NBA Fandom, The 9 levels.

If you’ve had a conversation with me that’s lasted any longer than 5 minutes you will have learned that I avoid Facebook at all costs. Im arrogant about it, I’m pretentious about it and Im annoying when I explain it. I hate so many things about Facebook and have a deep sadness for anyone who lets it consume more that 5 minutes of any week. By logging on you are literally subjecting yourself to the ramblings, thoughts, opinions and desperate social need of over 400 people you barely remember. When was the last time you logged out of Facebook and felt good about your previous 45 minutes? One of the main reasons I cant stand Facebook is that when Im on it, I have to read the sporting opinions of most of the people I know. Don’t get me wrong, I love sports debating, Im good at sports debating, its one of my selfish hobbies, but I hate facebook sporting opinions.

Heres a hypothetical example, based on possibly hundreds of similar real life posts, of what really grinds my gears

Simo Douchepants

KEVVVINNNN DUUURRAAANTTTT!!!! OMG I love him. Suck it LB James!!!!!!!!

112 people liked this 4.10 pm

So I see this post from some kid that I met and forgot 3 years ago, and in anger click on his profile to see that he has liked the NBA facebook fan, making him an official facebook fan of the NBA. Again, don’t get me wrong, I like that that NBA is growing in popularity more than any other sporting League and that casual fans are now able to engage with the league in a way not possible even 5 years ago. However I hate the fact that he and I are both classed as ‘NBA fans’ without anything to distinguish my level of fandom from his. There really are many many levels of NBA fandom. From the guy who knows that Michael Jordan was good, to the guy who can explain to you the intricacies of Defensive Win Shares. After thinking about this for a while I have established my 9 levels of NBA fandom, based on what I’ve observed in my time as a fan.

Before I begin I need to preface this with the fact that most people sit somewhere in-between these levels, and even go back and forth between them depending on what time of year it is.

The Guy

We start with ‘the guy’. This is the guy or girl, but usually a guy, who lives near other human beings and so has likely heard of Lebron James, but couldn’t confidently tell you which sport he plays, or which Die Hard film he may have been in. This guy knows that Michael Jordan played basketball, but can only give you what team he played for after 7 seconds of trying to remember. This guy may be interested in another sport, or not be interested in sport at all, but has enough pop culture awareness to hold a 1 minute awkward conversation with you about basketball. This guy most likely ‘liked’ the NBA Facebook page by accident, or because they were trying to impress a member of the opposite sex who just posted about how “keeeeeen they were for the basketball playoffs”. This is the base level NBA fan.

The Reasonably Sports Aware Guy

This guy is kind of your classic jack of all trades. Sure, he can tell you what franchise plays in Boston, but certainly cannot tell you which team won the 2012 NBA title. Hes just as likely to talk about rugby, or soccer, or tennis. This guy also generally has a focus on sporting teams, events, and stars that come from their country of origin. As in they will watch the Rugby World Cup, but only takenote of the current NBA champion if its mentioned on Local TV news. This guy will almost always ask the question “so is that Oneal guy still playing?”. This brings me to my next level……..

 The Shaq Oneal Guy

  

This is the guy who knows enough to know that there was an NBA player called Shaq, they might know that hes retired, but they don’t know that you never ever ever call Shaq - Shaq Oneal. Or even just Oneal. Its either Shaq, or Shaquille Oneal. Never anything else. This guys tries to impress you by name dropping star playersnames, but they always either get the name wrong, or they pronounce it completely whack. Maybe they would tell you about Patty Mill, or Wayne Wade, or Dirk Nowverwitzk, or Le-Bron James, or Kevin Duraunt (as in they literally say aunt in his last name), or Derron Williams (as in der RON). Infuriating, but at least their trying. This is the guy who still thinks that Dwayne Howard plays for Orlando.

4     The Bryant Guy

Could have at least gotten a basketball to play with

This is the guy who is kinda still at level 3, but tries to engage you in legitimate NBA discussion. When they refer to star players, they know their names and generally who they play for, but they try to sound way too cool. They oftenrefer to Kobe simply as ‘Bryant’. No self respecting NBA fan ever does this. They may something like “I still think Bryants the best player in the NBA, hes just so unbeatable”. This guy has probably learned what he knows from the recess discussion at school and from playing his copy of NBA Live 09 on his PS2. This guy has always wanted a jersey, but doesn’t have one. He plays basketball with the lads at lunch, and takes the horrific contested foul line jumper and then has 7 frustration fouls per 48 seconds. He always puts himself on the team with the best player, and then talks very loudly in the classroom about how you two guys “fully dominated”. This guy is almost always full time at Big W within 2 years of finishing school.

