Team chemistry is not created in a lab; it takes trust and friendship.
By CHAD RHYM – Sports Writer
The Oklahoma City Thunder lost the National Basketball League championship to the Miami Heat on June 21, 2012.
Led by NBA All-Stars Lebron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, Miami won through phenomenal performances from each of the three musketeers, a championship defense and, most importantly, team chemistry.
to success. Cartoon by Gabe Harper.
The main difference between the Heat and the Thunder was that one factor: team chemistry.
The Thunder didn’t lose to Miami because of an inability to score or from poor defense, they lost to the Heat because the Thunder players bickered with one another, and at the end of the five-game series, the Thunder looked completely discombobulated.
Reality check: it’s impossible to win without chemistry.
Each member of the star trio on the Miami Heat was drafted in 2003. They have competed in multiple All-Star and Olympic games together. It’s obvious that all three of them share a friendship.
Another example of a team with poor chemistry is this year’s Los Angeles Lakers. How could a team with four future Hall of Famers have a losing record of 23-26?
Why is arguably the greatest sports franchise of all time having such a horrendous season, even after obtaining Steve Nash, one of the greatest point guards of all time, and trading Andrew Bynum, the league’s second best center, for Dwight Howard, the best center in the league?
The Lakers’ team chemistry this season never existed, and this has reflected in their losing record.
Unlike the Lakers and Thunder, positive team chemistry is found on the 2012-13 Clarke Central High School varsity boys basketball team. All five of the starters belong to the class of 2014, and it doesn’t hurt that they’ve all played for Team Athens, an AAU team, for the past couple of years.
They’ve learned how best to work with each other on the court. The team has become increasingly more successful during the past three seasons, resulting in their 15-5 record this season.
Take some notes, Lakers and Thunder.
More from Chad Rhym
