A long time ago I was playing NBA Live '94 on the Sega Genesis.  There were three buttons, and that top right thing which was the "turbo" button.  Press it and your highlighted player goes faster.  Simple.

Then came the Playstation version of NBA Live... what was the first year, '97?  Anyway, they add what they called the "juke" button.  Press it and your highlighted player does a nice jook move, a little shimmy or a crossover, or a spin move, something that shakes the defense up.  

We always talked about how they needed to add a "You Sick" button, which, when pressed, would allow you to do something sick, like a 360 dunk from the free throw line or a crazy spinning layup, or whatever.  Of course, we also talked about how all games need that Shinobi magic button.  If you remember actually playing Shinobi, the magic button was the one you pressed and everything on the screen died - all your enemies, no matter how many ninjas, dead.  It also doubled as the "Oh sh*t" button, because when you were about to die ("oh sh*t"), you would press it and hopefully save your ass.  More often than not you were one second too late.  But I digress.

And that's what's wrong with the NBA Playoffs this season (and in recent seasons, too).  No one has a YouSick button.  The Warriors certainly did, which is why everyone (yes, everyone) was on the bandwagon when they got to the playoffs.  They were built with only YouSick buttons, actually - they lacked a regular speed.  They couldn't seemingly run a regular play without adding a flourish of some sort - a three pointer after a kick out from a driving Baron Davis, a Matt Barnes dunk over two guys, a Jason Richardson three, a crazy Baron drive... their team was straight up all about making YouSick moves.

YouSick makes a happy day.

The Suns have it, too.  Amare Stoudemire was born to be YouSick.  Shawn Marion and Steve Nash both possess it in spades.  We might give Nash a hard time because he's overrated (Jason Kidd is definitely better, for one), but Nash is without a doubt one of the most entertaining players in the NBA.  No wonder he made the Nike Air Force commercial.

YouSick is my heart and soul
More precious than gold

The problem?  Well, the Pistons just don't have it.  Neither do the Spurs.  They don't dunk, they bank it in.  They don't block shots, they don't fast break.  The Jazz are okay - Deron Williams is the point guard of the future, and Okur always seems able to hit the big three, but they aren't flashy either.  Nothing wrong with that, but that's where LeBron comes in.

YouSick is the soul of the man

Indeed.  In the soul of LeBron is a lack of YouSick.  Physical gifted and mentally superior, LeBron has the entire package.  He can dunk or do something incredible pretty much anytime he wants.  But he hardly ever does anything that makes you notice him on the court.  Sure, he puts up impressive numbers.  But this ain't baseball.  Numbers ain't what people see or notice. 

Girl, YouSick is a joy to bring

Basketball fans want to see something exciting.  LeBron is position to make the jump to the Kingship that has been waiting for him since high school this postseason.  The NBA would love nothing more than for him to topple the anti-hero Pistons and then the suddenly universally disliked Spurs in back to back series to win his first (of many) titles.  Then the offseason would not be about the boring NBA playoffs, but instead about how many titles LeBron could win, and how, if he could win a championship with this Motley's Crew of misfits, he could probably win many more.  But in order to really capture the excitement of fans, LeBron needs to make it fun to watch!

Turn on some YouSick

The Vince Carter comparisons have been there for most of the postseason.  I've made them, too.  It's because the only other NBA player I can think of with such amazing talent that goes too much time without pulling a YouSick move is Vince Carter.  Vince's early career was about proving the Michael Jordan wasn't one of a kind; he had a similar skill set and the tenacity when Vince attacked the basket was incredible.  We're talking about a man who once dunked over a 7'footer!

Yeah, YouSick

But Vince has since been self-limited to trying to shoot threes over defender's hands, and fadeaway jumpers as the shot clock runs down.  And now LeBron is doing that, too.  It's too rare that LeBron even drives to the basket hard.  Even Vince has had his moments these playoffs - remember Games 3 and 4 against the Raptors at the Meadowland?  He dominated the first half of both of those games, displaying some amazing YouSick moments that helped the Nets get off to a big lead and win those games.

LeBron, you got the YouSick in you.  One chance left.  You got the YouSick in you.  Fly high.  I feel the YouSick in you.  The NBA needs you.  

Now let's let Erick Sermon finish off this post (aided by The Legend, Marvin Gaye):

Too relaxed is my mind, so I can shoot threes,
and avoid absorbing the pounding. That keeps me sound,
doing my thing constantly with no worries,
Peace to Flip Murray.
(Just like YouSick)
What happens in the paint is not my concern.
You want to drive, it's not my turn.
(Just like YouSick)
To do something crazy, like jump over McDyess
Or keep the Cavs scoring over 80?
(just like YouSick)
Without YouSick
(ow, I'll go crazy)
Yeah
(Just like YouSick)
"Make the call my homie in the stripes" I moan,
Look there's something new, they got me in the zone.
Just that fouling got me
wishing I could avoid shooting frees.

(Turn on some YouSick)
(I got my YouSick)
(Turn on some YouSick)
(I got my YouSick)

Yo, to get me to bang this,
it'll take a body-soul snatcher, understand my language?
I play light, so open up
Seven free throws total, what the fuck?

No confrontation is all right. 
It's my coronation,
I'll do it with jumpers on isolations,
And driving with trepidation,
no acceleration,
take over the association
without any exhilaration....

(I got no YouSick)
(Turn on some YouSick)
(I got no YouSick)

 Subscribe to my feed

2 Comments

Comments