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Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

‘BIG 3’ might not be the best move for NBA franchises after 2024 playoffs

Originally posted on FirstSportz | By Satvika Deshpande | Last updated 5/8/24

The league’s obsession with super teams is not a new case in the NBA. Over the years, the general managers and owners of teams have tried this strategy in hopes of winning a championship and have also found success at times, but the circumstances have changed now. Bringing superstars together has not worked out in recent times and the organizations might have to find another way to win.

The trend of the ‘Big 3’ started way back in 1968 when the Los Angeles Lakers GM Fred Schaus signed Wilt Chamberlain to join superstars Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. Since then, many teams have tried their hand at the trend and also given NBA fans some of the most iconic teams in history. In the 2010s, the stunning trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh worked perfectly well together and grabbed back-to-back championships for the Miami Heat.

After that, teams like the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers and the 2017 Golden State Warriors dominated the league, but the day in paradise could only last for a long time. In the last few years, the downfall of the super teams started as most of the teams haven’t even come close to winning the title, 2021 Brooklyn Nets and Lakers being the first victims. As the Lakers were out in the first round, the Nets left the postseason in the next round.

Just putting a few superstars together will not work as the organizations should also focus on the balance between players’ positions and their chemistry on the court. Teams like the 2024 Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers had to find this out the hard way. Witnessing the 2024 Playoffs, owners of these huge franchises may need to find a new strategy.

Disappointing loss of the super teams in the 2024 playoffs adds more to the conversation

Saving Kevin Durant from the Nets roster, the Phoenix Suns recruited the star to join two other superstars, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. However, there are a couple of flaws in the team as all three are offensive players, resulting in the team lacking at the defensive end.

Injuries also became a huge downside, as the trio did not get the opportunity to play together and build chemistry. As a result, the team got swept in the first round of playoffs.

Another team that had high expectations was the LA Clippers. The organization put together not three but four superstars in 2023, including Kawhi Leonard , Paul George , James Harden , and Russell Westbrook . As most of these stars have not won a single championship, fans were excited to see the players dominate together and reach the finals. But in Leonard’s absence, the other three looked helpless and ended their season in the first round.

Responsibility at the end falling on one player

Reasons such as lack of reliability and injuries have become a huge problem for the super teams this year. For the Clippers, other than Leonard, none of the stars were consistent in the first-round series. Hence, naturally, after Leonard out of the mix, the team was unable to get back into the competition.

For the Lakers too, the team won the only matchup in the first round where more than three players scored 20+ points. Anthony Davis tried his best but struggled offensively in Game 5 resulting in LeBron James’ solo outing of 30 points coming short in the eliminating game and ending the Lakers season.

The dynasty of the Golden State Warriors has also seen the worst this season with Draymond Green ‘s on-court antics and Klay Thompson ‘s surprising downfall. In the end, Stephen Curry was the only standing soldier but could only do so much. To much disappointment, the Dubs did not even reach the postseason.

Young, talented teams are the beneficial options

All the super teams’ seasons were ended by the least expected youngsters of the league. For starters, the Minnesota Timberwolves won the first-round series undefeated. Despite Anthony Edwards being the face of the team, the star does not overpower the rest of the members like Karl Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert , and Naz Reid . The roster is balanced well together and also have great chemistry on the court.

Similarly, for the defending champions, the former MVP Nikola Jokic plays a key role on the court but also has reliable players like Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, and Jamal Murray during critical times. In rare cases of the Serbian’s comparatively poor nights, players like Murray have taken control of the game. Much like the Game 5 against the Lakers.

Talent and chemistry have been the common factors in all winning teams. The current roster of the Dallas Mavericks and the team with the most youngsters in the Oklahoma City Thunder are prominent examples of that. Well-balanced teams like the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks have thrived to be the top teams in the league.

All these teams have given a hard time to the veteran squads during the 2024 season based on their pure talent, on-court understanding, and top-tier role-playing. However, somehow the super teams lacked that and are back to the drawing board for the next season’s planning. Maybe the time in the league has come for team owners to stop following the trend of super teams.

This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.

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