A Modern Example
When the 2018-19 season began, you complained (I know you did) that the Western Conference was pre-determined, that the NBA Finals was predetermined, that the league has no parody, yadda, yadda, yadda., and when you filled out your preseason playoff prediction bracket (we all did that, right?), you absolutely had the Denver Nuggets at the top of the Conference and believed that the Los Angeles Clippers too were a real threat, didn’t you?
Here’s the thing about knowing everything: only adolescents and teens know it all. The rest of us? We can only make educated guesses then watch as mankind and history takes us for an unexpected spin and the wild-ride of life kicks in.
Now, I fully expect that the NBA Finals will feature the Golden State Warriors (barring a major injury, of course), but can you argue with me right now why the Denver Nuggets absolutely won’t be who they are facing to get there?
While the Denver Nuggets aren’t a legitimate title threat (I do not believe), they are absolutely a Western Conference Finals threat, and they are doing it seemingly out of the blue, after missing the playoffs for each of the last five seasons.
Teams come out of nowhere to compete all the time. It doesn’t mean that they win championships or even make the Conference Finals right out of the gate (that’s just the Suns), but more often than we give credit, teams that only a year prior weren’t in the playoffs suddenly appear on the scene and are good, if not real good.
Just because the Suns aren’t good now, doesn’t that they can’t be next season, or the season following, and be really good to boot.
Have I not yet achieved universal satisfaction?
Allow the modern construction of the Western Conference to be your guide.