Quicksilver touched on a very important point that many so-called enthusiasts fail to recognize. It annoys me when people mention that a pro athlete is "cocky" without even really knowing the player or have never even played that particular sport. Having personally played basketball up to collegiate-level...all the camps, training and practice...there's a factor that's incredibly necessary for each individual player that will affect the team, ultimately. That factor is mental toughness...this comes off to many as "cockiness". Call it what you wish...but mental toughness is taught starting in the peewee leagues. You hear coaches like Doc Rivers mentioning the importance of mental toughness in the post-season. Every pro-arena athlete must have this component in his/her arsenal.

Most people only see the physical game before them...but there's a mental aspect to the game as well. If only the players were wired, perhaps it would be more obvious. This cockiness...i.e. mental toughness is what Melo and Denver exhibited in game 1 but Kobe maintained while some team8's froze. It's the most necessary tool a teams star and the entire team must possess especially when playing in an opponents home-court. If the team does not exhibit this mental toughness, their star must...in basketball, often times, if a star player maintains mental toughness and catches fire, some team-mates awake from their slumber and follow lead.

It just annoys me when people mention that players are cocky...well maybe some don't know how to turn off the mental toughness off-court but they're doing exactly as they were trained. Imagine coming into the pro-circuit straight out of high school...all the anxiety that you may experience disappears the moment you exhibit mental toughness and your opponents will take note. Some of you who don't even play the sport won't have a clue what i'm talking about....

Let me also add that i'm neutral as i no longer follow teams...free agency killed that for me when i was a teenager. I now follow individual players and root for them anytime they make good, smart plays on the court. Their lives off-court is none of my damn business.