OT: Meb Does It!
Posted by Justin Kubatko on November 2, 2009
Yesterday's New York City Marathon was of particular interest to me, primarily because I'm an avid runner myself, but also because it was the strongest field of American runners in years (not to mention that the race doubled as the 2009 US National Championship). Well, in case you missed it, Meb Keflezighi became the first American man since 1982 to win the New York City Marathon. Way to go Meb!
November 2nd, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Well, this post wasn't remotely related to basketball or statistics. Let's make it so.
What NBA player would win a marathon if asked to compete today? How fast would you predict the time to be? What would you predict the average marathon time to be among all NBA players?
What NBA player would win 100m dash if done today? How fast would you predict the time to be?
November 2nd, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Izzy wrote:
Well, this post wasn't remotely related to basketball or statistics.
Yes, that's why it was labeled "OT": Off-Topic. :-)
What NBA player would win a marathon if asked to compete today? How fast would you predict the time to be? What would you predict the average marathon time to be among all NBA players?
The latter two questions are very difficult to answer. As far as the first question goes, I would put Richard Hamilton among the favorites.
November 2nd, 2009 at 2:01 pm
As little as I know about long distance running, I believe that John Stockton's work ethic, durability and a heart rate in the mid-thirties (http://espn.go.com/otl/athlete/intro.html) would make him good at marathons.
November 2nd, 2009 at 3:32 pm
A marathon is largely about the ability to tune out pain and get into a zone - as much mental as physical. I'd say Kobe among modern players, though he has had knee surgery so he might not be physically capable of running that long. Steve Nash also seems like a guy who would just push himself until he collapsed.
November 2nd, 2009 at 4:51 pm
OT! Hmmm, looks like I should have read that part...
Rip, Kobe, and, Nash were the first three I came up with too.. I also think about devin harris, kevin martin, and rondo also come to mind. And i would never count out lebron in any competition.
November 2nd, 2009 at 5:53 pm
Of today's players, Leandro Barbosa is one player I've never seen tire, and he could probably be quite the fine distance runner.
From NBA history, Hondo may deserve consideration for his famous pulmonary capacity alone.