99' Spurs top 10 FINALS team of all-time?

[Killakobe81]

We all know stats are over-rated ..but here is nerd boy Hollinger picking the 10 best FNALS teams of All-time.

. 1996 CHICAGO BULLS SCORE: 327.9
KEY FACTS
Regular-season record: 72-10
Postseason record: 15-3
Avg. scoring margin: +12.2
Avg. scoring margin, playoffs: +10.6
Finals result: Beat Seattle, 4-2 LEADERS (regular-season stats)
Scoring: Michael Jordan, 30.4 ppg
Rebounds: Dennis Rodman, 14.9 rpg
Assists: Scottie Pippen, 5.9 apg
Coach: Phil Jackson
Finals MVP: Michael Jordan



Hands down, the greatest team of all time. How can you choose another when these guys won 72 regular-season games and 14 of their first 15 in the postseason? The Bulls were so good they were first in both offensive and defensive efficiency, and outscored their opponents by 12.2 points per game.



With names like Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, and Toni Kukoc, not to mention a coach like Phil Jackson, this team was pretty much unbeatable -- in fact, seven of its playoff wins were by 17 points or more. The only nit to pick was the Bulls' consecutive losses to the Sonics in the Finals, but they were up 3-0 by then and seemingly bored with how good they were.



2. 1987 LOS ANGELES LAKERS SCORE: 301.5
KEY FACTS
Regular-season record: 65-17
Postseason record: 15-3
Avg. scoring margin: +9.3
Avg. scoring margin, playoffs: +11.4
Finals result: Beat Boston, 4-2 LEADERS (regular-season stats)
Scoring: Magic Johnson, 23.9 ppg
Rebounds: A.C. Green, 7.9 rpg
Assists: Magic Johnson, 12.4 apg
Coach: Pat Riley
Finals MVP: Magic Johnson



Fittingly, the great Lakers and Celtics teams are in a virtual dead heat for second place. (You'll note that I just call the Lakers "Los Angeles" in this list -- no risk of confusing them with the Clippers here.) This L.A. team nudged ahead of Boston by virtue of winning 65 games in the regular season and then trashing the West -- 11 wins in 12 games -- to make the Finals. The Lakers beat the Celtics in six, and for the playoffs as a whole outscored their opponents by 205 points -- the best of any team on this list. Seven different players averaged double figures, led by Magic with 23.9 points per game.



3. 1986 BOSTON CELTICS SCORE: 301.1
KEY FACTS
Regular-season record: 67-15
Postseason record: 15-3
Avg. scoring margin: +9.4
Avg. scoring margin, playoffs: +10.3
Finals result: Beat Houston, 4-2 LEADERS (regular-season stats)
Scoring: Larry Bird, 25.8 ppg
Rebounds: Larry Bird, 9.8 rpg
Assists: Larry Bird, 6.8 apg
Coach: K.C. Jones
Finals MVP: Larry Bird



The Celtics won 67 games in '86 behind the best frontcourt ever assembled -- Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish and Bill Walton -- and followed it up by stampeding through the playoffs in 15 games. They rank behind L.A. mostly because their victory margin wasn't as strong in the playoffs. On the other hand, this isn't a bad list to be No. 3 on. And few teams will ever have five players averaging at least 15 a game in the playoffs, as Boston's legendary quintet did in this postseason.




4. 1991 CHICAGO BULLS SCORE: 294.5
KEY FACTS
Regular-season record: 61-21
Postseason record: 15-2
Avg. scoring margin: +9.1
Avg. scoring margin, playoffs: +11.6
Finals result: Beat Los Angeles, 4-1 LEADERS (regular-season stats)
Scoring: Michael Jordan, 31.5 ppg
Rebounds: Horace Grant, 8.4 rpg
Assists: Scottie Pippen, 6.2 apg
Coach: Phil Jackson
Finals MVP: Michael Jordan


The Bulls' first championship team "only" won 61 games, but had a very impressive victory margin (plus-9.1 per game, the sixth best on the list) and absolutely romped in the playoffs. Chicago's 15-2 mark in the postseason was amazing considering it knocked off a two-time champion in four games (Detroit) followed by a four-time champion in five (the Lakers). The Bulls' plus-11.6 playoff victory margin ranks second among the 60 teams. Only three players averaged double figures, but I guess that's not a problem when one of them scores 34.0 per game.


5. 1997 CHICAGO BULLS SCORE: 287.1
KEY FACTS
Regular-season record: 69-13
Postseason record: 15-4
Avg. scoring margin: +10.8
Avg. scoring margin, playoffs: +5.5
Finals result: Beat Utah, 4-2 LEADERS (regular-season stats)
Scoring: Michael Jordan, 29.6 ppg
Rebounds: Dennis Rodman, 16.1 rpg
Assists: Scottie Pippen, 5.7 apg
Coach: Phil Jackson
Finals MVP: Michael Jordan



So much for championship hangovers. The '96 Bulls were the best ever, but their successors weren't exactly chopped liver. Chicago won 69 games -- which would have tied the record were it not for the 72 wins the previous season -- and the Bulls' plus-10.8 average victory margin was also second only to the '96 edition. Their longest losing streak was two games, for crying out loud. They weren't quite as strong in the playoffs, needing six tough games to outlast the Jazz in the Finals and dropping two other postseason games, but they were plenty good. Amazingly, Jordan and Pippen were the only Bulls to average more than eight points a game in the postseason -- but 11 guys saw regular action.




