When an NBA team acquires new players and makes dramatic moves to change their roster up, it is not a success right away. It takes time for players and coaches to get used to each other and the term that is most often used with team play is chemistry. Team Chemistry plays one of the biggest roles in having a successful season. It is never an overnight process, not to sound cliche but Rome was not built in one day. Chemistry starts from the ground up, it begins with players practicing with each other constantly and getting to know every ones roles on a team. Chemistry also builds off the court as well with relationships of teammates. It is crucial for everyone to be on the same page and players have to buy into each other. When chemistry is off, alot of bad things can happen for a team such as miscommunication with each other and even losing streaks, it is very tough to win a game when a team is not meshing together. On the other hand when Chemistry is on and working, any thing can happen and that's where championships are won.
A prime example of a team who has great team chemistry are the Boston Celtics. When the Celtics acquired Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen back in 2007, alot of experts biggest concern was can a team play with three perennial all-stars? Well the C's clicked on all cylinders that season and ended up winning the NBA title over the LA Lakers. They played great team basketball and everyone knew their role, Paul Pierce was the go-to guy in the clutch and the scorer, Ray Allen was the sharpshooter who created mismatches on the floor, and Kevin Garnett who was the heart and soul on both ends of the court and eventually won the Defensive Player of the Year award.
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| One of the first "Big Threes" |
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| The 2004 Pistons led by PG Chauncey Billups |
Another example of a team with a high team chemistry were the '04 Detroit Pistons. The Pistons were a team who played extremely well with each other, they had every piece to the puzzle to win a championship on both sides of the ball, especially defensively. Rasheed Wallace and Ben Wallace controlled the front court while Tayshaun Prince was the opposing teams best scorers nightmare. Offensively they were led by Mr. Big Shot Chauncey Billups who can control a game as good as any point guard in the league and Richard Hamilton who played off the ball and shot efficiently. The Pistons were virtually unbeatable at the Palace and brought a title home to Detroit. The chemistry that the Pistons possessed was unreal, no situation was ever tough for them and they fought through adversity.
But Chemistry does not always work this way, there are teams that had to gel with each other for a period of time.
The Miami Heat were that team who needed to come together as one. In 2010 when the Heat signed LeBron and Chris Bosh to play along side Dwyane Wade did not go as planned. Yes they made it to the finals that year, but they lost to the Dallas Mavericks, a veteran team in which everyone on the roster knew their role. The Heat struggled at first starting off the season (9-8) but throughout the season improved and eventually grabbed the 2-seed in the East. Although it did not end like Boston Celtics of 07-08, the Heat learned that off-season it does not matter how much talent you have, but how well you play together. Combining talent with chemistry was the winning formula for Miami that eventually led them to an NBA title. Now the Heat have a great team chemistry led by LeBron James and with that it makes them an even harder team to beat.
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| the 2012 Champions Miami Heat |
All images, belong to google, i do not own any of these, all stats belong to ESPN.com
