1. True, but not completely true. I'll say I know who is not going to win a Super Bowl (about 8-10 teams right off the bat) and I can pick out the main contenders. Also, the NFL is not popular, because of parity...it's because the game is America's pasttime...there's alot more talent to be dispersed in the NFL versus say the NBA . . . way more positions to play. The Super Bowl/NFL didn't suddenly just get popular, yesterday, it past baseball for the most popular professional team sport back in the early 70s, when it wasn't alot of parity in the league. People still watched the games in most cities. Parity could make more enjoyable, but it's misleading to say it made the game popular. The NFL was already popular. For the most part, the front running teams typically still win ... the biggest surprises were probably the Giants, while most of the other winners are what you could call conference powerhouses. Green Bay, Indy, Pittsburgh, New England, and Tampa. Even some of the runner-ups, like Seahawks and Bears weren't necessarily underdogs or surprised anyone.
The NFL was very popular when the Cowboys were winning back to back. And then the Steelers and Patriots. The Rockets know the league they're in. It's not impossible to win in the NBA, they've just got to find the right formula and stick to the game plan. How did Miami get so good? They sucked for a long time. Was it the drafting of Wade and then getting Odom, later Shaq. The Clippers were horrible till they got Griffin and all of a sudden they're getting Chris Paul, Grant Hill and Billups. The Rockets had their chance with Barkley and then with Francis, then with Yao and TMac. They just weren't able to capitalize like some of the other teams did. The unique thing about the NBA is that it's a player's league. Players make the biggest difference. That's why Morey wants a superstar because he knows what effect that superstar can have. He can either trade for, sign, or draft that superstar.
Contract the Kings, Bucks, Raptors, Bobcats, Warriors. I'd include the Hornets, but it's a year late for that. NBA can't have parity so long as there are fewer true franchise players than there are teams.
Yeah, but he forced his way out and told people where he wouldn't go. He bought into LA and that is where he ended up.
Exactly. Same league. Same rules. Some teams get it done. Others don't. Management is often the difference maker. Now ask yourself, where do the current Rockets stand on the management scale?
We're about a month into the new season, and results are little different from what alot of people have expected. The Memphis Grizzlies, along with the New York Knicks have the best record in the league. Charlotte, Milwaukee, and Golden State are all in the top 5 of their conferences. It's also possible things may not change a whole lot, if these teams are able to stay healthy. The Los Angeles Lakers look like a lake running dry. They may make the playoffs, but as dominating #1 seed I highly doubt it.
Do you also find it interesting that the teams that are already winning don't want it to become harder to win?? Hmm. Interesting observation.
I agree with you about the myth of Parity and making the NFL popular. I do think that each team in the playoffs having a LEGITAMATE chance to win fuels the NFL's popularity though. Make it into the playoffs and ANY team can win ONE game week to week; the best team is not necessarily GUARANTEED the win. in the NBA, in a best of 7 series, the best team will almost always win; a weaker team could probably win 1 or 2 games but not 4. Being a Rockets fan has made me a huge proponent for less games during the season and shorter series during the playoffs. What's the point of watching if you know you have no legitimate chance at the chip at all? The NBA will continue to strive because more NBA fans root for players, not teams.
