Why luck seems destined to play a uniquely large role in NBA's wide-open title race
Luck. Pure, absolute, roll-those-dice luck . That's the dirty word floating around the NBA, where competitive players, proud general managers and hard-working scouts are bristling against the idea the league can be shaped by anything other than a talent-fueled meritocracy in which the best -- the best front offices, the best decision makers, the best players -- win because they earned it. "There's certainly some luck that goes into it, but I like to think there's more skill," one top executive told CBS Sports. He's not alone. Competitive people like to feel in control of their destinies. It's uncomfortable, if you spend your life chasing greatness, to contemplate the possibility that much of your life's mission might just come down to chance. But despite the obvious fact that talent, hard work and drive are key, this season is shaping up as one that will be uniquely forged by fo...