The NBA season is barely under way, and already there is talk of some statement games having taken place. Those are the games that match up two teams that possibly have implications for later playoff matchups or showcase two rival players battling for recognition as King of the Hill.
On Opening Night in L.A., the Clippers-Lakers “rivalry” started with the Lakers playing an inspired game and beating the “other LA team” that is poised to make a serious run at the title this season for the first time in two centuries. What does it mean? Are the Clippers going to disappoint again? Will the Lakers shock the world and make the playoffs?
The Miami Heat make a statement every time their bus pulls into an arena. Teams measure themselves against the best and get up for the Heat game like it’s the playoffs. On back-to-back nights they go into Philadelphia and Brooklyn. The first night they are playing the Sixers, who are projected to win less than 20 games. So the Sixers win handily, led by their first round pick Michael Carter-Williams just missing a quadruple-double in his first game.
I don’t know if the Sixers changed any pundits’ minds, but MCW sure made a statement. In one game he became a player to watch. (And watch for him atop our Rookie Rankings later this week).
Two nights later, the Nets-Heat was an actual statement game. The Nets revamped their entire roster and hired a new coach to challenge the Heat for Eastern Conference supremacy. This was the first opportunity to take measure of the results. Could the new -look Nets with their new-look coach beat the Heat? On this night they proved that they could, winning a close game by making big plays in crunch time.
So like the optimist who jumped off the Empire State Building said as he passed the 50th floor, “so far, so good”!
What good are statement games and what do they really mean? Do they prove anything, or is it just something that gives the writers and talking heads something to get excited about?
Actually statement games do mean something once in a while.
My first statement experience as a player was Opening Night of my rookie season. We were playing the San Antonio Spurs, and their center was George Johnson, a terrific defender and shot blocker. Most shot blockers loved to see me coming as a young player. I was thought to be a slow guy who didn’t jump very high. The swat masters took one look at me and called their agents to renegotiate their contracts as they planned on blocking all of my shots that night.
My first time touching the ball, I took George to the basket, pump faked and went up as strong as I could, fully expecting my shot to end up somewhere in the stands. I got George up in the air, drew the foul and scored, finishing the three-point play.
For me, it was the icebreaker, letting me know that I could play with the best. Each game, my confidence grew as I played against all of the great centers from the era and better than held my own.
For individuals, statement games can make a difference in building confidence of young players or for guys coming off injuries. The first time playing against Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, or Larry Bird can have a real impact on young players.
For teams, all they do is allow you to prepare for the playoffs. The league history is full of big playoff games that turn into routs just to have the outcome switch the next night.
What does it mean if we beat you six times in a row in the regular season? Zip. On this level it’s almost unheard of for a team to get intimidated or lose confidence because of a statement game.
There is a reason that the playoffs are called the Second Season. All that came before it is rendered meaningless. All those big games become distant memories and fade into nothingness. So listen to all of the chatter about this matchup or that game and get excited about the playoff implications if you like. Let the reporters prattle on about who wants which matchup in the playoffs.
Believe me, I love statement games now that I am a columnist. Getting through the season, it can be a struggle finding something new to say!
While those games are great for the networks, the actual effect lasts only until tipoff of the next game.
While winning a statement game makes the plane ride nicer and the food taste better, it doesn’t mean squat after that.
Danny Schayes is a retired 18-year-veteran of the NBA, a professional broadcaster and soon-to-be-published author now penning NBA columns for SheridanHoops. Follow him on Twitter.
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