It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s a Super team

Tom Rodenburg, Staff Writer

Over that last decade or so, a more common trend that we as fans have been seeing in the NBA is the creation of “super teams.” Instead of having one star player, super teams involve a team going out and signing or trading for a number of star players. Ever since the 2008 Celtics won the NBA Title, this trend has been on a steady increase and it’s beginning to take over the NBA as a whole.

Since the 2008 Celtics, there have been many teams that have tried to go all-in during the span of one off-season. Teams like the 2012 Lakers and the 2013 Nets have tried but failed epically. The Lakers brought in Dwight Howard and Steve Nash to an already impressive team, while the Nets traded away their entire future to the Celtics for Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. Both teams failed, though, due to the fact that they had brought in aging talent that was well-past their primes.

However, the super teams that have succeeded fans love to hate. The Miami Heat dominated the Eastern Conference once they signed Chris Bosh and Lebron James. They created a Big 3 headlined by Lebron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade that made the NBA Finals four straight years, winning twice. The Spurs have the most notorious home-grown super team as Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili have carried them to four NBA Titles. They have also continued that “super team mentality” over the last few seasons, as they have signed all-stars like Lamarcus Aldridge and Pau Gasol.

Everyone hates the Golden State Warriors, except for their fans. They managed to build a home-grown super team by drafting players like Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, and of course, Steph Curry. This team never really got far in the playoffs until 2015, but once they did, there was no stopping them. They were unstoppable throughout the 2014-15 season, winning the NBA Title. They went on to have a record breaking 73-9 record the following season, but failed to capture the NBA Title, as they blew a 3-1 lead to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Finals. The following offseason they then signed former MVP Kevin Durant. Their starting lineup now consists of 2 former MVPs and 4 All Stars. With that, they have the tools to be the most dominant super team of all time.

There is a rich history of super teams in the NBA, from the extreme success of the San Antonio Spurs, to the heartbreaking failure of the Brooklyn Nets. This season we as fans have the Warriors to look at and root against. Even though they have a 95% chance of winning, nothing is given, especially in sports, and especially when it comes to super teams. This season is the Warriors’ to lose, and I’m sure that they won’t lose it.

 

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