Thunder and Pacers represent in the NBA finals the triumph of basketball of the common good
The afternoon agonizes in the metropolis. Under the rubble, between the dust, Superman’s figure exhales his last breath. The NBA of the superheroes, of the epic rhetoric and the unipersonal narrative, has definitively died.
The finals teach us, once again, that not everything that shines is gold. And vice versa. The lights show Luka Doncic, Anthony Edwards, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jalen Brunson even Nikola Jokic. But It is not one for everyone. Not even from all for one.
The NBA that triumphs, which caresses a Larry O’Brien trophy, is everyone’s. And defends Bear Bryant’s iconic premise: “The offensive sells tickets, the defense wins championships.”
The PACERS They are not Tyrese Haliburton. He Thunder it’s not Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Rather, Neither franchise are just their poster players. It is the structure that works. For a long time it was thought that acquiring stars was synonymous with sports success. Of course, it once happened, because the arrival, for example2, of Kevin Garnett to Boston Celtics served to win the title of 2008. or that of LeBron James to Miami Heat He reached to win multiple 2010 championships onwards. Today everything works differently, by the new collective work agreement and also because it is committed to structures that are maintained over time.
It is something like a magic trick: on the one hand, what they want to make us see, the marketing of the stars. On the other hand, what it is, the reality of the teams. The world, once again, has lived wrong.
Sam Presti has been something like NBA 3.0 Plato. The myth of the cavern in the best league in the world was resolved in its offices. While everyone watched the light reflex against the wall, Presti found the light abroad. Sometimes doing something different from all is the answer. Climb the invisible steps that separate the madman from the genius.
While the rest of the franchises fought for players in free agency, He taught that the difference was to have draft picks. He endured losing, being the laughing of the league, until he found what he was looking for. The long term above the short. Understanding the small print of things brings this kind of advantages.
The Pacers, meanwhile, built this stage by moving pieces on the board. Sabonis Domantas by Haliburton, Caris Levert by Andrew Nembhard, Ben Sheppard and draft capital, Malcolm Brogdon by Aaron Nesmithtwo draft picks by Obi Toppinand Bruce Brown and three late -round picks for Pascal Siakam. There is not a single way to get it, but the important thing is, first, to know what is sought.
Thunder and Pacers, rivals in the NBA finals with similar structures
The two NBA finalists have a similar structure: deep equipment, with elite defensive contraction. An AM850 Stats and Info data encourages this premise: they are first (Thunder, 23.8) and seconds (Pacers, 18.5) at points from ball losses in this postseason. The defense on the front line is a joint work: Lu Dort, Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso, Jalen Williams in the Thunder; Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith In the Pacers. Referents that have led the opponents to succumb to their own balls without ball.
The defense of Thunder, a specialist in ball robberies, will bet to confuse Haliburton. Tangle it to make bad decisions, to submit it to losses with tireless pressure. Whoever controls that mental duel will control everything else. On the other side, the plan will be similar: Nesmith and Nembhard against Shai (for more information, seek: “Jalen Brunson frustration”)
Thunder and Pacers are also young teams. OKC averages 25.6 years against Indiana 27.1. If the Thunder is crowned champion, it will be the youngest from Portland Trail Blazers of 1976-77 (24.9). And if the Pacers achieve it, they will be the youngest from the showtime Lakers in 1979-80, when Magic Johnson was a rookie and consecrated himself playing as a center the definition of the tournament against Philadelphia 76ers due to injury of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
The most interesting will come, of course, in the future, because neither OKC nor Indiana are teams that are on the luxury tax. The work of management in both cases has been so good that more than a way of path can be the beginning of something much bigger.
Superman, dear friends, has died. The hero-ball has given rise to group development, to the synergy of parts. To the suffocating defense combined with the ball movement. With the multiplicity of resources to hurt and outside the key. And also, why not, it has allowed geniuses in the offices to draw treasure maps for what will happen on parquet. The stage? Have enough flexibility to control wages and, as a consequence, excessive egos.
Together is better than separate. Who controls this, who understands these possibilities, will cause in each rival to present the sum of all fears.
Learn, understand and as a consequence dominate. The basketball of the common good has destroyed that of the superheroes in the eyes of all.
A new NBA is among us.
Pass and see.
