Steve Palumbo: Nathan MacKinnon Wants To Be Like Mike?

Is that kind of attitude common to all the greats? Is it characteristic of Ovechkin, Crosby, and other scoring leaders on Cup-winning teams? If not, then perhaps he isn't making the players around him better...maybe he is just a diva. Not saying he is, just curious is all.

Dude is a psycho.

I'd give him a slap shot at his head in practice and see how he reacted to that.

Dude is a psycho.

That explains the funny music and the wig in the shower...

It worked for MJ and he has the rings to prove it. It hasn’t worked for Nate. He said it himself after the playoff loss. ‘Nine years and I haven’t won poop.’

It worked for MJ and he has the rings to prove it. It hasn’t worked for Nate. He said it himself after the playoff loss. ‘Nine years and I haven’t won poop.’
- Minnyhock

Totally different sports. The best NBA player in the league can make an otherwise average team a contender all on their own. No NHL player can.

Can you imaging Gretzky doing this? What about Teemu? Forsberg or Sakic? How about Yzerman?

My money's on Nathan being a insufferable douche

Can you imaging Gretzky doing this? What about Teemu? Forsberg or Sakic? How about Yzerman?

My money's on Nathan being a insufferable douche
- farooge

Would rather have someone who wants to win and make his teammates better than a me first guy like Duchene, got his money and now forgets how to play hockey.

Would rather have someone who wants to win and make his teammates better than a me first guy like Duchene, got his money and now forgets how to play hockey.
- YKhali99

I'm not defending Duchene, don't like him tbh, but I think he's a different kind of unlikable

The sport is irrelevant to the discussion. One could argue that the best goaltender could make an average team a contender.

The blog is about MJ scolding and berating teammates to elevate their level of play. All I’m saying is that it worked for MJ but not for Nate.

Colorado was picked to win the Cup by many and they arguably had the most talented team last season. All that scolding and berating didn’t get them the Cup. While it worked for MJ maybe Nate’s teammates weren’t so receptive to that tactic. Results matter.

The sport is irrelevant to the discussion. One could argue that the best goaltender could make an average team a contender.

The blog is about MJ scolding and berating teammates to elevate their level of play. All I’m saying is that it worked for MJ but not for Nate.

Colorado was picked to win the Cup by many and they arguably had the most talented team last season. All that scolding and berating didn’t get them the Cup. While it worked for MJ maybe Nate’s teammates weren’t so receptive to that tactic. Results matter.
- Minnyhock

correlation vs causation?

that take diminishes his teammates and makes it all about Mike .. implying they wouldn't have wanted to win unless he was like that (or maybe it's they wouldn't have known how to win)

regardless, I've never bought into that thinking. Mike comes across like a jerk to me .. a jerk who has built in excuses.

The sport is irrelevant to the discussion. One could argue that the best goaltender could make an average team a contender.

The blog is about MJ scolding and berating teammates to elevate their level of play. All I’m saying is that it worked for MJ but not for Nate.

Colorado was picked to win the Cup by many and they arguably had the most talented team last season. All that scolding and berating didn’t get them the Cup. While it worked for MJ maybe Nate’s teammates weren’t so receptive to that tactic. Results matter.
- Minnyhock

Results are FAR more predictable in the NBA. ~85% of higher seeds win their playoff series. That's ~55% in the NHL. So again, not very comparable sports.

Results are FAR more predictable in the NBA. ~85% of higher seeds win their playoff series. That's ~55% in the NHL. So again, not very comparable sports.
- jfkst1

Yeah, I remember reading that comes down to scoring chances / shots on goal (or net).

If your best players are taking a lot of shots, and they're better than the other teams best players, odds are you're going to win most of the time.

Results are FAR more predictable in the NBA. ~85% of higher seeds win their playoff series. That's ~55% in the NHL. So again, not very comparable sports.
- jfkst1

I would agree with your predictability argument. But I was only zeroing in on the tactic used by MJ and Nate and how it was effective for one and not the other. The issue is the tactic and the impact it has on the team and it’s irrelevant whether the sport is soccer, hockey or basketball.

The sport is irrelevant to the discussion. One could argue that the best goaltender could make an average team a contender.

The blog is about MJ scolding and berating teammates to elevate their level of play. All I’m saying is that it worked for MJ but not for Nate.

Colorado was picked to win the Cup by many and they arguably had the most talented team last season. All that scolding and berating didn’t get them the Cup. While it worked for MJ maybe Nate’s teammates weren’t so receptive to that tactic. Results matter.
- Minnyhock

I have never seen a basketball game in my life, so take this with a grain of salt, but from what I understand it's a far more individual sport than hockey. One man can carry an entire team in basketball, but it takes 12 forwards, 6 d, and a goalie all working together to win a cup. This is part of the reason the Avs haven't won. They were, and even more so today still are, a top heavy team. Yeah, the D is very solid but after the MacKinnon line you have a 2nd line that's missing a winger and two checking lines. Look at Tampa, look how complete they were. That's why they won, as a team, it wasn't just Kucherov and the ride alongs.

