Rank the hardest opponents we've played

[gaKNOW!blee]

How about this years Nuggets? they were basically in every game and it seemed like Melo made every shot he took.

[Oh, Gee!!]

Dallas last year

[sa_butta]

We've ranked our 99 03 05 07 team to death; now rank the opponent's series if you will: during those championship runs.

1) 03 Lakers- Kobe cries and a dynasty dies.
2) 05 Pistons- Took all we had and then Horry had to save our asses
3) 03 Mavs- Dirk + Finley + Nash, Kerr came up huge to save our asses.
4) 99 Trailblazers- don't let the sweep fool you, Duncan had Wallace in his head. Bonzi was a monster
5) 99 Lakers- not quite the Lakers team we came to fear and loathe. But close.
6) 07 Suns- This Nash lead Suns were mean and nastier than ever before. And they came with revenge on their minds
7) 05 Suns - Nash had just won his first MVP and some guy named Amare came storming onto the scene
8) 99 Wolves- a battle royale with KG matching Duncan pivot for pivot. He was gonna shock the world.
9) 99 Knicks - What can I say. They were tough and a of a lot scrappier than I ever expected them to be. Camby and Sprewell were amazing.
10) Special mention goes to last years Kings. Artest and Bonzi were special.

After the first 3, Id have to say 07 Suns. I had my doubts at the begining of the series.

[TampaDude]

After the first 3, Id have to say 07 Suns, I had my doubts at the begining of the series.

Yeah, the Suns were tough...really tough...Nash was awesome.

Thanks, Horry!

[sa_butta]

Its really tough to call for the 4th spot because 05' Amare was much tougher than 07' Amare.

[Spurs Brazil]

4) 99 Trailblazers- don't let the sweep fool you, Duncan had Wallace in his head. Bonzi was a monster

Bonzi wasn't in NBA in 99

That team had Rider and JJ as SGs

[L.I.T]

Facetious answer: Whoever our next opponent is.

[tlongII]

The 08 Blazers.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

03 Suns was a damn tough series! They grabbed the first game on a banked 3 by Starbury to put it into OT when we let them back into it, then won it on a banked 3 by Amare in OT! I watched that game in Boseman, Montana, and man was I pissed off afterwards. That was a BRUTAL series that we were fortunate to win (we made slightly fewer mistakes than them is all). Should definitely make somewhere in the 10...

Also, Denver 07 gave us a good scare until we realised that AI would shoot them out of every 4th Q. Deserves an honourable mention...

Lakers 03 at number 1 works well though.

[MrChug]

I'm voting for last year's Mavericks. Although the '05 Pistons were a formidable match the refs controlled that series more than the teams did. How do you explain 2 dominant performances by the Spurs then 2 dominant performances by the Pistons? The tide doesn't change that radically in any 7 game series without some help. The Mavs played us straight up and just beat us over 7 games. Period.

[Mavs<Spurs]

Good topic for a thread.

I like it.

I agree with most of your choices.

I agree with Timvp against Whott about the 03 and 05 Suns.

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

I'm voting for last year's Mavericks. Although the '05 Pistons were a formidable match the refs controlled that series more than the teams did. How do you explain 2 dominant performances by the Spurs then 2 dominant performances by the Pistons? The tide doesn't change that radically in any 7 game series without some help. The Mavs played us straight up and just beat us over 7 games. Period.

Agreed. The refs bailed out the Spurs in the first two games and in G5.

[ShoogarBear]

How can the 2005 Pistons or the 2006 Mavs not be #1?

[td4mvp21]

Agreed. The refs bailed out the Spurs in the first two games and in G5.

That is definitely the reason why we won...it had nothing to do with having better offense and defense than the Pistons.

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

That is definitely the reason why we won...it had nothing to do with having better offense and defense than the Pistons.

Why not? It's a valid excuse and at least the Pistons lost.

Whining about the officiating when you won the le is probably the dumbest sports take I have ever heard or seen.

[LavaLamp]

That is definitely the reason why we won...it had nothing to do with having better offense and defense than the Pistons.

Isn't it true that refs can only influence a game's outcome if the two teams are playing fairly closely anyway?

[MadDog73]

We've ranked our 99 03 05 07 team to death; now rank the opponent's series if you will: during those championship runs

God, can any of you people even read?!?

The question excludes 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, & 2006. If you want to make a thread about those years, do it, but that's the reason the 2006 Mavs aren't included: it wasn't during a Championship year!

That said, I agree with whottt: 2005 Sonics have to be up there. That was a brutal series, and if not for Tim Duncan willing us to victory, could have been another losing year.

[Dave McNulla]

only going by championship seasons, so i leave off this season until it's over

1 05 Pistons 7/7
7 05 Suns 5/7
4 05 Sonics 6/7
6 05 Nuggs 5/7

worst spurs team, imo
12 03 Nets 6/7
11 03 Mavs 6/7
2 03 Laker 6/7
5 03 Suns 6/7

best spurs team, imo
10 99 Knicks 5/7
3 99 Trailblazers 4/7
8 99 Lakers 4/7
9 99 Wolves 4/5

[BeerIsGood!]

God, can any of you people even read?!?

The question excludes 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, & 2006. If you want to make a thread about those years, do it, but that's the reason the 2006 Mavs aren't included: it wasn't during a Championship year!

That said, I agree with whottt: 2005 Sonics have to be up there. That was a brutal series, and if not for Tim Duncan willing us to victory, could have been another losing year.

I can read, I just don't give a to follow what was said.

[ambchang]

07 Suns by a mile, it's always tough to beat wusses vs. beating real men.

[BUMP]

I was mostly thinking about one particular game in Dallas. He was pretty much insurmountable. But I also thought it was obvious that it was an attempt at humor...even if it wasn't a very good one. Are they giving bonus VBookie bucks for being a prick or something?

dang, dont piss off this guy

[td4mvp21]

Top 3 (Overall since 1999)

1. '05 Pistons
2. '06 Mavs
3. '03 Lakers

Top 3 (Just le years)

1. '05 Pistons
2. '03 Lakers
3. ????

[whottt]

How can the 2005 Pistons or the 2006 Mavs not be #1?

How can the 2001 Lakers not be...using your criteria?

[whottt]

The 2001 Lakers are like 10 degees higher than any other team we have faced in the Championship era.

[nkdlunch]

#1. joey crawford