For the first time in NBA history, we will have a different champ for the 7th consecutive time.

[bl2k8]

people forget how horrrendous the Finals were in 2000-2003 Lakers, and the Spurs, and the Warriors ones with KD, or LeBron goin to the Finals every year with a super team.

NBA is in a good place right now with random teams goin to the finals

Other than bucks/suns and Celtics/warriors the finals have sucked this decade. And those two finals weren’t even great just good

 

[FaTaL]

The NBA generated a record $11B in revenue last year, signed a $76B TV deal, and the sport is huge internationally…… small market, big market, doesn’t matter.. league is healthy and thriving

ask silver about indy getting into the finals

 

[Harry B]

One would think that it has to do with players building super teams and such things but Lebrons Lakers recruiting AD is the only one right?

 

[tremonthustler1]

Denver could of been a dynasty but the cba broke them apart way too soon

All the CBA did was cost them KCP.

 

[murksiderock]

It’s cool to see different teams win, but these one off titles don’t hold as much weight when defending champs arent even making it back to the conference finals the next year.

2024 Celtics/Mavs sucked;

2023 Nuggets/Heat sucked;

2022 Warriors/Celtics was better than '21 but only barely so;

2021 Bucks/Suns fukking sucked;

2020 was dope, Lakers/Heat. Heat made it interesting;

so you're right. 2020s Finals have been terrible. Compared to the 10s:

2019 Raps/Dubs was really entertaining even with Warriors down two guys;

2018 Dubs/Cavs was wack;

2017 Dubs/Cavs was a little better than '18 but mostly wack;

2016 Cavs/Dubs is in the running for the greatest Finals of all time;

2015 Dubs/Cavs was good and entertaining;

2014 Spurs/Heat was terrible;

2013 Heat/Spurs was fukking fire, one of the great Finals ever;

2012 Heat/Thunder wasn't as bad as these 2020s Finals, but was definitely mid;

2011 Mavs/Heat was entertaining;

2010 Lakers/Celtics is one of the greatest Finals of all time...

The 10s had three of the GOAT Finals ('10, '13, '16), and several more highly entertaining ones. Its shytting all over the 20s at this point...

But the 00s:

2009 Lakers/Mavs was mid;

2008 Celtics/Lakers was a step above mid but nit much else;

2007 Spurs/Cavs was awful;

2006 Heat/Mavs was terrible;

2005 Spurs/Pistons was wack;

2004 Pistons/Lakers at least has the entertainment factor;

2003 Spurs/Nets, sucked;

2002 Lakers/Nets, even worse;

2001 Lakers/Sixers wasnt great but was entertaining;

2000 Lakers/Pacers was mid...

00s Finals werent much better than the 2020s lmao...

Now I do enjoy the parity of multiple teams having multiple conference finals runs. The Celtics have played in 4 ECF this decade;

The Heat have played in 3;

The Nuggets, Lakers, Mavs, Pacers, and Wolves have all played in 2 conference finals in this decade.....I enjoy this kinda parity.

Other than bucks/suns and Celtics/warriors the finals have sucked this decade. And those two finals weren’t even great just good

 

[jaydolf spitler]

Towns is out there wylin lmao. The Knicks are only as good as whatever this is he's doing out there lol

 

[Shadow King]

I think the BIGGEST reason we see this variance is injuries more than any 3pt variance, salary cap restrictions etc..

When the apron rule was announced folks complained about our most recent dynasty being "punished". The salary cap if not #1 is 1A

This new CBA is awful

I can't believe the players ok'd this bullshyt

The 2nd Apron Repeater Tax is hell on earth

This is a hard cap in the NBA like in the NFL but the difference is contracts are guaranteed in the NBA. In the NFL you can just cut a Ben Simmons or a Damian Lillard but in the NBA you have to try and trade those horrible contracts.

Its just very hard.

You have to be a team like the Thunder and accumulate picks, trade for a young star and hit on him.. Decide who your core is pay them and trade everyone else to replenish your team but you have to hit on these picks. You can't make a mistake

Most teams will not have 3 All-Star+ players to really strain them like that. And in the case of cutting a Simmons you can still cut that under the Stretch Provision.

The apron to me serves as the response to the 2010s rash of handing out taxes to players for potential. When teams figure out/see the benefits of moving away from that they'll be alright.

