1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:16,840 Speaker 1: The volume. All right, welcome to Hoops to night here 2 00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:19,120 Speaker 1: at the Volume Heavy Wednesday. Everybody, hope all you guys 3 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:21,439 Speaker 1: are having a great week. We are continuing our Top 4 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:26,520 Speaker 1: ten week today with the top ten non champions of 5 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:29,160 Speaker 1: the last twenty five years. This has been the funnest list, 6 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 1: the most fun list I've done to this point in 7 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:34,000 Speaker 1: the week. It's been really fun just to dig back 8 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:36,800 Speaker 1: their NBA history and try to find teams that never 9 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:40,920 Speaker 1: won the title but that were particularly memorable and particularly great. 10 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:44,240 Speaker 1: A couple rules here. The team cannot have won a 11 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:47,200 Speaker 1: championship in a different season, So for instance, it can't 12 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:50,239 Speaker 1: be like the twenty seventeen Calves because they're just the 13 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:53,559 Speaker 1: twenty sixteen Calves. They are the champions. They beat the 14 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:56,639 Speaker 1: same team with Harrison Barnes instead of KD just one 15 00:00:56,680 --> 00:00:58,920 Speaker 1: year prior. I don't feel like it's really worth it 16 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:01,320 Speaker 1: to shout them out. I didn't even include teams like 17 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:04,639 Speaker 1: the two thousand and seven MAVs because Derkovitski and Jason 18 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:06,840 Speaker 1: Terry and a different group of role players ended up 19 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:09,840 Speaker 1: winning the title just a few laters a few years later. 20 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:12,720 Speaker 1: So the goal here today is to call attention to 21 00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:18,040 Speaker 1: teams specific iterations of teams that never won the title. 22 00:01:18,319 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 1: You guys are the joll before we get started to 23 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 1: subscribe to the Hoops and I YouTube channels so you 24 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:23,280 Speaker 1: don't miss any more of our videos. 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In the comments, put 34 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 1: mail bag with a Cohen and write your question and 35 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:48,720 Speaker 1: we'll get to them weekly throughout the remainder of the season. 36 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:52,280 Speaker 1: All right, let's talk some basketball so again. Iterations of 37 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:58,200 Speaker 1: teams that never won the title. Number ten, the Chris 38 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 1: Paul and Blake Griffin Clippers. They were perennially near the 39 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:05,640 Speaker 1: top of the Western Conference in the mid twenty tens. 40 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:09,080 Speaker 1: They finished with the top four seed five consecutive years 41 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:14,120 Speaker 1: twenty thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen and seventeen. They were the 42 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 1: number one offense in the league in twenty fourteen. In 43 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:19,400 Speaker 1: twenty fifteen, fueled by a devastating pick and roll attack 44 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:23,399 Speaker 1: with Chris Paul and two unbelievable vertical spacers and Blake 45 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:26,120 Speaker 1: Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. Blake Griffin also had become one 46 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:27,600 Speaker 1: of the best forwards in the league at this point 47 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:30,520 Speaker 1: in time. He finished second team All NBA three seasons 48 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 1: in a row, including finishing third in MVP voting in 49 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 1: twenty fourteen. But Blake Griffin and Chris Paul had some 50 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:41,360 Speaker 1: pretty significant playoff struggles over their careers for different reasons. 51 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:45,639 Speaker 1: Blake's some inconsistent scoring, Chris Paul weird game management stuff 52 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:48,639 Speaker 1: in big spots, and like Chris Paul in particular, had 53 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 1: some spectacular blow ups and some big spots, and so 54 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:52,840 Speaker 1: they just never made it out of the second round. 55 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:56,639 Speaker 1: A couple close calls, a bad blown lead against the 56 00:02:56,680 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 1: Oklahoma City Thunder in a game where Chris Paul really 57 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:03,960 Speaker 1: fell apart. Closest they got was probably twenty fifteen, in 58 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:06,800 Speaker 1: a series where they literally had the Rockets beat so 59 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:12,399 Speaker 1: bad that James Harden was on the bench before the 60 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:15,200 Speaker 1: bench players for the Rockets ended up sparking a comeback 61 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 1: and the Rockets ended up going on to win that series. 