So
nobody wants to play with GP! That’s cool, I ‘ll run. He can yell at me
as much he wants.
After
being suspended for conduct unbecoming of the Sonics organization, Gary
Payton is being characterized as immature and detrimental to his team.
Gary Payton was the SI Player of the Year during his senior season at Oregon
St. and NBA Defensive Player of the Year. He’s also a perennial All-Star,
and a two Time Gold Medallist. He’s been to the Finals once in a losing
effort and Gary needs another chance at the Ring. I don’t think GP’s motivated
by individual goals anymore. The everyday rigors of the NBA seem to be
boring the guy. Plus, it can’t be fun developing as a player but getting
stuck in a situation that’s been stifled by coaching changes, trades, and
the lockout. Seattle never appeared to be heading down that road, mind
you!
Payton
is 32, in his 11th season, and coming off the Olympic experience. Payton
along with Jason Kidd, Ray Allen and Steve Smith have endured some tough
shooting nights. All four suffered from post Olympic syndrome. Other
Olympians haven’t been nearly as bothered by the long summer down under.
So basically, Gary Payton is sort of bored, frustrated, and tired.
I
can relate. I mean, when I’m cranky you can forget about it.
So
everybody should just calm down. No trading needs to go down. It’s rare
that an athlete develops as a player with a city and an organization. Seattle
has learned to love or hate Gary. It’s a constant. He’s outlasted three
coaches, Detlef Schrempf, Shawn Kemp, and the existing ownership. He’s
as important to Seattle as Stockton and Malone are to Utah.
He’s
a baller’s baller. Gary has always given the impression if a game
broke out you’d want him running with you. And you’d better win or else.
The same trait that elevates some to mythic proportion gets another guy
criticized and on the trading block. I thought you were supposed to impose
your will. It just goes to show how slim the line between winning
and losing really is. We have a sick tendency in sports journalism
to take individuals out of the confinements of a team sport, discuss them
as individuals and judge them on team achievements. Gary should be appreciated
for his competitiveness. Unfortunately, this great trait when exhibited
in a bored, frustrated, tired man is loose-cannonism. But it’s cool with
me, I’ll run. I hope that every player on that Seattle team knows the same
guy yelling at them (Editor's note: I met up with Payton the other day,
and he said he never "yells at" his teammates.) is the same guy who’ll
hit somebody in the mouth for that emerald and maroon, figuratively of
course. This is obviously a kinder gentler NBA, (Camby didn’t even connect,
with his premeditated target), but toughness still wins out.
It’s
great to see Payton apologize and accept responsibility for his actions.
It’s even better to see him come out and give the Sonics 34 points on 11
of 19 shooting from the field and 11 of 14 from the stripe. GP also dropped
six dimes on the Lakers. The Sonics have beaten the Lakers three times
and kept Kobe from dominating. Bryant went 5 for 19 and didn’t resemble
his usual dominating self. In three games against the Sonics this season
he’s shooting 30% from the field and averaging 19 points and 4 assists.
Ruben Patterson expends the most energy stopping Kobe and benefits from
roughly 2 years of practicing against Bryant. Payton thrives on the Lakers’
absence of a true point guard. He’s averaging 28 points on 53% from the
field and 7 assists in the series.
Everybody
needs to calm down! Payton included. Seattle loses more than they expect
if GP goes. Imagine how driven he’ll be coming into Key Arena in an opponent’s
jersey. I don’t want see it and the Sonics shouldn’t want to see it. In
the ultimate of gives and takes, take Payton and his attitude and give
your ideas of trading him a rest.
