Is there any NBA championship that isn't "tainted"?

[GOATcards]

Seems that whenever a team wins a title it's because they:

a) unfairly built a superteam, or otherwise over-stacked with talent
b) their opponents weren't a superteam/not talent-stacked enough
c) the referees screwed up
d) the opponents had key injuries
e) the competition levels were inferior to that of some other era
f) they just got lucky / statistical noise
g) something else?

[hermanotarjeta]

I think that term can only be used when referencing a Lebron-involved team in the finals, regardless the outcome.

All other championships have been legit.

[hauntedcomputer]

The only legit ones are the ones of which I have rookie card investments.

[Asian62150]

So, you mean were there any NBA Championships that didn't involve humans? Haha

[Randallk34]

Maybe the 1st one with peach baskets

[sebreg]

Originally Posted by hauntedcomputer

The only legit ones are the ones of which I have rookie card investments.

Correct.

[TheFrenzy]

Originally Posted by GOATcards

Seems that whenever a team wins a title it's because they:

a) unfairly built a superteam, or otherwise over-stacked with talent
b) their opponents weren't a superteam/not talent-stacked enough
c) the referees screwed up
d) the opponents had key injuries
e) the competition levels were inferior to that of some other era
f) they just got lucky / statistical noise
g) something else?

The 2011 Dallas Mavericks...

a) ...had Dirk but no other superstar
b) ...the Heat were absolutely a "superteam"
c) ...avenged the crooked officiating of 2006
d) ...actually had their star player get sick during the Finals
e) ...played in the modern era against great competition
f) ...aside from maybe Jason Terry's playoff 3-pt percentage they simply played better basketball than everyone else
g) ...produced probably the purest "underdog" title in NBA history

[auctionjmm]

Originally Posted by TheFrenzy

The 2011 Dallas Mavericks...

a) ...had Dirk but no other superstar
b) ...the Heat were absolutely a "superteam"
c) ...avenged the crooked officiating of 2006
d) ...actually had their star player get sick during the Finals
e) ...played in the modern era against great competition
f) ...aside from maybe Jason Terry's playoff 3-pt percentage they simply played better basketball than everyone else
g) ...produced probably the purest "underdog" title in NBA history

That was my 2nd favorite NBA Finals. I was stuck in a hospital bed with nothing but cable TV and a Dilaudid pump. Got sky high watching Lebron lose in his first year with the Heat. Though I was equally thrilled when he came back to Cleveland and won one for us.

[pingbling23]

Originally Posted by auctionjmm

That was my 2nd favorite NBA Finals. I was stuck in a hospital bed with nothing but cable TV and a Dilaudid pump. Got sky high watching Lebron lose in his first year with the Heat. Though I was equally thrilled when he came back to Cleveland and won one for us.

Lebron doesn’t lose that one he may not go on to win 4 fmvp/titles. Defining moment. It’s amazing how much he has grown from that loss.

[Nomad]

Arguably this NBA Finals is the only one in living memory that isn't tainted. In that neither the Suns or Bucks "unfairly built a superteam." Injury took out some of their competition. Sure, but leaders Giannis and Chris Paul have been taken out at significant junctures in their respective teams' playoff quests, by injury or COVID protocol. Referees have screwed up a lot less in this Finals, as they didn't constantly need to keep players from scratching out each other's eyes. If the latter exemplifies the earlier era some pine about, not sure we need to go there. I don't think anyone has attributed luck to either team...

May the most hard working and locked-in team prevail.

[yiguiri2002]

Originally Posted by GOATcards

Seems that whenever a team wins a title it's because they:

a) unfairly built a superteam, or otherwise over-stacked with talent
b) their opponents weren't a superteam/not talent-stacked enough
c) the referees screwed up
d) the opponents had key injuries
e) the competition levels were inferior to that of some other era
f) they just got lucky / statistical noise
g) something else?

I feel like I've never heard anyone rationally using any of those but D and maybe C.

[oplum29]

the 2011 Mavs is a good pic, but i'll stick with the 2014 Spurs ending the Miami Heat super team.

[jrnelson]

Mavs 2011 and Detroit 2004

[6celtics33]

This finals with everyone being relatively healthy at this point and it tied 2-2 with players on each side really wanting this ring and needing it down to best 2/3 is wonderful. We should enjoy competition for once.

[armyml]

I'm curious as to why you think some of the Bulls chips would fall into this category.

1st title: Bulls weren't overly stacked and were playing against Magic Johnson
3rd Title: Barkley MVP and still not an overly stacked Bulls roster.

the last 3 can be debated since they got Rodman, but they still faced the Sonics who had the best record in the league at that time, and the Jazz who had Stockton and Malone so the talent was definitely there.

[bjho852]

Originally Posted by armyml

I'm curious as to why you think some of the Bulls chips would fall into this category.

1st title: Bulls weren't overly stacked and were playing against Magic Johnson
3rd Title: Barkley MVP and still not an overly stacked Bulls roster.

the last 3 can be debated since they got Rodman, but they still faced the Sonics who had the best record in Western Conference at that time, and the Jazz who had Stockton and Malone so the talent was definitely there.

Fixed the bold part for you.

[MavsRChamps]

No Finals champion is "tainted" in my eyes but of course each champion has certain advantages/disadvantages tied to uncontrollable factors like injuries or perhaps referring. In terms of the team with the least "advantages" in terms of injuries and quality of teams faced, the 2011 Mavs (my team) stand alone in the past 15 years in my eyes. They were actually the team with the injuries having their 2nd leading scorer (Butler) miss the entire playoffs, even Dirk played most of the Finals with a torn tendon in his finger & had the flu one game. No stars on their opposing team missed any games, though B Roy was hobbled a bit but he was hobbled going into the playoffs a bit & Portland still came into the Playoffs red hot after the Gerald Wallace mid-season trade.

[GOATcards]

Originally Posted by armyml

3rd Title: Barkley MVP and still not an overly stacked Bulls roster.

Ceballos was injured.

[carl2001]

2003-04 pistons vs super team lakers

[armyml]

Originally Posted by GOATcards

Ceballos was injured.

ahhh forgot about that one good call. What about the 1st championship after finally overcoming the Bad boy Pistons and taking down the Lakers?

Edit: Pippen came to the Bulls in 87 so it wasn't like a superteam. They had to play with each other for years, and going through the hardships with the Pistons really shaped the character of that first 3-peat Bulls team. Even though Jordan is Jordan and Magic was older, I still see it as a great championship with no "taint" attached.

[6celtics33]

Originally Posted by armyml

ahhh forgot about that one good call. What about the 1st championship after finally overcoming the Bad boy Pistons and taking down the Lakers?

Edit: Pippen came to the Bulls in 87 so it wasn't like a superteam. They had to play with each other for years, and going through the hardships with the Pistons really shaped the character of that first 3-peat Bulls team. Even though Jordan is Jordan and Magic was older, I still see it as a great championship with no "taint" attached.

Magic was older than he was the year before true. But he finished 2nd in the mvp voting after winning it the previous two years. So 1-1-2 in 89-90-91 isn’t exactly over the hill.

The Suns had 5 all star level players on their team snd the league mvp on their team. Barkley, Chambers, KJ, Ainge, and Majerle. Dumas was also playing well that year even though he was a one hit wonder.