62 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:20,720 Speaker 1: But this was an excellent regular season team for the 63 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:23,119 Speaker 1: better part of the half decade with some excellent top 64 00:03:23,240 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 1: end talent. They just couldn't get it done on the 65 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:32,160 Speaker 1: biggest stage. Number nine the Kawhi Spurs, to be clear, 66 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 1: not the Duncan Parker Genobili Spurs. I'm referring to twenty sixteen. 67 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:40,520 Speaker 1: In twenty seventeen, this team was built around Apex Kawhi, 68 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 1: the guy who logged back to back top three MVP 69 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 1: finishes in twenty sixteen. In twenty seventeen, they were also 70 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 1: built around LaMarcus Aldridge, who they brought over from Portland. 71 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:51,880 Speaker 1: LaMarcus actually ended up making an All NBA team in 72 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 1: twenty sixteen with the Spurs. Parker and Genobili were less 73 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 1: involved at this point, although Tony Parker did have himself 74 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 1: one hell of a throwback playoff run in the twenty 75 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:04,240 Speaker 1: seventeen playoffs if you guys remember, But this was one 76 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 1: of the most successful regular season teams to not win 77 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:10,840 Speaker 1: the title. They won sixty seven games in twenty sixteen, 78 00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:14,120 Speaker 1: and nobody even noticed because the Warriors happened to one 79 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:17,080 Speaker 1: win seventy three that year. They ended up losing to 80 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:18,800 Speaker 1: a team that's above him on this list, the Kevin 81 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:22,360 Speaker 1: Durant Westbrook Thunder who were this close to knocking out 82 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:25,360 Speaker 1: both the sixty seven wins Spurs and the seventy three 83 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:27,839 Speaker 1: win Warriors, a team that you will see later on 84 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:29,480 Speaker 1: this list. As we mentioned, we'll talk about them when 85 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:31,440 Speaker 1: we get there. But the Spurs ended up going on 86 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:35,279 Speaker 1: to win sixty one games in twenty seventeen before losing 87 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:37,360 Speaker 1: to the Warriors in a weird series. They came out 88 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 1: as a super bizarre game where they came out and 89 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:42,000 Speaker 1: just started really kicking the shit out of the Warriors 90 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:44,280 Speaker 1: in Game one. But then, as you guys all remember, 91 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:47,159 Speaker 1: Zaza Petulia runs up underneath Kawhi Leonard on a little 92 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:50,040 Speaker 1: baseline jumper on the left side of the floor sprain's ankle, 93 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:53,360 Speaker 1: and we never saw pex Kawhi and a Spurs jersey 94 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:55,880 Speaker 1: ever again. After that, he took the floor a few times, 95 00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:58,159 Speaker 1: but just never looked like the same guy until he 96 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:03,280 Speaker 1: was in a Raptors jersey. To be clear, I think 97 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:05,640 Speaker 1: it's foolish to say that the Spurs just would have 98 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:08,919 Speaker 1: won the series if Kawhi didn't get hurt. Blowouts happened 99 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:11,480 Speaker 1: in the NBA. Sometimes you just get punched in the 100 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:13,360 Speaker 1: mouth and it's what you need. I think even if 101 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 1: Kuhi didn't get hurt and the Spurs would have won 102 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:17,320 Speaker 1: that game, I think the Warriors would have won that 103 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:19,760 Speaker 1: series in five or six games anyway. I mean, I 104 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:21,800 Speaker 1: think that's the greatest team ever assembled that they were 105 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:24,279 Speaker 1: going against there. But it doesn't change the fact that 106 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:26,560 Speaker 1: this was one of the great non championship teams in 107 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 1: NBA history, again, winning one hundred and twenty eight games 108 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:33,760 Speaker 1: over the course of two seasons, a truly elite defense 109 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:37,159 Speaker 1: anchored by Kawhi Leonard. They were first in defensive rating 110 00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:41,880 Speaker 1: each of those two years. Number eight, the young Lebron Calves. 111 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 1: We saw several different iterations of them over the years. 