Are the 2020 Lakers the greatest 1 year wonder in NBA history?

[sp6r=underrated]

I've always thought of the PC board as much a history board as a Player Comparison board. The Doc Rivers thread had me looking at historic data and I realized something, the 2020 Lakers totally standout for their success that season relative to surrounding seasons.

W/L. SRS, PS, Comment

Code: Select all

2019: 37-45. -1.33, No Post-Season Anthony Davis yet to arrive.
2020: 52-19,  6.28, 16-5 Post-Season
2021: 42-30,  2.77, 2-4 Post-Season (Outscored 39 Points in 6 games)
2022: 26-30, -2.21, (Davis misses a lot of time/LBJ relatively healthy)

Some of other teams that get brought up in conversations like this, sometimes fairly sometimes not..
2019 Raptors: Only season with Kawhi. Club won 59 games yr before. 53 yr after (COVID shortened season)
2006 Heat: fell off a cliff after the title but Shaq was at end of run. Previous season G7 ECF, 59 wins
2004 Pistons: Made it to G7 NBA finals next season. 6 straight ECF/
1999 Spurs: won 56, 53 and 58 games in surrounding seasons
1979 Sonics: Middle of 3 straight CF. Lost in NBA finals previous season
1978 Bullets: middling team but next season improved and made it to finals.
1977 Blazers: only other succesfull season was next year. Built around most fragile superstar in NBA history. But 78 campaign was a lot better than anything else these current lakers did.

I'm drawing a blank on greater 1 year wonder. I don't think there is any among title teams. And the really strange thing is 2020 Lakers played great wire to wire. It wasn't a fluky month PS.

Do you have any other candidates?

[Colbinii]

2021 Nets are close

[sp6r=underrated]

2021 Nets are close

The 2021 Nets are a decent call but they can still turn this season around. But the ceiling they reached wasn't that high. It is still a club that won 55 games (pro-rated) and got bounced in the 2nd round, built around an injury riddled roster. That isn't that impressive of a 1 season even given how good the trio looked in the games they played.

If this season doesn't turn around and they end up with 2021 being their peak, they're a 1 season wonder, but more importantly maybe the most disappointing run in NBA history considering the age everyone involved when they came together.

[Rich Michmond]

The 2006 Clippers that forced a game 7 against the Suns in the West semis and easily dispatched Melo's Nuggets in round one. Anything before was super bleak, and they would not sniff the playoffs until 2012. Also Elton Brand's peak season.

[sp6r=underrated]

The 2006 Clippers that forced a game 7 against the Suns in the West semis and easily dispatched Melo's Nuggets in round one. Anything before was super bleak, and they would not sniff the playoffs until 2012. Also Elton Brand's peak season.

That is a great call for a 1 season wonder list. While their peak wasn't as high as the 2020 Lakers, their surrounding seasons were pure trash

[falcolombardi]

83 sixers have to be the choice if we count only the moses malone version

they came together, won a ring in dominating fashing then stopped being a contender

of course sixers without moses were contenders for years so is not quite the same thingh

[Colbinii]

2014 Timberwolves

2013: -1.83 SRS
2014: 3.10 SRS
2015: -8.00 SRS

[sp6r=underrated]

83 sixers have to be the choice if we count only the moses malone version

they came together, won a ring in dominating fashing then stopped being a contender

of course sixers without moses were contenders for years so is not quite the same thingh

I think a better parallel for the 83 Sixers is the 99 Spurs if 03 on never happened. Both clubs had good years for several seasons before (save Robinson injury year). Both would be surpassed quickly and understandbly by an emerging dynasty with HOF level young talent.

[Rich Michmond]

Also, the 2001 Bucks were *this* close to making the finals while their years in between are mediocre/bad.

[sp6r=underrated]

Also, the 2001 Bucks were *this* close to making the finals while their years in between are mediocre/bad.

Another good call. I think there PS success that year has to be understood in terms of how pure trash that conference was back then.

[falcolombardi]

also

2004 wolves

2002 kings (they were good other years but this was the only one they were true champion level)

2000 Blazers

2001 sixers

as easily the best version of all those cores

[zimpy27]

2019 Raptors.

The 2021 Lakers were great too, they would likely have won championship in 2021 if healthy based on how well they did against the Suns. They were great in the 20-21 season up until the LeBron and Davis injuries

[sp6r=underrated]

2019 Raptors

I addressed them. Their surrounding seasons are fine. The year after they won 53 games without KAwhi. I wouldn't put them on this list.

[parsnips33]

'15 Hawks in the conversation? Weren't terrible before or after, but nowhere near a 60 win season

[fjd0913]

'87 Sonics maybe? They were sub-.500 and barely had a positive SRS but they did upset a good Mavs team to fluke their way to the WCF.

[Dr Positivity]

In terms champions probably yes, mainly because of injury considering they started 21-6 the year after. For non champions you have teams like the Wolves with KG and Royals with Oscar and Hornets with Paul that had one obvious good year. If Nets fizzles out they'd be on that list too.

[RCM88x]

1976 Suns maybe? Kind of an odd case but honestly represent a one year wonder very well I think.

[tone wone]

2011 Mavs

[HeartBreakKid]

2011 Mavs

The Mavs are almost always decent

[sp6r=underrated]

2011 Mavs

Win totals going back to 2006
2006: 60
2007: 67
2008: 51
2009: 50
2010: 55

Yes they had a lot of very disappointing PS series but this isn't a one-season wonder. They imploded the year after mainly due to the extreme age on that roster. The youngest guy in MP on that roster in the top 5 was 33.