This is the worst team to ever make a Finals. [Archive] - Message Board Basketball Forum

Mask the Embiid

05-31-2025, 10:50 PM

Move over 99 Knicks and 07 Cavs.

This is basketball now. The 2013 grizzlies 2016 hawks 2016 raptors making the Finals. This is what happens when a LeBron is not in the league to stop them. Terrible teams like this actually make it to the Finals just to get slaughtered Nets vs Lakers (02) style

Meticode

05-31-2025, 10:53 PM

Move over 99 Knicks and 07 Cavs

Wrong like usual.

I expect the NBA to do anything possible to keep the pacers out of the NBA Finals for ratings. I have Knicks/Refs by Murder. Nothing will stop Silver from getting NYC in the Finals when they are this close......Nothing!

Poor Poor pistons and pacers smh

https://media.tenor.com/p3mTUOslgYwAAAAM/wrong-donald-trump.gif

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?521629-(3)-Knicks-vs-(4)-Pacers-Eastern-Conference-Finals-Thread&p=15005988&viewfull=1#post15005988

fourkicks44

05-31-2025, 10:53 PM

This team destroys the Heat team of 2 years ago.

highwhey

05-31-2025, 10:54 PM

this team would beat gianna in 21

Mask the Embiid

05-31-2025, 10:59 PM

Wrong like usual.

https://media.tenor.com/p3mTUOslgYwAAAAM/wrong-donald-trump.gif

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?521629-(3)-Knicks-vs-(4)-Pacers-Eastern-Conference-Finals-Thread&p=15005988&viewfull=1#post15005988

I got okc by human euthanasia. 4-0

Listen here. If the pacers win this series im leaving the site....thats it for me. i just flat out dont know shit about basketball. Barring injuries

There is no way this sorry ass team without an alpha....beats this juggernaunt OKC team. There is no ****ING WAY ON EARTH.

Patrick Chewing

05-31-2025, 11:16 PM

Is OP stupid or on drugs?

Full Court

05-31-2025, 11:24 PM

The 2020 Heat were by far the worst finals team in the modern era.

Akeem34TheDream

06-01-2025, 06:09 AM

Yeah both Heat teams as finalists were worse.

tpols

06-01-2025, 06:20 AM

Phoenix

06-01-2025, 06:33 AM

Is OP stupid or on drugs?

https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/sync/v2/D5627AQHmqmVoPb5iSw/articleshare-shrink_800/articleshare-shrink_800/0/1711121090671?e=2147483647&v=beta&t=LssQincfC6KgJ-0Xe5QRShFuSRK6adeuOZMmJ_7Fkbs

1987_Lakers

06-01-2025, 08:44 AM

coin24

06-01-2025, 08:54 AM

Those last 2 heat teams that made the finals were utter shit.. pacers are much better than that.

OP is a known dumb fu*k

Meticode

06-01-2025, 09:06 AM

Those last 2 heat teams that made the finals were utter shit.. pacers are much better than that.

OP is a known dumb fu*k

https://media.tenor.com/3y-U9C6i2OMAAAAM/yes-man-movies.gif

1987_Lakers

06-01-2025, 09:15 AM

Those last 2 heat teams that made the finals were utter shit.. pacers are much better than that.

OP is a known dumb fu*k

They are pretty much on the same level. The 2020 Heat actually had a higher SRS than the current Pacers.

tpols

06-01-2025, 10:19 AM

They are pretty much on the same level. The 2020 Heat actually had a higher SRS than the current Pacers.

Without Bam they were trash. The Heat were pitiful in both of their Finals appearances.

tontoz

06-01-2025, 10:25 AM

Funny how many of the all time weakest teams to make the finals have been in the east in recent years yet embiid can't even make the ECF.

:lol

Mask the Embiid

06-01-2025, 10:49 AM

Nobody counts the ****ing bubble....stop bringing up the 2020 heat...and im a lebron fan! nobody counts or takes anything about the bubble serious.

The 2023 heat would destroy this pacers team. cut it out

Funny how many of the all time weakest teams to make the finals have been in the east in recent years yet embiid can't even make the ECF.

:lol

You are a wizards fan...

tpols

06-01-2025, 10:52 AM

If the 2023 Heat were so good how did Jokic dispatch them so easily?

Mask the Embiid

06-01-2025, 10:55 AM

If the 2023 Heat were so good how did Jokic dispatch them so easily?

The lights were too bright for playoff jimmy. He wasn't the same player in the Finals or maybe he got hurt in the conference finals and played through it.

Either way he turned back into regular season jimmy.

