Friday, July 16th, 2010 at 1:35 pm  |  26 responses

Three’s Never a Crowd

Especially when it comes to getting that ring.

by Van Sias

Back when Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen joined Paul Pierce in Boston, it was as if the pro basketball world was tilted on its axis. That “Big 3” went on to win the big ring during its first season together.

Now, we’re a week into what’s being called “Miami Thrice” with LeBron James and Chris Bosh hooking up with Dwyane Wade on the Heat.

There’s been a lot of questions about why “the King” made the move, but if the number three isn’t prevalent with your team — whether physically or philosophically — you could be in line for watching a lot ring presentations to other teams over the course of your career.

Just look at some of the championship squads over the past couple (or I should say, three) decades. The 1980s weren’t just about Bird and Magic; rather it was more like the Bird/McHale/Parish and Magic/Kareem/Worthy show, with Danny Ainge and Dennis Johnson and Byron Scott and Michael Cooper, respectively, among the supporting casts. Those squads were prolific with the ring-getting back then, winning eight titles between them over the decade.

That all came to a halt for a minute, with the Pistons ending the Lake Squad’s bid for a “three-peat” by Isiah Thomas, Bill Laimbeer and Joe Dumars; then ZMichael Jordan, Dennis Rodman & Scottie Pippeneke, Dumars and new acquisition Mark Aguirre leading them to back-to-back titles. Their bid for the three-peat was stopped by Mr. You-Know-Who, who really came into his own, but not on his own.

The Bulls pulled off two three-peats in the ‘90s, led by Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant the first go-around, then switched out Grant for Dennis Rodman on the second set.

The number three showed up in so many facets on that Bulls team: from the coach, Phil Jackson, embracing his mentor Tex Winter’s Triangle Offense scheme; to John Paxson and Steve Kerr draining three-pointers at crucial points in the Playoffs.

In between Chicago’s trifectas, the Houston Rockets brought home the big one twice. You could say that those teams were deep like Aristotle and were able to bypass the magic of three with Hakeem Olajuwon putting on dominant performances against New York and Orlando. But if you look a little closer at those rosters, you’ll find a couple of youngsters — Sam Cassell and Robert Horry a.k.a. “Big Shot Rob” — who have sunk more clutch threes between them than almost anyone anywhere. That all started during those playoff runs.

But before he was so rudely interrupted by the Rockets, let’s go back to Jackson, who wasn’t content to get three in a row with only the Bulls. Moving over to the Lakers—and bringing the Triangle with him—saw him get his third title-winning three-peat, with Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and (insert third player here: Rick Fox, Robert Horry, Derek Fisher) embracing the power of the trinity.

Don’t overlook how the San Antonio Spurs got their chance to kiss the big trophy with Tim Duncan, the “Admiral” David Robinson and the “Little General” Avery Johnson coming up big for the first title. Then it was the “Big Fundamental” joined by Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker helping the franchise get the next three.

Miami, which picked up its first title back in 2006, couldn’t escape the power of three on its playoff run. It’s on Wade’s jersey every game! Plus, holding down the middle on that team was the Big Three-Peat, Shaq O’Neal.

The number three hasKobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, Ron Artest & Pau Gasol had a huge impact on how legends are made in the Playoffs over the years. And don’t expect the ‘10-11 season to be any different.

The Lakers, who will be going for three in a row again next year, will have Kobe, Pau Gasol and Ron Artest on the court once again and “Big Chief Triangle,” who signed up for one more year, back on the bench. Boston brings back its Big 3, too. Aside from those veteran squads, there are young teams, adopting their own version of the formula, such as Atlanta with Al Horford, Josh Smith and Joe “Max Deal” Johnson.

And looking further ahead to 2011, there are already rumors swirling around Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony joining Amar’e Stoudemire in New York to bring a Big 3 to the Big Apple.

No matter, though, they’ll all have to contend with “Miami Thrice,” a concept LeBron has seemed to embrace: Good things come in threes.

After all, that idea worked for Jack Tripper, too.

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  • LA Huey Posted: Jul.16 at 1:47 pm
    I agree that it takes more than one guy but you’re really reaching for a connection to “3″. Nonetheless, it was a fun trip down memory lane.

  • Eboy Posted: Jul.16 at 1:49 pm
    A Three’s Company reference? Wow! Pretty cool piece….nicely done. Btw, the “non-official” official nickname for the Heat’s big 3 is “Trio-Five” but you didn’t hear that from me.

  • Jason Bovell Posted: Jul.16 at 1:53 pm
    Its sad how slam is trying to justify Lebron’s move. First Avery Johnson wasn’t even a allstar and was a journey man so that was No big three! None of those examples had three superstars joining together to win. The third man usually was a good ROLE PLAYER except for the Celtics. Two of the three were on the other side of their careers. Lebron can win 5 rings but will never be compared to Kobe or Jordan again.

  • Dale Zelinsky Posted: Jul.16 at 2:05 pm
    The Pistons would have had a Three-Peat starting in 88 if it wasn’t for the Phantom Foul.

  • nicko Posted: Jul.16 at 2:22 pm
    Yeah this is pretty stupid..you could take any big name player and any two names. The Nets big three this year was Devin Harris, Brook Lopez, and Yi

  • Anton Posted: Jul.16 at 2:24 pm
    Miami Thrice

  • Eboy Posted: Jul.16 at 2:31 pm
    Sorry Anton, you’re wrong.

  • baller Posted: Jul.16 at 3:17 pm
    loved reading this perspective!

  • Scottie Pimpin Posted: Jul.16 at 4:36 pm
    wade is still a bum.

  • slick Ric Posted: Jul.16 at 5:02 pm
    I hate when people try to compare these bums to the Bulls of the ninety’s.

