center, then come home and win three straight to clinch the title.

If you have ever asked yourself why the NBA decided to make the corny phrase “Where Amazing Happens” their treasured slogan, the Celtics-Cavaliers game earlier today should give you an answer. If you hadn’t watched the game, you would think that it was LeBron James, the MVP of the league and basketball’s best player, who had a special or “amazing” game. Paul Pierce or Ray Allen would also come to mind. But, it was neither of these three. It was the Celtics point guard, Rajon Rondo.

The smallest player on the floor recorded an astonishing 29 points, 18 rebounds, and 13 assists in a much-needed victory for Boston. He made all of the big plays in the second half, scoring when needed, creating open shots for his teammates, and securing rebounds on both ends of the floor. The smallest guy on the floor not only notched almost 30 points against arguably the best defensive team in the league, but he also grabbed 18 rebounds! And he dished out 13 assists! The best thing with Rondo is that this performance isn’t “amazing” because it came completely out of nowhere. He is known for his ability to record triple-doubles with high rebound numbers. This performance was just a tad more impressive than usual. Once again, how does 18 rebounds sound for a 6′1 point guard who is not only the smallest on the floor, but also the lightest?

If you are still not convinced by how great this game was for Rajon Rondo, consider this. The Celtics point guard out-rebounded Kevin Garnett, Kendrick Perkins, and Shaquille O’Neal combined 18-17 in Game 4. He had more assists than LeBron James and Mo Williams combined (who had 12 assists in total). Here’s one more. Rajon Rondo, a pass-first point guard who has deferred to the so-called “Big Three” the past three seasons, outscored Paul Pierce and Ray Allen combined (29-27). Oh, and on top of all that, Rondo notched two steals and held Mo Williams, an All-Star point guard, to 13 points off of 33% shooting. Let’s just say that this performance was amazing.

It is amazing that a player small in stature can dominate the game in the paint by rebounding. It is amazing that that player can dominate the game in the three most important ways, by scoring, rebounding, and passing. It is amazing that he can play a near-perfect offensive game and still be effective on defense. And, it is amazing that he can record the best statistical game in the Playoffs of a league featuring the best players in the world. The NBA: “Where Amazing Happens”.

In sports, winning can be witnessed and measured in many different ways. And, because there are so many different kinds of athletes within their respective sports, it is easy to compare them in order to figure out which are true winners and which are not. But, here’s my question. Who exactly is a winner and how can that be determined? Luckily, there are so many different kinds of winners in sports that it is easy to determine.

A winner can be measured by their stats when it really matters. In other words, if an athlete’s statistics or production noticeably increase in the postseason, championship match, knockout round, or whenever else the result is on the line, then that athlete is a winner. There are plenty of examples of this. In soccer, Samuel Eto’o elevates his play by scoring more goals in the knockout round of the UEFA Champions League or when the domestic league is nearing its end. The Cameroonian star seems to always come through when he is both least expected to come through and when he is needed to come through. Just remember that with all of the talk about Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry, Xavi, and the other big names on FC Barcelona entering the club’s Champions League final against Manchester United last May, it was Eto’o who came through at the start by opening the scoring for his club.

On the other hand, Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s goal production notoriously decreases in the knockout round of the Champions League. He has infamously experienced scoring droughts on the biggest stage of international club soccer. It is not surprising that his Inter teams always failed to go far in the Champions League. If the leader of your team fails to produce, then you cannot win. So, it is not surprising then that the Inter club this season, with Eto’o, is on the verge of reaching the final for the first time in recent memory (ironically, at the expense of Ibrahimovic’s Barcelona club).

However, it isn’t only an increase in statistical production that makes a winner. You can see a winner in action if they make the timely pass, steal the ball to get a critical defensive stop, hit the big three-pointer, or save the wrist shot that could have won the game. The athletes who do these things don’t always have to be the biggest names or most heralded stars. They can be the 7th-man on a basketball team or the substitute on a soccer team. No matter who they are, though, they have to make these big-time plays on a consistent basis to be considered winners. A winner does not have one magical season and then fade the rest of his career. Athletes who win once and then say that they are winners, but somehow never win again, are not winners. Consistency is key.

For example, Robert Horry, a role player who hit big-time shots for the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, and San Antonio Spurs throughout his career, is a winner. Joakim Noah, who has a knack for grabbing critical rebounds, and displayed that ability both in college and in the NBA, is a winner. Ben Roethlisberger, who has made a name for himself with his game-winning drives for the Steelers in the postseason, is a winner. So is Gennaro Gattuso, who uses his emotion and intensity to lead both his club and international team to wins. Such athletes, even if they aren’t the biggest stars in their sport and don’t draw much media attention, find a way to get it done in winning time. They seem to always do it when it really counts.

I also want to throw out there that winners get it done in all kinds of situations. This means that they win in different leagues and by playing different roles for their team (to fill their team’s needs). Manu Ginobili is a great example of this. The Argentinian is a three-time champion with the San Antonio Spurs. He also led Argentina en route to winning the Olympics in 2004, in addition to already having won the Euroleague with Kinder Bologna in 2001 (with whom he was also named the Euroleague MVP for 2000-01). Ginobili has proven that he can win in any environment and on any team. He will be the playmaker on the team or the scorer or even the lockdown defender, as long as it will result in victory. He does what he has to do, no matter where and how he has to do it.

It is similar to high school basketball players who end up in the NBA and continue to win in the pros after winning state championships at the high school level (like LeBron James and Derrick Rose). It is not a coincidence then that the athlete who has proven that they can win keep on doing it, even if it is against better competition. That is also why we even hear about these athletes in the first place. Winners, be it in high school or in the professional ranks, grab the spotlight.  Everyone wants a proven winner. This is why winning is like a fortune. Everyone wants to make a billion dollars, but very few people actually earn it in their lifetimes. Similarly, everyone wants to win, but very few find a way to do so.