Path to Championship

1,800 Views | 14 Replies | Last: 2 mo ago by nbbob
actuallyraisedonafarmag95
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Although not a done deal, I really like OKC to win it all, which prompted me to think about their potential path to the championship. I am not trying to take anything away from an eventual champion, but the following path to a championship for OKC seems weak compared to other paths for eventual champs.

#8 Seed Grizzlies: 48 wins
#4 Seed Nuggets: 50 Wins
#6 Seed Timberwolves: 49 Wins
#3 Seed Knicks: 51 Wins / #4 Seed Pacers: 50 Wins

Whether looking at the opponents' total regular season wins or opponents' seedings, this seems like one of the easiest paths to a championship that I can recall. Every potential opponent has lost at least 31 games in the regular season, meaning none of these opponents are powerhouses.

This NBA season also seems like it should have been an easy season to earn more than 51 wins because Lebron & Steph have dropped off a lot, the Celtics melted down, coaching drama hampered the Nuggets, and other young stars are not quite dominant yet (Anthony Edwards).

Can any of you remember seasons like this one, or other thoughts on this?
flashplayer
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AG
2007 was pretty boring when the Spurs diced up the 6, 2, and 4 seeds and beating East 2 seed Cleveland going 16-4 in the process.

When Golden State rolled in 2017 they went through 8, 5, the 2 seed without their best player that Zaza took out in game 1, and then the 2 seed Cavs from the East.


1999 Spurs went through 8, 4, 2, and 8 seeds.
nbbob
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flashplayer said:

2007 was pretty boring when the Spurs diced up the 6, 2, and 4 seeds and beating East 2 seed Cleveland going 16-4 in the process.

When Golden State rolled in 2017 they went through 8, 5, the 2 seed without their best player that Zaza took out in game 1, and then the 2 seed Cavs from the East.


1999 Spurs went through 8, 4, 2, and 8 seeds.


Yeah 1999 was about of a clear a path as a team can hope for
Obi Wan Ginobili
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actuallyraisedonafarmag95 said:

Although not a done deal, I really like OKC to win it all, which prompted me to think about their potential path to the championship. I am not trying to take anything away from an eventual champion, but the following path to a championship for OKC seems weak compared to other paths for eventual champs.

#8 Seed Grizzlies: 48 wins
#4 Seed Nuggets: 50 Wins
#6 Seed Timberwolves: 49 Wins
#3 Seed Knicks: 51 Wins / #4 Seed Pacers: 50 Wins

Whether looking at the opponents' total regular season wins or opponents' seedings, this seems like one of the easiest paths to a championship that I can recall. Every potential opponent has lost at least 31 games in the regular season, meaning none of these opponents are powerhouses.

This NBA season also seems like it should have been an easy season to earn more than 51 wins because Lebron & Steph have dropped off a lot, the Celtics melted down, coaching drama hampered the Nuggets, and other young stars are not quite dominant yet (Anthony Edwards).

Can any of you remember seasons like this one, or other thoughts on this?
Counter:


2020 Lakers - Most wins by an opponent was Denver with 46

2023 Nuggets - Most wins by an opponent was Phoenix with 45


Every team OKC has beaten/will need to beat to win the title has more wins that those.
Aggie Dad 26
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OKC has the most complete roster. They should win it all. They're loaded with talent
Iowaggie
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AG
Since Michael Jordan left the Bulls, any team from the East has had an easier path than their WC foe (slight hyperbole).


I think the easier paths are those also created by injuries.

Just based on wins alone, to compare to last year's Celtics.
Beat #8 Heat (46 wins) & Jimmy Butler was out with injury
Beat #4 Cavs (48 wins) & Mitchell missed a couple games with injury
Beat #6 Pacers (47 wins) & Haliburton hobbled by injury
Beat #5 Mavs (50 wins) & some might say Luka slowed by injury.


So last year's Celtics also played 1 team at 50 wins.

But I'll add that 50 wins in the East is not the same as 50 wins in the West. The 3 EC playoff teams the Celtics played last year were 46-44 versus the Western Conference last year. OKC's playoff opponents would be 55-36 vs the Eastern Conference this year. ETA - Also, OKC went 29-1 vs the East, they're pretty solid.
nbbob
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The Thunder set an NBA record for scoring margin per game in the regular season (12.87) and have exceeded that margin thru 12 playoff games (14). Only 2 teams have a higher differential per playoff game in NBA history - the 56 Lakers who outscored St Louis by 18.67 points per game, but amazingly lost 2 games to 1, and the 71 Bucks who won the title.
Look Out Below
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AG
FWIW, they played 71-75 games (depending on the team) in 2020, not 82.
Obi Wan Ginobili
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Look Out Below said:

FWIW, they played 71-75 games (depending on the team) in 2020, not 82.
I can't believe I forgot that. How embarrassing.

I'll leave it up so people can either see my shame or join my disinformation campaign.
M.C. Swag
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AG
actuallyraisedonafarmag95 said:

Although not a done deal, I really like OKC to win it all, which prompted me to think about their potential path to the championship. I am not trying to take anything away from an eventual champion, but the following path to a championship for OKC seems weak compared to other paths for eventual champs.

