Interesting Article on being Clutch (Part 1)

[Italian Stallion]

http://artofmanliness.com/2011/06/28/be ... ns-part-i/

[Mike G]

Not much related, but I've been wondering about the psychology of tattoos; specifically, does an abundance of tattoos indicate a personality shortcoming? Is it about drawing attention to oneself, rather than having perfect confidence in oneself?

Rodman brought the tattoo wardrobe to the NBA stage, and he was and is a certified head case. Iverson was very successful, though teams and coaches had to bend to his whims; and then he, too, was unemployable.

LeBron is fully tattooed, and Wade, I think, is not. When I picture Dwight Howard and Chris Paul, I don't think of tattoos. Nowitzki, Durant, and most others who 'overachieved' in these recent playoffs, do not seem to be tattoo types.

Anyone have an opinion on this?
Does anyone have a database of %tattoos for NBA players, that might be used to correlate with other statistics?
Most and least tattooed teams?

[wilq]

Not much related, but I've been wondering about the psychology of tattoos; specifically, does an abundance of tattoos indicate a personality shortcoming? Is it about drawing attention to oneself, rather than having perfect confidence in oneself?

With those questions aren't you assuming all tattoos are somewhat fresh? Because IMHO it could also tells us something about their childhood [neighbourhood, friends, influences etc]...

Does anyone have a database of %tattoos for NBA players, that might be used to correlate with other statistics?
Most and least tattooed teams?

It may be a stupid idea but my first thought was "the best information about tattoos you will find in... video games". Their goal is to visualize players as realistic as possible so you would only need one file with data about graphic details...

[huevonkiller]

Not much related, but I've been wondering about the psychology of tattoos; specifically, does an abundance of tattoos indicate a personality shortcoming? Is it about drawing attention to oneself, rather than having perfect confidence in oneself?

Rodman brought the tattoo wardrobe to the NBA stage, and he was and is a certified head case. Iverson was very successful, though teams and coaches had to bend to his whims; and then he, too, was unemployable.

LeBron is fully tattooed, and Wade, I think, is not. When I picture Dwight Howard and Chris Paul, I don't think of tattoos. Nowitzki, Durant, and most others who 'overachieved' in these recent playoffs, do not seem to be tattoo types.

Anyone have an opinion on this?
Does anyone have a database of %tattoos for NBA players, that might be used to correlate with other statistics?
Most and least tattooed teams?

Durant got taken to seven games by the grizzlies, did he really overachieve? Dwight Howard and Chris Paul certainly didn't overachieve, neither did Dwyane Wade.

Or it means LeBron comes from a tougher background than other players and that is why he is such a great clutch player statistically. Recall that facing the Mavericks in 2006 was an even greater success for James and Kobe, they just didn't get there. You have to prove these notions before asserting them.

Kobe didn't have his best post-season until he got some tattoos during his personal life "shortcoming". Shaq Diesel was pretty tattooed.

[Mike G]

2011 Playoff Win Shares per 48 minutes leaders:
.242 Chris Paul
.238 Dwight Howard
.225 Ray Allen
.217 Kevin Durant
.216 Dwyane Wade
.210 Dirk Nowitzki
...
http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... aders.html

Shaq is often described as a player who could have done much more. Just one MVP in his career, a rather casual attitude toward the regular season, no postseason dominance after age 30...

Kobe is still inconsistent in big games and big moments.

Does a tough neighborhood cause a person to get tattoos, or do tattoos help one survive a tough environment, or what?

[huevonkiller]

Ok here's the short answer:


That's a pretty bad interpretation Mike. All the players you mentioned have choked pretty hard at some points. Further no player has had the peak of LeBron's career either. It is a two-way street.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/lea ... eer_p.html

#3 all time.

Here's the long answer:

Yeah the difference is LeBron is #1 in Win Shares and #1 in MPG. And #1 of this era easily.

2011 Playoff Win Shares per 48 minutes leaders:
.242 Chris Paul

He lost in the first round in 2009....

.035 WS/48 in 2009.

.238 Dwight Howard

Atlanta Hawks, really? You're going to prop him up for that? .184 WS/48 with the #1 SRS team in 2010. LeBron's team wasn't the best it was the Magic. And the Celtics rolled through this guy.

.225 Ray Allen

I don't need to say much here.

.217 Kevin Durant

Wow maybe the biggest choking performance I've ever seen in the first round, for a prolific scorer. 16 PER in 2010, after 26 in the regular season. Kobe had 15 PER in the playoffs but he overcame that because Durant failed so badly.

.216 Dwyane Wade

http://bkref.com/tiny/A3dsy

Wade's below David Robinson in the playoffs and I'm comparing their primes.

.195 WS/48 against the Hawks, in his best season. He choked against the Atlanta Hawks in 2009, Chicago Bulls 2011, Chicago Bulls 2007, Pistons 2005.

.210 Dirk Nowitzki

Warriors.
...

Shaq is often described as a player who could have done much more. Just one MVP in his career, a rather casual attitude toward the regular season, no postseason dominance after age 30...

Hmm.... No need to make up a narrative just stick to the facts. LeBron didn't play well in the regular season against Dallas. Overall he's had the best career through age 26 though.

Kobe is still inconsistent in big games and big moments.

Take a look at Dwyane Wade's career. Kobe's just as consistent with a longer career. One can't compare his struggles to James' anyway.

Kobe improved as a player after getting those tattoos, in every way possible actually.

Does a tough neighborhood cause a person to get tattoos, or do tattoos help one survive a tough environment, or what?

Seems more complex than that.

[Statman]

Not much related, but I've been wondering about the psychology of tattoos; specifically, does an abundance of tattoos indicate a personality shortcoming? Is it about drawing attention to oneself, rather than having perfect confidence in oneself?

Rodman brought the tattoo wardrobe to the NBA stage, and he was and is a certified head case. Iverson was very successful, though teams and coaches had to bend to his whims; and then he, too, was unemployable.

LeBron is fully tattooed, and Wade, I think, is not. When I picture Dwight Howard and Chris Paul, I don't think of tattoos. Nowitzki, Durant, and most others who 'overachieved' in these recent playoffs, do not seem to be tattoo types.

Anyone have an opinion on this?
Does anyone have a database of %tattoos for NBA players, that might be used to correlate with other statistics?
Most and least tattooed teams?

http://www.basketballticket.com/kevin-d ... an-uproar/

Kevin Durant has more than a couple tats.

[Mike G]

Ah, those tats on Durant are where the general public doesn't generally see them.
The Nuggets have a few really flaky players with beaucoup tattoos. They also don't seem to do well in playoffs most years.

When artificial grass was a relatively new thing, I thought sports could look pretty stupid at times. Football players hydroplaning across the surface, baseballs bouncing over the outfielder's head... I'd almost always root for the team with the real grass.

LeBron can be better than any other 2 players on the floor, or he can be completely average. What's up with that? I find myself not caring whether he plays well. But Wade, I always root for him.

When Chris Andersen or JR Smith do something great, they look like some kind of superheroes (or scary cartoon villains). When they fail, they look like clowns.