How weak was the East when Lebron was there

[lessthanjake]

I think people underestimate 2012-14 Pacers a lot. They were legitimately among the best teams in the league.

I don’t really see any reason to believe those Pacers were good. Their SRS were: 2.59, 3.34, and 3.63. They did not have an MVP-level superstar. And, while they did win some playoff series’, the only series they won against a team that even had a 1+ SRS was them defeating Carmelo’s 2012-2013 Knicks (which was a team that won a grand total of 1 playoff series in that entire era). Their preseason title odds were +6600, +3300, and +1400. There’s maybe a little bit of a “what if” with them, because Danny Granger got injured right before Paul George became an all-star level player, so they never had both of them at all-star level at the same time. But the only potential indicator I see that they were good is that they actually won some games off of the Heat in the playoffs and didn’t fumble against the weak teams they met in the playoffs before they faced the Heat. Which I guess is something, but I don’t think it tells us they were good.

[70sFan]

I think people underestimate 2012-14 Pacers a lot. They were legitimately among the best teams in the league.

I don’t really see any reason to believe those Pacers were good. Their SRS were: 2.59, 3.34, and 3.63. They did not have an MVP-level superstar. And, while they did win some playoff series’, the only series they won against a team that even had a 1+ SRS was them defeating Carmelo’s 2012-2013 Knicks (which was a team that won a grand total of 1 playoff series in that entire era). Their preseason title odds were +6600, +3300, and +1400. There’s maybe a little bit of a “what if” with them, because Danny Granger got injured right before Paul George became an all-star level player, so they never had both of them at all-star level at the same time. But the only potential indicator I see that they were good is that they actually won some games off of the Heat in the playoffs and didn’t fumble against the weak teams they met in the playoffs before they faced the Heat. Which I guess is something, but I don’t think it tells us they were good.

Well, it's not the first time we disagree.

[SpreeS]

I think people underestimate 2012-14 Pacers a lot. They were legitimately among the best teams in the league.

I don’t really see any reason to believe those Pacers were good. Their SRS were: 2.59, 3.34, and 3.63. They did not have an MVP-level superstar. And, while they did win some playoff series’, the only series they won against a team that even had a 1+ SRS was them defeating Carmelo’s 2012-2013 Knicks (which was a team that won a grand total of 1 playoff series in that entire era). Their preseason title odds were +6600, +3300, and +1400. There’s maybe a little bit of a “what if” with them, because Danny Granger got injured right before Paul George became an all-star level player, so they never had both of them at all-star level at the same time. But the only potential indicator I see that they were good is that they actually won some games off of the Heat in the playoffs and didn’t fumble against the weak teams they met in the playoffs before they faced the Heat. Which I guess is something, but I don’t think it tells us they were good.

Well, it's not the first time we disagree.

George Pacers were the best team for long term in James saga from 11-18. But looking in all-time context I compare them with Conley/Marc/Randolph Grizzlies. Also could name 5 better teams in the West in this period

Durant/Westbrook OKC
Duncan/Kawhi SAN
Paul LAC
Harden HOU
Curry GSW

IND 2012-2014 SRS 3.19
MEM 2013-2015 SRS 3.37
MEM 2011-2015 SRS 3.02