Raven: but homers are biased, especially toward their team's rivals. The main two groups of fans that I've seen call the Spurs championship asterisked are the Rockets and Lakers, who both likely have the Spurs as a top rival. All I'm trying to prove is that those in this thread calling it an * championship probably aren't looking at it objectively. verse: Not exactly the most realistic comparison. The parallel of a drunk in the NBA, imo, would be someone lacking the mental or physical capacity to play at their best on a given night. If an NBA player (who's payed millions and millions of dollars) can't be in peak physical and mental shape after 50 games, they shouldn't be in the NBA. The playoffs were the same format as they were any other year, and everyone knew when they had to be prepared. If these players seriously can't be at their peak in terms of mental and physical performance after 50 games, then we're watching an extremely pathetic and sad league.
Several factors: -- Ticket sales -- Playoff seedings (is a season shorter than 82 games enough to offset injuries and other factors that could hurt a team's playoff chances?) -- Extending the season (the offseason is long enough as it is, and having four days off between games isn't realistic) I don't think you can find one player or coach in the league who says they can't be in peak physical/mental condition after 50 games if they had to. The circumstances surrounding the lockout were unfortunate, but the wor'd's premier athletes making millions of dollars per season certainly have the physical ability to be in peak shape after 50 games. It's not like it was any surprise thrown at them at the last minute.
I'd love for Francis and Mobley to lead us to an asterick championship! Maybe Pippen could tape an icebag to his head and bow out because of a migraine headache, or trip over his own foot, knock himself unconscious, and blame it on Charles Barkley. There's always the chance that Pippen could be losing the fight, throw a tantrum and sit down and refuse to get back up and fight. We know he's REALLY good at that!
The Cat, you're missing the point. the standard, irregardless (i know, it's not a word, but i felt like saying it) of the number of factors you list, is 82 games. that is the standard nba season. you know what? i'll put it to you this way. if for some reason that regular season would have had to be 114 games, i would tell you that the spurs championship was probably the toughest of all time. but it wasn't. it was 32 games shorter, not 32 games longer.
Fine, but I think you're drawing way too much of a link between the regular season and the playoffs. The great players and teams always talk about how different the playoffs are, in terms of intensity and focus. In fact, the main argument from most of the Laker supporters is that they are just "coasting" during the regular season, and will elevate their game to another level come playoff time. With those conditions, I wouldn't judge a 114 regular season game championship as any different than a 50 regular season game championship. There comes a point, and 50 games is plenty of time, where the athletes can reach peak condition, and it's just a matter of incentive. Since the playoffs were normal, I don't see the season as any different. I don't think we'll ever agree on this topic, but after the Spurs win this year I hope you don't try and call that one asterisked too.
oh no. if they get past the first round this year, or actually win a game against la this year, it will be legitimate. * spurs
nope. that was Mo Diggity Dawg, i believe. but, the way they were playing, i wouldn't have been surprised.
