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By CHRIS BROUSSARD
Where's the passion, Vince?
posted: Tuesday, November 22, 2005
다음은 넷츠 팬들이 거의 1년 전 팀이 리그 최고의 익사이팅 플레이어를 트레이드해 온 이후로 줄곧 걱정해왔던 일이다. 월요일 밤, 골든 스테이트에 100-97로 패했을 때, 빈스 카터가 3쿼터 후반에 등 근육 통증으로 떠났던 것.
예전에 넷츠와 함께 했던 그의 브리프 시간에, 빈스 카터는 자신이 소프트하고 인져리-프론 플레이어란 평판을 묵살했다. 하지만 지금 상황으론 그는 다시 한번 역경을 맞아야 할 것이고, 그의 미래에 어떤 일이 닥칠지 지켜보는 것도 흥미로울 것이다.
그가 이러한 일을 재빨리 털어내고 코트에 돌아올 수 있을까? 이번 일이 그의 시즌 전반부 더욱 발전된 모습에 장애가 될까? 아니면, 실망스런 넷츠의 5-5 전적 출발로 인해, 그가 트레이드되는건 아닌지?
지난 시즌의 이맘 때쯤 나는 Half-Man/Half-Amazing (VC의 별명)에 대해 낙담했었다. 그 당시 그는 토론토에서 자신의 재능을 숨기고 있었다. 하지만 그가 뉴져지에 도착했을 때, 나는 처음으로 그가 제 모습으로 뛰는 걸 봤다.
난 놀랐다. 그는 완전 놀라움 그 자체였다. 그가 대단한 슬래셔이자 좋은 슈터라는 건 알고 있었지만, 그의 패싱 능력은 나를 어리둥절케 했다. 나는 빈스의 이름이 코비, 르브론, D-웨이드와 티맥의 이름과 함께 리그 탑 스윙맨 대열에 언급될 것이리라 생각하기 시작했었다.
그렇지 않다면 여기 이유가 있다: 내 의견으로는, 빈스 카터가 응당 자신이 되어야 했을 플레이어의 70 퍼센트 정도밖에 안된다.
내가 본 바로는, 빈스는 거진 자신이 타고난 능력으로만 플레이한다. 그가 루키로서 리그에 폭풍을 일으킨 이후로 뭐 따로 추가한 것이 있었던가?
나는 빈스의 몸을 살펴봤는데 추가적인 근육 발달은 보질 못했다. 이것은 즉 그가 추후에 웨이트 룸에서 투자하지 않았다는 말이다. 코비를 보라 -- 당신은 그가 바벨을 들어올리는 걸 볼 수 있다. MJ의 바디가 그의 커리어가 흐름에 따라 어떻게 변화했는지 생각해 보시라. 이러한 웨이트 훈련은 왜 코비의 커리어가 통증, 접질림과 근육 무리 등으로 인해 방해받지 않았던 이유 중 하나임이 틀림없다. (그리고 왜 MJ도 그렇지 않았는지이기도 하다)
이건 순수한 추론일 뿐이다. 왜냐하면 빈스만이 여기에 대한 대답을 알기 때문이다. 하지만 나는 그가 경기를 좋아하는(like) 친구로 보이지 경기를 사랑하는(love) 친구로 보이지 않는다. NBA엔 두 유형의 선수들이 있다: ball을 사랑하는 자들과 좋아하는 자들.
그저 좋아하는 선수들은 두가지 영역으로 나뉘어진다: 농구(hoop)를 좋아하지만, NBA 라이프스타일(명성, 부(富), 여자)을 사랑하는 자들. 그리고 농구를 좋아하며 이것을 자신들의 열망(passion)보다는 자신들의 직업으로 보는 자들.
나는 빈스를 후자로 본다. 이것이 꼭 비난받아야한다는 걸 의미하진 않는다. 모든 직장 라이프에 저런 사람들이 있다.
한가지 예를 들어 언론계에서 보자면, 자신들의 일과 함께 살고 숨쉬고 하는 사람들이 있다. 그런 사람들은 일에 대해 진심으로 열정적이며 절대 지존이 될 것을 항상 바라본다. 그 다음 유형으로 자신이 하는 것에 우수하며, 또는 훌륭하기까지 한데 단지 자기의 일을 가족을 부양하고 멋진 라이프스타일을 갖기 위한 방편으로만 보는 사람들이 있다. 나에게 있어, 이게 빈스다.
그가 너무나 훌륭한 선수라고 생각하는 것엔 의심의 여지가 있다. 빈스가 코비의 결심과 동기를 가지고 있다면, 환자용 챠트에서 해방될 수 있을텐데.
그가 리그의 베스트 플레이어가 될지 몰랐을 텐데. 그리고 그렇게 많이 사이드라인에서 사복을 입지 않을 것인데.
