Chuck's Definitive List of NBA Champions Not Requiring Asterisk

Post #61 » by **bwgood77** » Fri Sep 17, 2021 10:00 pm

Saw thread title, and thought "this should definitely say all of them" but kind of figured it did.

Noodlesoop · Post #62 » by **Noodlesoop** » Fri Sep 17, 2021 10:08 pm

Texas Chuck wrote:Lots of talk in recent days about which titles should have asterisks. So I have undergone an exhaustive research project and present you with an undisputed list of champions who should not have their achievement marred in any way by that peskiest of special characters: *

All teams not on the below list remain open for debate to be asterisked if you can justify it, but these must forever be excluded. You are welcome, but please attribute credit.

Spoiler:
2021 Milwaukee Bucks
2020 Los Angeles Lakers
2019 Toronto Raptors
2018 Golden State Warriors
2017 Golden State Warriors
2016 Cleveland Cavaliers
2015 Golden State Warriors
2014 San Antonio Spurs
2013 Miami Heat
2012 Miami Heat
2011 Dallas Mavericks
2010 Los Angeles Lakers
2009 Los Angeles Lakers
2008 Boston Celtics
2007 San Antonio Spurs
2006 Miami Heat
2005 San Antonio Spurs
2004 Detroit Pistons
2003 San Antonio Spurs
2002 Los Angeles Lakers
2001 Los Angeles Lakers
2000 Los Angeles Lakers
1999 San Antonio Spurs
1998 Chicago Bulls
1997 Chicago Bulls
1996 Chicago Bulls
1995 Houston Rockets
1994 Houston Rockets
1993 Chicago Bulls
1992 Chicago Bulls
1991 Chicago Bulls
1990 Detroit Pistons
1989 Detroit Pistons
1988 Los Angeles Lakers
1987 Los Angeles Lakers
1986 Boston Celtics
1985 Los Angeles Lakers
1984 Boston Celtics
1983 Philadelphia 76ers
1982 Los Angeles Lakers
1981 Boston Celtics
1980 Los Angeles Lakers
1979 Seattle SuperSonics
1978 Washington Bullets
1977 Portland Trail Blazers
1976 Boston Celtics
1976 New York Nets
1975 Golden State Warriors
1975 Kentucky Colonels
1974 Boston Celtics
1974 New York Nets
1973 New York Knicks
1973 Indiana Pacers
1972 Los Angeles Lakers
1972 Indiana Pacers
1971 Milwaukee Bucks
1971 Utah Stars
1970 New York Knicks
1970 Indiana Pacers
1969 Boston Celtics
1969 Oakland Oaks
1968 Boston Celtics
1968 Pittsburgh Pipers
1967 Philadelphia 76ers
1966 Boston Celtics
1965 Boston Celtics
1964 Boston Celtics
1963 Boston Celtics
1962 Boston Celtics
1961 Boston Celtics
1960 Boston Celtics
1959 Boston Celtics
1958 St. Louis Hawks
1957 Boston Celtics
1956 Philadelphia Warriors
1955 Syracuse Nationals
1954 Minneapolis Lakers
1953 Minneapolis Lakers
1952 Minneapolis Lakers
1951 Rochester Royals
1950 Minneapolis Lakers
1949 Minneapolis Lakers
1948 Baltimore Bullets
1947 Philadelphia Warriors

Troll attempt. Ban him Mods.

Bucks 2021 should be on there tbf. Maybe Raptors 2019 but at least Kawhi had an all round respectable game.

Noodlesoop · Post #63 » by **Noodlesoop** » Fri Sep 17, 2021 10:11 pm

Wammy Giveaway wrote:So you're basically saying "No team should be asterisked."

But I think I'm going to grant the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers the asterisks for a different reason: it was the first ever 3-1 comeback in NBA Finals history. They pulled off the impossible, a record that stood 0-32, a bonafide curse breaker akin to Boston Red Sox's 3-0 comeback vs. New York Yankees that gave them their first championship in 86 years.

