ChipotleWest wrote:hardenASG13 wrote:ChipotleWest wrote:
I agree with the last part that Denver has been overhyped because they haven't beaten a great team except they own 38-39 year old Lebron and AD, but I do not agree that the 2014 Spurs were better than Denver. Based off what? The player with the highest ppg that season was Tony Parker at 16.7 ppg. Denver's 3rd best Scorer MPJ scored 16 ppg. Yes the Spurs had a good defense but I'll take prime Jokic Murray MPJ and Gordon over 38 year old Duncan 23 year old Kawhi and Parker and Ginobili.
Just based on watching the 2 teams play. The 2014 spurs played beautiful basketball and were incredibly balanced. I dont view the Nuggets as one of the best teams ive seen this century. I think we happen to be in a weird era where there arent many established teams. Those spurs took down prime Russ/MVP KD and the heatles. It didnt matter if parker was their highest scorer. Thats how good they were. I just don't see any reasoning that would suggest Denver has shown anything as impressive, and I don't think they are playing better basketball.
Nobody calls the 2014 Spurs one of the best teams this century but you. The 2011 Mavs took down the same teams you mentioned and swept 2x defending champ Lakers, but nobody calls them one of the best teams this century either. Maybe Lebron and KD are just overhyped and often came up small in the playoffs when faced with good defenses.
I also do not view Nuggets as one of the best teams this century either. They didn't beat anyone above a 4 seed last year. To me the best teams were 2017-2019 Warriors it was just unfair they added KD to a championship team. But KD outside of the Warriors has won nothing. Credit where credit is due to 2000-2002 Lakers the only team to threepeat this century. These are the best teams not Nuggets or Spurs.
So I'll just take the opportunity to say:
The 2014 Spurs were absolutely incredible, and the only reason I'd tend to be skeptical about their ability to be dominant against more recent teams is the further strategic evolution of the league. Concerns pertaining to lack of top tier star power though, I don't think are well-founded. That Spurs team was a major step up over any of the other Spur champions despite the fact their top players were out of prime.
Just a combination of really smart players who know how to play with each other after years and years together, along with strategy that was cutting edge at the time.
Much respect to the 2011 Mavs as well, but I would consider the 2014 Spurs to be the strongest champ the league had seen in a good while. Definitely ahead of any Heatle team, for example.
Now all of that is just my opinion, but to be clear, if you weren't aware of the veneration of the 2014 Spurs as one of the truly special champions in recent history, well, be aware of it. It's not just one or two crazy posters. It's a phenomenon.