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Best Players from the Last 20 NBA Title Teams

281 sats \ 14 comments \ @Undisciplined 25 Mar Stacker_Sports

As we close in on the playoffs, especially with the mighty regular season Cavs stumbling a bit, I wanted to zoom out and get some historical perspective on what it takes to be an NBA champion.

Over the past 20 years, here's the complete list of the 10 guys who were the best player on a title team.

Lebron 4x
Steph 4x
Duncan 3x
Kobe 2x
Tatum
Jokic
Giannis
Kawhi
Dirk
Garnett

The worst players on that list are better than anyone on the Cavs, or several other playoff teams. Unless we're going to have an '04 Pistons anomaly, the only teams I see with players who might belong on that list are the following:

Celtics (Tatum's already there, after all)
OKC (SGA's having the best guard season since MJ)
Denver
Milwaukee
Lakers
Clippers (If Kawhi's still that guy)
Warriors
T-Wolves

Eight is actually a lot, but only two of these teams are playing like contenders.

What do you think? Can we rule out the teams that aren't on this list? Am I slandering someone by leaving them out? Or, is this just nonsense masquerading as analysis?

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311 sats \ 9 replies \ @grayruby 25 Mar

I think it’s fair that you need a superstar to win a title. I am not sure Mitchell counts as a superstar but the Cavs might have the best starting 5 in the NBA.

75 sats \ 6 replies \ @SimpleStacker 25 Mar

It's rare, but the 2004 Pistons come to mind as a team without any true superstars

edit: Oh, I realized you mentioned it in your OP, woops

70 sats \ 5 replies \ @Undisciplined OP 25 Mar

I'm not sure these Cavs do anything as excellently as those Pistons played defense.

71 sats \ 4 replies \ @grayruby 25 Mar

Cavs vs Celtics season series is ridiculously even. 2-2 and Cavs have a 1 point advantage on point differential. Playoffs are a different animal of course but that series might be closer than people think. If they can beat the Celtics they can win a title. I am still in the camp that Thunder should be the favourite for the title but I will also not be shocked if someone upsets them in the 2nd or 3rd round.

50 sats \ 3 replies \ @Undisciplined OP 25 Mar

I kind of expect the Thunder to just maul the Cavs. I'm not sure Garland and Mitchell can get much going against Dort and Caruso. On the other hand, SGA is going to absolutely cook either of the Cavs guards.

67 sats \ 2 replies \ @grayruby 25 Mar

I think they would beat the Cavs if they meet in the finals but I also think the Thunder might get upset before that. They still have something to prove in the playoffs. Hopefully they do.

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40 sats \ 1 reply \ @Undisciplined OP 25 Mar

Haha, accidental double tap.

I still like the healthy Celtics more, but the Cavs starting 5 might be a little better than OKC's.

I was also going to look at who the 5th best guy is on each title team, but I couldn't do that off the top of my head and was too lazy to do the research. Perhaps that will be part 2.

39 sats \ 0 replies \ @grayruby 25 Mar

I think Thunder are much deeper than Cavs and they have a superstar but Cavs starting five is probably better overall.