ESPN writer, Bill Simmons, invented a new word to describe NBA player acquisitions that improve team chemistry, add character, and allow for salary cap flexibility:
“Here’s the new mantra for savvy NBA teams: “Chemacterility.” Why haven’t you heard the term before? Because I just made it up. But it’s an amalgam of three concepts that have formed the foundation of the Duncan era in San Antonio: chemistry, character and (cap) flexibility. As soon as Duncan arrived, in 1997, Popovich and Buford began to avoid bad guys and bad contracts, preferring role players, quality guys and short-term deals.”
As I read this, it occurred to me that the Larry Hughes Free Agent signing of 2005 is the exact opposite of chemacterility. To be fair, I wouldn’t say Larry is a low-character guy (he’s made efforts to be involved in the Cleveland community and help people in need).
But in terms of team chemistry and cap flexibility, this deal royally sucked. So to honor Larry Hughes, I’d like to invent a new word that represents the opposite of chemacterility. Here are a few of the initial ideas:
“Larryhughestastic”
“DannyFerryish”
“Hughesterility”
“Salarycapdisasteriffic”
Can you think of a better word?
22 responses so far ↓
1 reggid // Jan 3, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Sucktacular?
WTFism?
2 Graig // Jan 3, 2008 at 1:43 pm
I think Larryhughestastic sums up “shitty” quite nicely.
3 Matt // Jan 3, 2008 at 2:11 pm
How about the Vinbakerific
4 Tom // Jan 3, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Is Mel Turpin still available for a trade?
5 Nance // Jan 3, 2008 at 6:48 pm
L-coli?
6 Aj // Jan 3, 2008 at 11:09 pm
You’re a Larry Hughes hater.
Was it Hughes fault that the Cavs gave him such a big contract? They saw talent in him when he was with the Wizards leading in steals being one of the top defenders. Shooting the ball good as well. But have you ever heard of injuries? And do you know what injuries do to someone? They decrease talent. And confidence. Hughes has been pilled up with injuries which is quite bad. Once he comes back to play an injury pops up.
If anyone is a Cavs fan then they will remember the playoffs last season. Hughes dominated the first to series against the Nets and Wizards. But he dropped off towards the end. Yes he is an incosistent player. But he also helps the Cavs when he is on the court.
Once his confidence is back up his shots will start coming back. His shots lately have seemed to be a bit flat, he needs a little bit more air then he’ll be fine.
Hughes isn’t just the only one killing the Cavs. And you should know that.
7 clefan // Jan 3, 2008 at 11:43 pm
AJ,
I’m not a Hughes hater, I just hate his shot selection.
And I agree he’s not the only one hurting the Cavs. But you should refer to other Web sites if you want to discuss issues besides Larry Hughes’ shot selection.
Injuries and lack of confidence are excuses. Not to say there isn’t some validity, but if the guy doesn’t have confidence, send him to the D league and let him beat up on 18 years olds. If he’s injured, don’t play him.
I hope you are right about his confidence and his shooting. If he can regain the form of the 2007 playoffs, we’d get to witness him “dominate” and shoot a whopping 34% from the field. Or perhaps he’ll really dominate like he did in the 2006 playoffs when he shot 32%.
8 me // Jan 4, 2008 at 7:42 am
assholeisfic…
9 Vern Mueller // Jan 4, 2008 at 11:16 am
The problem with Larry Hughes is that almost all his shots are low percentage shots. As long as that is true, teams can continue swarming LeBron with no fear.
As for Hughes in the playoffs last season….
The Cavaliers lost nothing when he went out injured.
10 Graig // Jan 4, 2008 at 11:56 am
Larry Hughes dominated the Wiz and Nets last year??? Was that Bizarro Larry because real Larry did nothing of the sort.
11 Aj // Jan 4, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Graig, if you look at the stats from the playoffs last season you will see that Hughes top scored most games against the Nets and Wizards.
clefan, Hughes’ shot selection isn’t that great i agree. But the positive is that he is able to create shots. He can beat players off the dribble and really he can do some damage.
