Also, go Spurs. Would love to see Duncan get #6 to spite Kobe.
NBA/ Basketball thread
- Thread starter meatyard
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How many teams actually have a shot at winning the NBA Championship? I'd be interested to see who people think are legitimate contenders. We know that the NBA is a player's league, maybe more so in recent years. Looking back to 1980, I only see one or two teams that won without an elite HOFer leading the way. Not just a great player, or HOFer, or even an MVP, but an elite player in all-time status. Here's the breakdown, tell me what you think about these:
1980 Lakers / Magic, Abdul-Jabbar
1981 76ers / Moses Malone, Dr J
1982 Lakers / Magic, Abdul-Jabbar
1983 Celtics / Bird
1984 Celtics / Bird
1985 Lakers / Magic, Abdul-Jabbar
1986 Celtics / Bird
1987 Lakers / Magic, Abdul-Jabbar
1988 Lakers / Magic, Abdul-Jabbar
1989 Pistons / Isaiah Thomas
1990 Pistons / Isaiah Thomas
1991 Bulls / Jordan
1992 Bulls / Jordan
1993 Bulls / Jordan
1994 Rockets / Hakeem Olajuwon
1995 Rockets / Hakeem Olajuwon
1996 Bulls / Jordan
1997 Bulls / Jordan
1998 Bulls / Jordan
1999 Spurs / Tim Duncan
2000 Lakers / Kobe, Shaq
2001 Lakers / Kobe, Shaw
2002 Lakers / Kobe, Shaq
2003 Spurs / Tim Duncan
2004 Pistons* (no elite HOF player)
2005 Spurs / Tim Duncan
2006 Heat / Shaq
2007 Spurs / Tim Duncan
2008 Celtics* (Garnett and Pierce, each HOF player but neither elite all-time)
2009 Lakers / Kobe
2010 Lakers / Kobe
2011 Mavericks / Dirk Nowitzki
2012 Heat / Lebron
2013 Heat / Lebron
2014 Spurs / Tim Duncan
Looking at this list (assuming it indicates a rule/trend), the worst players (excluding 2 exceptions) to win the title since 1980 are probably Dirk, Isaiah, Hakeem, or Moses Malone, each of whom has a legitimate argument towards top-25 all-time status. Looking at top players alone, who in this year's field is good enough to win the title?
1980 Lakers / Magic, Abdul-Jabbar
1981 76ers / Moses Malone, Dr J
1982 Lakers / Magic, Abdul-Jabbar
1983 Celtics / Bird
1984 Celtics / Bird
1985 Lakers / Magic, Abdul-Jabbar
1986 Celtics / Bird
1987 Lakers / Magic, Abdul-Jabbar
1988 Lakers / Magic, Abdul-Jabbar
1989 Pistons / Isaiah Thomas
1990 Pistons / Isaiah Thomas
1991 Bulls / Jordan
1992 Bulls / Jordan
1993 Bulls / Jordan
1994 Rockets / Hakeem Olajuwon
1995 Rockets / Hakeem Olajuwon
1996 Bulls / Jordan
1997 Bulls / Jordan
1998 Bulls / Jordan
1999 Spurs / Tim Duncan
2000 Lakers / Kobe, Shaq
2001 Lakers / Kobe, Shaw
2002 Lakers / Kobe, Shaq
2003 Spurs / Tim Duncan
2004 Pistons* (no elite HOF player)
2005 Spurs / Tim Duncan
2006 Heat / Shaq
2007 Spurs / Tim Duncan
2008 Celtics* (Garnett and Pierce, each HOF player but neither elite all-time)
2009 Lakers / Kobe
2010 Lakers / Kobe
2011 Mavericks / Dirk Nowitzki
2012 Heat / Lebron
2013 Heat / Lebron
2014 Spurs / Tim Duncan
Looking at this list (assuming it indicates a rule/trend), the worst players (excluding 2 exceptions) to win the title since 1980 are probably Dirk, Isaiah, Hakeem, or Moses Malone, each of whom has a legitimate argument towards top-25 all-time status. Looking at top players alone, who in this year's field is good enough to win the title?
