*** on any championships won by the Celtics, Heat, and Lakers.

[TE]

By no means is this thread for trolling purposes. Actual basketball discussion is highly suggested.

Don't know if this has ever been directly discussed, but anyhow....



If analysts are so quick to put an asterisk on the Spurs championship of 99, wouldn't it be even more so appropriate to put an even more warranted asterisk on any championship won from 2008 and on?

The compe ion in the NBA has been devalued because of player collusion. The Lakers back in the 2007-08 season acquired Pau Gasol for practically nothing, putting them instantly into contender status. The Celtics prior to the aforementioned 2007-08 season acquired Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, while giving a set of scrubs to both teams with a few draft picks in the exchange. Both teams battled in the NBA finals with one coming out on top.

The next year (2008-09), the Lakers got to the NBA finals and had a laughably easy opponent with absolutely no championship experience (Magic). During that same year the Celtics were dealt a major blow with the injury to K.G., allowing the other superpower team to emerge.

The next year (2009-10), the Lakers and Celtics met again in the NBA finals, with the Lakeshow coming out on top.

Circa (2010-current), the Heat acquired superstar Lebron James and all-star Chris Bosh along with other decent players. IMO, the Heat and Celtics will battle out for the team that will represent the East in the finals. The Lakers and Spurs will battle out for the other spot in the Finals.

Does any of this sound fishy?

Three of the four teams I mentioned have benefited from collusion. Needful to say, any championships won from the Celtics, Heat, or Lakers should be in serious consideration for an asterisk.



Sad to see the compe ion in the NBA being devalued because of players wanting to win. , I understand the winning aspect, but wouldn't it feel more enriching and ballsy to win with the team you have. Counter arguments will point out the acquisition of Tim Duncan via free agency, well is that it?

Acquiring a star via free agency is vastly different from acquiring a star via forced trade transactions and/or player colluded infected free agency.





Sad to see the rest of the league trying not to win anything the right way nowadays.

[BRHornet45]

1999 deserves an asterisk beside it because it wasn't a legit NBA season. The season was nearly cut in half and most teams were still dealing with injuries and developing and dealing with issues they wouldn't have been dealing with if it was a full season. The Spurs just so happen to be the hottest team at htat particular time. It would be just like MLB giving the Montreal Expos the World Series in 94 just because they were the hottest team at the time. Now of course the 99 le is recognized, but no one outside of San Antonio takes it serious or even remembers that season. The Spurs have 3 legit les to be proud of however so don't get all butthurt about the truth of the 99 season.

[Mel_13]

Sad to see the compe ion in the NBA being devalued because of players wanting to win.

Wow.

[jjktkk]

[WildcardManu]

The Spurs have 3 legit les.

[xellos88330]

1999 deserves an asterisk beside it because it wasn't a legit NBA season. The season was nearly cut in half and most teams were still dealing with injuries and developing and dealing with issues they wouldn't have been dealing with if it was a full season. The Spurs just so happen to be the hottest team at htat particular time. It would be just like MLB giving the Montreal Expos the World Series in 94 just because they were the hottest team at the time. Now of course the 99 le is recognized, but no one outside of San Antonio takes it serious or even remembers that season. The Spurs have 3 legit les to be proud of however so don't get all butthurt about the truth of the 99 season.

How many teams played the same amount of regular season games as the Spurs in '99? Are you saying that the Spurs for some reason didn't experience the same hardships as the other teams?

I never understood the whole asterisk argument to begin with. The playing field was level across the board. Why couldn't any other team be the last team standing being that everyone was playing under the same conditions due to the lockout? As far as the argument being that the Spurs won the le simply because they were the hottest team is ridiculous. The hottest team ALWAYS wins the championship. Why? Simple. The best team is normally the hottest one in a marathon season/playoffs.

[TE]

Wow.

Obviously you misread.

[jjktkk]

How many teams played the same amount of regular season games as the Spurs in '99? Are you saying that the Spurs for some reason didn't experience the same hardships as the other teams?

I never understood the whole asterisk argument to begin with. The playing field was level across the board. Why couldn't any other team be the last team standing being that everyone was playing under the same conditions due to the lockout? As far as the argument being that the Spurs won the le simply because they were the hottest team is ridiculous. The hottest team ALWAYS wins the championship. Why? Simple. The best team is normally the hottest one in a marathon season/playoffs.

BR has alot of hate for S.A. Hes never forgiven Benson for almost relocating his Saints to S.A. and hates it that the bees can't take the next step.

[TE]

Please, I could give two s what BR says. Obviously he hates anything having to deal with San Antonio. Converse on the real topic here people.

[silverblk mystix]

1999 deserves an asterisk beside it because it wasn't a legit NBA season. The season was nearly cut in half and most teams were still dealing with injuries and developing and dealing with issues they wouldn't have been dealing with if it was a full season. The Spurs just so happen to be the hottest team at htat particular time. It would be just like MLB giving the Montreal Expos the World Series in 94 just because they were the hottest team at the time. Now of course the 99 le is recognized, but no one outside of San Antonio takes it serious or even remembers that season. The Spurs have 3 legit les to be proud of however so don't get all butthurt about the truth of the 99 season.

