We are entirely in the soft salary cap era and also in the 30 teams means 450 NBA players of dramatically different ability era, which has caused rosters to lose the depth they had during the 80s, let alone what those dominant Boston clubs of the 60s were equipped with.

But the team that ultimately wins the Finals still generally has had at least one MVP-type guy and at least one or two others playing at an All-Star level. Or they have had a deep team of fringe All-Stars, such as the Pistons of 2004 and the 80s, along with several instances in the 70s. This has historically been the case with just a few exceptions.

The Cavaliers have an opportunity to be an exception to that rule this season if they happen to go on to win the 2010 title. What makes it even more staggering is that they could be an exception despite having a payroll well over the luxury tax, at least $83M.

LeBron James has a PER of 31.7, which beats what Shaquille O'Neal was putting up with the Lakers and also beats any of the seasons in Michael Jordan's run between 1988 and 1991. We all know LeBron is good, but he truly is historically good.

Without disparaging anyone on the Cavaliers, looking at his roster compared to other teams that have won the Finals makes him look even better, should they win it all.

The aforementioned Shaq, now 38-years-old, is second on Cleveland in terms of PER at 18.1. After him are Anderson Varejao at 16.1, Antawn Jamison at 16.0, Mo Williams at 15.5 and J.J. Hickson at 14.3.

But LeBron and the Cavaliers are not alone, as the supporting cast for Dwight Howard in Orlando is even lower on the PER totem pole. Howard has a 24.0 PER, but Vince Carter comes in at 16.8, Jameer Nelson is at 15.1 and Rashard Lewis is at 14.2.

In the Western Conference, the Lakers, Nuggets, Jazz, Suns and Spurs have no problems with such imbalances, while the Mavericks, Thunder and Blazers more closely resemble the Cavs and Magic.

Since 1974, there are only three teams that went on to win the title who compare to the 09-10 Cavaliers with their blend of superstar and multiple role players.  Those teams are listed in bold, as having one player have a PER of 23.0 or better and no other teammates above the 18.1 PER Shaq currently possesses. A PER in that range is typically the cutoff of who we can identify as having an All-Star caliber season, so it is a safe statistical benchmark.

Regular Season PERs For Title Winners

Lakers 2009- Pau Gasol: 24.4, Kobe Bryant: 22.2, Andrew Bynum: 20.0

Boston 2008- Kevin Garnett: 25.3, Paul Pierce: 19.6

San Antonio 2007- Tim Duncan: 26.1, Manu Ginobili: 24.1, Tony Parker: 21.4

Miami 2006- Dwyane Wade: 27.6, Shaq: 24.4, Alonzo Mourning: 19.4

San Antonio 2005- Duncan: 27.0, Ginobili: 22.3

Detroit 2004- Rasheed Wallace: 18.8, Chauncey Billups: 18.6, Mehmet Okur: 18.3

San Antonio 2003- Duncan: 26.9, David Robinson 17.8, Tony Parker: 16.5

Lakers 2002- Shaq: 29.7, Kobe: 23.2

Lakers 2001- Shaq: 30.2, Kobe: 24.5

Lakers 2000- Shaq: 30.7, Kobe: 21.7

San Antonio 1999- Robinson: 24.9, Duncan: 23.2

Chicago 1998- Michael Jordan: 25.2, Scottie Pippen: 20.4

Chicago 1997- Jordan: 27.8, Pippen: 21.3, Toni Kukoc: 20.2

Chicago 1996- Jordan: 29.4, Pippen: 21.0, Kukoc: 20.4

Houston 1995- Hakeem Olajuwon: 26.0, Clyde Drexler: 22.1

Houston 1994- Hakeem: 25.3, Otis Thorpe: 16.1

Chicago 1993- Jordan: 29.1, Pippen: 19.2

Chicago 1992- Jordan: 27.7, Pippen: 21.5, Horrace Grant: 20.6

Chicago 1991- Jordan: 31.6, Pippen: 20.6

Detroit 1990- Isiah Thomas: 17.3, Joe Dumars: 17.2

Detroit 1989- Vinnie Johnson: 17.3, Isiah: 17.1

Lakers 1988- Magic Johnson: 23.1, Byron Scott: 19.2, James Worthy: 18.2

Lakers 1987- Magic: 27.0, Worthy: 18.4

Boston 1986- Larry Bird: 25.6, Kevin McHale: 21.6, Robert Parish: 18.8

Lakers 1985- Magic: 23.2, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 22.9

Boston 1984- Bird: 24.2, McHale: 20.0, Parish: 19.2

Philadelphia 1983- Moses Malone: 25.1, Julius Erving: 23.1, Mo Cheeks: 18.6

Lakers 1982- Kareem: 23.4, Magic: 22.9

Boston 1981- Parish: 25.2, Bird: 19.6

Lakers 1980- Kareem: 25.3, Magic: 20.6

Seattle 1979- Gus Williams: 21.1, Fred Brown: 16.9

Washington 1978- Elvin Hayes: 17.1, Bob Dandridge: 16.1

Portland 1977- Bill Walton: 22.9, Maurice Lucas: 18.3

Boston 1976- Dave Cowens: 18.9, John Havlicek: 15.5

Golden State 1975- Rick Barry: 23.5, Butch Beard: 16.1

Boston 1974- Havlicek: 17.4, Cowens: 16.6