In the Last 20 Years, Which Champion Would Lose to '21 Bucks?

[GHOSTofSIKMA]

any title now that we have multiple buddyball contenders should be given the most weight of any era. never before have we seen multiple 1st and 2nd team all nba players giving up their own teams to be roleplayers on another. these same teams stack up buyout players on minimums in season and ring chasing vets worth far more in offseasons that in previous eras never would have considered moves like this as "good for their careers".

these unique accumulations of nba talent like the nets, lakers, and clippers with the top players in the game joining in allstar game fashion to legacy hunt put unprecedented barriers in front of teams that build traditionally. any team that can somehow overcome that hurdle and get a ring should have massive street cred among casual and serious fans alike

That makes no sense because Milwaukee didn't face any teams that were stacked like this. If healthy the Nets would have qualified but they weren't healthy, getting only 3.5 games from Kyrie in the series and 4 games from a severely hobbled Harden.

Same is true with the Lakers last season. No team they faced had multiple All-NBA selections except Houston with a hobbled Westbrook. In fact they ran through one of the weakest fields of the last decade.

of course they did. all teams entered these playoffs intact. all dealt with injuries including milwaukee. and one team was left standing. you make it sound like attrition, or the process, strength of mind, endurance doesnt matter in this.

but regardless.... no where in my post did i mention milwaukee. the primary point was a point in general

[Liam_Gallagher]

2004 Pistons. They beat a hobbled Lakers team and were never heard from again.

Except for that time, the very next year, where they took the Spurs to 7 games in the Finals.

[Liam_Gallagher]

The 2020 Lakers would've dusted the 2021 Bucks. People underestimate the 2020 Lakers because it was in the bubble and most fans are salty their teams didn't win and have an easy scapegoat (bubble atmosphere) to fall back on.

People already forget just how dominant their defense was. Rondo, Green, James, Davis, Howard were All-Defensive players at one point in their career. Caruso, McGee, KCP and even Bradley weren't stiffs on D either. So you're talking the entire rotation being a positive on that end of the floor. James/Davis/McGee/Howard would have given fits to Giannis - LOL if you think he'd score 50 on them.

[donnieme]

2004 Pistons. They beat a hobbled Lakers team and were never heard from again.

EDIT: Except on GB.

On the offchance this wasn't tongue in cheek.
They made it back to the finals in 05 and lost to the Spurs in 7.
In 06 they Lost to the eventual champions, Miami heat in the ECF
in 07 they made it to the ECF but lost to the Cavs.
in 08 got to the ECF and took the eventual champions Big 3 Celtics to 6 despite being shells of themselves.

Till 09 none of the teams they lost to even got back to the eastern finals. They were the one consistent thing about the East in the 00s. From Duncan to Wade to Lebron to Shaq they were battling legit HOFs without a true offensive superstar. They were the 80s pistons reincarnated.

[HoopsterJones]

2020 Lakers

[SOA]

You would have to go back to 1979 to find a team that wouldn't mop the floor with the Bucks. And even that 79 team with Dennis Johnson, Freddy Brown, and Sikma would probably win.

[Raptor_Guy]

Can't we just let Bucks fans celebrate their championship, it's been 1 day and people already have to make threads diminishing their title

[radeonboy]

Anyone who says the Raptors would lose to these Bucks has not watched those Raptors playoffs. That roster was a defensive juggernaut at every position and able to switch at ease. Based on defense alone the Raptors would win against these Bucks. Coach Nurse would also gameplan outside the box making Giannis very upset, no way in hell he scores 50 against that Raptors team. Coach Nurse over coach Bud easily. Coach bud was so close to getting fired if they lost to the Hawks.

[radeonboy]

I’d say all of those except for the ‘07 Spurs. The Bucks obviously weren’t on the level of the superteam Warriors or anything but they were still a very good team that should be able to beat any of the fluky champions. The Bucks almost beat Toronto in 2019 and that was without Holiday who would have been a nightmare matchup for Lowry.

