LeBron James joins the closest team to 0.00 SRS no repeats how successful are these teams?

RSCD3_ · Post #1 » by **RSCD3_** » Thu Jun 1, 2023 2:51 am

MyUniBroDavis · Post #2 » by **MyUniBroDavis** » Thu Jun 1, 2023 2:57 am

RSCD3_ wrote:For this little exercise, I had LeBron join the team closest to 0.00 SRS, but if there was a repeat or lebron ended up on the same team at the same time as in reality, assume a pseudo Lebron still follows his career step for step. I understand a lot of these teams being not notoriously good or notoriously bad so I linked the rosters in case anyone needed a refresher.

HOW does Adding LeBron help these teams? Which end up as contenders and who end up a step above or below?
Feel free to only focus on the teams you are interested in if you want, 20 guesses would be appreciated but that's a lot of work so whatever ideas you have on any of this team would be neat to hear.

2004 SEA https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SEA/2004.html
2005 BOS https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/2005.html
2006 DEN https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/2006.html
2007 GS https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/GSW/2007.html
2008 PHI https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHI/2008.html
2009 CHI https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CHI/2009.html
2010 HOU https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/2010.html
2011 PHO https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHO/2011.html
2012 POR https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/POR/2012.html
2013 ATL https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/ATL/2013.html
2014 WAS https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/WAS/2014.html
2015 MIL https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIL/2015.html
2016 DAL https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DAL/2016.html
2017 CHA https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CHA/2017.html
2018 LAC https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAC/2018.html
2019 ORL https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/ORL/2019.html
2020 NOP https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NOP/2020.html
2021 MIA https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIA/2021.html
2022 NYK https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NYK/2022.html
2023 MIN https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIN/2023.html

I mean do injuries still happen that’s kind of a big deal here lol

PhiEaglesfan712 · Post #3 » by **PhiEaglesfan712** » Thu Jun 1, 2023 3:41 am

That 2018 Clippers team becomes a legitimate title contender. Keep in mind, 2018 LeBron took a just as average team to the NBA Finals. The 2018 Clippers team with LeBron wins enough games to be the 3 seed, and challenges GSW and Houston. If the LeBron Clippers pass through that, then they should cruise in the NBA Finals over Indiana/Boston.

picko · Post #4 » by **picko** » Thu Jun 1, 2023 3:45 am

There aren't many genuine championship contenders there. It's asking a lot to take a .500 team and turn them into championships..

However, I think the 2008 76ers, 2009 Bulls, 2013 Hawks, 2014 Wizards, 2021 Heat would all be good chances to make it through to the Finals.

sp6r=underrated · Post #5 » by **sp6r=underrated** » Thu Jun 1, 2023 3:48 am

I haven't really thought about it and don't have the time for a year to year analysis. I do think younger Lebron is actually better for the floor raising efforts of mediocre squads. Older Lebron was better at maximizing the talent of skilled players in their own right while young Lebron had the energy to really carry incompetents. For this exercise the later is more valuable.

Colbinii · Post #6 » by **Colbinii** » Thu Jun 1, 2023 4:12 am

I like their odds in 2023, 2022, 2018, 2014, 2013 and 2009

HeartBreakKid · Post #7 » by **HeartBreakKid** » Thu Jun 1, 2023 4:54 am

edit: confused myself for a second

Colbinii · Post #8 » by **Colbinii** » Thu Jun 1, 2023 5:06 am

HeartBreakKid wrote:Do we mean Lebron joins these teams for his entire career? Or just prime LBJ joins them for that particular year?

I assume these teams are last for a reason so I think him joining them doesn't accomplish much except maybe just missing the playoffs by a couple spots like a perennial Kings/T-wolves type of deal or occasionally making it to get his ass kicked in the first round particularly in the east in previous eras.

He joins the most average team every year by SRS.

HeartBreakKid · Post #9 » by **HeartBreakKid** » Thu Jun 1, 2023 5:15 am

Colbinii wrote:
HeartBreakKid wrote:Do we mean Lebron joins these teams for his entire career? Or just prime LBJ joins them for that particular year?

I assume these teams are last for a reason so I think him joining them doesn't accomplish much except maybe just missing the playoffs by a couple spots like a perennial Kings/T-wolves type of deal or occasionally making it to get his ass kicked in the first round particularly in the east in previous eras.

He joins the most average team every year by SRS.

Oh right. Somehow mixed this up with another thread.

Yeah, I remember your list seems pretty accurate.

LukaTheGOAT · Post #10 » by **LukaTheGOAT** » Thu Jun 1, 2023 7:27 am

A lot of this depends on the health of his elbow come PS time, but I really feel as if that 2010 Rockets team could win it all.

The 2008 Houston Rockets won 22 games in a row, which other than the 13 Heat and 16 Warriors (both teams had an individual player playing at a GOAT-level), would be the most of the Modern NBA era. The Rockets were an ensemble cast that had Tracy Mcgrady, but also went through nearly half it’s win streak with 7-foot-6 All-Star center Yao Ming sitting on the bench.

