Teams that were supposed to win their titles from 91-14

[mehyaM24]

91- Bulls (more specifically, after Worthy and Scott went down)
92- Bulls
93- Bulls
94- Knicks
95- Rockets (Bulls after Jordan announced his comeback)
96- Bulls
97- Bulls
98- Bulls
99- Spurs
00- Lakers
01- Lakers
02- Kings
03- Spurs
04- Lakers
05- Spurs
06- Suns
07- Spurs
08- Celtics
09- Celtics
10- Lakers
11- Heat
12- OKC
13- Spurs
14- Spurs

the 90s bulls were favored practically every year, while the spurs and lakers were favored about equally in-terms of time frame.

[G.O.A.T]

Going with Roundball's theme with a slight variation...

If everyone is healthy, no bad calls, no bad breaks, who had the best team...

91 Bulls
92 Bulls
93 Suns
94 Suns
95 Rockets
96 Bulls
97 Rockets
98 Pacers
99 Heat
00 Lakers
01 Lakers
02 Kings
03 Spurs
04 Spurs
05 Pistons
06 Pistons
07 Suns
08 Celtics
09 Celtics
10 Lakers
11 Heat
12 Heat
13 Spurs
14 Spurs

Probably wrong about a bunch

[Soundwave]

91- Bulls (more specifically, after Worthy and Scott went down)
92- Bulls
93- Bulls
94- Knicks
95- Rockets (Bulls after Jordan announced his comeback)
96- Bulls
97- Bulls
98- Bulls
99- Spurs
00- Lakers
01- Lakers
02- Kings
03- Spurs
04- Lakers
05- Spurs
06- Suns
07- Spurs
08- Celtics
09- Celtics
10- Lakers
11- Heat
12- OKC
13- Spurs
14- Spurs

the 90s bulls were favored practically every year, while the spurs and lakers were favored about equally in-terms of time frame.

I seriously doubt you're above the age of 20, in which case you wouldn't know sh*t about what you're talking about, lol.

The Phoenix Suns bandwagon in '93 was monstrous, and the Orlando Magic one by the mid-90s was even bigger. Couldn't walk anywhere without seeing someone with a Shaq or Penny jersey.

[juju151111]

I seriously doubt you're above the age of 20, in which case you wouldn't know sh*t about what you're talking about, lol.

The Phoenix Suns bandwagon in '93 was monstrous, and the Orlando Magic one by the mid-90s was even bigger. Couldn't walk anywhere without seeing someone with a Shaq or Penny jersey.

He a idiot. He thinks the old ass 98 bulls were favored

[Da_Realist]

91- Lakers
92- Bulls
93- Suns or Knicks
94- Knicks
95- Magic
96- Bulls
97- Bulls
98- Jazz
99- Jazz
00- Lakers
01- Lakers
02- Kings
03- Spurs
04- Lakers
05- Pistons
06- Mavericks or Suns
07- Mavericks
08- Celtics
09- Lakers
10- Lakers
11- Heat
12- Heat
13- Heat
14- Spurs

Good list except Portland was supposed to win in 91. It was a surprise to most that LA beat them that year.

And in 2008, I know Boston had homecourt advantage but I think most thought LA would win that series before it began.

[SamuraiSWISH]

Good list except Portland was supposed to win in 91. It was a surprise to most that LA beat them that year.

Yea Blazers first, then LA when experience came into play v.s. Chicago. Plus stealing the first game on the road. Chicago wasn't heavily favored like revisionist history would lead you to believe.

And in 2008, I know Boston had homecourt advantage but I think most thought LA would win that series before it began.

Boston was still the favorite though. Even though they went a couple game 7s. The same way in the heart of hearts Miami was favorites in 2012 even though a few people picked the Thunder to win that series.

To me the favorites takes pre-season prediction, regular season performance, and post season performance / context into account.

[Da_Realist]

Yea Blazers first, then LA when experience came into play v.s. Chicago. Plus stealing the first game on the road. Chicago wasn't heavily favored like revisionist history would lead you to believe.

The 91 Finals matchup that was expected after the end of the reg season was Chicago vs Portland. Both teams needed to beat the reigning conference bullies. Chicago overcame Detroit but Portland couldn't beat LA. LA just picked them apart.

91 would have been Portland's best chance. I still think they would have lost, but by 92 Chicago had that championship swagger. It was too late. Chicago coughed up the only two games they lost. If Chicago was focused like the late 90's version, they would have swept the Blazers.

