And that's what's fucked up about basketball. They put in a salary cap, but teams are allowed to go over it because they have so many "exceptions". The end result is the same damned teams at the top year after year.   Put in a hard cap like the NFL does, take away the luxury tax, and see how competitive it gets.
Nonsense. Stop making excuses. The spurs have the 9th highest payroll, and the pistons have the 14th ranked payroll. Other than Tim duncan neither has a player making maximum dollars. In fact the pistons highest paid player is rasheed, and he dosent even crack the top 30, and duncan is at number 12. The bottom line is the pistons management is to be commended, as well as the spurs. They dont throw away money like the knicks, 76ers, magic, and grizzles. Joe dumars is the best GM in the game.
Manu ginobili was a second round seclection, Tayshaun prince was a late first round selection, Ben wallace no one wanted. The fact is dallas & cleveland are choking under the pressure. Both had close-out opportunities at home & blew it. Did you think it was going to be that easy to just dismiss the last 2 NBA champions? Their's something to be said for savvy, mental toughness, and a refusal to lose.
I hope you're right EDGECRUSHER about the spurs & the pistons. They're the 2 best defensive teams in the league, and that's what wins championships.