A Sports Geek OP: Chemistry in team sports

[MeDotOrg]

Watching the first few games of the NBA season has got me to thinking about the nature and importance of team chemistry.

Team chemistry is more important in basketball than baseball or football. Bill Belichick's simple 'do your job' mantra in New England was not built upon chemistry, yet he's the most successful coach in the history of the game. The history of baseball is full of Billy Martins and Ty Cobbs with fights on and off the field. Within the context of the game the relationship of players on the court is constantly changing. 'Doing your job' in that context depends upon a lot of variables.

In Magic Johnson's rookie year the Lakers played Dr. J's 76'ers for the Championship. Kareem had a sprained ankle and did not play in game 6. The Lakers started Johnson, a rookie guard, at Center. Johnson had 42 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists. The Lakers won the game 123-107. It clinched the championship.

In baseball this would be like having your starting catcher become the starting pitcher and pitch a 2-hitter. In football, imagine having your field goal kicker become your fullback and run for 120 yards. Not gonna happen. Yes, there are exceptions to the rule: George Blanda was a field goal kicker and quarterback. This season Shohei Ohtani has hit more home runs as a starting pitcher than Babe Ruth. But these are extreme outliers. Skills and roles are more differentiated and pronounced in football and baseball. In basketball there is no batter's box or line of scrimmage, no first baseman's glove or lineman's face mask. There is no line between offense and defense.

Consider that there about 18 minutes of action in an average Major League Baseball game. In football it's about 11 minutes. Basketball is 48 minutes. In baseball the manager can send signals literally between every pitch. In football the play is radioed in by the offensive coordinator, with a specific fallback audible if the defensive formation dictates it. While there are set pieces in basketball, the transition between offense to defense on a rebound or steal can require something of a hive mind.

Watching the Lakers in their first 2 games is instructive. LeBron, maybe a step slower, but can still bring it. AD is coming in to the prime of his career. And Westbrook, the man who brought the triple-double back from the grave of Oscar Robinson. Put it all together and you get 2 resounding losses. When do you see a 'Championship' team down by 30? As much as Phoenix looked good, the Lakers looked horribly confused. With Westbrook, the Lakers are trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. I could be wrong, but I just don't think he fits.

It's a long season, and the Lakers may find a way to make it work. Westbrook could possibly be effective coming off the bench with the second team. But that would take a tremendous transition in Russel's head. How flexible is he?

As far as the opposition, a lot of good news for the Warriors and Suns. The Dubs win on a night where Curry was not shooting well (Curry had a triple-double but called his night 'trash'). Chris Paul's level of play does not seem to be falling, and Devin Booker is a top tier talent.

Anyway, some random thoughts about team chemistry. Alternative opinions are welcome.

[Doctor CamNC4Me]

I don't really get the Westbrook thing, because he’s a square peg for every team he’s played on. I’d love it if the Lakers dealt him to Philadelphia and got Ben Simmons. This season for the Lebrons is going to be a disaster unless they either add depth to the bench, or figure out the Westbrook enigma.

- Doc

[MeDotOrg]

I don't really get the Westbrook thing, because he’s a square peg for every team he’s played on.

That's exactly why I don't get the Lakers wanting him. He doesn't integrate into someone else's powerful offense. You build a team around Westbrook and hope you have some great offensive rebounders. Even with the assists he dishes out, it's hard to argue that he makes his teammates better. I can see trading for Westbrook If you don't have a superstar. But on a team where you already have two, the addition of Westbrook makes the Lakers less than the sum of their parts.