In 2009, the Rockets

Team rankings:
4th ranked defense in league (-4.3 rDRTG)
14th ranked offense in league (+0.1 rORTG)
6th best net rating in league (+4.4)

Team SRS: +3.73 (6th best in league)

2009 was Yao's peak. The Rockets forced the eventual champion Lakers to 7 games, giving them their toughest series of their title run. Yao Ming only played in 3 games of the series and McGrady played in 0.

Even if McGrady or Yao are not healthy throughout the 2010 playoffs, I think what the Rockets missed more than anything was just a true bona-fide superstar. I think 2010 Lebron when healthy is the best player in the game, and the Rockets overall matchup well with the Lakers and Celtics, who would be the 2 biggest obstacles to winning it all. There also is no Ron Artest like there was for the 09 team, but I think Lebron stepping in, really fills that gap.

70sFan · Post #11 » by **70sFan** » Thu Jun 1, 2023 8:20 am

LukaTheGOAT wrote:The 2008 Houston Rockets won 22 games in a row, which other than the 13 Heat and 16 Warriors (both teams had an individual player playing at a GOAT-level), would be the most of the Modern NBA era.

Eh, I don't want to derail the thread but why do you use "modern era" instead of just saying it's the 4th longest winning streak ever? Modern era is such a subjective term.

Rich Michmond · Post #12 » by **Rich Michmond** » Thu Jun 1, 2023 10:53 am

Feels like he would do very well on the 2007 Warriors. Young Biedriņš could run all day and rebound like a madman. Harrington and J-RIch were clearly above-average shooters at their positions. Matt Barnes had a career year from downtown. S-Jax was streaky, but his percentages look solid during his Warrior stint. Add Baron in his prime - he looks like a great co-star to me (always upped his game in the playoffs, too). This seems like a great LeBron-ball team. Biedriņš can be a better version of TT, and Harrington can do Frye's impersonation. The other guys are better than Shump/J.R. Peak Baron and Kyrie... dare I say, Baron is better? or at least they are close.
Also, they had Nellie at the helm who I think would be able to utilize Bron's talents very well (just hope he doesn't play him at center... or at least too much).

PistolPeteJR · Post #13 » by **PistolPeteJR** » Thu Jun 1, 2023 3:36 pm

Rich Michmond wrote:Feels like he would do very well on the 2007 Warriors. Young Biedriņš could run all day and rebound like a madman. Harrington and J-RIch were clearly above-average shooters at their positions. Matt Barnes had a career year from downtown. S-Jax was streaky, but his percentages look solid during his Warrior stint. Add Baron in his prime - he looks like a great co-star to me (always upped his game in the playoffs, too). This seems like a great LeBron-ball team. Biedriņš can be a better version of TT, and Harrington can do Frye's impersonation. The other guys are better than Shump/J.R. Peak Baron and Kyrie... dare I say, Baron is better? or at least they are close.
Also, they had Nellie at the helm who I think would be able to utilize Bron's talents very well (just hope he doesn't play him at center... or at least too much).

That team would be extremely fun.

That said, Baron is not better than Kyrie, and I don't think it's close. I don't think they're worlds apart either, just to be clear, but thought I'd chime in on this.

Ambrose · Post #14 » by **Ambrose** » Thu Jun 1, 2023 3:49 pm

I see a lot of contenders on that list. From 2006-2011 he'd be joining some pretty solid teams where adding an elite guy would absolutely make those teams contend. Then while the teams from 2012-2017 the teams don't seem as good...you're getting the best player in the league. Then 2018, 2020-2023 would all be really damn solid teams. I don't know how many titles are won, but far more often than not those are top 5 teams in the NBA.

Colbinii · Post #15 » by **Colbinii** » Thu Jun 1, 2023 3:54 pm

PistolPeteJR wrote:
Rich Michmond wrote:Feels like he would do very well on the 2007 Warriors. Young Biedriņš could run all day and rebound like a madman. Harrington and J-RIch were clearly above-average shooters at their positions. Matt Barnes had a career year from downtown. S-Jax was streaky, but his percentages look solid during his Warrior stint. Add Baron in his prime - he looks like a great co-star to me (always upped his game in the playoffs, too). This seems like a great LeBron-ball team. Biedriņš can be a better version of TT, and Harrington can do Frye's impersonation. The other guys are better than Shump/J.R. Peak Baron and Kyrie... dare I say, Baron is better? or at least they are close.
Also, they had Nellie at the helm who I think would be able to utilize Bron's talents very well (just hope he doesn't play him at center... or at least too much).

That team would be extremely fun.

That said, Baron is not better than Kyrie, and I don't think it's close. I don't think they're worlds apart either, just to be clear, but thought I'd chime in on this.

Have you looked at 2007 Baron closely?

