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It's more of a show biz now. Its own ability of having one master player for a certain type can both benefit and cause damage to its business. Because master pl

by LiweiZ 9y ago

It's more of a show biz now. Its own ability of having one master player for a certain type can both benefit and cause damage to its business. Because master players of a certain type is not easy to find and once there comes one, the expectation for the same type would be pushed higher after the player left. Or customers would leave. So if there is a master player now, do business around him/her. After that, change the game and expect another master player in another type. More fans pay to see their hero in his/her prime.

aaron-lebo 9y ago
It's not that new. There was a team in the 1980s called Showtime with some very masterful players. Free agency rules in the 90s actually made it easier for dominant players to switch teams. See Shaq. What has happened is that players are basically bred from youth basketball leagues and they're healthier for longer, so you've got a number of skilled and freak athletes that can swing games. But those athletes have voluntarily chosen to form these superteams which are also a reflection of youth basketball culture.
- LiweiZ 9y ago
  The master player in one type I was talking about is someone like MJ. He pushed the expectation so high in both quantity (from data's point of view) and quality (all those master level moves only rooted from unreal fundamentals). There is basically zero chance to have someone better than him in the short and mid run. And the league had to change how the game is played to create space to expect another master player in another type. In this process, before the true master player emerges and matures, there is also some time for the fans to speculate who will be the master in each generation of players till that final one arrives. In short, better versions of a certain type of heroes keep coming and attracting more fans and pushing the expectation higher. It somewhat resets the product and let the new dynamics evolve so that it keeps the cashflow flow in strongly and can last for quite some time. Of course, just my observation. edit: added the product and dynamics analogy and corrected grammar.
  - aaron-lebo 9y ago
    Good points. My dad is a Bulls fan. I remember watching MJ but don't remember appreciating just how dominant he was. It seems like today we've got a number of players who while not as well-rounded are dominant in the same ways. You've obviously got Lebron, Curry is a better shooter, Westbrook is a triple double machine, KD has size + offense, etc. The ceiling for skill seems very high now. I wonder if we're gonna see some insanely athletic 7 footer which brings the game back towards the basket any time soon.

by LiweiZ 9y ago

aaron-lebo 9y ago

It's not that new. There was a team in the 1980s called Showtime with some very masterful players. Free agency rules in the 90s actually made it easier for dominant players to switch teams. See Shaq. What has happened is that players are basically bred from youth basketball leagues and they're healthier for longer, so you've got a number of skilled and freak athletes that can swing games. But those athletes have voluntarily chosen to form these superteams which are also a reflection of youth basketball culture.

LiweiZ 9y ago
The master player in one type I was talking about is someone like MJ. He pushed the expectation so high in both quantity (from data's point of view) and quality (all those master level moves only rooted from unreal fundamentals). There is basically zero chance to have someone better than him in the short and mid run. And the league had to change how the game is played to create space to expect another master player in another type. In this process, before the true master player emerges and matures, there is also some time for the fans to speculate who will be the master in each generation of players till that final one arrives. In short, better versions of a certain type of heroes keep coming and attracting more fans and pushing the expectation higher. It somewhat resets the product and let the new dynamics evolve so that it keeps the cashflow flow in strongly and can last for quite some time. Of course, just my observation. edit: added the product and dynamics analogy and corrected grammar.
- aaron-lebo 9y ago
  Good points. My dad is a Bulls fan. I remember watching MJ but don't remember appreciating just how dominant he was. It seems like today we've got a number of players who while not as well-rounded are dominant in the same ways. You've obviously got Lebron, Curry is a better shooter, Westbrook is a triple double machine, KD has size + offense, etc. The ceiling for skill seems very high now. I wonder if we're gonna see some insanely athletic 7 footer which brings the game back towards the basket any time soon.