What have other fast starting teams done?

[Fabbs]

Come playoff time.
The Spurs and also other clubs.

I'm sure the recent rigged Laker *title* years they had a fast start but i mean legit Championship years. What did the fast early season starters do, feast or flame?
16-4 2000-01 Philadelphia 76ers 10-0 Lost in Finals to refs.
16-4 2001-02 Spurs shameful exit in Round 2.
18-2 2002-03 Dallas Mavericks 14-0, 30-5. Lost to Spurs WCFs.
12-8 2002-03 Spurs Champs!
17-3 2004-05 Phx Suns. Lost in WCFs to Spurs.
16-4 2004-05 Spurs Champs!
16-4 2005-06 Spurs beginning of the end 7th game lost to _allas.(14-6 2006-07 Dallas Mavericks started 0-4 then went to 27-7 and 52-9.)
15-5 2006-07 Spurs Champs!
17-3 2007-08 Spurs. Lost in WCFs as Popped went fetal to PhilJ again.
18-2 2007-08 Celtics. Finished job vs Lakers for legit title.
17-3 2008-09 Cleveland out in semis v Celtics.

[anonoftheinternets]

do a little research yourself and post the results instead of asking.

[Fabbs]

I'm a thought police.

[lil'mo]

Fabbs contributes other things to the website, he don't gotta do no stinkin research!

[Fabbs]

Thanks for taking out time from your cow relationship, lil'mo.

Here's a start:
41-3 1996 Bulls. They went on to title.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

In keeping with the tradition of dedicated research in this thread, I seem to remember an infographic from the last national game they had on ESPN. IIRC there were four other teams that had gotten off to as good a start as the Spurs and they all went to at least the conference finals. Two of them won championships, one of them being the Rockets in 95.

This is all strictly from memory so if it's wrong...oops.

[LoneStarState'sPride]

Thanks for taking out time from your cow relationship, lil'mo.

Here's a start:
41-3 1996 Bulls. They went on to title.

Are you implying that we're going to win our next 23 in a row? :lol

[Fabbs]

And here's gettin us into the new mellinium.

2000-01 Philadelphia 76ers 10-0 Lost in Finals to refs.
2002-03 Dallas Mavericks 14-0, 18-2, 30-5. Lost to Spurs WCFs.
2006-7 Dallas Mavericks started 0-4 then went to 27-7 and 52-9. Lost in 1st round to Golden State. :lmao Props SJax, Barron and co. :toast

[Fabbs]

IIRC there were four other teams that had gotten off to as good a start as the Spurs and they all went to at least the conference finals.

This is all strictly from memory so if it's wrong...oops.
If you're talking NBA history there's been way more then 4.

But for now, lets include research related to where the Spurs are at now. The 20 game mark.
I'll edit it to the top as research analysists come in.

[Gutter92]

Well...in '08 we started 17-3, lost our next 2... :depressed

[benefactor]

lol Chargers

[Fabbs]

Well...in '08 we started 17-3, lost our next 2... :depressed
Ouch, yes.
The tarmack 20 pt lead Bruce Bowen benched fiasco.

[FromWayDowntown]

Realizing that Fabbs has some agenda here and probably doesn't really want numbers -- or will ignore numbers that don't support the agenda -- I'll bite nonetheless.

Since 1999-2000, here are the 20 and 30 game starts of the NBA champions:

2000: LAL 15-5; 25-5 (67-15)
2001: LAL 14-6; 20-10 (56-26)
2002: LAL 17-3; 24-6 (58-24)
2003: SAS 12-8; 19-11 (60-22)
2004: DET 14-6; 17-13 (54-28)
2005: SAS 16-4, 24-6 (59-23)
2006: MIA 10-10; 17-13 (52-30)
2007: SAS 15-5; 22-8 (58-24)
2008: BOS 18-2; 27-3 (66-16)
2009: LAL 17-3; 25-5 (65-17)
2010: LAL 17-3; 24-6 (57-25)

For some extra data, here are the 20 and 30 game starts of the teams that lost the Finals:

