Sound Familiar?

Ran across an interesting article from an April 2007 FOX Sports blog about what kind of team it takes to win a title. Yes, you probably need a couple of great players, but more than that, it's critical that you have a balanced team with several players who can step up and assume different roles at different times.

I know this example is a little before your time (waaaay before) but die-hard sports people typically point to the Jordan-Pippen combo when talking about the Bulls dynasty (six championships). That's obvious. But the guys who often get overlooked are the real key to their success. John Paxson, Horace Grant, Bill Cartwright, B.J. Armstrong, Will Perdue, and Scott Williams. Not one of these guys can even remotely be considered a super-star. Was winning just a matter of everyone being in the right place at the right time? Maybe, but I doubt it.

I think it's more than that. These guys are not Hall of Famers, but they contributed every bit as much as Michael Jordan or Scottie Pippen did. They were part of the only team in NBA history to ever win 72 games in a single season (out of 82 games that season). They knew that success meant the team goal had to come before their personal goals. They never allowed petty things or egos to interfere with the team chemistry. They were willing to do whatever was required of them, they brought energy, they were able to focus and execute, they were encouragers, they made few mistakes, and above all else… they enjoyed competing.

Look at the roster of any championship team and you’ll quickly notice that they're loaded with guys who fit this description.

Yes, the teams with the best players usually win, but how you define "best players" is the real difference.

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