Last night in the highest scoring game of the season, Deron Williams and Kevin Durant went head to head in one of the biggest scoring battles in Utah Jazz history. Both shot over 50% from beyond the arc. Both made huge shots down the line in clutch situations. Neither one had any hesitation. Those are great stats to have. But let me tell you about a stat you won’t see in last night’s line, both led there team and left everything out on the court, and both did what was necessary to win. That is what a leader does. That is what they did… lead.
In my last post I discussed gambling odds and stats that are looked at to determine a possible winner before a game starts. We talked about “usual” versus “unusual” stats. Leadership like you saw last night is one of those “unusual” stats. I don’t know how tangible it is other than that “we're just not going to lose this one” feeling. Now don’t roll your eyes I’m not saying “magic happens” or anything… I’m just saying that sometimes one player can WILL an entire team to win. Let me give a few more examples.
Sept. 5th 2009 Arlington, TX
The BYU Cougars were given the task of playing the 3rd ranked Oklahoma Sooners in a game in the grandest stadium EVER built that was in Oklahoma’s back yard… no problem right. I want to point out two phrases that I think sum up that unusual leadership stat. First is a few days prior to the game when Jan Jorgenson was being interviewed about what it will take to win this game? He replied as though he had the words written on his ceiling over his bed and had been reading them every night since spring ball ended… “We’ve got to turn it into a street fight.” Unusual leadership stat? Check.
The second was brief and was possibly missed by many. It happened as the Cougars were running off the field at the start of half time. The camera caught Max Hall jogging past clutching his helmet yelling “Were gonna win this! Were gonna win this one!” They did. Unusual Leadership stat? Check.
Nov. 6th 2008 SLC, UT
TCU at Utah... TCU is the better team. Now before everyone jumps down my back let me finish. TCU was the better team, but Brian Johnson who played crappy most of the 2nd and 3rd quarters picked up entire team late in the fourth and marched down the field to score. While watching this game I knew he would not be able to finish. He had struggled all night and TCU was just the better team. Not the case. FIRST OFF I AM NOT A UTAH FAN. I REPEAT, NOT A UTAH FAN. That being said, I now know three things. 1. Don't bet against Brian Johnson. 2. That drive was as impressive as any college football drive in the last 10 years. 3. Hiring B. Johnson onto the coaching staff will be one of the smartest things K -Whit will ever do. Brian Johnson... unusual leadership? Check.
In closing, what happened last night was amazing. Deron and Kevin got "it." The huge threes... impressive. The giant point totals... awesome! The leadership to the point of exhaustion... intangible.
In my last post I discussed gambling odds and stats that are looked at to determine a possible winner before a game starts. We talked about “usual” versus “unusual” stats. Leadership like you saw last night is one of those “unusual” stats. I don’t know how tangible it is other than that “we're just not going to lose this one” feeling. Now don’t roll your eyes I’m not saying “magic happens” or anything… I’m just saying that sometimes one player can WILL an entire team to win. Let me give a few more examples.
Sept. 5th 2009 Arlington, TX
The BYU Cougars were given the task of playing the 3rd ranked Oklahoma Sooners in a game in the grandest stadium EVER built that was in Oklahoma’s back yard… no problem right. I want to point out two phrases that I think sum up that unusual leadership stat. First is a few days prior to the game when Jan Jorgenson was being interviewed about what it will take to win this game? He replied as though he had the words written on his ceiling over his bed and had been reading them every night since spring ball ended… “We’ve got to turn it into a street fight.” Unusual leadership stat? Check.
The second was brief and was possibly missed by many. It happened as the Cougars were running off the field at the start of half time. The camera caught Max Hall jogging past clutching his helmet yelling “Were gonna win this! Were gonna win this one!” They did. Unusual Leadership stat? Check.
Nov. 6th 2008 SLC, UT
TCU at Utah... TCU is the better team. Now before everyone jumps down my back let me finish. TCU was the better team, but Brian Johnson who played crappy most of the 2nd and 3rd quarters picked up entire team late in the fourth and marched down the field to score. While watching this game I knew he would not be able to finish. He had struggled all night and TCU was just the better team. Not the case. FIRST OFF I AM NOT A UTAH FAN. I REPEAT, NOT A UTAH FAN. That being said, I now know three things. 1. Don't bet against Brian Johnson. 2. That drive was as impressive as any college football drive in the last 10 years. 3. Hiring B. Johnson onto the coaching staff will be one of the smartest things K -Whit will ever do. Brian Johnson... unusual leadership? Check.
In closing, what happened last night was amazing. Deron and Kevin got "it." The huge threes... impressive. The giant point totals... awesome! The leadership to the point of exhaustion... intangible.
2 comments:
That's why I love those close games that make you squirm around in your seat. It's the rush of it all!!
I completely agree. There are those games where you know going into the game that there is no way your boys are going to pull this one off and somehow they step up to the stage and shock the world. Anyone remember the Utah vs. Alabama game?
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