I'd argue that asterisks should be given to teams where they pulled off a Herculean feat during their run. Maybe the 2021 Milwaukee Bucks qualify because they came back from down 2-0 twice, but unlike the Clipper's run where it got them their first conference finals, the Buck's run resulted in a championship.

Anything where a team or player performs something that has never been done before in the history of the league with a long proven losing record could be asterisked. The first ever 3-0 comeback (currently 0-143 and counting). The first ever legal quintuple double (Chamberlain's quintuple double happened in a time when steals and blocks were not recorded). The first ever wild card winner (7th and 8th seeds will be coupled into that group due to revised playoff format). The first ever 100 point game with video evidence (Chamberlain's only had an audio archive). These feats have to be performed in the playoffs, and it must be series-changing to the point it was a factor or the factor into their championship.

Are you saying the Bucks’ 2021 championship deserves an asterisk for being a uniquely positive championship? If so, I couldn’t agree less.

Post #64 » by **Texas Chuck** » Fri Sep 17, 2021 10:12 pm

Noodlesoop wrote:Bucks 2021 should be on there tbf. Maybe Raptors 2019 but at least Kawhi had an all round respectable game.

* Denied on both. You didn't even try and make a case so I have to default to the sanctity of the original list.

And I'm not trolling. I honestly reviewed every single championship team and identified all the ones not deserving of an * and then I listed them. And I've been willing to engage with literally every poster who disagreed with any of my selections and even changed my mind on the 2004 Pistons when a compelling case was made that supported it.

dacrusha · Post #65 » by **dacrusha** » Fri Sep 17, 2021 10:13 pm

‘78 Washington Bullets.

Worst regular season winning percentage of all time to win a championship… had to get past another cream puff team to win the finals - the 47-win Supersonics.

Post #66 » by **Texas Chuck** » Fri Sep 17, 2021 10:18 pm

dacrusha wrote:‘78 Washington Bullets.

Worst regular season winning percentage of all time to win a championship… had to get past another cream puff team to win the finals - the 47-win Supersonics.

You can argue them to maybe be one of the weaker champions along with the 94 Rockets for instance, but we don't award titles on paper, we award them on the court. And they can't control who their opponent is, just beat them.

I'm sorry but * denied.

Rodwilliams · Post #67 » by **Rodwilliams** » Fri Sep 17, 2021 10:23 pm

Texas Chuck wrote:Lots of talk in recent days about which titles should have asterisks. So I have undergone an exhaustive research project and present you with an undisputed list of champions who should not have their achievement marred in any way by that peskiest of special characters: *

All teams not on the below list remain open for debate to be asterisked if you can justify it, but these must forever be excluded. You are welcome, but please attribute credit.

Spoiler:
2021 Milwaukee Bucks
2020 Los Angeles Lakers
2019 Toronto Raptors
2018 Golden State Warriors
2017 Golden State Warriors
2016 Cleveland Cavaliers
2015 Golden State Warriors
2014 San Antonio Spurs
2013 Miami Heat
2012 Miami Heat
2011 Dallas Mavericks
2010 Los Angeles Lakers
2009 Los Angeles Lakers
2008 Boston Celtics
2007 San Antonio Spurs
2006 Miami Heat
2005 San Antonio Spurs
2004 Detroit Pistons
2003 San Antonio Spurs
2002 Los Angeles Lakers
2001 Los Angeles Lakers
2000 Los Angeles Lakers
1999 San Antonio Spurs
1998 Chicago Bulls
1997 Chicago Bulls
1996 Chicago Bulls
1995 Houston Rockets
1994 Houston Rockets
1993 Chicago Bulls
1992 Chicago Bulls
1991 Chicago Bulls
1990 Detroit Pistons
1989 Detroit Pistons
1988 Los Angeles Lakers
1987 Los Angeles Lakers
1986 Boston Celtics
1985 Los Angeles Lakers
1984 Boston Celtics
1983 Philadelphia 76ers
1982 Los Angeles Lakers
1981 Boston Celtics
1980 Los Angeles Lakers
1979 Seattle SuperSonics
1978 Washington Bullets
1977 Portland Trail Blazers
1976 Boston Celtics
1976 New York Nets
1975 Golden State Warriors
1975 Kentucky Colonels
1974 Boston Celtics
1974 New York Nets
1973 New York Knicks
1973 Indiana Pacers
1972 Los Angeles Lakers
1972 Indiana Pacers
1971 Milwaukee Bucks
1971 Utah Stars
1970 New York Knicks
1970 Indiana Pacers
1969 Boston Celtics
1969 Oakland Oaks
1968 Boston Celtics
1968 Pittsburgh Pipers
1967 Philadelphia 76ers
1966 Boston Celtics
1965 Boston Celtics
1964 Boston Celtics
1963 Boston Celtics
1962 Boston Celtics
1961 Boston Celtics
1960 Boston Celtics
1959 Boston Celtics
1958 St. Louis Hawks
1957 Boston Celtics
1956 Philadelphia Warriors
1955 Syracuse Nationals
1954 Minneapolis Lakers
1953 Minneapolis Lakers
1952 Minneapolis Lakers
1951 Rochester Royals
1950 Minneapolis Lakers
1949 Minneapolis Lakers
1948 Baltimore Bullets
1947 Philadelphia Warriors

