NBA Soul Crusher

venom_7

Starter
You know that one play? That play that sucks all the excitement out of the building? Or that one play that just puts the crowd into a frenzy? That play that absolutely stabs the other team in the heart?

This is kind of what I am referring to as a soul crusher. BUT, today, its less of a spectacular play and more of WHO actually does the spectacular play.

The kind of play by a certain player that makes you as a fan feel as there is no more hope in the world.

My first example: Your team, down 15 to the Cavs starts a little run to bring it within 5. Then after the ball is inbound, Lebron takes it and goes coast-to-coast for the and-1 tomahawk. now your team is down 8 again, and you are about to cry.

Another example. Your team is down 6 to the Hornets. Your guys are executing the offense flawlessly for easy layup after easy layup. Then the ball comes down the floor to Peja, who just pulls up for three regardless of the defense. Swish. Fine, your team comes down and runs another beautiful play. This time, the Hornets find West posting up. The double comes, he kicks out to Peja. Three. Your team is down 8 now. After another beautiful play opn offense leading to another two, CP3 is dribbling around like a maniac. Your guys are playing pretty good defense. Shot clock, 4, 3, 2, kick out to Peja and from 28 feet. Bottoms. A little piece of your heart dies with that last three. Your team is playing beautifully butnow they are down 9.

See what I mean? It could be anybody, but when its that one guy it makes it even more painful. Like you knew it was going to happen. Inevitable. But when it does, you would rather watch somebody run over fresh roadkill.

A few more examples.
Dwight Howard block, leading to a fast break, with Dwight as trailer. Then he raises up and dunks on everyone who ever lived in that city.

Paul Pierce. defended well. Iso dribble. pulls up. money. next possesion. same thing. next posession, he takes your dude to the rim. money. time out, game over.

Kevin Martin. Iso on the wing. Waits for his defender to blink, then all of the sudden he takes a foul, rises up from nowhere, and with one hand, puts it in the basket. From 19 feet. Like its nothing. Like you are nothing.

Jason kidd. Strips your point guard. throws an impossible pass to anybody, nobody, dunk. Then, he steals the inbound pass. Again, no look pass. Coach just stares. You turn off your TV.

Kobe.

Gilbert Arenas. Dribbles down. Pulls up from 26. Net. Jaws al the way back down the court. Steals a pass. Instead of going in for the easy layup, he pulls up from 30. zeroed in. you just got shot in the heart.

ANy other ideas?
 
Kings up 6 pts, 3 mins to go in the 4th. Kobe drives to the lane, Jason Thompson swats that cotton ball soft shot to the rafters. "Get outta here you questionably innocent rapist!" JT grabs the loose ball, coast to coast for the dunk.

Lakers throw a sloppy inbound pass, JT intercepts it. 360 reverse dunk, rips the backboard to the ground. Game over. Bynum tears another ACL just watching. 'The Truth' will set us free.
 
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Inbounds pass, defender gets screened off, Rasual Butler makes a 3. Retirement game over.

My first and last time I hope I experience something like that live.
 
not exactly what I had in mind.....

and watch the language this is a family board.

its gotta be something that you know is going to happen. or happens often.
 
Kings-Lakers. Lakers up by 15 going into the 4th. Kings make an improbable comeback. Kobe shooting just 5-26 on the night. Martin gives the Kings their first lead of the game with 12 seconds left, up by 2. No time-outs for Lakers, Kobe gets the ball n stares down Martin 27 feet out, pulls up. Good. *buzzer*

:mad:
 
Robert Horry. He has crushed many a soul, haha.

I'm talking about a play you can expect this player to make routinely. As in any given game. Not a specific moment that has happened, but a moment that you know will happen.
 
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Robert Horry. End of discussion.

QFFT. (yeah, that second 'f' is there for a reason)

On topic: I read an interview once, where Dwyane Wade said that he prided himself on making the shots that force the opposing teams to call a timeout. Very, very appropriate I think.

Basically, every time that someone scores, of whom you know he's completely capable of going on a scoring spree easily and he's been cold as of yet, you always get that chilly feeling. I've wished for a long time for the Kings to have somebody like that (no, I don't think Kevin qualifies).
 
Err Ron artest? He's gonna have a soul crushing moment that you know will happen... That is to his team of course
 
Kings up 6 pts, 3 mins to go in the 4th. Kobe drives to the lane, Jason Thompson swats that cotton ball soft shot to the rafters. "Get outta here you questionably innocent rapist!" JT grabs the loose ball, coast to coast for the dunk.

Lakers throw a sloppy inbound pass, JT intercepts it. 360 reverse dunk, rips the backboard to the ground. Game over. Bynum tears another ACL just watching. 'The Truth' will set us free.

I like this one...:D
 
Gilbert Arenas was a pretty good example of that--if he got hot he could really dominate the game and dial from super long range. Jason Kidd as a Net too of course--it was scary to see that he could just pass to a cutting Kittles, Martin, or young RJ for a dunk. Billups also seems to be somewhat of a master of impossible shots, even though his field goal percentage belies it; he always had a great sense of the moment, that's for sure. Robert Horry obviously pulled the dagger on us...as for the JT scenario, plausible for the future, but I'm not even sure if he can even block a shot and do a 360 dunk in a single game, considering that he has shown little of either as of now.
 
Michael Finley anyone?

Michael Jordan turn around jumper

Gary Payton point guard post up

Reggie Miller...FOR THREE!!!
 
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Yeah Reggie Miller against the Knicks definitely has to qualify, as does McGrady against the Spurs a few years ago if anybody remembers that. Rockets were down huge in the 4th n McGrady hit 3 after 3 after 3 n brought em back to win.
 
Roger Mason. Your team looks like it's gonna come up with the upset against the Spurs. Then they inbound to Roger Mason makes any and everything.
 
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And how bout Francisco. Your team looks like its ahead by just enough to edge the win, like say 7. Then El Flaco comes running down the court takes a three that is so unnessisarily far. SWISH!!! He does his little hippity hop step while holding up three fingers. You atomatically print out a Fransico Garcia headshot from your computer and use it as a dart board.
 
Venom, if you were a Laker fan, you'd have been banned for starting this thread. Seriously. I'm not even a mod, but I would have somehow figured out how to ban you. For life.

Good thing you're not a Laker fan, eh?
 
I nominate Dirk's ugly post-up near the free throw line fade away jumper. Every time he takes that shot with a hand in his face I swear he's going to draw air, and then nothing but net. Every time. It's absurd.
 
Venom, if you were a Laker fan, you'd have been banned for starting this thread. Seriously. I'm not even a mod, but I would have somehow figured out how to ban you. For life.

Good thing you're not a Laker fan, eh?

cuz I wrote Kobe? haha. It literally kills me every time he scores though. I hate him.
 
Robert Horry. He has crushed many a soul, haha.

I'm talking about a play you can expect this player to make routinely. As in any given game. Not a specific moment that has happened, but a moment that you know will happen.


still not getting it. oh well, that is why the word mystery exists.
 
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