Chemistry is so important in the NBA

[stb]

Outstanding quote from Robert Parish from back in 1984...

“Chemistry is so important in the NBA,” says Parish. “There are times in games when you’re down and some players will begin losing hope. But when you’ve been to war with teammates for years like we had, you know not to quit. That’s why chemistry is so important.”

http://www.nba.com/encyclopedia/finals/1984_bird_magic.html

[paulcowens]

Of course, chemistry plays a huge role in all team sports, but I think especially in basketball.  Funny how it rarely enters into discussion.  Mostly we just volley back and forth with stats, especially now that we live in the ever expanding universe of 'advanced statistics'.  But the urge to replace reality with streams of numbers might not ever succeed in displacing chemistry, motivation, dedication, vision and other 'intangibles' that turn out to be remarkably tangible...

[LilRip]

Assuming there's a lockout and RA,KG,JO retire, which seems likely (discussed in the "Lockout = Massive celtics retirement party?" thread), and BBD walks (which is likely as well), there's not much chemistry to preserve.

Rondo-Pierce. That's about it. Because Jeff Green, Bradley, JJ and Moore are pretty new. Krstic is in another league. You have to make new chemistry and a lot of this is built during training camp. When the Big 3 was assembled, we had terrific chemistry from the start of the season (after training camp). Chemistry is important, but it's not like guys can't get along with anyone else, especially if they went through training camp together.

[Casperian]

Strange.
The headline says chemistry, but Parish seems to talk about familiarity.

Which is it?

[thirstyboots18]

Of course, chemistry plays a huge role in all team sports, but I think especially in basketball.  Funny how it rarely enters into discussion.  Mostly we just volley back and forth with stats, especially now that we live in the ever expanding universe of 'advanced statistics'.  But the urge to replace reality with streams of numbers might not ever succeed in displacing chemistry, motivation, dedication, vision and other 'intangibles' that turn out to be remarkably tangible...

First let me  say that I am mathematically challenged,  .  Having established that, now I will state that I believe that, except for a cursary glance, stats should be relegated to "fantasy sports basketball". 

[Tai]

Strange.
The headline says chemistry, but Parish seems to talk about familiarity.

Which is it?

I assume you see a difference, and if that's the case, I'm not sure I agree. At the very least, the latter seemed to be what people seemed to refer to when Perkins was traded has truly being lost. That the team was familiar with Perk (and even Nate), but not Green and Krstic.

[Celtics18]

I feel like the'07-'08 Celtics developed a pretty good chemistry. Before that year, though, all the major players had been going to war against each other not with each other.   

[tenn_smoothie]

Strange.
The headline says chemistry, but Parish seems to talk about familiarity.

Which is it?

it's all the same thing, chemistry, familiarity, confidence, teamwork, togetherness, knowing where your teammate is gonna be, belief in each other  - have you never played sports ??

and i suppose there is no better reminder of the truth of Parish's words than the 2010 - 2011 Celtics who had their chemistry traded away in exchange for players , who when the going got tough, wilted like daisies in a drought.

that 1980's bunch had so many games (and playoffs) that they could have folded the tents and just said, 'maybe next year, this team is better than us.' - but they didn't ........

in the 1981 ECF vs the 76ers when down 3 - 1 and worse, behind in the last five minutes in all three of those final games they had to win just to survive and they did. that group made their bones in that series.

then, of course, came the 1984 finals vs Lakers when that same group was down 2 - 1 after being blown out in game 3 and looking like the inferior team in the first three games before giving one of the guttiest performances in Celtics history in game 4. people forget that even after McHale took Rambis down, the Lakers went on a couple of runs that pushed their lead back up to 10 points and then , of course, the Celts were down 5 with a minute left in the game and Parish made the key play on a multiple offensive board possession in which he finally stuck back a rebound and was fouled and made his FT - what a play - maybe the biggest play of that series, besides Henderson's steal. after that, Parish makes a steal of his own to force OT in which Bird sticks the gamer in Magic's face and though no one knew it at the time, the series was over - the Lakers wilted as Boston dominanted the last three games (even game 6) and won the title.


this season could have been one of those memorable years until Danny stuck dynamite into the middle of a great team .......... and what are we desperate for now ? A starting Center !!!

[shookones99]

"The secret to basketball is that it's not about basketball."

[StartOrien]

"The secret to basketball is that it's not about basketball."

That got a hard belly laugh out of me.

[OsirusCeltics]

"The secret to basketball is that it's not about basketball."

"Mannerisms of a young Bobby DeNiro, spent spanish wisdoms
in a whip with dinero, crime organized like the pharoah
I cream, I diamond gleam
High post like Hakeem"