2015 Warriors easily deserve an asterisk because we saw what happened the following year when the Cavs were healthy. That’s the only series we have actual proof because of the rematch. Please don’t give me the ONE game Draymond suspension because they played two more games with Dray and lost.

Post #68 » by **Texas Chuck** » Fri Sep 17, 2021 10:31 pm

Rodwilliams wrote:2015 Warriors easily deserve an asterisk because we saw what happened the following year when the Cavs were healthy. That’s the only series we have actual proof because of the rematch. Please don’t give me the ONE game Draymond suspension because they played two more games with Dray and lost.

We do not award asterisks because teams meet in b2b Finals with the other team winning the rematch. Had you buttressed this argument with the Celtics/Lakers(multiple times) or the Spurs/Heat I might have been able to test this argument for validity, but because this just seems to be an attempt to diminish a specific team you do not like, I must rule against you here. This is not about personal agendas or grudges but an objective attempt to see if any NBA titles deserve an *.

* denied and with prejudice

Homer38 · Post #69 » by **Homer38** » Fri Sep 17, 2021 10:33 pm

This is not a NBA team but in baseball,but what about the 2017 Houston Astros?

iamworthy · Post #70 » by **iamworthy** » Fri Sep 17, 2021 10:35 pm

Mickey8 wrote:Well Kobe was going nowhere until Stern gifted them Pau Gasol who was one of the best big men in the game at that time .

Lakers gave Memphis a hall of fame player in return.

Post #71 » by **Texas Chuck** » Fri Sep 17, 2021 10:39 pm

Homer38 wrote:This is not a NBA team but in baseball,but what about the 2017 Houston Astros?

Their title should be vacated and there shall be no champion for this season. Disgraceful cheating and pathetic "punishment" handed out by the league. And then to let other teams know they couldn't handle it on the field the way baseball has for more than a century led to the arrogant and remorseless response of almost every Astros player. They literally cost people jobs as well.

fishfuego. · Post #72 » by **fishfuego.** » Fri Sep 17, 2021 10:41 pm

dirkforpres wrote:2006 deserves the biggest asterisk possible. There’s no debate

So 2006 deserves an asterisk because Wade went ham on Dallas lol
But Dallas doesn’t deserve an asterisk in 2011 after the referees/ NBA allowed Dallas to get away with hacking murder on Lebron / Wade, Lebron in particular?

Sure, Nice Try!

shangrila · Post #73 » by **shangrila** » Fri Sep 17, 2021 10:43 pm

I think '70 through '76 deserve an asterisk, if only to explain why all of those years have 2 champions.

fishfuego. · Post #74 » by **fishfuego.** » Fri Sep 17, 2021 10:43 pm

Look, the NBA as a product/ officials is a joke.
HUGE ASTERISK NBA!!!