6. 1988 LOS ANGELES LAKERS SCORE: 280.3
KEY FACTS
Regular-season record: 62-20
Postseason record: 15-4
Avg. scoring margin: +7.4
Avg. scoring margin, playoffs: +10.7
Finals result: Beat Boston, 4-2 LEADERS (regular-season stats)
Scoring: K. Abdul-Jabbar, 22.0 ppg
Rebounds: K. Abdul-Jabbar, 7.9 rpg
Assists: Magic Johnson, 12.6 apg
Coach: Pat Riley
Finals MVP: K. Abdul-Jabbar



The Lakers were so good in '85 and '87 that it's hard to fathom how they lost in five games to Houston in the year between. This edition won 62 games, went on an 11-2 romp through the Western Conference playoffs, then slew the leprechauns by winning Game 6 in Boston Garden to claim the title.



For the postseason, L.A.'s average scoring margin narrowly missed topping the list -- amazing considering the Lakers lost the "Boston Massacre" 148-114 in Game 1 of the Finals. But 10 of their 15 playoff wins came by 16 points or more -- including a win by 24 points or more in every round -- showing just how dominant these Lakers were.



7. 1992 CHICAGO BULLS SCORE: 277.3
KEY FACTS
Regular-season record: 67-15
Postseason record: 15-7
Avg. scoring margin: +10.4
Avg. scoring margin, playoffs: +6.2
Finals result: Beat Portland, 4-2 LEADERS (regular-season stats)
Scoring: Michael Jordan, 30.1 ppg
Rebounds: Horace Grant, 10.0 rpg
Assists: Scottie Pippen, 7.0 apg
Coach: Phil Jackson
Finals MVP: Michael Jordan



These Bulls had a great regular-season run, winning 67 games and joining the '96 and '97 editions as the only teams on the list to have an average scoring margin of plus-10 or more in the regular season. The playoffs were a different story, however -- the Knicks nearly knocked them off in Round 2, and they lost by 26 at home to Cleveland in the conference finals before righting their ship and winning the title. Their seven postseason losses are the most of any team in the top 15. As with the '97 team, everyone got involved -- the Bulls used 11 players regularly and clinched the title in Game 6 against Portland when 12th man Bobby Hansen led a huge fourth-quarter rally.


8. 1999 SAN ANTONIO SPURS SCORE: 267.1
KEY FACTS
Regular-season record: 37-13
Postseason record: 15-2
Avg. scoring margin: +8.1
Avg. scoring margin, playoffs: +7.2
Finals result: Beat New York, 4-1 LEADERS (regular-season stats)
Scoring: Tim Duncan, 21.7 ppg
Rebounds: Tim Duncan, 11.4 rpg
Assists: Avery Johnson, 7.4 apg
Coach: Gregg Popovich
Finals MVP: Tim Duncan


A forgotten great team because of the lockout, the Spurs began the year 6-8 … and then went 46-7 the rest of the way, with nary a losing streak. An awesome defensive squad led by big men David Robinson and Tim Duncan, San Antonio's 84.7 points allowed per game is far and away the least of any of these 60 squads. That 15-2 postseason mark ain't too shabby either, including sweeps of the Blazers and Lakers. So stingy was the defense that only twice in 17 playoff games did San Antonio's opponent muster 90 points.


9. 2009 LOS ANGELES LAKERS SCORE: 267.1
KEY FACTS
Regular-season record: 65-17
Postseason record: 16-7
Avg. scoring margin: +7.7
Avg. scoring margin, playoffs: +7.2
Finals result: Beat Orlando, 4-1 LEADERS (regular-season stats)
Scoring: Kobe Bryant, 26.8 ppg
Rebounds: Pau Gasol, 9.6 rpg
Assists: Kobe Bryant, 4.9 apg
Coach: Phil Jackson
Finals MVP: Kobe Bryant



Kobe Bryant's first title team sans Shaq -- and Phil Jackson's record 10th as a coach -- was also the best of the Jackson era. That may surprise some who saw Shaq's teams steamroll to three straight titles, but those squads never had a dominating regular season and a dominating playoff run in the same season. This edition of L.A. was pretty strong in both respects, winning 65 times in the regular season and losing only seven times in the postseason; L.A.'s +166 playoff scoring margin is seventh all time.



10. 2008 BOSTON CELTICS SCORE: 263.3
KEY FACTS
Regular-season record: 66-16
Postseason record: 16-10
Avg. scoring margin: +10.3
Avg. scoring margin, playoffs: +5.2
Finals result: Beat L.A. Lakers, 4-2 LEADERS (regular-season stats)
Scoring: Paul Pierce, 19.6 ppg
Rebounds: Kevin Garnett, 9.2 rpg
Assists: Rajon Rondo, 5.1 apg
Coach: Doc Rivers
Finals MVP: Paul Pierce



The Celtics set a record for a champion with 10 postseason losses, so it's a bit of a surprise that they cracked the top 10. But a strong postseason combined with an impressive average margin in the playoffs put them ahead of every Bird-McHale team but one. Certainly helping the Celtics' cause was the 132-93 rout of the Lakers in the clincher, but they also won playoff games by 14,16,19, 23, 25 and 34.


