Assuming the Detroit Pistons win it all this year: Will the Pistons become the first team that wins a title without true dominating superstars? In the past we've seen legends, HOFers, superstars like Kobe, Shaq, TD, MJ, Magic, etc etc carry their team and win titles. The Detroit Pistons is the first team that I've seen that doesn't have a true superstar. Ben Wallace is a star, but not a superstar. Rasheed has the potential to be a superstar but he has not, and will never, fully live up to them. Rip Hamilton is also another star, but not a superstar. He doesn't carry the team on his shoulders like KG or Kobe/Shaq, but his contributions is alot no doubt. Are the Pistons of 2003-2004 the first balanced team that wins a title? A team without true superstars but rather, a tight unit of stars and role players with deep deep bench? What do you guys think?
I don't think the 1947-48 Baltimore Bullets had a real superstar. I believe they were the second team to win a title. That's the only team I can really think of, but I'm not totally sure. *edit* I did a little research and the Baltimore Bullets leading scorer had the second lowest PPG average (12) than any other leading scorer for other teams. I'm not saying just scoring makes a superstar, but take that for what you will.
I was going to say the Sonics, but then I thought, "How can you say Jack Sikma isn't a superstar!" Sarcasm of course.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I was going to say the Sonics, but then I thought, "How can you say Jack Sikma isn't a superstar!" Sarcasm of course.</div> Gus Williams was the superstar of that team. J/K But seriously that team had like 6 players averaging double-figures. That's what got them a ring, and that's what you call teamwork.
I know they had stars, the Spurs and the original Bad Boys. But I feel they played real team basketball, certainly they relied heavily on roleplayers like Zeke, TD and The Admiral but still they always had other effective starters as well as an effective bench. I mean throughout the last NBA Championship we had the likes of Bowen, Kerr and SJax scoring for the Spurs.
Ah, I guess Detroit isn't the first team after all.. but it is pretty rare that such an average and underdog group of guys can give the almighty Lakers a run for their $ eh? Magic Johnson, in the last Championship, Spurs had a superstar in TD.
Rip Hamilton said it perfectly in an interview before the Finals began. He was asked about all the expectations that the Pistons will get humiliated by the Lakers and he said "the Lakers have a bunch of spectacular 1-on-1 players, but we have chemistry and as a team we are unstoppable." The Pistons are a puzzle with 12 smaller pieces and the Lakers are a puzzle with only 2 large pieces.
I would've said yes, but I guess not. But if they do manage to pull it off, then alot of us that wasn't even born in the late 70's would experience some kind of history. A history I don't wanna see. !!!!!!!!!
