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Who are your Irrational Good Feeling™ players?

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Who are your Irrational Good Feeling™ players?

Don't judge me

Eric Apricot
Mar 22, 2021
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Who are your Irrational Good Feeling™ players?

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Okay, people who know me know I often have players that I have Irrational Good Feelings™ about.

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Eric Apricot @EricApricot
I have an irrational good feeling about 2 days from now
Image
Twitter avatar for @EricApricot
Eric Apricot @EricApricot
2 days https://t.co/iwuAudmDJC https://t.co/k6PCdCoXI2
9:24 PM ∙ Jan 20, 2020

This is different from being early and right on a young prospect, or being flat wrong about a player. We’re talking about high hopes for someone out of proportion to what you and most reasonable people see.

Some key symptoms you might have an Irrational Good Feeling™ (IGF) player are:

  1. You regularly use the phrase “if he can just fix X, then he’ll stick in the league” or “if he can just be consistent at Y”.

  2. You publicly stick up for them when they are unknown or unhyped.

  3. You publicly stick up for them when everyone else thinks they are washed up.

  4. As they are falling out of the league, you say “he never got a fair chance because of Z”.

You also can’t have too many at once or it dilutes the whole (frustrating) experience.

So who have been your Irrational Good Feeling™ players? I can’t be the only one.

Here is a short history of my Irrational Good Feeling™ players.

Nico Mannion (2021-?)

Twitter avatar for @EricApricot
Eric Apricot @EricApricot
I have an irrational good feeling about Nico Mannion
Twitter avatar for @anthonyVslater
Anthony Slater @anthonyVslater
Kevon Looney named three guys who've impressed him in scrimmages --Kent Bazemore stabilizing 2nd unit. "He's been on the other team, real settling, makes shots when he needs to." --Nico Mannion. "Came in, got our team together, ran some plays" --"Steph always gonna be Steph"
2:08 AM ∙ Dec 10, 2020

He has feel, poise, court vision, soft touch on his pass. A bit of trouble getting by a defender and his jumper has been erratic. But if he can just fix that…

Juan Toscano-Anderson (2020-?)

I maintain this is NOT irrational, but maybe a therapist could argue he is my MOST irrational good feeling guy.

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Eric Apricot @EricApricot
@amalec No, you are right to be cautious. That’s why I call it “irrational”. Juanito I’ve never called an irrational good feeling guy. I like him just fine right now, and it’s based on smart play and hustle and I accept him as he is now. Growth is bonus
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Eric Apricot @EricApricot
I have an irrational good feeling about this guy https://t.co/6RpGlmQCOm
11:14 PM ∙ Feb 16, 2021

He has ball IQ, good vision, works hard, huge motor, bold communicator, leadership. If he can just get a consistent jumper…

Zach Norvell, Jr (2020-?)

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Eric Apricot @EricApricot
Hey, my current irrational good feelings guy is BACK woohoo
Twitter avatar for @Con_Chron
Connor Letourneau @Con_Chron
The ⁦@GLeagueWarriors⁩ have acquired Zach Norvell Jr., who recently finished a 10-day contract with Golden State. Warriors are high on Norvell, and I think there’s a chance he eventually returns to the big club. https://t.co/gSkDVDySKd
11:27 PM ∙ Feb 21, 2020
14Likes1Retweet

This guy never got a full chance. Active sharpshooter. Was with Santa Cruz Warriors, but just got released after a knee injury. I hope he makes it back.

Chris Boucher (2018-2020)

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Eric Apricot @EricApricot
I have an irrational good feeling about this guy
Twitter avatar for @anthonyVslater
Anthony Slater @anthonyVslater
Chris Boucher -- 6-foot-10, 7-3 wingspan, projects as an intriguing wing/big mix. Two-way guy. Fully recovered from ACL tear. Been great in G-League. Active for first time tonight. https://t.co/ZhLQ3Ma4sK
8:07 PM ∙ Mar 14, 2018
18Likes2Retweets

Some loves were not meant to be. Boucher couldn’t come back from his injury quickly enough to stick with GSW. Then he got healthier and got better. I covered it in extensive detail here:

  • Did The Warriors Ruin The Dynasty By Blowing The Draft? Part 5C: Losing Chris Boucher

Jordan Bell (2017-2019)

My most famous irrational good feelings player. He was even ahead of my irrational good feelings growth curve with key contributions in the legendary 2018 HOU WCF, but then he got in the coaches’ doghouse and never came out.

