In Defense of Daniel "Boobie" Gibson

During the Cavs' glorious run of 2009, the one disappointment (Sasha Pavlovic can't be disappointing if we know he sucks in case you were wondering) has been our baby faced friend known as "Boobie" Gibson. Whether it's his ailing toe, his decrease in playing time, possibly being intimidated by Mo Williams, a player who does literally everything better than Gibson...he is shooting under 40% from the field and around 38% from deep, where he makes his money, and when you add in the fact that most of his threes are wide open looks, 38% isn't particularly impressive. But before we start hating on Boobie, why don't we take a step back to appreciate what he's done with what he is.

Gibson's career started when he was drafted by Cleveland in the second round while he was still known as "Daniel." He had only played two years, strange for a player who didn't even go early in the second round. His numbers in his two years at Texas were essentially the same; just above 40% shooting from the field, just under from deep and the low teens in points. There was really nothing to make you think he was going to be a great player or even had potential to be great. Personally, when I'm watching him play, I'm not totally certain I would have a ton of trouble guarding him. Daniel was not that tall, not that fast...just not that good.Yet in his rookie year, he laid the blueprint for what LeBron needed as a partner: a great combo guard who could shoot well from beyond the three point line.

On a team whose point guard options were Eric Snow, Damon Jones, David Wesley, Shannon Brown and eventually Larry Hughes, Daniel Gibson only played 16.5 minutes per game during the regular season. When the playoffs came around however, this 6 foot shooting guard with essentially nothing about him that screams "NBA talent," shoots almost 50% from three against the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals, even making 5 out of 5 in the close out game and scoring 31 points. Not bad.

The next season, the Cavs had two holdouts, Anderson Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic, and a generally horrible roster. Knowing what this season has taught us and thinking back about how Boobie Gibson was the starting point guard on a team that got out of the first round is amazing. But guess what...

On a team crippled by injury and other absences all season, Boobie shot a more-than-solid 44% from three, allowing the Cavs not to play Damon Jones or Eric Snow (at least as much). He was injured mid season but came back for the playoffs and shot ABOVE his season average from three, only to get hurt at the end of Game 6 of the Boston series. Cleveland loses by 5 in Game 7, with a potential game-tying open three missed by then newcomer Delonte West late in the game. It's not unreasonable to think that if Boobie Gibson plays in that game, Cleveland advances.

'08-'09 has been fantastic for practically everyone BUT Gibson. In the final game of the season, he played 38 minutes, not because of injury or because he had been playing well, but because he was now expendable. In an overtime loss to the 76ers playing at full strength vs. Boobie Gibson and the Cleveland backups, Daniel scored 28 points and had 7 assists and repeatedly hit big shots until they would finally succumb to the Sixers by one in overtime.

Now, of course that game was meaningless and you can call him a streak shooter if you like, but I call him an almost talentless player by NBA standards who is incredibly clutch. I guarantee you that there will be a time in this year's Championship run that the Cavs will need Boobie Gibson to step up and hit a huge three and you know what? He's going to make it. That's just who he is.

(And I will love it, not just because it helps the Cavs, but because hearing Marv Albert say, "Daniel.....'BOOBIE' GIBSON!" is probably the most enjoyable phrase possible.)