Fluke championships

[Ghazi]

The other day I was thinking how bizarre it is that ever since the close of the Lakers dynasty there hasn't been a repeat champion. 6 years without a repeat champion after the Lakers 3-peated, the Bulls 3-peated twice, the Pistons 2-peated, and the Rockets 2-peated. I surmised this may be due to growing parity in the NBA, but then I realized it was simply a fluke.

Let us reexamine the past 6 years and determine who the true champions were and who the fluke champions were

2003- Fluke champion: San Antonio Spurs (60-22)
True champion: Dallas Mavericks (60-22)

Our beloved Finley missed around 15 games in the latter part of the regular season, hence it was a fluke that the Spurs had home court advantage. The playoff series was also a fluke because our beloved Dirk missed the final 3 games and Kerr for some reason got hot and hit a bunch of fluky bullshit jumpers in game 6. The way the season was supposed to play out was the Mavs defeat the Spurs in 7, and then proceed to the Finals to beat a mediocre 49 win Net team in a battle between the #1 O and #1 D, certainly more appealing than the snoozefest low scoring Spurs/Nets series.

2004- Fluke champion: Detroit Pistons (54-28)
True champion: San Antonio Spurs (57-25)

The bottom line is Fisher's bullshit .4 shot in game 5 was a fluke, no skill at all. Some say the better team ALWAYS wins a 7 game series but shit like that confirms that indeed a team can flukishly win a series sometimes. What was supposed to happen is the Spurs were to beat the Lakers in 7, defeat a gassed/injured T-Wolves team in 6, and go on to the NBA Finals to beat the Pacers in 6 games.

2005- True champion: San Antonio Spurs (59-23)
This is a year where the true champion was indeed not a fluke. Our beloved Mavs were still transitioning from the Walker/Jamison failure of an experiment and coaching change, and this left the path open for the Spurs. Everything that should've happened in the playoffs this year did indeed happen

2006- Fluke champion: Miami Heat (52-30)
True champion: Dallas Mavericks (60-22)

The Mavs were the better team, but the refs decided that an unconventional PF is less marketable than ablack shooting guard with Jordanesque skill. A bunch of fluky bullshit shots and fluky bullshit whistles denied the Mavs thatyear. What was supposed to happen was the Mavs were to win in 6. Also, Wade putting up the best statistical finals of all time is fluky bullshit.

2007- Fluke champion: San Antonio Spurs (58-24)
True champion: Dallas Mavericks (67-15)

The Warriors getting an 8 seed was a fluky bullshit and then their bullshit H-O-R-S-E shots were fluky bullshit as well. What was supposed to happen was the CLippers were supposed to get the 8 seed and the Mavs should've won in 4. Then the Mavs beat the Jazz in 6, Spurs in 6, and Cavs in 6. Lebron would've been hell for our beloved Mavs, but our offensive firepower would've overcame the relatively unimpressive Cavs roster. The Spurs as we know could not beat our beloved Mavs, evident in 2006. Jazz physical style of play was always a problem, but we would've prevailed in 6.

2008- True champion: Boston Celtics (66-16)

The Mavs run by this point had come to an end with 3 championships in 5 years, and the Celtics with their bullshit trades were ready to win. They dominated the regular season from the very beginning and had the highest margin of victory since Jordan's Bulls. What was supposed to happen, Celtics > Lakers in 6 games, did indeed happen.

[balli]

Bulls 98'. Stern and Bavetta handed them that series on a silver platter.

[lefty]

We would have lost to Detroit in 2004, anyway

[dirk4mvp]

2007 - Fluke Champion : Spurs.
True Champion : Mavs.

No other team was beating the Mavs that year besides the Warriors who had them figured out to a t. Case in point when the Spurs players thanked the Warriors for beating them.

[Ghazi]

^ Yeap, I accidentally hit submit before posting that. It was also a fluke that the Clippers or Lakers weren't the 8 seed. The Warriors hit a bunch of fluky bullshit regular season shots to get the 8 seed in the first place, and continued their trend of fluky bullshit H-O-R-S-E shots against our beloved Mavs.

[CubanMustGo]

Gee, the Mavs should have won three of the last five championships? Careful, you're starting to sound as delusional as Sun fan.

[hater]

yeah, it was a fluke that the Warriors wup that weak mav ass :rolleyes

[Ghazi]

And the past 6 finals should be:

Mavs 4 Nets 2
Spurs 4 Pacers 2
Spurs 4 Heat 2
Mavs 4 Heat 2
Mavs 4 Cavs 2
Celtics 4 Lakers 2

What should've happened with the Cheat was that they're one of those good teams that makes the Finals twice, but isn't good enough and thus loses twice, as was the case with the Jazz in the decade prior.

If those Heat were true champions in 2006, they would'nt have followed it up with 46 wins the next year and a first round sweep, and 15 wins the year latter.

Look at the Spurs, they've defended all of their titles honorably. Same with those Lakers and Bulls, and the Celtics are doing it this year as well.

That the Heat were unable to even win a PLAYOFF game the year after confirms that indeed their title was fluky bullshit.

[dirk4mvp]

Gee, the Mavs should have won three of the last five championships? Careful, you're starting to sound as delusional as Spurs fan.


Fixed.


Don't act like you guys don't bitch. These forums are filled with the idea that the .4 and Dirk and 1 is the reason the Spurs haven't 5 peated.

[Pelicans78]

First of all, Duncan's shot before Fisher's shot was pretty flukey. Both shots were flukey.

Also, a healthy Hornets team eliminated the Clippers at LA in the last game of the season. The Hornets would have been a playoff team that season if it weren't for the numerous amounts of injuries they had. West, Paul, Chandler, and Peja each missed over 15 games with Peja missing 69. So, the Mavs would have had to face us in the 1st round.

[MaNu4Tres]

Mavs got away with murder games 3 and 4 in 2006 against the spurs

[balli]

Jesus. Would've, could've, should've/insane denial forum.

[Pelicans78]

Also Ghazi, you had the Pacers being better than the Pistons in 2004, but it wasn't the case. Your theory then would have the 2005 Heat in the finals and the 2006 Pistons in the Finals.

[Ghazi]

First of all, Duncan's shot before Fisher's shot was pretty flukey. Both shots were flukey.

