So who was the best/most successful team of the 1970s?

prolific passer · Post #1 » by **prolific passer** » Wed Feb 1, 2023 8:09 pm

The Knicks and Celtics have 2 titles each.
The bullets were the only team to make the playoffs every year of the decade and went to 4 finals and won a championship.

Post #2 » by **penbeast0** » Wed Feb 1, 2023 8:16 pm

It's the only time in NBA history that Bullets/Wizards have even been in the argument so I'm going with Wes, the Big E, and company.

ceoofkobefans · Post #3 » by **ceoofkobefans** » Wed Feb 1, 2023 8:18 pm

Bullets #WesUnseldsGoat

Dutchball97 · Post #4 » by **Dutchball97** » Wed Feb 1, 2023 8:20 pm

I'd say Bullets closely followed by the Lakers. Knicks started out the strongest but fell off a bit too hard halfway through the decade.

Owly · Post #5 » by **Owly** » Wed Feb 1, 2023 9:05 pm

For NBA only teams by (RS) SRS 70-79
Bucks with an SRS of about 4.
Lakers about 3.
Bullets about 2.1

Worst with a full decades NBA play is the Kings at -1.633.

Obviously this is only one measure, RS only. Depends what one means by the question.

Narigo · Post #6 » by **Narigo** » Wed Feb 1, 2023 9:20 pm

Celtics

Colbinii · Post #7 » by **Colbinii** » Wed Feb 1, 2023 9:21 pm

penbeast0 wrote:It's the only time in NBA history that Bullets/Wizards have even been in the argument so I'm going with Wes, the Big E, and company.

Homer

CumberlandPosey · Post #8 » by **CumberlandPosey** » Wed Feb 1, 2023 9:42 pm

when talking about successful one has to mention the pacers franchise.4 finals (5 if one counts 69) with 3 titles is impressive.

Post #9 » by **penbeast0** » Wed Feb 1, 2023 9:47 pm

Colbinii wrote:
penbeast0 wrote:It's the only time in NBA history that Bullets/Wizards have even been in the argument so I'm going with Wes, the Big E, and company.

Homer

Since then, being a Wiz/Bullet homer is like being an untreated depressive so, yeah, definitely.

prolific passer · Post #10 » by **prolific passer** » Wed Feb 1, 2023 10:05 pm

penbeast0 wrote:
Colbinii wrote:
penbeast0 wrote:It's the only time in NBA history that Bullets/Wizards have even been in the argument so I'm going with Wes, the Big E, and company.

Homer

Since then, being a Wiz/Bullet homer is like being an untreated depressive so, yeah, definitely.

The 70s were literally the glory years for the franchise.

wojoaderge · Post #11 » by **wojoaderge** » Wed Feb 1, 2023 10:45 pm

Bullets, and Hayes was their best player, which is why I rank him higher than most, efficiency be damned

Post #12 » by **penbeast0** » Wed Feb 1, 2023 11:45 pm

Efficiency is relative too, when the league average tsp% was .498 (1973) it's very different than when it is .579 (today).

Jaivl · Post #13 » by **Jaivl** » Wed Feb 1, 2023 11:48 pm

When thinking "70s" my mind always autocompletes with fan "Knicks".

eminence · Post #14 » by **eminence** » Thu Feb 2, 2023 12:08 am

RS wins for the 30 franchises that existed, from '69-70 to '70-'79 (not adjusting for the slightly different ABA schedule)

Bucks 492
Lakers 485
Bullets 483
Celtics 477
Nuggets 469
Knicks 458
Pacers 450
Warriors 447
Bulls 438
Spurs 435
Suns 411
Sonics 408
Nets 398
Sixers 385
Pistons 382
Hawks 379
Rockets 371
Colonels 370* (only 7 of the 10 seasons)
Kings 362
Blazers 322 (9 of 10 seasons)
Stars 308 (6 and some change of the 10 seasons)
Cavs 304 (9 of 10 seasons)
Clippers 302 (9 of 10)
Spirits 288 (7 of 10)
Squires 244 (7 of 10)
Sounds 181 (6 of 10)
Jazz 161 (5 of 10)
Conquistadors 101 (3 and some change of 10)
Floridians 96 (3 of 10)
Condors (3 of 10)

AEnigma · Post #15 » by **AEnigma** » Thu Feb 2, 2023 12:15 am

So the real answer is, perhaps as expected, “Kareem’s team.”

Post #16 » by **penbeast0** » Thu Feb 2, 2023 12:29 am

How about playoff games won for the decade? Curious if it shows the Bullets in a better light and the Bucks a bit worse or not.

eminence · Post #17 » by **eminence** » Thu Feb 2, 2023 12:47 am

AEnigma wrote:So the real answer is, perhaps as expected, “Kareem’s team.”

Most of the Lakers success for the decade was the Wilt/West era at the beginning of the decade and then they floated through a decent period at the end.

I have number of series wins floating around here somewhere, I'll get that in a minute.

eminence · Post #18 » by **eminence** » Thu Feb 2, 2023 1:07 am

Hmm, I had series wins, but only the conference semis, conference finals, and actual finals. So skipping the 1st round series that were only played some years.

Pacers 13
Knicks 10
Lakers/Bullets/Celtics/Colonels/Stars 9
Bucks/Nets 7
Warriors/Sonics 5
Nuggets 4
Suns/Sixers/Blazers 3
Bulls/Spirits/Squires 2
Spurs/Hawks/Rockets/Cavs 1
Others 0 series wins (ouch Pistons/Kings/Clippers who all existed 9 or 10 seasons)

Titles
Pacers 3
Knicks/Celtics 2
Lakers/Bullets/Colonels/Stars/Bucks/Nets/Warriors/Sonics/Blazers 1

eminence · Post #19 » by **eminence** » Thu Feb 2, 2023 1:14 am

I think you could make reasonable arguments for any of the Bucks/Lakers/Celtics/Knicks/Bullets/Pacers.

Post #20 » by **penbeast0** » Thu Feb 2, 2023 1:28 am

I think that puts me with Indiana as most successful since I feel the ultimate measure of success is titles and playoff performance rather than regular season wins. Surprised the Knicks held on for second and that the Stars pulled 9 playoff series wins as I generally think of them as a 1 hit wonder.

Don't remember the Cavs winning one either, I had them and the Clippers as the models of futility with the Kings close behind only relieved by having Tiny for entertainment value. Detroit is amazingly futile for having prime Lanier for most of the decade.