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Pretty high praise here from Bill Simmons, but does anyone agree with this notion? In a vacuum, as well as matchup-to-matchup.

Some other candidates I see (fully healthy) are the:

18 Rockets
19 Raptors
20 Lakers
21 Nets
22 Bucks
22 Warriors
22 Celtics

I would wait until the finals before certain proclamations on them myself.

But I do think they're better than last year's finalists. And I'd pick them over the 21 Suns/21 Bucks too probably. Less certain on the 21 Bucks, because I really liked how Giannis was used offensively in the finals.

If the 21 Nets are healthy, I think they're the best team post-KD Warriors with the 2020 Lakers, but we never really saw them healthy in the playoffs.

19 Raptors and 18 Rockets are tricky. I think the Nuggets match up well with both, but they might not be a 'better' team. Uncertain.

Obviously this is premature before the actual Finals, but comparing them to just the last 4 champions, I’d go:

2020 Lakers
2022 Warriors
2023 Nuggets
2019 Raptors
2021 Bucks

2019 Raptors
2020 Lakers
2023 Nuggets
2022 Warriors
2021 Bucks

TheGOATRises007 wrote:I would wait until the finals before certain proclamations on them myself.

This is the key thing for me. I'm frankly glad for Simmons to come out though because people should be considering whether this Nugget team isn't just this year's champion but perhaps something bigger than that, but every match is a new matchup, and we're about to learn some really important stuff about Jokic and friends, I'll withhold ranking at this time.

Way too early to say. We have to see how they play in the finals. If they sweep this Boston team for instance or win 4-1 it will count for more than beating a depleted Miami team 4-2.

I would comfortably take Raps and Lakers over this Nuggets team

They might be the worst championship team since the KD warriors lmao

Let's wait for them to face the best opponent in the playoffs.

Obviously the 2018 Rockets were better, but we can't really count them since the 2018 Warriors actually played more recently than they did. Since then, I think it's the Nuggets. Every other champion since then just kinda feels like they fluked their way in due to injuries or an easy road somehow even though you wouldn't swear they were the best team. The 2023 Nuggets feel like they're definitely the best team in the NBA.

70sFan wrote:Let's wait for them to face the best opponent in the playoffs.

I wouldn’t consider Miami/Boston automatically better than Phoenix or LAL…

No-more-rings wrote:

70sFan wrote:Let's wait for them to face the best opponent in the playoffs.

I wouldn’t consider Miami/Boston automatically better than Phoenix or LAL…

I would take Boston over the two Western teams mentioned, pains me to say as a Lakers fan. As for GSW, I think they’re a pretty bad matchup for Boston.. but not necessarily a better team if that makes sense. Listing Boston as the best opponent to come is a perfectly fine label imo.

Obviously depends on how the Finals go. But if they take care of Boston handily, it'll be one of the more impressive playoff runs I can remember given who they beat. I'd put them over the 2021 Bucks since that team had a lot of injury luck on their side and just barely squeezed by the Nets (not an excuse, just the reality). 2019 Raps were impressive as well

rk2023 wrote:

No-more-rings wrote:

70sFan wrote:Let's wait for them to face the best opponent in the playoffs.

I wouldn’t consider Miami/Boston automatically better than Phoenix or LAL…

I would take Boston over the two Western teams mentioned, pains me to say as a Lakers fan. As for GSW, I think they’re a pretty bad matchup for Boston.. but not necessarily a better team if that makes sense. Listing Boston as the best opponent to come is a perfectly fine label imo.

It’s debatable is all, and unless he is assuming Boston wins I take that to mean both Heat and Boston. Celtics are favored, but wouldn’t be surprised at all if Heat still win it. Butler is due for a big game.

I’d take only the Rockets and Lakers ahead of them

Does this mean if they lose in the FInals, it's an all-time level choke?