Also, a healthy Hornets team eliminated the Clippers at LA in the last game of the season. The Hornets would have been a playoff team that season if it weren't for the numerous amounts of injuries they had. West, Paul, Chandler, and Peja each missed over 15 games with Peja missing 69. So, the Mavs would have had to face us in the 1st round.

Fair enough, so the way that season was supposed to play out is Mavs > Hornets in4 or 5, Mavs 4 Jazz 2, Mavs 4 Spurs 2, Mavs 4 Cavs 2.

[Ghazi]

The moral of the story here is that it's unfair to mock our beloved Mavs and Dirk due to their lack of rings, the 3 years they should've won it all they didn't fail because they weren't good enough, they failed because of fluky bullshit whistles, fluky bullshit shots, fluky bullshit suspensions, and fluky bullshit injuries.

[IronMexican]

Lakers in 04-05. That Laker team was possibly one of the best to ever step on the court. Tierre Brown and Chucky Atkins were trully great to watch.

[MaNu4Tres]

Mavs got every fuckin call in 2006 against the spurs in games 3 and 4

[dirk4mvp]

Mavs were just better than the Spurs in 06.

[Pelicans78]

The moral of the story here is that it's unfair to mock our beloved Mavs and Dirk due to their lack of rings, the 3 years they should've won it all they didn't fail because they weren't good enough, they failed because of fluky bullshit whistles, fluky bullshit shots, fluky bullshit suspensions, and fluky bullshit injuries.

In 2003, I don't think you guys would have beat the Kings if Webber didn't get hurt. They blew you guys out in Game 1 at Dallas and still took you guys to 7 games. Honestly, with a healthy C-Webb, we would have seen an epic series between the Spurs and Kings.

I think you guys did get hosed in the Heat series. You guys were the better team but D-Wade got all the calls. It was ridiculous. The 2007 team is debatable. Playing the spurs in the WCF would have been a challenge.

[Ghazi]

Webber getting hurt isn't a fluke, it's what is to be expected.

[MaNu4Tres]

Mavs were just better than the Spurs in 06.

Says dirk4mvp

[Pelicans78]

Webber getting hurt isn't a fluke, it's what is to be expected.

Same with Dirk getting hurt.

[dirk4mvp]

Says dirk4mvp


Says a guy who watched the Mavs beat the Spurs.

Why did the Spurs players have to thank the Warriors for beating the Mavs in 07?

[Ghazi]

These thoughts of mine are completely objective for what it's worth, no Mavs homerism whatsoever, hence me giving the Spurs repeat championships in 2004 and 2005 and acknolwedging that the Mavs time had passed by last year.

:)

[samikeyp]

I agree with Dirk on two things:

Way too much bitching about "woulda, coulda, shoulda" regarding .4..it happened, its over, it sucked but move on.
The Mavs were better than SA in 06.

However, this fluke champ-true champ thing is for pussies. The true champ is the one who takes care of business on the floor. Some (not all as Dirk and Ghazi etc. would have you believe) Spurs fans like to try and justify Spur losses as everybody else's fault but its all on the team. Other fans of other teams do the same thing but they get called out for it. Those Spurs fans who do the same don't get a pass.

[MaNu4Tres]

Says a guy who watched the Mavs beat the Spurs.

Why did the Spurs players have to thank the Warriors for beating the Mavs in 07?

Spurs were the best team in 2007 that was obvious. They steamrolled through everyone.

That's like me saying Pistons thanked Derek Fisher in 2004 for hitting the .4 shot becaues Spurs would have beat the Pistons.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Those teams shouldn't have won. I agree. They just made some shots and grabbed some rebounds. Obviously if another team made as many shots and grabbed as many rebounds they would have won. Complete fluke.

[Ghazi]

I agree with Dirk on two things:

Way too much bitching about "woulda, coulda, shoulda" regarding .4..it happened, its over, it sucked but move on.
The Mavs were better than SA in 06.

However, this fluke champ-true champ thing is for pussies. The true champ is the one who takes care of business on the floor. Some (not all as Dirk and Ghazi etc. would have you believe) Spurs fans like to try and justify Spur losses as everybody else's fault but its all on the team. Other fans of other teams do the same thing but they get called out for it. Those Spurs fans who do the same don't get a pass.


It's easy to say that now that the chips have fallen where they have. "We took care of business, you didn't". No, Kerr hit some bullshit shots in '03, D-Whistle got some bullshit calls in '06, and the Warriors hit some bulshit halfcourt shots in '07

J-Ho is right, sometimes you just cant control what the ball do.

MAVS :lobt2::lobt2::lobt2:

[samikeyp]

J-Ho is right but that is part of the game. Fluke implies otherwise. Fluke implies those titles were not earned fairly when in fact, they were.

[Ghazi]

To the person who said this is denial, no it's not. We're not implying the teams that won the years the Mavs were supposed to are undeserving or unworthy, I'm just implying that the Cheat won because of fluky bullshit shots and whistles, the Spurs won because of Kerr hitting some bullshit shots and our beloved Dirk falling + our beloved Fin's late season injury causing us to slip and yield HCA, and the W's won because a bunch of scrubs for some reason learned how to hit fluky bullshit shots

[MaNu4Tres]

It's easy to say that now that the chips have fallen where they have. "We took care of business, you didn't". No, Kerr hit some bullshit shots in '03, D-Whistle got some bullshit calls in '06, and the Warriors hit some bulshit halfcourt shots in '07

J-Ho is right, sometimes you just cant control what the ball do.

MAVS :lobt2::lobt2::lobt2:

Warriors destroyed the Mavs. They didn't win because of half court shots. And for you to say Kerr hit bullshit shots in 06. For one Kerr is probably a top 5 three point shooter of all time. Leaving him wide open isn't lucky on Kerr's behalf. Secondly I believe Spurs defense held the Mavs to 9 points in the 4th quarter of game 6. Mavs were not the better team in 03' and thats for sure.

[samikeyp]

Actually he said Kerr hit bullshit shots in 03. And he's still wrong. Steve Kerr hit some dead on 3's because the Mavs kept leaving him open. He proved way before that series that if you do that, he will kill you.

[Ghazi]

Steve Kerr hitting those shots after being in warmups all series long is like Hamed Haddadi coming off the bench and posterizing Dwight Howard. Shit is simply fucking fluky.

[samikeyp]

Steve Kerr hitting those shots after being in warmups all series long is like Hamed Haddadi coming off the bench and posterizing Dwight Howard. Shit is simply fucking fluky.

