Event THE 2024 NBA CHAMPIONSHIP! The Boston Celtics vs The Dallas Mavericks! (1 Viewer)

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Who will win and in how many games?

  • Total voters
    22
  • Poll closed .
Whyachi said:
Free agency begins tomorrow after the Celtics win. That'll be a big talking point for the Blazers ... suuuuure
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If free agency is ever a talking point for building a team in Portland you just as well exit the discussion. The person proposing it isn't dealing in reality.
 
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Phatguysrule said:
If free agency is ever a talking point for building a team in Portland you just as well exit the discussion. The person proposing it has isn't dealing in reality.
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1080 radio had a FA podcast with a picture of Paul George and a Blazers logo.
... no I did not participate in the clickbait
 
After reviewing championship squads over the years, the majority feature the following:

* One MVP contender (top 10 player) surrounded by, at least, 3 All-Star or borderline All-Stars - the latter, I define as a player who recently hit 17+ppg minimum or are former 17+ppg players still in their prime (could also include players who would be 17ppg per 36 minutes on a consistent basis but who only play, for example, 30-34 minutes). This is not rocket science, having 4/5 offensive outlets as a minimum simply means you outscore opposing teams.
* 3/5 starters must play defense. Naturally, 3/5 means the team is more defensive oriented than not.
* Bench depth. Usually, this means a rising young player and/or a good veteran to cover for the 8-12 minutes that a starter is not in.

In that sense, the Mavericks never stood a chance. It was always going to be the Celtics.

Additional observations:

* If a team does not have four offensive outlets, having two MVP contenders next to a legitimate third wheel can also be enough to win a championship due to those two MVP caliber players being dominant scorers. Shaq-Kobe/Wade, Lebron-Wade/AD, Robinson-Duncan are examples of this.
* Strong pecking order. The first/second/third/fourth options know their role and play like it. The first and second options will score at will while the third supplements them in case they fail. The fourth is usually more of a glue piece and facilitates flow in the offense while usually contributing on defense.
* Since 2008, all championship squads have featured All-Stars or borderline All-Stars at the 3 and 4. This suggests that the wing/forward positions might be the most crucial positions, at the moment.
* Short PGs as the main scoring option rarely leads to a championship. Steph is an anomaly here due to his all-time shooting.


So, if Portland wants to win championships, it better acquire this blueprint.
 
MrDraftGuy said:
After reviewing championship squads over the years, the majority feature the following:

* One MVP contender (top 10 player) surrounded by, at least, 3 All-Star or borderline All-Stars - the latter, I define as a player who recently hit 17+ppg minimum or are former 17+ppg players still in their prime (could also include players who would be 17ppg per 36 minutes on a consistent basis but who only play, for example, 30-34 minutes). This is not rocket science, having 4/5 offensive outlets as a minimum simply means you outscore opposing teams.
* 3/5 starters must play defense. Naturally, 3/5 means the team is more defensive oriented than not.
* Bench depth. Usually, this means a rising young player and/or a good veteran to cover for the 8-12 minutes that a starter is not in.

In that sense, the Mavericks never stood a chance. It was always going to be the Celtics.

Additional observations:

* If a team does not have four offensive outlets, having two MVP contenders next to a legitimate third wheel can also be enough to win a championship due to those two MVP caliber players being dominant scorers. Shaq-Kobe/Wade, Lebron-Wade/AD, Robinson-Duncan are examples of this.
* Strong pecking order. The first/second/third/fourth options know their role and play like it. The first and second options will score at will while the third supplements them in case they fail. The fourth is usually more of a glue piece and facilitates flow in the offense while usually contributing on defense.
* Since 2008, all championship squads have featured All-Stars or borderline All-Stars at the 3 and 4. This suggests that the wing/forward positions might be the most crucial positions, at the moment.
* Short PGs as the main scoring option rarely leads to a championship. Steph is an anomaly here due to his all-time shooting.


