Evan Turner Was My New Hero, And Then He Wasn't

On Sunday night, as the 76ers put the finishing touches on a 111-104 defeat of the Lakers, Evan Turner scored the game's most insignificant points when he dunked the ball at the buzzer.  This apparently angered Nick Young, and thus continued the discussion of one of basketball's unwritten rules: that it is unacceptable, as a member of a presumable victor, to shoot the ball after the shot clock has been shut off. 

The play in question:

Many feel as though Turner's spectacular jam constitutes unsportsmanlike conduct.  Okay, maybe... but who cares?  Allow me to explain my opinion in the context of this very play.

Firstly, from the loser's perspective, such instances as this are easily preventable.  If it offends you to be beaten, Nick Young, win.  The Philadelphia 76ers were 8-21, and on a 13-game road losing streak.  In other words, they suck.  So don't let them, in your own house, recover from that early double digit deficit.  Don't cough the ball up twenty times.  Don't allow 59 second-half points.  Sever their jugular.  Okay, so you slipped up and lost.  You're pissed off.  Good.  You should be.  At yourself.  They were hotdogging?  Take it as added motivation to whip 'em up twice as hard next time.  Skip the ceremonial postgame hugfest and be on your way.

But as for you, Evan Turner... if you're going to do it, then do it.  Do it against the same team twice.  Do it to a helpless group of kittens.  Do it shamelessly, because there is no shame in winning.  After you do it, though, don't expect the team you've just styled on to shake hands with you.  Don't pretend you didn't realize what you were doing.  Don't try to play it off cool.  Put on your meanest mean mug and bask in the glory of your own audacity.  Show no remorse, express no regret.  Repercussions?  You don't give a damn about repercussions.  You're the baddest man on the planet.  You just smashed a 360 windmill, IN-GAME.  You're not worried about the Sacramento Queens Los Angeles Lakers.  Not at all.

Except you clearly are, because you apologized.  Thus, you are no less lame than Nick Young is for being upset at anyone but himself after missing 15 of 21 shots.  Unless, of course, Nick Young was only irked by Turner's silly attempt to make friends.  In that case, Evan Turner, you are all the lameness.