I don't see them losing to the Thunder. Of course things can change with the series shifting to Oklahoma, but they are running into teams they match up so well against. If they would have drawn Memphis instead of LAC in the 2nd round they would have been in a tough 6 or 7 game series. Same thing with the Thunder. If the Lakers had advanced they would have matched up better then the Thunder do because like Memphis they have size down low. Lakers/Spurs would have been a 6 or 7 game series in my mind as well. With the Finals, I feel as though Boston would have been the tougher matchup for the Spurs. While not as strong down low like LAL and Memphis, Garnett on Duncan would have been a war and they match up well on the perimeter against the Spurs guys. The Heat even with Bosh won't match up down low well against the Spurs and I'm sure they would take a page out of the Mavs book and zone the Heat to death. Also like the Mavs, the Spurs will execute on offense, limiting the Heat's fast break chances and forcing them to work out of the halfcourt where they struggle to score. It is easy for me to say the SPurs will sweep the Thunder because there halfway there. But I am also confident, that if they draw the Heat in the Finals, they would sweep them as well.
After watching them play two games against the Thunder, I am frankly awe struck. My word, they look better than the did when they won the championships. Parker is running around people like he is 18! I thought Westbrook was one of the fastest players in the league. Parker is running circles around him. Duncan looks like he is in his prime. I wonder if they are "juiced." Right now, they are just ridiculous. If they keep playing like they are now; they may run the table. Smoking!
Pretty damn close to the top, right where they would belong. That would be FAR more epic than any streak we've seen in the modern era. Only the Showtime Lakers, the 72-10 Bulls, and the Red Auerbach Celtics would have an argument.
Cant they just succumb to old age and become irrelevant? The only way I see the rockets becoming relevant in their division is if the other 2 texas teams become irrelevant. 15 years straight of being in their shadows. Oh and to answer your question they should lose one of the next two. The law of averages don't fail. Unless the thunder are letting the streak phase them. They are a young team so I would not put it below them.
I think the Shaq and Kobe Lakers were more dominant than Showtime, also have the playoff record of 15-1. the 1 loss came in the finals in overtime.
I would say maybe with on the surface, but take a look who those Showtime teams beat in the Finals (or played against). The Lakers never really played any team, like the 80-83 76ers, 81-87 Celtics, 87-90 Pistons, or 86 Rockets. The same thing with San Antonio. Another thing with the Lakers, their rosters were always stacked. The thing with Shaq and Kobe, they had enough overwhelming talent to beat most teams in the modern NBA. Just take at team like the 03-04 Pistons and look how effective they were against the Lakers. Even though people questioned the Lakers effort and heart in that series, the Pistons still did everything right to slow the Lakers down. That Detroit squad was built, like an 80s team with slightly less stars on. Other teams that gave the Lakers trouble - the Kings, the Trailblazers, and Spurs, all in odd years. All those teams had good depth. Now, you take a team with good depth and put some of the best players in history on their team.
Well. Goodbye to the Rockets 22-game win streak. We are no longer even remotely relevant in this era.
Some stats during this 20 game win streak: average margin of victory: 14.9 75 percent of teams over .500
Lol at this thread after the Spurs sweep Clips and Jazz. All of a sudden people think OKC and Heat are just gonna bend over as this old crappy team becomes the greatest of champions! Strike shortened season and two garbage playoff teams covered up the Spurs greatest weakness.
