George Bernard Shaw once famously noted that the tragedy of youth is that it is wasted on the young. And nowhere was this statement more on display than in the past two opponents faced by the Los Angeles Lakers. Against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday and the all-too-familiar Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, the Lakers got a somewhat unwelcome reminder that Father Time is not on there side. Come to think of it, I think I saw him in the third row wearing a Kevin Durant jersey!
Now, I’m not sure if Shaw was at any of these games or not, but he sure hit the nail on the head with this one. (FYI, for all you history buffs out there…Shaw passed away in the 1950s, so I’m guessing he had to give his seats away!) There were times when it looked as if the Lakers belonged in a Thirty and Over League and not the two-time defending champs that they are. It was like watching that all-too famous fable, “The Tortoise and The Hare” where the Hare spends much of his time running circles around the tortoise, confident he would win.
Next: Youth In Revolt
Indeed, the Clippers and the Thunder were able to exploit the Lakers vulnerabilities against younger, quicker, more athletic teams. Time and time again, opposing point guards, too quick for our aged heroes, penetrated deep into the teeth of the defense. Time and time again, they dropped floaters over the Lakers outstretched arms or they were able to explode all the way to the front of the rim for lay-ups.
Time and time again younger, tougher, hungrier big men outfought and outmuscled the Lakers for rebounds, put-backs, and slashing, back-board rattling, dunks. It got so nasty over this two game stretch that referees decided to toss not one, not two, but four players in the final testy minutes against the Clippers on Sunday. All of which ignited thanks to the effort, hustle and heart displayed by the one young Clipper who would not let up until the horn sounded.
Next: Youth Is Served
That drive, that hunger, that tenacity all mixed with unbelievable athleticism…these are trademarks of the NBA’s younger teams. They believe that the world is against them, and they are out to prove that they belong among the game’s elite. It’s what keeps them going for the long, arduous eighty-two game season. Beating the league’s top teams is what keeps them motivated in light of the fact that very few young teams ever break through in the NBA’s postseason.
And as much as Bryant applauded Griffen’s Kobe-like intensity, even at the hands of his own teammate Lamar Odom, he knows first hand that all too often youth is not served in this league. Because the ironic thing about youth in the NBA, the things that make it so sought-after: the speed, agility, jumping ability, the hunger, the drive-also come with their drawbacks.
Too often young teams pride themselves on these characteristics, ignorant to the fact that what it really takes to win are things like execution, focus, attention to detail and defense. For as much as Bryant is now praised for his killer instinct and drive, he was also equally once derided as being too brash, too impetuous, too young.
Next: Prime Time
Truly, in the NBA you typically don’t begin to realize your potential until reaching a certain age and until your team combines a blend of both young and veteran players. For only when the mental understanding of the game catches up with the physical can a team or player truly be considered in their “prime,” and that typically doesn’t happen until the average age of around 28 to 30 years of age. Think of Jordan taking years to get through the Detroit Pistons, or Shaq and Kobe’s early shortcomings verse the older, smarter Utah Jazz.
This is why the NBA’s best teams frequently suffer regular season losses to up and coming teams. The regular season, with its hectic travel and game schedule, was built for the young guns. And as previously mentioned, beating the big boys is the lone prize that most young teams can hope for during the long road to the playoffs….well, that and a hefty paycheck, but that’s a topic for another time.
According to Hoopism.com, the LA Clippers and the OKC Thunder featured the NBA’s 15th and 3rd youngest teams, respectively, heading into the 2011 season. The Clippers as a team average approximately 27.1 years of age, while the OKC Thunder combine for an average of 24.9 years of age. Quite a difference when compared to the Lakers, who rank as the second oldest team at 29.9 years of age. Miami, by the way, boasts the league’s oldest team at 31.3 years of age, despite having three young studs of its own. Just for fun, I’ll throw in the Boston Celtics who rank 26th at 28.9 years of age and the San Antonio Spurs who rank 24th at 28.4 years of age.
Next: Father Time on His Heels
The numbers provide a telling story. For while every regular season loss eats away and endlessly torments Laker fans and blog sites alike, truth-be-told, there really is nothing to worry about. As of the time of this article there were 4 teams with a winning percentage above .700 and all boast an average age over 28 years old-San Antonio, Boston, Miami and the Lakers. In fact according to more data provided by both hoopism.com and espn.com, though Father Time is eventually undefeated, he really can’t hold his own against the older teams in the league; especially when it counts most.
Going back to the 1980s, Bird’s Celtics, which won three NBA titles during the decade, averaged 30.1 years of age and Magic’s Lakers, which won five titles in the decade, averaged 29.6 years of age. During Michael Jordan’s first three-peat during the 1991-1993 seasons, his Bulls’ team averaged 29.4 years of age. Meanwhile, his second three-peat run from 1996-1998, had a team which averaged 32.3 years of age. Finally, in the last 5 years the average age of each of the NBA champs was approximately 29.3 years of age with the San Antonio Spurs topping out at 31.8 years old in ’06-’07.
Quite revealing when you think about it! So, before Laker fans start losing their minds, before they start writing and calling in to their favorite radio shows or blog sites demanding this trade or that trade or that the team is too old…take a second to remember George Bernard Shaw’s famous words. Yes, youth is attractive, and fun, and fast and often furious…just like the Hare that ran circles around our tortoise earlier in the race. But just as the tortoise reminded the Hare while crossing the finish line first, in the NBA, slow and steady wins every time!