112 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:48,840 Speaker 1: Surrounding Lebron and then a front court of zidronas Olgowskis 113 00:05:48,839 --> 00:05:52,359 Speaker 1: and Anderson Verjaw. We had kind of like a Larry Hughes, 114 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 1: Drew Gooden, Sasha Pavlovitch, Daniel Marshall version that ended up 115 00:05:55,920 --> 00:05:57,919 Speaker 1: making it to the finals in two thousand and seven, 116 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:00,320 Speaker 1: but they got absolutely crushed. That was kind of luki 117 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:04,880 Speaker 1: off of a truly heroic Lebron performance against the Pistons 118 00:06:04,920 --> 00:06:07,960 Speaker 1: in Game five, really his first truly great playoff performance 119 00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:10,239 Speaker 1: of his career. The version I want to call attention 120 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 1: to is more the two thousand and nine twenty ten 121 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 1: versions of the team. They won one hundred and twenty 122 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 1: seven games in two years. Through a series of trades 123 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:21,920 Speaker 1: and signings, they flipped the supporting cast to include a 124 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:25,120 Speaker 1: legit secondary ball handler in Mo Williams and a really 125 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:27,240 Speaker 1: nice two guard in Delonte West, as well as a 126 00:06:27,240 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 1: new group of role players like Wally Sherbiak and Joe Smith, 127 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:32,919 Speaker 1: and eventually in twenty ten, on Antoine Jamison to provide 128 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:36,240 Speaker 1: some scoring in the front court in Shaquill O'Neal. This 129 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:38,919 Speaker 1: was the first peak of Lebron James. It kind of 130 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:41,800 Speaker 1: reminds me of like a better version of the Yiannis 131 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:44,599 Speaker 1: that we saw in twenty nineteen in twenty twenty, where 132 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:47,919 Speaker 1: he was just clearly far and away the best regular 133 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:51,520 Speaker 1: season player in the league, but not as polished of 134 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:55,839 Speaker 1: a playoff performer as like Kobe Bryant. Was during those years, 135 00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:58,320 Speaker 1: but Lebron went back to back MVPs and the closest 136 00:06:58,320 --> 00:06:59,800 Speaker 1: they got to winning the title was actually the two 137 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:03,359 Speaker 1: nine team that lost to Orlando, to their credit, to 138 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:06,279 Speaker 1: the Magic's credit, they managed to steal home court advantage 139 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:08,120 Speaker 1: with a couple of huge shots at the end of 140 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:11,320 Speaker 1: those two games. Rashard Lewis hit like this weird jab 141 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:14,640 Speaker 1: step hesitation three from the top of the key, and 142 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 1: then in game one, and then Hedo Turku Glu hit 143 00:07:17,560 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 1: like a little mid range pull up jump shot going 144 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 1: to his right at the end of game two, and 145 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:24,520 Speaker 1: each of those shots put the Calves up against it. 146 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:28,200 Speaker 1: Lebron happened to steal one back with that buzzer beating 147 00:07:28,240 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 1: game winner off the top of the key, but the 148 00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 1: Magic stole home court and then the home teams held 149 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:34,400 Speaker 1: serve the rest of the series, and the Magic ended 150 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 1: up going on to win that series in six. So 151 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:39,640 Speaker 1: that was probably the closest that the early Lebron Calves 152 00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 1: got to win in the title, but ultimately not close 153 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:45,200 Speaker 1: enough to be further up on this list. They were 154 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 1: a really fun regular season team. They defended at a 155 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:50,360 Speaker 1: super high level. Lebron was musty television in those days 156 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 1: because of the highlight reel he was putting up every night. 157 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:54,960 Speaker 1: But they just didn't have the scoring juice that they needed, 158 00:07:55,040 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 1: especially down the roster, to make a legitimate title run. 159 00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:03,400 Speaker 1: With a flawed, at younger version of Lebron James Number seven, 160 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:06,640 Speaker 1: the Jason Kidd Nets. They were built around Jason Kidd, 161 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 1: Kenyon Martin, and Richard Jefferson. They were the best defense 162 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:11,920 Speaker 1: in the league during their two finals runs in two 163 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 1: thousand and two and two thousand and three. Kind of 164 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:16,720 Speaker 1: similar to what we think of the Thunder as now. 165 00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:21,080 Speaker 1: Is like this super elite defense that was hyper athletic 166 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:24,200 Speaker 1: and forced a bunch of turnovers and the classic like 167 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:27,000 Speaker 1: defense to transition team consistently near the top of the 168 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:30,440 Speaker 1: league and steals and forcing turnovers and fast break points 169 00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:32,840 Speaker 1: and points off of turnovers and all that kind of stuff. 170 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:35,760 Speaker 1: They got swept by the Lakers in two thousand and two, 171 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:37,720 Speaker 1: but they were pretty close in two thousand and three. 