SouBeachTalents

06-01-2025, 10:58 AM

If the 2023 Heat were so good how did Jokic dispatch them so easily?
That's a good question

Embiid vs the Heat: 20/10/2 on 53%TS

Jokic vs the Heat: 30/14/7 on 67%TS

pandiani17

06-01-2025, 12:22 PM

Idk about the worst, but they are in the convo.

We have had a lot of underwhelming teams make the Finals out of the East since about 1999.

Mid-late 70's saw a lot of bad teams make the Finals.

We probably won't see a team as bad as the '76 Suns in the Finals.

Were the '76 Suns that bad? I started following the league in 1999, and for me the worst team in the finals have been the Nets in 2002 and the Cavs in 2007. Teams that were swept and didn't have even the slightest of chances to win. Before that I don't know whether there have been worse teams or not. The 1981 Rockets, maybe?

Baller234

06-01-2025, 12:28 PM

This is the new NBA now. There's good and bad.

The good thing is that more teams and more markets have a shot to make the finals now and win a championship. All you need is depth, shooting and maybe one or two standout players. They don't even need to be all time great. It's really all about the coaching and the system now. The NBA has finally achieved "parity" after 45 years.

The bad thing is that you're not really sure if you're witnessing greatness anymore. The winning team used to be the team that executed the best. Sure executing still plays a factor, but now since almost every team has figured out how to get open 3's, it really just boils down to which team is shooting better.

GOBB

06-01-2025, 02:46 PM

76-77 Blazers easily the worst NBA finals team to win it all. 80 Rockets worst team ever to just reach the finals. I don’t know about the 50-60’s.

SouBeachTalents

06-01-2025, 02:51 PM

76-77 Blazers easily the worst NBA finals team to win it all. 80 Rockets worst team ever to just reach the finals. I don’t know about the 50-60’s.
They're in the lower tier for sure, but "easily" the worst Finals team ever, a squad with peak Bill Walton that swept Kareem's Lakers and beat Dr. J's Sixers? Absolutely ridiculous statement.

Explain how they're easily worse than the '99 Knicks, '02/'03 Nets, '07 Cavs, or even the Suns team that made the Finals the year before them.

GOBB

06-01-2025, 03:18 PM

They're in the lower tier for sure, but "easily" the worst Finals team ever, a squad with peak Bill Walton that swept Kareem's Lakers and beat Dr. J's Sixers? Absolutely ridiculous statement.

Explain how they're easily worse than the '99 Knicks, '02/'03 Nets, '07 Cavs, or even the Suns team that made the Finals the year before them.

You’re comparing apples to oranges.

I listed the worst team to ever win an NBA finals.
I listed the worst team to ever reach the finals

1987_Lakers

06-01-2025, 04:11 PM

76-77 Blazers easily the worst NBA finals team to win it all. 80 Rockets worst team ever to just reach the finals. I don’t know about the 50-60’s.

'77 Blazers were easily the best team to win a title from '74-'79. I don't know how you come to the conclusion that a team who had the #1 SRS in the league, a top 5 offense & defense, swept a peak Kareem, & beat a stacked Sixers team were the worst ever to win it all. Not to mention they started the season 50-10 the next season before Walton got hurt. They were on their way to repeat with ease before the Walton injury.

And the '80 Rockets didn't make the Finals. You are referring to '81.

In the modern era I always thought the '06 Heat team was pretty bad compared to other championship teams.

Then you have teams like the '75 Warriors, '78 Bullets, & '79 Sonics who were pretty weak champs.

Full Court

06-01-2025, 04:19 PM

They are pretty much on the same level. The 2020 Heat actually had a higher SRS than the current Pacers.

Not a chance. The 2025 Pacers beat the 2020 Heat in 4 or 5 games at the most, and it's not even competitive.

1987_Lakers

06-01-2025, 04:27 PM

Not a chance. The 2025 Pacers beat the 2020 Heat in 4 or 5 games at the most, and it's not even competitive.

It's debatable, but my money will probably be on Miami. They knocked off a dominant Bucks team that won a title the very next season, & a Celtics team in the ECF that were better than the current Knicks. When you compare the Heat & Pacers, there aren't any major differences that set them apart. They are both good teams, not dominant, who overachieved.

GOBB

06-01-2025, 04:39 PM

'77 Blazers were easily the best team to win a title from '74-'79. I don't know how you come to the conclusion that a team who had the #1 SRS in the league, a top 5 offense & defense, swept a peak Kareem, & beat a stacked Sixers team were the worst ever to win it all. Not to mention they started the season 50-10 the next season before Walton got hurt. They were on their way to repeat with ease before the Walton injury.

