2024 NBA Playoffs: The year of the upstarts? Are "Big 3" teams dead?

[Mr. Friscus]

As a basketball historian, there are eras of basketball that come and go, and truths that are true up to a point and then are challenged. The 2024 playoffs have seemingly bucked some trends, and may signify massive changes going forwards as far as building winning basketball teams going forward.

First off, a general rule of thumb in playoff basketball is that the established stars or greatest players advance. Think Bird, Magic, Jordan, Duncan, Kobe, Shaq, Lebron, Curry, etc.

Let's look at players and combos who are completely done and out of the playoffs after the first round:

• Lebron/AD Lakers
• Durant/Booker/Beal Suns
• Harden/Leonard/George/Westbrook Clippers
• Giannis/Lillard Bucks
• Embiid 76ers
• Honorable Mention; Steph Curry/Thompson/Green Warriors didn't even make it.

That list includes 12 former MVP's (James 4, Giannis 2, Curry 2, Durant/Harden/Westbrook/Embiid 1).

These collaborations and reliance on established superstars isn't working this year. Upstart teams with ascending elite talent like Minnesota (Anthony Edwards), New York (Jaylon Brunson), Indiana (Tyrese Haliburton), among others... are advancing beyond these star-powered teams.

The Jokic Nuggets are down 0-2. The Luka/Kyrie Mavs we'll see how they do.

But overall... there seems to not only be a passing of the guard, but notion that just getting a big 2 or big 3 might get you into the playoffs, but likely isn't enough to advance or win it all.

It's an interesting playoffs, and probably good for the future of the NBA.

 

[rightwinger]

Seems to be an end of highly paid stars banding together to form Super Teams and win rings.

Looks like skills like defense, bench strength and teamwork are winning over

 

[theHawk]

Seems to be an end of highly paid stars banding together to form Super Teams and win rings.

Looks like skills like defense, bench strength and teamwork are winning over

That’s how the Spurs used to be. But ever since Ginobli, Duncan, and Parker retired I haven’t been paying much attention to basketball.

 

[rightwinger]

That’s how the Spurs used to be. But ever since Ginobli, Duncan, and Parker retired I haven’t been paying much attention to basketball.

Victor Wembanyama is the real deal

 

[Mr. Friscus]

Victor Wembanyama is the real deal

He excelled at the end of the season, you can't expect a complete, consistent superstar at such a young age. However, I'm guessing he'll average 25 points, 10 boards, and 4 blocks next year, and the Spurs will win 10-15 more games.

 

[Rambunctious]

Lebron was the biggest mistake the Lakers have ever made in the front office... one championship and it was the covid games??? and if he doesn't retire and plays for them next season they will flame out again....

 

[Mr. Friscus]

Seems to be an end of highly paid stars banding together to form Super Teams and win rings.

Looks like skills like defense, bench strength and teamwork are winning over

Super Teams are hit-or-miss.. and sometimes it's hard to define what a "Super team" is.

The first modern Super team, as in players collaborating to win a championship, was the Hakeem/Drexler/Barkley Rockets in 97-98, and then the Hakeem/Barkley/Pippen Rockets of 98-99. What's important to note is that none of these players were in their prime, so it's not really the same dynamic.

Next was the 2004 Lakers... where Karl Malone and Gary Payton signed onto the Kobe-Shaq Lakers. In what was a win for all basketball purists, they were beaten in the NBA finals by a Pistons team that had no true "superstars", but a bunch of solid players such as Rasheed and Ben Wallace, Tayshon Prince, Richard Hamilton, and Chauncy Billups.

The came the late 2000's Celtics, who had Paul Pierce but then signed Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. This created a trio that won the NBA championship under Doc Rivers.

Then came the legendary Lebron-Wade-Bosh Heat who won 2 championships

Then the Lakers in 2013 Signed Steve Nash and Dwight Howard to Join Kobe and Pau Gasol. They didn't win

Then the Cavs in 2015 had Kyrie Irving, but Lebron returned home to Cleveland and the Cavs traded their 1st overall pick (Andrew Wiggins) to Minnesota for Kevin Love. They won 1 NBA championship in 2016.

Then it was 2017, and arguably the most dishonorable move was made in NBA history. Kevin Durant's OKC Thunder lost to the Warriors in the playoffs again, so instead of doubling down to defeat them, he (as an MVP player in his prime), joined a fellow prime MVP (Steph Curry), along with Klay and Draymand, on a 73 win team. They won 2 championships, and Durant gets no credit for those titles as far as being an alpha.

In 2018, OKC put together Brian Westbrook, Paul George, and Carmelo Anthony. They didnt' win sht.

In 2021, The Nets put together KD, Kyrie, and James Harden.. they were a bust.

In 2022, the Lakers put together Lebron, AD, and Russell Westbrook. They were a bust.

Nowadays, the Suns put together Durant, Beal, and Booker and haven't done anything... while the Clippers put together Harden, George, Leonard, and Westbrook, and haven't done anything.

Superteams seem to be exposed.

 

[theHawk]

Victor Wembanyama is the real deal

That’s what I heard but their record was horrendous.

Maybe I’ll try to watch them next season.

 

[22lcidw]

People love sports. They are overrated and cost too much today. And I still will follow my teams. Never as I did in my youth. Winning or losing. Although I give them time depending on the sport. There is no logic following teams that just lose every year paying exorbitant prices to go to the stadiums. For the cost the game you go to must be great like a Broadway show. And that does not exist. Today the major sport is the NFL. The second sport is the National basketball Association and that is pushed by the sports networks.