172 00:08:37,800 --> 00:08:40,199 Speaker 1: They lost just two games in the entire East playoff 173 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:42,840 Speaker 1: run that year, and they pushed the Spurs to six 174 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:45,440 Speaker 1: in the finals. Their best chance was in Game three. 175 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:48,240 Speaker 1: They had stolen home court in Game two and they 176 00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:50,200 Speaker 1: were in a close game down the stretch in Game three, 177 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:53,080 Speaker 1: but Parker, Jenobili and Duncan just killed them down the 178 00:08:53,080 --> 00:08:56,959 Speaker 1: stretch and they never regained control from there. Number six, 179 00:08:57,480 --> 00:09:00,840 Speaker 1: these seven seconds or less suns, they were built around 180 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:03,520 Speaker 1: the back to back MVP of the league, Steve Nash, 181 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:06,240 Speaker 1: a perfect pick and roll partner for him and Amari Stodemeyer, 182 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:08,680 Speaker 1: in a deep group of good role players, guys like 183 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:11,760 Speaker 1: Sean Marry and Rajah Bell, Boris di al Leandro Barbosa, 184 00:09:12,280 --> 00:09:14,960 Speaker 1: and they were the best offense in the league during 185 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:18,079 Speaker 1: their era. They made several playoff runs, two Western Conference 186 00:09:18,160 --> 00:09:19,840 Speaker 1: Finals runs in two thousand and five and in two 187 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:21,679 Speaker 1: thousand and six, but in those years it kind of 188 00:09:21,679 --> 00:09:23,520 Speaker 1: felt like they lost to better teams. They kind of 189 00:09:23,559 --> 00:09:25,440 Speaker 1: just got handled by the Spurs and five, and it 190 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:28,160 Speaker 1: felt like the MAVs were better in two thousand and six. 191 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:31,680 Speaker 1: The one that they'll be kicking themselves about for years 192 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 1: is the two thousand and seven second round series against 193 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:37,040 Speaker 1: the Spurs. They ended up losing in six and it 194 00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:40,680 Speaker 1: was heartbreaking. They lost home court in Game one, but 195 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:43,239 Speaker 1: they won it back in Game four on a masterpiece 196 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 1: game from Steve Nash. But in that game, he ended 197 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 1: up getting shoved into the scorers table, and in the 198 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:51,920 Speaker 1: ensuing kind of like scrum, there were three players that 199 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:57,880 Speaker 1: were suspended, Boris Diao, Amaro Stodemeyer, and Robert Horri, an 200 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:01,680 Speaker 1: arrangement that very clearly favored San Antonio. And so the 201 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:03,680 Speaker 1: Spurs were able to win a very close game in 202 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:07,400 Speaker 1: Game five in Phoenix with Stottamron d out And I 203 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:09,440 Speaker 1: think there's a good chance that the Spurs end up 204 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:13,400 Speaker 1: losing that series and the Suns advance if those suspensions 205 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 1: don't occur occur, And like the Jazz team waiting in 206 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:18,560 Speaker 1: the finals, the Suns were gonna beat them, and we 207 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:21,440 Speaker 1: all know that Cavs team was just not ready right. So, 208 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:24,360 Speaker 1: like that semi final series between the Spurs and the 209 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:27,280 Speaker 1: Suns was basically the NBA Finals and it ended up 210 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:31,800 Speaker 1: swinging on a questionable set of suspensions. The seven seconds 211 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:34,199 Speaker 1: or Less Suns are pretty high on this list among 212 00:10:34,240 --> 00:10:37,880 Speaker 1: the great non champions in NBA history. Number five the 213 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:40,720 Speaker 1: Dwight Howard Magic. They were built around Dwight Howard at 214 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:43,679 Speaker 1: the absolute peak of his powers. The roster was one 215 00:10:43,679 --> 00:10:47,679 Speaker 1: of the really great early spacing teams right a lot 216 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:50,760 Speaker 1: of like spread pick and roll was shooting, and spread 217 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:54,040 Speaker 1: post ups was shooting. Some good ball handlers, guys like 218 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:56,200 Speaker 1: Keo Turk Glue is one of the old school, like 219 00:10:56,600 --> 00:10:59,520 Speaker 1: big body pick and roll players, and Jami Or Nelson 220 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:01,560 Speaker 1: was very good pick and role player as well, and 221 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:03,640 Speaker 1: then they just had a ton of spot up shooting. 