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| Photo Credit: Thomas B. Shea, USA TODAY Sports |
Folks, we
are less than 65 days away from the start of the NBA’s 2015-16 season. Team
rosters for the upcoming year are being finalized, and players are beginning to
lock-in on the coming season’s focus. However, a trend has come about within
the NBA as of late that has me quite agitated. Now, before the “homer” chants
commence, please know that I am from the Midwestern Mitten and currently live
in South Florida (as if that lends some validity to this article). But what it
is that has me agitated, is the lessening importance of the NBA’s “dynasty”
franchises, aka the Boston Celtics, the Los Angeles Lakers & the New York
Knicks.
To begin,
the situation in New York lends a bit of understanding to this argument; I mean
who on earth would want to play with
Carmelo Anthony? Again, quiet the “homer” chants as I was once one of Carmelo’s
biggest supporters. But statistically proven, what has a Carmelo-led team
accomplished?
Anyway, what
has happened to the NBA’s dynasty franchises, as previously referenced? How is
it that the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers suddenly become high
profile destinations (yes Greg Monroe, I’m talking to you; from Detroit to
Milwaukee, you’ve now moved to the 34th largest media market in the
United States)? Well, with the exception of Major League Baseball, this same
argument could be made across all major American sports. For instance, the
Anaheim Ducks have been a preferred destination in the National Hockey League
as of late, over a team such as the Montreal Canadians. In the NFL, DeMarco
Murray bolted for the Philadelphia Eagles, rather than continuing his tenure
with a much more storied Dallas Cowboys franchise.
Okay, New
York Knicks. Aaron Afflalo and Robin Lopez aren’t bad. But why weren’t you able
to land LaMarcus Aldridge or a Monta Ellis-type of player? Boston, quality work
on winning-over Jae Crowder. But what about Kevin Love? Yes, LeBron James is in
Cleveland, but Kevin Love, please go make a name for yourself on your own team.
Plus, who would pick Cleveland over Boston? I mean, if you’re going to be cold
in the winter, I would rather be cold in Boston (and yes, I am still bitter
over you not coming home to the Lakers). And to the Lakers, with this being
Kobe Bryant’s potential final season in the league, the conversation begins and
ends there.
One could
make the argument that this occurrence runs hand-in-hand with today’s
generation. We see that in a vast majority of 30-and-under’s, ambition is quite
easily overlooked while the easy way home is the taken path. Regardless,
instead of me sitting at home and sulking over the question “what are people
doing, this is the Los Angeles Lakers” (which happens often), we all should
accept the fact that this isn’t your father’s basketball league. Additionally,
God has not pre-destined your team to be the destination of all superstars. The
fact of the matter is that players today would much rather win a ring with
their buddies alongside, and the sooner we begin to realize this (along with
myself), the better-off we will be. Enjoy the game, folks! The 2015-16 season
is not too far away.
