Best teams in your franchise's history

[msgkings322]

I sometimes list who I think the best teams ever are (and my list is nothing controversial). But it got me thinking, I didn't know which of the 2000-2002 Lakers teams to pick, or which 80s Lakers team to pick.

So I wanted to throw it open to the board, especially fans of the teams in question.

In your opinion, what year did your franchise have its best team? And heck it might not even be a ring winning team, maybe they had bad injury luck in the playoffs or got beat by an even better team.

My GOAT teams are (in no order, no way to prove the exact order) 1996 Bulls (I think it's safe to say that was the best of the Bulls teams), 1986 Celtics (ditto), 2017 Warriors (ditto), 2001 Lakers (is that the right one?), 1985 Lakers (or is it 1987?), maybe 2012 Heat? 2014 Spurs?

For a non-GOAT team, would Pistons fans say the 1989 team was better, or the 1990 one? Or would someone make a case for 2004?

Need input from the fans...

Oh and my pick for the Warriors as I said above is the 2016-2017 version, first KD year. There was simply no discussion or doubt about them motorboating the league that year.

 

[Robotech]

No doubt about the 2016-17 Warriors. I wonder if they were the biggest favorites in history. When were there other instances where you win less money than you bet while betting on which team will win the championship? Just 1 of 30 teams to begin the season, but the preseason odds implied that they had something like a 70% chance of winning the title, IIRC.

 

[trojanfan12]

The consensus among Lakers fans seems to be that the 2 best Lakers teams are 1985 and 2001.

The 1985 team was 62-20, was 1st in offensive rating and a surprising 7th in defensive rating. They went 15-4 in the playoffs.

I think a case can be made for the 1987 Lakers. They went 65-17, were 1st in offensive rating and 7th in defensive rating and went 15-3 in the playoffs.

 

[Robotech]

The consensus among Lakers fans seems to be that the 2 best Lakers teams are 1985 and 2001.

The 1985 team was 62-20, was 1st in offensive rating and a surprising 7th in defensive rating. They went 15-4 in the playoffs.

I think a case can be made for the 1987 Lakers. They went 65-17, were 1st in offensive rating and 7th in defensive rating and went 15-3 in the playoffs.

Yeah, super powered offensive teams like the Showtime Lakers and the recent Warriors teams can get their defense overlooked. IIRC, the Warriors recently had a season where they were number 1 offensive rating and something like first or second ranked in defensive rating.

 

[trojanfan12]

Yeah, super powered offensive teams like the Showtime Lakers and the recent Warriors teams can get their defense overlooked. IIRC, the Warriors recently had a season where they were number 1 offensive rating and something like first or second ranked in defensive rating.

Yeah, I've always said that the Showtime Lakers weren't as bad defensively as some folks like to claim...but even I was surprised that they were 7th. I figured they were more middle of the pack.

 

[msgkings322]

Yeah, super powered offensive teams like the Showtime Lakers and the recent Warriors teams can get their defense overlooked. IIRC, the Warriors recently had a season where they were number 1 offensive rating and something like first or second ranked in defensive rating.

That was of course 2016-17

 

[tlance]

1978 championship baby!

About 2 months before I was born.

My favorite team to watch was probably the Chris Webber squad. They had a lot off young talent on that team. Way too many PFs, sure, but then they went and traded all their good players for aging vets like Mitch Richmond and Rod Strickland.

Oh well. We can’t all have nice things.

 

[DJ]

1978 championship baby!

About 2 months before I was born.

My favorite team to watch was probably the Chris Webber squad. They had a lot off young talent on that team. Way too many PFs, sure, but then they went and traded all their good players for aging vets like Mitch Richmond and Rod Strickland.

Oh well. We can’t all have nice things.

Was World B Free on that squad?

 

[tlance]

Was World B Free on that squad?

I could look it up, but I don’t even know.

Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld were the 2 best players. Phil Chenier and Bob Dandridge were the top perimeter players.

 

[bksballer89]

2012-2013 Heat

 

[tlance]

2012-2013 Heat

That is the 2nd title team, right?

If so, I would say the ‘12 team that beat OKC was better.

I know they added Allen, but a couple of their core guys were getting older and not playing as well in ‘13 as they did in ‘12.

 

[broncosmitty]

1978 championship baby!

About 2 months before I was born.

My favorite team to watch was probably the Chris Webber squad. They had a lot off young talent on that team. Way too many PFs, sure, but then they went and traded all their good players for aging vets like Mitch Richmond and Rod Strickland.

Oh well. We can’t all have nice things.

I didn't miss a Bullets visit to the Palace for a few years. Loved those teams. Still have my #2 and #5 Jerseys.

 

[bksballer89]

That is the 2nd title team, right?

If so, I would say the ‘12 team that beat OKC was better.

I know they added Allen, but a couple of their core guys were getting older and not playing as well in ‘13 as they did in ‘12.

Better than 66-16 and 27 win streak Heat?

2 things about that 2011-2012 Heat team.

1) Wade was better

2) They were also a better playoffs team compared to the 2012-2013 team.

 

[broncosmitty]

88-89 Pistons

 

[bksballer89]

88-89 Pistons

Why not the 2019-20 Pistons?

 

[HurricaneDij39]

1998 and 2000 were the best Pacers teams. Not too familiar with the ABA days, though.

2013 was the greatest Nuggets team of my lifetime. If not for a Gallinari ACL tear, we could have stopped the GS collusion juggernaut before it ever had a chance to take off.

The 1985 team reached the conference finals, but one could argue that the 1983 team was actually more talented than the '85 team due to the presence of Kiki Vandeweghe. The 1977 team also gave the eventual champion Blazers a ride.

 

[HurricaneDij39]

That is the 2nd title team, right?

If so, I would say the ‘12 team that beat OKC was better.

I know they added Allen, but a couple of their core guys were getting older and not playing as well in ‘13 as they did in ‘12.

How about it, you and I actually agree on something...

 

[HurricaneDij39]

The consensus among Lakers fans seems to be that the 2 best Lakers teams are 1985 and 2001.

The 1985 team was 62-20, was 1st in offensive rating and a surprising 7th in defensive rating. They went 15-4 in the playoffs.

I think a case can be made for the 1987 Lakers. They went 65-17, were 1st in offensive rating and 7th in defensive rating and went 15-3 in the playoffs.

1987 was best. Worthy was just entering in his prime and Kareem still had some game.

 

[Robotech]

2013 was the greatest Nuggets team of my lifetime. If not for a Gallinari ACL tear, we could have stopped the GS collusion juggernaut before it ever had a chance to take off.

Andre Iguodala was going to join the Warriors no matter what.

 

[trojanfan12]

1987 was best. Worthy was just entering in his prime and Kareem still had some game.

That's where I tend to lean too. Really can't go wrong with either. But I think '87 was slightly better.