I disagree with this list because i think the 2000 and 2001 Lakers crush everyteam on this list except maybe the top 3 teams on this list also ...Celts and Lakers of past 2 years are way too high ... and I also agree Heat and first ROX team are the two weakest champs since 1980 ...(so much props to Hakeem and Wade for leading those teams to a title)

[Jacko]

Fuck Hollinger and his stats.

[KSeal]

Prepare for massive outrage for the 09 Lakers being on this list.

[LakeShow]

We all know stats are over-rated ..but here is nerd boy Hollinger picking the 10 best FNALS teams of All-time.

. 1996 CHICAGO BULLS SCORE: 327.9
KEY FACTS
Regular-season record: 72-10
Postseason record: 15-3
Avg. scoring margin: +12.2
Avg. scoring margin, playoffs: +10.6
Finals result: Beat Seattle, 4-2 LEADERS (regular-season stats)
Scoring: Michael Jordan, 30.4 ppg
Rebounds: Dennis Rodman, 14.9 rpg
Assists: Scottie Pippen, 5.9 apg
Coach: Phil Jackson
Finals MVP: Michael Jordan



Hands down, the greatest team of all time. How can you choose another when these guys won 72 regular-season games and 14 of their first 15 in the postseason? The Bulls were so good they were first in both offensive and defensive efficiency, and outscored their opponents by 12.2 points per game.



With names like Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, and Toni Kukoc, not to mention a coach like Phil Jackson, this team was pretty much unbeatable -- in fact, seven of its playoff wins were by 17 points or more. The only nit to pick was the Bulls' consecutive losses to the Sonics in the Finals, but they were up 3-0 by then and seemingly bored with how good they were.



2. 1987 LOS ANGELES LAKERS SCORE: 301.5
KEY FACTS
Regular-season record: 65-17
Postseason record: 15-3
Avg. scoring margin: +9.3
Avg. scoring margin, playoffs: +11.4
Finals result: Beat Boston, 4-2 LEADERS (regular-season stats)
Scoring: Magic Johnson, 23.9 ppg
Rebounds: A.C. Green, 7.9 rpg
Assists: Magic Johnson, 12.4 apg
Coach: Pat Riley
Finals MVP: Magic Johnson



Fittingly, the great Lakers and Celtics teams are in a virtual dead heat for second place. (You'll note that I just call the Lakers "Los Angeles" in this list -- no risk of confusing them with the Clippers here.) This L.A. team nudged ahead of Boston by virtue of winning 65 games in the regular season and then trashing the West -- 11 wins in 12 games -- to make the Finals. The Lakers beat the Celtics in six, and for the playoffs as a whole outscored their opponents by 205 points -- the best of any team on this list. Seven different players averaged double figures, led by Magic with 23.9 points per game.



3. 1986 BOSTON CELTICS SCORE: 301.1
KEY FACTS
Regular-season record: 67-15
Postseason record: 15-3
Avg. scoring margin: +9.4
Avg. scoring margin, playoffs: +10.3
Finals result: Beat Houston, 4-2 LEADERS (regular-season stats)
Scoring: Larry Bird, 25.8 ppg
Rebounds: Larry Bird, 9.8 rpg
Assists: Larry Bird, 6.8 apg
Coach: K.C. Jones
Finals MVP: Larry Bird



The Celtics won 67 games in '86 behind the best frontcourt ever assembled -- Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish and Bill Walton -- and followed it up by stampeding through the playoffs in 15 games. They rank behind L.A. mostly because their victory margin wasn't as strong in the playoffs. On the other hand, this isn't a bad list to be No. 3 on. And few teams will ever have five players averaging at least 15 a game in the playoffs, as Boston's legendary quintet did in this postseason.




4. 1991 CHICAGO BULLS SCORE: 294.5
KEY FACTS
Regular-season record: 61-21
Postseason record: 15-2
Avg. scoring margin: +9.1
Avg. scoring margin, playoffs: +11.6
Finals result: Beat Los Angeles, 4-1 LEADERS (regular-season stats)
Scoring: Michael Jordan, 31.5 ppg
Rebounds: Horace Grant, 8.4 rpg
Assists: Scottie Pippen, 6.2 apg
Coach: Phil Jackson
Finals MVP: Michael Jordan


The Bulls' first championship team "only" won 61 games, but had a very impressive victory margin (plus-9.1 per game, the sixth best on the list) and absolutely romped in the playoffs. Chicago's 15-2 mark in the postseason was amazing considering it knocked off a two-time champion in four games (Detroit) followed by a four-time champion in five (the Lakers). The Bulls' plus-11.6 playoff victory margin ranks second among the 60 teams. Only three players averaged double figures, but I guess that's not a problem when one of them scores 34.0 per game.


