Which two team era in NBA history was the greatest?

[Daddy_Of_All_Trolls]

I see a zillion threads belittling the Lakers and the Spurs for all their great players and les. LOL. Bottom line it isn't about the players that got it done, it's about the teams that did.

Since pundits wish to help secure the legacies of Tim and Kobe and compare them to Magic and Larry, among others, I thought of a novel solution. Let's do the unthinkable and team arch rivals up in two eras.

Which two team era in NBA history was the greatest?

1980-1988 Lakers and Celtics 8 les in 9 years (Lakers 5, Celtics 3)
1999-2010 Lakers and Spurs 9 les in 12 years. (Lakers 5, Spurs 4)

One difference is Lakers and Spurs both play in the west and represented it 11 of 12 times. Lakers/Spurs championship window has lasted longer than that of Magic and Bird. As long as Tim and Kobe play, neither team can be written off, and more les by either team extends the le era.

Put aside your hate for the other teams and their fans. You're 'teammates" now. Which era is greater, and why? Remember, player legacies are at stake here!

I vote for the 1999-2010 Lakers and Spurs 9 les in 12 years. More les, and a longer window.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

There was never a two-team era. Spurs were lucky enough to sneak by in a lockout year, they were basically handed the championship in 2007 when they fought an extremely weak Cavs team, they wouldn't have gotten by the Sonics in 2005 if it weren't for the injuries of Rashard Lewis and Vladimir Radmanovic, same for 2003 with the injury of Dirk Nowitizki in the conference finals. Meanwhile, the Lakers were solid in all aspects during their success years not only in the NBA but all over the world, with Kobe dominating the league and Lamar Odom bringing in the World Championship le for the USA. This era belongs to the Lakers.

[Daddy_Of_All_Trolls]

There was never a two-team era. Spurs were lucky enough to sneak by in a lockout year, they were basically handed the championship in 2007 when they fought an extremely weak Cavs team, they wouldn't have gotten by the Sonics in 2005 if it weren't for the injuries of Rashard Lewis and Vladimir Radmanovic, same for 2003 with the injury of Dirk Nowitizki in the conference finals. Meanwhile, the Lakers were solid in all aspects during their success years not only in the NBA but all over the world, with Kobe dominating the league and Lamar Odom bringing in the World Championship le for the USA. This era belongs to the Lakers.

LOL, it's a 2 team era and you know it. C'mon, fight for Timmy being a top 10 NBA all timer and for Tim's Spurs to be known as greater than Bird's Celtics!

[midnightpulp]

Good topic, actually. Although I suspect the Bird/Magic era will win by a landside. It was just too important to the NBA.

[Daddy_Of_All_Trolls]

Good topic, actually. Although I suspect the Bird/Magic era will win by a landside. It was just too important to the NBA.

Thanks, I think it's needed in this forum because the trolling threads are getting worn out. Arguably, the 1986 Celtics and 1987 Lakers would beat any Lakers or Spurs team 1999-2010, but the other champions Larry and Magic had aren't as certain to do so. Also, many posters here never saw the 80's era unfold, they can only compare by what videos they have seen and what they have read. That may lead the voting bias toward the current era.

[Phillip]

There was never a two-team era. Spurs were lucky enough to sneak by in a lockout year, they were basically handed the championship in 2007 when they fought an extremely weak Cavs team, they wouldn't have gotten by the Sonics in 2005 if it weren't for the injuries of Rashard Lewis and Vladimir Radmanovic, same for 2003 with the injury of Dirk Nowitizki in the conference finals. Meanwhile, the Lakers were solid in all aspects during their success years not only in the NBA but all over the world, with Kobe dominating the league and Lamar Odom bringing in the World Championship le for the USA. This era belongs to the Lakers.

mr bottomtooth with the goods

[Jelloisjigglin]

Good topic, actually. Although I suspect the Bird/Magic era will win by a landside. It was just too important to the NBA.

[Koolaid_Man]

well lookie lookie at the greatest common denominator...

