Open any history textbook to a random page and odds are you’ll soon be reading about a war. You’ll find out which side won, learn about the consequences for the loser, and, invariably, see credit given to the victorious leader. From as far back as the books take us, a good general who puts his troops in position to succeed has always been imperative for triumph on the battlefield.
The 82 battles in an NBA team’s season are decided by which side is able to impose its style of warfare more effectively, an ability typically determined by the performance of the team’s leader.