Not really, Steve Kerr did that his whole career.

[Ghazi]

Warriors destroyed the Mavs. They didn't win because of half court shots. And for you to say Kerr hit bullshit shots in 06. For one Kerr is probably a top 5 three point shooter of all time. Leaving him wide open isn't lucky on Kerr's behalf. Secondly I believe Spurs defense held the Mavs to 9 points in the 4th quarter of game 6. Mavs were not the better team in 03' and thats for sure.

THe Warriors did destroy the Mavs, but that's because if you hit 5-6 fluke bullshit 3-PT shots that's 15-18 points, not to mention those shots are not supposed to go in and lead to long rebounds and outlet passes for transition points. Thus, The Warriors probably had about 22-24 points per game due to bullshit H-O-R-S-E shots.

[balli]

No, Kerr hit some bullshit shots in '03
Steve Kerr is one of the greatest shooters and furthermore clutch shooters in the history of the NBA. He never made a bullshit shot his whole career.

D-Whistle got some bullshit calls in '06
Very few people dispute that.

, and the Warriors hit some bulshit halfcourt shots in '07
Then your team should have grown a pair and knocked them on their asses. You got your slaughtered by one of the softest playoff teams in league history and if it should've been different, it should've been your very good team causing the difference. And they didn't do that. It's pretty simple really:
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/2404/sloangsw1gd9.jpg

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

2007- Fluke champion: San Antonio Spurs (58-24)
True champion: Dallas Mavericks (67-15)

The Warriors getting an 8 seed was a fluky bullshit and then their bullshit H-O-R-S-E shots were fluky bullshit as well. What was supposed to happen was the CLippers were supposed to get the 8 seed and the Mavs should've won in 4.

If a team needs to avoid a certain team in order to win, that team doesn't deserve the title, particularly if the team they need to avoid didn't even win 50 games.

The Suns needed to avoid SA, the Mavs needed to avoid golden state. I know you're going to say Dallas was the kryptonite to them, but SA didn't have a team they matched up against as poorly as the two match ups mentioned above.

The NBA champion is the team that can play any style against any team and expose weaknesses against every team they play. The Mavs simply couldn't expose the lack of size and interior D on Golden State which is why they lost.

If the Suns deserved a championship, they would have been able to expose SA's lack of athleticism and lack of playmakers outside the big 3. They didn't, so they lost.

[Ghazi]

Kerr and the W's bullshit shots were just the smaller flukes. The bigger flukes in '03 were Dirk's injury and Fin's late in the regular season, and the bigger fluke in the '07 season was the W's getting the 8 seed w/ a regular season of BS shots instead of the Clippers, Hornets, or Lakers.

As much as people call the W's series a choke for our beloved Mavs, we WERE 1-6 in our last 7 against them, although 2 of those losses were off of fluky bullshit buzzer beating shots.

[dknights411]

The reason the Mavs didn't win any championships was because they got beat in the playoffs. The reason the Spurs didn't win in 04 and 06 is because they got beat in the playoffs. It doesn't matter who has the better talent or what they did in the regular season, if they lose in the playoffs, weather is was "fluky" or not, then they can't be "true" champions. Period. End of story. See you next season.

[Many PackYao]

Is this a SpursDynasty tribute thread?I haven't seen the words fluke and bullshit shots so much since he was last here.:lol

[tHe210rObInHoOd]

i hate it when professional b-ball players hit bullshit shots. :wow

all those three's that kerr hit were obviously bullshit shots because that guy can't shoot worth a crap. :nope

all in all great post very funny.... :lmao

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

This thread is hilarious.

[JamStone]

I say a team that, in three separate seasons, was the best team and should have won NBA titles but still failed to win those titles would be the biggest fluke team of the bunch.

Fluke non-championship havers.

[HORNSWOGGLE]

The Spurs were already making their comeback anyway even before Kerr hit those 3's

[endrity]

Ghazi, I like all Mavs fans man, but you are seriously in SpursDynasty level here.

03- as many people have pointed out, if you include Dirk's injury, why not Webber's. And with Dirk we weren't that much better than the Spurs were we. During those years we had no one to defend Duncan, we were doing it with Najera most of the time.

04- Pistons were by FAAAAAAAR the best team that year. I think because they failed to repeat people forget how good they were. Lakers started that season strong, but they unravaled as they year went on. In fact, the best record in the league belonged to a dominant defensive Indiana team. And the Pistons beat them up in the ECF. One of the many elements that is usually forgotten, is how well Rip was playing that year. He never got back to that level, but in the dogfight that was that ECF series he was the only player to score 20 every game, and he did it against DPOY Artest. They completely outclassed the Lakers in the finals as well. Maybe because defensive rules were relaxed after that year, but the Pistons for some reason never played as well.

05 - Spurs, nothing else to say.

06- The one legitimate issue. The Heat were handed those rings. People who say Dallas should have fought back, they shouldn't have let it come down to those FTs, Dirk choked etc... should see those games again. The Mavs gave it their absolute all, they never panicked (as they did in the later years). They had gone through everything possible, won game 7 in San Antonio (with Duncan getting every possible call, for those Spurs fans that like to bitch about games 3 and 4). The had a very high confidence, and they played like it until the last second of game 6. But as I have said many times, when Dirk was making plays at one end, Wade was hitting FTs on the other.

07- Mavs choked, plain and simple. For whatever reason, bad coaching, bad leadership, whatever. Plus the Mavs were also spent and I also think their team wasn't as good as 06. Terry had had a down year, so had Diop, we were missing Van Horn and Daniels off the bench, both Damp and Dirk were not 100%. Going down the stretch the Mavs to me seemed not the same team as 06.

08 - Celtics for sure.

[circles_eternal]

it's hard to listen to an argument filled with "shoulds, coulds, and woulds."

[mystargtr34]

Mavs were just better than the Spurs in 06.

That might have been the best Spurs team of the bunch - the Mavs were playing some ridiculously good basketball that season. Best series i ever saw.

[mystargtr34]

But yes, absolutely hilarious Spursdynasty type thread.

[jack sommerset]

All the Spews rings are fluke. Again, strike season is not real. Won't debate that anymore, I am right. The rest of the rings had big injuries to stars players plus the year the 2 Suns players were suspended. Freaken lucky Spews. Bynum is out,Chris Paul is injuried. Is history going towards the Spews again this year?

