NBA Finals Discount Lebron Influence on 2011 Internet Gambling
Bookmakers and players alike watching the 2010 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers are adjusting their thinking about how much the movement of free agents like LeBron James may influence next year's championship. One of the primary lessons Internet gambling patrons may take from the current matchup, heading into tonight's deciding Game 7, is that both the Lakers and the Celtics are truly teams, rather than one-man bands.Both teams had to rely on elevated team play to advance to the Finals. The Lakers found themselves far more successful when Kobe Bryant distributes the ball as well as scores, allowing other players to rise to the occasion, while the Celtics have celebrated a different hero virtually every game they win.
Regardless of which unit wins the Finals Game 7, the emphasis on team play means betting on next year's champion will probably be more influenced by which organization has built slowly and carefully, rather than the signings of noted stars like LeBron, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. Whilew acquiring star talent is sure to bring wins and ticket sales, titles seem reserved for franchises that meld all parts, from players to coaches to front office, into a cohsive unit.
The San Antonio Spurs and the Detroit Pistons have both claimed recent championships by following this method, and it is clear that the Celtics and the Lakers are following similar blueprints. Benches built with careful draft picks of role players end up having far more impact than high picks taken for sheer talent, with no attention to team chemistry.
The Lakers assembled a group of players selected for their ability to succeed while Bryant takes the majority of shots, and to fit well with coach Phil Jackson's triangle offense. The Celtics discarded selfish stars such as Antoine Walker, while adding blossoming star Rajon Rondo with a late first-round pick and getting superstar Kevin Garnett to sublimate his individual needs to team play.
Online gambling bookmakers may still be tempted to exploit the excitement of LeBron going to, say, the Knicks, but experienced online casino patrons will concentrate more on which teams are creating a single force from all its personnel and divisions... perhaps like the Oklahoma City Thunder.