222 00:11:03,640 --> 00:11:05,559 Speaker 1: They were the best three point shooting team in the 223 00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:09,600 Speaker 1: league during this timeframe, and that presented a huge problem 224 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:11,680 Speaker 1: on both ends of the floor for teams with Dwight 225 00:11:11,679 --> 00:11:15,280 Speaker 1: Howard's rim protection and all of that shooting that they 226 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:17,120 Speaker 1: had him spaced with. On the other end of the floor, 227 00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:18,920 Speaker 1: they were the best defense in the league in two 228 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:20,800 Speaker 1: thousand and nine, and they were top five in both 229 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:23,920 Speaker 1: offense and defense in twenty ten. But two thousand and 230 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:26,000 Speaker 1: nine is the year they'll always look back at as 231 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 1: their best opportunity. Those of you guys who remember Courtney 232 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:31,600 Speaker 1: Lee ended up smoking a wide open layup at the 233 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:35,040 Speaker 1: end of Game two that would have stolen home court 234 00:11:35,080 --> 00:11:37,240 Speaker 1: in the series. And then if you guys remember, Derek 235 00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:40,560 Speaker 1: Fisher hit a transition pull up three along the right 236 00:11:40,559 --> 00:11:43,800 Speaker 1: wing that tied Game four and sent it to overtime. 237 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:45,920 Speaker 1: And those are two games that very easily could have 238 00:11:45,960 --> 00:11:48,520 Speaker 1: gone the other way. That very easily could have been 239 00:11:48,559 --> 00:11:51,520 Speaker 1: a three to two Orlando Magic lead heading back to 240 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:54,760 Speaker 1: Los Angeles with the Magic having two chances to steal 241 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:57,960 Speaker 1: one game. This was a scary good team that was 242 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:01,040 Speaker 1: way ahead of its time and way closer to hoisting 243 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:04,920 Speaker 1: the trophy than people realize. I'm gonna cheat a little 244 00:12:04,920 --> 00:12:08,720 Speaker 1: bit with number four. 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Gambling problem called 271 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 1: one eight hundred gambler in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, 272 00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:43,319 Speaker 1: and Virginia. The Reggie Miller pacers, I'm cheating because technically 273 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:45,600 Speaker 1: their best chance was in the year two thousand, which 274 00:13:45,640 --> 00:13:48,040 Speaker 1: was more than twenty five years ago. But they had 275 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:50,600 Speaker 1: another really close call in two thousand and four with 276 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:53,360 Speaker 1: an old Reggie Miller. At this point, the team was 277 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:56,360 Speaker 1: built around Jermaine O'Neil, who was third in MVP voting 278 00:13:56,360 --> 00:13:58,959 Speaker 1: that year, and run Our Test, who won Defensive Player 279 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:02,080 Speaker 1: of the Year that particular season. They were one of 280 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:04,040 Speaker 1: the great defenses of that era that just kind of 281 00:14:04,120 --> 00:14:07,520 Speaker 1: ended up falling behind the way we view the Detroit Pistons, 282 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:10,920 Speaker 1: because the Detroit Pistons happened to win their defensive slug 283 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:13,520 Speaker 1: Fest and they happened to be the team that upset 284 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:16,760 Speaker 1: the Lakers, but they ended up losing to the Pistons 285 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:20,880 Speaker 1: in six in one of the craziest defensive slugfest series 286 00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:23,760 Speaker 1: in the history of the NBA, and the whole series 287 00:14:23,840 --> 00:14:26,280 Speaker 1: might have flipped if it wasn't for one of the 288 00:14:26,280 --> 00:14:30,120 Speaker 1: greatest defensive plays in the history of the league, Tayshawn Prince. 289 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:32,600 Speaker 1: After Chauncey Phillips got stripped in a late shot clock 290 00:14:32,680 --> 00:14:37,240 Speaker 1: situation up to the Pistons were up to quick outlet pass, 291 00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:41,840 Speaker 1: Reggie Miller looks wide open running the floor, and Tayshawn 292 00:14:41,880 --> 00:14:45,520 Speaker 1: Prince comes out of absolutely nowhere to block that shot 293 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:48,560 Speaker 1: and secure a Pistons win that could have gone to ot. 294 00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:51,080 Speaker 1: Pacers win that game. They go up two to OHO 295 00:14:51,080 --> 00:14:53,680 Speaker 1: in the series. NBA history tells us you go up 296 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:56,360 Speaker 1: two oh, you usually win. And as we know, that 297 00:14:56,640 --> 00:14:59,200 Speaker 1: older Lakers team that was waiting in the finals was 298 00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:02,960 Speaker 1: pretty shaky and ripe for upset, So like that, that 299 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:05,040 Speaker 1: was one of those big what ifs. An NBA history 300 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:08,120 Speaker 1: Tayshaun Prince doesn't block that shot, Maybe the Pacers go 301 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:10,360 Speaker 1: up two to Zhero. That's also one of the great 302 00:15:10,360 --> 00:15:12,960 Speaker 1: defenses in the league. Maybe they end up being the 303 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:15,360 Speaker 1: team that upsets the Lakers and having the memory of 304 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:19,280 Speaker 1: being the great defensive team of that era. But since 305 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:21,400 Speaker 1: we have two thousand and four as the framework, we 306 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:23,680 Speaker 1: can take a minute to show some appreciation to the 307 00:15:23,680 --> 00:15:26,840 Speaker 1: Regi Miller Pacers as a whole. They made five conference 308 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:29,480 Speaker 1: finals runs with Reggie, including three in a row in 309 00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:32,840 Speaker 1: the late nineteen nineties, culminating in a very close attempt 310 00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:35,440 Speaker 1: in the year two thousand that left them just two 311 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:38,600 Speaker 1: wins away from the trophy, and that series