NBA: It’s A Super Team Or Bust League, And You Should Be Thankful

Star-Studded… With Some Loose Bolts

After the NBA Trade Deadline passed, Paul George spoke to the media, and his comments have certainly caused some debate in the NBA community:

Paul George is one of my favorite players to watch, and is a bona-fide superstar in the NBA (See Cousins, DeMarcus). He has been the face of that franchise, but Mr. Bird hasn’t been able to pair him with the right supporting cast. It doesn’t help either that guys like David West, D.J. Augustin, George Hill, and Gerald Green are all still ballin’ and/or in way better situations (Warriors for West, Jazz for Hill).

The only moves that have been justified that Bird has made are the signing of Ellis (8.4 PPG and coming off the bench for this year’s Pacers squad), and letting go of Roy Hibbert; but really, who saw the former DPOY candidate’s rapid decline coming?

All this being said, George is a great player and honestly, without him, Indiana probably isn’t….wait they’re 31-30?

In the Pacers’ case, you can place the blame on Nate McMillan and/or his ancient offense. You can put it on Ellis’ (slightly) shocking decline. Maybe you’re bold enough to rate the Pacers PG-13. Start the ‘disgruntled superstar’ narrative even. Paul George very well may be a Laker when his contract expires and free agency in 2018 begins.

Whatever the case, the Pacers are an interesting case study to find the answer to the question: does the NBA needs its stars?