Longtime readers know that I’m fascinated by the English language. One of many causes for the funky nature of English is that it’s derived from quite a few different languages. As an illustration, the phrase “pajama” comes from Persian, whereas “ketchup” is from Chinese language, “lemon” is from Arabic, “chocolate” is from Spanish, and, “ballet” is French — maybe explaining why Victor Wembanyama is so balletic on the court docket.
Different English phrases are derived from different phrases, a few of that are apparent — equivalent to “windshield”, one thing which shields automotive passengers from the wind whereas driving. Different phrases will not be so apparent. The phrase “fan” (as in “Spurs followers”) is derived from the phrase “fanatic”, not essentially a praise.
The totally different origins of the language additionally implies that English has many phrases that imply precisely the identical factor. As an illustration, the phrases “purchase” and “buy” have equivalent meanings. It’s also possible to inform which was these phrases has a Germanic orgin by taking a look at different variations of the phrase: the previous tense of “purchase” is the very Germanic sounding “purchased”.
Additionally take into consideration the various phrases that imply “superb”: fantastic, terrific, marvelous, and so forth. In his novel 1984, George Orwell created a world by which the federal government tried to restrict thought by additionally limiting the variety of phrases individuals may use. All of the phrases that imply “superb” have been eradicated, so individuals may solely say “good” or “double good” or for one thing actually nice “doubleplus good”.
All of this can be a lengthy approach to get to a phrase that individuals have used to explain this season’s Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder: Juggernaut. My curious thoughts questioned the place that phrase got here from. As a result of it rhymes with “purchased”, it definitely sounds Germanic in origin. In case your guess was the identical as thoughts, we’re each extraordinarily unsuitable:
“An concept, customized, vogue, and so on., that calls for both blind devotion or cruel sacrifice,” 1854, a figurative use of Juggernaut, 1630s (Iaggernat), “enormous wagon bearing a picture of the god Krishna,” particularly on the city of Puri, drawn yearly in procession throughout which (apocryphally) devotees allowed themselves to be crushed underneath its wheels in sacrifice. Altered from Jaggernaut, a title of Krishna (an incarnation of Vishnu), from Hindi Jagannath, actually “lord of the world.”
Nope, I might not have guessed that “juggernaut” is derived from Hindi describing an enormous wagon within the city of Puri, India, and neither did you. However aside from the truth that different groups didn’t voluntarily enable themselves to be crushed underneath the OKC wagon’s wheels, the 2024-25 Thunder workforce definitely suits the definition of a juggernaut:
“An enormous, highly effective, and overwhelming drive or establishment”
OKC completed with a league-best 68-14 file (20 video games forward of the Indiana Pacers). Much more spectacular, the Thunder outscored their opponents by 12.9 factors per recreation, 3 factors higher than the second and third greatest groups, the Cavs and Celtics. In case you are curious, the Pacers outscored their opponents by simply 2.3 factors per recreation, 10 factors lower than the Thunder per recreation. All of this explains why the Thunder are favored by about 6-1 to win the Finals (relying on the place you guess — I don’t) and are favored by nearly 10 factors in Sport One tonight.
However I don’t predict video games or sequence, primarily as a result of I’m not superb at it. As an alternative, I root for one workforce or the opposite, no matter which workforce the consultants predict will win (on this case, everyone seems to be selecting the Thunder). Regardless of that, or maybe partially due to that, I will likely be rooting for the Pacers. (Facet notice on the derivation of “rooting for”, one thing else I might not have guessed: “‘Rooting for’ is a phrasal verb or an idiom which is believed to originate from the British verb rout, which is used of cattle and means ‘bellow.’ Therefore the unique which means of the phrase which is to present audible encouragement or applause to a contestant or workforce; cheer.”)
I will likely be bellowing for the Pacers for the next causes. You’ll be able to add your individual:
The Pacers are the underdog. When unsure, root for the underdog. As somebody as soon as mentioned, “Rooting for the Yankees is like rooting for U.S. Metal”.
The Pacers, just like the Spurs, originated within the outdated ABA. Spurs followers ought to root for his or her ABA brethren.
The Pacers play a really Spursian model of basketball. I like this description of the Pacers from a current Ringer piece, which could possibly be describing the 2014-15 Stunning Sport Spurs: “They dash the ground, establish a mismatch, drive a rotation, then begin popping the ball round till somebody will get an open shot. It’s relentless, selfless, kaleidoscopic basketball deployed with a random flurry of drives, cuts, screens, and dribble handoffs.”
The Pacers didn’t steal a workforce from a beautiful metropolis (Seattle) and its equally fantastic followers.
The Pacers won’t sweep the Thunder, however the converse might occur. If we wish extra basketball, and we do, we wish the Pacers to win some video games and lengthen the sequence as a lot as doable.
OKC is a juggernaut, and a workforce the Spurs might want to overcome to regain their rightful place within the NBA hierarchy. This season’s Thunder have been in comparison with the 2015-16 Warriors, the workforce that kicked off their dominant 5-year stretch by which they made the NBA Finals yearly, profitable 3 times. Like this OKC workforce, that Warriors workforce had a 26-year outdated celebrity who simply received the MVP award, a youthful supporting solid, and several other key veterans. Whereas they quickly grew to become the Loss of life Star Warriors after they added Kevin Durant, OKC has quite a few draft picks within the subsequent a number of drafts. This implies they are going to be capable of re-stock the workforce with out including anybody like KD. These picks may also assist them change gamers who get priced out underneath the NBA’s “first apron” and “second apron” wage guidelines. So like that Warriors workforce, this Thunder will likely be an enormous drawback for the league, and the Spurs, for a lot of seasons to return.
In consequence, even when they aren’t already doing so, Spurs fan may as nicely begin rooting in opposition to the Thunder. We definitely will likely be doing precisely that for the foreseeable future. Go Pacers!
