In the NBA, there was a fundamental consensus: a player's level of performance dictated the treatment they received on the court. A star who didn't draw double-teams couldn't be considered top-tier. And only those who could maintain consistent production through double-teams earned the title of superstar.
During this year's playoffs, Dirk Nowitzki shed his "soft" label and embarked on his path to superstardom. On the flip side, Kobe Bryant's star power had dimmed somewhat due to his abysmal performances. But Kobe had his own grievances. Sure, they were both getting double-teamed, but one had to consider who was doing the trapping.
