FIST BUMPING AND THE NBA FINALS

      Remember the Good Old Days when Jerry West or an Elgin Baylor or a Hal Greer ( short jump shot ) would step to the free throw line, shoot free throws, and the game would quickly resume?  Flash forward to the modern NBA:  after a player shoots the first of two free throws or the first and second of three free throws, an Esalen type encounter group/group therapy session ensues.  Up to as many as four of the shooter's teammates immediately abandon their court positions and rush to "fist bump" him.  INTERESTINGLY, IT DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER WHETHER THE SHOOTER MAKES HIS FREE THROW.  HE WILL RECEIVE THE SAME TREATMENT.  It could be argued from a psychological point of view that this is a good thing:  the shooter gets unconditional love and solidarity.  It could also be argued that this is a very bad thing:  the shooter is not rewarded with special treatment for making his free throw, and the automatic fist bumping experience does not take into account individual differences.  An alpha male like Dwyane Wade or Kobe Bryant may enjoy his solitary, kingly experience of presiding over his universe at the free throw line and not wish to be reminded of his connections to his "subjects".  And what would happen if some players were not to receive any fist bumps?  Would they feel abandoned on the free throw island, experiencing Camus-like alienation and despair.  And would this be a bad thing?  Maybe to reestablish his identity and meaning in an insane world the "abandoned" free throw shooter would concentrate with increased fervor on his next attempt.  It would seem logical that a brilliant coach such as Phil Jackson or Pat Riley ( assuming he becomes Miami's next coach ) might experiment during the regular season and create a fist bumping profile for each player.  Kobe's might be:  he should receive fist bumps only when he misses two consecutive free throws, but when the game has only one minute left in regulation, he should get a fist bump after every free throw.  In overtime Kobe should receive a fist bump after every made free throw.  Steve Blake's  might be:  no fist bumps at any time unless there are ten seconds to go in overtime.  Then there should be fist bumps after every made free throw.  In the NBA finals Phil Jackson might hold up a large sign.  If it were green, for example, it would mean "fist bump".  If it were a different color, it would mean no "fist bump".  So, in actuality the 2011 championship might not be decided by the much anticipated James/Wade/Bosh match up problems with Bryant/Gasol/Bynum.  There might be three seconds left in game seven.  Steve Blake is fouled in the act of shooting.  He makes the first  free throw to tie the game, and Phil Jackson holds up a green sign.