Asterisk!?

[msgkings322]

You caught me... that was my college degree.

I do believe I cribbed that spiel (with only slight alteration) from Plato or Descartes or someone like that.

Had to be Kyrie.

 

[Gman]

Had to be Kyrie.

Could well be... reads a little like his word vomit, I admit... unfortunately, it's easy for idiots like Kyrie and myself to sound deep and philosophical.

 

[Robotech]

Does that taller guy work as hard to develop his handle and greatest ever shot?

Good point. Maybe he becomes a dunking machine who never works on his shot, although that would be unlikely considering Dell Curry is his father.

 

[logic]

You play against the team that is on the floor.
Raptors won.
End of story.

 

[ducky]

Any title with an asterisk is still a title....

....but yes this finals will be remembered for the injuries not for how good Toronto played.

This Toronto team is likely to going to be a very small footnote in the history of the NBA. Especially if Kawhi leaves (which I think he will). Kind of like the 95-96 Supersonics.

 

[Robotech]

Or... we could just use the term judiciously... only when the fact of it is abundantly clear.

I'll give you this. I'm an asterisk non-believer, but at least looking at the injuries from the asterisk angle isn't as ridiculous as the people who are saying that the injuries are a result of karma (e.g., that the Warriors have bad karma for stacking their team, that Zaza injured Kawhi [Zaza actually injured KD, too, in that same season]).

 

[fordman84]

You play the team that is on the floor against you. Unless they went Tonya Harding on someone, not any fault of Toronto.

 

[msgkings322]

Any title with an asterisk is still a title....

....but yes this finals will be remembered for the injuries not for how good Toronto played.

This Toronto team is likely to going to be a very small footnote in the history of the NBA. Especially if Kawhi leaves (which I think he will). Kind of like the 95-96 Supersonics.

Those Sonics didn't win a title. Maybe you mean the 1978 Bullets or 1979 Sonics or 1975 Warriors.

But you are being too harsh. There's no footnotes or asterisks, there's simply a list of title winners and it will say 2019 Raptors forever

 

[tlance]

Does that taller guy work as hard to develop his handle and greatest ever shot?

Great point.

Everything about Steph's journey to where he is was equal parts unexpected and unique.

Might not have the same character or work ethic if he had been a highly sought after teen prospect. But I would bet on his character to win out anyway.

 

[Robotech]

Any title with an asterisk is still a title....

....but yes this finals will be remembered for the injuries not for how good Toronto played.

This Toronto team is likely to going to be a very small footnote in the history of the NBA. Especially if Kawhi leaves (which I think he will). Kind of like the 95-96 Supersonics.

But the Sonics didn't win the title. If Kawhi leaves and this is their only title, maybe they'll be like 2011 Mavs. One and done, but beat a super team.

Come to think of it, one-time title winners are less frequent than multiple-title winning teams. Going back to 1980, you have eight teams that won two titles or more in the 2000s Lakers, Spurs, Heat, Warriors, Bulls, Rockets, 1980s Celtics, and 1980s Pistons. During that same time period, you only have five teams that were one and done in the 2015 Cavs, 2011 Mavs, 2008 Celtics, 2004 Pistons and 1983 Sixers. If Kawhi stays, the Raptors should have a pretty good chance of winning another title.

 

[Robotech]

Those Sonics didn't win a title. Maybe you mean the 1978 Bullets or 1979 Sonics or 1975 Warriors.

But you are being too harsh. There's no footnotes or asterisks, there's simply a list of title winners and it will say 2019 Raptors forever

The '70s were the last decade without a dominant team and then we all know how the NBA became super popular in the '80s and onward. Maybe having dominant, great teams isn't so bad.

 

[Ron G]

Obviously injuries played a part in this series but no one will remember it in 20 years.

Actually, no one will remember who won the 2019 Championship. Quick, off the top of you head without looking it up, what two teams played in the 1999 championship series.

 

[desert heat]

staying fit and healthy are part of the game.

 

[Robotech]

Actually, no one will remember who won the 2019 Championship. Quick, off the top of you head without looking it up, what two teams played in the 1999 championship series.

Spurs-Knicks?

 

[msgkings322]

The '70s were the last decade without a dominant team and then we all know how the NBA became super popular in the '80s and onward. Maybe having dominant, great teams isn't so bad.

The NBA loves dynasties and they definitely want a new one to emerge (or the Warriors to keep it going)

 

[Robotech]

Actually, no one will remember who won the 2019 Championship. Quick, off the top of you head without looking it up, what two teams played in the 1999 championship series.

That was also a lockout-shortened season, so for many people it's not that memorable for that reason.

 

[msgkings322]

Actually, no one will remember who won the 2019 Championship. Quick, off the top of you head without looking it up, what two teams played in the 1999 championship series.

They will remember this year like they do the last year of any other dynasty: 2004, 2014, 2019

 

[Robotech]

The NBA loves dynasties and they definitely want a new one to emerge (or the Warriors to keep it going)

LeBron, AD, and perhaps a third star could make a Lakers dynasty. Maybe LeBron's getting old. We'll just have to see.

I could bet behind Giannis and Milwaukee. I love that guy's story. From poor and stateless in Greece to NBA superstar.

Kawhi of course can lead a dynasty whether it's in Toronto or in LA.

Celtics and Sixers right there with the talent as well. I think Ainge needs to go all in for AD.

 

[blindbaby]

Definitely no asterisk. However, I could perhaps be persuaded towards an ampersand.

 

[msgkings322]

Definitely no asterisk. However, I could perhaps be persuaded towards an ampersand.

Or a tilde