I have never seen a basketball game in my life, so take this with a grain of salt, but from what I understand it's a far more individual sport than hockey. One man can carry an entire team in basketball, but it takes 12 forwards, 6 d, and a goalie all working together to win a cup. This is part of the reason the Avs haven't won. They were, and even more so today still are, a top heavy team. Yeah, the D is very solid but after the MacKinnon line you have a 2nd line that's missing a winger and two checking lines. Look at Tampa, look how complete they were. That's why they won, as a team, it wasn't just Kucherov and the ride alongs.
- ddMoose

yeah .. but $98 million buys a lot of depth

yeah .. but $98 million buys a lot of depth
- farooge

Sure, and any team can spend that and bury someone on LTIR until the playoffs if they like.

I have never seen a basketball game in my life, so take this with a grain of salt, but from what I understand it's a far more individual sport than hockey. One man can carry an entire team in basketball, but it takes 12 forwards, 6 d, and a goalie all working together to win a cup. This is part of the reason the Avs haven't won. They were, and even more so today still are, a top heavy team. Yeah, the D is very solid but after the MacKinnon line you have a 2nd line that's missing a winger and two checking lines. Look at Tampa, look how complete they were. That's why they won, as a team, it wasn't just Kucherov and the ride alongs.
- ddMoose

I think it takes a whole team to win in basketball and hockey. You said one guy can carry a whole team in basketball. Someone could argue the same in hockey. The Habs were the 18th best team in last year. Price was mediocre all year but stood on his head in the playoffs and they made it to the SCF.

Last year the Lakers had 2 superstars but when AD went down they were toast because the other one(Labron) couldn’t get it done because the superstar couldn’t carry the team. It takes a team.

I think it takes a whole team to win in basketball and hockey. You said one guy can carry a whole team in basketball. Someone could argue the same in hockey. The Habs were the 18th best team in last year. Price was mediocre all year but stood on his head in the playoffs and they made it to the SCF.

Last year the Lakers had 2 superstars but when AD went down they were toast because the other one(Labron) couldn’t get it done because the superstar couldn’t carry the team. It takes a team.
- Minnyhock

OK, I'll definitely give you that a goalie can carry a team. But when a goalie is doing all the heavy lifting it seems like they end up on the losing end at some point anyhow (Price, Halak, Giguere). Like I said I am the last person qualified to be a basketball expert, but that's something I hear all the time and as one other poster pointed out, 85% of the time or whatever the favorites are the teams that win.

The ultimate point I wanted to make is that MacKinnon isn't going to carry this team to a championship all by himself. I know some people defended it or said that it was taken out of context, but I really didn't care for the "I didn't win poop," comment. No, Nate, the TEAM hasn't won. I don't cheer for the Colorado MacKinnons. But he could have the worst attitude on Earth, could be an obnoxious wiener to be around, if he helps win a championship or two I am not going to give two poops, you know?

Soooooo... He's a 8====D~~~ ???

Maybe he’s taking it a bit too far, but I’d rather have a player who gives a poop about the game, the players abilities, and the fans’ enjoyment over an aloof superstar going through the motions for a paycheck.

Jordan has a rep, and it’s well deserved. Some will call him a Richard, a womanizer, and a chronic gambler, but the first thing that comes to mind is winner. Goat, for most of those who watched him.

He inspired generations across the globe. He’s probably the biggest reason we have so many fantastic players coming to the NBA from across the world. The Dream Team showed everyone how to play ball, and Jordan was the biggest example.

There are worse people for Mac to emulate.

You’re playing a skilled game with tough competition to entertain people shelling out a lot of hard earned money, and in exchange you receive massive amounts of cash. So he’s being a little difficult by not accepting your lackadaisical play and not taking practice seriously? Pfft. Give your balls a tug, bud.

everyone seems to be assuming that being a jerk is a requirement for being great and my question is why? Yzerman, Forsberg, Teemu, Gretzky, et al prove that assumption is false. (remember - those guys have cups ...)

you also seem to be assuming that the other professional hockey players on the team somehow benefit from it and my question remains, why would that be true? I'd be insulted if someone implied I needed him to act like that.

...
There are worse people for Mac to emulate.

- Hesh_

and there are plenty of good people he could emulate too, but he chooses not to.

very disappointing, I watch a lot of Avs games and I'm going to be viewing that body language in a completely different light now.

i kept telling myself I wasn't seeing what I though I was seeing ... and it seems I was wrong

People ought to read the whole interview before commenting based on just this article. The stuff Z covered that Nate does to push himself goes way beyond comparitively minor stuff like yelling at teammates to be better. Guy more than practices what he preaches. I'm the first guy who'd pop someone in the mouth for yelling at me undeservedly but I'd take 29 on my team any day after reading that. Would have before but way, way moreso now.