Best team that could have won it all and didn’t?

DS17 · Post #1 » by **DS17** » Tue Aug 24, 2021 5:15 pm

In the last decade, what are the top three teams that SHOULD have won a championship based on talent alone- but didn’t.

Here’s what I think
1) 2019 -76ers (dude. They literally had four all stars and a bunch of quality players ontop of that...)
2) 2018- rockets ... this was a GREAT team.
3) 2013 lakers?
4) 2020 clippers?
What do you think?

GregOden · Post #2 » by **GregOden** » Tue Aug 24, 2021 5:18 pm

2019 Warriors
2011 Heat
2015 Cavs

BenoUdrihFTL · Post #3 » by **BenoUdrihFTL** » Tue Aug 24, 2021 5:24 pm

2022 Nets

taufblazers33 · Post #4 » by **taufblazers33** » Tue Aug 24, 2021 5:28 pm

2000 Blazers

Joerezz7 · Post #5 » by **Joerezz7** » Tue Aug 24, 2021 5:33 pm

2018 Rockets but they got injured.
2016 Warriors but they choked.

Joerezz7 · Post #6 » by **Joerezz7** » Tue Aug 24, 2021 5:36 pm

DS17 wrote:In the last decade, what are the top three teams that SHOULD have won a championship based on talent alone- but didn’t.

Here’s what I think
1) 2019 -76ers (dude. They literally had four all stars and a bunch of quality players ontop of that...)
2) 2018- rockets ... this was a GREAT team.
3) 2013 lakers?
4) 2020 clippers?
What do you think?

2018 Rockets but they got injured.
2016 Warriors but they choked.

The_Hater · Post #7 » by **The_Hater** » Tue Aug 24, 2021 5:36 pm

DS17 wrote:In the last decade, what are the top three teams that SHOULD have won a championship based on talent alone- but didn’t.

Here’s what I think
1) 2019 -76ers (dude. They literally had four all stars and a bunch of quality players ontop of that...)
2) 2018- rockets ... this was a GREAT team.
3) 2013 lakers?
4) 2020 clippers?
What do you think?

The 2013 Lakers were terrible, so definitely not them.

OKC is the best answer iMO. Lost in the finals once, the WC finals 3 times and were snakebit with injuries at least 3 other seasons.

lars_rosenberg · Post #8 » by **lars_rosenberg** » Tue Aug 24, 2021 5:38 pm

73-win Warriors when they let the Cavs come back down 3-1 and again 2019 Warriors when everybody got injured.

It's unbelievable the Warriors haven't at least 3-peated.

heezyo2o · Post #9 » by **heezyo2o** » Tue Aug 24, 2021 5:44 pm

2001ish Kings and 2000ish Blazers would have beaten all those teams pretty easily IMO. 2013 Lakers weren't good. Had to make a big run just to get into the playoffs

MelTurpin · Post #10 » by **MelTurpin** » Tue Aug 24, 2021 5:49 pm

1994 Knicks. fierce defensive team.

Wallace_Wallace · Post #11 » by **Wallace_Wallace** » Tue Aug 24, 2021 5:56 pm

1987-1988 Pistons
2004-2005 Pistons
2005-2006 Pistons

Yeah that's about it.

illuminati666 · Post #12 » by **illuminati666** » Tue Aug 24, 2021 5:59 pm

2016 Spurs deserve a mention. Prime Kawhi and LMA with the big 3 still there. Still don't understand how they lost to OKC.

Joerezz7 · Post #13 » by **Joerezz7** » Tue Aug 24, 2021 6:01 pm

lars_rosenberg wrote:73-win Warriors when they let the Cavs come back down 3-1 and again 2019 Warriors when everybody got injured.

It's unbelievable the Warriors haven't at least 3-peated.

The 2016 Warriors should be the winner of this thread by default due to 73 wins unless people believe that was a fluke.

Joerezz7 · Post #14 » by **Joerezz7** » Tue Aug 24, 2021 6:02 pm

DS17 wrote:In the last decade, what are the top three teams that SHOULD have won a championship based on talent alone- but didn’t.

Here’s what I think
1) 2019 -76ers (dude. They literally had four all stars and a bunch of quality players ontop of that...)
2) 2018- rockets ... this was a GREAT team.
3) 2013 lakers?
4) 2020 clippers?
What do you think?

The Sixers had two all stars. Embiid and Butler. Ben Simmons is garbage and Tobias Harris is vastly overrated. Simmons falls in the overrated category as well.

Pelon chingon · Post #15 » by **Pelon chingon** » Tue Aug 24, 2021 6:04 pm

*2002

76ciology · Post #16 » by **76ciology** » Tue Aug 24, 2021 6:08 pm

A couple of recent Warriors squad for sure.
73 win team and the 2019 Warriors.

TheHartBreakKid · Post #17 » by **TheHartBreakKid** » Tue Aug 24, 2021 6:12 pm

I don't think the 2013 Lakers qualify. They underachieved like crazy, and for sure were expected to make the finals based on their talent, but if I remember correctly that 2013 Heat team was still the slight favorite, even on paper.

The 2004 Lakers belong here.
So do the 2019 Warriors. (I know I know injuries etc)
I think you need to throw in the 2021 Nets if we are ignoring injuries, though I suppose my 2013 Lakers argument is valid here; even at full strength the Nets weren't considered heavy favorites. They were neck and neck with the Lakers.

The 2019 Warriors and 2004 Lakers however, looked a whole level above their competition on paper. By far the two most purely talented teams if you consider star power and the way key players performed a year prior.

Bornstellar · Post #18 » by **Bornstellar** » Tue Aug 24, 2021 6:13 pm

2012 Spurs. 20 straight wins up 2-0 before getting backdoor swept by OKC in the WCF. Some extremely questionable officiating in Game 6

Bornstellar · Post #19 » by **Bornstellar** » Tue Aug 24, 2021 6:15 pm

illuminati666 wrote:2016 Spurs deserve a mention. Prime Kawhi and LMA with the big 3 still there. Still don't understand how they lost to OKC.

Some questionable officiating of course (Waiters pushing Manu while out of bounds at the end of game 2), and Pops horrible decision to let West and Diaw share the court together against Adams and Kanter. SA got obliterated on the glass

UcanUwill · Post #20 » by **UcanUwill** » Tue Aug 24, 2021 6:17 pm

If we are talking about singular years, sure, lots of choices, if we talking about whole saga, Early 00s Kings and mid 00s Pacers.