[ShaqAttack3234]

As for preseason favorites, well, here are a few that come to mind who didn't win titles.

2000 Blazers- Were the "super team" getting all of the hype that year. Called most talented, highest payroll, getting some 70 win predictions, re-loaded after a WCF appearance adding Pippen, Steve Smith and Detlef Schrempf.
2004 Lakers- Obviously, the hype surrounding the additions of Malone and Payton. Most thought that would be enough for the Lakers to recapture their title, and again, 70 win predictions.
2011 Heat- Again, big 3, "not 1, not 2", 70 win predictions ect.

There were others too. After Jordan's retirement in '93, the Knicks and Suns were mentioned as teams who could finally break through. And after losing in the '95 finals, people were looking at Orlando as the next dynasty with Shaq and Penny in '96. Then in '99, following Jordan's second retirement, the Jazz and Pacers were talked about as the teams that could finally break through and get their title.

A lot of the other teams that won were "expected to", especially defending champions like the Heat, Lakers and Bulls. The 2013 Lakers were also a hyped "super team", complete with the obligatory 70 win prediction courtesy of Ron Artest/World Peace, and were expected to be right up there with Miami. Can't say they were expected to win over Miami, but those were the 2 teams with the hype entering the season. Also, in 2003, it was mostly Lakers and Kings entering the season. The Spurs were considered very good, but just below them.

[mehyaM24]

As for preseason favorites, well, here are a few that come to mind who didn't win titles.

2000 Blazers- Were the "super team" getting all of the hype that year. Called most talented, highest payroll, getting some 70 win predictions, re-loaded after a WCF appearance adding Pippen, Steve Smith and Detlef Schrempf.
2004 Lakers- Obviously, the hype surrounding the additions of Malone and Payton. Most thought that would be enough for the Lakers to recapture their title, and again, 70 win predictions.
2011 Heat- Again, big 3, "not 1, not 2", 70 win predictions ect.

that blazers team was the real deal. sheed/pippen/smith/sabonis- wow what a core. shaq/kobe were great, but honestly, after those 2, they werent anything to ride home about. average role players (at the time), no legit 3rd option (rice was inconsistent). the blazers should have capitalized in that game 7. they beat the pacers easily, imo.

about the bulls: after chi got HCA over detroit in the regular season, they and the lakers were favorites. the bulls became the favorites in the finals, though, by default, because of the injuries to scott and worthy.

the 93 suns were good, but i never thought they could beat the bulls. same with the knicks. anybody that watched the 90s knows that the bulls were favorites every year outside of the seasons jordan was retired with no proper fill-in.

[ShaqAttack3234]

that blazers team was the real deal. sheed/pippen/smith/sabonis- wow what a core. shaq/kobe were great, but honestly, after those 2, they werent anything to ride home about. average role players (at the time), no legit 3rd option (rice was inconsistent). the blazers should have capitalized in that game 7. they beat the pacers easily, imo

And the Blazers talent didn't even begin to end there. Plus, in addition to all of the half court scoring options, they had several players who could pass well enough to run the offense through and had a great team defense with size capable of limiting superstars. That team was built to win.

By the playoffs, LA's expectations were higher and expected to win as well due to their regular season, but anything less than a title was considered a failure for both teams. Though there's no doubt Portland had more talent than LA, especially since LA didn't have a bench scorer, only had 1 solid 3 point shooter in Rice as they ranked 5th worst in 3P% at 32.9%, started two offensive liabilities who weren't even guarded a lot of the time in Green and Harper and had nobody to defend good power forwards inside.

That LA team was vulnerable, far more than the 2001 team once that team got on the same page. LA really did maximize their potential in 2000 unlike subsequent seasons when they'd often sleepwalk for a while and turn it on. Phil really had the 2000 team motivated, and in addition to Shaq's incredible peak, Kobe's emergence, Phil's coaching and solid contributions from team-oriented, defensive-minded role players like Horry and Harper were the key along with an exceptional coaching job from Phil, which should have gotten him coach of the year.

Portland did have more talent, but it probably came down to Phil being a better coach than Dunleavy and Portland devoting so much attention to Shaq that the surprise players like Brian Shaw started hitting their shots. Of course, there was some luck involved as well. Shaw banked in a 3 to end the 3rd, and there were a couple of bad calls against Sabonis and a missed call when Shaq hit Smith late, though LA still would have been in the better position to win the game with the no-call on Shaq vs Smith.