I think weedy might be referring to the various trade scenarios Livingston was mentioned in before the deadline. As a Clipper fan, hell, as a basketball fan this is sad. Shaun has been a polarizing figure amongst Clipper fans since training camp. I don't think there has been a player in Clipper History who's perception has vacillated as wildly as his. He has, in the space of a few months, gone from having unreal expectations placed upon him to being packaged off in over a dozen unrealistic crack-pot trade scenarios. Bucher captures Shaun's predicament pretty succinctly:
Livingston's fear is that everyone will see him racking up stats and think it's all about the extension and the adulation. Or that even a hint of selfishness will prompt cold shoulders from his teammates. Or that he'll walk into the locker room one day and it'll be Richwoods High all over again, with sideways glances and newspaper stories about a hotshot who's all about himself. "I want to show my team I'm for the team," Livingston says. "I want them to see I'm in it for them, not for me. Growing up watching the league, Allen Iverson was my favorite player. But once I got here, Steve Nash instantly became my favorite. He can take 30 shots in a game, and not one person thinks he's doing it for himself." So Shaun Livingston has a conscience. And it's killing him.
If you watch him on a consistent basis you could see where the comparisons to Magic come from. The talent is quite obviously there. But there is also frustration in watching him underperform. In watching him defer. You can see him wrestle with it, and you want him to free himself from it, to let loose and show what he can do. He gets a vote of confidence from the coach, after fans and the media questioned the decision to keep him rather than trade him. And now this.
Kevin Arnovitz sums it up best:
Whether it's fair or not, Shaun also embodies something larger. Shaun has been carrying around the hopes of the Naion since he was drafted in 2004. On Saturday, he put together what might be the most professional game of his career - a 14 point, 14 assist effort against Golden State. Following the game, Mike Dunleavy said, "Until I tell him to pull back, I want him to push the ball every time and I want him to explore. I want him to use his abilities. That's what could take us to another level." And that's exactly what Shaun is doing in the first quarter when he picks up a steal at the other end and initiates the break with Raymond Felton in pursuit. Four seconds later, Shaun is on the hardwood.
I would love for Shaun to come back (he's done it once before), but thats the selfish fan in me. Good luck Shaun, wherever life leads you.
Poor guy. Yea... I've had this guy on and off my fantasy team (keeper league) for 3 years now... Hurt his shoulder real bad when he grabbed a rebound and the other guy ripped the ball, and his shoulder, right out... Then it was something else. His knee? 5 parts of it were totally detached... the big 3 ligaments (acl, mcl,pcl), the knee cap and the meniscus. From reading about it, this is the worst knee injury i've ever heard of. I hope he gets back, but he needs to strengthen his whole body, it's not built to stand up to much of anything. These knee injuries.... is it a pandemic? jk... The comparisons are a bit much yes, but not totally unfounded. He's got serious PG skills. The things that may have kept hom from becoming an all-star were a a weak body, a weak jumper, injuries and minutes - which were starting to come. He could run and see the floor with ease and make sweet passes. How much potential did he have? The 76ers offered Iverson in a package deal, but L.A. wouldn't part with Livingston. And yes, he's been a Clip the whole time, right out of high school. By the time he rehabs he'll be a year or two older than univ. grads. There's hope, but still... poor guy.
Look, I don't hate the guy, but it's articles like these which seem to suggest something that I'm not seeing. He has/(had) length and hops and all that nice stuff - but he's spent 4 years in the league and he can't shoot and he can't play a lick of defense. I mean - he can't shoot. No shot. And he's a guard. How can anyone have these expectations/hopes for him anymore? Frankly, he didn't seem to be improving at all. Definitely a guy who would have benefited to going to college for a few years. Not that they all do (see Garnett/McGrady/Kobe) - but he sure as hell should have.
Frankly, he didn't seem to be improving at all. Did you watch him play the last 3 years? I agree with the holes in his game you mention, but no improvement is a ridiculous suggestion. 4 years in the league? Get your facts right or don't bother contributing to a discussion. This was his 3rd year, and he's only totalled 145 games because of injuries. Don't tell me you talk out your a$$ too smokey. You mention his shooting, it is hurtin, but his fg% went up every year. That's improvement, and in the area he needed it most. You're just hatin, but I agree college would have helped him, especially in developing his body, but if this happened in college??? OUCH... He'd be kickin himself in the ass, literally, because with a leg that busted up, you can. and mentioning those guys... who all had some adjustments to make once in the NBA, where's Lebron? The one who made the transition most recently, and more seemlessly, than any of those guys. Weaky McPosty.
MVP, he was talking about Shaun Livingston, not you. No need to get all pissy and personal about stuff. It's a sports site, yes, but it's not Yahoo!
There's a need to be accurate.
Is there a need to be insulting?
I just think "Weaky McPosty" is an outstanding example of that lamest of Internet insults, the username insult. Hee hee hee. Weaky McPosty.
In fairness, "WeakyMcPosty" made me laugh. And I think I made it perfectly clear that I looked up no evidence to support my rant. So there. But in my defense - FG% is not necessarily related to shooting. Perhaps it is because I have yet to see what the hype is all about - and after 3 years, one would think I would. Anyway - probably a moot point after that injury.
agreed. I think he was gettin better... but too slowly eh. I totally see where your coming from. I was expecting a lot more myself.
the username insult. Actually the username insult is the new "in" thing on the Internet.* I'd link to the actual comment but it's been deleted. So sad.
LBB - you're still here. Shouldn't you be at a vet somewhere recovering from the WHO pandemic debacle? Weaky McPosty, just for laughs yea... Mr. McSmokey has made a ton of fine posts.
Fun with Ron Mexico name generator. WeakyMcPosty's name would be Miguel Barbuda, and Weaky McPosty's would be Kurt Guadeloupe. I'm kinda digging Kurt, but not in 'that way', NOT that there's anything wrong with 'that way'.
Ooh, ohh, Seor Dos MVP, can we get your opinion on everyone else too?
yerfatma... As soon as someone posts on article on "everything else", then yes, yes you can. One.... small..... post for yerfatma... one... giant leap absolutely nowhere. What's your point? If offering an opinion isn't part of this, fill me in on what we're doing here ok?
I don't mean to speak for yerfatma, he certainly doesn't need my help. However, I believe what we're doing here is offering our opinions and thoughts and occasional jokes on sports and sports related issues. What we are NOT doing here is insulting other members of our community. Well, thats what most of us are NOT doing here.
My mistake yerfatma.... i read everything, instead of everyone. Damn sight word vocabulary... That's why I answered that way, sorry yerfatma, my bad.