swung on 312 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:41,200 Speaker 1: Kobe's first big playoff moment. If you guys, the first 313 00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:43,960 Speaker 1: big NBA Finals moment, I should say, either in ot 314 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:48,040 Speaker 1: shack fouls out, Kobe gets three buckets right down the 315 00:15:48,080 --> 00:15:50,600 Speaker 1: stretch of overtime and that ends up stealing Game four, 316 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:53,160 Speaker 1: and then in Game six of that series, the Pacers 317 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:55,880 Speaker 1: were within one with one and a half minutes left. 318 00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:58,880 Speaker 1: So definitely one of the great teams the Regi Miller 319 00:15:58,920 --> 00:16:01,360 Speaker 1: Pacers over the course of that decade from the early 320 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:03,400 Speaker 1: nineties to the early two thousands, one of the great 321 00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:07,280 Speaker 1: teams to never win the title. Number three the Harden 322 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 1: Chris Paul Rockets, also known as the team that was 323 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:15,200 Speaker 1: built to beat the Warriors. The Warriors were this team 324 00:16:15,240 --> 00:16:17,480 Speaker 1: that was built on the offensive principle of ball in 325 00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:19,440 Speaker 1: player movement, and they would just put you in the 326 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:21,800 Speaker 1: blender and chew you up and spit you out. And 327 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:25,480 Speaker 1: the Rockets thought, well, what if we switch everything that way, 328 00:16:25,520 --> 00:16:27,120 Speaker 1: we can always be waiting on the other end of 329 00:16:27,160 --> 00:16:29,200 Speaker 1: the screen. We might be able to shut down these 330 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:32,240 Speaker 1: screening actions and potentially stagnate them and make them play 331 00:16:32,280 --> 00:16:35,200 Speaker 1: ISO ball, which is not Warriors basketball. And so they 332 00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:40,560 Speaker 1: spent all season becoming really the first great switching defense. 333 00:16:41,800 --> 00:16:44,680 Speaker 1: And on the other end of the floor, after acquiring 334 00:16:44,760 --> 00:16:48,120 Speaker 1: Chris Paul, they built a masterful offense on the idea 335 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:50,480 Speaker 1: of kind of like your turn, My turn, spread pick 336 00:16:50,520 --> 00:16:52,680 Speaker 1: and roll. Chris Paul and James Harden were two of 337 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:54,040 Speaker 1: the best pick and roll players in the league at 338 00:16:54,040 --> 00:16:55,680 Speaker 1: that point, and they were both very good at beating 339 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:58,720 Speaker 1: switches in ISO, so they would just space the floor. 340 00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:01,000 Speaker 1: Chris Paul and James Harden would run pick and roll. 341 00:17:01,080 --> 00:17:03,120 Speaker 1: They got a switch, they would attack an ISO. They 342 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:05,040 Speaker 1: would look for you know, Chris Paul would take some 343 00:17:05,080 --> 00:17:06,680 Speaker 1: mid range jump shots, but he was really the only 344 00:17:06,680 --> 00:17:08,320 Speaker 1: guy on the team taking mid ranges. It was a 345 00:17:08,320 --> 00:17:10,880 Speaker 1: lot of threes, a lot of kickout threes, step back 346 00:17:10,920 --> 00:17:14,560 Speaker 1: threes for James Harden. They had a vertical spacer and 347 00:17:14,600 --> 00:17:16,840 Speaker 1: Clint Capella, a bunch of three and D guys, guys 348 00:17:16,840 --> 00:17:19,840 Speaker 1: like Trevor Riza, PJ. Tucker, Lucashard, and Bob Mute who 349 00:17:19,840 --> 00:17:22,639 Speaker 1: had a shoulder injury during that playoff run. They were awesome. 350 00:17:23,080 --> 00:17:25,520 Speaker 1: They won sixty five games. They were the best offense 351 00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:27,440 Speaker 1: in the league. Again, they were I think they were 352 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:29,320 Speaker 1: like seventh or eight and eighth in defense, but it 353 00:17:29,359 --> 00:17:32,320 Speaker 1: was a defensive concepts that was constructed for giving the 354 00:17:32,359 --> 00:17:35,359 Speaker 1: Warriors issues and their plan worked well. They managed to 355 00:17:35,359 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 1: stagnate the Warriors offense by switching and baiting them into 356 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:41,680 Speaker 1: running a ton of ISO, and they scored just enough 357 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:44,119 Speaker 1: in some super ugly games to take a three to 358 00:17:44,160 --> 00:17:47,000 Speaker 1: two lead in that series. But then, as we know, 359 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:51,560 Speaker 1: Chris Paul ends up getting injured a hamstring pull down 360 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:53,800 Speaker 1: the end of that Game five. Now I'm of the 361 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:56,200 Speaker 1: opinion that the Warriors would have won that series even 362 00:17:56,200 --> 00:17:58,400 Speaker 1: if Chris Paul was healthy. I think they go home 363 00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:00,960 Speaker 1: in Game six and win to extend the series, and 364 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:02,919 Speaker 1: then a Game seven in Houston is a coin flip, 365 00:18:02,920 --> 00:18:05,200 Speaker 1: but I'll go. I'll go with the greatest roster ever 366 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:08,560 Speaker 1: assembled versus a James Harden led team. But last we 367 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:10,640 Speaker 1: did not get to see that. We got to see 368 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:12,879 Speaker 1: them try to beat the Warriors without Chris Paul. They 369 00:18:12,880 --> 00:18:15,000 Speaker 1: actually did an admirable job. They lost Game six, but 370 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:17,200 Speaker 1: they actually jumped off to a great start in Game seven. 