Teams are no longer taking the regular season seriously, except the Warriors

[jstern]

They are still the best team in the NBA, and one of the greatest of all time. But their wins might be inflated. Thanks to Popovich, we've entered an era where teams are focused on resting for the playoffs.

The Warriors are still the best team in the NBA, but their playoff record might end up not being as good as the 96 Bulls. And if the opposing teams start to put pressure on the refs to start calling illegal screens, we could even see the Spurs eliminating them.

[fourkicks44]

They are still the best team in the NBA, and one of the greatest of all time. But their wins might be inflated. Thanks to Popovich, we've entered an era where teams are focused on resting for the playoffs.

The Warriors are still the best team in the NBA, but their playoff record might end up not being as good as the 96 Bulls. And if the opposing teams start to put pressure on the refs to start calling illegal screens, we could even see the Spurs eliminating them.

It even takes the shine off the season wins record if the Warriors break it. Pop will most likely rest players when they play at Oracle. Wins do not really mean as much if teams are not doing their best to win.

In 96 every team was going hard out to beat the Bulls. The teams that couldn't make the playoffs played against the Bulls like it was their Finals.

[Genaro]

Even if those teams played hard against the Warriors they wouldn't stand much of a chance. They lost only 8 games

[jstern]

It even takes the shine off the season wins record if the Warriors break it. Pop will most likely rest players when they play at Oracle. Wins do not really mean as much if teams are not doing their best to win.

In 96 every team was going hard out to beat the Bulls. The teams that couldn't make the playoffs played against the Bulls like it was their Finals.

Yes, that was a big thing back in the day, and even more recently. I remember Jordan and others talking about how difficult it was to repeat, because being the defending champions every single team would go out hard on you.

I also think perhaps with twitter, and social media, players are more distracted, and focus a lot on that selfies world, and living that NBA image, vs if those things didn't exist. There would be less distraction, and more hyper focus on Basketball.

Reminds me of that Celtics championship game, where the players and fans were getting into fights, and Larry Bird even pushed a fan out of the way who came to celebrate with him. This was before I was born, but it seemed like back then all you had were TVs, a few channels, and nothing in the world but these games matter for the fans. The competitive focused was so strong that Bird just threw that fan out of the way. Just a hyper focused competitive mode.

Even if those teams played hard against the Warriors they wouldn't stand much of a chance. They lost only 8 games

How could I explain this. Playing harder could mean a few maybe 4 or 5 points squeezing out a win. How can I explain this. Everything adds up. Do you ever watch baseball and see a player just beat out a throw? If a baseball player is 5% slower due to age. Perhaps not that noticeable to the naked eye, he's going to get thrown out at 1st base those times when before he would have been safe. That's one less out, one more chances to extend the inning, one more chance to score.

If a team plays harder. That could be two points here versus a turnover, 4 points difference. It could be the difference between two points over there, and a defensive stop. Completely changing the momentum of the game.

[Quickening]

yawn, people will say anything to prop up MJ and the bulls record

[Blue&Orange]

Lebron is taking this part of the regular season very seriously, he is statpadding like crazy against players not giving a crap.

[hold this L]

No amount of tears and whining are changing that this will be GOAT regular season, but keep on trying

[Frenetic]

tbh if the warriors don't do better than 15-2 in the playoffs its all for nothing.

[sd3035]

96 Bulls would be lucky to win 60 in today's league

[miggyme1]

They are still the best team in the NBA, and one of the greatest of all time. But their wins might be inflated. Thanks to Popovich, we've entered an era where teams are focused on resting for the playoffs.

The Warriors are still the best team in the NBA, but their playoff record might end up not being as good as the 96 Bulls. And if the opposing teams start to put pressure on the refs to start calling illegal screens, we could even see the Spurs eliminating them.

thanks to pop??? you do know he has one the oldest teams in the nba if not the oldest. What you want him to do?? run his guys in the mud during the regular season and get bounced in the first round?????


Nba isn't a sprint its a marathon. Every season we see a team or teams start off hot....then they cool the hell off and end up barely making the playoffs or don't make it at all

[PP34Deuce]

Popavich is playing mind games with kerr. He beat them last time and wants to leave that doubt in their minds so he will probably pull all starters.

I see Minnesota having a slight chance. they have young players that could score 25 plus points.

[kurple]

This Nuggets team would never win over the 96 bulls. And force them to OT in another game


Just saying

[Akrazotile]

Damn, OP with that ether

[Da_Realist]

This Nuggets team would never win over the 96 bulls. And force them to OT in another game


Just saying

This year's Nuggets couldn't beat the 96 Nuggets

[Gileraracer]

96 Bulls would be lucky to win 60 in today's league