Ben Gordon is one of the most fascinating players in the NBA in my humble opinion. Since his rookie year he gained credibility quickly with his clutch performances. They say in Chicago that "Gordon rhymes with Jordan."

What intrigues me a lot about Gordon is how he can show you two different sides: As a lethal scorer and reliable option who can be counted upon as a weapon on consecutive possessions, or as a mere "role player" who is simply being paid the amount he is to be a 3 point specialist.

On one night he will remind you of Kobe, with the degree of difficulty in the shots he will make. On another, he's comparable to a guy like Eddie House (which is nothing to shrug about - especially on a  night like tonight where Eddie had ice in his veins). But how do you pay a guy like that? What are your expectations of him in terms of production and reliability? Is he really a #1 option or is he just a role player?

I think this is an important question for Bulls fans who wonder if he is worth the max. Frankly, on a lot of nights I think he is. But if you pay a guy like that franchise dough, the amount you can distribute to other players is sort of limited. You also have to factor how he'll fit into the Bulls future plans, since they still have Deng to worry about (and his 5 remaining years of being on contract) and Salmons, who has 2 more years.

Paxson has a huge offseason ahead of him. He has a franchise PG, some decent bigs to help build a fort, and a few nice swingmen (not named BG) who are not old. But a careless decision could tie them down and impede their improvement efforts over the coming years.

With Delonte West coming clean about a severe mood disorder that has affected his state of mind for the vast duration of his life, he may have helped break a taboo within not only his basketball teammates and close friends, but the outside community constituted by fans and sports addicts like you and me who (may) view depression as a mental weakness rather than a chemical imbalance that personal accountability alone cannot solve.

In the Delonte West thread posted a week or so ago, someone hit the nail on the head with the comment that the way we think affects how we behave so much that the actual verbalization of its presence is deemed socially unfit. Sometimes as humans we get so caught up in our mundane, everyday lives, that we don't think twice about putting ourselves in others shoes. It's easy to take the easy route by judging a person's internal processing by external behaviors or situations. In psychology that is commonly viewed as a cognitive fallacy that all humans are guilty of making.... like, all the time.

"Why can't that person understand that he's depressed because he acts like such a moron and he's putting himself in situations where he knows he's going to be rejected by his peers and desired social companions?" That's just one example. I am not speaking on behalf of Delonte, for I know nothing about his situation.

Once in a while, we hear about an athlete - a predominant one, too - who's seeing a sports psychologist for treating stimuli hindering the said athlete's performance. John Smoltz is the first one that comes to mind. But for the most part, athletes go about their everyday lives and are told by authority figures and even their "fans" to suck it up when they don't play well and start playing better. Easy say easy do right? Well in some cases laziness and a bad attitude may go hand in hand. But after hearing about Delonte, can you really be so judgmental now and make that instant attribution?

When I think of the complications of depression, another athlete that also comes to mind is Vin Baker. He's stated repeatedly that his alcoholism (hence the crude nickname Gin Baker) was his anti-drug for his bouts with depression. Alcoholism, which is universally treated as a disease, would essentially co-exist with depression and form co-morbidity loops to dominate his cognition... all the while being asked to do things like playing basketball at an all star level.

Sometimes I think, none of us really appreciate what star athletes do. We think based on the money they make and the fact that they're playing a kid's sport on top of that - is like cutting the cake and eating it too. The amount of pressure they put on themselves to play a widely broadcasted game while attempting to live stable, happy lives beyond the glory however, is very underdocumented. A few years ago, Mark Jackson (current NBA broadcaster, former NBA all star PG) mentioned that alcohol is a huge problem within the NBA community because after losses, players will literally binge drink themselves to sleep. Would you say that the incidence of some form of a personality or mood disorder is not totally out of the question given that piece of information? 

In everyday mortal lives like ours even, how simple is it to make an appointment with a person who'd be treating you with medication for something that could be so deeply rooted in you that you don't even know the origin of it, and why you even feel the way you do?

Our own lives as non athletes and everyday workers is much like that, except devoid of the absurd amounts of job related pressure (although I'm only speaking on behalf of myself, as I only work part time while balancing it with college). It's easy to acknowlege that a problem exists, but breaking out of the everyday motions and making a change can be extremely difficult. That is why I have so much respect for Delonte West. He was considering quitting a game that he loves, that he has attributed as one of the only things in this world that gives him peace of mind, because of mood related problems that most of us before stepping back to educate ourselves about the nature of depression might admit to initially perceiving as "weak" or "not making sense."

What this entry is about doesn't just pertain to the incidence of depression. It's about us being humans and making changes for the better in matters that people will unfairly judge you, criticize you, and internally view you as inferior to even though YOU know it's the right thing to do that will help make the remainder of life more enjoyable. From changing a career, to starting over with a new marriage, to seeking help for any such life issues that are not uncommon - if you have the willingness to set aside your ego to make life for yourself more enjoyable, do it. 

I know I can't walk into your shoes, but I also know that taking action for things is never a bad option. Try it.

For the record, I don't plan on using this "fanpost" feature too much. I'll do it once and every so often so to remain fresh with commentary on certain topics that I'd like fans to give their input on (not that I can't do this on the message boards...)

Eddie House is your prototypical Celtic. He bleeds Celtics pride. I emphasize the "bleed." This guy has been disrespected by being benched in favor of inferior players throughout his career, yet has established himself as one of the best #3 or 4 guards in the NBA. On many teams, I believe that Eddie House would be a viable starter. It's easy for outsiders (fans of other teams, casual fans of games) to insist that House only performs in his role due to the talent he's around, but this is a shortsighted comment that doesn't take into account knowledge of how Eddie plays. To me, House on a good day is nothing short of AI. It's kind of a stretch, one might add, to compare a backup guard to a future hall of famer, but once again, if you've seen Eddie House play, you know what I'm talking about. The way House can shoot over his defender all day everday without a conscience is amazing. This guy has a total knack for making a shot in traffic that has no business going in. He makes them when he's open and they count, too. In BOS's game 4 comeback, he nailed a jumper to give the Celtics a lead - a lead that seemed unfathomable, unattainable for the majority of the game. In a moment of rememberance, he thanked the fans in a bow down salute immediately after the clock finished ticking in game 6 ; that exact point in time had sealed relief yet glory for Celtics fans who had just been waiting too long. He just knows how to be in the right place at the right time - focusing his energies in places where they matter and where he's recognized, but really he's not doing it for his own personal recognition.

Live long, Eddie. Stay away Sam. This is Eddie's role.