371 00:18:17,240 --> 00:18:19,720 Speaker 1: They were up eleven at the half, but the Warriors 372 00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:22,040 Speaker 1: finally kind of snapped out of it against the switching. 373 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:25,200 Speaker 1: Steph and Kad both caught fire in the second half 374 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:27,240 Speaker 1: of that game, and they kind of just crushed the 375 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:29,199 Speaker 1: Rockets in the second half and ended up going on 376 00:18:29,240 --> 00:18:32,520 Speaker 1: to the finals and here's really where I start to, 377 00:18:32,840 --> 00:18:35,080 Speaker 1: you know, kind of solidify my take that I think 378 00:18:35,080 --> 00:18:37,919 Speaker 1: the Warriors would have won anyway. The basketball gods just 379 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:40,639 Speaker 1: gift wrapped the Rockets the opportunity of the of a 380 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:44,000 Speaker 1: lifetime to get revenge in the following season. Chris Paul 381 00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:48,520 Speaker 1: was healthy, Kevin Durant was hurt, He had an opportunity 382 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:52,000 Speaker 1: to win that series against just a Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, 383 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:56,600 Speaker 1: Draymond Green led Warriors team, and they just got absolutely 384 00:18:56,640 --> 00:19:00,320 Speaker 1: annihilated by Steph Curry and James Harden completely fled out. 385 00:19:00,359 --> 00:19:03,080 Speaker 1: He was awful down the stretch of that series. It's 386 00:19:03,200 --> 00:19:07,400 Speaker 1: kind of just more reinforcing for me in that opinion 387 00:19:07,400 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 1: that I think the Warriors would have won even if 388 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:11,480 Speaker 1: Chris Paul didn't get hurt. But it's worth mentioning that 389 00:19:11,560 --> 00:19:13,880 Speaker 1: this is obviously one of the great non champions ever 390 00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:17,720 Speaker 1: because schematically they gave the greatest team ever some issues, 391 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:20,280 Speaker 1: and to put it simply, they were one win away 392 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:23,160 Speaker 1: from going to the finals, and in the finals there 393 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:26,800 Speaker 1: was an extremely flawed one man show Cavs team waiting, 394 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:29,960 Speaker 1: a Cavs team that, like, even with Lebron playing arguably 395 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:32,960 Speaker 1: the best basketball that's ever been played. They were barely 396 00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:36,080 Speaker 1: squeaking by the Pacers and barely squeaking by the Celtics, 397 00:19:36,080 --> 00:19:39,399 Speaker 1: So I think that Rockets team was incredibly close to 398 00:19:39,440 --> 00:19:43,320 Speaker 1: winning the title. The two thousand and two Sacramento Kings 399 00:19:43,400 --> 00:19:46,160 Speaker 1: come in at number two. Super deep team built around 400 00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:49,360 Speaker 1: Chris Weber and Mike Bibbie and Pagestoyakovic. They had Lotti Devots, 401 00:19:49,400 --> 00:19:52,720 Speaker 1: Doug Christie, a young he Turkle Glue at that point, 402 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:55,280 Speaker 1: Bobby Jackson. They were a great team. They had lost 403 00:19:55,280 --> 00:19:58,399 Speaker 1: to the Lakers twice before, but everything came together for 404 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:01,159 Speaker 1: them and o two best record in the NBA by 405 00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:03,320 Speaker 1: decent margin. They were three games ahead of the Lakers, 406 00:20:03,359 --> 00:20:06,320 Speaker 1: who were in second place that year. They quickly dispatched 407 00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:08,720 Speaker 1: of the Jazz and the MAVs in the first two rounds, 408 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:11,440 Speaker 1: and then they dropped game one to the Lakers, looking 409 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:13,720 Speaker 1: like years past. But then they bang bang come back 410 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:15,800 Speaker 1: and win the next two games and take home courtback. 411 00:20:16,040 --> 00:20:18,960 Speaker 1: They're up to one. They split a couple of crazy 412 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:21,199 Speaker 1: games in game four. In Game five, they have a 413 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:26,040 Speaker 1: three to two lead going back to Los Angeles, and 414 00:20:26,080 --> 00:20:28,399 Speaker 1: they had the Lakers on the rope down the stretch 415 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:32,680 Speaker 1: of Game six, but the Lakers attempted twenty seven free 416 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:36,000 Speaker 1: throws just in the fourth quarter of a game that 417 00:20:36,080 --> 00:20:38,639 Speaker 1: is widely regarded as the worst officiated game in the 418 00:20:38,680 --> 00:20:41,480 Speaker 1: history of the NBA, and they ended up going on 419 00:20:41,520 --> 00:20:44,240 Speaker 1: to lose in heartbreaking fashion. Now, I'm not a conspiracy guy, 420 00:20:44,280 --> 00:20:47,439 Speaker 1: as you guys know, but Kings fans truly believe they 421 00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:50,200 Speaker 1: got robbed of the title this season, and they were 422 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:52,720 Speaker 1: certainly as close to getting it done as anyone else 423 00:20:52,760 --> 00:20:56,439 Speaker 1: on this list. Nothing more heartbreaking than from the start 424 00:20:56,480 --> 00:20:59,639 Speaker 1: of the season just clearly being the best team and 425 00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:02,600 Speaker 1: conkering your demons and being right there at the finish 426 00:21:02,720 --> 00:21:05,440 Speaker 1: line and then you lose on some free throws. There's 427 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:08,280 Speaker 1: nothing that sucks more than that. Number one was an 428 00:21:08,320 --> 00:21:11,280 Speaker 1: easy one for me. I think this team got so 429 00:21:11,480 --> 00:21:14,359 Speaker 1: close so many times that they have to be number one. 430 