Which NBA Playoffs journeys were won strictly beating FULLY healthy teams?

[hiphopanonymous]

Seeing a lot of people suggest that the Bucks this year doesn't count because along their way to the top they faced some teams that had injuries.

So ok let's continue that logic. How many NBA teams that DID advance on to an NBA Finals did so where none of their Playoff opposition at any point had any injuries on the roster? Thumb jammed on an opposing guards finger? Strike it from the record because you never know what would have happened if they were healthy. Hamstring cramps up from one of them during a game? Doesn't count because if that guy had full mobility things might have been different. Etc. Let's see which NBA rings actually count with no traces of oppositional injury along the way.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

You're spot on.

Saw a video recently where some guy went through every NBA title since 1960. Literally. And in every one of them, some significant injury happened to aid their path.

Injuries are simply part of the game. You go into the year knowing that full and well.

[SouBeachTalents]

Equating your examples in the OP with what happened in the playoffs, a literally unprecedented amount of injuries to star players and championship contenders, is laughably disingenuous. I don't support asterisking titles, but it's a 100% fact the rash of injuries significantly affected the Bucks winning the championship, a championship most people don't believe they would have won otherwise. I don't see the problem with bringing that up, to ignore it and pretend it didn't happen is a lot worse

[tontoz]

Equating your examples in the OP with what happened in the playoffs, a literally unprecedented amount of injuries to star players and championship contenders, is laughably disingenuous. I don't support asterisking titles, but it's a 100% fact the rash of injuries significantly affected the Bucks winning the championship, a championship most people don't believe they would have won otherwise. I don't see the problem with bringing that up, to ignore it and pretend it didn't happen is a lot worse


Several of the "unprecedented" number of injuries were in the other conference so the Bucks didn't have to play them. The Suns had the 2nd seed so they outplayed those teams during the season.

In fact the Bucks were at a health disadvantage in the Finals. They already lost a starter in round 1. Giannis was questionable for Game 1 of the Finals after missing 2 games in the ECF. Even though he played he clearly wasn't 100% until later in the series.

[tpols]

Its about the amount of injuries. Every year has injuries... its about the amount of stars missing from the playoffs.

Kawhi, Harden, AD, Kyrie, Trae, Murray, Curry, Klay etc. all missing from the playoffs. Baby Trae hawks and Booker suns in the Finals...

And the Bucks won the ECFs without Giannis. That proves its a joke run.

[SouBeachTalents]

Several of the "unprecedented" number of injuries were in the other conference so the Bucks didn't have to play them. The Suns had the 2nd seed so they outplayed those teams during the season.

In fact the Bucks were at a health disadvantage in the Finals. They already lost a starter in round 1. Giannis was questionable for Game 1 of the Finals after missing 2 games in the ECF. Even though he played he clearly wasn't 100% until later in the series.
Kyrie, Harden & Trae were on teams the Bucks didn't have to play? Ok :lol

[hiphopanonymous]

Its about the amount of injuries. Every year has injuries... its about the amount of stars missing from the playoffs.

Kawhi, Harden, AD, Kyrie, Trae, Murray, Curry, Klay etc. all missing from the playoffs. Baby Trae hawks and Booker suns in the Finals...

And the Bucks won the ECFs without Giannis. That proves its a joke run.
The Bucks in ‘71 faced a Westless Baylorless Lakers. This shit is nothing new or unprecedented. Titles count and injuries have always been and will always be a part of the game even to the stars. No NBA journey has ever been completed without facing an opponent with a roster that wasn’t fully healthy.

[tpols]

Kyrie, Harden & Trae were on teams the Bucks didn't have to play? Ok :lol

Not only that, but Kawhi and AD going out let the weak ass suns make the Finals. Lakers were like -290 massive favorites over the suns in the game before Davis got hurt.

There's never been a year where top 3 contenders by vegas odds (and general consensus) ~ Nets, Clippers, and Lakers all lost superstar players.

[8Ball]

2012, 2013, 2016

[tontoz]

Kyrie, Harden & Trae were on teams the Bucks didn't have to play? Ok :lol

Harden missed the 2nd half of the season. Kyrie has been an injury prone flake his whole career. How much did their big 3 play all season? If anything it would have been lucky of they had been healthy.

Trae played the same number of games as Giannis in the ECF.

Meanwhile Lebron/AD/Kawhi/Conley/Murray/Klay were in the other conference so the only way the Bucks would have played them was if they made the Finals.

[tontoz]

Not only that, but Kawhi and AD going out let the weak ass suns make the Finals. Lakers were like -290 massive favorites over the suns in the game before Davis got hurt.

There's never been a year where top 3 contenders by vegas odds (and general consensus) ~ Nets, Clippers, and Lakers all lost superstar players.


Davis was already hurt and was questionable for Game 4 before pulling his groin. Lebron was already hurt before the series started with that high ankle sprain which hadn't healed.

Besides the Bucks could only face one of the West teams anyway so saying all the injuries in the West benefited the Bucks is pretty ridiculous, especially since they faced a healthy 2 seed in the Finals.

[tpols]

The Bucks in ‘71 faced a Westless Baylorless Lakers. This shit is nothing new or unprecedented. Titles count and injuries have always been and will always be a part of the game even to the stars. No NBA journey has ever been completed without facing an opponent with a roster that wasn’t fully healthy.