2000: IND 13-7; 21-9 (56-26)
2001: PHI 16-4; 22-8 (56-26)
2002: NJN 13-7; 20-10 (52-30)
2003: NJN 13-7; 21-9 (49-33)
2004: LAL 17-3; 21-9 (56-26)
2005: DET 10-10; 17-13 (54-28)
2006: DAL 15-5; 22-8 (60-22)
2007: CLE 12-8; 18-12 (50-32)
2008: LAL 12-8; 19-11 (57-25)
2009: ORL 15-5; 24-6 (59-23)
2010: BOS 16-4; 23-7 (50-32)

And here are the 20 and 30 game starts of the teams with the best record among all of the teams that did not reach the Finals:

2000: PRT 15-5; 23-7 (59-23)
2001: SAS 13-7; 19-11 (58-24)
2002: SAC 15-5; 21-9 (61-21)
2003: DAL 18-2; 25-5 (60-22)
2004: IND 16-4; 21-9 (61-21)
2005: PNX 17-3; 26-4 (62-20)
2006: DET 17-3; 26-4 (64-18)
2007: DAL 14-6, 23-7 (67-15)
2008: DET 14-6; 23-7 (59-23)
2009: CLE 17-3; 26-4 (66-16)
2010: CLE 15-5; 22-8 (61-21)

[Fabbs]

No those stats are very helpful, in part just what i was looking for your fertilizer commentary aside. Do you hang out with lil'mo and his relationship? The Spurs 17-3 start should be a time for rejoicing, not divisiveness, among Spurs Realists and PollyAnna Pop lovers like yourself alike.

[FromWayDowntown]

As of 2007 -- the best 20 game starts ever:

http://www.nba.com/features/chase_70_20_game_starts.html

[FromWayDowntown]

In fact, since 1986-87, only 21 teams have started a season with 17 or more wins in their first 20 games:

Rk Tm Season Count
1 HOU 1993-94 19 (NBA Champion)
2 POR 1990-91 19 (Lost WCF)
3 BOS 2008-09 18 (Lost ECSF)
4 BOS 2007-08 18 (NBA Champion)
5 CHI 1995-96 18 (NBA Champion)
6 DAL 2002-03 18 (Lost WCF)
7 HOU 1996-97 18 (Lost WCF)
8 SEA 1993-94 18 (Lost WCFR)
9 CHI 1996-97 17 (NBA Champion)
10 CHI 1991-92 17 (NBA Champion)
11 CLE 2008-09 17 (Lost ECF)
12 DET 2005-06 17 (Lost ECF)
13 LAL 2003-04 17 (Lost NBA Finals)
14 LAL 2001-02 17 (NBA Champion)
15 LAL 2009-10 17 (NBA Champion)
16 LAL 2008-09 17 (NBA Champion)
17 PHO 2004-05 17 (Lost WCF)
18 SAS 2010-11 17 --------------------
19 SAS 2007-08 17 (Lost WCF)
20 SEA 2004-05 17 (Lost WCSF)
21 UTA 1996-97 17 (Lost NBA Finals)


http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=season&year_min=1987&year_max=2011&team_id=&opp_id=&is_playoffs=N&game_num_min=1&game_num_max=20&game_month=&game_location=&game_result=W&c1stat=&c1comp=gt&c1val=&c2stat=&c2comp=gt&c2val=&c3stat=&c3comp=gt&c3val=&c4stat=&c4comp=gt&c4val=&order_by=pts

[Man In Black]

Where's the part that says in 08 that Manu was playing on 1 leg because he was? I mean, how else could 1 explain that the 4-letter was actually calling Vujabitch the Manu stopper?

[Fabbs]

In fact, since 1986-87, only 21 teams have started a season with 17 or more wins:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=season&year_min=1987&year_max=2011&team_id=&opp_id=&is_playoffs=N&game_num_min=1&game_num_max=20&game_month=&game_location=&game_result=W&c1stat=&c1comp=gt&c1val=&c2stat=&c2comp=gt&c2val=&c3stat=&c3comp=gt&c3val=&c4stat=&c4comp=gt&c4val=&order_by=pts
awesome :worthy: FromWayDowntown
That is precisely what i was looking for.
Along with best Spurs starts and end results.

[Fabbs]

Where's the part that says in 08 that Manu was playing on 1 leg because he was? I mean, how else could 1 explain that the 4-letter was actually calling Vujabitch the Manu stopper?
Brent Barrdog was ready, able and willing. Summonsed wayy to late to replace 60% Manu. Quit changing the subject.