The D-League could boost his confidence. But i don’t think the GM’s would send a $12 mil player their…
Hughes isn’t that consistent in scoring but he is consistent in defending, he is one of the best.
12 Hooks // Jan 4, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Hugh-rific, Tear droptastic, Craptastic?
13 Mike // Jan 4, 2008 at 9:39 pm
How about “larryhughescantshootnotcanferry begmandtheyarebadandbadagaintastic”
Word on the street is that hughes has 2 glass eyes.. at least thats why his shooting is like ben wallace a the charity stripe
14 Chris // Jan 4, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Im sorry, but I was at the game tonight and pretty much just watched him the entire time he was in. He is an AWFUL defender… the most overrated defender ever, and anyone who knows basketball can see this. Steals are a lazy mans stat.. all that means is he is lagging in the middle instead of defending his guy. Its not like hes pickin the pocket of anyone, he gets his steals from bad passes…. watch him, his guy is the one consistently coming off screens and dishing for a wide open lay up. Instead of getting through the pick, or going under… he consistently chases his guy from behind making somebody else step up and leave their man. He is a lazy overpaid sack of shit… he got paid, and is no longer interested in performing at a high level. Id much rather see devin brown in the game… he is not a better shooter, but he consistently goes to the hoop, and outhustles larry by a long shot. Larry can drive as good as anyone… but he is too lazy and scared to get hurt to drive the basketball. The games when he drives, he scores close to 20, and will shot about 40%.. but those games are so few and far between
15 J // Jan 6, 2008 at 3:02 pm
I’m sorry Chris, while I agree with some things you have said, steeling is not a “lazy mans game”, as you refer to it. I’m guessing youve never played in the NBA or at a level of that sort, so I dont see how you would know how “easy” it is to get a steal. Either way, steals by Hughes lead to momentum and offense on the other end of the floor. And getting steals from bad passes? this is true, but I dont see how you can criticize someone for this, should he not be getting those “easier” steals.
16 intaitwetrust // Jan 6, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Hughes is probably one of the best basketball players on the team–make of that what you will–but he has absolutely zero sack. None.
17 Andrew // Jan 7, 2008 at 9:18 am
Don’t worry, we will get a productive season out of Hughes in 2010 in his contract year. Thank you Carlos Boozer and Michael Redd.
18 Alan // Jan 7, 2008 at 2:44 pm
AJ, I’d accept your injury argument if he wasn’t injury prone his entire career. Wasn’t the most amount of games he played in at Washington 67 in a single season? Doesn’t seem like a valid point to me.
Though I can except the fact that Larry must be a tremendous athlete to make it to and play in the NBA, he definately is not worth the amount of money we are paying him. Neither is Ira Newble, Eric Snow or Damon Jones.
Back on the topic of names, my vote is for WTFism. Feel free to head over to my site once it is online. http://www.LarryShouldBeACableGuy.com
Can someone else create http://www.FredTheRimIsNotRubber.com? That guy sucks worse than Larry.
19 Delaware Mike // Jan 13, 2008 at 6:45 am
Da-Larr-ious: relating to absurd cap-busting result killing NBA trades as executed by Cleveland Cavalier’s GM Danny Ferry (Da) for then Washington Wizards guard Larry (Larr) Huges…
20 Paul // Jan 15, 2008 at 11:13 pm
I think you win with Da-Larr-ious D-Mike. How about Hughesterectomy?
I’m convinced Aj IS Larry Hughes.
21 Matt // Jan 17, 2008 at 8:45 pm
As much as I’d love to criticize Ferry for the Larry Hughes acquisition, I don’t think that’s very fair… Even I was excited when we got Larry, it was just unexpected by ALL of us that he would be this horribly awfully pathetic…
And hey, we finally beat the Spurs… 5th time’s a charm… And I hate how the Spurs whine and bitch about everything…
22 TheBigE1980 // Feb 11, 2008 at 5:51 pm
As a Suns fan, I will definitely agree with the last line of that last post.
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