And the '80 Rockets didn't make the Finals. You are referring to '81.

In the modern era I always thought the '06 Heat team was pretty bad compared to other championship teams.

Then you have teams like the '75 Warriors, '78 Bullets, & '79 Sonics who were pretty weak champs.

Clearly

John8204

06-01-2025, 05:21 PM

76-77 Blazers easily the worst NBA finals team to win it all. 80 Rockets worst team ever to just reach the finals. I don’t know about the 50-60’s.

Hawks made the finals with a losing record one year...Bullets were a bad team as well. Jason Kidd's Nets were also godawful

57'Hawks
59'Lakers
71 Bullets
80' Rockets
99' Knicks
02' Nets
03' Nets
07' Cavs
20' Heat
25' Pacers

Duffy Pratt

06-01-2025, 05:41 PM

I got okc by human euthanasia. 4-0

Listen here. If the pacers win this series im leaving the site....thats it for me. i just flat out dont know shit about basketball. Barring injuries

There is no way this sorry ass team without an alpha....beats this juggernaunt OKC team. There is no ****ING WAY ON EARTH.

Finally I Have something to root for.

ImKobe

06-01-2025, 05:55 PM

There's been a bunch of EC teams that are far worse IMO. Pacers are decent overall.

Im so nba'd out

06-01-2025, 06:15 PM

That's a good question

Embiid vs the Heat: 20/10/2 on 53%TS

Jokic vs the Heat: 30/14/7 on 67%TS

Now list every injury Joel had vs the heat that year....

Yes every.....That means multiple....

Reggie43

06-01-2025, 07:59 PM

The best team the 02 and 03 Nets had to go through in their run to the Finals was a Rasheed Less Pistons that barely won 50 games in a very weak East.

ShawkFactory

06-01-2025, 08:43 PM

Nah... theyres been worse.

Don't compare playoff Chokers like the craptors and Hawks to Indiana. How you gonna get blown out and swept as a 1 seed?

Haliburton has been clutch, siakam very good, and the rest of the team is a flamethrower from deep with hard nosed defense and track meet hustle. OKC should handle them fine because of HCA and their all time great defense, but they've put on a show so far and knocked out some big dogs.

:applause:

They also started out poorly but are 50-16 including playoffs since the New Year. Really good team.

OKC is a great team and will probably win but this isn’t a slouch. They won’t fold and OKC better come correct.

Full Court

06-01-2025, 09:39 PM

:applause:

They also started out poorly but are 50-16 including playoffs since the New Year. Really good team.

OKC is a great team and will probably win but this isn’t a slouch. They won’t fold and OKC better come correct.

Exactly. This has the making of being a really good finals series. Hopefully it delivers.

GOBB

06-01-2025, 11:23 PM

The best team the 02 and 03 Nets had to go through in their run to the Finals was a Rasheed Less Pistons that barely won 50 games in a very weak East.

I forgot about the Nets. Sheesh that team was underwhelming lol

L.Kizzle

06-02-2025, 12:02 AM

Hawks made the finals with a losing record one year...Bullets were a bad team as well. Jason Kidd's Nets were also godawful

57'Hawks
59'Lakers
71 Bullets
80' Rockets
99' Knicks
02' Nets
03' Nets
07' Cavs
20' Heat
25' Pacers

71 Bullets had like 4 Hall of Famers I think. Unseld, Monroe and Gus Johnson and I feel like someone else was in this team I'm forgetting.

John8204

06-02-2025, 06:01 AM

71 Bullets had like 4 Hall of Famers I think. Unseld, Monroe and Gus Johnson and I feel like someone else was in this team I'm forgetting.

They were also 42-40, and got swept and creamed by KAJ and Oscar

ralph_i_el

06-02-2025, 09:55 AM

January 1st onward, the Pacers played at a 58 win pace.

GOBB

06-02-2025, 10:15 AM

71 Bullets had like 4 Hall of Famers I think. Unseld, Monroe and Gus Johnson and I feel like someone else was in this team I'm forgetting.

Does that matter tho? Post career feats when discussing a specific time?

GOBB

06-02-2025, 10:20 AM

They were also 42-40, and got swept and creamed by KAJ and Oscar

After reading up on that finals the Bullets were injured.

GOBB

06-02-2025, 10:24 AM

I’m going to take back listing any time in the 70’s and prior. I can’t with a straight face say I witnessed those years in real time at an age where I understood basketball. I could google and collect data to pretend. But that lacks the eye test. It lacks context. There’s often more to the story that is told beyond copying and pasting a stat. That matters. Like no even knows who was injured, when and the effects. We just throwing opinions out there kinda recklessly. Speaking for myself.