Every team played the exact same number of games. Every team played during the same exact few months. Every team had the exact same opportunity that the spurs had.


Only one team was left standing at the end of the season.

[Bito Corleone]

1999 deserves an asterisk beside it because it wasn't a legit NBA season. The season was nearly cut in half and most teams were still dealing with injuries and developing and dealing with issues they wouldn't have been dealing with if it was a full season. The Spurs just so happen to be the hottest team at htat particular time. It would be just like MLB giving the Montreal Expos the World Series in 94 just because they were the hottest team at the time. Now of course the 99 le is recognized, but no one outside of San Antonio takes it serious or even remembers that season. The Spurs have 3 legit les to be proud of however so don't get all butthurt about the truth of the 99 season.

On the bold quote...if nobody remembers it they why are so many people so quick to try and dismiss it.

On the * in general: When it comes to things like this the only thing I can say is that if your team (or anyone else's team arguing this point) had won it that year you wouldn't be saying this...and don't try to bull and say that you wouldn't.

A championship is a championship. Every team that year played the same amount of reg season games, and the playoffs were the same format as they had been before. The Spurs had no direct advantage, and the rest of the NBA had no direct disadvantage. End of Story.

[TE]

Thanks alot BR, this thread went no where cause of you.

[LnGrrrR]

By no means is this thread for trolling purposes.

Could've fooled me

[v2freak]

I think you have a legitimate reason for what you're saying, but let's not all turn into Phil Jacksons and start slapping astericks left and right. Like older basketball players have said like Jordan and Magic, they wouldn't have done the things happening today joining rivals instead of trying to beat them. The reality however is that if a team has the money and attractiveness to do that, it's perfectly legal.

In the end, regardless of whether history remembers 2008, 2009 and 2010 as having astericks or not, today's basketball fans are perfectly aware of the conditions under which the championships were won.

[TE]

It's legal in the sense that there is no crime for it. But it tarnishes the enrichment of winning. And basketball fans aren't aware of it because they're to mopped up in how brilliantly Stern is running the league.

[Ace]

Spurs won the right way, with class.

[Venti Quattro]

Spurs won the right way, with class.

Tanking for a #1 draft pick = classy move

[DMC]

The asterisk belongs on the season, not on the championship, and even then only on stats that show per season averages.

Regardless, who gives a if some overrated ing hippie in LA got butthurt and made a stupid remark? It's not the first time. I am still wondering when Riley is going to take over the team in Miami. Hippie said so. It must be so.

Imagine it's not a sports franchise. Imagine instead it's a fast food franchise. Now one franchise spends tons of money, pays huge taxes but get all this nice to run their business with. They stomp the out of other franchises when the comparisons are made, and they win all the awards. How is their profit/loss margin though?

Fans don't care about that though, they want the hardware. It's a business, and the Spurs have been the most successful franchise in professional sports for the past 10 or so years. That's not just in rings, but in many things you and I never get to see on paper.

[DMC]

Tanking for a #1 draft pick = classy move

Magic Johnson/James Worthy

[TE]

Magic Johnson/James Worthy

[Man In Black]

Magic Johnson/James Worthy

Trades actually. Earvin because of Gail Goodrich. Worthy because of Don Ford. Loser GM's not understanding the value of an unconditional draft pick.

To tank means, get the worst record. Boston had 3 chances to get the #1 pick. They had the worst record that year. San Antonio had the 3rd best chance to get #1. LUCK played it's part.

[The_Worlds_finest]

Regular season doesnt matter; ask any laker fan


BRHornets aka huge sucker. your team is total and is owned by the NBA. I cant wait for the two following actions; Chris paul to give up on the ty big easy and move somewhere else; the NBA hornets to move to Seattle.

[Venti Quattro]

Magic Johnson/James Worthy

LOL revisionist historians. sons come on the lakers got worthy after they won the 82 championship. Is that tanking?

They got Magic after a fairly okay playoff season. But they never did TAAANK

YOU TAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANKED

[Kindergarten Cop]

Regular season doesnt matter; ask any laker fan

This was always my contention as well. In a sport where more than half of the teams make the Playoffs and so many argue that the regular season doesn't matter any way, how is this season much different? As others have argued, the Spurs had absolutely no advantage to the other teams and the field was even. The Playoff format was exactly the same as the year before/after and the Spurs had to win the same number of games to hoist the trophy.

In the end:

[Leetonidas]

1999 deserves an asterisk beside it because it wasn't a legit NBA season. The season was nearly cut in half and most teams were still dealing with injuries and developing and dealing with issues they wouldn't have been dealing with if it was a full season. The Spurs just so happen to be the hottest team at htat particular time. It would be just like MLB giving the Montreal Expos the World Series in 94 just because they were the hottest team at the time. Now of course the 99 le is recognized, but no one outside of San Antonio takes it serious or even remembers that season. The Spurs have 3 legit les to be proud of however so don't get all butthurt about the truth of the 99 season.

Son I guarantee if the Hornets back in Charlotte won a le in 1999, you would be running around proclaiming 1 ring got.