I think the NBA has a major problem on its hand

[Natural510]

Originally Posted by eddiehaskell

Lebron is the only top 5 player in the east so teams built around him have went to the finals 7 straight years. The Warriors have went 3 straight years.

If they meet again next year that's 8 straight for team Lebron and 4 straight for the Warriors.

When is the last time the NBA had the same team playing in so many consecutive finals (8 and 4)?

At least Jordan realized how dominant he was and took a few years off so we could see others play.

LOL that is not why Jordan took a break

[murksiderock]

Originally Posted by Natural510

LOL that is not why Jordan took a break

Jesus...and that's what I mean by the revisionist Jordan fandom...

So people act like it's Lebron's fault he's the only Top 5 player in the East. Is it also his fault the East has been the weaker conference for two decades? If people want to point fingers for the competitive imbalance, lay the blame where it should go--the NBA. The League is at least a half-decade late on realignment. The East-West format is outdated in the NBA because it isn't balanced and honestly, when has it been? We are long overdue for an NFL/MLB-type realignment that figures a way to spread teams out while keeping rivalries alive and creating new ones. Eastern Conference and Western Conference no longer works. That isn't Lebron James' fault...

And the NBA's inconsistency in spreading the talent hurts the integrity of The League. They were fine with the Celtics loading up in '07, fine with the Heat loading up in '10, fine with a 73-win team adding an All-Timer in his prime in '16, but aren't okay with Paul going to the Lakers in '11? Part of this is the NBA has given the players too much power. The players run the NBA more than any other major sport. The inmates run the jail. While there have been great things to come of that, overall it isn't a good thing...

So if we want to complain about Lebron dominating the East, the point if blame goes much higher than him...

These guys are crazy man lol...

[KB08]

Originally Posted by eddiehaskell

Lebron is the only top 5 player in the east so teams built around him have went to the finals 7 straight years. The Warriors have went 3 straight years.

If they meet again next year that's 8 straight for team Lebron and 4 straight for the Warriors.

When is the last time the NBA had the same team playing in so many consecutive finals (8 and 4)?

At least Jordan realized how dominant he was and took a few years off so we could see others play.

you got me in tears man

[wanderlust76]

Originally Posted by murksiderock

Jesus...and that's what I mean by the revisionist Jordan fandom...

So people act like it's Lebron's fault he's the only Top 5 player in the East. Is it also his fault the East has been the weaker conference for two decades? If people want to point fingers for the competitive imbalance, lay the blame where it should go--the NBA. The League is at least a half-decade late on realignment. The East-West format is outdated in the NBA because it isn't balanced and honestly, when has it been? We are long overdue for an NFL/MLB-type realignment that figures a way to spread teams out while keeping rivalries alive and creating new ones. Eastern Conference and Western Conference no longer works. That isn't Lebron James' fault...

And the NBA's inconsistency in spreading the talent hurts the integrity of The League. They were fine with the Celtics loading up in '07, fine with the Heat loading up in '10, fine with a 73-win team adding an All-Timer in his prime in '16, but aren't okay with Paul going to the Lakers in '11? Part of this is the NBA has given the players too much power. The players run the NBA more than any other major sport. The inmates run the jail. While there have been great things to come of that, overall it isn't a good thing...

So if we want to complain about Lebron dominating the East, the point if blame goes much higher than him...

These guys are crazy man lol...

I don't see anything changing anytime soon the NBA is pretty much pointless to watch until it gets to the 2nd round of the playoffs. So I just consider May to be the time when basketball season starts.

There's never any upsets or surprises, or Cinderella stories in the NBA and that's why a lot of people don't like pro basketball. They see college as more interesting.

The Kings got robbed in 2002 that was one of the few years a team made it more interesting and everyone that wasn't a Lakers fan wanted to see them beat the Lakers.

[eddiehaskell]

Originally Posted by Natural510

LOL that is not why Jordan took a break

It was likely a factor. Jordan is the ultimate competitor and by the age of 29 he had:

- NCAA championship (including "the shot")
- defensive player of the year award
- 3x MVP
- 3x Champion (via 3-PEAT!)
- 3x Finals MVP
- GOAT shoes/brand/cultural icon
- 2x dunk contest winner (legendary dunk asthetics)
- member of GOAT team ever assembled in the "Dream Team"

If that's your resume at 29, a person may ask - what more is there to play for? Jordan was already considered the GOAT at 29. Who was he competing against? How does a person that thrives on competition get fired up when all competiors have been vanquished? I think it would be silly to assume that his level of success didn't play into him deciding to hang it up.

[eddiehaskell]

Originally Posted by KB08

you got me in tears man

Loving the tears after Lebron broke their hearts.