- 이하 원문 -
Updated: Nov. 22, 2005, 11:43 AM ET
Rookie report: First 10 games, first in class
By Chris Sheridan
ESPN Insider
We're now three full weeks into the 2005-06 season, a long enough time to get a gauge on which NBA rookies are having an early impact.
A look at 10 first-year players who are producing the most results, as well as the rookies off to slow starts:
1. Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets: The runaway leader among rookies in points per game (16.6), steals (2.2) and minutes played (36.4), the diminutive point guard from Wake Forest who supplanted Speedy Claxton as the Hornets' primary playmaker is also tied for the league lead in assists per game (6.3) among rookies. He had a strong run of games for the surprising 4-6 Hornets before looking lost against Philadelphia's Allen Iverson on Monday.
2. Deron Williams, Utah Jazz: Williams became Utah's starter a week ago after Keith McLeod was sidelined with a back injury, and now looks poised to keep the job long-term. Has reached double figures in points in seven straight games, and had double-figure assists in the last two against Memphis and Milwaukee. Looks like that week he spent in Spokane, Wash., with John Stockton prior to training camp is paying off.
3. Charlie Villanueva, Toronto Raptors: Playing 28.5 minutes off the bench for the woeful Raptors, Villanueva has shown a steady inside-outside game that has hushed the critics who wondered why Toronto selected him at No. 7 after a so-so collegiate career at UConn. Tied for third in scoring (13.2), second in rebounding (6.5) and first in blocks (0.90) among rookies, Villanueva also has knocked down 11 3-pointers.
4. Channing Frye, New York Knicks: Who says Larry Brown doesn't like rookies? He's positively enamored of the young forward-center from Arizona who has shown the best shooting touch by a Knicks big man since Patrick Ewing prowled the paint. Frye leads all rookies in field goal percentage (.510). New York has often played its best ball when he has been on the court in Brown's ever-changing rotations.
5. Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee Bucks: The No. 1 pick in the draft is logging only 26.0 minutes per game but is averaging 8.1 rebounds. He made a foul-plagued return to the state where he played in college and had a mediocre outing against the Jazz Monday night, his third straight pedestrian effort after losing his starting job to Joe Smith. Ranks 10th in the NBA among all players, veterans and rookies, in offensive rebounds per 48 minutes.
6. Sarunas Jasikevicius, Indiana Pacers: The 29-year-old Lithuanian from Maccabi Tel Aviv has shot a disappointing 33 percent from 3-point range thus far while struggling to look comfortable in an offense where he's often switched between point guard and shooting guard. Went 10-for-10 from the line against the Bobcats last weekend, moving him among the top 10 leaguewide in free-throw percentage (.923).
7. Jose Calderon, Toronto Raptors: The young point guard from Spain has been quietly racking up assists in bunches. Of the top 40 league leaders in assists, only Calderon (26.0 minutes) and Jamaal Tinsley (26.4) are averaging less than 27 minutes. Coach Sam Mitchell has at times played Calderon alongside Mike James in the backcourt, allowing James to concentrate on scoring and Calderon on getting him the ball.
8. Salim Stoudamire, Atlanta Hawks: People were raving about his shooting stroke when the Hawks picked him 31st in the draft, and Damon's cousin has not disappointed. His 14 3-pointers are second-most among rookies behind Deron Williams, and his 24-point fourth-quarter outburst against New Orleans last Friday very nearly gave the Hawks their first win.
9. Luther Head, Houston Rockets: In an effort to add some quickness to a team with the worst record in the Western Conference, coach Jeff Van Gundy gave Head the start Sunday against Indiana. He's shooting 45 percent from 3-point range.
10. Sean May, Charlotte Bobcats: Of Charlotte's two rookies from North Carolina, May has made a bit more of a difference than Raymond Felton. He is the team's fourth-leading scorer (10.4 ppg) despite playing just 19.4 minutes per game.
SLOW STARTS
So far, these lottery picks haven't fulfilled the potential that made them high draft picks:
Marvin Williams, Hawks (No. 2 overall): Producing only 6.2 points and 4.7 rebounds in almost 25 minutes per night for winless Atlanta.
Raymond Felton, Bobcats (No. 5): Lost out to Sean May in a close race for No. 10. Was great in blowout win vs. Pacers, so-so next two nights.
Martell Webster, Trail Blazers, (No. 6): Has received a mere 22 minutes of playing time in five games, shooting 1-for-5. The make was a 3 against the Knicks.
Ike Diogu, Warriors, (No. 9): A fractured left hand has kept him out of action. He could begin practicing soon.
Andrew Bynum, Lakers (No. 10): Logged some fourth-quarter minutes during the meltdown against the Bulls the other night, but hurt the Lakers more than he helped.