So, if Portland wants to win championships, it better acquire this blueprint.
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Denver last year had jokic murray gordon mpj kcp brown braun. They got mvp runner up (in my eyes should have been the mvp) and 6 good role players
 
We got fleeced by Boston on Holiday. Always loved the name Drew but to spell it Jrue was genius! Props Mom Holiday.
 
With West having just passed away, this would have been the year for the losing team to finally have the MVP again. Doncic was an easy choice, with the workload he carried. For Boston, I'm not sure I put Brown's play above Tatum, Holiday, or White. (And certainly not Game 1 Porzingis.) If it's a toss-up which starter is most valuable, the award sort of loses its meaning.
 
AquaXI said:
We got fleeced by Boston on Holiday. Always loved the name Drew but to spell it Jrue was genius! Props Mom Holiday.
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That's right. Just like NeO with Dame, JoeCro failed to put a winner around Jrue...

Glad for Jrue, glad we moved him for a future pick. Once Dame left, it was rebuild time, baby.

Lets see if JoeCro can flip Brogdon / RW for additional assets.
 
MrDraftGuy said:
After reviewing championship squads over the years, the majority feature the following:

* One MVP contender (top 10 player) surrounded by, at least, 3 All-Star or borderline All-Stars - the latter, I define as a player who recently hit 17+ppg minimum or are former 17+ppg players still in their prime (could also include players who would be 17ppg per 36 minutes on a consistent basis but who only play, for example, 30-34 minutes). This is not rocket science, having 4/5 offensive outlets as a minimum simply means you outscore opposing teams.
* 3/5 starters must play defense. Naturally, 3/5 means the team is more defensive oriented than not.
* Bench depth. Usually, this means a rising young player and/or a good veteran to cover for the 8-12 minutes that a starter is not in.

In that sense, the Mavericks never stood a chance. It was always going to be the Celtics.

Additional observations:

* If a team does not have four offensive outlets, having two MVP contenders next to a legitimate third wheel can also be enough to win a championship due to those two MVP caliber players being dominant scorers. Shaq-Kobe/Wade, Lebron-Wade/AD, Robinson-Duncan are examples of this.
* Strong pecking order. The first/second/third/fourth options know their role and play like it. The first and second options will score at will while the third supplements them in case they fail. The fourth is usually more of a glue piece and facilitates flow in the offense while usually contributing on defense.
* Since 2008, all championship squads have featured All-Stars or borderline All-Stars at the 3 and 4. This suggests that the wing/forward positions might be the most crucial positions, at the moment.
* Short PGs as the main scoring option rarely leads to a championship. Steph is an anomaly here due to his all-time shooting.


So, if Portland wants to win championships, it better acquire this blueprint.
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Just last year, the Nuggets won the title without All Stars at 3 or 4.
 
Can we say that JoeCro helped build a championship team before Dame got one?

Or is it still too early for all the Damies?
 
andalusian said:
Can we say that JoeCro helped build a championship team before Dame got one?

Or is it still too early for all the Damies?
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Cronin has a blue book, a green book, and he's out their making connections. Now it's Boston's turn to return the favor, by giving the Blazers something really cool. Because, you know, all GM's try and help each other out. NBA competition is restricted to the court, never amongst opposing team managers.
 
Boston gave the blazers 2 picks and maybe more, I think they already gave up something cool
 
KingSpeed said:
Just last year, the Nuggets won the title without All Stars at 3 or 4.
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But borderline All-Stars, as I also pointed out, they do have at the 3 and 4. MPJ and Aaron Gordon are such since they're capable of notching 17+ppg if given the ball.

inconceivable said:
Denver last year had jokic murray gordon mpj kcp brown braun. They got mvp runner up (in my eyes should have been the mvp) and 6 good role players
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Yep, three of those guys are borderline AS...and one is obviously MVP candidate. Solid bench players. We can even compare them to other squads:

15, 17, 18, 22 Warriors: Steph-Klay-Barnes/KD/Wiggins-Draymond (like a Rodman or Ben Wallace, unconventional AS)....good bench (Poole, Payton, Porter)
21 Bucks: Giannis-Middleton-Jrue-Lopez.....Portis, Pat
19 Raptors: Kawhi-Siakam-Lowry-Gasol....FVV, Green
16 Cavs: Lebron-Kyrie-Love-JR Smith....Thompson, Frye
14 Spurs: Kawhi-Duncan-Parker-Manu....Green, Mills, Diaw
13 Heat: Lebron-Wade-Bosh-Allen....Allen, Birdman, Battier
11 Mavs: Dirk-Marion-Terry-Chandler....Barea
09, 10 Lakers: Kobe-Gasol-Odom-Bynum...Ariza/Odom, Farmar, Brown
08 Celtics: KG-Pierce-Allen-Rondo....Posey
04 Pistons: Hamilton-Billups-Sheed-Ben....Campbell, Hunter
03 Spurs: Duncan-Robinson-Parker-Jackson....Manu

90s Bulls: MJ-Pippen-Rodman/Grant/Armstrong-Kukoc....Paxson, Harper, Kerr
94, 95 Rockets....Hakeem-Thorpe/Drexler-Maxwell-Smith...Cassell

80s Pistons: Isiah, Dumars, Lambier, Aguirre....Rodman, Johnson
80s Celtics: Bird-Parish-Maxwell/McHale-Ainge/Tiny-Johnson....Walton, Henderson, Ainge
80s Lakers: Magic-Kareem-Worthy-Scott.....Cooper, McAdoo, Green, Thompson
80s Sixers: Moses-Dr. J-Cheeks-Toney-Jones.....

So, yeah....that's pretty much how it goes in every decade. You don't win without those players.
 
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MrDraftGuy said:
So, yeah....that's pretty much how it goes in every decade. You don't win without those players.
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I suspect you're placing meaning where there isn't any. How many teams fit that criteria that don't win the championship? I'm guessing a deep dive into that data would reveal that any team labeled a contender probably does.

And calling Porter/Gordon borderline All-Stars is a stretch. They're closer to role players, IMO. Porter especially. All he can do is catch-and-shoot. He's basically a taller Sam Hauser with a much higher price tag.
 
2 NBA championships in the last 10 years for the 3 Rivers league!

Oregon Represent!

Kevin Love (2016, Cavs)
Payton Pritchard (2024, Celtics)
 
handiman said:
I suspect you're placing meaning where there isn't any. How many teams fit that criteria that don't win the championship? I'm guessing a deep dive into that data would reveal that any team labeled a contender probably does.

And calling Porter/Gordon borderline All-Stars is a stretch. They're closer to role players, IMO. Porter especially. All he can do is catch-and-shoot. He's basically a taller Sam Hauser with a much higher price tag.
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Well, yes, contenders do showcase this, too. Case in point, Barkley's Suns, Drexler's Blazers, Ewing's Knicks, Payton's Sonics (though, I've pointed out that small PGs rarely win as the lead star), the Lakers and Celtics losing to one another, etc. But A.) that's a testament to Bird/Magic/Jordan's competition, which is why people still sing praises about the 80s and 90s and B.) obviously, being a contender gets you a shot at a championship. It's not an either/or thing. It's a trait thing.

These traits for overall teams are not common at all, counter to what you sort of infer. It doesn't guarantee a team wins it that particular year but within a multiple year span of keeping that type of core? It very often does lead to a championship. And you're welcome to provide counter examples but I've done a lot of looking here already.

Certainly, it may seem arbitrary but I guarantee you, future NBA championship squads will continue to look like what I've just described. It's one of the reasons why the Wolves, Pacers, and Thunder just jumped out of nowhere this season despite being considered laughingstocks last season and are merely waiting for the MVP caliber players to enter their primes.

As for Gordon/Porter, I simply disagree there. Calling them roleplayers and comparing them to Sam Hauser is a tremendous discredit to the contributions they make as players. If Sam Hauser can knock 17ppg, he'll be as valuable as MPJ but so far, he cannot.
 
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