 

[DGS49]

I'm seeing major contributions from players who are not on everyone's radar screen, and the expected Top Guys cannot carry their teams on their shoulders as MJ, LeBron, and some other stars from the past have done.

And this is a good thing, eh?

 

[sealybobo]

As a basketball historian, there are eras of basketball that come and go, and truths that are true up to a point and then are challenged. The 2024 playoffs have seemingly bucked some trends, and may signify massive changes going forwards as far as building winning basketball teams going forward.

First off, a general rule of thumb in playoff basketball is that the established stars or greatest players advance. Think Bird, Magic, Jordan, Duncan, Kobe, Shaq, Lebron, Curry, etc.

Let's look at players and combos who are completely done and out of the playoffs after the first round:

• Lebron/AD Lakers
• Durant/Booker/Beal Suns
• Harden/Leonard/George/Westbrook Clippers
• Giannis/Lillard Bucks
• Embiid 76ers
• Honorable Mention; Steph Curry/Thompson/Green Warriors didn't even make it.

That list includes 12 former MVP's (James 4, Giannis 2, Curry 2, Durant/Harden/Westbrook/Embiid 1).

These collaborations and reliance on established superstars isn't working this year. Upstart teams with ascending elite talent like Minnesota (Anthony Edwards), New York (Jaylon Brunson), Indiana (Tyrese Haliburton), among others... are advancing beyond these star-powered teams.

The Jokic Nuggets are down 0-2. The Luka/Kyrie Mavs we'll see how they do.

But overall... there seems to not only be a passing of the guard, but notion that just getting a big 2 or big 3 might get you into the playoffs, but likely isn't enough to advance or win it all.

It's an interesting playoffs, and probably good for the future of the NBA.

I love to see the young teams upset the older teams but I also love to see Minnesota and OKC blow it. It almost seems like a good team needs to lose before they learn how to win.

OKC was the 1 seed. Minnesota had Denver down 2 and 0. Who would have thought huh?

 

[Couchpotato]

As a basketball historian, there are eras of basketball that come and go, and truths that are true up to a point and then are challenged. The 2024 playoffs have seemingly bucked some trends, and may signify massive changes going forwards as far as building winning basketball teams going forward.

First off, a general rule of thumb in playoff basketball is that the established stars or greatest players advance. Think Bird, Magic, Jordan, Duncan, Kobe, Shaq, Lebron, Curry, etc.

Let's look at players and combos who are completely done and out of the playoffs after the first round:

• Lebron/AD Lakers
• Durant/Booker/Beal Suns
• Harden/Leonard/George/Westbrook Clippers
• Giannis/Lillard Bucks
• Embiid 76ers
• Honorable Mention; Steph Curry/Thompson/Green Warriors didn't even make it.

That list includes 12 former MVP's (James 4, Giannis 2, Curry 2, Durant/Harden/Westbrook/Embiid 1).

These collaborations and reliance on established superstars isn't working this year. Upstart teams with ascending elite talent like Minnesota (Anthony Edwards), New York (Jaylon Brunson), Indiana (Tyrese Haliburton), among others... are advancing beyond these star-powered teams.

The Jokic Nuggets are down 0-2. The Luka/Kyrie Mavs we'll see how they do.

But overall... there seems to not only be a passing of the guard, but notion that just getting a big 2 or big 3 might get you into the playoffs, but likely isn't enough to advance or win it all.

It's an interesting playoffs, and probably good for the future of the NBA.

The thing killing the teams on your list minus the Bucks and 6er's is age. Injury killed the Bucks and 76er's.

 

[Couchpotato]

Lebron was the biggest mistake the Lakers have ever made in the front office... one championship and it was the covid games??? and if he doesn't retire and plays for them next season they will flame out again....

Because it would have been better to be a middling team who didnt win a championship this whole time?

 

[Rambunctious]

Because it would have been better to be a middling team who didnt win a championship this whole time?

One championship and it was the covid season.... one game location no fans in the stadium and players not giving it there all... the Lakers have not been a top team since Dr Buss died... and Lebron was signed....

 

[Couchpotato]

One championship and it was the covid season.... one game location no fans in the stadium and players not giving it there all... the Lakers have not been a top team since Dr Buss died... and Lebron was signed....

Not sure how the Lakers would have been better by not signing LeBron. He was a free agent so they didn’t give up any draft capital. They don’t win that title without him. So can you explain how the Lakers are better off had they not signed him?

 

[Couchpotato]

Victor Wembanyama is the real deal

His durability is a a huge question. People built like him don’t age well typically

 

[rightwinger]

His durability is a a huge question. People built like him don’t age well typically

I remember when Lew Alcindor looked like that
Wilt too

 

[Couchpotato]

I remember when Lew Alcindor looked like that
Wilt too

Yeah. Like I said it’s a question. If he puts on good weight and stays healthy his ceiling is exceedingly high. But how many big men have we seen that didn’t last long. Chet Holmgren has the same concerns IMO.

 

[MarathonMike]

I remember when Lew Alcindor looked like that
Wilt too

It's tough to predict a player's longevity by body type. Look at Zion, the guy is built like a tank and he can't stay healthy.

 

[Couchpotato]

It's tough to predict a player's longevity by body type. Look at Zion, the guy is built like a tank and he can't stay healthy.

Zion has a lot of bad weight.