David Stern is smiling because the two best teams money can buy won easily over two Texas teams on national TV.
He's salivating over a Lakers/Celtic final as the NBA sends a message that if you can buy the superstars then you can build a champion.
Forget the Spurs and Pistons who did it the right way. Your ratings sucked.
Easy fix: Garnett and Allen to the Celtics for nothing from an ex-Celtic player and Gasol to the Lakers for nothing from an ex-Laker player and ...voila!....championship material.
Now, what are the chances of sending George Gervin to work for the Heat and get us Dwayne Wade for next season? How about David Robinson working a year in Dallas and we get Dirk Nowitski in here and teach him how to win?
How about a team with a HOF center tanking a season to pick a HOF PF in the draft?
Buying superstars to build a champion is just business. Here in Europe it is even worse.
You should just be happy that the NBA have a salary cap, a draft and all the rules about trade... without that, the Spurs wouldn't have a single trophy.
I largely prefer the american system, where to averybody is given a chance...
The main reason I respect the league is 'cause also teams in little cities like S.A.is given the chance to compete for winning...if well managed and lucky.
And also 'cause for teams in very big cities, like N.Y., if bad managed,ther's the chance they have very bad seasons.
The big cities already have too many advantages...
And...the rules, in sport, at least, have to be the some for everybody...
I prefer the NBA system too.
I just think people in SA don't realize how lucky they are to play under such a system.
Spurs fans always laughed at the Suns and called them whiners. This was when the spurs used to be the best team in the NBA
Now that the spurs are not the top dog anymore, the Spurs fans whine more than the other combined 29 fan bases. Serioulsy? the spurs were bulit the right way? They TANKED for their center piece
The Lakers on the hand got Gasol in a trade giving cap space and 3 1st round picks. This is the same player that poeple call him Gasoft, who has been to the AllStar game ONCE and getting max money. Why dont you talk about the Shaq trade when the Lakers got robbed?
Get over it buddy. The Spurs have a very good team but they need another BIG and they should be fine. Even if they dont add anyone, they still have a chance to win it all
Have you ever heard about Chelski or Manchester City latest bids (soccer)??
Sure, it's easier for NY (sic), LA or Boston to build compe ive squads but last time i checked, there is a salary cap rule in order to prevent richest teams to attract all the best players. There's also a draft system mixed with the absence of relegation, so the worst teams can have a chance to improve without being knocked out of the league because of bad results.
Sure enough.
That's why teams from big cities such as Siena and Vitoria end up in the Euroleague Final Four.
They have zero chance.
The way the game was played and called yesterday clarified this.
This is a business.
I just don't buy this Boston thing.
The Lakers will win against the Cleveland Nikes.
You mention soccer.
Please check how many different teams have won the Champions league over the last 40 years and how many different teams have won it in the NBA.
Vitoria is a team with a lot of money at the Euroleague level (probably 6th or 7th according to what I read). CSKA and Pana won the last 3 Euroleague.
Siena has less money but is still in the top 10 in Europe (and they just reached the final four, they didn't win anything).
It is not relevant to look at the last 40 years. The economy of soccer as completely changed since the "Bosman rule".You mention soccer.
Please check how many different teams have won the Champions league over the last 40 years and how many different teams have won it in the NBA.
Moreover, soccer is a low scoring game, which allows more surprises since there is no 7 game series.
But if you look at the premier league (since 1992):
Manchester United: 10 les, 3 second place.
Arsenal: 3 les, 5 second place.
Chelsea: 2 les, 3 second place. None before Abramovich buy the club.
Only surprise: Blackburn in 1995, second in 1994.
Last edited by mathbzh; 01-26-2009 at 05:02 AM.
Irrelevent.
First, the Champions league involves much more teams (i'm not just talking about the squads who actually play).
Second, the teams which are engaged in this compe ion all have other compe ions to deal with (national championship and national cups)... It can be very difficult for the best teams to focuse and deliver in every compe ion they're involved in.
Third, the Champions League exists since 1992. Before that, it was the European Champion Clubs' Cup. It was not just about changing the name of the compe ion. I'm not gonna explain how and why but since then, european clubs soccer has become a huge and very attractive business without any common rules nor any limits.
Therefore, the richest you are, the better you get (the best players go where money is). As simple as that.
And with the arrivals of Russian billionaires and Emirates princes, the situation has worsen greatly.
Check after the Bosman rule and sure:
You win a Champions league by surprise.
The Champion's league exists since the 50s.
Unless you think semantics is more important than reality.
At any rate.
# 2007 - 2008 Manchester United FC
# 2006 - 2007 AC Milan
# 2005 - 2006 FC Barcelona
# 2004 - 2005 Liverpool FC
# 2003 - 2004 FC Porto
# 2002 - 2003 AC Milan
# 2001 - 2002 Real Madrid CF
# 2000 - 2001 FC Bayern München
# 1999 - 2000 Real Madrid CF
# 1998 - 1999 Manchester United FC
# 1997 - 1998 Real Madrid CF
# 1996 - 1997 BV Borussia Dortmund
# 1995 - 1996 Juventus
# 1994 - 1995 AFC Ajax
# 1993 - 1994 AC Milan
# 1992 - 1993 Olympique de Marseille
# 1991 - 1992 FC Barcelona
11 different teams.
7 different teams since 1999.
In the same period, 7 teams have won the NBA le.
Since 1999, 5 NBA teams have won the le.
Spurs and Lakers combined are 7 out of 10.
Going back the the heart of the thread, most of these soccer teams are from small to mid-size towns. Only Barcelona, Milan and Bayern are from big markets.
Sure.
If you mention the regional tournements, it is obvious that only 2-4 teams maximum will compete.
Who cares about these tournaments?
Big money is in the Champion's League.
That's what matters.
The regional tournaments should be limited to smallville teams.
Check after the Bosman rule and sure:
You win a Champions league by surprise.
Don't blame the refs.
We played like , we didn't show up.
But we always do that on Sunday afternoon games
I think you couldn't script a more preposterous scenario.
Lebron, who was being promoted as the next Jordan and savior of the league, is swept by the Spurs in lowest rated NBA finals in recent memory.
The very next year, lo and behold the NBA's marquee franchises land players that vault them immediately into championship contention - FOR NOTHING IN RETURN.
I used to think only some mavs fans were delusional... ...
Maybe if the Spurs didn't have such a ty gameplan...
The Spurs weren't favored to win the lottery in either of those drafts. And Robinson's injury was legit the year they drafted Duncan. I think the Spurs were slow to bring Robinson back more over fears of him re-injuring himself than on getting Duncan. The odds favored Duncan wearing green and white.
People who say the Spurs purposely tanked that season weren't watching.
would you go to work when you are hurt?
Forget the Spurs and Pistons who did it the right way.
but didnt the spurs tank a season to get duncan?
i would say the lakers and celtics bought their players.
the spurs begged for theirs.
theres no shame in it. the guys on the corner with the cardboard signs dont seem to have a problem with it.
Read post #20.
did robinson practice the 2nd half of that season, but no play time?
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