Quagmire
Years ago
NBA Free Agents- Theory of relativity
All things are relative right?
Like in an island of blind people, the one eyed man is king.
So i got to thinking about NBA players and how players with big production for poor teams can sometimes slip when moved to better teams.
Why does it happen?
(the cynic in me suggests contract withdrawl syndrome...)
Looking at Mo Williams, i know its early days (please no replies about it being too early, of course it is, i'm just using the example), but his production so far has been poor and worthy of comment.
He scored and shot the ball well for the Bucks so why the decline now he is a cav?
Some would say the system changes from team to team and therefore the decline, but experts picked Williams as an excellent fit for the cavs...
My theory is that the level picks up when you play for a contender.
Sure- your playing the same opponents every year whether your on a contender or a lottery team, but do the opponents play with the same intensity? No way.
So we see players put up good numbers for weak teams in losing games; and expect them to replicate the numbers under greater intensity and pressure?
Now this theory doesn't fit for franchise players, they command the best D from opponents anyway, its more the fringe types like Williams. eg, Paul Pierce was always good, Anotione Walker was NOT.
This is something GM's should really be aware of before handing contracts to players benefiting from being on a lottery team.
