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Morey and his argument of "Need 3 elite players to win a title"

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by OlajuwonFan81, Jul 15, 2014.

  1. OlajuwonFan81

    OlajuwonFan81 Member

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    Morey has always been adamant that you must have 3 elite players. Lets take a look and examine NBA championship teams of the past 20 years to see if this is indeed true. If you look at the list below there are plenty of examples where teams which only had 2 elite players won championships. If you add to the fact that many did not consider Rodman an elite player but an elite rebounder that makes the argument even less compelling. Personaly I'd still consider him elite because he was arguably the best defensive pf in the league at the time.

    I think if Morey had a player like Durant or Lebron he'd concede that 3 elite players isn't necessary but much of this has to do with not having that bona fide superstar as in Lebron, Durant, and Chris Paul. These 3 players are head and shoulders above the rest of the league. If you do not have one of those players then the 3 elite players argument makes some sense. In the years that a team won with less than 3 elite players, they did have a bona fide superstar. Whether it was Houston, Dallas, or the Lakers.

    Anyways just thought I'd throw this out there for folks to look at analyze and discuss. I suppose Morey is correct with his assessment of the Rockets. We do not have that bona fide superstar so adding a piece to Harden and Howard is a must. (I understand many consider Howard and Harden superstars but in this particular case my use of bona fide superstar is to indicate top 2 or 3 player in the league)

    Discuss.


    1994 Houston Rockets -- 1 elite player
    1995 Houston Rockets -- 2 elite players
    1996 Chicago Bulls -- 3 elite players
    1997 Chicago Bulls -- 3 elite players
    1998 Chicago Bulls -- 3 elite players
    1999 San Antonio Spurs -- 2 elite players
    2000 Los Angeles Lakers -- 2 elite players
    2001 Los Angeles Lakers -- 2 elite players
    2002 Los Angeles Lakers -- 2 elite players
    2003 San Antonio Spurs -- 3 elite players
    2004 Detroit Pistons -- Depends on definition of elite
    2005 San Antonio Spurs -- 3 elite players
    2006 Miami Heat -- 2 elite players
    2007 San Antonio Spurs -- 3 elite players
    2008 Boston Celtics -- 3 elite players
    2009 Los Angeles Lakers -- 2 elite players
    2010 Los Angeles Lakers -- 2 elite players
    2011 Dallas Mavericks -- 1 elite player
    2012 Miami Heat -- 3 elite players
    2013 Miami Heat --3 elite players
    2014 San Antonio Spurs -- 3 elite players
     
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  2. MaxRider

    MaxRider Member

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    2006 Miami Heat -- 4 elite players

    wade + 3 referees
     
  3. 11Rox4Life3

    11Rox4Life3 Member

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    lol 03 spurs had 3 elite players?
     
  4. htwnbandit

    htwnbandit Member

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    That 2011 Mavericks team was still stacked with former all stars. Jason Kidd and Marion were still playing great.

    But I agree though, if we get the PROPER surrounding pieces around the two best players in their position Howard and Harden the sky is the limit, but Jeff Adrien and Joey Dorsey? Might as well bring back Casspi and Greg Smith
     
  5. vator

    vator Contributing Member

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    That may or may not be true, but I would argue that every championship team in NBA history had a 3rd best player better than Chandler Parsons.
     
  6. RedRedemption

    RedRedemption Contributing Member

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    You either need a big three or a team full of super roleplayers.
    We have neither. :(
     
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  7. -Rockets

    -Rockets Member

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    You can argue Bynum was playing at an elite level in 09 and 2010
     
  8. OlajuwonFan81

    OlajuwonFan81 Member

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    Valid point.
     
  9. Remii

    Remii Member

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    The teams that have CP3 and KD have no rings...

    Miami actually had a Big 2 with a sidekick.

    San Antonio doesn't have a big 3 anymore, they have a TEAM with Pop.

    And Dennis Rodman was an elite rebounder but not necessarily an elite player.

    But a team doesn't have to have 3 elite players to win a ring but I guess that's what Les and Morey wants.
     
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  10. AirBud#10

    AirBud#10 Member

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    So basically unless you have one of the 20 best players in NBA history you need at least 3 great players.
     
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  11. justtxyank

    justtxyank Contributing Member

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  12. Slam Dunk

    Slam Dunk Contributing Member

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    This.
     
  13. conquistador#11

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    all those teams also had game plans and strategy. the 2000 lakers had a massive amount of talent before phil got there, but they never put it together. lakers even had a 60 win team in one of the seasons prior to phil.
     
  14. -Rockets

    -Rockets Member

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    One trend that I see is that teams that do win the chip don't really have an "elite" type of pg running the team with the exemption of Tony Parker and Billups. You can argue for Kidd, but he was past his prime or Rondo, who had yet to emerge to the player he is today during the Celtics run.
     
  15. WinkFan

    WinkFan Contributing Member

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    Dennis Rodman is in the Hall of Fame.
     
  16. do work son

    do work son Member

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    3 elite players, or 2 elite and EXTREMELY good role players playing amazing basketball.
     
  17. anchel

    anchel Member

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    ??

    Wouldn't consider Leonard an elite player. Not even Duncan nowadays.

    '09 & '10 Lakers had a big 3 with Kobe-Pau-Bynum.
     
  18. anchel

    anchel Member

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    An elite coach should count as an elite player. I wonder if Morey considers that.
     
  19. justtxyank

    justtxyank Contributing Member

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    When you look at advanced metrics, Duncan, Ginobli and Leonard were all in the top 6 or 7 of their position last year.
     
  20. DaDakota

    DaDakota If you want to know, just ask!

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    Good thread - it is more about the team than the number of elite players.

    DD
     

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