In life we are all drawn to good chemistry. It is the number one thing that begins a relationship and hopefully the same ingredient that will build a lasting relationship.
Chemistry on the court for each individual team is just as important as chemistry on your fantasy team. If you haven’t yet had to courage to take my advice to break up with a player, make a trade or work the waiver-wire, you should study chemistry. You can have all the hope you want for your elite player, but if they are not getting the ball, making plays happen or assisting their teammates you got nothing.
Last week I was able to attend three NBA Games. What a life right? I have managed to parlay my work schedule around professional sporting events for years. A little secret about my career, ever trip I book, every travel gig I take, is not locked in til I see the potential of catching a game while I am visiting that city. My agents do not follow sports at all, so without telling them my master plan I have to tinker with my work lineup to make it everything I want it to be.
In my other world when I am directing a movie, chemistry between co-stars is everything. No one wants to see a bad match up in a movie, in a relationship or on the court. Lets emphasize chemistry here.
I saw two Washington Wizards games, marking my third and fourth Wizards' gamed already this season (I have seen them in NY, in Toronto and at home). When I watch them play I see the same thing every time - good, strong chemistry. Nothing changes, the Wizards play to win and they play as a team. No matter what the match up, they play the same consistent ball. I see the New York Knicks regularly because living in NY it is just too easy to get to MSG and enjoy some games, as good or as bad as they may be.
Wednesday's Game: Dallas Mavericks 105 vs Washington Wizards 102
Bradley Beal returned to the court after recovering from his injury. I was interested to see how he looked live, because I was patiently awaiting his return to my fantasy teams. Wednesday night he looked ready to play, but what was even clearer was the chemistry between him and his team, and they way they welcomed him back on the court by sharing the action, making plays happen and fighting for a win. Even though the Wizards lost, they never gave up and they played hard to the end.
Dallas Mavericks
Dirk Nowitzki: 12 pts, 2 ast, 1 steal in 27 minutes.
Monta Ellis: 34 pts, 4 ast, 1 steal in 37 minutes.
Jose Barea: 14 pts, 6 ast in 23 minutes.
Washington Wizards
Bradley Beal: 21 pts, 3 ast, 1 steal in 25 minutes
Paul Pierce: 17 pts, 1 asst in 25 minutes
Marcin Gortat 17 pts, 1 ast in 29 minutes
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Friday's Game: Cleveland Cavaliers 78 vs Washington Wizards 91
The Cleveland Cavaliers, the most talked about team in the NBA, are filled with more hype than hope at the moment. An all-star lineup they have, but not all star chemistry. Yes, LeBron James is a beast, Kyrie Irving is a stud and Kevin Love, the one the Cavaliers spent the summer fighting for, haven’t yet found their rhythm they need to connect and put together the chemistry to be more consistent on the court. The Wizards shot 48.8 from the field, the Cavs struggled to just 36.0. Numbers don’t lie.
Cleveland Cavaliers
LeBron James: 22 pts, 4 ast, 1 steal, 1 block in 39 minutes
Kyrie Irving: 22 pts, 2 ast, 1 steal in 40 minutes
Kevin Love: 8 pts, 2 ast, 1 steal in 31 minutes
Washington Wizards
John Wall: 28 pts, 7 ast, 4 steals in 36 minutes
Bradley Beal: 12 pts, 5 ast, 2 steals in 31 minutes
Kevin Seraphin: 12 pts, 1 ast, 1 steal and 3 blocks in 23 minutes
Yes, the Wizards are a great team and have really built themselves a good momentum so far this season, but they will not get the attention that everyone gives the cavaliers, but lets face it, numbers don't lie.
Saturdays Game: Philadelphia 76ers 83 vs NY Knicks 91
This was a less than exciting game where I feel the Knicks could have played harder and scored more, but as bad as the 76ers are, you can see everyone just coast when they play them. The 76ers have problems all over the court, they struggle keeping the ball in their hands, they fail at scoring and they have no chemistry. They look like a bunch of kids at shoot around (I knew this would be like watching paint dry, but my friends brother was visiting from California and I wanted to show off MSG and take him to a Knicks Game). It was pain full to watch. The lack of chemistry on the court shows in both teams records.
Philadelphia 76ers
Nerlens Noel: 17 pts, 2 ast, 1 steal, 1 block in 38 minutes
Michael Carter-Williams: 9 pts, 1 ast in 28 minutes
Tony Wroten: 5 pts, 7 ast, 2 steals in 37 minutes
New York Knicks
Carmelo Anthony: 25 pts, 2 ast, 1 steal, 1 block in 38 minutes
Amar'e Stoudemire: 16 pts in 19 minutes
J.R. Smith: 6 pts, 2 ast in 24 minutes
The lack of bug numbers here create a failure spot in your fantasy team. Blocks, steals and assists hold a great value and turnovers create a decrease in value. Watching this game brought me right back to when I used to play basketball in high school (in a girls league). We weren't good, we ran up and down there court til it was over, that was exactly what I saw here. The 76ers have no chemistry, you have players shooting that shouldn’t and even worse, lazy players that could have a shot but would rather pass the ball and avoid the pressure. The Knicks just look tired, it is too early in the season to look that tired, other than Carmelo Anthony and the occasional flash of greatness from Quincy Acy, they have a lackluster team playing with no chemistry.
RECORDS
Washington Wizards (9-3)
Dallas Mavericks (10-4)
Cleveland Cavaliers (5-7)
NY Knicks (4-10)
Philadelphia 76ers (0-13)
Looking at the games I attended this week I will say the Wizards and the Mavericks have the best chemistry on and off the court. To take your experience to the next level, take some time and look at the box scores, read some real time stats and the chemistry picture will begin to crystallize. You need good chemistry for success, it is out there, it just might not be where you thought it would be at the beginning of the season.
In my opinion as a fantasy owner, seeing a live games without the commercial breaks you see on television, allows you to watch the players more closely. How they react to each other, how well they listen to the coach during a timeout and the energy as a team that they walk back on the court. In all relationships, chemistry is everything. Letting chemistry happen and learning how to manipulate it leads to a really successful season in reality and fantasy.