Post #75 » by **Texas Chuck** » Fri Sep 17, 2021 10:46 pm

fishfuego. wrote:
dirkforpres wrote:2006 deserves the biggest asterisk possible. There’s no debate

So 2006 deserves an asterisk because Wade went ham on Dallas lol
But Dallas doesn’t deserve an asterisk in 2011 after the referees/ NBA allowed Dallas to get away with hacking murder on Lebron / Wade, Lebron in particular?

Sure, Nice Try!

This is exactly the partisan nature of * that my list looks to avoid. Already covered 06, but Lebron simply stopped attacking in the 11 Finals and is well documented. Dallas didn't have to resort to hacking him. They had multiple good defenders to throw at him and two 7 footers backing them up including a DPOY caliber one. The Custodian did get physical with Wade a couple times, but again definitely not hacking.

And of course we all remember that LEbron was terrible in the 2 RS meetings both of which Dallas won as well. 6-2 is a pretty convincing season series. Dallas clearly had a plan for Lebron and the players to execute it.

2006 and 2011 have now exhausted all appeals. * Denied on both. No case for it on either. Give full credit to the champions even if some of us don't like it. :wink:

Post #76 » by **Texas Chuck** » Fri Sep 17, 2021 10:47 pm

shangrila wrote:I think '70 through '76 deserve an asterisk, if only to explain why all of those years have 2 champions.

ABA is non-canon here. * Denied for all 7 seasons.

shangrila · Post #77 » by **shangrila** » Fri Sep 17, 2021 11:00 pm

Texas Chuck wrote:
shangrila wrote:I think '70 through '76 deserve an asterisk, if only to explain why all of those years have 2 champions.

ABA is non-canon here. * Denied for all 7 seasons.

Huh?

You put them in your list. If ABA isn't canon, why put them in?

Post #78 » by **Texas Chuck** » Fri Sep 17, 2021 11:03 pm

shangrila wrote:
Texas Chuck wrote:
shangrila wrote:I think '70 through '76 deserve an asterisk, if only to explain why all of those years have 2 champions.

ABA is non-canon here. * Denied for all 7 seasons.

Huh?

You put them in your list. If ABA isn't canon, why put them in?

I copy and pasted obviously. Way too lazy to type all that and check it for ABA teams. Regardless the NBA champions are legit champions.

fishfuego. · Post #79 » by **fishfuego.** » Fri Sep 17, 2021 11:16 pm

Texas Chuck wrote:
fishfuego. wrote:
dirkforpres wrote:2006 deserves the biggest asterisk possible. There’s no debate

So 2006 deserves an asterisk because Wade went ham on Dallas lol
But Dallas doesn’t deserve an asterisk in 2011 after the referees/ NBA allowed Dallas to get away with hacking murder on Lebron / Wade, Lebron in particular?

Sure, Nice Try!

This is exactly the partisan nature of * that my list looks to avoid. Already covered 06, but Lebron simply stopped attacking in the 11 Finals and is well documented. Dallas didn't have to resort to hacking him. They had multiple good defenders to throw at him and two 7 footers backing them up including a DPOY caliber one. The Custodian did get physical with Wade a couple times, but again definitely not hacking.

And of course we all remember that LEbron was terrible in the 2 RS meetings both of which Dallas won as well. 6-2 is a pretty convincing season series. Dallas clearly had a plan for Lebron and the players to execute it.

2006 and 2011 have now exhausted all appeals. * Denied on both. No case for it on either. Give full credit to the champions even if some of us don't like it.

Having watched both series (06/11) recently on NBA.com, I would encourage some purest to rewatch the 06 series. The claim that Wade got whistles for nothing is false. Wade got what he earned, just as Lebron in 2011 letting the Heatles down regardless of the little excuses we as bias fans always come up with.

So yes I agree :wink:

Leave those two franchises alone. No asterisk needed. 8-)

Pennebaker · Post #80 » by **Pennebaker** » Fri Sep 17, 2021 11:28 pm

The audactiy of ringless Charles Barkley to come up with such a list.