The SPURS were better than any team MJ or Kobe beat

[trojanfan12]

Its fairly popular to bash Lebron for losing another finals, and then immediately point out the success of Jordan/Kobe.

But, in my opinion, Jordan or Kobe never faced a team like the 2014 Spurs.
There is no shame in losing to them.

The 2014 Spurs were better than the 1991 Lakers, 1992 Blazers, 1993 Suns, 1996 Sonics, 1997/98 Jazz, 00 Pacers, 01 Sixers, 02 Nets, 09 Magic, or 10 Celtics (Only the 1993 Suns gave me pause.)

LEBRON haters need to acknowledge this a bit.

It was not about the HEAT or LBJ failing.
It was about a dominant great Spurs team.

Disagree about the '10 Celtics, '96 Sonics and maybe the '91 Lakers. Agree with the rest.

 

[Sportsguy9695]

i agree the Spurs were really good this season. but James also has no help at all. Wade isnt playing like he use to

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

Tell me where any of those 11 teams (none who won a darn thing) were a tougher challenge for Lebron/Kobe than the 2014 Spurs were for Lebron.


HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE (easily forgotten): Kobe never beat anyone without it. Jordan was 4-2. 9 times Kobe and Jordan relied on home court.

COACHING: Popovich was at his best. He was much better than any of those coaches with the exception of maybe Jerry Sloan. But, this was a focused Popovich at his best and most deserving COY peak.

OFFENSE: Adjusted for pace of play, none of those teams were ever as prolific offensively in an NBA finals. They moved the ball like a precision machine and shot an alltime record 53%. The scored in the low post, mid-range, off the dribble, at the line, and at the 3-point line equally as well.

DEFENSE: This one is where some can compete. But, the Spurs were a top 5 defensive unit who played smothering defense in games 4 and 5. They won equally as much defensively.

BENCH/DEPTH: Nobody had ever made the playoffs without a starter averaging 30 minutes. Not only did the Spurs make the playoffs, they got the #1 seed and dominated. Their best player was 0-12 in a game where they were leading by 21 points. 10 guys could legitimately be the leading scorer. 4 guys deserved the finals MVP. Teams like the Jazz would be helpless if Malone got in foul trouble or had a bad night. The Spurs had 8 more guys ready to play in waves.

WINNING EXPERIENCE: Only the 1991 Lakers and 2010 Celtics had any finals winning experience to draw upon. The Spurs had more championships then the 92,93,96,97,98,00,01,02,09, and 10 teams combined 4 times over.

SPECIFIC MOTIVATION: Nobody had more of a razor focus almost obsession to avenge the 2013 loss. You could argue the 1998 Jazz, but they never felt like the 1997 title was theirs. Chicago was better in 1997 and it wasn't the cruel loss. SA openly wanted Miami. I doubt a single one of those teams wanted Kobe or Jordan. None of those teams had even a fraction of the motivation of the 2014 Spurs to beat 2014 Miami.


So, tell me again why any of the teams that Jordan/Kobe beat were a tougher challenge?

 

[lakersrule]

So, tell me again why any of the teams that Jordan/Kobe beat were a tougher challenge?

For the Lakers, the tougher opponents came during the western conference playoffs. The Finals were a mere formality, at least for the Shaq/Kobe championships. Those teams would destroy this year's champion

 

[lakersrule]

What is it anyway with the marginalization of everything that has happened in the past in order to defend and elevate Lebron?

 

[Shoveyjoe]

What is it anyway with the marginalization of everything that has happened in the past in order to defend and elevate Lebron?

You are right. Lebron is at fault for this series.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

Spurs were obviously the best team. but I believe they won all 4 games by 15+ points. Surely the Heat sucking had something to do with that.

WOW...
Sucking is the best, most accurate word you could use to describe a team that has been in the Finals the last 4 seasons ( while winning 2)?

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

For the Lakers, the tougher opponents came during the western conference playoffs. The Finals were a mere formality, at least for the Shaq/Kobe championships. Those teams would destroy this year's champion [/




The Spurs played statistically historic at times this series, but you KNOW you would have destroyed them?

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

For the Lakers, the tougher opponents came during the western conference playoffs. The Finals were a mere formality, at least for the Shaq/Kobe championships. Those teams would destroy this year's champion

Yup!

It's the "Shaq would have been the GOAT if he played in the 50s/60s" all over again. We just don't know and never will.

The 2000-02 Lakers would have destroyed this Spurs team. Not fact, just opinion.

