Has there been a more impressive championship run than the 2011 Mavs?

[SouBeachTalents]

Swept Kobe & the two time defending champion Lakers
Beat Durant, Westbrook and the Thunder in 5
Took down the Big 3 Heat, with LeBron & Wade in their primes, in the Finals in 6

In those series they defeated
1. 3 55+ win teams
2. 3 former/future MVP's
3. Arguably 4 of the top 7 players in the league
3. 6 players that made an All-NBA 1st or 2nd team

People frequently bring up the '89 Pistons, but they faced the Celtics without Bird, the Bulls minus Phil Jackson and Pippen not yet in his prime, and the Lakers with Magic missing half the series and an ancient, soon to be retired Kareem

[SCdac]

Definitely a great run, in which the desperation and hunger to win was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Dirk, Kidd, Chandler, Marion, etc. All wanted to win after long careers.

Having said that, I think their competition has been overrated some. Lakers and Mavs had the same regular season record, for instance, and LA was flailing and infighting all season. Blazers had a Brandon Roy who was an absolute shell of himself. Thunder had a team that was really really young (99% of championship teams are never that young, look it up). The Heat were the best team they faced but even they had Bibby starting, a bunch of about-to-be-retired players on the roster, and no Ray Allen or Shane Battier. Something to keep in mind is a team is not made up of 2 or 3 players, it's how great the entire team is that is relevant. But it was still a dominant run nonetheless.

I think propping up or criticizing their competition takes away from what they did as a team. I'm a Spurs fan and readily admit the competition they faced in championship years varied from awesome to not as awesome - but a championship is a championship! They're great in their own right and all the Mavs killed it that season.

[TheMarkMadsen]

01 Lakers >>>>>>

[SouBeachTalents]

Definitely a great run, in which the desperation and hunger to win was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Dirk, Kidd, Chandler, Marion, etc. All wanted to win after long careers.

Having said that, I think their competition has been overrated some. Lakers and Mavs had the same regular season record, for instance, and LA was flailing and infighting all season. Blazers had a Brandon Roy who was an absolute shell of himself. Thunder had a team that was really really young (99% of championship teams are never that young, look it up). The Heat were the best team they faced but even they had Bibby starting, a bunch of about-to-be-retired players on the roster, and no Ray Allen or Shane Battier. Something to keep in mind is a team is not made up of 2 or 3 players, it's how great the entire team is that is relevant. But it was still a dominant run nonetheless.

I think propping up or criticizing their competition takes away from what they did as a team. I'm a Spurs fan and readily admit the competition they faced in championship years varied from awesome to not as awesome - but a championship is a championship! They're great in their own right and all the Mavs killed it that season.

Who would you pick then?

[dubeta]

2012 Heat

Underdogs against Indy after Game 3

Underdogs to the Celtics after Game 5

Underdogs to the Thunder the entire series, and especially after Game 1

[SouBeachTalents]

2012 Heat

Underdogs against Indy after Game 3

Underdogs to the Celtics after Game 5

Underdogs to the Thunder the entire series, and especially after Game 1

I'm not sure you're familiar with what the term underdog means

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

Definitely a great run, in which the desperation and hunger to win was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Dirk, Kidd, Chandler, Marion, etc. All wanted to win after long careers.

Having said that, I think their competition has been overrated some. Lakers and Mavs had the same regular season record, for instance, and LA was flailing and infighting all season. Blazers had a Brandon Roy who was an absolute shell of himself. Thunder had a team that was really really young (99% of championship teams are never that young, look it up). The Heat were the best team they faced but even they had Bibby starting, a bunch of about-to-be-retired players on the roster, and no Ray Allen or Shane Battier. Something to keep in mind is a team is not made up of 2 or 3 players, it's how great the entire team is that is relevant. But it was still a dominant run nonetheless.

I think propping up or criticizing their competition takes away from what they did as a team. I'm a Spurs fan and readily admit the competition they faced in championship years varied from awesome to not as awesome - but a championship is a championship! They're great in their own right and all the Mavs killed it that season.

They faced tougher competition than any Spurs run thats for sure

[fpliii]

95 Rockets
01 Lakers

The Bad Boy Pistons took out Bird, Magic, and MJ in one season I think too.

[stalkerforlife]

95 Rockets
01 Lakers

The Bad Boy Pistons took out Bird, Magic, and MJ in one season I think too.

Hey dude, I want Riley Cooper. I sent you a trade request.

[Young X]

Only team I can think of is the 1995 Rockets.

60 win Malone/Stockton led Jazz team
60 win MVP David Robinson led team
59 win Barkley/KJ led team
57 win Shaq/Penny led team

Beat them all as the 6th seed. Without HCA in any series.

[fpliii]

Hey dude, I want Riley Cooper. I sent you a trade request.

Okay, accepted. I think it's a lateral trade, but I know you're a fan of his.

BTW russ's thread was moved to the football board in case you were looking for it:

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=352479

[stalkerforlife]

Okay, accepted. I think it's a lateral trade, but I know you're a fan of his.

BTW russ's thread was moved to the football board in case you were looking for it:

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=352479

Right on. Now I have Percy and Cooper holding it down, Gator style.

[SouBeachTalents]

95 Rockets
01 Lakers

The Bad Boy Pistons took out Bird, Magic, and MJ in one season I think too.

If only you read the OP.......

[masonanddixon]

The thing that always cracks me up is how many of the game would be close through the first 3 quarters, and then Dirk would just obliterate the opposition in the 4th of every game.

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

The thing that always cracks me up is how many of the game would be close through the first 3 quarters, and then Dirk would just obliterate the opposition in the 4th of every game.

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=325755