[Brickhouse]

Dumb thread.

If not for the fact that Ghazi quoted Josh Howard as support for his argument :lmao

[Shank]

3 Rings, Faggot!

[FreeMason]

As I remember, it wasn't a fluke that the Mavs met the Warriors in the first round.

The Mavs actually manipulated the standings so that would be the case ahahah.

[THE_FLASH3]

Dont give me that shit the heat were the better team in 06 its a 7 game series you fuckn idiot. The Mavs aint good enough to win a championship your leader is a pussy n pg is a scrub

[Flo-Rida]

The other day I was thinking how bizarre it is that ever since the close of the Lakers dynasty there hasn't been a repeat champion. 6 years without a repeat champion after the Lakers 3-peated, the Bulls 3-peated twice, the Pistons 2-peated, and the Rockets 2-peated. I surmised this may be due to growing parity in the NBA, but then I realized it was simply a fluke.

Let us reexamine the past 6 years and determine who the true champions were and who the fluke champions were

2003- Fluke champion: San Antonio Spurs (60-22)
True champion: Dallas Mavericks (60-22)

Our beloved Finley missed around 15 games in the latter part of the regular season, hence it was a fluke that the Spurs had home court advantage. The playoff series was also a fluke because our beloved Dirk missed the final 3 games and Kerr for some reason got hot and hit a bunch of fluky bullshit jumpers in game 6. The way the season was supposed to play out was the Mavs defeat the Spurs in 7, and then proceed to the Finals to beat a mediocre 49 win Net team in a battle between the #1 O and #1 D, certainly more appealing than the snoozefest low scoring Spurs/Nets series.

2004- Fluke champion: Detroit Pistons (54-28)
True champion: San Antonio Spurs (57-25)

The bottom line is Fisher's bullshit .4 shot in game 5 was a fluke, no skill at all. Some say the better team ALWAYS wins a 7 game series but shit like that confirms that indeed a team can flukishly win a series sometimes. What was supposed to happen is the Spurs were to beat the Lakers in 7, defeat a gassed/injured T-Wolves team in 6, and go on to the NBA Finals to beat the Pacers in 6 games.

2005- True champion: San Antonio Spurs (59-23)
This is a year where the true champion was indeed not a fluke. Our beloved Mavs were still transitioning from the Walker/Jamison failure of an experiment and coaching change, and this left the path open for the Spurs. Everything that should've happened in the playoffs this year did indeed happen

2006- Fluke champion: Miami Heat (52-30)
True champion: Dallas Mavericks (60-22)

The Mavs were the better team, but the refs decided that an unconventional PF is less marketable than ablack shooting guard with Jordanesque skill. A bunch of fluky bullshit shots and fluky bullshit whistles denied the Mavs thatyear. What was supposed to happen was the Mavs were to win in 6. Also, Wade putting up the best statistical finals of all time is fluky bullshit.

2007- Fluke champion: San Antonio Spurs (58-24)
True champion: Dallas Mavericks (67-15)

The Warriors getting an 8 seed was a fluky bullshit and then their bullshit H-O-R-S-E shots were fluky bullshit as well. What was supposed to happen was the CLippers were supposed to get the 8 seed and the Mavs should've won in 4. Then the Mavs beat the Jazz in 6, Spurs in 6, and Cavs in 6. Lebron would've been hell for our beloved Mavs, but our offensive firepower would've overcame the relatively unimpressive Cavs roster. The Spurs as we know could not beat our beloved Mavs, evident in 2006. Jazz physical style of play was always a problem, but we would've prevailed in 6.

2008- True champion: Boston Celtics (66-16)

The Mavs run by this point had come to an end with 3 championships in 5 years, and the Celtics with their bullshit trades were ready to win. They dominated the regular season from the very beginning and had the highest margin of victory since Jordan's Bulls. What was supposed to happen, Celtics > Lakers in 6 games, did indeed happen.

:lmao:lmao

[BUMP]

Kerr and the W's bullshit shots were just the smaller flukes. The bigger flukes in '03 were Dirk's injury and Fin's late in the regular season, and the bigger fluke in the '07 season was the W's getting the 8 seed w/ a regular season of BS shots instead of the Clippers, Hornets, or Lakers.

As much as people call the W's series a choke for our beloved Mavs, we WERE 1-6 in our last 7 against them, although 2 of those losses were off of fluky bullshit buzzer beating shots.

:lol this one wasnt even in the playoffs either

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkAZeLmcfdY

[BlackSwordsMan]

2007 - Fluke Champion : Spurs.
True Champion : Mavs.

No other team was beating the Mavs that year besides the Warriors who had them figured out to a t. Case in point when the Spurs players thanked the Warriors for beating them.

No one remembers the would of, should of, could ofs.

[JamStone]

:lol this one wasnt even in the playoffs either

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkAZeLmcfdY

^ That wasn't the same season. Mike Montgomery was still the coach in that video. Announcer in the video mentioned it was J-Rich's fifth season. That would have been in the 2004-05 season.

[IronMexican]

Yup. Fisher is still a Warrior, also.

[DPG21920]

http://peggynature.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/simmons-nude-in-salad.jpg THREAD

[endrity]

That might have been the best Spurs team of the bunch - the Mavs were playing some ridiculously good basketball that season. Best series i ever saw.

:toast

+1

The Spurs played great ball that series, the Mavs were simply amazing and it is by faaaar the best series I have ever seen. Two teams playing at a sky high level, and being so equally matched, that was simply sports at its best.

[endrity]

^ That wasn't the same season. Mike Montgomery was still the coach in that video. Announcer in the video mentioned it was J-Rich's fifth season. That would have been in the 2004-05 season.

It was 05-06, but great knowledge there.

[Ghazi]

I stand by all my opinions. Webber's injury? Webber is expected to be injured. Dirk on the other hand is durable. That's like a team being told it caught a break in the series because T-Quitter is injured. T-Quitter is expected to be injured, so it's not a break.

06 Heat series? Clearly bullshit, these Cheat fans obviously won't agree, hell, whose gonna complain about being HANDED a ring?

07 series? Fluky bullshit half court shots. Matt Barnes for two weeks in his whole life figured out how to play basketball. What's the fluke? The years of evidence and hundreds of games that Matt Barnes is a scrub, or 6 games?

