Consistency seems to be the biggest problem in the NBA today. With Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O' Neal leading their line, the LA Lakers were the team expected to take over the mantle of the Chicago Bulls after Jordan's departure. However, the Lakers are blowing hot and cold. Brilliant one game, the Lakers manage to self-destruct the next. Things really look bad.
Enthusiasm seems to have been injected into the league and onlookers with the release of such news.
Yet that is precisely the direction they should avoid. What the NBA really needs is to improve on their consistency and their discipline. Kobe and Shaq need to iron out their differences, the Trail Blazers need to hold down Rasheed Wallace's temper and the coaches need to focus on their young players. The Philadelphia 76ers need to build around Allen Iversen and the Toronto Raptors around Vince Carter. No one may ever create the same magic that Michael Jordan did but the NBA can still regain the attention it used to if its youngsters can be groomed.