[FromWayDowntown]

All Spurs starts since 1986-87 in order of wins/20 games:

Rk Tm Season Count
1 SAS 2007-08 17 (lost WCF)
2 SAS 2010-11 17
3 SAS 2005-06 16 (lost WCSF)
4 SAS 2001-02 16 (lost WCSF)
5 SAS 2004-05 16 (NBA Champion)
6 SAS 2006-07 15 (NBA Champion)
7 SAS 1990-91 15 (lost WCFR)
8 SAS 1989-90 14 (lost WCSF)
9 SAS 1999-00 14 (lost WCFR)
10 SAS 2000-01 13 (lost WCF)
11 SAS 1995-96 13 (lost WCSF)
12 SAS 1993-94 13 (lost WCFR)
13 SAS 2002-03 12 (NBA Champion)
14 SAS 2008-09 12 (lost WCFR)
15 SAS 1998-99 12 (NBA Champion)
16 SAS 1991-92 11 (lost WCFR)
17 SAS 1994-95 11 (lost WCF)
18 SAS 2009-10 11 (lost WCSF)
19 SAS 1997-98 10 (lost WCSF)
20 SAS 2003-04 10 (lost WCSF)
21 SAS 1987-88 10 (lost WCFR)
22 SAS 1992-93 9 (lost WCSF)
23 SAS 1988-89 6
24 SAS 1986-87 6
25 SAS 1996-97 3

[Man In Black]

Brent Barrdog was ready, able and willing. Summonsed wayy to late to replace 60% Manu. Quit changing the subject.
You said 08, Pop went fetal and intimated that that was the reason the Spurs lost. You should know differently so I put it out there. You list 60% Manu, that's fine but 100% Manu would've given this team the finisher it didn't have. And while we're talking about Brent...
Add the part about how you say the LAL gets fixed treatment, I know you remember Brent's no-call on DFish, which they admitted later was a foul that should have been called. Spurs lost that game, which made the series almost impossible to win, especially with a hurt Manu. There was nothing fetal about it all.
LA was so happy with Vujabitch's performance that they extended him and gave him a large contract...WHICH THEY HATE TO THIS DAY because they know now that him looking good against Ginobili was more due to Manu's injuries.

[Juanobili]

Sooo you're saying teams with the best records sometimes don't win the championship?

nowai

[Fabbs]

All Spurs starts since 1986-87 in order of wins/20 games:

5 SAS 2004-05 16 (NBA Champion)
6 SAS 2006-07 15 (NBA Champion)
13 SAS 2002-03 12 (NBA Champion)
15 SAS 1998-99 12 (NBA Champion)

So indeed it's a mixed bag as far as Spurs Champs/starts go, with the 1st 2nd and 3rd best starts not resulting in Championships yet as low as 13th and 15th bringing the gold.

Still all should be happy with the 17-3 start but much work to do. Title by no means in the bag.

[ohmwrecker]

So, what you're all saying is . . .

[Agloco]

8 SEA 1993-94 18 (Lost WCFR)

:lol

Deke, tbh

[TDMVPDPOY]

i think this is the year we get back to the finals

there is no excuses for the scrub players whose been +2-3 years on this team

[duncan228]

Spurs’ fast start draws caution flags (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2010/12/07/spurs%e2%80%99-fast-start-draws-caution-flags/)
Jeff McDonald

..."This team is not judged by how they play in the regular season,” Jefferson said. “It’s all about preparing yourself for down the stretch.”

That is the memo straight from the desk of coach Gregg Popovich. It was a long season then. It’s a long season now.

Jefferson noted the nose-to-the-grindstone vibe during the Spurs’ 12-game winning streak earlier this season, their longest in more than three years.

“There was nobody really talking about it,” he said.

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2010/12/07/spurs%e2%80%99-fast-start-draws-caution-flags/

[awktalk]

92-93 Dallas Mavericks
Started 2-17
Finished 11-71

93-94 Dallas Mavericks
Started 1-18
Finished 12-70

Combined over two seasons: 23-141 for a 16% winning percentage.

Mavs Basketball. Awesome squad.