This is an interesting topic, and one that I have thought a lot about in light of Dirk in the finals and the USA's BB performance in the Olympics. It occurs to me that the NBA has actually hindered the athletic purity of the game. The NBA is pure entertainment, and not nearly enough success in the league is dependent upon actual BB talent as required by the "real" rules of the game. The NBA creates and protects superstars; in doing so, they discourage effective defense (read: D Wade in the finals -- breathe near the guy and he's shooting free throws). The NBA is its own entity, VERY different from international basketball; that's why the US isn't doing as well in international play. The NCAA is probably a better recruiting ground for olympic BB talent these days.
Maybe the influx of Euro-talent will get the NBA to rethink their unofficial policy of star-making, and encourage them to start enforcing the rules on a more consistent basis. In the meantime, I won't go near an NBA game. Too frustrating to see the favorites get all the calls -- give me college ball where a team can spread the points around and share the glory.
So yeah... what were we talking about?