00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:18,000 Speaker 1: And if anybody remembers rooting against this team at any 431 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:20,600 Speaker 1: point in time, they were so physically imposing and so 432 00:21:20,760 --> 00:21:24,359 Speaker 1: scary to play against. To me, the best team to 433 00:21:24,720 --> 00:21:28,280 Speaker 1: never win a title is of the last twenty five 434 00:21:28,359 --> 00:21:32,399 Speaker 1: years is the Kevin Durant Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder, 435 00:21:33,280 --> 00:21:35,040 Speaker 1: also known as the team that blew a three one 436 00:21:35,119 --> 00:21:37,200 Speaker 1: lead to the team that blew a three one lead. 437 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:41,000 Speaker 1: The KD Westbrook Thunder were a problem for like a 438 00:21:41,040 --> 00:21:43,840 Speaker 1: half decade in the NBA. They were top two seed 439 00:21:43,880 --> 00:21:47,520 Speaker 1: in twenty twelve, twenty thirteen, and twenty fourteen. They had 440 00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:50,560 Speaker 1: several super close calls. They made the finals in twenty 441 00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:52,919 Speaker 1: twelve and the Heat won that series in five, but 442 00:21:53,160 --> 00:21:55,600 Speaker 1: every single game was a close game outside of the 443 00:21:55,720 --> 00:21:58,119 Speaker 1: end of Game five, and there was even a questionable 444 00:21:58,160 --> 00:22:01,040 Speaker 1: no call on a KD iso along the left baseline 445 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:03,760 Speaker 1: at the end of Game two in twenty thirteen. Russ 446 00:22:03,760 --> 00:22:06,520 Speaker 1: gets hurt, but in twenty fourteen they're right back, and 447 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:08,479 Speaker 1: they end up losing to the Spurs in the conference 448 00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:10,480 Speaker 1: finals in game six. That was one of the great 449 00:22:10,480 --> 00:22:12,639 Speaker 1: Spurs teams they were. They made our list yesterday, if 450 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:16,280 Speaker 1: you guys remember, and Game six was in overtime, So 451 00:22:16,320 --> 00:22:18,840 Speaker 1: the Thunder were pretty I mean, Game seven in San Antonio, 452 00:22:19,040 --> 00:22:21,720 Speaker 1: the Spurs probably win, but they came closer to beating 453 00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:24,600 Speaker 1: that Spurs team than anyone else did. Katie gets hurt 454 00:22:24,640 --> 00:22:27,000 Speaker 1: in twenty fifteen, and then in twenty sixteen they have 455 00:22:27,119 --> 00:22:30,359 Speaker 1: yet another close call. In my opinion the best version 456 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:34,040 Speaker 1: of the Thunder. They beat a sixty seven win Spurs 457 00:22:34,040 --> 00:22:36,520 Speaker 1: team and they were up three to one on the 458 00:22:36,560 --> 00:22:40,360 Speaker 1: seventy three win Warriors. Predictably, the Warriors end up winning 459 00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:42,360 Speaker 1: Game five at home, as you would expect the team 460 00:22:42,400 --> 00:22:44,240 Speaker 1: that good at home to do in a closeout game. 461 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:48,480 Speaker 1: But in Game six in Oklahoma City, they come out 462 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:52,240 Speaker 1: guns blazing, play extremely well for the most part, but 463 00:22:52,320 --> 00:22:54,880 Speaker 1: a combination of some hero ball from Russell Westbrook down 464 00:22:54,920 --> 00:22:58,119 Speaker 1: the stretch, some key mistakes from him, and probably the 465 00:22:58,160 --> 00:23:02,280 Speaker 1: greatest game Klay Thompson ever played, the remarkable Game six 466 00:23:02,359 --> 00:23:04,960 Speaker 1: Clay moment ended up being enough to send that to 467 00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:08,080 Speaker 1: Game seven, where Steph was fantastic in Game seven, and 468 00:23:08,119 --> 00:23:10,640 Speaker 1: the Warriors ended up winning the series. Had they won 469 00:23:10,680 --> 00:23:13,119 Speaker 1: that series, I know it was Lebron waiting in the 470 00:23:13,119 --> 00:23:15,600 Speaker 1: next round and Kyrie and all that, but like you'd 471 00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:17,960 Speaker 1: be foolish to think that they didn't at least have 472 00:23:18,040 --> 00:23:22,040 Speaker 1: a very good chance. They came this close to beating 473 00:23:22,040 --> 00:23:24,879 Speaker 1: one hundred and forty wins worth of teams in the 474 00:23:24,880 --> 00:23:28,360 Speaker 1: Spurs in the in the Thunder in the previous round, 475 00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:31,000 Speaker 1: so one hundred and thirty wins worth of teams, I 476 00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:34,360 Speaker 1: should say, no, it was one hundred and forty. I'm 477 00:23:34,359 --> 00:23:36,920 Speaker 1: doing my math right, So yeah, like they they you'd 478 00:23:36,920 --> 00:23:39,200 Speaker 1: be foolish to think they didn't have a very good chance, right. 479 00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:45,640 Speaker 1: So they were physically overwhelming on defense. They were absolutely massive, 480 00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:49,399 Speaker 1: strong athletic. They had Andre Roberson on the wing, Serge 481 00:23:49,480 --> 00:23:53,760 Speaker 1: Baka and Steven Adams. They really wore teams down physically 482 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:56,320 Speaker 1: over the course of series, and Kevin Durant wasn't his 483 00:23:56,359 --> 00:23:58,800 Speaker 1: most efficient playoff run, but he scored enough when he 484 00:23:58,840 --> 00:24:01,639 Speaker 1: needed to to keep the thing, keep the team chugging along, 485 00:24:01,680 --> 00:24:03,680 Speaker 1: and they were led by two of the all time 486 00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:07,800 Speaker 1: greats several near misses with the trophies. I think they're 487 00:24:07,840 --> 00:24:12,240 Speaker 1: clearly the best non champion of the last twenty five years. 488 00:24:12,480 --> 00:24:13,919 Speaker 1: All right, guys, it's all I have for today is 489 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:16,000 Speaker 1: always to sincerely appreciate you guys for supporting us and 490 00:24:16,040 --> 00:24:18,000 Speaker 1: supporting the show. We will be back tomorrow. We have 491 00:24:18,040 --> 00:24:20,040 Speaker 1: two more top ten lists this week. I will see 492 00:24:20,080 --> 00:24:20,600 Speaker 1: you guys then.