But after examining the league's depth chart of championship variables, it is hard to believe that a chronological personnel blend is not the way to go. Reaching way back in to NBA history, they find no title-winning teams have featured an abundance of on-court youth. The is in reference to the 1977 Portland Trail Blazers who started one players between the ages of 21 & 24.
When it comes to an NBA implementation of champagne & parades, there appears to be no substitute for experience.
Oh, there's been other teams that were hugely dependent on the contributions of legitimate whipper-snappers. Recent seizure of the O'Brien Trophy was made by the Miami Heat & Dwyane Wade, who -- at the tender age of 24 -- became the Finals Most Valuable Player. The same can be said of San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker, who took home the MVP hardware & a Hollywood TV star before any reasonable expectation of these achievements could be mustered.
So, where is the blend part come in? Well, Wade was ably assisted by Hall-of-Fame veteran Shaquille O'Neal, while Parker's heroics were terrifically abetted by another seasoned Springfield lock named Tim Duncan. Does this suggest that all title teams need an outstanding post player & a dynamic guard? Not exactly. Michael Jordan & the Chicago Bulls brought home three championships with less than terrifying large men in the lineup. MJ, by the way, took down the Utah Jazz -- & Bryon Russell -- at the ripe age of 35 (his first title came at age 28).
Does this mean a team can win it all even when its superstar is well on his way to being venerable? Yeah, if it is Michael Jordan. note that Karl Malone was 35 & John Stockton checked in at 36 when the Utah Jazz lost to Chicago in the 1998 Finals.
It also should be noted that Duncan's championship efforts as a relative kid were abetted by an older gentleman named David Robinson. The Houston Rockets' glory years were presided over by veteran center Hakeem Olajuwon. The Showtime Los Angeles Lakers started with young Magic Johnson, not-as-young James Worthy & elderly guy Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. So it goes. The Boston Celtics were loaded with guys in their chronological wheelhouses (in those days generally regarded as walking fom the mid-20s to, oh, 32) such as Larry Bird & Kevin McHale.
Anyway, a look at NBA title teams suggests that it is lovely to trot out a great player or one at the height of their hardwood powers. With the exceptions of the Dennis Johnson Seattle SuperSoncis (1979) & Chauncey Billups Detroit Pistons (2004), every title team -- back-tracking to way before I started losing my hair -- has suited up at least one cinch future Hall of Famer in the prime of his career.
But exactly when does the prime start & finish? Well, with so lots of prevailing superstars jumping in to 82-game schedules right out of high school, prime time is arriving -- & perhaps ending -- a bit earlier than usual. Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant, the defending Finals MVP, has had several tire rotations despite checking in at a measly 31. His professional clock began ticking soon after prom night.
Elderly school Boston Celtics: Based on their recent struggles, the Cs are an obvious choice for this section. & while they still respect their potential to pull themselves together for a playoff beatdown or one, the uncooperative knee of Kevin Garnett (33) makes it hazardous to order champagne for Boston.
But than analyze the tread wear on current NBA players, let's take a look at this season's contenders & decide which squads may be elderly, young, or perhaps right.
one seasons ago, the Celtics still seemed a bit creaky (in relative terms) to satisfy the in-their-prime criteria. Garnett, Ray Allen & Paul Pierce had reached the far side of individual superstar careers, but a perfect storm enabled Doc Rivers to coax them in to a title surge. It certainly didn't hurt that KG had the chops & professionalism to demand a commitment to memorable defense from his teammates.
& it helped that -- in Rajon Rondo & Kendrick Perkins -- Boston had one defensive-oriented kids defending the point of attack & rim, respectively.
San Antonio Spurs: Parker is in his chronological prime at 27, but has had injury issues this season. Duncan (33) has to be shepherded through the dog days with additional rest while Manu Ginobili's health & dedication to playing for Argentina often makes him perform older than 32.
One years later, Garnett doesn't look the same, Pierce has battled injury & veteran acquisition Rasheed Wallace seems to have mistaken this NBA regular season for a spin through the local YMCA league.
Phoenix Suns: Amar'e Stoudemire certainly is not ready for a rocking chair based on his driver's license, but may be close to beginning a decline because of long-term effects of injury. The boost provided by second-year center Robin Lopez makes Phoenix a tougher out than expected, but Steve Nash & Grant Hill may need some rationing of playing time before the playoffs start.
New school Oklahoma City Thunder: This is a team to keep away from in the playoffs right now & one that will be hogging the spotlight sooner than later. But with core hotshots that probably spend their birthdays at Chuck E. Cheese, it is doubtful that OKC will have experience to march long one times the 2010 playoffs start. If contractual juggling allows this bunch to grow elderly together, future days of Thunder should be lots of fun.
Portland Trail Blazers: The Blazers certainly lean on some kids sometimes, but Brandon Roy, Andre Miller & LaMarcus Aldridge are not exactly kids. & while Roy is stinkin' lovely, he needs to be great more often. Even when he is at full strength physically, the Blazers don't seem to have talent to take down L.A., Dallas or Denver. Having a healthy defensive presence at center would make it a lot not as hard.
Atlanta Hawks: The Hawks may be a bit elderly for inclusion in this group with Joe Johnson & preps-to-pros stat machine Josh Smith leading the way. Those guys, along with point guard Mike Bibby, have been around a while. With Atlanta rolling out a truly risky team, the biggest problem may be the lack of a true difference-making superstar (although Joe is close & may be paid like one this summer) & not its overall youth.
Premium blend Los Angeles Lakers: A broken finger & recovery from a bum ankle have made Kobe look much like his best days are in the rearview mirror. We'll see how much he rises to playoff occasions. Pau Gasol (29) appears to be in his prime, although he's French national-team mileage, & Andrew Bynum is a kid.
Milwaukee Bucks: Brandon Jennings still has that new-car smell, & Andrew Bogut is playing like the Portland edition of Bill Walton. But the young Bucks' inability to play in to May will happen because they lack a player capable of taking over a series when the opposition knows each of their sets inside & out.
Will Derek Fisher's experience be able to hold off the effect his advancing years have had on his lateral defensive quickness? Ron Artest & Lamar Odom are 30 & still frisky to ride shotgun with Bryant.
Orlando Magic: This team has a young superstar in Dwight Howard, an older go-to type in Vince Carter (33) & young vets to fill in around them. The large issue is Carter's reluctance to keep attacking the basket during crucial periods of large games. Perhaps falling in love with his jumper has more to do with a reduction of pop in his wheels.
Denver Nuggets: The Nuggets have veteran leadership in Billups, a young superstar in Carmelo Anthony, a tempo-changing pup in Ty Lawson (when his shoulder is right) & veteran role players with tread left to challenge for the Western Conference crown. But will J.R. Smith & one or one other Denver players sabotage the title work by acting more like six-year-olds?
Cleveland Cavaliers: LeBron James looks physically invincible at 25; it'll be interesting to see how frequent-flier miles impact one of the world's greatest athletes when he reaches 31. The Cavs surround LBJ with old-timers such as O'Neal & Antawn Jamison, while Mo Williams, Anthony Parker & J.J. Hickson look fresh to keep defending at a high level through the playoffs.
Utah Jazz: Deron Williams (25) & Carlos Boozer lead a roster full of guys playing in their primes, but the aforementioned Western Conference teams have more players that appear to be a cut above.
Dallas Mavericks: The window may not be open long with Jason Kidd walking the point & Shawn Marion's pogo-stick days cannot go on that much longer, can they? Perhaps not, but this team is ready to roll right now & has in-their-prime talent to excel without absorbing large mistakes from kids.
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