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This is like saying LeBron James is less important than Cleveland's role players, because you need five people on a side to have a basketball team. The questio

This is like saying LeBron James is less important than Cleveland's role players, because you need five people on a side to have a basketball team. The question isn't who's "necessary", since everyone who is necessary, no matter in what way, is necessary; necessity is a tautology. The question is whose contributions are more replaceable.

johnfn 9y ago
I disagree strongly. Innovation is a replaceable concept. Anybody has innovative ideas. Putting in the years of work to implement them, on the other hand, is rare.
rusk 9y ago
I'm not so up-to-date with Basketball, but certainly in Soccer and Rugby you need both. You need the disciplined engine-room of the defence and centre-field to maintain control of the field and prevent concession. At the same time however you won't get anywhere without the big-name points-scorers. Similarly, businesses need the sales guys to go out there and get the customers. But without disciplined design, engineering and maintenance you're going to end up leaking all your revenues in support costs, not to mention intangibles such as reputation.
rcjones 9y ago
Had to reply here given how special it is to watch LeBron play right now. Even if you're not a basketball fan, watching LeBron is like watching an extra rogue queen run a chess board. He should be past the peak of his career, but he's adapted his game to become a better all-around player. Reminds me of Mega Man suits where he can co-opt certain abilities given who's on the floor. He can kind of make his teammates necessary, if that makes sense. And he's more than aware of everything that's happening on the floor and on the benches. Him pulling Powell back on the court was a fun, albeit silly example of this: https://twitter.com/wenotsocks/status/860900323275264002 https://twitter.com/wenotsocks/status/860900323275264002 I'm not sure there's much relevance here, but there's something to watching someone maintain competitiveness as they age.

johnfn 9y ago

I disagree strongly. Innovation is a replaceable concept. Anybody has innovative ideas. Putting in the years of work to implement them, on the other hand, is rare.

rusk 9y ago

I'm not so up-to-date with Basketball, but certainly in Soccer and Rugby you need both. You need the disciplined engine-room of the defence and centre-field to maintain control of the field and prevent concession. At the same time however you won't get anywhere without the big-name points-scorers. Similarly, businesses need the sales guys to go out there and get the customers. But without disciplined design, engineering and maintenance you're going to end up leaking all your revenues in support costs, not to mention intangibles such as reputation.

rcjones 9y ago

Had to reply here given how special it is to watch LeBron play right now. Even if you're not a basketball fan, watching LeBron is like watching an extra rogue queen run a chess board. He should be past the peak of his career, but he's adapted his game to become a better all-around player. Reminds me of Mega Man suits where he can co-opt certain abilities given who's on the floor. He can kind of make his teammates necessary, if that makes sense. And he's more than aware of everything that's happening on the floor and on the benches. Him pulling Powell back on the court was a fun, albeit silly example of this: https://twitter.com/wenotsocks/status/860900323275264002 https://twitter.com/wenotsocks/status/860900323275264002 I'm not sure there's much relevance here, but there's something to watching someone maintain competitiveness as they age.