5. 1997 CHICAGO BULLS SCORE: 287.1
KEY FACTS
Regular-season record: 69-13
Postseason record: 15-4
Avg. scoring margin: +10.8
Avg. scoring margin, playoffs: +5.5
Finals result: Beat Utah, 4-2 LEADERS (regular-season stats)
Scoring: Michael Jordan, 29.6 ppg
Rebounds: Dennis Rodman, 16.1 rpg
Assists: Scottie Pippen, 5.7 apg
Coach: Phil Jackson
Finals MVP: Michael Jordan



So much for championship hangovers. The '96 Bulls were the best ever, but their successors weren't exactly chopped liver. Chicago won 69 games -- which would have tied the record were it not for the 72 wins the previous season -- and the Bulls' plus-10.8 average victory margin was also second only to the '96 edition. Their longest losing streak was two games, for crying out loud. They weren't quite as strong in the playoffs, needing six tough games to outlast the Jazz in the Finals and dropping two other postseason games, but they were plenty good. Amazingly, Jordan and Pippen were the only Bulls to average more than eight points a game in the postseason -- but 11 guys saw regular action.




6. 1988 LOS ANGELES LAKERS SCORE: 280.3
KEY FACTS
Regular-season record: 62-20
Postseason record: 15-4
Avg. scoring margin: +7.4
Avg. scoring margin, playoffs: +10.7
Finals result: Beat Boston, 4-2 LEADERS (regular-season stats)
Scoring: K. Abdul-Jabbar, 22.0 ppg
Rebounds: K. Abdul-Jabbar, 7.9 rpg
Assists: Magic Johnson, 12.6 apg
Coach: Pat Riley
Finals MVP: K. Abdul-Jabbar



The Lakers were so good in '85 and '87 that it's hard to fathom how they lost in five games to Houston in the year between. This edition won 62 games, went on an 11-2 romp through the Western Conference playoffs, then slew the leprechauns by winning Game 6 in Boston Garden to claim the title.



For the postseason, L.A.'s average scoring margin narrowly missed topping the list -- amazing considering the Lakers lost the "Boston Massacre" 148-114 in Game 1 of the Finals. But 10 of their 15 playoff wins came by 16 points or more -- including a win by 24 points or more in every round -- showing just how dominant these Lakers were.



7. 1992 CHICAGO BULLS SCORE: 277.3
KEY FACTS
Regular-season record: 67-15
Postseason record: 15-7
Avg. scoring margin: +10.4
Avg. scoring margin, playoffs: +6.2
Finals result: Beat Portland, 4-2 LEADERS (regular-season stats)
Scoring: Michael Jordan, 30.1 ppg
Rebounds: Horace Grant, 10.0 rpg
Assists: Scottie Pippen, 7.0 apg
Coach: Phil Jackson
Finals MVP: Michael Jordan



These Bulls had a great regular-season run, winning 67 games and joining the '96 and '97 editions as the only teams on the list to have an average scoring margin of plus-10 or more in the regular season. The playoffs were a different story, however -- the Knicks nearly knocked them off in Round 2, and they lost by 26 at home to Cleveland in the conference finals before righting their ship and winning the title. Their seven postseason losses are the most of any team in the top 15. As with the '97 team, everyone got involved -- the Bulls used 11 players regularly and clinched the title in Game 6 against Portland when 12th man Bobby Hansen led a huge fourth-quarter rally.


*8. 1999 SAN ANTONIO SPURS SCORE: 267.1
KEY FACTS
Regular-season record: 37-13
Postseason record: 15-2
Avg. scoring margin: +8.1
Avg. scoring margin, playoffs: +7.2
Finals result: Beat New York, 4-1 LEADERS (regular-season stats)
Scoring: Tim Duncan, 21.7 ppg
Rebounds: Tim Duncan, 11.4 rpg
Assists: Avery Johnson, 7.4 apg
Coach: Gregg Popovich
Finals MVP: Tim Duncan


A forgotten great team because of the lockout, the Spurs began the year 6-8 … and then went 46-7 the rest of the way, with nary a losing streak. An awesome defensive squad led by big men David Robinson and Tim Duncan, San Antonio's 84.7 points allowed per game is far and away the least of any of these 60 squads. That 15-2 postseason mark ain't too shabby either, including sweeps of the Blazers and Lakers. So stingy was the defense that only twice in 17 playoff games did San Antonio's opponent muster 90 points.


9. 2009 LOS ANGELES LAKERS SCORE: 267.1
KEY FACTS
Regular-season record: 65-17
Postseason record: 16-7
Avg. scoring margin: +7.7
Avg. scoring margin, playoffs: +7.2
Finals result: Beat Orlando, 4-1 LEADERS (regular-season stats)
Scoring: Kobe Bryant, 26.8 ppg
Rebounds: Pau Gasol, 9.6 rpg
Assists: Kobe Bryant, 4.9 apg
Coach: Phil Jackson
Finals MVP: Kobe Bryant



Kobe Bryant's first title team sans Shaq -- and Phil Jackson's record 10th as a coach -- was also the best of the Jackson era. That may surprise some who saw Shaq's teams steamroll to three straight titles, but those squads never had a dominating regular season and a dominating playoff run in the same season. This edition of L.A. was pretty strong in both respects, winning 65 times in the regular season and losing only seven times in the postseason; L.A.'s +166 playoff scoring margin is seventh all time.



