European Super League and the American inspiration which doomed it to failure
The Los Angeles Lakers finished 11th in the NBA's Western conference. The team was the No 2 preseason betting favourite to win the championship. They will miss the post-season play-offs for a second consecutive season. Head coach Frank Vogel is under the managerial cross-hairs. The NBA is a closed shop sport. Big teams are protected. There is always next season for the big teams. Football fans are not. It is anathema to football die-hard to accept that. NBA fans believe that the team should be punished for their sins. In this vintage, the 'big' teams, such as the Lakers or the NFL’s New York Giants, are awarded a significant degree of cosy protection.
