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| Pick Credit: Getty Images |
With the NBA Finals in full swing and many of the experts picking Golden State to win the series I thought about the difference between winning and losing. Many of the stats and metrics all point to a probable win but are numbers enough to predict a winner. I say it’s not. It’s the unseen that affects the game. It’s the things that we don’t hear about until it’s a documentary on 30 for 30.
Human Nature
Beyond the court these players are men. Some are swinging bachelors while others are
happily married with children. Their life
beyond the court is what can make or break a series. If a player is experiencing stress in his
personal life can he overcome it? Most
of the great players can and are able to compartmentalize their personal and
work life. On the other hand there are
those who let it affect their performance at work.
I see this often in my job as an academic advisor. I work with some of the brightest students on
campus. Their motivated and driven until
something happens at home. They lose a
loved one or they become pregnant. These
unexpected stressors can affect them so badly that they drop out of school but
then there are others who buckle down and push forward valiantly. The ones who make it through are able to keep
the end goal in mind and find some way to deal with it in a positive way.
Luckily for athletes, playing sports is a great way to deal with
stress unless you have millions of eyes on you and reporters waiting to make
you the G.O.A.T or the latter. This is
probably why some of them can be found wearing headphones before the game. Trying to silence the negative voices and
bring them into the present so that they’re not worried about past performance
or future legacy.
What happens when a person can’t deal with stress?
In a short study on WebMD I found that stress can cause:
1. Headaches
2. Sleeping
Problems
3. Upset
Stomach
4. Excessive
Sweating
5. Muscle
Tension (neck, shoulder and lower back)
These effects would definitely affect a player’s
performance. You ever wonder how players
can miss a free throw when their paid to do it.
The affect of stress is the reason.
No matter how much you practice if you can’t deal with the pressure of
taking the shot it won’t matter because your body will be fighting itself.
What can a player do?
In one word, breath.
Breathing is one of the most powerful tools athletes and we can use to
stay focused, relax nerves and muscles.
It’s also a great predictor of stress.
I bet if you try to check on your breathing while your stressed you’ll
find you’re either holding your breath or breathing rapidly. I’ve worked with students who experience test
anxiety. Many times breathing exercises
helps these students calm down and allow the hours of study to pay off.
Even though I can’t see beyond the court I believe you can
predict a game based on the way players are breathing on the court. Does it look like their holding their
breath? Are they gasping for air early
in the game? These things are indicators
that an individual or a team are succumbing to the pressure and whatever coach
can bring them back to the present will be able to win the series.
Who will be that team?
Will it be the Golden State Warriors?
They have all the talent and coaching needed to win but how will they
react to the bright lights. Will the
Cavs win it all? Can LeBron control his
breathing as he looks at history in the face?
With five finals under his belt he should have the experience necessary
to deal with this stage. All these
questions will be answered in a few days and to all the fans out there planning
on watching the game remember don’t forget to breath.