Ok you named two players. We could name triple for this run. Again its about the amount of injury and lack of competition as a result. Yes you can cherrypick years and find a bunch with 1-2 stars missing the playoffs but those are outliers. This is a soft ass era where guys sit out to not miss out on 200 million dollar contracts but if we go back to like 1980-2005 stars rarely got hurt like today and if they did they toughed it out.

They don't tough it out today because of the money. Guys like Kawhi could have played but he's in a contract year. Can't risk the money if he blows his knee out. Kyrie and Harden could have played too but sat. Isiaih Thomas played on a worse ankle than Kyries and scored 20+ in a single quarter onone leg. Today a guy would never do that because of the money.

You can't really name a weaker lineup than baby Trae (who was hurt and missed game) hawks and Booker suns.

Its the worst finalist competition of all time.

[ScottieQuitting]

You're spot on.

Saw a video recently where some guy went through every NBA title since 1960. Literally. And in every one of them, some significant injury happened to aid their path.

Injuries are simply part of the game. You go into the year knowing that full and well.
While this is true. This post season was exceptional in terms of massive franchise player injuries totally altering the trajectory of the season. Nets were going to easily beat the Bucks before Harden AND Kyrie went down. And still almost did if it wasn’t for KD’s long ass foot being on the line. Injuries and durability is an essential part of sports. But this season had massive significant post season injuries:

Superstars:
Kawhi
AD
Trae Young
Harden
Kyrie
CP3 (periodically)
Giannis (periodically)

Stars:
Jamal Murray

Good Role Players:
Jaylen Brown
Mike Conley

[SouBeachTalents]

Not only that, but Kawhi and AD going out let the weak ass suns make the Finals.

There's never been a year where top 3 contenders by vegas odds (and general consensus) ~ Nets, Clippers, and Lakers all lost superstar players.
The most damning thing to me, on top of all the injuries, is that virtually nobody picked the Bucks to win the championship before the playoffs started. If even 5% of playoff predictions had the Bucks winning the title I'd be extremely surprised. I'd be more lenient to hold off on the injury talking point if someone like the Nets or Clippers had won, but when the at best 5th-6th betting favorite wins when virtually nobody predicted them to, it seems legitimately dishonest to me to not bring up all the injuries and pretend they didn't play a significant role in the outcome of the playoffs

[tontoz]

The most damning thing, on top of all the injuries, is that virtually nobody picked the Bucks to win the championship before the playoffs started. If even 5% of playoff predictions had the Bucks winning the title I'd be extremely surprised. I'd be more lenient to hold off on the injury talking point if someone like the Nets or Clippers had won, but when the at best 5th-6th betting favorite wins when virtually nobody predicted them to, it seems legitimately dishonest to me to not bring up all the injuries and pretend they didn't play a significant role in the outcome of the playoffs

There were people on here that predicted them to make the Finals. In fact i predicted them to make a deep run but didnt specifically say finals.

Colin Cowherd actually predicted them to win the title before the playoffs started in part because their players have a history of durability.

[tontoz]

Also the Bucks have won more games over the last 3 years than any team in the league, by a wide margin.

[tpols]

The most damning thing to me, on top of all the injuries, is that virtually nobody picked the Bucks to win the championship before the playoffs started. If even 5% of playoff predictions had the Bucks winning the title I'd be extremely surprised. I'd be more lenient to hold off on the injury talking point if someone like the Nets or Clippers had won, but when the at best 5th-6th betting favorite wins when virtually nobody predicted them to, it seems legitimately dishonest to me to not bring up all the injuries and pretend they didn't play a significant role in the outcome of the playoffs

Bucks had +900 odds. Nets were -200. I posted a thread about how bucks were the best value pick. If you bet 100 dollars on the Nets you'd make like 44 back. If you placed it on the Bucks you'd make almost 1000 dollars. That's the massive disparity that existed between the teams without injury. And like you said even with injury they were a half inch from walk off elimination.

Its just a joke argument to act like because there's a few injuries in most recent years that its equivalent to a tidal wave this year. People apparently can't count.

I even had to defend Lebron. If in 2010 Kobe, Garnett, Rondo, Pierce, and Amare were all hurt Cavs would romp to a title. People don't want to accept context though.

[tontoz]

Bucks had +900 odds. Nets were -200. I posted a thread about how bucks were the best value pick. If you bet 100 dollars on the Nets you'd make like 44 back. If you placed it on the Bucks you'd make almost 1000 dollars. That's the massive disparity that existed between the teams without injury.

From that thread you created:


I agree. I have the Bucks making the finals actually. That's a good bet to make.


They should be the favorites.

They are stacked AF.

Giannis is DPOY and two time MVP

The have been the best team for years.

There are no more excuses and tbh there were none last year either.

This shouldn't be some hot take.


I agree with OP. The first reply shows why the odds are so good. Casuals can't see what is really going on with the Bucks.


I actually bookmarked it and bumped it.

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?492898-The-Bucks-are-the-best-value-pick-for-NBA-Champion/page2

[kawhileonard2]

2012, 2013, 2016

Not even close. 2012 they didn't even get to play the #1 seed who had the reigning MVP who tore his ACL. In 2013 against the Bulls they lost game 1 and this with the Bulls missing 3 starters. 2016 Bogut, Iggy get hurt in game 5 and Draymond gets suspended.