Championship teams that enter the playoffs stumbling

[pgardn]

What about Dallas?

seems they were totally dismissed.

Need to look up the last part of their reg season.

4 straight losses followed by 4 straight wins in last 8 games.

[BillMc]

Spurs waiting for the playoffs to flip the switch.

Amen

[baseline bum]

2001 Lakers -- classic case.

The defending champs stumbled into the playoffs with Shaq and Kobe in open warfare and the losses piling up. Laker fans predicted a first round meltdown.

The Lakers then embarked upon the most dominant playoff performance in history, losing one game in the entire four series (including a humilating sweep of the #1 seed Spurs in the WCF).

I think you're mistaken, Russ. The 2001 Lakers entered the playoffs on an 8-game win streak thanks to Fisher's return from injury. They looked very beatable before that though. I distinctly remember that because I was clowning all my Laker fan friends who said that Fisher was the difference and that they'd be good again when he came back.

[therealtruth]

I think you're mistaken, Russ. The 2001 Lakers entered the playoffs on an 8-game win streak thanks to Fisher's return from injury. They looked very beatable before that though. I distinctly remember that because I was clowning all my Laker fan friends who said that Fisher was the difference and that they'd be good again when he came back.

I think he went some ridiculous 15/20 against us in the playoffs.

[Venti Quattro]

2009/10 Lakers

[Russ]

I think you're mistaken, Russ. The 2001 Lakers entered the playoffs on an 8-game win streak thanks to Fisher's return from injury. They looked very beatable before that though. I distinctly remember that because I was clowning all my Laker fan friends who said that Fisher was the difference and that they'd be good again when he came back.

Right you are (I'm getting senile).

[DesignatedT]

dan mccarney ‏@danmccarneysaen 12s
Spurs went 10-10 over their last 20. Only 1994-95 Rockets, at 9-11, had a worse record among championship teams since the merger.
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[024]

I think instead you should ask: which team with the same core won a championship 6 years after winning their last one?

[TheyCallMePro]

That was an absolute pathetic performance. Championship teams don't get blown at home the last game of the regular season. This was supposed to be a playoff-like intensity game. If that's the best the Spurs can do, then not only will they lose in the playoffs, they'll be crushed. The Lakers have been playing 10x better than the Spurs the past month. And that's going to be our opponent. This team is making me sick. Pop should LIGHT THEM UP in practice the next few days.

[therealtruth]

That was an absolute pathetic performance. Championship teams don't get blown at home the last game of the regular season. This was supposed to be a playoff-like intensity game. If that's the best the Spurs can do, then not only will they lose in the playoffs, they'll be crushed. The Lakers have been playing 10x better than the Spurs the past month. And that's going to be our opponent. This team is making me sick. Pop should LIGHT THEM UP in practice the next few days.

I don't think the Spurs need to be concerned about winning the championship. They need to worry about escaping round 1. I doubt they sweep this year.