 

[Shadow King]

2024 Celtics/Mavs sucked;

2023 Nuggets/Heat sucked;

2022 Warriors/Celtics was better than '21 but only barely so;

2021 Bucks/Suns fukking sucked;

2020 was dope, Lakers/Heat. Heat made it interesting;

so you're right. 2020s Finals have been terrible. Compared to the 10s:

2019 Raps/Dubs was really entertaining even with Warriors down two guys;

2018 Dubs/Cavs was wack;

2017 Dubs/Cavs was a little better than '18 but mostly wack;

2016 Cavs/Dubs is in the running for the greatest Finals of all time;

2015 Dubs/Cavs was good and entertaining;

2014 Spurs/Heat was terrible;

2013 Heat/Spurs was fukking fire, one of the great Finals ever;

2012 Heat/Thunder wasn't as bad as these 2020s Finals, but was definitely mid;

2011 Mavs/Heat was entertaining;

2010 Lakers/Celtics is one of the greatest Finals of all time...

The 10s had three of the GOAT Finals ('10, '13, '16), and several more highly entertaining ones. Its shytting all over the 20s at this point...

But the 00s:

2009 Lakers/Mavs was mid;

2008 Celtics/Lakers was a step above mid but nit much else;

2007 Spurs/Cavs was awful;

2006 Heat/Mavs was terrible;

2005 Spurs/Pistons was wack;

2004 Pistons/Lakers at least has the entertainment factor;

2003 Spurs/Nets, sucked;

2002 Lakers/Nets, even worse;

2001 Lakers/Sixers wasnt great but was entertaining;

2000 Lakers/Pacers was mid...

00s Finals werent much better than the 2020s lmao...

Now I do enjoy the parity of multiple teams having multiple conference finals runs. The Celtics have played in 4 ECF this decade;

The Heat have played in 3;

The Nuggets, Lakers, Mavs, Pacers, and Wolves have all played in 2 conference finals in this decade.....I enjoy this kinda parity.

The 23 Heat (objectively as a fan) and 24 Mavs didn't belong on that stage which is why their Finals weren't entertaining. Should've been a Celtics/Nuggets B2B.

 

[Shadow King]

Gee, repeating or 3peating is really, really hard huh?

In a league with actual parity absolutely.

 

[IsThatBrothaMouzone?]

GOOD! Bad owners can’t just blame the NBA for being “anti small market”. During the heattles era, we had to hear “woe is me” speeches everyday about how the league is unfair to small markets. Now these owners actually have to work! Anybody/any market can win it all, and big free agent signing no longer make or break the league. Dynasties are over. It’s like the nfl used to be. Nobody wanted to hear me and woe is me dolphins takes.

True.

NBA can still have dynasties but you gotta work harder to maintain it like the NFL.

Can't just luck into a couple of elite players and ride that shyt till the wheels fall off. You have to draft well, not just in the lottery but late first/second rd too. NBA GM's have to understand roster turnover and the concept of churning the bottom so your weakest links aren't as weak.

You can't throw money at middling/All-Star guys. Big money is reserved for perennial All-NBA guys that can drag you to 40 wins by themselves (think early Cavs Bron or early Luka in Dallas). If you don't have a young floor-raiser....the equivalent of an elite NFL QB.....you gotta keep looking.

 

[murksiderock]

The 23 Heat (objectively as a fan) and 24 Mavs didn't belong on that stage which is why their Finals weren't entertaining. Should've been a Celtics/Nuggets B2B.

A team that didn't even make the conference finals didn't deserve to be a Finalist ('24 Nuggets). I agree with you overall, though, and the last several Finals losers have been weak. The '22 Celtics weren't all that, either...

True.

NBA can still have dynasties but you gotta work harder to maintain it like the NFL.

Can't just luck into a couple of elite players and ride that shyt till the wheels fall off. You have to draft well, not just in the lottery but late first/second rd too. NBA GM's have to understand roster turnover and the concept of churning the bottom so your weakest links aren't as weak.

You can't throw money at middling/All-Star guys. Big money is reserved for perennial All-NBA guys that can drag you to 40 wins by themselves (think early Cavs Bron or early Luka in Dallas). If you don't have a young floor-raiser....the equivalent of an elite NFL QB.....you gotta keep looking.

This is an excellent point. Mf's gotta actually learn how to GM now...

 

[Shadow King]

A team that didn't even make the conference finals didn't deserve to be a Finalist ('24 Nuggets). I agree with you overall, though, and the last several Finals losers have been weak. The '22 Celtics weren't all that, either...

This is an excellent point. Mf's gotta actually learn how to GM now...

They deserved it over the team that made it. 22 Celtics wasnt all that but they were better than Golden State...people ignore Tatum playing with one shoulder.

 

[fifth column]

They deserved it over the team that made it. 22 Celtics wasnt all that but they were better than Golden State...people ignore Tatum playing with one shoulder.

Deserved is not a competition word, you can only earn