Fran Vazquez, Magic (No. 11): Averaging 10.1 points and 5.4 rebounds for Girosa, which is 7-1 and tied for first place in the Spanish League.
Yaroslav Korolev, Clippers (No. 12): Yet to record a single statistic in six minutes of playing time over two games.
Rashad McCants, Timberwolves (No. 14): Being brought along slowly, but logged 25 minutes vs. Bobcats last Saturday.
Chris Sheridan, a national NBA reporter for the past decade, covers the league for ESPN Insider. To e-mail Chris, click here.
By CHRIS BROUSSARD
Where's the passion, Vince?
posted: Tuesday, November 22, 2005 |
This is what Nets fans have been dreading since the team traded for the league's most exciting player nearly a year ago. Monday night, in a 100-97 loss at Golden State, Vince Carter left with a strained back muscle late in the third quarter.
In his brief time with the Nets, Vince had killed his reputation as a soft, injury-prone player. Now that he's once again facing adversity, it'll be interesting to see what the future has in store for him.
Will he shake this off quickly and get back on the court? Will this hamper him for the better part of the first half of the season? Or, with the Nets off to a disappointing 5-5 start, will he be traded?
I was down on Half-Man/Half-Amazing at this time last season, when he seemed to be tanking it in Toronto. But when he got to New Jersey, I got to see him play on a regular basis for the first time ever.
I was amazed. He was flat-out tremendous. I knew he was a great slasher and a good shooter, but his passing ability stunned me. I began thinking Vince's name should be mentioned alongside Kobe's, LeBron's, D-Wade's and T-Mac's as the top swingmen in the league.
Here's why it's not: In my opinion, Vince Carter is about 70 percent of the player he should be.
From what I see, Vince plays almost completely off of natural ability. Has he added anything since he took the league by storm as a rookie?
I look at Vince's body and I see no additional muscle development. That tells me he's not getting after it in the weight room. Look at Kobe -- you can see he pumps the iron. Think of how MJ's body changed over the course of his career. That weight work is almost certainly one reason why Kobe's career isn't hampered by strains, sprains and pulls (and why MJ's wasn't).
This is purely speculation, because only Vince truly knows the answer to this, but I see him as a guy who likes the game but doesn't love the game. There are two types of players in the NBA: those who love ball and those who like it.
Those who merely like it break down into two categories: those who like hoop, but love the NBA lifestyle -- the fame, the fortune, the females; and those who like hoop and see this more as their job than their passion.
I see Vince as the latter. That is not necessarily meant to be a knock. There are people like that in all walks of life.
In journalism, for instance, there are folks who live and breathe their job, who are legitimately passionate about it and who are constantly looking to be the absolute best. Then there are those who are good, even great, at what they do, even as they see it simply as a way to feed their family and have a nice lifestyle. To me, that's Vince.
This is incredible considering he's such a great player. If he had the determination and drive of Kobe, Vince would be off the charts.
He'd probably be the best player in the league. And he probably wouldn't be on the sidelines in street clothes so much.
첫댓글 카터의 농구에 대한 열정에 대해서는 굳이 새롭게 얘기할 필요도 없이 말이 많았습니다. 2001년 플레이오프 2라운드 7차전날 아침 졸업식 참석한거부터 시작해서 부상으로 IR에 있는 상태에서 넬리 콘서트에 가서 춤춘거에다가 전 한 번도 카터가 오프시즌 중 근육을 늘렸거나 몸무게를 줄였단 얘기를 못들었습니다.
본인도 농구는 내 인생의 전부가 아니라는 얘길 했고 토론토 TV해설가는 카터가 미국대표팀 경기나 올스타전에서 정식 NBA 경기때보다 더 열심히 뛴다는 얘기도 했죠. 위의 얘기가 딱 맞는단 생각이 듭니다.
카터 RPG 부족.
많은 분들이 카터의 덩크 능력에 의해서 그의 실력이 가려져 있다고들 하시는데, 전 오히려 반대라고 생각합니다. 덩크로 인하여 카터의 능력이나 실력이 과대 평가되어지고 있다고 생각합니다. 열정이 없어 보이는 카터 암만 포텐셜이 높으면 뭐합니까...He doesn't LOVE basketball...인데...
켁.. 카터.. 엄청 까이는군요.. 뭔가 보여줘야할것은 분명한 사실입니다.. 휴~ 뉴저지의 미래도 그리 밝지만은 않은것 같아요.. 키드도 노쇠화를 보이려고하고.. 크리스티치가 대박으로 커주지 않는이상.. 쿨럭
잘 읽었습니다.^^ 역시 카터의 열정은 조금 아쉬운 부분이죠. 덩크성공후 표효하는 모습에는 열정이 가득해 보이지만 실상 플레이는 열정이 부족해 보이긴 합니다. 그리고 도배해도 좋으니 올려주세요^^