Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 1, 2012 10:41:57 GMT -5
NBA's top five 'glue' players
Every team needs a 'glue' guy who keeps his squad inspired and together
Originally Published: October 31, 2012
By Chris Palmer | ESPN the Magazine
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IguodalaGarrett W. Ellwood/NBAE/Getty ImagesWhether in Philly or Denver, Andre Iguodala is the guy, or glue, who keeps his team together.
When the Oklahoma City Thunder traded James Harden to the Houston Rockets, few disagreed that Oklahoma City's championship hopes took a tumble. The versatile fourth-year combination guard was an integral piece of Oklahoma City's young core and a huge reason they were expected to be perennial contenders.
Harden's 19.1 points on 11.6 shots per 36 minutes was the model of efficiency and will be hard to replace.
But Harden's true worth went far beyond efficiently filling the box score. He served as the stabilizing force on an extravagantly talented team that, despite its bright future, seemed to have the potential to spin out of control because of friction between its young stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
What's even more impressive about Harden's temperament and the calming effect he seemed to have on the Thunder is that it came from a 22-year-old. Players with Harden's ability at that age are usually wrestling with the burden of outsized expectations and overly concerned with where their shots are coming from. But it's as if Harden somehow skipped the learning curve that comes with being a burgeoning NBA talent and simply assumed the role of an experienced veteran.
These are the glue guys. They accept any role, do the dirty work, have outstanding basketball instincts and promote team chemistry.
Whether accepting a role off the bench or getting his numbers without disrupting Durant and Westbrook's production, Harden's unselfishness was vital to Oklahoma City's team chemistry. Players like Harden are invaluable to the overall makeup of a successful NBA team. The pieces of a championship puzzle don't fit together properly unless unsung role players can lock them into place.
These are the glue guys. They accept any role, do the dirty work, have outstanding basketball instincts and promote team chemistry. In some respects they're as rare as franchise cornerstones in that they posses both the skill to put a team over the top and the willingness to sacrifice their own personal agenda for the betterment of the team.
Harden's move to Houston will change his role on the floor, but the steadiness and team-first approach will remain. In other words, Harden will positively affect the Rockets' chemistry, but his workload will just be a little heavier.
Every team needs a glue guy. Here are four others who help keep things together:
Andre Iguodala | SF | Denver Nuggets
Iguodala
The selfless Iguodala seems to look out for others more than himself and has earned a reputation for fostering a healthy team environment. Iguodala was hugely popular in the locker room during his supporting role with Team USA and his everyman vibe carried over off the floor. His ability to get along with teammates of all personality types and skill levels has endeared him to teammates for years and inspires them to play harder when he's on the floor. Sixers coach Doug Collins often talked about Iguodala's immeasurables. This is one of them.
Iguodala is the evolution of the glue guy in that he's excellent at several phases of the game, particularly locking down perimeter defenders (last year Collins called him the league's best), setting up teammates (only LeBron James averaged more assists at small forward) and finishing in transition. A poor man's LeBron, Iguodala concerns himself with team chemistry like few others and will be readily available as the primary leader in Denver if the laid back Ty Lawson isn't up to the task.
Best glue quality: Team-first mentality
Rajon Rondo | PG | Boston Celtics
Rondo
The glue guy isn't usually a team's best player. Normally his particular set of skills complements the franchise star and helps create an environment that allows him to do what he does. But in this case the Celtics are in the rare position of having their glue guy and their best player be one and the same.
Few franchise cornerstones collect floor burns the way Rondo does. His evolution into glue role began when the Celtics assembled the Big Three of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. Rondo was charged with keeping them all happy by spreading the ball around and was subsequently pushed into a role in which the only thing else left to contribute was dirty work. Rondo has embraced the tough defensive assignments and gritty aspect of the game so much that the Celtics have depended on, and come to be defined by, his grit.
Doc Rivers calls him one of the smartest players he's ever coached, and Rondo uses that intelligence to expertly manage the game by keeping both role players and stars satisfied. Rondo can be mercurial, aloof and even prickly but his unique blend of aggressiveness, ingenuity and court awareness is sometimes all that holds Boston together.
Best glue ability: Hustle
Shane Battier | SF | Miami Heat
Battier
When Battier was a free agent in the summer of 2011, several young teams like the Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Clippers were courting his services with the idea that he would play multiple roles that stretched from contributing on both sides of the ball to the care and feeding of impressionable young players.
With the Heat, Batter's role became a bit more focused but nonetheless glue-like. On defense, Battier relishes the idea of guarding the opposing team's best player, which takes the burden off LeBron having to be Miami's designated defensive stopper. Thanks to his keen game understanding, units with Battier on the floor seem to run more smoothly and rarely fall victim to shot-clock violations, illegal defense and other momentum-killing gaffes.
While James couldn't escape a leadership position in his quest for a title, Battier has fit in admirably, leading both vocally and by example to complement James' effort. Plus his chipper locker room demeanor serves to keep the mood light.
Best glue quality: Defense
Kyle Lowry | PG | Toronto Raptors
Lowry
When Lowry steps on the floor, any five-man unit he runs instantly becomes tougher. His willingness to accept any kind of task and love for contact is contagious. How often does a stocky 6-foot point guard average 4.6 rebounds a game? While not as versatile as most glue guys, Lowry's bruising playing style should set the tone for a group in Toronto that has a rep for being a bit soft.
Lowry's fullback-like physique allows him to barrel down the lane without regard. Much like Rondo, Lowry spends a lot of time picking himself up off the floor, which draws effusive praise from his coaches and teammates. Lowry's one of the best at drawing charges, particularly on the break. His disregard for his own body as he sets up to allow much bigger offensive players to crash into him underscores his commitment to the team. As the Raptors search for a new identity, Lowry's toughness should be a great starting point for them to latch on to.
Best glue quality: Toughness
