NBA Playoffs 2011: Young Talent Helps Restore NBA's Golden Age Appeal
If you’re as old as I am, you can recall the time period when the NBA transitioned from a floundering league to a worldwide phenomenon. The Boston Celtics selected Larry Bird in the 1978 draft, and the Los Angeles Lakers chose Ervin “Magic” Johnson first overall in 1979, ushering in a new era.
Building upon Bird and Johnson’s NCAA Championship matchup between Indiana State and Michigan State, the NBA took the opportunity to exploit this rivalry and signed its first national television contract for the 1979-80 season.
The TV deal enabled games to be broadcast to households everywhere, and availability was no longer regional. This meant people’s favorite teams and players became accessible regardless of where they resided.
Their key additions immediately catapulted the Celtics and Lakers to the top tier of the league. Throughout the 1980s, at least one of these franchises was represented in the NBA Finals for 10 consecutive seasons. Over the course of the decade, the two teams won eight championships between them (Lakers: 5, Celtics: 3) and battled each other for the Larry O’Brien Trophy three times in four years.
Ratings were skyrocketing, and more young stars were turning pro year by year. Foreign-born all-stars such as Hakeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing offered the sport an international flavor, and the unparalleled skill and marketability of Michael Jordan assisted in spreading the game overseas.
By the 1990s, a fresh batch of teams reigned supreme. These included the Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, Utah Jazz and Chicago Bulls—all of whom made multiple Finals appearances during that decade.
After having won a sixth title with the Bulls by 1998, Michael Jordan had reached superhuman status and was arguably the most recognizable person on the planet. By the turn of the century, the game had truly gone global, and the floodgates opened for European players to showcase their ability in the United States.
As the old saying goes, “what goes around comes around,” and the Celtics and Lakers have climbed back to the mountain’s peak. But as both clubs' big-guns get up in age, it is only natural that they concede to the powerhouses waiting in the wings.
With no shortage of talented youth having already led their teams to series wins this postseason, heavyweights LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Derrick Rose are prepared to take their respective franchises to the next level.
Lacking an obvious favorite, the 2011 playoffs are wide open. The one-seeded San Antonio Spurs—on the brink of elimination against the eight-seeded Memphis Grizzlies—serve as evidence.
The NBA has reached a passing of the torch of sorts, but with so many competitive teams loaded with numerous all-stars, it can only be beneficial to the league and its fans. Just as TV ratings increased in the 1980s, you can expect them to rise above average this year too.
If a stacked newcomer like the Miami Heat manages to face a dynasty like the L.A. Lakers in the Finals, you can be certain the fanfare will be through the roof. The thought of “King” James attempting to overthrow Kobe Bryant—the current generation’s version of Michael Jordan—has a rather enticing ring to it.
Predicting how this year’s postseason pans out is a crap shoot. But, one thing’s for sure. This new foray of teams entering the fold will keep basketball-lovers glued to their flat screens. The Kevin Garnetts and Tim Duncans can hand off the baton to their successors with confidence; the NBA’s enduring tradition will remain in good hands.
My favorite team, the New York Knicks, is long gone. However, that won’t stop me from getting my NBA fix night in and night out. It’s just that good.
