411 Love of the Game Special: Yayo on Basketball
Posted by J. Yayo Hernandez on 04.21.2006
Da Bulls! Da Bulls! Da Bulls!
LOVE OF THE GAME: BASKETBALL
J. "Yayo" Hernandez
- Why do you love the game of Basketball?
Basketball is one of the few games were true athleticism allows you to exceed. Its high tempo pace and thrilling theatrics (alley oop anyone?) can get anyone involved. Their aren't that many rules to follow and the players are easily accessible since they don't have to hide under a helmet like in most other sports.
- Who's your favorite Basketball team, current and all time, and why?
The 1993 Chicago Bulls. Although the first championship was sweet I really wasn't a basketball fan until Jordan found his three point stroke the following year against the Trailblazers. But even then it seemed as though no matter what Portland threw at Jordan, the Bulls would have an immediate and resounding answer. In 1993 things seemed no different. The Bulls cruised to the NBA Finals (although they did have to come back from two games down in the conference finals against the New York Knicks). But in the Finals the Bulls faced off with the Phoenix Suns (who in my opinion has been the greatest Finals opponent they have faced) and dusted them off four to two in my favorite basketball moment of all time.
- Who is your favorite Basketball player, current and all time, and why?
Scottie Pippen. Many folks hate on Scottie because he played second banana to Jordan's apple. And then they bring up the Toni Kukoc incident in the 1994 playoffs when he refused to re-enter the game. To those folks I say "You have no idea what you're missing." It's a fact that Jordan couldn't get his teams deep in the playoffs until Pippen arrived. And under Jordan's tutelage Pippen became one of (if not) the greatest small forwards to ever play the position. And when Jordan left in 1994 Pippen led the Bulls to 55-27 record (3 games less then the preceding season). Pippen was not only an amazing offensive presence but it was his defense that really made him shine as many years he was among the league leaders in steals. So hate all you want, but those that know basketball know how great Pippen really was.
- What is your favorite Basketball moment of all time?
Game Six of the 1993 NBA Finals. Chicago had possession of the ball with 14.1 second left when Michael Jordan, double-teamed in the backcourt, fed the ball to Scottie Pippen, who drove the lane. Suns center Mark West moved over to block his path, so Pippen dished the ball to Horace Grant in the low post. Grant, who had scored just one point in each of the previous two games but more than made up for it with tireless defense and hustle under the boards, eschewed a forced shot and instead passed the ball back out to John Paxson, who was lurking in three-point land. Phoenix's Danny Ainge, who had dropped back to harass Grant, could do nothing but watch as Paxson nailed the Bulls' Finals-record 10th trey of the game. That would be all the Bulls needed in closing out their third NBA title in a row, as Horace Grant swatted away Kevin Johnson's last gasp effort for the Suns.
- What are your thoughts on the last decade (1995 – 2005) of Basketball?
Until 1998 Jordan led the NBA to heights they had never seen before. When he made his second retirement it was a blow to the NBA as their new superstars (outside of Shaq) didn't seem to pique the interest of America as Bird, Magic, and MJ had. Then the strike occurred and the NBA was truly in shambles. But team play (Spurs and Pistons) and a new superstar in LeBron James had led to a renaissance in the NBA.
