Dirk Nowitzki wrote:SD2042 wrote:2011Champs wrote:Pinkyring wrote:SOUNDCHASER wrote:Nowitness wrote:Dirk Nowitzki wrote:Lord Cuban wrote:
Although it was somewhat a meaningless game, just wanted to shout some appreciation to the Mavs fans for stopping by on this regular season finale.
Yes, thanks to the users who stopped by to make a post or two. I personally just can't be online during games.
The highlight of the game was this... https://streamable.com/3ifut
Memphis and tanking.
I would still probably say it's better to have a competitive team than to be in the situation of rooting for your team to lose.. although the fans probably think they're good because they are in the lottery every year or something. I am beginning to despise teams like the Wolves, Sixers and the like. It's a total embarrassment that the NBA is a league where teams like these lose every year and get rewarded with high picks. I can only hope that they draft yet another bust, although of course, with so many trips to the lottery... they are always bound to get lucky.
Memphis has had terrible luck with injuries, although there was always the risk with Parsons and some of the guys are getting old. Still, I would say... I would prefer just ride out the Gasol/Conley combo. A team can tank/blow it up at any time... but that is never a guarantee that the outcome will be a better team that you have now... and the process may be long and painful. These two may never win a title or make the conference finals but that's ok - the competitive reality of the NBA (superstar joining up, tanking) is terrible. It encourages bad basketball, losing. It makes me question how much emotion I should invest in what is essentially a freak show --- 80% of the teams don't even have a chance at winning. Good teams are mocked as 'tread-milling', awful teams are admired and rewarded.
The Wolves are an embarrassment. No way in the world I would have my team go twelve years without a playoff appearance. There was a lot of things that went wrong with their organization. Not having the right veterans who can teach the young players how to respect and approach the game with skills and efficiency. With the Sixers, at least they outright admit they were going to rebuild. I feel like with them, they have the assets to utilize some trades for a couple of season vets to turn the team around a bit. You can only acquire so many young assets to where a team will run out of roster space. The Celts may soon find that out if Danny Ainge can't find his "Holy Grail" big deal he's been trying to find since his last one from nearly a decade ago with KG and Allen.
As to the NBA itself, it has changed great since the days of Jordan. Like you stated, superstars joining forces to win titles seems to be the easy way out vs. the idea of working hard with a stellar cast that may lead to the road of NBA Champs.
To the competitiveness of basketball itself, the Western Conference has been the better conference over the last two decades. The Eastern Conference have their stars, but haven't been extremely enticing like the Western Conference has been. Also my take on the competition of the Eastern Conference is at best repetitive and lack a better variety and quality. Like how it was nearly 20 years prior. Interesting teammates around your Michael Jordan, Reggie Miller, Patrick Ewing, Tim Hardaway and Alonzo Mourning types. To me outside of the so call Cavs(no Cavs fans here) the Celts, and maybe the Raptors, the Eastern Conference is lax overall.
As for rebuilding, given what has happened to former GMs' Sam Hinkie(76ers) and now Rob Hennigan(Magic), fans and perhaps NBA corporates have their issues about rebuilding in general. Mostly from the financial standpoint. Like how I addressed a point on the Magic board about business ethics in the link below.
viewtopic.php?f=25&t=1551280&start=280
That said, when it comes down to rebuilding, I rather rebuild as I go. We understand the vets are getting up in age or they are considering leaving via free agency or trade. That way as a team, you don't get caught in the trap of a full rebuild all at once. That unfortunately has what happened to teams like Minnesota, Philly, Orlando, and Lakers alike. Teams like them got caught either in the treadmill game(or stall tactics) to keep their team relevant by passing complimentary pieces off as close to top talent as they can afford(Philly with Andre Iguodala post Allen Iverson era). Stars like Dwight Howard wanting out of Orlando at the time. Kobe Bryant's last two years with the Lakers held them hostage towards a rebuild. No one wanted to play with the aging Kobe as Howard refused to rejoined the Lakers and Steve Nash's injuries help torpedoed the Lakers as well. That's a trap game that creates the inevitable notion that a full rebuild is the next power play to commit to and yes, it will be a hard pill to swallow.
Sometimes I wonder if people are content to just being entertain by their fav teams or do they really want their teams to go for it all when it's all said and done.