Spurs fans surely can agree with me. .4 shot? That is some fluky bullshit right there, Fisher's shot took no skill whatsoever, and was illegal.

Sooooo yeah, not saying the Mavs SHOULDVE won championships those years (except for '06, that was some officiating bullshit), but they were "supposed" to win championships those years. This is what the thread is about.

[mystargtr34]

Unfortunately, 'flukes', or unexpected events, are a part of sport and the reason why we watch. What fun would it be if everything happened 'the way it was suppose to happen'. Unless your a Mav fan.

[turiaf for president]

mavs and championship just sounds wierd. their window has closed in this era IMO

[scanry]

Mavs don't deserve a championship. They fucking choked pretty bad in the Finals.

Their fans will always bitch about the calls, but how do you explain Game 3? Don't say they were getting calls in that game too.

Mavs are an embarrassment to the NBA & to the salary cap era (last time i checked they are $30 mil over the cap).

[Ghazi]

Mavs don't deserve a championship. They fucking choked pretty bad in the Finals.

Their fans will always bitch about the calls, but how do you explain Game 3? Don't say they were getting calls in that game too.

Mavs are an embarrassment to the NBA & to the salary cap era (last time i checked they are $30 mil over the cap).

First off my good lad, the calls were bullshit in game 3 as well. in fact, they assisted in triggering the run.

Yeah, the 2nd winningest franchise in the post Lakers dynasty is an embarrassment to the NBA.:rolleyes

Look, you have your 2003 and 2007 championships. Enjoy them, you earned them (well not you but the Spurs coaches/players/front office, but of course it makes YOU feel superior to fans of other teams :bking). But at the same time, they're flukes.

[spursfan09]

:lol pathetic

Giving the Mavs fluke c-ships like they matter

[Ghazi]

The only flukes are the Spurs '03 and '07 championships.

[DPG21920]

This is why condoms are sooooooooooo important.

[exstatic]

Va-jay-jay thread of the century.

You do realize that Steve Kerr hitting those shots wasn't a fluke, don't you? He's only the ALL TIME NBA CAREER 3PT PERCENTAGE LEADER at 45.4%. Hitting 5 or 6 in a game just isn't anything off the bell curve for someone who makes their very living doing just that, especially against Steve NO D Nash. It would be like complaining that Amare beat you with 6 dunks. Duh. It's what he does. It's also not like the Spurs barely climbed back and beat the Mavs by a point or two. Spurs won going away, obliterating the Mavs on their floor. The Mavs cracked and broke when the going got tough.

Finley missing 13 games in 2002-2003 also was no aberration.
2001-2002 69 games
2002-2003 69 games
2003-2004 72 games
2004 2005 64 games

Mav fan has sunk to a new low. Mavs lose because they have nothing dangling between their legs.

[HarlemHeat37]

there are no such things as "fluke" titles..the season and playoffs are way too long to have "fluke" titles..

Mavs fans are still in denial..they still blame refs for costing them a title..they still cry about it all the time..the fact is, the Mavs franchise is known for choking..if you choke away a 2-0 lead in the NBA finals, you deserve to be labeled as a choker..if you lose to an 8th seed after winning 67 games(LOL), you deserve to be labeled as a choker..

it's pretty clear that the Mavs fold under pressure, and there's no reason to think they would ever win a title in any of these "fluke" scenarios..they clearly had their chance in the finals, and they choked it away..

what an embarrassing franchise..

Dallas Mavericks..years: 29..titles: 0..

Charlotte Bobcats: years: 5..titles: 0..

same amount, and the Mavs have had 24 extra years..how pathetic..

to put it in perspective..I have the same amount of titles as the Mavs franchise..

[dirk4mvp]

there are no such things as "fluke" titles..the season and playoffs are way too long to have "fluke" titles..

Mavs fans are still in denial..they still blame refs for costing them a title..they still cry about it all the time..the fact is, the Mavs franchise is known for choking..if you choke away a 2-0 lead in the NBA finals, you deserve to be labeled as a choker..if you lose to an 8th seed after winning 67 games(LOL), you deserve to be labeled as a choker..

it's pretty clear that the Mavs fold under pressure, and there's no reason to think they would ever win a title in any of these "fluke" scenarios..they clearly had their chance in the finals, and they choked it away..

what an embarrassing franchise..


You're right. We should all jump on a winning bandwagon like you did :toast

[21_Blessings]

Fluke champion: 2008 Boston Celtics. No Bynum or a healthy Ariza, not legit. Game 2 was the worst officiated playoff game since Wadegate in 2006.

Celtics are one and done.

[Armando]

And the past 6 finals should be:

Mavs 4 Nets 2
Spurs 4 Pacers 2
Spurs 4 Heat 2
Mavs 4 Heat 2
Mavs 4 Cavs 2
Celtics 4 Lakers 2

What should've happened with the Cheat was that they're one of those good teams that makes the Finals twice, but isn't good enough and thus loses twice, as was the case with the Jazz in the decade prior.

If those Heat were true champions in 2006, they would'nt have followed it up with 46 wins the next year and a first round sweep, and 15 wins the year latter.

Look at the Spurs, they've defended all of their titles honorably. Same with those Lakers and Bulls, and the Celtics are doing it this year as well.

That the Heat were unable to even win a PLAYOFF game the year after confirms that indeed their title was fluky bullshit.



Are the Mavs fans still talking about the 2006 Finals? Let it go! The Heat were simply better at that time. The only reason they failed to repeat was injuries to Wade and locker room problems. The Mavs had every chance to win Game 6 but wilted under pressure. Hell the Heat even had a travel called on them giving the Mavs 1 last shot to tie the game. You also fail to mention the Mavs in 07 lost to GS and in 08 lost to NO.

[mystargtr34]

Fluke champion: 2008 Boston Celtics. No Bynum or a healthy Ariza, not legit. Game 2 was the worst officiated playoff game since Wadegate in 2006.

Celtics are one and done.

One is better than None.

[Armando]

This is why condoms are sooooooooooo important.




:lmao

[HarlemHeat37]

Bynum and Ariza both have major injury histories..they aren't excuses..

there are no fluke champions..

[Lakers999]

funny how the OP only goes back to 2003.... no question he cant deny the 3 time champs

[Armando]

Is ironic that Mavs fans complain about the officials in the Finals but were quiet when the Spurs were getting called for the same questionable fouls in the semis. Just admit the Heat were the better team at the time. Even Dirk said recently is time to move on.

