Comments on: Pro Basketball Crosstalk: Are the Heat good for basketball?

By: D-Mack

D-Mack — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 00:07:44 +0000

only 5-6 have a chance to compete every year anyway. Last year, it was the Lakers, Spurs, Cavs, Celtics, Magic, Suns, & Nuggets. The NBA has never had parity and they seem to be doing just fine.

By: J Sanz

J Sanz — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 09:57:34 +0000

@D-Mack: the golf comparison falls completely flat. First and foremost this is a team sport, not an individual sport. Its comparing apples to oranges.
Sure, the Heat are going to be fascinating to watch. But for whatever reason no one seems to be considering the dangerous precedent this sets. We have already seen/heard talk of CP3 and Melo going to Orlando or NY to join forces with other “superstars” to combat the big 3 down in Miami. Let’s say that happens. You now have a situation where 5-6 teams have a legit chance to win a title for the next 5-10 years, and then 25 also-rans. As a fan of one of those also-rans, why would I keep watching? Because the guys are super talented? Great. They don’t play for my team, I could care less. I didn’t love the Bulls and got turned off during the mid-90′s as well because going into the season you knew your team had no chance to compete. How is that good for the game?
Further, what happens if the Heat do dominate? Is there something interesting about watching the same team win a title for a number of years ina row? Only if its a team you actually root for. Otherwise, its like the rest of us are polishing brass on the titanic.
The NFL is smart in this regard. Parity reigns supreme and at the beginning of the year, every team in the league can say it has a shot at the playoffs or being relevant. It keeps fans of small and mid market teams emotionally and financially invested in the game. The NBA is now headed in a demonstrably different direction.

By: The Champ

The Champ — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 12:12:45 +0000

The “Everybody Outside of Miami Hates the Heat and Lebron James” issue many keep citing has one huge flaw: Everybody doesn’t hate the Heat and Lebron James. Some very vocal fans do, but, while the majority of NBA fans were probably turned off by the whole “Decision” fiasco, most just don’t really care that much and just want to see great basketball.
Also, for those saying a perennially dominant Heat team would be bad for the league, the decade which saw the most different NBA champions (70′s) happened to be the single worst decade for the NBA.

By: TJWalk

TJWalk — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 22:51:29 +0000

Growin up in the 60′s I hated the champion Celtics repeatin so often, then grew to love em and their team ball… Dwade and Bron N Bosh already ‘s played some team ball by takin a lot less cash by the millions…. and are self aware that more ball delegation is less control and perhaps fame… Clanging Symbols Too My guess is Bron wants to drop that gloatin King moniker for some of same champion aspiration of a dynasty… Let Him have his ego down… It’s all good, a bit of a throwback Good goin you guys…. a long way from rory sparrow…. HP speed and all

By: D-Mack

D-Mack — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 22:09:40 +0000

so you’re saying golf would have been better off not having Tiger? you’re just a marketing guru I guess

By: D-Mack

D-Mack — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 16:37:35 +0000

you obviously have no history of the league whatsoever

By: D-Mack

D-Mack — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 16:36:17 +0000

you obviously have no history of the league whatsoever

By: Master Heathcliff

Master Heathcliff — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 16:16:50 +0000

Great post guys. One thing I haven’t seen debated explicitly elsewhere is the concept of “TEAM” that is so important to the game of basketball. The reactionary quotes from MJ, Bird, Magic and Sir Charles became the dominant thought about “the decision” and that in turn seemed to take over the conversation about the team as a whole. Really appreciated reading your more dedicated thoughts into what will make this team interesting/revolutionary.

By: LogicMan

LogicMan — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 15:39:33 +0000

What would you expect Gilbert to say?
‘According to Forbes Magazine, the Cavaliers’ value has fallen from $476MM to $390MM which is >$85 million in value. With his conversation with AP, Gilbert is positioning himself so that Lebron takes the fall for the Cavs’ woes. If he can position in the minds of Cavs fans that Lebron is a “traitor” and remove the focus off of Management’s “ineptness”, then maybe they will stand by the franchise as they look to rebuild over the next few years.’
His franchise lost money (on a capital gains basis) but I am sure Miami’s franchise gained $85 million. The NBA will surely benefit from all the interest in Miami’s team.

By: Bob Blick

Bob Blick — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 15:05:25 +0000

And if ratings are up for their games and down elsewhere across the board, does that help the NBA? People like seeing superstars play against each other, not with each other. Particularly in a game such as basketball when you are only playing 5 players at a time. Baseball and football can bring in 3 or 4 top players and still not win.
Personally I now plan to watch the Cavs play and that’s it. If these guys are losing their competitiveness I see no reason to watch them anymore. Now you have other players talking about doing the same thing. Yeah – It’s great for basketball that these players want to earn huge amounts of money but don’t want to have the burden of carrying a team. If that’s what you want to see, enjoy yourself.

By: Shock Exchange

Shock Exchange — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 13:27:18 +0000

NOT ACCORDING TO DAN GILBERT -----> http://clicky.me/rqN