  • JTaylor21 Posted: Jul.16 at 5:57 pm
    It think Eboys on point with that nickname trio-five miayayo. BAWSE

  • JL Posted: Jul.16 at 6:17 pm
    jordan rodman and pippen was the perfect match for SG/SF/PF. their defense was like having the 3 first teamers on your team, and they are beyong first team, more like hall of fame team (ok there’s better, but they’re pretty good). combined with the scoring from jordan and pippen (he showed he could score even without jordan, tho not as good) they were unbeatable. The heat trio is good too, with more scoring, and great defense from lbj and wade, while i guess bosh evens up his lack of defense with his scoring. however, it’s easier if all three are good at D since u don’t start cancelling each other out if you all play good D. if you are all good at shooting the ball, then there’s only one ball. what can you do.

  • Shanoooooooo Posted: Jul.16 at 6:18 pm
    Co-sign Jason bovel. You can never compare lebron to kobe or jordan ever again. In miami he will be Scottie Pippen. Thats his new Legacy.

  • Shanoooooooo Posted: Jul.16 at 6:20 pm
    My bad Jason Bovell.

  • Ken Posted: Jul.16 at 8:14 pm
    Pippen had 6 rings, which he earned. LeBron has none. I hate how people are comparing Lebron to Pip as if that’s something bad. Pip still has more to show (at this point in LBJ’s career at least) than Lebron does, so that should be put to rest. PS- this article was fluffier than cotton candy. Was it written on deadline or something?

  • Dacre Posted: Jul.16 at 9:17 pm
    Maybe it’s getting lost in translation over here in Australia, but what does Trio-five refer too? It doesn’t seem to mean anything… Eboy?

  • luv2ball Posted: Jul.16 at 9:18 pm
    Pip took the same team W/o Jordan to the ECF, he wasn’t the score Jordan was, but he is and always will be my favorite player. Bird,Mchale,Parish and MAgic,Kareem, Worthy anyone? Noone can win a title on their own (ask AI) youneed two legit All-stars/HOF type players and one “kind-of” all-star. How come noone says that LArry Birds Rings are diminished because he played with 2 Top 50 players and HOF’ ers.

  • O Posted: Jul.16 at 10:37 pm
    LeBron’s the bum here. He didn’t wanna be the Chosen ONE anymore. He needed TWO more to help. Everyone has a dope number 2 and a gang of role players. Kobe had Shaq and then Gasol, but still a dope role team. Wade had Shaq and a good role team. Jordan had Pippen and a dope role team. Magic had Kareem, Duncan had Robinson and then Parker. Hakeem had a role team, period! (sorry Kenny Smith, Cassel, Maxwell and Horry). Now look at LBJ. The biggest sports disappointment since the XFL. Even if LBJ wins a title every single year of his career, he should be in the Ewing, Malone, Barkley and Miller section of the Hall of Fame. You might’ve won it all, but YOU didn’t win it all…

  • WM Posted: Jul.16 at 11:39 pm
    I can’t understand how people think that the two-time reigning MVP is going to be playing Robin to Wade’s Batman???!!! LeBron will win another MVP while he’s in Miami. He’s still the best player on his team and will be as long as he plays. Miami will find a way to make it work, but LeBron will undoutedly be the leader of the team. And for everyone who keeps saying ‘Kobe had Shaq’… for those Shaq and Kobe years… Shaq was the man and Kobe was the sidekick, not the other way around.

  • slick Ric Posted: Jul.16 at 11:40 pm
    I agree Ken.

  • Lawrence Posted: Jul.16 at 11:43 pm
    i agree…Lebron ain’t the “KING” nor the chosen ONE.just another superstar…that’s it.

  • O Posted: Jul.16 at 11:45 pm
    LeBron will win an MVP cause Wade, Miller and Bosh are gonna make him look good. If the Cavs team made LeBron an MVP then imagine what the Heat will make him look like? But that don’t mean ish! Jordan, Bird, Magic, even Isiah “Please James Dolan DO NOT Hire Him Again” Thomas made themselves look good AND won titles while at it. James just F’D up his own name. Talk about WALKING into shadows…

  • JTaylor21 Posted: Jul.16 at 11:51 pm
    It’s funny how with bron, people are saying that when he wins chips it won’t be the same as when others who have won. Bullsh*t. A chip is a chip, many players past and present would give the left nut just to have one. Nobody gives a fu*k how its won as long as you win. Everybody forgets that kobe was carried to 3 chips by his big daddy, and shot 6-24 in a GM 7. All the say now is that Kobe has 5. You fuc^ing haters need to go have unprotected sex with Magic.

  • starkid Posted: Jul.17 at 2:10 am
    Wooow Lebron fans are truly deluded, face the truth your favourite player shows weak heart teaming up with two of the best in the league. In the weekend pick up games where I’m from don’t even do that. Guys who do that get roasted for chickening out.
    Face it Lebron taking the easy way out and he’s acting like an ageing vet… looks like he understands he’s got no skill range. When he’s 30 the athletism will go and thats all he is… no post game no reliable jumper. He’s Overated and he knows it because he’s a wonderfull athlete but not a pure Basketball player, a current trend of players relying on physical attributes without determination to improve their craft (Dwight Howard lool). Learn your position. Its a sad thing for kids also to think they don’t need a jumper to be in the NBA e.g Rajon Rondo. Lebron is a Fake. Thank god Durant is showing that Kevin Durant is showing signs that he aint following this ESPN self Jerk off generation.

  • Hursty Posted: Jul.17 at 4:17 am
    So.. Scottie Pippen isn’t 6’7. Not in that picture.
    NBA Live has lied to me!

  • Jeff Posted: Jul.19 at 11:54 pm
    Tim, Manu, and Tony were all stars so in my book they’re Superstars.

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