"Sometimes the best team doesn't win"

[wiley]

In basketball, the best team seldom loses.  Unlike baseball, where the best teams only win about 60% of their games, in basketball it isn't uncommon to see the best teams win 75-80%.  I mean the C's had a subpar year and won 50 games.  Double that over an 162 game baseball season, and you have 100 wins, something the Sox have yet to do with this current team.  

In football, teams can do that, but it's a 1 game playoff, meaning anyone can win.  The Patriots certainly weren't the better team in '02 and the Giants weren't the better team in '08.  The only time I can think of in the past 30 years where the vastly better team didn't win was in '04 when the Pistons beat the Lakers.  Other than that, the best team (or darn close to the best team) has won every year in my opinion.  

You said that once before about that Pistons team not being as good as that Laker team.....I wonder what makes you feel that way....

Sheed and Ben Wallace in their prime.  Billups in his prime.  And Prince and Hamilton.  A team that won a ton of games year after year.....(their cockiness caused them not to repeat imo, not their skill level).  Rarely have I seen a team move the ball and play 100 percent team ball as that Piston's team, which is backed up by them having no (1?) all starts when they won it....To meet it seems like you're looking at their rosters on paper and deciding who was better, rather than letting the evidence speak for itself.....

Sorry if you've aready explained it before but just wondering if you could clarify....

Don't get me wrong, I loved that team and cheered heartily for them to win.  However, I don't think they have the star power to stack up with the other great teams of the past 30 years.  Yes, this year is proving that you don't have to have the best team to win the NBA title; however, let's not overlook that the C's have three first ballot Hall of Famers plus Rondo.  Is there even anyone on that Piston's team that belongs in the Hall of Fame?  I think there's a definite argument for Billups and Wallace, but I'd hardly say it's a done deal (Wallace had a heck of a run for a few years, but he was a late bloomer and dropped off quickly...only 4 All Star teams).  

I also think they took advantage of a very, very weak Eastern Conference, and even then they only made it out twice, losing to good, but not great NJ team in '03, a much weaker Cleveland team than we saw in '08 or '10 in '06, Miami in '07 and to us in '08.  Once the East started getting elite teams, it became clear they couldn't really keep up.  

Also, let's not forget that that LA team had Shaq, Kobe, Karl Malone, and Gary Payton.  The problem was that the team never gelled.  However, I think it's safe to say that they're the stronger team.  

I liked that Detroit team, as I said above, they played in many ways like we play now. I think in many ways they were a less talented version of our team this year.  

However, I really feel had they been in the Western Conference, they would've had trouble making in out of the first or second round most years and likely never would've won a title.  

Hmmmm...Thanks for the reply I guess I disagree about that team...I think they didn't repeat due to boredom/overconfidence/fat and happiness way too soon, and in the end they'd just been together too long to keep it going....and I think the Celtics are clearly the best team in the league during these playoffs.  Cavs and Orlando in 6, and the games won by the Lakers represented a brand of basketball that is unwatchable...kind of aberration almost....

To clarify, I think this is a great Lakers team, one that also would have beaten Cleveland and Orlando, despite the whooping they took from Cleveland in the regular season....but the Celtics are better.  If the Lakers win the next 2 AND the games have actual flow to them, then I'll amend that....As it stands now I have no reason to believe the Lakers can survive in anything other than a crap-fest of whistles....

[Reyquila]

In the end, the best team always win, cause the team that finally wins gets itself in the position to win it all. Elementary, Dr. Watson

[cornbreadsmart]

If Bynum was a healthy player then L.A. would be the better team IF Kobe shared the ball like he should. That's two things that are not that have not been the case. Until then, I thinki the c's are better. I do think the Lakers need the refs without a good Bynum.But something tells me we are going to see a good Bynum tonight.