10. 2008 BOSTON CELTICS SCORE: 263.3
KEY FACTS
Regular-season record: 66-16
Postseason record: 16-10
Avg. scoring margin: +10.3
Avg. scoring margin, playoffs: +5.2
Finals result: Beat L.A. Lakers, 4-2 LEADERS (regular-season stats)
Scoring: Paul Pierce, 19.6 ppg
Rebounds: Kevin Garnett, 9.2 rpg
Assists: Rajon Rondo, 5.1 apg
Coach: Doc Rivers
Finals MVP: Paul Pierce



The Celtics set a record for a champion with 10 postseason losses, so it's a bit of a surprise that they cracked the top 10. But a strong postseason combined with an impressive average margin in the playoffs put them ahead of every Bird-McHale team but one. Certainly helping the Celtics' cause was the 132-93 rout of the Lakers in the clincher, but they also won playoff games by 14,16,19, 23, 25 and 34.


I disagree with this list because i think the 2000 and 2001 Lakers crush everyteam on this list except maybe the top 3 teams on this list also ...Celts and Lakers of past 2 years are way too high ... and I also agree Heat and first ROX team are the two weakest champs since 1980 ...(so much props to Hakeem and Wade for leading those teams to a title)

fixed

:lol

[MambaJuice2408]

Well his criteria was to rank teams that had dominant regular seasons as well as impressive post season runs.

That's why the 2001 Lakers aren't on their but 2009 Lakers are.

How do other Laker fans rank the best Laker teams of this decade?

My list would be:

1) 2001 Lakers
2) 2002 Lakers
3) 2000 Lakers
4) 2009 Lakers

This Laker team would be the weakest of the bunch but I think they're only going to get better, especially if they keep Odom and Ariza.

[BlackSwordsMan]

look at all this laker nuthuggery

[sribb43]

um....no, they beat a #8 seed in the Finals, some of their other championship teams were better than the 99 squad

[YellowFever]

Where's the 82-83 Sixers?

That team was better than half the teams on the list.

[monosylab1k]

They didn't play a full season. I'm fine with giving them a non-asterisk championship, but they can't be one of the 10 greatest championship teams ever if they didn't play a full fucking season. Any of the other 3 Spurs teams can go in their place, I'm fine with that too. Just not the 50 game season team.

If you guys pool together 1 million dollars, I will assassinate John Hollinger. I swear I'll do it, just get the money and deposit it into my Paypal account.

[Ice009]

um....no, they beat a #8 seed in the Finals, some of their other championship teams were better than the 99 squad

Spurs '99 defense was insane. None of you could have scored on that team.

Tim and David both played at an amazing level.

[monosylab1k]

Spurs '99 defense was insane. None of you could have scored on that team.

Tim and David both played at an amazing level.

Too bad they didn't do it for 82 games.

[monosylab1k]

The 07 Mavs would have killed everyone on their way to a title if they only went 50 games into the regular season before the playoffs.

[sook]

That list is bullshit.

Isiah's pistons aren't there?

And the 95 rockets had the toughest opposition in NBA history as they made their way to the finals and swept the Orlando Magic who were 39-2 at home that year during the reg season and lost like only 2 home games in the playoffs to jordan's bulls, 4 straight 50+ win teams and without HCA.

[InRareForm]

lol 2009 lakers HAHAHHAH

gtfo hollinger

[sook]

btw, the 87 lakers would ass kick the 96 bulls.

I love how he doesn't take into consideration the level of competition when checking his stats. If we made every team in the league 10 times shittier, and one team just 5 times shittier, i bet they could come up with stats that could make them a candidate up there.

Hollinger is the biggest shit head on ESPN, actually pretty much all of them except wilbon and a few are

[Killakobe81]

btw, the 87 lakers would ass kick the 96 bulls.

I love how he doesn't take into consideration the level of competition when checking his stats. If we made every team in the league 10 times shittier, and one team just 5 times shittier, i bet they could come up with stats that could make them a candidate up there.

Hollinger is the biggest shit head on ESPN, actually pretty much all of them except wilbon and a few are

Bulls were great but Rodman was just a rebounder and a flopper by that point ...Pippen was like a better Odom great talent and player but too sometimesy a great defender but wWAYY overrated. You guys that say Kobe = Pippen are so full of ish!!!

This list diminishes MJ's greatness because part of what MJ great was he took led Pippen, Kukoc Grant.Rodman with aaverage big men to the title ...

No way anuy of those teams were better than the 86 celts or 87 Lakers hell they couldnt beat the in prime Pistons ...in the first 3 peat ...in the 2nd I would say 3rd behind THOSE teams ...

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Anyone who believes the 99 Spurs should be off the list must re-watch the 48 hours of that season all over again. Although it was a 1/2 season, and it was against an 8 seed that did not have their star player, it was obvious how badass they were. To those who can't see it, please stop by your local optometrist.

[Tacker]

btw, the 87 lakers would ass kick the 96 bulls.

I love how he doesn't take into consideration the level of competition when checking his stats. If we made every team in the league 10 times shittier, and one team just 5 times shittier, i bet they could come up with stats that could make them a candidate up there.

Hollinger is the biggest shit head on ESPN, actually pretty much all of them except wilbon and a few are

If the 91 Bulls defeated 87 Lakers without Kareem...... Im pretty sure 96 Bulls which is better than the 91 team would beat the 87 lakers with Kareem.