 The Kyrie Guy

5

This guy is probably the most annoying. This guy thinks he’s in the upper echelon of NBA understanding. This guy absolutely has a Kobe jersey. This guy absolutely loves Steve Nash. This guy absolutely plays in the local league, after secretly trying out for the nearest District team and getting his mum to drive him home immediately after being placed in Div 5. This guy absolutely sucks. He is called the Kyrie guy because he still loves Kobe, but has been watching heaps of that Kyrie Irving guy lately and thinks hes gona be sick!!!!!! This guy thinks next years MVP will most likely be out of Kyrie, Steph Curry, Westbrook, or Kobe when he comes back for revenge!!!! When you ask him about LeBron he will say that hes getting too old and about Durant he will exclaim “Oh yeah I forgot about Kev Durant”. This guy cant conceive of a world where Dwyane Wade is better that Kyrie Irving. This guy will most likely argue that this year is either the Warriors or the Suns year, cos they flat out deserve a ring. This guy has ordered a Kyrie jersesy, but cant pay for it yet cos his mum recons he owes her money. Last years All Star Rookie Challenge was the best moment of this guys life, and this guy absolutely did not watch a second of last years Finals. 95% of Facebook NBA fans are this guy. This guy absolutely sucks.

  The Clyde Drexler Guy

The Clyde Drexler Guy has heard of Clyde Drexler. This separates him from the previous levels. This guy has heard of Drexler, Stockton, Malone, Dr J, Wilt, Russell, Magic, Larry etc and could probably tell you one sentence about each. This guy acts like they know NBA history, but in reality they haven’t watched any games from before 2010. This guy knows that Clyde Drexler was ‘sick’, but does not know why. This guy is not annoying, and can at least contribute to most NBA discussions about current players and teams, and generally has a fair understanding of the best players in the L. They know what they do well (good scorer, good rebounder, good dunker etc), but probably couldn’t tell you the weakness of any of these players. This guy has a favorite player and team, and will know the outcome for their teams last game. If their team in in the playoffs or Finals, they will check the scores on NBA.com or watch the game if their mates are watching it as a group. The higher end of this group will buy league pass.

 The Nicolas Batum Guy

This guy has a well developed understanding of the NBA. They know who the best players are and have a fair idea of why, they can easily tell you who the top contenders are for the title. They have league pass, and follow one or two teams relatively closely. They can name around 9 players on their teams roster. They can tell you that Lebron James is a rare type of defender, but cant tell you exactlywhy. They can tell you that the spurs have good ball movement, but cant tell you why its better other than that they have good passers. This guys knows that most NBA teams would want Nicolas Batum because hes versatile. This guy will take the day off school/work if their team is playing in a game 7. This guymight watch the draft, but wont care if he misses it. This guy has twitter, and follows accounts such as NBA, ESPN, Magic Johnson and Bill Simmons. This guy is fun to chat NBA with, but you wouldn’t go out of your way to watch a finals game with them. This is the most fun and most sensible fan to be.

The Tex Winter Guy

This guy is pretty hard core. He knows who Tex Winter is, and why that’s important. He follows one team, and can tell you 30 guys who have been on that roster over the past 10 years. (oh, and I bet you just went and searched "tex winter') He has a favorite player, and enjoys shaking his head at his faults just as much as celebrating his strengths. This guy knows the name of the offense that the Lakers tried to run last season. This guy understands PER and uses it as part of most NBA discussions. This guy follower twitter feeds such as Zach Lowe, Haralabob, Hollinger etc. This guy can tell you why comparing the boxscores of the 80s to box scores now is very difficult. This guy knows his way around basketball-reference.com or a comparable site. This guy reads about the Sloan Conference every year, but cant really explain everything that is discussed. This guy cries when his team loses in the finals, and watches hours of footage of his teams 2^nd round draft pick. This guy wishes he didn’t care as much, but is addicted to the winning feeling and the fandom culture. This guy appreciates that crap out of Tim Duncan. You don’t really want to be this guy.

The Brian Clouser Guy

I've never met this guy. I'd love to meet this guy. This guy can tell you pretty much anything about the NBA. This guy can tell you how much cap room every team has and what free agents will fit their needs in the coming off season. This guy thinks in terms of defensive rebound rate, and win shares per 48 minutes, and appreciates the value of the eye test. This guy knows who Brian Clouser is, and all those who hold similar positions around the League. This guy may support one team, but they will likely also hope for great storylines and historical achievements in the League. If your going to be this guy, you’d want to be making money from it.

S - 

The Irrational Confidence Guy : Lance Stephenson

The Irrational Confidence Guy is most certainly not the best player on the team. He hopefully isn't the second and maybe not the third. Although at any given time during the game of what we have named after the circle shaped object you throw a ball into, he becomes completely convinced that he is the best player in the league.

