Organizations win championships

Jerry Krause uttered those words about 15 years ago much to the chagrin of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. But if you look today at what's going on in the world of basketball, especially out west, you see that organizations do indeed win championships.

First off, players win, that's obvious. You must be talented enough to make plays and win games. However, talent isn't enough to win championships. Organizations, GMs who mold rosters to put enough pieces in place, having a consistent vision from one year to the next and staying true to that vision separate the talented from the champions.

Now onto this year's analysis.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are scary good. Their star three players are 22-23 years old, primed for at least an 6-10 year run baring injury or self-inflicted ego wounds. Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs have quietly gone about being the one of the best teams in the league for the past 15 or so years. While the Spurs core is far older and is on it's last hurrah's it's a testament to Greg Poppovich and R.C. Buford for building and keeping this championship train chugging along. The Lakers have gotten more sheen or glam to them, it's the nature of being in L.A. but you would be hard pressed to find a better contender for team of the last 10 years than the Spurs.

Congrats to the remaining championship organizations out west. The east well that's another story.