Author Topic: Calling someone the x-factor is an insult  (Read 2065 times)

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Calling someone the x-factor is an insult
« on: July 28, 2014, 10:28:33 AM »

Offline ballin

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Has anybody ever noticed that being the "x-factor" is somewhat of a pejorative?

It's a label that fans bestow on players who are either 1) inconsistent, or 2) the obvious weak links in their teams, which means that the team's success with hinge on their performance or lack thereof.

It's basically a title that says "We THINK you should be good - you LOOK like you're supposed to be a good player... but for some reason the results aren't adding up."

Quintessential x-factor guys: Jeff Green, Jordan Crawford, J.R. Smith. None of whom I would ever want to rely on.

Just food for thought.

Re: Calling someone the x-factor is an insult
« Reply #1 on: July 28, 2014, 10:30:18 AM »

Offline D.o.s.

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Usually it has a pretty strong overlap with "microwave" players, but often times the X-factor is a player that can swing a series if they play significantly above how they do normally.
At least a goldfish with a Lincoln Log on its back goin' across your floor to your sock drawer has a miraculous connotation to it.

Re: Calling someone the x-factor is an insult
« Reply #2 on: July 28, 2014, 10:56:45 AM »

Offline Randy

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The way I look at is you are an average NBA player that has those above average games more often than your peers. So maybe your peers have those games where they drop 2-3X their normal numbers 3-5 games a season but, you do it 10-20 games a season. So I wouldn't call it being inconsistent because your team doesn't expect you to drop those numbers every night but they know you have that ability.

Re: Calling someone the x-factor is an insult
« Reply #3 on: July 28, 2014, 11:14:17 AM »

Offline pearljammer10

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The X-factor is a great nickname. Shows people know how legit you really are.

Re: Calling someone the x-factor is an insult
« Reply #4 on: July 28, 2014, 11:17:35 AM »

Offline the_Bird

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... or it's a guy that you expect is going to make a big leap forward in performance.  KO could well be our "x-factor" this year, if he continues to develop his overall game like we saw at the end of last year.  There's nothing insulting about that. 

Re: Calling someone the x-factor is an insult
« Reply #5 on: July 28, 2014, 11:33:23 AM »

Offline mgent

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Same as pearljammer.  If you're being called an x-factor at least you've done something to earn it.  From a player's perspective it's definitely got to be less insulting than not being talked about at all, right?

It's also not exclusively used like you're using it.  People say that when talking about a really exciting new arrival on their team, like say Chris Paul to the Clippers.  Someone who really "changes" the team.  In the literal sense an "x" is simply variable, it can be good or bad.

As for our guys, Rasheed was highly touted as an x-factor when we got him, and it wasn't an insult; it was because people thought he could a candidate for 6th-man of the year (gotta love how that turned out huh?).  He meets neither of your criteria.
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Re: Calling someone the x-factor is an insult
« Reply #6 on: July 28, 2014, 11:34:53 AM »

Offline D.o.s.

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Same as pearljammer.  If you're being called an x-factor at least you've done something to earn it.  From a player's perspective it's definitely got to be less insulting than not being talked about at all, right?

It's also not exclusively used like you're using it.  People say that when talking about a really exciting new arrival on their team, like say Chris Paul to the Clippers.  Someone who really "changes" the team.  In the literal sense an "x" is simply variable, it can be good or bad.

As for our guys, Rasheed was highly touted as an x-factor when we got him, and it wasn't an insult; it was because people thought he could a candidate for 6th-man of the year (gotta love how that turned out huh?).  He meets neither of your criteria.
Sixth Man for half of the playoffs, maybe.
At least a goldfish with a Lincoln Log on its back goin' across your floor to your sock drawer has a miraculous connotation to it.

Re: Calling someone the x-factor is an insult
« Reply #7 on: July 28, 2014, 12:08:14 PM »

Offline Vox_Populi

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Usually it has a pretty strong overlap with "microwave" players, but often times the X-factor is a player that can swing a series if they play significantly above how they do normally.
Yeah, I remember some people calling Harden the x-factor in the '12 Finals. Because if he heated up, he was a guy who could shoot a team out of the series. Unfortunately the only team he's shooting out now is Houston.

Re: Calling someone the x-factor is an insult
« Reply #8 on: July 28, 2014, 12:30:50 PM »

Offline Csfan1984

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Some guys may be grouped into being called x-factors but I agree it's not always right. Most are and always will be x-men


Re: Calling someone the x-factor is an insult
« Reply #9 on: July 28, 2014, 12:51:33 PM »

Offline the_Bird

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Re: Calling someone the x-factor is an insult
« Reply #10 on: July 28, 2014, 01:14:01 PM »

Offline Csfan1984

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lol wolverine berserker attack

Re: Calling someone the x-factor is an insult
« Reply #11 on: July 28, 2014, 02:47:05 PM »

Offline PhoSita

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Often it describes a player who doesn't have overwhelming talent or scoring ability but who has a few elite tools and can change the way the game is played on either or both ends because of them. 

Shawn Marion is a great example.  I'd say Kawhi Leonard fits, too, and perhaps you could make a case for Tony Allen.  Lamar Odom was an x-factor as well, though he fits the category of the inconsistent scorer, also.  Battler was an x-factor for the Heat during their two recent championship runs.  Boris Diaw is also an x-factor.  Probably the biggest one in the playoffs this year.

The Spurs, honestly, derive a great deal of their success from an ability to make the most of those x-factor talents that other teams tend to misuse by casting them in too large a role or discarding them for more traditional players.
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Re: Calling someone the x-factor is an insult
« Reply #12 on: July 28, 2014, 03:06:39 PM »

Offline Greenbean

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... or it's a guy that you expect is going to make a big leap forward in performance.  KO could well be our "x-factor" this year, if he continues to develop his overall game like we saw at the end of last year.  There's nothing insulting about that.

Yeah it's all about context really.

But I agree with the OP in this regard. If a guy spends his whole career as the x-factor, it kind of means he never really reched his potential consistently.

Jeff Green could be a career x-factor guy sadly. He is still young enouhg where it is not too much of an inEdited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline. though.