These type of players, quite obviously are irrational, they refuse to take into account any sort of logical cues and over rate every single one of their own attributes. 

They will back themselves in any situation, assume the offence as soon as they get on the court and rarely play defence. The last 3 seconds of the game is their ball park and they specialise at dribbling the air out of the flipping thing. 

This player rarely takes the good shots, and believes "as long as its me shooting, every attempt is a good one."

All NBA players are confident, although those who back themselves as much as these guys are known for actually being really good. Like KD, he should never take the shots that he does, those step in go ahead threes, although when he is taking them, they are a good shot.
Superstars are confident because they are actually good. Much like the Greg Oden wong picture, that wasn't irrational confidence, from what I've heard he had the weight to back it up. (Pun semi intended). So in my opinion, superstars are exempt.

Nate Robinson, Earl "JR" Smith, Jamal and Jordan Crawford, Jason Terry, Brandon Jennings, Nick "Swaggy P" Young, Patty Mills, Noris ColeThe list of players who overate their game, are to themselves "always hot," and are all likely to celebrate a miss, could go on.

Stats tell us that they also all talk like this,

There is lots to say about these guys although right now we have to talk about the one closest to our hearts, the main guy who is still contributing in the ECF. Lance "the 8th grader" Stephenson. Since the effect that the Indiana Pacers have on our league I feel it necessary to tackle this guy from both views. Firstly,

From an OKC Bias

therefore I want anyone other than Miami to come out of the East. I hate Miami, but so does everyone, although I know they are by far and away the best team in the east.
So I'm rooting for the Pacers, knowing full well they were never going to win. To me, Lance could have almost, if he hadn't kept certain qualities, worked his way out of the "irrational confidence" category. Almost.
Mostly because he has become so used by the Pacers coz there offence is so piss to help run the offence that I have almost gotten used to his antics.
Yet those few qualities i mentioned have stood out the last few games of this series.

His irrational confidence coming in the form of taunting the leagues, worlds best player, saying his "trash talk was a sign of weakness,"
Gotta respect his balls, (how often do you say that?)
Unfortunately he couldn't follow it up and instead crapped the bed in game 4.

And then there is the flop, what the heck.

"WHAAAAAHOOOOW
WHAAOOO, HE HIT ME"
He screams whilst crumbling to the ground and flailing his arms like the camera is around the next bend on a roller coaster.
then he does the classic, "Crap, this is going poorly, Abed pretend like your asleep."

J-

From a Miami Bias

Yeah its a real shame that Lance doesnt have a better head on him, its both his reason for success and his biggest flaw. Lance Stephenson should be a decent scorer, a guy who can carry the 2nd unit for stretches, and hit annoying as hell shots at the most annoying moments. He should also be a great lock down defender, who can be relied upon to give guys like Wade and Harden trouble. In many ways he does achieve these things, but its all the extra stuff which hurts his team. 
Why does he need to question the greatness of Wade and Lebron in the media? If he had any kind of brain he’d know that these are two guys who thrive of criticism. This has been his biggest mistake this post season. While Lebron doesn’t need any more motivation, his bid to be a top 3 all time guy is enough, its clear that the heat take a special joy in punishing Lance and certainly have not played any worse because of his comments. 
I don’t understand why players call out the games greats in the media and expect to get away with it. You think Lebron is going a tiny bit harder against Lance because he’s a dick? You can guarantee that Wade thinks about Durants comments every time he’s working out. You know Russell enjoys each clutch play he makes a little more because of the people who say the thunder are better without him. 
Lance also has a huge effect on the attitude of his team, partly cos he’s a dick, and partly because the team only has one leader, David West, who’s not in their top 3 players. Why can’t Lance bring his skills to the team, without having to be the dominant guy? Paul George should set the tone on that team, as its best player, but the team seams to be taking on Lances persona. While the Heat have adopted Lebrons laid back - then explode persona, the Pacers have been whining, making excuses, making delusional comments, pointing fingers, all classic ‘Born Ready’ stuff. 
Lance is the most relevant ICG, cos he’s a huge part of a title contender. I hope we see Swaggy P on a good team one day, that will be a thrill ride.

S-

All this talk is great, but I have to ensure you that although we may not like certain players at times, as a whole, we love the Irrational Confidence Guy. They are fun, completely unpredictable, and all in all make the NBA a better place.

One of the best examples of their brilliance came a few games ago. With a fantastic play from the 8th grader himself, thats what they do, they make big plays. 

Although even more interesting is the manner in which he celebrates, its like he just made a buzzer beater to win the series. 

Sorry Lance, its half time and you are down 4. Classic ICG. 

J -