  • Emergency Jordan Bell Memorial Post: Irrationally Good Feelings

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Eric Apricot @EricApricot
I've got an irrationally good feeling about this kid. https://t.co/BoVFpaFBza
Twitter avatar for @anthonyVslater
Anthony Slater @anthonyVslater
New podcast: An extended sitdown interview with Warriors rookie Jordan Bell https://t.co/Ap8wYMtD5E
3:37 PM ∙ Jul 7, 2017

Jeremy Lin (2010-2016)

I was so psyched when GSW brought him into camp and then he stuck… but to be honest he didn’t play well with GSW. Then he got cut for no good reason so DeAndre Jordan could reject money from GSW.

I was just hoping he’d get a decent shot somewhere to become a regular backup and then the whole Linsanity thing happened.

Twitter avatar for @EricApricot
Eric Apricot @EricApricot
I loved Linsanity and kind of think he got a raw deal in the league (he got trucked by Carmelo and then Harden and then Kobe). But... I don’t get why GSW or Lin is doing this.
Twitter avatar for @anthonyVslater
Anthony Slater @anthonyVslater
Source: Exhibit 10 deal for Jeremy Lin, once logistics are cleared. So he won’t be on the 15-man roster, but it gets him in their Santa Cruz system. https://t.co/5zHC5EVLVc
5:47 PM ∙ Dec 18, 2020

Here is a beautiful interview with him about it:

Twitter avatar for @EricApricot
Eric Apricot @EricApricot
This is an amazingly open interview with Jeremy Lin by Logan Murdock. I LOVED this breakdown of the stages of coping with instant mega fame: ecstasy emptiness people around you get greedy fear jaded acting out, rebellious humbled acceptance embrace
Twitter avatar for @loganmmurdock
Logan Murdock @loganmmurdock
My latest for the @ringer: Talked to Jeremy Lin about finding peace, Linsanity, and his journey back to the NBA https://t.co/Y9GgNuMFOw
4:22 PM ∙ Feb 17, 2021

Draymond Green (2012-2014)

This was only irrational in his first two years when he was cast as a crap shooting SF instead of a revolutionary guard-everyone point PF.

Andris Biedrins (2009-2013)

This was only irrational in his last four years when Beans completely forgot how to be an NBA player. But I just kept hoping he’d turn it around and get over his mental block. Maybe this deserves a different category, a “faith they’re not washed” vs an IGF.

Stephen Curry (2009-2012)

Only irrational in the years of ankle troubles. I was certain that one day — ONE DAY — Steph would finally take the next step… and become… an All-Star injury substitution.

Mickael Pietrus (2003-2008)

If he only could get more consistent from 3, if he could only be less sloppy with the ball, if he could only stop stepping out of bounds… I tell you, he is great in NBA2k4.

Sean Lampley (2003-2004)

I don’t know. Maybe it was the Cal connection. I can’t remember what I saw in him.

Gilbert Arenas (2001-2002)

It was only irrational in his rookie year. A true testament to the supercharging power of unstoppable self-confidence. Let’s ignore the whole gun phase. He was also one of the great early player bloggers before Twitter.

Latrell Sprewell (1997-2001)

Look, I know it’s wrong to choke your coach, but what if he was REALLY annoying

Šarūnas Marčiulionis (1991-1993)

I gave him a little writeup here:

  • Honorary Warriors For Life? Kevin Durant and Sarunas Marciulionas


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Who are your Irrational Good Feeling™ players?

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106 Comments
Willy White Shoes
Mar 23, 2021

Did I miss it, or no one had mr potato head as a d-league IGF?

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Dilly
Writes If You Didn't Already Feel Old.…
Mar 23, 2021

Thunder are supposed to not be - but they keep winning. Beat Twolves by 9 tonight.

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