We've heard that line a million times: it takes a superstar to win a championship.  This just doesn't seem true to me.  Sure, they're usually there, but there's superstars all over the place that have yet to win.  Think Kidd, McGrady, Kobe -Shaq and roles, Garnett, Nash, Malone, Stockton.  Now, think of the Superstars that have won: Kobe +Shaq, Shaq, Duncan, Wade.  What about the Pistons?  There's no discernible Superstar on that team.  Sheed could have been, but he's not.  Billups isn't.  The supers that won championships also happened to have freaking awesome backup role players.  Do the lakers win in 2000 without Horry and that umentionable greasy haired guy?  I don't think so.  Saying a superstar wins championships is like saying a light bulb lights a room; it's apparently true but relies on other necessary conditions.  THe room has to reflect the light otherwise there's nothing to see.  A superstart can't win a championship by themself just like a light bulb can't light a room without reflection.  But the room can relfect light from other sources jsut like a team full of role players (the pistons, very good ones of course) can win a championship.

Stars shine bright, but they don't win championships.  They win dunk contests! TEAMS WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS.  The consistent factor in winnning it all is that your team OVERALL is very good.  Superstars may raise the ability levels of the other players, but those other players need to make shots like Horry at the buzzer.  Look at what Miami did to their roster.  They kept the supes but lost the roles.  How're they doing?  Shaq didn't even feel like playing for them after that.  

The reason I'm posting this is because I've heard it said that we don't have a superstar and that we need Greg to be that.  How many of you think this is true?  Do we really need someone to take over the game?  Do bail us out?  Seems like we have that potential already.  Why do we need someone that draws all the media attention, makes flashy plays, whines, makes those dumb "I'm a badass face" a la LeBron?  Why is that important if we have a higher total level of talent and desire?

A team leader is different from a supe.  A leader inspires players, makes them practice harder, play harder.  A supe may be that, but it's not necessary.  Duncan and Garnett are both leaders, but Garnett is an unbearable jerkwad while Duncan is surreptitiously whiny but couth.  Do we need leadership or stardom?

This is kind of a rant, as pride in the NBA is at an utterly unjustifiable level.  A superstar like LeBron would be much better to be proud of an accomplishment like winning a championship rather than is affinity for the Yankees, his privelledged lifestyle and relationship with an equally hubristic rapper.  I hate superstars.  I'm a hater.  I said it.