[HarlemHeat37]

I don't believe in fluke champions, but if there ever was one, the 2002 Lakers would be it after the notorious game 6..

[Armando]

Bynum and Ariza both have major injury histories..they aren't excuses..

there are no fluke champions..


Besides injuries are part of the game. Under his logic I can say the Mavs 2006 WCF title was a fluke due to Stoudemire and Bell being injured.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Celtics are one and done.

I'd take one and done over whatever the fuck the Suns are right now.

[Armando]

I'd take one and done over whatever the fuck the Suns are right now.



+1

[HarlemHeat37]

at least the Suns have a great GM and coach that can turn their team around..right?..and obviously an owner that cares about winning as well, of course..

[Ghazi]

Is ironic that Mavs fans complain about the officials in the Finals but were quiet when the Spurs were getting called for the same questionable fouls in the semis. Just admit the Heat were the better team at the time. Even Dirk said recently is time to move on.

Heat were absolutely not the better team.

[Ghazi]

Fluke champion: 2008 Boston Celtics. No Bynum or a healthy Ariza, not legit. Game 2 was the worst officiated playoff game since Wadegate in 2006.

Celtics are one and done.

:toast

I agree, if the Celtics are unable to repeat this year, they are fluke champions. This is basically their last year to win a title, the Lakers/Cavs are on the upswing while their stars are on the wrong side of 30.

Non-Fluke champions win more than 1 championship. The Spurs did, Bulls did, Lakers did, Rockets did, Pistons did. Pistons/Cheat didn't, so they're flukes. Jury still out on Celtics.

[Armando]

Heat were absolutely not the better team.



Heat 2006 playoffs beat the 64 wins Pistons and the heavily favored Mavs I say they were the better team.

[Ghazi]

They needed whistles and bullshit shots to beat the Mavs.

Anyone who says the whistles didn't play an outcome in those series either didn't watch the games or didn't pay attention to detail.

Phantom whistle with 2 seconds left when the Mavs are up 1 so Whistle the wheelchair bitch can ice the game with 2 FT's? If that isn't the whistles deciding a game, I don't know what is.

But the Mavs were mentally weak in the clutch? What about our beloved Dirk's shot over Shaq before that bullshit whistle? That wasn't clutch? GMAFB people.

2006 Miami Cheat, fluke champions, unworthy champions.

[Armando]

They needed whistles and bullshit shots to beat the Mavs.

Anyone who says the whistles didn't play an outcome in those series either didn't watch the games or didn't pay attention to detail.

Phantom whistle with 2 seconds left when the Mavs are up 1 so Whistle the wheelchair bitch can ice the game with 2 FT's? If that isn't the whistles deciding a game, I don't know what is.

But the Mavs were mentally weak in the clutch? What about our beloved Dirk's shot over Shaq before that bullshit whistle? That wasn't clutch? GMAFB people.

2006 Miami Cheat, fluke champions, unworthy champions.



Bitter much :lol

[Ghazi]

Not entirely, for at the end of the day, it is after all, just strangers who put a ball in a hoop. My emotional attachment to how effectively they can put a ball in a hoop is irrational, and exists.

In conclusion: the 2006 Finals were rigged by the crooked Zionists and Dirk deserves a ring.

[m33p0]

http://svalochka.narod.ru/pix/wallpapers/Movies/The_X-files_2_-_1024x768.jpg

[DPG21920]

Not entirely, for at the end of the day, it is after all, just strangers who put a ball in a hoop. My emotional attachment to how effectively they can put a ball in a hoop is irrational, and exists.

In conclusion: the 2006 Finals were rigged by the crooked Zionists and Dirk deserves a ring.

http://blogs.laweekly.com/ladaily/condom.jpg

[MWILL]

The Stealers are the TRUE fluke Champions!

Yes, I said Stealers

[djohn2oo8]

They needed whistles and bullshit shots to beat the Mavs.

Anyone who says the whistles didn't play an outcome in those series either didn't watch the games or didn't pay attention to detail.

Phantom whistle with 2 seconds left when the Mavs are up 1 so Whistle the wheelchair bitch can ice the game with 2 FT's? If that isn't the whistles deciding a game, I don't know what is.

But the Mavs were mentally weak in the clutch? What about our beloved Dirk's shot over Shaq before that bullshit whistle? That wasn't clutch? GMAFB people.

2006 Miami Cheat, fluke champions, unworthy champions.



Here You go, why don't you order that???

http://www.cadenhead.org/workbench/gems/dallas-mavericks-nba-champs-2006.jpg

[ElNono]

Ghazi is a fluke fan... happens a lot when you root for the Mavs...

[BUMP]

the Warriors beating Dallas was just complete gayness at its highest. it was like Space Jam when those little faggots stole the talent from the NBA's greatest for a game, the Warriors did the same thing for a series.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59QORlH3p_s&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNCzLsT3ClA&feature=related

:lol @ ^^this one, and the announcers reaction

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-46hWpuJBY&feature=PlayList&p=443337ED4C3873EA&playnext=1&index=53:lmao

[crc21209]

The other day I was thinking how bizarre it is that ever since the close of the Lakers dynasty there hasn't been a repeat champion. 6 years without a repeat champion after the Lakers 3-peated, the Bulls 3-peated twice, the Pistons 2-peated, and the Rockets 2-peated. I surmised this may be due to growing parity in the NBA, but then I realized it was simply a fluke.

Let us reexamine the past 6 years and determine who the true champions were and who the fluke champions were

2003- Fluke champion: San Antonio Spurs (60-22)
True champion: Dallas Mavericks (60-22)

Our beloved Finley missed around 15 games in the latter part of the regular season, hence it was a fluke that the Spurs had home court advantage. The playoff series was also a fluke because our beloved Dirk missed the final 3 games and Kerr for some reason got hot and hit a bunch of fluky bullshit jumpers in game 6. The way the season was supposed to play out was the Mavs defeat the Spurs in 7, and then proceed to the Finals to beat a mediocre 49 win Net team in a battle between the #1 O and #1 D, certainly more appealing than the snoozefest low scoring Spurs/Nets series.

