El Dude
The GOAT
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2013
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Here's a narrative...
Rafa was in his prime in 2011--just as good as he was in his best year, 2010--and Novak still surpassed him. That's hard to refute. Then Novak coasted a bit, Roger made a charge and Andy improved, so 2012 truly was the Year of the Big Four. Novak was the first among near-equals, but just a hair above his rivals.
2013 was the Return of Rafa, which was just enough to surpass Novak, although the 2012-13 version of Novak who was the same player skillwise as in 2011, but without the manic desire to rise to the top. Novak continued to coast in 2014 as Rafa began to crumble. Roger rose back up to his late-career plateau level, just a bit below peak Rafa and Novak, and Andy floundered. So Novak's reign wasn't hugely challenged.
Now we come to 2015, which on paper looks like Novak's best year. Is he a better player than he was in 2012-14? As good or better than 2011? Well I think he's been pretty similar the last five years, but 2011 just had extra drive. 2015 is a combination of a bit more drive again--Novak being unsatisfied with his "great-but-not-GOAT" 2012-14 level--combined with Rafa fading even more and no one else stepping up.
So again, I think he's been basically the same player for five years, but it is a matter of how driven he's been. He truly had fire in his belly in 2011 and, as Kieran said, sparks coming out of his eyes. He didn't lose anything in 2012-14, except that he had gained his cruising speed after the acceleration of 2011. Perhaps 2015 is another push on the gas, but without the dramatic impact of 2011 because of lesser competition.
Actually, in a way Novak's 2015 reminds me a bit of Roger in 2004-07. Both were as good or a bit better than everyone at almost every aspect of the game which, taken as a whole, led to dominance. Yet where Novak at Rafa, Andy, and Roger tarnishing the armor in 2012-14, ok and moments of Stan, Roger only really had Rafa ruining the party.
I'd even say that Novak, as a player, isn't as good at his very best as some other players are at their very best. Roger at his best can beat just about anyone, except now on clay and slow hards. But the problem is that he can't get to his very best as often as he used to. But what makes Novak so amazing, in my opinion, is that he can get to his almost best, his "B game" if you will, pretty much at will.
Something like this - 2015 versions:
Novak's A game: 30%
Novak's B game: 65%
Novak's C game: 5%
Roger's A game: 20%
Roger's B game: 50%
Roger's C game: 30%
This is Roger's problem. He has to play his A game to beat Novak. His A game will beat Novak in most cases. But his B game will only beat Novak's C game, which almost never happens.
Hope that makes sense...
Rafa was in his prime in 2011--just as good as he was in his best year, 2010--and Novak still surpassed him. That's hard to refute. Then Novak coasted a bit, Roger made a charge and Andy improved, so 2012 truly was the Year of the Big Four. Novak was the first among near-equals, but just a hair above his rivals.
2013 was the Return of Rafa, which was just enough to surpass Novak, although the 2012-13 version of Novak who was the same player skillwise as in 2011, but without the manic desire to rise to the top. Novak continued to coast in 2014 as Rafa began to crumble. Roger rose back up to his late-career plateau level, just a bit below peak Rafa and Novak, and Andy floundered. So Novak's reign wasn't hugely challenged.
Now we come to 2015, which on paper looks like Novak's best year. Is he a better player than he was in 2012-14? As good or better than 2011? Well I think he's been pretty similar the last five years, but 2011 just had extra drive. 2015 is a combination of a bit more drive again--Novak being unsatisfied with his "great-but-not-GOAT" 2012-14 level--combined with Rafa fading even more and no one else stepping up.
So again, I think he's been basically the same player for five years, but it is a matter of how driven he's been. He truly had fire in his belly in 2011 and, as Kieran said, sparks coming out of his eyes. He didn't lose anything in 2012-14, except that he had gained his cruising speed after the acceleration of 2011. Perhaps 2015 is another push on the gas, but without the dramatic impact of 2011 because of lesser competition.
Actually, in a way Novak's 2015 reminds me a bit of Roger in 2004-07. Both were as good or a bit better than everyone at almost every aspect of the game which, taken as a whole, led to dominance. Yet where Novak at Rafa, Andy, and Roger tarnishing the armor in 2012-14, ok and moments of Stan, Roger only really had Rafa ruining the party.
I'd even say that Novak, as a player, isn't as good at his very best as some other players are at their very best. Roger at his best can beat just about anyone, except now on clay and slow hards. But the problem is that he can't get to his very best as often as he used to. But what makes Novak so amazing, in my opinion, is that he can get to his almost best, his "B game" if you will, pretty much at will.
Something like this - 2015 versions:
Novak's A game: 30%
Novak's B game: 65%
Novak's C game: 5%
Roger's A game: 20%
Roger's B game: 50%
Roger's C game: 30%
This is Roger's problem. He has to play his A game to beat Novak. His A game will beat Novak in most cases. But his B game will only beat Novak's C game, which almost never happens.
Hope that makes sense...