[Froob]

2020 Lakers should be on there. No offense, but their best player was Rondo lol. I think Lakers window is closed unless they get something very good for Schroder (Conley, DeRozan, Westbrook maybe someone else).

[Quattro]

Who knows. On paper, would anyone think that the Mavs would have beaten the heat? Unless these teams play on the floor, nobody knows.

[Danny1616]

Look, the Bucks had a very good team and it's hard to tell.

Giannis - MVP caliber
Middleton- All-star
Holiday - All-star and defensive specialist
Lopez - Solid Center
Tucker - Elite defender

As with many playoff series' a lot comes down to some health and some luck.

[LesGrossman]

this bitter thread by a salty Lakers' fan makes this Bucks title all the more sweet. I feel bad for all of the classy Lakers' fans out there.

Thank you. This person does not represent the lakers but only a small group taht showed up only recently.

[Lunartic]

The 2019 Raps would wreck the Bucks. They just struggled against the Atlanta Hawks and the Booker Suns.

Kawhi and Co. would beat them in 5.

[tamaraw08]

2006 Heat, 2011 Mavs would be my best bet.

Maybe 2019 Raptors? I'd still lean Raptors but who knows

great choices. Wade was gifted to like an insane 22 times to the FT line per game.
Toronto was good but FVV shot a rare 40% from 3
Mavs, Terry was hot from 3 with 39% while Kidd who has a career under 35% shot 43.5 that finals and Stevenson shot 56% combine that with Lebron's choke job.

[LikeABosh]

The 2019 Raps would wreck the Bucks. They just struggled against the Atlanta Hawks and the Booker Suns.

Kawhi and Co. would beat them in 5.

They would beat a better Bucks team faster than the one they beat in 6? Ok then

[celticfan42487]

Th 19' Raptors are the only sure fire one

[tamaraw08]

Look, the Bucks had a very good team and it's hard to tell.

Giannis - MVP caliber
Middleton- All-star
Holiday - All-star and defensive specialist
Lopez - Solid Center
Tucker - Elite defender

As with many playoff series' a lot comes down to some health and some luck.

all that they barely beat the Nets team without Kyrie, limping Harden, avoided the Sixers beat a Youngless Hawks etc.
Having said that I was super glad they won it all bec I love their players humility and demeanor. Most of them don't yell and stare and down opponents, barely whine at the refs etc.
They are probably the most humble champs I've seen.

[Danny1616]

Look, the Bucks had a very good team and it's hard to tell.

Giannis - MVP caliber
Middleton- All-star
Holiday - All-star and defensive specialist
Lopez - Solid Center
Tucker - Elite defender

As with many playoff series' a lot comes down to some health and some luck.

all that they barely beat the Nets team without Kyrie, limping Harden, avoided the Sixers beat a Youngless Hawks etc.
Having said that I was super glad they won it all bec I love their players humility and demeanor. Most of them don't yell and stare and down opponents, barely whine at the refs etc.
They are probably the most humble champs I've seen.

Yeah, but it's the playoffs.

Dallas had a shot to knock out the Clippers in the 1st round and then the Clippers go beat the 1st seed Jazz without Kawhi.

Also, go back to 2014. A 7th seed Dallas team with an aging Dirk took the Spurs to 7 games and nearly won that series. The Spurs went on to beat Portland, OKC, and the Miami super team.

Go back to 2008. The 8th seed Hawks took the Celtics big 3 to 7 games. The Celtics went on to win the chip.

Bucks are very talented. They nearly reached the finals in 2019 and blew a 2-0 lead to the Raptors, which in my opinion, had one of the best defensive teams in NBA history.

[GHOSTofSIKMA]

The 2019 Raps would wreck the Bucks. They just struggled against the Atlanta Hawks and the Booker Suns.

Kawhi and Co. would beat them in 5.

if we struggled with the hawks and suns then what did the 2019 raptors do with the 2019 bucks. our 2021 team is better than our 2019 team and our 2019 team lost in 6 games with a miniscule 4 point margin separating a 6 game series. that series was as close!! alot closer than our series with the hawks and suns were.

nobody is "wrecking" anybody with this two teams. it would be a good series and could go either way