I came across an article on Grantland.com,and thought it was good enough to share with you guys. It’s about the different players that they love to watch play, and one of our Blue and Gold guys made the list. Maybe not the guy you think of right away, but definitely a guy that’s interesting to watch in the good and bad, Lance Stephenson. Here’s one of my favorite lines from the article, and can really boil down to what makes Lance Stephenson who he is.
“The no. 1 criteria for this All-Star team is whether you could put a camera on a player all night long and be entertained. Lance? Passes with flying colors.”
In basketball, it’s usually about the mega-superstars of the league as to who you truly want to watch. But then there those guys that fall under the radar, and you can’t help watch play. I’d throw a guy like Metta World Peace in that second category. I’m putting Lance Stephenson in that category. Now you’re thinking I am putting them at the same level of playing ability and what not, which is not true. At all. Both guys have their own unique playing level, which is why they’re each fun to watch.
But with Lance, it’s that idea of not knowing just what you might get with him. You know you’re going to get that ball of energy. But will the energy be of good use? Or will be the kind that makes him make some way too fancy pass that gets him yanked out of a game? Either way, you want to watch him play because you want to see what you’ll get.
I’ve always talked about Good Lance and Bad Lance. I believe last season, we saw plenty of Good Lance, and this season it will be just as important to continue to see Good Lance. Essentially, I don’t want to say Bad Lance anymore. I do think it probably won’t happen as that’s just his game. A game of making plays and trying to get into that other team’s bad side. Just ask the Miami Heat about that one. Who asked to step up and guard Lebron James? Lance did of course.
With the possibility of Danny Granger not being fully ready to go, that means Lance Stephenson can step right back into his starter’s role, and continue this improvement he’s made. He’s a guy that I did want to believe could play as strong as Larry Bird has stated because if Larry Bird is believing in this “kid”, well that’s pretty high praise. You look at him with tons of potential, that needs to be bottled up and released all at once. If that happens this season, I could see him being that next Indiana Pacer to win the Most Improved Player. I think he’s going to be on plenty of radars this season, and now’s the time to show Good Lance.