If the LeBron James-era Miami Heat marked the peak of what player empowerment can accomplish in the NBA, look no further than the 2022 postseason for its nadir.
Absent: LeBron and the Los Angeles Lakers of his vision historically flamed out of the playoffs before they began. Absent as of Monday: A Brooklyn Nets squad built by, of and for Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, swept out of the first round in alarming fashion by the Boston Celtics.
The two teams that entered 2021-22 as betting favorites to meet in the Finals exit with a grand total of zero playoff wins between them.