Like the title of the thread suggests, I'm wondering what teams you all think are the most talented teams that didn't win a title, and the least talented teams that did. I'm a fairly young man, so my NBA knowledge doesn't really extend too far back.
If we're talking about the modern era, the most talented to lose is probably the 04 Lakers, and the least talented to win is either the 03 Spurs or the 94 Rockets.
most talented to lose 68-69 lakers elgin baylor Jerry west Wilt Chamberlain three hall of famers, two in their primes, lost to celtics in finals
2004 is a good example in the modern era. The Lakers were much more talented than the Pistons. Detroit kicked their asses too. They didn't have a super-duper-star, the only All Star they had was Ben Wallace, but they put it together when they had to. I wouldn't put the "least talented" label on that Detroit team, because they were stacked with quality players, but when you reflect on it, they weren't one of the more talented *collection of players* to win in the past decade.
as usual with these type of squads, they won with defense, they were ranked 14th out of 22 in offense. So bottom third of the league on offense, but ranked 1st in defense.
I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned the 2002 Sacramento Kings yet as one of the most talented teams not to win a championship. As I think everyone recalls, they were robbed.
They had a deep team, but they have no one who will get in the hall of fame. So can't really call them a talented team.
Just in recent memory A few of those Kings teams 2004 Lakers -Kobe, Shaq, Malone, Payon 1997 Houston Rockets -Hakeem, Clyde, Charles Chri Webber was among the most dominant players in basketball at the time
I'm not gonna climb into particular years....but Pheonix had some talented squads.... Barkley, KJ, Marhjle (or however its spelled), Ainge..... and Malone/Stockton Jazz teams shoulda been good for at least one title... Least talented to win....thinkin Pistons...
The misconception of the supposed lack of talent on the 94 Rockets team really comes from the media more than anything else. That team ran off with a 15-0 record. They won 58 games, was the #2 seed, and more than the Lakers last season. They were on par in terms of talent with the Jazz, Knicks, and the Suns. They might not have the sexiness in terms of name recognition with other winners, but they ranked comparably with every other team that year(minus the Sonics since like any good Rockets fan, I blame our lack of success against them to illegal defense and not talent. ). Personally, I'd go with the Lakers and the Pistons... from that same year. People forget that the Pistons had a very tough time getting to the finals, which meant that while they stacked up very well vs the Lakers, they weren't particularly dominating the rest of the league. The Lakers, OTOH, just disgusting.
idk.... i can kinda see it... Outside of Hakeem, you had a couple rookies that developed into really good players.... but otherwise, it was pretty much rank n file role players. They just played their roles to perfection!
I think we overate that team, in hindsight, webber was really the only legit player on that team. Peja, Vlade and bibby will never be remembered as anything more than solid players.
Actually the NBA has had teams with just one superstar and role players that won before. I'd say each of these teams are just as "untalented" as the rockets. blazers with walton warriors with barry bucks with Kareem