PistolPeteJR · Post #16 » by **PistolPeteJR** » Thu Jun 1, 2023 4:02 pm

Colbinii wrote:
PistolPeteJR wrote:
Rich Michmond wrote:Feels like he would do very well on the 2007 Warriors. Young Biedriņš could run all day and rebound like a madman. Harrington and J-RIch were clearly above-average shooters at their positions. Matt Barnes had a career year from downtown. S-Jax was streaky, but his percentages look solid during his Warrior stint. Add Baron in his prime - he looks like a great co-star to me (always upped his game in the playoffs, too). This seems like a great LeBron-ball team. Biedriņš can be a better version of TT, and Harrington can do Frye's impersonation. The other guys are better than Shump/J.R. Peak Baron and Kyrie... dare I say, Baron is better? or at least they are close.
Also, they had Nellie at the helm who I think would be able to utilize Bron's talents very well (just hope he doesn't play him at center... or at least too much).

That team would be extremely fun.

That said, Baron is not better than Kyrie, and I don't think it's close. I don't think they're worlds apart either, just to be clear, but thought I'd chime in on this.

Have you looked at 2007 Baron closely?

Baron is underrated in history, I give him that for sure.
I just think Kyrie would fare better with that team and against the competition.

SHAQ32 · Post #17 » by **SHAQ32** » Thu Jun 1, 2023 4:17 pm

I see chemistry issues with 04 Sonics and 05 Celtics. Ray and PP wouldn't take kindly to being overshadowed by a 1st/2nd year LeBron.

RSCD3_ · Post #18 » by **RSCD3_** » Thu Jun 1, 2023 10:15 pm

MyUniBroDavis wrote:
RSCD3_ wrote:For this little exercise, I had LeBron join the team closest to 0.00 SRS, but if there was a repeat or lebron ended up on the same team at the same time as in reality, assume a pseudo Lebron still follows his career step for step. I understand a lot of these teams being not notoriously good or notoriously bad so I linked the rosters in case anyone needed a refresher.

HOW does Adding LeBron help these teams? Which end up as contenders and who end up a step above or below?
Feel free to only focus on the teams you are interested in if you want, 20 guesses would be appreciated but that's a lot of work so whatever ideas you have on any of this team would be neat to hear.

2004 SEA https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SEA/2004.html
2005 BOS https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/2005.html
2006 DEN https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/2006.html
2007 GS https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/GSW/2007.html
2008 PHI https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHI/2008.html
2009 CHI https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CHI/2009.html
2010 HOU https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/2010.html
2011 PHO https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHO/2011.html
2012 POR https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/POR/2012.html
2013 ATL https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/ATL/2013.html
2014 WAS https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/WAS/2014.html
2015 MIL https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIL/2015.html
2016 DAL https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DAL/2016.html
2017 CHA https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CHA/2017.html
2018 LAC https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAC/2018.html
2019 ORL https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/ORL/2019.html
2020 NOP https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NOP/2020.html
2021 MIA https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIA/2021.html
2022 NYK https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NYK/2022.html
2023 MIN https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIN/2023.html

I mean do injuries still happen that’s kind of a big deal here lol

Oh yeah sorry forgot to say all league injuries remain the same

giberish · Post #19 » by **giberish** » Thu Jun 1, 2023 10:43 pm

PistolPeteJR wrote:
Rich Michmond wrote:Feels like he would do very well on the 2007 Warriors. Young Biedriņš could run all day and rebound like a madman. Harrington and J-RIch were clearly above-average shooters at their positions. Matt Barnes had a career year from downtown. S-Jax was streaky, but his percentages look solid during his Warrior stint. Add Baron in his prime - he looks like a great co-star to me (always upped his game in the playoffs, too). This seems like a great LeBron-ball team. Biedriņš can be a better version of TT, and Harrington can do Frye's impersonation. The other guys are better than Shump/J.R. Peak Baron and Kyrie... dare I say, Baron is better? or at least they are close.
Also, they had Nellie at the helm who I think would be able to utilize Bron's talents very well (just hope he doesn't play him at center... or at least too much).

That team would be extremely fun.

That said, Baron is not better than Kyrie, and I don't think it's close. I don't think they're worlds apart either, just to be clear, but thought I'd chime in on this.

Baron was better then people remember.

Also - he was always great in the playoffs. Playoff Baron was a major stud - he was held back by playing on weak teams and his own regular season indifference. Playing on a team with young LeBron so he gets to the playoffs every year and he becomes a huge deal.

After 2008 Biedrins gets injured so the team doesn't have a center so that becomes a need but otherwise a Baron/Jackson (or JRich)/LeBron/Harrington/C (probably trade JRich or Jackson for one) is wins several titles (at least until Baron can't stay healthy anymore). Though they'd also get really expensive which would have been a problem under Cohen.

OhayoKD · Post #20 » by **OhayoKD** » Fri Jun 2, 2023 2:24 pm

sp6r=underrated wrote:I haven't really thought about it and don't have the time for a year to year analysis. I do think younger Lebron is actually better for the floor raising efforts of mediocre squads. Older Lebron was better at maximizing the talent of skilled players in their own right while young Lebron had the energy to really carry incompetents. For this exercise the later is more valuable.

The 73-win beating Cavs led by older Lebron were pretty incompetent when he was off