A discussion on the history of building championship teams

studdeir — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 18:33:29 -0000

With many people voicing the opinion that everyone is untouchable except rose, and that they would like to dump the majority of our roster, I have been wondering how championship teams were assembled in the past.

Some questions to ask yourself about championship teams of the past are:

1. What styles of play were successful during that time?

2. What types of players were successful during that time?

3. What rules were in effect during that time, and how do they differ today?

4. What players were on these championship teams?

What was there role?
What point in their career where they?
How were they acquired (trade, draft, signing)?
How did they interact with their teammates?

5. What coaches did the team have, and how effective where they in developing players, drawing up crucial plays, and making a team execute/?

6. How much of a role did the GM play in the creation of the team? Were his draft choices sound? Did he make smart trades? Did he make smart signings?

These questions should guide us to a thorough discussion of what championship teams looked like, and how they were developed.

Here is a list of championship teams:

2007-08	Boston Celtics	Los Angeles Lakers	4-2
2006-07	San Antonio Spurs	Cleveland Cavaliers	4-0
2005-06	Miami Heat	Dallas Mavericks	4-2
2004-05	San Antonio Spurs	Detroit Pistons	4-3
2003-04	Detroit Pistons	Los Angeles Lakers	4-1
2002-03	San Antonio Spurs	New Jersey Nets	4-2
2001-02	Los Angeles Lakers	New Jersey Nets	4-0
2000-01	Los Angeles Lakers	Philadelphia 76ers	4-1
1999-00	Los Angeles Lakers	Indiana Pacers	4-2
1998-99	San Antonio Spurs	New York Knicks	4-1
1997-98	Chicago Bulls	Utah Jazz	4-2
1996-97	Chicago Bulls	Utah Jazz	4-2
1995-96	Chicago Bulls	Seattle SuperSonics	4-2
1994-95	Houston Rockets	Orlando Magic	4-0
1993-94	Houston Rockets	New York Knicks	4-3
1992-93	Chicago Bulls	Phoenix Suns	4-2
1991-92	Chicago Bulls	Portland Trail Blazers	4-2
1990-91	Chicago Bulls	Los Angeles Lakers	4-1
1989-90	Detroit Pistons	Portland Trail Blazers	4-1
1988-89	Detroit Pistons	Los Angeles Lakers	4-0
1987-88	Los Angeles Lakers	Detroit Pistons	4-3
1986-87	Los Angeles Lakers	Boston Celtics	4-2
1985-86	Boston Celtics	Houston Rockets	4-2
1984-85	Los Angeles Lakers	Boston Celtics	4-2
1983-84	Boston Celtics	Los Angeles Lakers	4-3
1982-83	Philadelphia 76ers	Los Angeles Lakers	4-0
1981-82	Los Angeles Lakers	Philadelphia 76ers	4-2
1980-81	Boston Celtics	Houston Rockets

To be honest, many parts of this discussion will be out of my league, since I'm 21 and have only been following the bulls since MJ.

Still I think this discussion should prove very useful.

For example can anyone think of a championship team where both the PG and SG where averaging 20 PPG? I think both Gordon and Rose can, but it seems like a lot of emphasis/money on the back court. I guess manu/parker and hamilton/billups come close, but they had much more dependable big men and role players.

So what do you think? Go through your favorite championship teams, I think you will find that we are a long way off in terms of players, coaching, and attitude.

SB Nation User Blog: studdeir

A discussion on the history of building championship teams