2004- Fluke champion: Detroit Pistons (54-28)
True champion: San Antonio Spurs (57-25)

The bottom line is Fisher's bullshit .4 shot in game 5 was a fluke, no skill at all. Some say the better team ALWAYS wins a 7 game series but shit like that confirms that indeed a team can flukishly win a series sometimes. What was supposed to happen is the Spurs were to beat the Lakers in 7, defeat a gassed/injured T-Wolves team in 6, and go on to the NBA Finals to beat the Pacers in 6 games.

2005- True champion: San Antonio Spurs (59-23)
This is a year where the true champion was indeed not a fluke. Our beloved Mavs were still transitioning from the Walker/Jamison failure of an experiment and coaching change, and this left the path open for the Spurs. Everything that should've happened in the playoffs this year did indeed happen

2006- Fluke champion: Miami Heat (52-30)
True champion: Dallas Mavericks (60-22)

The Mavs were the better team, but the refs decided that an unconventional PF is less marketable than ablack shooting guard with Jordanesque skill. A bunch of fluky bullshit shots and fluky bullshit whistles denied the Mavs thatyear. What was supposed to happen was the Mavs were to win in 6. Also, Wade putting up the best statistical finals of all time is fluky bullshit.

2007- Fluke champion: San Antonio Spurs (58-24)
True champion: Dallas Mavericks (67-15)

The Warriors getting an 8 seed was a fluky bullshit and then their bullshit H-O-R-S-E shots were fluky bullshit as well. What was supposed to happen was the CLippers were supposed to get the 8 seed and the Mavs should've won in 4. Then the Mavs beat the Jazz in 6, Spurs in 6, and Cavs in 6. Lebron would've been hell for our beloved Mavs, but our offensive firepower would've overcame the relatively unimpressive Cavs roster. The Spurs as we know could not beat our beloved Mavs, evident in 2006. Jazz physical style of play was always a problem, but we would've prevailed in 6.

2008- True champion: Boston Celtics (66-16)

The Mavs run by this point had come to an end with 3 championships in 5 years, and the Celtics with their bullshit trades were ready to win. They dominated the regular season from the very beginning and had the highest margin of victory since Jordan's Bulls. What was supposed to happen, Celtics > Lakers in 6 games, did indeed happen.


So in other words, you're saying the team with the best regular season record should be the nba champion? :lmao Jackass. Had to be a Mav fan of course.

[Ghazi]

I think people don't realize how significant one of those fluke bullshit shots were. it was in game 4, and the Mavs lost that game by 4.

My friends, the difference between a Mavs title and a 1st round defeat was that right there, that fluky, bullshit, son of a bitch hitting a halfcourt no skill shot.

It's not that our Mavs don't know how to win, or that they lack a culture of winning, it's that they're victims of Murphy's Law. If bad shit can happen, it will happen. It did happen, and we weep for it :(

[Ghazi]

No, or else it wouldve been Spurs-Pacers-Suns-Spurs-Mavs-Celtics

[Yorae]

http://www.ghchealth.com/images/oxypowder/constipation.jpg

[MambaJuice2408]

My Fluke Champion goes to the 2003 Spurs. I believe it was only TP's second season and Manu's first. I could be wrong tho....There's no way a team with 1st and 2nd year players that young shoulda won the title, yet. I seriously didn't think they were ready to win the title. I think they lucked into a good situation with the Queens losing Webber to injury causing them to lose to Dallas.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Where's DrHouse, we need that cry me a river picture posted a few times.

[mathbzh]

2003: The Mavs needed 14 games to go to the conference finals. The Spurs only 12.
The Spurs won 3 games in dallas... what make you think home court advantage would have helped Dallas?

2003: No fluke, true champion Spurs. (Maybe the kings could have been the champions.)

[Bandwagon Fan]

Lol, this thread is ridiculous. Sad attempts by ringless teams looking for vindication, while true champions wear swagger.

[pauls931]

Spurs have 4, Duncan should've gone to Boston.

[z0sa]

They needed whistles and bullshit shots to beat the Mavs.

Anyone who says the whistles didn't play an outcome in those series either didn't watch the games or didn't pay attention to detail.

Phantom whistle with 2 seconds left when the Mavs are up 1 so Whistle the wheelchair bitch can ice the game with 2 FT's? If that isn't the whistles deciding a game, I don't know what is.

But the Mavs were mentally weak in the clutch? What about our beloved Dirk's shot over Shaq before that bullshit whistle? That wasn't clutch? GMAFB people.

2006 Miami Cheat, fluke champions, unworthy champions.


No real champion goes up 2-0, including a blowout win, then melts during the next 3.25 games like Dallas did. I don't even have a problem with the Mavs, but Miami clearly demonstrated a much stronger will to win, calls or no calls. You act like Wade couldn't get to the hoop at will, and anyone will tell you having someone who can do that for you will get you FTs consistently. Not to include the fact he was hitting bankers and jumpers left and right to further open his driving game.

There were controversial calls, but ever heard of the 'heart of a champion'? The Mavs didn't have it.

[BRHornet45]

sons the Mavs played like true sissy cuckolds in that series. yes, the NBA clearly wanted and pushed for the Heat to win, but the Mavs had it in the palm of their hands and let it go.

[mavs>spurs2]

No real champion goes up 2-0, including a blowout win, then melts during the next 3.25 games like Dallas did. I don't even have a problem with the Mavs, but Miami clearly demonstrated a much stronger will to win, calls or no calls. You act like Wade couldn't get to the hoop at will, and anyone will tell you having someone who can do that for you will get you FTs consistently. Not to include the fact he was hitting bankers and jumpers left and right to further open his driving game.

There were controversial calls, but ever heard of the 'heart of a champion'? The Mavs didn't have it.

That's because our guys had to back the fuck up and almost play zero defense for fear of another phantom whistle. Any sane, non blind nba fan saw what happened that year.

[BRHornet45]

That's because our guys had to back the fuck up and almost play zero defense for fear of another phantom whistle. Any sane, non blind nba fan saw what happened that year.

son I agree with you there. the favoritism the league showed towards Wade in that series exposed just how much pro sports still has issues with the leagues helping push certain teams/players to the top. At that time, the NBA was desperate for another big star and they were doing everything in their power to help push Dwayne Wade to the top ..... hence why nearly half of his points (if not more) came from the free throw line.

with all that said though, the Mavs choked. there is noway around that fact. they had the championship wrapped up and blew it.

