Is all the talk of Joakim Noah's 'energy' just code for a lack of talent?
High-five co-workers at the water cooler every day? Dive on the floor to retrieve valuable, work-related objects? Rupture your larynx, pound your chest and point to the heavens when you get the job done? Even wave a towel when somebody else goes above and beyond the call of duty?
Congratulations! You have the kind of energy it takes to make millions of dollars in the NBA, especially if you're well more than 6 feet tall!
If you haven't noticed, "energy" has become one of the buzzwords of the Association recently. No sooner did the Bulls draft forward-center Joakim Noah last week than the magic word was out of the mouths of anyone and everyone in the organization.
"Joakim has got energy every single day on the practice floor," head coach Scott Skiles gushed in a rare fit of praise. "The way he goes about his business and the commitment that he shows to his team and those kinds of qualities, it's great."
"Joakim brings an enthusiasm and an energy to the game," general manager John Paxson said.
More Paxson: "He's gonna bring it every night."
Strange, but I didn't hear one Bulls person utter a word about Joakim Noah's ability to shoot the ball or pass the ball or dribble the ball.
Here's what the NBA-produced draft guide has to say about Joakim Noah and his strengths as a player: "Plays with boundless energy and passion. Extremely long and agile player with a good overall feel for the game. Thrives on competition."
Look, this isn't meant to pile on Joakim Noah or anything, because there are dozens like him in the league at present. The kid is a legit 7-footer in shoes, and not even Phil Jackson can teach that kind of talent. He is also fairly athletic. Plus, Joakim Noah played with the Florida teams that won back-to-back national championships, which counts for something, too. At the very least, Mr. Excitement should be a decent role player.
Still, I wonder if "He has got energy every single day" isn't code for "He's got no game but finds other ways to be seen and heard"? You know, sort of like the girl with the great personality.
Rarely, if ever, do you hear talk about the energy and passion of players who actually have basketball skills. I mean, how many times did you hear it said or written, "Boy, that Michael Jordan, there sure is no quit in him, is there?"
In the 1986-87 season, Jordan averaged 37.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists and approximately 12.8 tongue wags per game and carried several very large men on his back every game. Think he didn't break a sweat to do all that? Think he didn't show a little bit of passion for the game and commitment to his team?
Seriously, just because Ben Gordon and Luol Deng go about their business in a more-disciplined, less-demonstrative way, does that mean the Bulls' best two players don't care as much as the rest? Because they don't act as if their hair is permanently on fire, is that to mean they lack boundless energy and passion? Uh, don't think so.
No matter. The Rodmanization of the NBA seems to have picked up, uh, energy lately.
"Joakim Noah seems like that kind of guy who can make you play better just sitting on the bench," Bulls rookie center Aaron Gray said of his new teammate the other day. "He doesn't even have to be in the game. He can get you so excited to be alive."
Sorry, dude, the Luvabulls already do that for a lot less money.
Besides, how does one define "energy" in basketball terms, anyway?
Is it possible to compete at this level without it?
For instance, does a flopper who exaggerates contact in an attempt to draw an offensive foul pack energy, while another who does it in a more subtle manner lack as much? Do the so-called "energy" guys really run faster and move quicker and try harder? Or does it only look that way because it usually takes a search party to find their tangible contributions?
Maybe the league needs to introduce a new stat to measure the energy levels of its players. You know, chest thumps or floor burns or war whoops or something.
Sad to say, it speaks little for the rest of the league that some guys are singled out for their energy levels, because the obvious inference is that others dog it on a routine basis. I'm not one to believe everything was good in the good ol' days, but it didn't have to be mentioned that the vast majority of players busted their butts back then. It was assumed.
Heck, one can only wonder what's next at this rate …
"Billy Brick can't shoot a lick, but nobody shakes more hands or signs more autographs than he does!"
Now excuse me while I dive for a loose phone cord so I can bring it, as they say.
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