The Sonics could have paid him more. He left for less than they could have paid him. He didn't negotiate with them because he just wanted to leave, regardless of any offer from them. They never added talent and they were permanent losers because the owners were impoverished. They wouldn't have paid him what Orlando did. But he didn't negotiate to find out. So he took less than they could have paid him, to go to a better situation.
The 1995 Rockets finished the season terribly after the Drexler trade and limped into the playoffs with the 6th seed. They trailed the Jazz 1-2 in the first round but won. Then, in the second round, they trailed the Suns 1-3 and in fact, if Barkley hit free throws at the end of Game 5, the Rockets would've been eliminated right there but they ended up winning in 7. Then, after winning the first two in SA, they blew the next two in Houstom but still won the series. Finally, they swept the heavily favored Magic team. The 1999 Knicks didn't win it all but their run was almost as miraculous. They needed a shot at the buzzer to beat the #1 seeded Heat in the 5th game of a best of 5. Then I believe they swept the Hawks before beating the Pacers in 6 in the ECF. Ewing got injured during that series and I believe Larry Johnson missed some games during those playoffs too. And speaking of LJ, who can forget his game winning 4 point play against the Pacers? Finally, the 2006 Miami Heat were a great story. I believe they only won 52 games that season. Shaq's game had begun its decline. They were led by a third year guard in Dwyane Wade. They beat the 64 win Pistons in the ECF and the trailed the Mavericks by 13 with 5 minutes to go in Miami, about to go down 0-3. They won that game and the three after that, becoming one of only a very few teams who have won a Finals series after trailing 0-2 (Portland was another who did it). Do the miracle seasons happen every year? Of course not. And they wouldn't be special if it happened every year. But I'm sure we're due for another miracle run soon. Could be the Blazers, you never know. We only 48 games back when we won the title in '77. Provided Camby comes back soon, I believe we could finish this season strong 22-8 for another 50 win season. That would probably put us in the 5 or 6 seed. Aldridge dominating. Matthews and Batum blossoming. Anything can happen....
Most of those "miracle" teams, weren't anything miraculous. They either got healthy or made some great mid-season trade; they were still elite teams winning. This off-season for example, I heard all about how the home teams had the advantage. They didn't, it isn't all about cash.
Not true 1995 Rockets: played WORSE after midseason trade but rallied from big deficits in playoffs 1999 Knicks: got INJURED during playoffs, not healthier 2006 Heat: no major midseason trade, no player getting healthier than beginning of the season What the three teams have in common is that they came together during the playoffs, played with heart, and bucked the odds. Rockets were down 1-3 vs Suns. They got healthy in Game 5??? No. Nor was a trade made after game 4.
And of course, if a team wins it all, that is the definition of elite but they were NOT the favorites and they were not one of the giants expected to win.
Damn--I wanted to rep Kingspeed for his complete ownage of this thread, but I must spread more rep around.
Relax dude, Shaq teams have room for growth it is a pretty simple concept to understand. 34.5 Minutes a game, 21.7 points a game, 10.5 rebounds per game, 65 TS%. This guy missed 2 out of every 6 games in the regular season. Do the math dude. Without Shaq's Monster numbers the Heat lose in the Conference Finals to Detroit (and guess what during the season he was injured). He DOMINATED that elite defense. Unless the Entire playoffs don't count and you can go straight from the second round to the Finals? It could still help to fact check. Right speed, just like the Heat this year "rallied" to overcome their 9-8 record. It has nothing to do with chemistry and being more comfortable with a new player? You thought the Cavs were a better team at the start of the year. Quite true, Drexler was an All-Star in the post-season. Without him they're not "rallying" from anything. His potential, when the Rockets shorten their rotation and figure it out, is much higher than Otis Thorpe's. Did the 99 Knicks win? The Rockets don't win a title without Drexler, he was dominant. It is simple as that they needed the trade. Don't bother because he's all about hyperbole.
