I appreciate the thoughtful response. I am interested to hear how you can back up your assertion that:
the league is worse that it was 3-4 years ago;
okc, clippers, etc. are worse today than years ago.
It would be great to hear something other than an anecdotal opinion, though. For instance, yes, intuitively I think the clippers are not as good as they were last year; however, they are in the 4-5 bracket, and currently would play the 1st seed warriors, so I was not concerned with them. Hence, the "top 4" teams.
For OKC, are you talking harden thunder in 2012? Sure, they look stacked looking back, but the spurs had a better offensive and defensive efficiency than OKC that year. Spurs rolled the clippers that year. Westbrook is MUCH better this year, and they have better front court talent now than they did at that time.
I doubt it is possible to objectively compare teams from year to year other than using tools like defensive/offensive efficiency and AMOV. Anything else is going to be a very subjective "eyeball test" that honestly people suck at; having accurate intuitive evaluations is very hard to do.
Comparing what you remember from years ago about how teams played over a whole playoffs, or even a season, to your overall sense for how those teams or players play this year, is what it sounds like you are trying to use as your method.
That is hard for computers to do, much less people.
The first opponent doesn't count? Tell that to the 2014-15 Spurs.
Man 2016 might be the hardest but 2014 will always be the sweetest.
The East actually doesn't suck this year
One thing I always forget about the 2014 Finals is that Miami took home court in G2. What we did to them in Miami two straight games was truly remarkable. That series could have easily gone 6 or 7.
One of the greatest achievements in sports history. Unbelievable. That said the fire and focus you see right now in people like TP, Manu, even David West. To me, seems very reminiscent of the 2014 team. Call me a homer but I think we have something very special brewing here in 2016....
This is a better team than 2014. I don't think that there is another team in the NBA that can stand up to them in a 7 game series - except for Golden State. There are some teams that would be a lot more physical, obviously. But unless someone got injured, I'm not even worried about any of those teams wearing the Spurs down in a first or second round series.
I think it's time to believe that this team is special. We watched the '10-11 Spurs riding a 70 game pace, and then just go to in March. Again, barring injury, that's not going to happen to this team. It's possible that they are a great team that could lose to a historic team. But I really don't think that it matters what route they take to reach the Warriors. The only important thing is those 7 games.
I think it's not a correct comparison. Td is way more productive and vital than mj was to wizards. Matter of fact, td us arguably one of the best defenders at 40. Top 10 easy.
looks like their win vs cleveland put warriors back ahead.
What's weird is the spurs chance to win a le is the same as their chance to get the top seed. Both at 30. warriors are at 70 for top seed and 37 for a le.
That's b/c they are factoring in "Restgate" & the FACT that the Warriors are trying to secure the #1 seed by all means necessary. Plus, the the Warriors have a higher chance of winning a le b/c they are projected to have home-court otherwise it would probably be down by a couple of percentage points ~5%.
The series was over once Boris was inserted into the starting lineup in Gm 3 which resulted in a 20 pt blowout.
I think this team is more talented, with a higher ceiling, than 2014. But we haven't played as well as the 2014 Spurs played in that finals yet. Right now, that team playing that way would beat this Spurs team. Of course, I think that Spurs team playing the way they played in those finals would beat most teams historically...
I agree that this team is better and has a 'unique' personality this year. I just hope Pop gives more minutes to Simmons, Anderson, Boban in the playoffs. He has a stubborn habit of shortening the leash and putting too much trust on Parker and Manu even when they don't work in the matchups
Good post OP.
That said, there's no way that the Warriors, OKC, and CLE (or even the Spurs) maintain their current point differential. All elite teams will see their AMOV go down before the season ends, so that 25.98 figure will amost certainly be lower.
Also, there's a decent probability that we won't have to go through all three teams that you mentioned. For instance, we could end up being the #1 seed and not have to face OKC, or LeBron could tear his ACL and the Cavs could get upset in the 2nd round. You never know.
Pretty simple to me, eye test.
Do you think this year GS team is better than any of those teams... probably yes.
Do you think the Spurs are better, probably yes.. (or at least Kawhi, Danny and the other wont piss the bed this year)
Do you think Cleveland is better than 2012-13 Miami, i dont.
Do you think Clippers are better than last year? I donīt see them better, they have problems inside their team and are noticed.
Do you think there are any teams, other than the top 4 of the west and cleveland on the level Portland and Memphis were when healthy a few years back? Any east team on Pacers level? Or Thibbs Chicago? Do you?
Thatīs my argument, most "index" cannot be used because they will always be measured against that year compe ion. You just have to try to trust your judgment, if you think the NBA today, removing the best 6 teams, is better than the last 3-4 years, then we agree to disagree.
This. TP seems to be super focused so far this season. I really think that this team might be better than that 2014 team. To the point that we are able to play a guy like Boban some good minutes on some nights. I know the guy is good but we are giving some of these end of the bench guys some good minutes against good teams.
The way they are playing as a team, I don't know if Kawheezy gets that 2nd FMVP for sure. Not saying that he won't but anyone could have a good series if we get all the way to the end.
I was at the Dallas game and boy that was fun to watch. Especially the Boban staredown. The crowd was going crazy every time he did anything.
To make Pop feel better, we shouted Boban instead of MVP.
I get the same feeling, especially this team having a higher ceiling. But, as almost everything in sports, results have a lot of weight on perception. So far, with regular season results, this team looks like the real deal. Playoffs bring a different intensity and require a different for ude. Barring injuries, there's still some new pieces that will have to show they can step up to the challenge. If they do, this team will be very hard to beat.
Lurking a lot these days without posting. This year's team added talent while establishing chemistry. So didn't see Pop doing mad scientist experiment on rotation often this season. Hope this continue and we can dictate matchups. Chances are good against anybody.
2005 was easily the toughest
Spurs won that series here in SA.
My bad. Yes, Spurs blew out the Pistons at home in the first two games, and we were thinking "sweep," only to go to Detroit and get blown out in the first two games there. Game 5 we bounced back heroically to win in Detroit only to lose game 6 at home. Game 7 was also very close until some clutch play at the end sealed the victory - at home, as you say. But we had a tough road and a hard series against a very good and very physical defending champion. Thanks for gently correcting my faulty memory of one of my favorite championships.
Last edited by sasaint; 01-20-2016 at 05:18 PM.
Imagine this:
Manu doesn't get injured in 2011
Thunder get a little less ref help and Spurs go with a good matchup to the finals in 2012
Spurs make 1 FT in 2013
Spurs win 1 more RS game and go healthy in 2015
Spurs could have a 5peat, and Lebron could have 0 les, mentally preparing to join the Spurs as a last resort.
[QUOTE=NameLess Scrub;8381334]Imagine this:
Westbrook got injured in 2013Manu doesn't get injured in 2011
Kawhi/Danny weren't ready for Bron/Wade who didn't have excessive wear & tear on their body. (Same with Bosh not being beatup)Thunder get a little less ref help and Spurs go with a good matchup to the finals in 2012
TurnobiliSpurs make 1 FT in 2013
Bruh, Tony/Tiago were dead meat in 2015.Spurs win 1 more RS game and go healthy in 2015
LeBron should have won in 2011 if he could have outscored Barea in the 4th quarterSpurs could have a 5peat, and Lebron could have 0 les, mentally preparing to join the Spurs as a last resort
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