[LkrFan]

This one is easy. Lakers/Celtics. Those two teams won their rings in the ultra-compe ive 1980's. No coincidence to me, but the Sp*rs and the Bulls never won any les back then. It wasn't until expansion with teams like the T'Wolves, Magic, Heat, Grizzlies and Hornets - did either MJ, Pippen, TD, or the Admiral ever win a le. A strike shortened season* helped as well, tbh.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Even if the Spurs fans can debate that their team can even be considered a part of this era, they'll sit in the back row indulging themselves with their chalupas when the big boys talk about the good ol' days when the NBA was at its best in the 80s, and their Spurs were trying their best to not get re-located.

[Venti Quattro]

80's Showtime-Celtics rivalry.

[Giuseppe]

A strike shortened season* helped as well, tbh.

I don't think the Spurs will ever live that stain down.

Wow.

[Daddy_Of_All_Trolls]

I'll add some information to help compare the two eras.

Boston was second fiddle to the Sixers 1980-83. Celtics picked up a le in 1981 because the Sixers couldn't hold a 3-1 ECF lead and every good team in the west lost in the playoffs; Houston and the KC Kings were 40-42 and played in the WCF. By 1988 the Pistons were superior to Boston and shut the door on them.

Larry Bird came aboard first in 1979=80, McHale and Parish a year later. Dennis Johnson came 2 years later, and Bill Walton another 2 after that. Len Bias died, and they were done. The Lakers had a solid core to being with; Kareem, Magic, Wilkes, and Nixon. Rambis and McAdoo came in 1982, Kupchak and Worthy in 1983, Scott followed, then later AC Green and Michael Thompson. Between 1984 an 1987, the Lakers and Celtics were dead even. The Lakers had little opposition in the west 1980-88. Seattle in 1980, Spurs somewhat in 1982-83, Houston in 1986, and Utah and Dallas in 1988.

Threats to the Lakers and Spurs 1999-2010 would be Portland 1999-2000, Kings 2002-04, Mavs 2001-07, Suns 2005-08, T-Wolves 2004. Lakers cost the Spurs directly two finals appearances; 2001, and 2008. Indirectly in 2002 and 2004. Spurs probably go 2-2 in those potential 4 finals. SPurs may have cost the Lakers one le. I don't think the 1999 Lakers beat the Blazers, but the 2003 Lakers probably beat the Mavs. Mavs cost the Spurs a chance at a finals in 2006. Lakers and Mavs never met this era. Lakers also had 3 poor years, 2005-07.

Looking at things a bit differently, we could say 1980's Lakers had 5 les in 9 years, and current Lakers has 5 in 11. SPurs have 4 les in 9 years and 1980's Celtics had 3 in 6 years (1981-1986). This can be expanded to Spurs 4 in 12 vs. Celtics 3 in 9.

I think it's safe to say we could rank the Spurs ahead of the Celtics in the respective eras, and the 1980's Lakers ahead of the current ones. Boston was the third best in their first years (Meaning they would have to go through the superior teams of the Sixers and the Lakers) Spurs were arguably never below 2nd best in the NBA during their championship window of 1999-2007.

Bottom line is, if the Lakers and the Spurs can each get another le before Kobe and Tim call it a career, the current two team era is going to be the better one, and by a large margin because of number of les and longevity. See, these two teams need each other to build their legacies.

A good writer/Spurs fan should be able to construct a thread arguing that Duncan's Spurs are greater then the Larry Bird Celtics using some information from this thread to make a case and especially by using the hated Lakers (and others) as a barometer. Remember, Bird's last 5 years in Boston were not special at all. Get to work, I'd love to read it.

[lefty]

80's Showtime-Celtics rivalry.

This

[Ashy Larry]

.889 > .750

[ffadicted]

There was never a two-team era. Spurs were lucky enough to sneak by in a lockout year, they were basically handed the championship in 2007 when they fought an extremely weak Cavs team, they wouldn't have gotten by the Sonics in 2005 if it weren't for the injuries of Rashard Lewis and Vladimir Radmanovic, same for 2003 with the injury of Dirk Nowitizki in the conference finals. Meanwhile, the Lakers were solid in all aspects during their success years not only in the NBA but all over the world, with Kobe dominating the league and Lamar Odom bringing in the World Championship le for the USA. This era belongs to the Lakers.

This is such a re ed post