#8 Seed Grizzlies: 48 wins
#4 Seed Nuggets: 50 Wins
#6 Seed Timberwolves: 49 Wins
#3 Seed Knicks: 51 Wins / #4 Seed Pacers: 50 Wins

Whether looking at the opponents' total regular season wins or opponents' seedings, this seems like one of the easiest paths to a championship that I can recall. Every potential opponent has lost at least 31 games in the regular season, meaning none of these opponents are powerhouses.

This NBA season also seems like it should have been an easy season to earn more than 51 wins because Lebron & Steph have dropped off a lot, the Celtics melted down, coaching drama hampered the Nuggets, and other young stars are not quite dominant yet (Anthony Edwards).

Can any of you remember seasons like this one, or other thoughts on this?
Being the #1 seed usually gives you an easier path
Look Out Below
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AG
The first two rounds the seeding held.

In conference finals, only a single game separated Minnesota and the No. 3 seed (and only three from the No. 2 seed) so basically a wash.

The NBA Finals will be the round they luck out a little with re: seeding. I think they crush Indiana.

As long as SGA is healthy, they are going to be a problem for a long time.
TXAG 05
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AG
nbbob said:

flashplayer said:

2007 was pretty boring when the Spurs diced up the 6, 2, and 4 seeds and beating East 2 seed Cleveland going 16-4 in the process.

When Golden State rolled in 2017 they went through 8, 5, the 2 seed without their best player that Zaza took out in game 1, and then the 2 seed Cavs from the East.


1999 Spurs went through 8, 4, 2, and 8 seeds.


Yeah 1999 was about of a clear a path as a team can hope for


Except that #4 team was the Lakers with Kobe, Shaq, Horry, Rodman, Etc. not exactly a slouch. That team would go on to win the next 3 finals in a row and the Spurs swept them. They then swept the #2 Blazers. The first round #8 were the Timberwolves with Kevin Garnett who gave them 1 of their only 2 losses in the whole playoffs.
nbbob
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TXAG 05 said:

nbbob said:

flashplayer said:

2007 was pretty boring when the Spurs diced up the 6, 2, and 4 seeds and beating East 2 seed Cleveland going 16-4 in the process.

When Golden State rolled in 2017 they went through 8, 5, the 2 seed without their best player that Zaza took out in game 1, and then the 2 seed Cavs from the East.


1999 Spurs went through 8, 4, 2, and 8 seeds.


Yeah 1999 was about of a clear a path as a team can hope for


Except that #4 team was the Lakers with Kobe, Shaq, Horry, Rodman, Etc. not exactly a slouch. That team would go on to win the next 3 finals in a row and the Spurs swept them. They then swept the #2 Blazers. The first round #8 were the Timberwolves with Kevin Garnett who gave them 1 of their only 2 losses in the whole playoffs.


It was also a strike year and they only played 50 games.
TXAG 05
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AG
nbbob said:

TXAG 05 said:

nbbob said:

flashplayer said:

2007 was pretty boring when the Spurs diced up the 6, 2, and 4 seeds and beating East 2 seed Cleveland going 16-4 in the process.

When Golden State rolled in 2017 they went through 8, 5, the 2 seed without their best player that Zaza took out in game 1, and then the 2 seed Cavs from the East.


1999 Spurs went through 8, 4, 2, and 8 seeds.


Yeah 1999 was about of a clear a path as a team can hope for


Except that #4 team was the Lakers with Kobe, Shaq, Horry, Rodman, Etc. not exactly a slouch. That team would go on to win the next 3 finals in a row and the Spurs swept them. They then swept the #2 Blazers. The first round #8 were the Timberwolves with Kevin Garnett who gave them 1 of their only 2 losses in the whole playoffs.


It was also a strike year and they only played 50 games.
You sound like Phil Jackson who acted like the Spurs were the only team that had a shortened season.
nbbob
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TXAG 05 said:

nbbob said:

TXAG 05 said:

nbbob said:

flashplayer said:

2007 was pretty boring when the Spurs diced up the 6, 2, and 4 seeds and beating East 2 seed Cleveland going 16-4 in the process.

When Golden State rolled in 2017 they went through 8, 5, the 2 seed without their best player that Zaza took out in game 1, and then the 2 seed Cavs from the East.


1999 Spurs went through 8, 4, 2, and 8 seeds.


Yeah 1999 was about of a clear a path as a team can hope for


Except that #4 team was the Lakers with Kobe, Shaq, Horry, Rodman, Etc. not exactly a slouch. That team would go on to win the next 3 finals in a row and the Spurs swept them. They then swept the #2 Blazers. The first round #8 were the Timberwolves with Kevin Garnett who gave them 1 of their only 2 losses in the whole playoffs.


It was also a strike year and they only played 50 games.
You sound like Phil Jackson who acted like the Spurs were the only team that had a shortened season.


Another poster mentioned the Covid shortened season as part of this discussion so a strike shortened season is certainly relevant when comparing different years, teams and paths.
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