I think there would be some recent ones that fit but I can't remember/be fucked going out and finding them, so instead I'm passing it on to you guys if you have any examples that would be a good fit for this. Ftr Ewing theory is where a team loses a star/key player but actually performs better because they're overrated, the gameplan is too reliant on them or other players are underrated/aren't given a chance to be utilised properly. Obviously it fits better to basketball since there's only 5 players as opposed to 13 (17) in league but nonetheless could apply. Actually while writing this I thought the Dogs losing Reynolds/Hodkinson (whoever was out for MBye) might've made them a better team but they weren't particularly dominant players and Mbye's a notable back up. Tigers for a while I thought could've been a good example with Farah going out, so long as the replacement hooker wasn't retarded (ended up being Halatau) and Brooks wasn't complete shit (which he is). Anyway enough, onto you guys.
Matthew Johns to a degree. Him leaving before the 2001 season opened up the Knights for Joey to have absolute control over the playmaking and both the player and the side went to another level.
Agree they'd be better without him. Their play in general has nothing to do with him being there though IMO.