Body Language & Emotional Intelligence: NBA Finals

Showing posts with label NBA Finals. Show all posts

Sunday, June 3, 2018

Body Language Analysis No. 4298: LeBron James Walks Out of Post Game Press Conference after Game One Loss - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence

The Cleveland Cavaliers lost the first game of the 2018 NBA finals to the Golden State Warriors 124 - 114 in overtime on Thursday night. It was a phenomenal game marred by several controversies at the end. Perhaps the most unusual of these involved Cleveland's J.R. Smith. With 4.7 seconds to go in regulation, Cleveland's George Hill missed his second free throw which would have given the Cavs a one-point lead. Cleveland's J.R. Smith grabbed the offensive rebound quite close to the basket with 4.0 seconds left - only to take the ball out to midcourt - then passing it to Hill with less than a second left. Hill took an off-balanced three (or long two) point shot with 0.1 left on the clock, but it was blocked. Most feel that J.R. Smith's actions probably cost Cleveland the game.

What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of LeBron James' response to questions regarding J.R. Smith at the post-game press conference.

This image was captured at 0:51 in the above video, just after ESPN's Mark Schwartz asked Lebron, "Do you know if he [J.R. Smith] knew the score?"

Notice that LeBron's upper eyelids are partially closed as he rolls his eyes. An eye roll is a conscious or edge-of-consciousness display of:

• Contempt

and

• Impatient Dismissal

As LeBron turns away to leave, his upper eyelids entirely close for a few seconds. Such prolonged eyelid closure (or partial closure) is a form of psychological blocking behavior - further amplifying his dismissal of and contempt for Schwartz.

A second after Schwartz says, "Thank you", James' raises his right forehead and eyebrow in a moment of incredulity (notice that his center and left forehead are relaxed).

As he's walking out of the press conference, LeBron James points at David Schwartz and says, "Be better tomorrow". In almost every context, Index finger (forefinger) pointing is highly offensive and patronizing across all cultures.

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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4297: Donald Trump's Fearful Forefinger

Body Language Analysis No. 4295: Elizabeth Holmes, Theranos, and Red Flags

Body Language Analysis No. 4293: Why is Harvey Weinstein Smiling?

Disguising Disgust - "I don't know who the hell wrote that line"

Body Language Analysis No. 4288: Is Michael Cohen going to Flip on President Trump?

Body Language Analysis No. 4263: Kellyanne Conway regarding James Comey's Interview

Body Language Analysis No. 4253: Tiger Woods at The 2018 Masters - Nonverbal Biofeedback, Sport psychology, and Emotional Intelligence

Body Language Analysis No. 4037: Charlottesville Protester Quits Boston University after Death Threats

Body Language and Medical Analysis No. 4221: Why are Donald Trump's Pupils So Large?

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Thursday, June 11, 2015

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3212: LeBron James stealing ball from Stephen Curry - then pointing at his Temple - Body Language (PHOTOS)

In game 3 of the 2015 NBA finals, LeBron James stole the ball a couple times from Stephen Curry late in the game as the Warriors were mounting a come-back.

James had jumped into the passing lane and grabbed the steal on Curry's inbound pass - then LeBron was fouled immediately. The Cavalier's small forward then pointed to his temple and subtly smiled on his run back up the court.

In the post-game press conference James said, “Ah ... nah I just, I seen them run that set before, and I was telling the coaching staff that I was in tune and I was, I knew what was coming.”

Here James' interpretation of his own body language is of course accurate (e.g. "I know what you're thinking" or "I've got you figured-out") - although coupled with a different facial expression, such temple-pointing would have a completely different meaning (Can you describe some of these scenarios?). Perhaps LeBron had a tactic and this act was a form of trash talk - and yet, it would have been wiser to keep this advantage a secret (not unlike poker). Stephen Curry or his coaches would have probably figured it out eventually of course - however if perhaps James could get even one more steal out of his ability to read Curry - it could very well be a game-changer and a championship-maker.

"All warfare is based on deception."

Sun Tzu

(or at least the ability to keep secrets)

Friday, June 22, 2012

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1898:
Heat, Hugs & Head Surrogates

When there is true love and sincere affection present during a hug, one head will touch the head of the other. This is even true across species. When the love-affection being expressed is towards a non-living thing - such as a trophy, there is often an emotional nonverbal display with a "head-surrogate". LeBron James (above), Chis Bosh and Dwayne Wade (both below) are exemplifying this body language behavior with the NBA's "Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy". It's as if they are hugging their wives/girlfriends.

In addition, note that the first two images were snapped with James' and Bosh's eyelids being closed. Ninety percent of our sensory input is visual. Forty-percent of the mass of the human brain is dedicated to the vision. Thus when we close our eyes, a bit more blood supply and oxygen get directed to the other four (non-visual) senses as well as the cognitive and emotional centers of our brains. During a sincere hug, we want to drink in the full emotion of the moment - to feel it at its maximum, so we close our eyes. If eyelid closure during hugs begins to wane or is lacking - it is a strongly negative signal of impending relationship failure.