[slowchild25]

2007- Fluke champion: San Antonio Spurs (58-24)
True champion: Dallas Mavericks (67-15)

The Warriors getting an 8 seed was a fluky bullshit and then their bullshit H-O-R-S-E shots were fluky bullshit as well. What was supposed to happen was the CLippers were supposed to get the 8 seed and the Mavs should've won in 4. Then the Mavs beat the Jazz in 6, Spurs in 6, and Cavs in 6. Lebron would've been hell for our beloved Mavs, but our offensive firepower would've overcame the relatively unimpressive Cavs roster. The Spurs as we know could not beat our beloved Mavs, evident in 2006. Jazz physical style of play was always a problem, but we would've prevailed in 6.



This may have already been pointed out because I'm not reading all 5 pages of this thread, but didn't Dallas rest their players in a late regular season loss to GS that got them in over the Clips and Lakers?

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27/VampireLaserDisco/self-ownage.jpg

[Bandwagon Spurs Fan]

That's because our guys had to back the fuck up and almost play zero defense for fear of another phantom whistle. Any sane, non blind nba fan saw what happened that year.

Most NBA fans think Dallas were just a bunch of choking bitches.

[mavs>spurs2]

Most NBA fans think Dallas were just a bunch of choking bitches.

Lol I forgot this was 06 were talking about. Sorry, I'll try to remember not to mention it, didn't mean to hit a nerve :lmao

[Bandwagon Spurs Fan]

Lol I forgot this was 06 were talking about. Sorry, I'll try to remember not to mention it, didn't mean to hit a nerve :lmao


That's because our guys had to back the fuck up and almost play zero defense for fear of another phantom whistle. Any sane, non blind nba fan saw what happened that year.

LOL you're fucking weaksauce homie. All any sane, non blind NBA fans saw was the biggest Finals choke job of all time. If you say any different, you're a homer.

[scanry]

Like i said earlier, Dallas got fucked without protection by the Warriors. That pretty much sums up the beloved soft ass franchise. :hang

Oh and i forgot to mention, didn't you'll blow up the team last season?

[Ghazi]

Ive determined the 3rd of the Lakers titles this decade was a fluke, due to phantom bullshit whistles dooming the Kings. Ive also determined that our beloved Mavs were somewhat fortunate in 2003

This has been a decade of 2-peats

2000: Lakers
2001: Lakers
2002: Kings
2003: Kings
2004: Spurs
2005: Spurs
2006: Mavs
2007: Mavs
2008: Celtics

[Ghazi]

son I agree with you there. the favoritism the league showed towards Wade in that series exposed just how much pro sports still has issues with the leagues helping push certain teams/players to the top. At that time, the NBA was desperate for another big star and they were doing everything in their power to help push Dwayne Wade to the top ..... hence why nearly half of his points (if not more) came from the free throw line.

with all that said though, the Mavs choked. there is noway around that fact. they had the championship wrapped up and blew it.


Dude Hornets fans didn't exist 2 years ago, so don't act like you watched the series God bless.

[scanry]

Dude Hornets fans didn't exist 2 years ago, so don't act like you watched the series God bless.

And what have you guys done in all these years. You guys are just as relevant as the Hornets. Atleast they have a future that they can build upon.

You guys on the other hand had a great chance to seal the deal but choked. So you're now coming with a variety of excuses and what if's. Man that is just embarrassing.

[21_Blessings]

Ive determined the 3rd of the Lakers titles this decade was a fluke, due to phantom bullshit whistles dooming the Kings. Ive also determined that our beloved Mavs were somewhat fortunate in 2003



You're dumb then. The Lakers were hosed by phantom whistles just as bad in games 3 and 5. The refs didn't make Webber choke time after time at the free throw line and in OT.

Try watching basketball sometime.

[Ghazi]

I just wanted 4 2-peats dammit.

[Tully365]

Nice use of sophistry. By the time you are ready to move into an old age home, the Mavs will have the most impressive imaginary dynasty in the history of basketball.

[manufor3]

The bigger flukes in '03 were Dirk's injury and Fin's late in the regular season

Says the person that says Webber's injury wasnt a fluke :rolleyes

[Ghazi]

Spurs fans think their franchise is the epitome of organizational excellence or something.

When in fact ALL of their success is due to the SIMPLE fact that they lucked their way into the #1 pick the year Duncan came out. That's it, period. Don't give me anything about Pop, Manu, Parker, good scouting, whatever. It's all Duncan. Right place, right time, right year. So nobody is in a position to call any franchise pathetic, unless the difference between being great and pathetic is absolute, pure, luck.

So the Spurs fans who talk down to our beloved Mavs are morons, your success is predicated on drafting Duncan, that's it.

Mavs, 2003, 2006, 2007 true champions. :)

[Yorae]

Spurs have 4, Duncan should've gone to Boston.

:lol

[DazedAndConfused]

Spurs fans think their franchise is the epitome of organizational excellence or something.

When in fact ALL of their success is due to the SIMPLE fact that they lucked their way into the #1 pick the year Duncan came out. That's it, period. Don't give me anything about Pop, Manu, Parker, good scouting, whatever. It's all Duncan. Right place, right time, right year. So nobody is in a position to call any franchise pathetic, unless the difference between being great and pathetic is absolute, pure, luck.

So the Spurs fans who talk down to our beloved Mavs are morons, your success is predicated on drafting Duncan, that's it.

Mavs, 2003, 2006, 2007 true champions. :)

Spur fan also seems to believe the NBA only existed since 1999 and that nothing any team did prior to then should matter.

It's hilarious the warped sense of reality they have and the lengths they will go to protect this notion that the Spurs are still the class of the NBA. The reality is the Spurs best days are over, this current squad built around Duncan has accomplished as much as it ever will. The saddest thing of all is their decline will be slow and painful because as long as Duncan, Parker, and Manu are on the team they will always be good enough to make the playoffs.

[HarlemHeat37]

whether or not our core has maxed out will be seen in the next 2 years, but 4 titles is good enough for me..

on the other hand..the Lakers core has won nothing..Kobe Bryant has ZERO titles as a #1 option..the Lakers have invested a lot of money on their future franchise player, a guy that has had 3 major injuries since High School..

so you can talk when your core wins something..

[sprrs]

Mavs were just better than the Spurs in 06.

Suns took an Amare-less Mavs to six games in the '06 WCF. Fluky injuries prevented them from winning the title that year.