When The Going Gets Tough Nice article about toughness in the NBA and in the Rockets team. Worth the read.
Good read... I just wish our "tough" guys, and Kevin Martin, wouldn't flail around so much when they go in the lane. Gotta do what you gotta do though, I guess. p.s. in before "the Rockets are too soft" thread reference
Nice piece. I agree with Parsons. This was the same point I was trying to make back when the stomp episode happened. [rquoter] Interesting that Parsons singled out Scola in terms of toughness – he was not the only one to do so, by the way; many Rockets players used Luis as an example of the embodiment of toughness when asked for their definition of the characteristic – since Houston’s hirsute power forward was at the center of a toughness debate of sorts earlier this season. No one doubts Scola’s dedication, determination, resolve and ability to play through pain – he’s missed just 8 games over the course of his five-year NBA career despite taking a noticeable beating on an almost nightly basis – but some critics were quick to question his response or lack thereof to Kevin Love’s “stomp” during the Rockets’ February 4th showdown with the Timberwolves. Those who decried Scola’s refusal to retaliate seemed to want a message sent; a ‘don’t tread on me’ directive delivered via a hard foul – or more – by either Scola himself or one of his teammates that would supposedly show the Rockets were not a team to be trifled with in such a manner. But what point does such frontier justice really prove? Is it, too, indicative and a meaningful element of true toughness, or is it nothing more than mere macho posturing? For that matter, are such tactics even effective? Scola – a world champion and Olympic gold medalist who knows a thing or two about teamwork, solidarity and the merits of toughness – is dubious. “Sometimes what people refer to as toughness is actually something that will hurt your team,” he says. “There are certain situations where nothing you can do from the standard definition of toughness will help you win the game. I believe that the most important thing is that you’re able to keep your head, keep playing hard and try to help your team win – that’s what toughness is to me within a basketball team. There’s nothing else you can do. If this would be hockey it would be a different story. Toughness would also be about being able to fight. In a basketball game you cannot fight; fouling hard doesn’t mean anything; reacting or punching somebody doesn’t get you anything. “In other games we got a couple flagrant foul calls against the other team and that’s a big advantage right there. It was a great situation for us in the Lakers game and against Golden State – those helped us win the game. If we retaliate and do something stupid, who knows what happens then?” Not surprisingly, Parsons has Scola’s back on the subject, taking the discussion a step further. “There’s a difference between playing tough and being dirty,” he says. “Luis is not going to go out there and punch Kevin Love just because he stepped on his face. He’s going to go out there, outwork his man and he’s not going to stop; he’s going to be relentless. He’s a classy dude; he’s not just going to retaliate and be an idiot – he’s just going to keep going all-out. “It’s almost more mental toughness to not retaliate. I think that shows maturity and responsibility. We need Luis. So if he goes out there and does something that gets him in trouble or potentially tossed, that’s just mentally dumb. I think it shows his toughness that he doesn’t retaliate and just takes out whatever frustration he has within the rules of the game.”[/rquoter]
Is it just me or does that phrase immediately bring up the Billy Ocean song? <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/c_e2D2qsaso?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
When is the last time anyone would post anything about the Rockets being tough? I really didn't know what to think about the McHale hire, but I am liking it more and more.
I hope Scola is never traded. This guy deserves to retire a Rocket. Since the Rockets have been coming down here to the RGV in the past Octobers, he has been a joy to talk to and will sign any item you may have to autograph.
I like Scola just as much as the next Rockets fan, but if he could net us a 1st rounder in a deep draft alone, then his time here has come. I only say this because i think Morey could pick good talent the further into the 1st round of the draft he goes.
For a tough guy he certainly falls down a lot, let's hope he kicks that habit and man up. I forgive him because he is from South America who are notorious for teaching their players to trick referees, fall down or dive in different sports. Though Carl Herrera never seemed to have this problem, don't remember him ever screaming, falling down or flopping.
It's sad that toughness doesn't mean crap in the NBA. To win a ring in the NBA either you have the size and talent to go along with it or you are a team mate of said player. Look at the Superstars in the NBA. Kobe, Lebron, Wade, Durant and Howard. Only one can be unquestionably called tough IMO.
This post illustrates the difference between actual grown man toughness and fake macho bluster espoused by boys who watched too much professional wrestling.
I guess I will have to respectfully disagree with you on this one. Perhaps it is a definitional thing. I think toughness means a great deal. Not thugness, but certainly mental toughness. Of the five you mentioned, I presume Kobe was the one to whom you were referring. He has more rings than the other four combined. Wade has one with Shaq. In all fairness Kobe won a lot with Shaq and has been around a lot longer. Teams that seem to come away on top, to me, are not considered soft teams, Celtic, Lakers and Spurs. Individuals that have carried teams to championships such as Olajuwon and Jordan have to be put on the high end of the tough / soft scale.
I don't mean to derail the thread with a political application, and I hate to tip my idealogical hand, but in fairness, I will admit that I'm not a liberal before I say what I intend to say. I wish our government had manifested the toughness described I this article in response to the 9/11 attacks. I know the victims' families would have probably been upset, but I think it would have shown a lot of guts to shrug off the assault on our sovereign soil. If Bush had come out and said we will not be intimidated or thrown off course by thuggery, but if you dare to try something like this again we will annihilate every country associated with such behavior, it would have sent a shockwave of chilling fear through the minds of our enemies. Who would believe a.d. giant could take such a blow, absorb it, and not respond without further retaliation. I agree that there is a massive hidden toughness in turning the other cheek.