Yeah that's why the Rockets swept the Orlando Magic in the Finals, because they're not that talented. Robert Horry and Sam Cassell entering their primes in the playoffs had nothing to do with it either. A supremely efficient 22 and 10 against one of the best defenses in the NBA, the Pistons, is also not about natural basketball talent. Anyone can do that.
In both those situations, the focii of your post (Shaq & Drexler) had lesser numbers in the postseason than in the regular season, both in terms of standard and advanced stats. It's a bit disingenuous to claim that they won because all-star acquisitions stepped their games up when that was not really the case. No one said those teams weren't talented--the point was that they weren't perceived as "elite" heading into the postseason.
Ah right, I see the problem you have. You lack basic logic. Per value of regular season Shaq, 3200 for every 6 games. Per value of post-season Shaq, 4000 for every 6 games. He's taking on a far greater magnitude of his team's possessions. In the playoffs rotations are shortened, and Shaq takes off a bunch of games during the regular season.
~Shaq played 30.6 minutes at 24.4 per during the regular season. 28% games missed, he misses 0% in the playoffs. In fact he increases his minutes on the court and his valuable defense. ~ Shaq played every post-season game, 33 minutes at 20 PER. He plays 4 out of every 6 games. 72% of 24.4 is 17.5 and that is being generous once you factor in the extra minutes Shaq takes on in the post-season (from 30.6 to 33). Therefore the gap widens even more. Similarly Clyde and Robert Horry increase their minutes, and Horry transitions from a below average starter into an above average starter at 38 minutes per game. They then sweep the Finals and Robert Horry doesn't disappear off the face of the earth, so it wasn't just because he "tried" harder. Clyde's game is perfectly suited for the Rockets shorter rotation, replace him with Otis Thorpe and they also lose.
Well, that's a bit rude. But you're a mod, so I guess you can get away with that. OK, so did they win because Shaq played better during the playoffs, because he was featured more, or because he didn't take games off? What exactly is your claim here?
Yeah I don't see where I broke the rules? Excessive name calling is one thing, saying things about your logic is another. *You lack some logic. I think that sounds better? Lol I thought it was kind of funny, but yeah I'm not trying to piss you off. I'm not a bad guy I'll try to be a bit nicer, I like some of your posts. Anyway I'll leave you with this, the Heat's problem was they lost a pretty solid point guard in addition to Shaq during the regular season. Shaq's record for the heat, not counting the losses he had when Jason Williams was out: 42-11, or a 79.2% winning percentage. On pace to win 65 games over the season, if both were healthy. The losses Shaq had when Williams was injured (dates): 12-17, 1-06, 1-26, 4-02, 4-06, 4-09. It isn't a claim, it is simply true that Shaq and Jason Williams made the Heat a great team. Shaq only played 46% of his team's minutes at his position in the regular season, and 68% in the playoffs. In the post-season he allowed 9 PER when he was defending. So his own PER slightly decreased, but his defensive PER was even better.
Read the thread. Never said Knicks won title. Never said Drexler wasn't talented. But the point was that sometimes surprise teams win the championship or, in the case of the Knicks, make a great run. It's not always one of the favorites. Rockets were NOT favored to win in 1995. They played HORRIBLE after the Drexler trade and trailed 1-2 vs Jazz but rallied. Then trailed 1-3 vs Suns but rallied because Barkley missed free throws. They made a miracle run. They came together during the playoffs.
When you are trailing the Suns 1-3 in the second round of the playoffs and two Barkley FTs will eliminate you in 5 games, it takes a miracle to win not just the game but the whole damn title. Not to mention, with a 3 point deficit, Nick Anderson missed two FTs in Game 1 of the Finals and then got his own board only to miss two more FTs, giving Kenny Smith the chance to send the game into OT. Those were sports "miracles.". That was The most exciting playoff run I've ever seen. Utterly enjoyable. And it is proof positive that ANYTHING can happen in the playoffs.
