2015 NBA Playoffs: The Positive Narrative Following Iman Shumpert Into the NBA Finals
All it takes sometimes in sports is a change in scenery and some success on the basketball and the narrative surrounding a player can completely change.
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This is what is happening for Iman Shumpert right now because of the major role that he has played in helping the Cleveland Cavaliers reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2007.
The Cavaliers completed their sweep of the Atlanta Hawks Tuesday night by defeating them 118-88.
What this playoff run has done for Shumpert going into the NBA Finals is give a facelift to the perception of the type of player he is.
Granted, the New York media is hard on it’s athletes, but the narrative that they perpetuate about a player ends up being a tag that is stuck to the player and it is spread across the nation to the point where that is allegedly what the player is.
May 26, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Iman Shumpert (4) handles the ball during the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Hawks in game four of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
The perception of Iman Shumpert coming out of New York was he is a good defensive player, if it was not for the injuries that he had suffered he might be a better player, but self-promotion is more important to him than winning championships.
The New York media is quick to put a negative stamp on players when championships are not raining upon the city from the players perspective franchise.
All it took was a mid-season trade and being connected to a possible championship run with LeBron James for the perception to be changed.
Now all of a sudden Iman Shumpert is seen as an important cog in the Cavaliers machine. People have spoken about Shumpert as being a top-tier perimeter defender, that he has played his role perfectly, and that he has fallen in line with the mindset of wanting to become a champion.
Now he gets to shoot cool videos like this via TMZ Sports:
It is not like Shumpert’s play does not support the narrative that is attached to him right now.
Shumpert has averaged 10.1 points and 5.4 rebounds for the Cavs and is shooting 36.8% from three-point land.
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His rebounding and defense has been extraordinary in these playoffs and is going to be a huge factor in the Finals defensively as well.
All it took was a change of scenery, playing with the right star, and making a run to the NBA Finals to make the perception change.
Four more wins and Iman Shumpert will be immortalized forever as an NBA Champion.
He got to pop bottles for being part of his first Eastern Conference Championship, but the ultimate goal is to be able to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
If Shumpert is able to hold that trophy in a video it is going to change his life and perception forever.
There is just something about being a champion!