We are truly living in a new age of basketball. We can see that the desire to improve your game only goes as far as adding someone else to the team to do your bidding. Whatever happened to the competitive fire that professional basketball players had- the passion to get better and inspire their respective teams. Instead people are try to get with other superstars in order to hide their flaws. (while this isn't that new, it is happening more and more). Whatever happened to teams keeping and retiring one great player that turned the franchise around, instead of trying to grow multiple talents. Whatever happened to the desire to have one great player clashing against another great player? Whatever happened to the undying aspiration of collecting a TEAM victory instead of trying to pad stats (yes i'm talking to you Melo- 2 years ago vs. Philadelphia when you couldn't get another 20 point game to add to your start of consecutive 20 point games to start the season; you flew off the court in a slew of fury). Whatever happened to superstars realizing their worst fears and acknowlegding they are only as human as the fans that cheer them on? Whatever happened to the hardnose defenses that always started fights and made for exciting matchups. I will tell you what happened. Greed. I got greedy as a fan and demanded more from my team and more for my team to spend. Owners got greedy and started to withhold money at the right times. Players got greedy and demanded more than what they were worth. Sponsors got greedy and tried to loop the best deals for the best teams and players. But from a fan's standpoint- shouldn't greed breed better competition?