[iggypop123]

just cause it wasnt a full seasons doesnt discount the spurs title but as far as being a top 10 team its over they arent in. thats stupid to include them. hollinger is a fag

[Ditty]

um....no, they beat a #8 seed in the Finals, some of their other championship teams were better than the 99 squad

yah i don't see the mavs being on no list :depressed

[ambchang]

um....no, they beat a #8 seed in the Finals, some of their other championship teams were better than the 99 squad

I would like to hear how beatinga #8 seed would make them a worse team. Did they not beat 3 other opponents with a 11-1 record before meeting the Knicks?

[sook]

Anyone who believes the 99 Spurs should be off the list must re-watch the 48 hours of that season all over again. Although it was a 1/2 season, and it was against an 8 seed that did not have their star player, it was obvious how badass they were. To those who can't see it, please stop by your local optometrist.

2003 team was better.

[samikeyp]

Prepare for massive outrage for the 09 Lakers being on this list.


I don't know about outrage but I wouldn't have them on there either. I would put the 00 or 01 Lakers squad ahead of them. I also would have the 03 Spurs team over the 99 team.


Fuck Hollinger and his stats.

Agreed.

[lebomb]

I think the 2005 Spurs team was the best..................... they had to go through a powerful Detroit team to win it all.

[dirk4mvp]

86 Celtics would take a hot shit on any Laker team.

[Jacko]

The Showtime Lakers are the best NBA team ever assembled and they took a hot shit ALL OVER the Celtics in '87.

[Blake]

2003 Spurs > 2009 Lakers

[Blake]

1955 dog crap > 2007 mavs

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

The 1996 Bulls are by far the best team. They would have nutted over either the showtime Lakers or Bird Celtics.

[dirk4mvp]

1955 dog crap > 2007 mavs

The 07 Mavs would've worked the 99 Spurs.

[Unforgivable]

The 07 Mavs would've worked the 99 Spurs.


Me and Bovice would run train on either team.

[Darthkiller]

wtf. since when did the 88 lakers team play boston in the finals... and kareem is no finals mvp.

[Blake]

The 07 Mavs would've worked the 99 Spurs.

the same way the 07 warriors worked the 07 mavs?

naw

[Cry Havoc]

The 07 Mavs would've worked the 99 Spurs.

Trollfail.

[poop]

And the 95 rockets had the toughest opposition in NBA history as they made their way to the finals and swept the Orlando Magic who were 39-2 at home that year during the reg season and lost like only 2 home games in the playoffs to jordan's bulls, 4 straight 50+ win teams and without HCA.

extremely true. NOBODY gives this team any credit. of course every list is a lakers-bulls ball-licking fest. but have no doubt NO TEAM EVER could have beat the rockets that year. when all factors are considered they had maybe the most impressive run ever.

they would have raped the bulls also.

[jman3000]

I think that 99 team doesn't get the credit it deserves just because it steam rolled through. If the Lakers and Blazers series' had gone to 7 games, I think the Spurs would get a lot more props. It's not our fault they were a buzz saw and for the most part made it look easy.

[Trainwreck2100]

the 11 game win streak they had in the playoffs that year fudged up his equations

[z0sa]

The 07 Mavs would have killed everyone on their way to a title if they only went 50 games into the regular season before the playoffs.

but the 99 mavs couldn't.

[dirk4mvp]

Warriors and 99 Spurs were exactly opposites. Spurs wouldn't have put up much of a fight.

[crc21209]

The 09' Lakers being on this list is fucking pure comedy! :lol

[crc21209]

2003 Spurs > 2009 Lakers

+10000. 2005 Spurs as well.

[dirk4mvp]

The Celtics set a record for a champion with 10 postseason losses, so it's a bit of a surprise that they cracked the top 10. But a strong postseason

Strong postseason, but set a champion record of 10 postseason losses.

wtf, Hollinger?

[crc21209]

The 2008 Boston Celtics shouldnt be up there either, I agree. They NEEDED homecourt deseperately in EVERY series to survive.

[monosylab1k]

the same way the 07 warriors worked the 07 mavs?

If the 07 Mavs only had to play 50 regular season games, they would have beaten the Warriors. 50 games had the Mavs at their peak.

[Greg Oden]

The only way the Mavs would win with Devan George starting a C is if they played the 99 Spurs.

[NewcastleKEG]

btw, the 87 lakers would ass kick the 96 bulls.

I love how he doesn't take into consideration the level of competition when checking his stats. If we made every team in the league 10 times shittier, and one team just 5 times shittier, i bet they could come up with stats that could make them a candidate up there.

Hollinger is the biggest shit head on ESPN, actually pretty much all of them except wilbon and a few are
LOL @ this clown

Lakers in the playoffs beat
37-45 Nuggets - 1st Round
42-40 Warriors - 2nd Round
39-43 Sonics - WCF

To get to the Finals. WOW what a freaking fraud! 96 Bulls would skull fuck those Lakers

[lefty]

The 07 Mavs would have killed everyone on their way to a title if they only went 50 games into the regular season before the playoffs.
Now that's funny

[z0sa]

If the 07 Mavs only had to play 50 regular season games, they would have beaten the Warriors. 50 games had the Mavs at their peak.

