Can team ball work in the NBA?

[JCSunsfan]

As we look toward rebuilding, I was just wondering if this is a possibility. Is it possible that a championship team could be built from a roster of very good players working together in a fundamentally sound team system, without any particular superstar player.

I am looking at Denver right now. They do not seem to have any superstar player but are excelling. The only team that seemed to excel this way in recent memory was the last Detroit championship team.

 

[elindholm]

It's very unlikely. Remember that officiating decides all close games, and "superstars" will always have an edge there, especially in the playoffs. The "Bad Boy" Pistons benefitted from the league's fan base having grown tired of the endless Magic/Bird rivalry, plus a misconceived notion that endorsing "tough defense" would make the league seem grittier and more entertaining. But no one on those Pistons proved marketable, and the "tough defense" obsession may be on the way out, seeing as how none of the past three champions has been especially strong defensively.

 

[boisesuns]

I think it CAN work, but there's times when you need a key basket that will change a game, and you need someone who can get that done.

Most of all you need consistency and just a little defense on key stops.

 

[JCSunsfan]

It's very unlikely. Remember that officiating decides all close games, and "superstars" will always have an edge there, especially in the playoffs. The "Bad Boy" Pistons benefitted from the league's fan base having grown tired of the endless Magic/Bird rivalry, plus a misconceived notion that endorsing "tough defense" would make the league seem grittier and more entertaining. But no one on those Pistons proved marketable, and the "tough defense" obsession may be on the way out, seeing as how none of the past three champions has been especially strong defensively.

I was thinking of the Sheed Wallace Pistons.

Maybe the media would find a way to make a superstar of someone on that team anyway. I just tire of certain superstar types. To me, guys like Melo and Iverson--who are volume shooters and fairly inefficient players--cannot lead a team to a championship.

 

[elindholm]

I was thinking of the Sheed Wallace Pistons.

Ah, right, I wasn't thinking, sorry.

I just tire of certain superstar types. To me, guys like Melo and Iverson--who are volume shooters and fairly inefficient players--cannot lead a team to a championship.

Iverson was a unique case because he drew so much attention that it enabled his teammates to be more efficient, which offset his own poor shooting. Kidd was the same way earlier in his career. As for Anthony, I agree, but I'm not sure that he really gets "superstar" treatment from the officials anyway.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I was thinking of the Sheed Wallace Pistons.

Maybe the media would find a way to make a superstar of someone on that team anyway. I just tire of certain superstar types. To me, guys like Melo and Iverson--who are volume shooters and fairly inefficient players--cannot lead a team to a championship.

Rasheed could have been a superstar if it had been important to him. He was one of the most gifted big men of his time but his war with the refs and his relationship with fans cost him. That Detroit team was real similar in talent to the most recent Celtics championship team. Neither team had a player at the Kobe, Lebron, Wade level but they were each loaded with star and near star quality players. Garnett probably qualified as a superstar at one time but IMO his star had already begun to dull.

Steve

 

[Magnus]

Possible-yes, but unlikely. A star is a player that is well above average talent-wise. So if you got 2 teams, one with 5 average starters, the other with 4 average starters and a star, I'd put my money on the latter. It's just easier for that team to play: a star is harder to contain 1-on-1, draws more attention and double-teams, so it opens up space for everyone else.


Unless a superstar is just generated by the media. For example, I'd say that Melo is way overrated. Bad on defense, ball hog on offense. Denver did well to get stuff in return for him.

 

[Lorenzo]

I think you need at least one go to guy..maybe two. guys that you can count on to make big shots in key moments. last year's mavs for example. one star in dirk and then you have a solid team around him full of guys that all could hit the dagger shot. terry...kidd..(even marion lol).etc. but you need that one guy that you can count on in the clutch or it is tough. detroit had mr. big shot. not just sheed. team basketball is required to win a title though...regardless of the star power. those LAL teams with kobe shaq/SA teams with their big 3...they all had bench guys that had roles and came up big. miami does not have that as of yet.