Winning streak: bigger achievement than title ?

[truthiness]

JVG made a great point during the Knicks - Clippers game: the streak is a more impressive achievement than a title, but still everyone would prefer a title because they/we've been conditioned to think that way. He didn't finish his reasoning, so I guess most fans just dismissed it, but let me throw in a few ideas:

1. Over 66 years of league history, only 3 teams won 22+ games. Meanwhile, there have been 66 titles awarded (funny enough, 22 times more titles than 22+ games winning streaks).

2. The achievement in itself is more historic. I am a big fan of the NBA and read a lot about it, but even I (perhaps because I only started watching in the '90s) can't tell you who won the title in '75 or '83, but I knew who had the 2 best winning streaks in history, as well as who had the most wins in a season (even before the Bulls broke the record and then tied the former record).

3. Part of the reason titles are valued over winning streaks is because winning streaks in themselves are not an official goal and are not rewarded and recognized as such. But maybe there should be some sort of an award for team and personal excellence.

4. Part of the reason might be that the NBA is treated almost as an individual sport by many fans and media, while this is a team achievement. Just like the title should be, instead of the narrative of one superhero battling out by himself, sometimes against his nemesis (Bird and Magic), sometimes against the history books (Jordan), sometimes against the entire basketball world that just wants to see him fail (Lebron).

Such superhero-movie-like narrative might sell better (after all, superhero movies sell incredibly well, or they'd just stop making them), but it really diminishes everyone else's contributions. Even if one guy is head and shoulders above his teammates, NOBODY won alone. NOBODY.

PS: Yeah, I'd choose the title as well. Because if somehow the Heat manage a 4peat, that would be better than what the best teams in the modern era achieved. Including Jordan's Bulls, a team that I loved - but I love seeing records broken as well.

[Heat_Fan_87]

No way. It would be an even bigger failure to break the record and not win the championship.

[420]

No, IMO.

Side note: I don't like how this season has been so focused on stats, the winning streak, and getting the #1 seed overall. I hope the players haven't gotten caught up on this. I know the coaches are always trying to remind them it's all about the ring.

[truthiness]

As stated, I would choose the title as well.

But at least I hope we can all agree it's much harder to get the winning streak, as evidenced by nearly 7 decades of history.

PS: I think the players are just as aware of the "real goal" as the fans are. That's because they grew up with the same ideas around them and are exposed to the same thoughts as regular fans, and they have felt the pressure of winning a title more than any fan posting on an internet forum.

[narmerguy]

Yeah I think it's a more difficult thing to accomplish (the 33 win streak) but not the most valued. There's pretty much not that much to say about this, everyone really agrees on all of this, and the coaches/players have all repeated that title is what matters to them over and over again.

This is all icing on the cake, and the base of that cake is a title. No title, no one cares how amazing the icing was.

[FlashFlare]

I think its certainly a more difficult thing to accomplish than winning a championship like others have said. There's a reason the record hasn't been broken in over 40 years.

[nunemouse]

I think the winning streak is more valuable than the title. However, the caveat is without the title it doesn't really mean anything (they're all just zeros). The title is the "1" that you put infront of those zeros that give them meaning.

[dflash3]

Of course not. While historic individual and team achievements will be in the record books, a season that ends without a title is one that ended in defeat.

[Chosen01]

Thing is, Heat aren't even close to the top streak yet. Would rather entertain this discussion if they could get at around 26 straight wins beating Boston and Chicago.

Title = more important of course.

[imchillin]

nope, title always more important.

[Tony15]

The title is all that truly matters...nothing else.

[C0bR]

Yeah I think it's a more difficult thing to accomplish (the 33 win streak) but not the most valued. There's pretty much not that much to say about this, everyone really agrees on all of this, and the coaches/players have all repeated that title is what matters to them over and over again.

This is all icing on the cake, and the base of that cake is a title. No title, no one cares how amazing the icing was.