The 07 Warriors would work the 07 Mavs over no matter how many games they played.

99 spurs >>>>>> 07 mavs, you know our defense was insane, you know we have young Timmy and DRob against Dampier/Dirk, I guess we both have AJ so they cancel eacother out, just let it go.

[Blake]

If the 07 Mavs only had to play 50 regular season games, they would have beaten the Warriors. 50 games had the Mavs at their peak.

bwahaha. what a fuckin fail.

GS owned them all year.

Nov 6, 2006 GS 107, @DAL 104
Mar 12, 2007 @GS 117, DAL 100
Apr 17, 2007 @GS 111, DAL 82

If only the 07 Dirk wasn't a puss.


http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2007/0503/nba_a_jackson_412.jpg

[DrHouse]

LOL @ this clown

Lakers in the playoffs beat
37-45 Nuggets - 1st Round
42-40 Warriors - 2nd Round
39-43 Sonics - WCF

To get to the Finals. WOW what a freaking fraud! 96 Bulls would skull fuck those Lakers

What's your point? The fact that their competition was weak doesn't mean that they were weak themselves (see 2001 Lakers).

The 1996 Chicago Bulls would have absolutely no answer for the Showtime Lakers. They had nobody who could even dream of stopping Kareem and Jordan/Pippen would have their hands full trying to keep Magic and Worthy in check.

It would be a good series, but ultimately LA would prevail because they just had that much more firepower than any other team ever assembled in NBA history.

[NewcastleKEG]

What's your point? The fact that their competition was weak doesn't mean that they were weak themselves (see 2001 Lakers).

The 1996 Chicago Bulls would have absolutely no answer for the Showtime Lakers. They had nobody who could even dream of stopping Kareem and Jordan/Pippen would have their hands full trying to keep Magic and Worthy in check.

It would be a good series, but ultimately LA would prevail because they just had that much more firepower than any other team ever assembled in NBA history.
All this talk of Offensive. I'll put it this way,

- no one could be able to guard Jordan as evident by the 1991 NBA Finals
- Magic would get slowed down by Pippen was evident by the 1991 NBA Finals

Jordan was 9 x time All Defense 1st Team
Pippen was 8 x time All Defense 1st Team (1 - 2nd team)
Rodman was 7 x time All Defense 1st Team (1 - 2nd team)

The 1996 Chicago Bulls had
2 ALL NBA 1st Team members in Pippen and Jordan and a remarkable 3 players on the ALL NBA Defensive 1st Team members in the trio.

On top of that a 6 '6' Ron Harper at Point Guard. 2 7 footers in Longley and Wennington and then 6 '10' Kukoc to create matchup headache.


Lakers on the other hand
- Magic makes all NBA but has never made a All Defensive Team of any kind in his career. Kareem is the only one on the roster to make a All Defensive Team and it was All Defensive 2nd Team, 3 years before.


Obviously the Lakers would have an edge on offense with there fast break offense but Bulls would have a LARGE advantage on defense. They would have too many athletes like Jordan, Pippen, Harper and Kukoc to slow down Magic. I mean John Paxson and BJ Armstrong were able to slow Magic down, what do you think those vastly improved defenders that I listed would be able to do?

[DrHouse]

All this talk of Offensive. I'll put it this way,

- no one could be able to guard Jordan as evident by the 1991 NBA Finals
- Magic would get slowed down by Pippen was evident by the 1991 NBA Finals

Jordan was 9 x time All Defense 1st Team
Pippen was 8 x time All Defense 1st Team (1 - 2nd team)
Rodman was 7 x time All Defense 1st Team (1 - 2nd team)

The 1996 Chicago Bulls had
2 ALL NBA 1st Team members in Pippen and Jordan and a remarkable 3 players on the ALL NBA Defensive 1st Team members in the trio.

On top of that a 6 '6' Ron Harper at Point Guard. 2 7 footers in Longley and Wennington and then 6 '10' Kukoc to create matchup headache.


Lakers on the other hand
- Magic makes all NBA but has never made a All Defensive Team of any kind in his career. Kareem is the only one on the roster to make a All Defensive Team and it was All Defensive 2nd Team, 3 years before.


Obviously the Lakers would have an edge on offense with there fast break offense but Bulls would have a LARGE advantage on defense. They would have too many athletes like Jordan, Pippen, Harper and Kukoc to slow down Magic. I mean John Paxson and BJ Armstrong were able to slow Magic down, what do you think those vastly improved defenders that I listed would be able to do?

Are you seriously bringing up 1991? Are you a fucking dumbass? Magic was literally 50-60% healthy in that series and Kareem was retired. The Showtime Lakers were literally on their last fumes at that point.

PG: Magic Johnson
SG: Byron Scott
SF: James Worthy
PF: A.C. Green
C: Kareem

And you've got Cooper and Thompson coming off the freaking bench. The Bulls would have no answer for Kareem, nobody on their team was capable of defending a legit big man. Lakers dominate the interior and that's all she wrote my friend.

[Lakers999]

the 99 spurs are an excellent team.... despite the shortened season the 99 spurs were the oldest team at that time and they man handled a heavily favored utah jazz team and a mal-coached laker team. there is no asterik in there season (I myself is guilty for spewing asterik hate). we all played 50 games we the top 8 from each conference played in playoffs and they won it fair and square.... so Yes for a rushed season and age the spurs of 99 were a great team and should be remembered for a long time...