 

[lakersrule]

You are right. Lebron is at fault for this series.

Did I say he was?

 

[Jims_Doors]

People forgetting that the Spurs were the odds on favorite before the series tipped off?

The Spurs just simply out played Miami in all facets of the game. After 2 games, POP made the needed adjustments and Miami had no answer.

It's not like they were the favorite for all 4 Finals. Only 2 of them.

 

[lakersrule]

For the Lakers, the tougher opponents came during the western conference playoffs. The Finals were a mere formality, at least for the Shaq/Kobe championships. Those teams would destroy this year's champion [/




The Spurs played statistically historic at times this series, but you KNOW you would have destroyed them?

I wouldn't have. The Shaq/Kobe Lakers would have though.

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

Nobody said anything about the 2000-02 Lakers.
I never discussed any of the champions. I discussed their opponents they beat.


That would be the 2000 Pacers, 2001 Sixers, and 2002 Nets.


If you want to tell me how those teams were better than the 2014 Spurs, I will listen to solid arguments.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

Completely pointless argument though.

In my opinion, the 2014 Spurs never faced opposition like a prime Jordan/Pippen or Kobe/Shaq.

While i'm not taking anything away from the worthy champions this year, the only threat was Lebron the whole series.

We're comparing apples and oranges now.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

Also, the 2000 Lakers would have easily taken out the 1999 Knicks, 2003 Nets, 2005 Pistons, 2007 Cavs and the 2014 Heat.

 

[trojanfan12]

Its fairly popular to bash Lebron for losing another finals, and then immediately point out the success of Jordan/Kobe.

But, in my opinion, Jordan or Kobe never faced a team like the 2014 Spurs.
There is no shame in losing to them.

The 2014 Spurs were better than the 1991 Lakers, 1992 Blazers, 1993 Suns, 1996 Sonics, 1997/98 Jazz, 00 Pacers, 01 Sixers, 02 Nets, 09 Magic, or 10 Celtics (Only the 1993 Suns gave me pause.)

LEBRON haters need to acknowledge this a bit.

It was not about the HEAT or LBJ failing.
It was about a dominant great Spurs team.

Your basing this on a false premise. The question isn't whether any of the teams that the Jordan Bulls or Shaq/Kobe Lakers beat could beat the Spurs. It should be whether or not the Jordan Bulls or Shaq/Kobe Lakers could beat the 2014 Spurs. Or could the Heat have beaten any of the teams that those Bulls or Lakers teams beat.

You're comparing a team that won a title to teams that lost. I would hope the Spurs would compare favorably to teams that lost in the finals.

 

[Kinzu]

OFFENSE: Adjusted for pace of play, none of those teams were ever as prolific offensively in an NBA finals. They moved the ball like a precision machine and shot an alltime record 53%. The scored in the low post, mid-range, off the dribble, at the line, and at the 3-point line equally as well.

Well let's be real here, outside of Lebron what defense did the Heat really have? They lacked the speed and discipline to guard against the Spurs. The Spurs just spread them out and passed the ball around faster than the slow and aging Heat players could keep up. Bosh and James are good defenders, but Bosh was worthless with how the Spurs spread things out. James could only do so much as the Spurs do not run ISO plays nor feature a single player he could shut down.

You could make a good argument that this Heat team may have been one of the worst Final teams in at least the past decade. This year featured one of the weakest Eastern Conferences you will hopefully ever see.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Nobody said anything about the 2000-02 Lakers.
I never discussed any of the champions. I discussed their opponents they beat.


That would be the 2000 Pacers, 2001 Sixers, and 2002 Nets.


If you want to tell me how those teams were better than the 2014 Spurs, I will listen to solid arguments.

I've followed the thread, but lost on your point...who really cares of SA is better than the teams those champions beat?

 

[Inimical]

Completely pointless argument though.

In my opinion, the 2014 Spurs never faced opposition like a prime Jordan/Pippen or Kobe/Shaq.

While i'm not taking anything away from the worthy champions this year, the only threat was Lebron the whole series.

We're comparing apples and oranges now.

Someone else said it, but i wish somebody would, this entire thread just....wow...ugh....

 

[bksballer89]

Nobody said anything about the 2000-02 Lakers.
I never discussed any of the champions. I discussed their opponents they beat.


That would be the 2000 Pacers, 2001 Sixers, and 2002 Nets.


If you want to tell me how those teams were better than the 2014 Spurs, I will listen to solid arguments.

Lakers fans cannot read....Give them a pass.

I have no idea how those lakers are relevant to this topic