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Eh, NBA history shows that most of the time there are a handful of elite teams that tend to dominate for stretches at a time. The Celtics have had a few dynasties, the Lakers and Celtics were the main team in the '80s, Jordan and Co. knocked off the Bad Boy Pistons and ran off 6 championships (with an MJ intermission for Houston to take a brief turn). More recently we've seen dominant teams in San Antonio, then the Lakers, and now we're back to the Lakers and Celtics. The NBA is typically like a game of King of the Hill and the times when there is relative parody is the exception to the rule. Miami will now give the Hill a run, though if they can dominate still remains to be seen (I'm sure most will think they can). The NBA seems to be at its most popular during the times when there are clear dominant teams, like during the 80's renewal in popularity with the Celtics-Lakers rivalry, and the unrivaled surge of new fans during the Bulls dynasty. It seems like whether or not we like Kobe, he has also been really good for the game's popularity. So it seems to me that Miami isn't really starting a trend. They more or less copied what the Celtics did just a few years ago when they got Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. The only real difference between these recent Celtics and Heat moves is that they talent is coming mostly from free agency. While the dynasties in the past have had some free agency impacts (such as Wilt Chamberlain going to the Lakers, Dennis Rodman signing with the Bulls, etc.), those older teams were typically built mostly with draft picks or over time, not in one big splash. I think that's where the NBA will looking at rules to see first if this is adding to the profitability of the game, and second if they could change the rules to stop the free agency issues if they think they are a problem. My guess is the NBA will not change the rules for free agency since they're making a ton of money on it. Just look at how much interest the whole LeBron thing was and how many folks are talking about the NBA during the MLB All-Star Game! My feeling is that even if they humor Mark Cuban and investigate the Heat for rules violations, nothing will come of it since Stern probably likes the results of all that went down.

with the signing of lebron to miami for me is just an indication of his desire to win a championship!

the fact is there is pressure for him to achieve a championship, by doing this action he clearly says he needs help! but this may just prove to say that maybe he doesnt have the leadershp capabilities that we expect from him or so called we thought he can achieve.

best of all if this fails, he wont be blame alone but 3 of them will be blame by the jury and the fans!

lebron james is indeed smart, by doing this he walks away with the contract , money and desire he wants with less of the responsibility that needs to go with it!

and because of this MJ can say kobe is better than lebron!

MJ made his team better. Would Scottie Pippen have turned into a Hall of Famer had he not played with MU? We'll never know. Would Horace Grant ever made an All-Star team had he not played with MJ? Probably not. MJ was competitive to an extreme and he never had to call his own press conference (let alone his own infomercial on ESPN to discuss his free agency). MJ was a professional and wanted to win more than he wanted the fame. The fame just came naturally.

I think MJ is noticing that Kobe also has the affect of making his team play better. It's no secret that Kobe calls the plays and does more in-game coaching than Phil Jackson. Watch Kobe on the court and you will see nothing but intensity. There's no fooling around with Kobe. Maybe LeBron has more natural talent than Kobe. I think MJ, like a lot of folks seems to think now, too, has noticed that LeBron does not make his team better, and that LeBron has to try to win games by himself sometimes because sometimes he makes his team worse.

If the Heat win a championship next season, I suspect it will have more to do with Dwyane Wade than LeBron. Wade has the drive to win games and lead a team. LeBron's team has one player on it. I'm sure that's a big part of what MJ has noticed.

i think it will still be a trend but changes in little as compare before.

since the limelight is on the heat with 3 big names, silently seems no one notices what the mavs are doing? imagine a team compose of kidd, butler, marion, dirk and the anticipated al jefferson if the trade would happen.

the big 3 has more buzz with the james drama that happened, but im thinking the mavs will get a lot of thunder once the season starts and of course if they get al jefferson to play 5 for them.

normally 2-3 big name players come together if they are on the decline of their careers thats why they can sacrifice money for glory but this 3? im seeing a trend soon! if it continues? im saying some players who dont deserve their paychecks will get it done.

i cant wait for the next collective agreement results would be, im sure the heat will get burn of this if it push through and overall stern isnt going to be soft on this, as mention a possibilty of a lock out season! yikes

You're right on about Dallas, though I think that lineup would have looked a lot better maybe 5 years ago. That's a real good veteran team there that's generated almost zero buzz, and if they grab Jefferson and can stay healthy, that will be a team that nobody will want to face in the playoffs.

Another move that was noticed but was overwhelmed by LeBronathon was the Celtics signing Jermaine O'Neal. With Ray Allen re-upping with Boston, grabbing veteran O'Neal here I think still keeps the Celtics as the Eastern Conference favorites until proven otherwise. If they can manage to resign Nate Robinson, this is a team that will have all the depth that Miami lacks.

I also think the Knicks won't totally suck this year. They'll actually win close to 30 games.

Wow. I guess I was wrong about what David Stern thinks about LeBron.
(http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ys-sternlebron07121...)

Yeah...there seems to be always a few elite teams winning the title...but at least right now, on a day to day, game by game basis, teams are competitive. If it got to the point were the elite teams were head and shoulders above the "dwarves", then I wonder if the overall interest in the league would drop and the owners of the crappy teams would push for more parity.

Well maybe this summer is the real death of the small markets. Rich get richer...Aside the obvious the team that intrigues me more are the Kings. They had really great draft. Cousins is a beast, and Whiteside showing some promise as a Marcus Camby part II.

Also the Spurs with Splitter. Less than 11M for the best big man in Europe last season in my eyes is a huge steal...

Last edited by JohnnyB at 7/13/2010 6:40:02 PM

I think that the creation fo some elite teams,will bring to the rise of new young stars and young teams
I see the Bucks,Nets,Thunder made a great market,and other teams are adding good pieces among the non-top free agents,some teams will fall down drammatically,but others are rising up very quickly

The is a rumor that Paul and Melo will go to NYK after this season....another superteam in the making?

I bet this happens. I don't think NOH can keep Paul because they always seem to be cutting costs instead of trying to win it. Same situation with Utah and D-Will.

I think Paul will move at the trade deadline,and NYk is in pole position for him(as they weren't for Lebron),Melo will resign with the Nuggets