[NewcastleKEG]

Are you seriously bringing up 1991? Are you a fucking dumbass? Magic was literally 50-60% healthy in that series and Kareem was retired. The Showtime Lakers were literally on their last fumes at that point.

PG: Magic Johnson
SG: Byron Scott
SF: James Worthy
PF: A.C. Green
C: Kareem

And you've got Cooper and Thompson coming off the freaking bench. The Bulls would have no answer for Kareem, nobody on their team was capable of defending a legit big man. Lakers dominate the interior and that's all she wrote my friend.
From 1996-1998 the Bulls defeated in the playoffs
Alonzo Mourning, Patrick Ewing, Shaquille O'Neal, Shawn Kemp, Chris Webber, Dikembe Mutombo, Karl Malone, and Rik Smits all in the playoffs. How can you say they weren't able to defend a legit big man?

The complete lack of offensive game by AC Green would play right into the hands of the Bulls. They would be able to easily double Kareem with Rodman and either of the 7 footers.

If the Lakers were indeed so great then why didn't they win the title the season before? Bulls added Jordan and ran off 3 straight.

[Lakers999]

From 1996-1998 the Bulls defeated in the playoffs
Alonzo Mourning, Patrick Ewing, Shaquille O'Neal, Shawn Kemp, Chris Webber, Dikembe Mutombo, Karl Malone, and Rik Smits all in the playoffs. How can you say they weren't able to defend a legit big man?

The complete lack of offensive game by AC Green would play right into the hands of the Bulls. They would be able to easily double Kareem with Rodman and either of the 7 footers.

If the Lakers were indeed so great then why didn't they win the title the season before? Bulls added Jordan and ran off 3 straight.


i agree...even with kareem the lakers would still have lost... its like the 2004 finals without all the drama.... and besides Kareem at 44 would barely have averaged double doubles and his transition defense would have been horrendous. divac was the best fit at that time... HOWEVER if the lakers had Hakeem playing center that year than the bulls would have been fucked

[Ditty]

the 99 spurs are an excellent team.... despite the shortened season the 99 spurs were the oldest team at that time and they man handled a heavily favored utah jazz team and a mal-coached laker team. there is no asterik in there season (I myself is guilty for spewing asterik hate). we all played 50 games we the top 8 from each conference played in playoffs and they won it fair and square.... so Yes for a rushed season and age the spurs of 99 were a great team and should be remembered for a long time...

exactly the playoffs werent shortned so why an asterick

because the knicks didn't give us a challenge?

please :lol

[YellowFever]

From 1996-1998 the Bulls defeated in the playoffs
Alonzo Mourning, Patrick Ewing, Shaquille O'Neal, Shawn Kemp, Chris Webber, Dikembe Mutombo, Karl Malone, and Rik Smits all in the playoffs. How can you say they weren't able to defend a legit big man?

Well I guess I can name all the nice SG from the 80's that the Lakers beat but that wouldn't prove a thing now would it? You name players like Kukoc, Armstrong, longley but you don't mention names like Worthy, Scott, Cooper. Thompson...etc...etc.

It's a team game. The names aren't important, it's who they had surrounding them that is.



The complete lack of offensive game by AC Green would play right into the hands of the Bulls. They would be able to easily double Kareem with Rodman and either of the 7 footers.

And what would Worthy (the guy most likely to be guarded by Rodman) would be doing at this point? Kareem was also an excellent passer. He was routinely getting double teamed and more often than not found the open man.
And your post goes either way.
We could just double off Rodman.
Green at least had a shakey jumper.
Rodamn had no offensive game.




If the Lakers were indeed so great then why didn't they win the title the season before? Bulls added Jordan and ran off 3 straight.

Wrong.
Bulls added Jordan and struggle for a few years before finally winning and going on a streak. They lost to a Celtic teams that the Lakers beat in the finals.
They had to wait until the Celtics ran their course and than had to wait some more until Detroit gave them a couple of good kicks to their behinds before over coming Detroit.

You make it sound as if the Bulls would have steamrolled every and all teams but the fact is they were a bit lucky with the timing of their championships also.
Name one memorable team they beat?

Other than the Lakers team that was clearly showing their age, I can't remember one memorable team the Bulls defeated.

Celtics and the Lakers (not to mention a Sixers team earlier in the decade that is rated as one of the greatest of all times) killed each other in the playoffs...not to mention a hungry up and coming Pistons team.

Listen, I know you're pretty sure of your assesment when you say the Bulls would've slaughters the '87 Lakers.

Just as I'm sure of MY assesment when I say the 87 Lakers proably would've beaten the Bulls in 6 max.

The point is you can't throw out names without looking at the other side as well. Sure, Jordan was an all time top player.....so was Pippen.

But so was Magic, Kareem and Worthy. And if you go down the list, the Lakers had better role players.

Oh well..one of those debates we can argue till the cows come home but one that will never get resolved. :toast

[VivaPopovich]

You can't go by stats alone. And if we're going to use the terms, "of all time" you're going to have to count the Red Auerbach championships. As it is, I don't even see the Wilt Chamberlain ones there.