[dolphinatik]

yes its a bigger achievement. No I would not rather have it nor would any basketball player. Championship is the #1 goal but streak is definitely more impressive and difficult.


Like Tony said title is all that matters.

*edit* Win streak is like the Homerun record in baseball we all knew who had it before Sosa and Bonds and Mcguire tried to chase it down but how many people actually know who won the championship that year. Win streak will make the team infamous if they are not already.

[DWadeno3]

While is the title is the more important achievement, the winning streak is more of a testament to a team's cohesiveness, especially with our team. We're the defending champs and if all the hype prior us to winning the title didn't cause other teams to bring their A game against us, this definitely will make sure we won't get a night off. The lackadaisical effort during the regular season may be true in general, but not against us. There's rarely a night where we don't have to take an opponent's best shot, which makes our current streak more impressive than it already is. It's a testament to the work of the coaching staff and the team to form a unit which plays extremely well together. In previous years, we would've definitely lost some of those close games against subpar teams. This ability to flip the switch is only there if your entire team is on the same page because while superstars may hit some big shots for you offensively, you'll still need defensive stops, you'll still need good execution at some point and that only works if you're a great team.
So as others have said, the championship is more valued, but the winning streak is a testament to the development of this team.

[FlashFlare]

@bball_ref: The Heat have won more games in the past 43 days than the Bobcats have won in the past 704 days.

Ouch

[kyphi]

yes its a bigger achievement. No I would not rather have it nor would any basketball player. Championship is the #1 goal but streak is definitely more impressive and difficult.


Like Tony said title is all that matters.

*edit* Win streak is like the Homerun record in baseball we all knew who had it before Sosa and Bonds and Mcguire tried to chase it down but how many people actually know who won the championship that year. Win streak will make the team infamous if they are not already.

The chance of 4 rings in a row or 34 games in a row? I'd choose the rings.

[Hoopz Afrik]

The title is all that truly matters...nothing else.

BINGO!!!

[MeloStateOfMind]

Awinning streak is a joke unless it's in the playoffs...who remembers "money ball" or who even remembered that the Rockets won 22 games in a row in 2007-08...championships are the ultimate achievement for a team not a rare 22+ game winning streak in the regular season. If it didn't involve LeBron people will just sweep it aside like that amazing streak he had earlier in the season. This is the era of championships not rare winning streaks.

Btw i do wish my Knicks were on a 22+ game win streak but I will tell you a championship means much much more.

[PLUGITUP9]

yes its a bigger achievement. No I would not rather have it nor would any basketball player. Championship is the #1 goal but streak is definitely more impressive and difficult.


Like Tony said title is all that matters.

*edit* Win streak is like the Homerun record in baseball we all knew who had it before Sosa and Bonds and Mcguire tried to chase it down but how many people actually know who won the championship that year. Win streak will make the team infamous if they are not already.

The chance of 4 rings in a row or 34 games in a row? I'd choose the rings.

^^^^^

The slightly frustrating part is we should be on course for 3peat right now. Repeating will be an awesome feat, 3peat even better and 4peat well that would be gob smacking.

Why can't we get both the streak and the chip? Be greedy guys, this could be once in a lifetime. Would take the chip over the streak anyday, but both would be amazing.

I still like the fact the team is not giving up every night and want to win every game. Now they have the #2 best ever streak and best of the modern day game which I believe is more impressive they can go out and enjoy themselves with no pressure.

Look at them doing the Harlem shake, didn't stop their groove. This team is totally amazing right now and yet I still keep reading posts about criticizing ATM like WTF??

[CablexDeadpool]

Winning Streak...is a bigger achievement than the title.

Just like Breaking 72-10 is bigger than a title.

Just like getting an MVP is bigger than a title.

I personally think Regular Season should be awarded with title.

The team with the best record wins something. Too much value is put on the post season to the point there might as well be a 60 game season and cut to the chase.