1987_Lakers

06-02-2025, 10:26 AM

71 Bullets had like 4 Hall of Famers I think. Unseld, Monroe and Gus Johnson and I feel like someone else was in this team I'm forgetting.

This doesn't say much. Lots of bad teams had hall of famers around that time.

Prime Oscar Robertson played with 3 other hall of famers at one point during his time with the Royals, yet they never had much team success.

Baller234

06-02-2025, 01:40 PM

Not nearly enough credit being given to Haliburton. The guy is legitimately in the top 5 conversation. He's no lower than 5.

So you have a championship coach in Carlisle, a top 5 talent in Haliburton, another championship guy in Siakam who's also a multiple time all star and all nba guy, and a slew of crafty role-players who could also shoot.

How is this not a good team?

L.Kizzle

06-02-2025, 02:17 PM

They were also 42-40, and got swept and creamed by KAJ and Oscar

They defeated the champ Knicks in 7 games on the road.

jayfan

06-02-2025, 03:12 PM

There are two aspects to the Pacers that are better than what OKC has seen so far.

1. coaching
2. depth

Whether that's enough to make things interesting, we'll have to see.

.

John8204

06-02-2025, 03:18 PM

They defeated the champ Knicks in 7 games on the road.

Who beat them in 74', 73', 72', 70', and 69'. If you're playing against the same team every year for over half a decade and you have multiple hall of famers on your roster it's not that impressive that you won a single series.

I also put Miami on the list and they beat two future champs (Bucks, and Celtics).

Duffy Pratt

06-02-2025, 04:07 PM

Who beat them in 74', 73', 72', 70', and 69'. If you're playing against the same team every year for over half a decade and you have multiple hall of famers on your roster it's not that impressive that you won a single series.

I also put Miami on the list and they beat two future champs (Bucks, and Celtics).

The Bullets were a very good team during that stretch. They were the Knicks toughest competition in the East, until Boston got Cowens. And the main competition in the west was the Lakers and the Bucks. And it’s not just the presence of the hall of famers. Johnson,Monroe and Unseld were all stars that year. On top of that, they had Loughery, who was very underrated, and Jack Marin, who was quite good as a fourth/fifth option.

The worst teams to make the finals that I’ve seen are the Kidd Nets, Iverson Sixers, and LeBrons first Cavs squad.

Full Court

06-13-2025, 11:26 PM

They are pretty much on the same level. The 2020 Heat actually had a higher SRS than the current Pacers.

:roll: ^This guy was already known for having a terrible bball IQ after saying Tom Brady was the biggest choker in the NBA, but saying the Pacers are no better than the 2020 Heat comes close to that dumb.

I would LOVE to see Dudley try to double down on this one. :lol

1987_Lakers

06-13-2025, 11:29 PM

:roll: ^This guy was already known for having a terrible bball IQ after saying Tom Brady was the biggest choker in the NBA, but saying the Pacers are no better than the 2020 Heat comes close to that dumb.

I would LOVE to see Dudley try to double down on this one. :lol

You post this right after they lose? :lol

Fulltard

Full Court

06-13-2025, 11:31 PM

You post this right after they lose? :lol

Fulltard

^Meltdown. :roll:

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2Foriginals%2Fc3%2F8 8%2F4d%2Fc3884d4a4d11692c19541b432806084e.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=63fb1a47c8d3f3a54022ffde78bbf0ab4c56494bd899c3 ac542cc139035ae929

brownmamba00

06-13-2025, 11:44 PM

There are two aspects to the Pacers that are better than what OKC has seen so far.

1. coaching
2. depth

Whether that's enough to make things interesting, we'll have to see.

.

This is what OKC makes so good.

1. Refs

I just seen sga elbow a mfer drop down buckle and travel 3 steps in to baseline baby jumper. They got homecooking without even playing at home.

Mask the Embiid

06-13-2025, 11:45 PM

For the 1st time in 7 years, i was actually wrong. I know its shocking. I can actually be wrong on a take. The pacers are legit. Its still thunder in 7

Im still batting 99%. Even Jordan misses a ft every now and thenhttp://www.insidehoops.com/forum/images/icons/icon6.png

Meticode

06-13-2025, 11:51 PM

Im still batting 99%. Even Jordan misses a ft every now and thenhttp://www.insidehoops.com/forum/images/icons/icon6.png

https://media.tenor.com/o94vauovYSMAAAAM/thats-corny-lame.gif