Blake Griffin and Bynum are much better than average. You could argue Bynum should have been an All Star in fact
Blake Griffin is more than just highlight reel dunks. He's a top level player
They have a top coach too
The past is the past. Right now, they should be doing more as a team
The window of opportunity closes more and more every season they don't push on
Paul is an elite player. If they do anything, it revolves around him, but they also need a scorer. Griffin is exciting, but I'm not convinced he's anything more than a run-of-the-mill all-star. Bynum can give good big-man minutes, but he rarely leaves the headaches at home.
Have just realized it's Clippers-Spurs first round. Should be a great matchup, but this Spurs team is among the best I've seen in a long time. I don't see the Clippers winning this unless injuries strike.
Yeah, that's a terrible draw for The Clippers
1979 Seattle/Dennis Johnson HOF...not elite
The NBA is the most 'star' driven league. I am rooting for the Warriors, because they are just too fun not to watch. That said, even with the fantastic regular season they've had, I'm afraid the deck is stacked against them historically. The Western Conference is stacked.
I almost feel like Cleveland is already penciled in on the trophy.
There are better "teams" this year than most years. GSW, Portland, Atlanta, and Memphis are interesting to watch and have very good players, but seems to me that Spurs or Cavaliers are most likely victors.
Anyone taking Bulls at 15/1 is pyar sauced
ODDS TO WIN 2014-15 NBA CHAMPIONSHIP (6/15/15)
Team Odds
Cleveland Cavaliers 11/5
Golden State Warriors 11/5
San Antonio Spurs 4/1
Atlanta Hawks 15/1
Chicago Bulls 15/1
Los Angeles Clippers 18/1
Houston Rockets 25/1
Memphis Grizzlies 30/1
Dallas Mavericks 50/1
Portland Blazers 75/1
Toronto Raptors 75/1
Washington Wizards 85/1
New Orleans Pelicans 150/1
Boston Celtics 250/1
Milwaukee Bucks 300/1
Brooklyn Nets 300/1
*Bovada has Bulls at 12/1
ODDS TO WIN 2014-15 NBA CHAMPIONSHIP (6/15/15)
Team Odds
Cleveland Cavaliers 11/5
Golden State Warriors 11/5
San Antonio Spurs 4/1
Atlanta Hawks 15/1
Chicago Bulls 15/1
Los Angeles Clippers 18/1
Houston Rockets 25/1
Memphis Grizzlies 30/1
Dallas Mavericks 50/1
Portland Blazers 75/1
Toronto Raptors 75/1
Washington Wizards 85/1
New Orleans Pelicans 150/1
Boston Celtics 250/1
Milwaukee Bucks 300/1
Brooklyn Nets 300/1
*Bovada has Bulls at 12/1
Anthony Davis will be the best basketball player on the planet for an extended period of time.
Coming soon.
Coming soon.
AdamEFC
Player Valuation: £35m
By Bynum I am assuming you mean DeAndre?
Think you have played down Wade's roles in the Championships especially the Heat's first. A strong argument could be made the he is the 3rd best SG all time and definitely top 5.
In answer to your question, obviously LeBron, Duncan and Dirk (little chance though). I think the Griz have got a chance but they would go down as winning without a HOF player. Then probably the Warriors, think Steph is good enough. If he carries on will go down as one of the best shooters of all time (extremely strong case that he is already that) and the clippers have an outside chance, with CP3 and Blake backing him up. Don't reckon anyone else has a chance to be honest, maybe the bulls at a push.
Wade is very good, but I would class him with Garnett and Pierce. HOF but not elite. Spots 1 and 2 are taken, but the top-5 gets quite crowded: Drexler, Iverson, Maravich, Gervin, West, and Havlicek all have legitimate claims to be in the top-5 with Wade. Also Reggie Miller, Ray Allen, James Harden... many others will suggest their name should stand with Wade. I don't think Wade does much to separate himself from this group. He's great, but not elite like Jordan or Kobe, and he wasn't the best player on any of his title-winning teams.
In 2006 he was elite, without question. Just because he didn't have the staying power of the others, doesn't change how damn good he was in that series.
And Hakeem should never be listed as worst anything.
I feel for Russ - he was amazing these past few months.
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