<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>WHICH INDIVIDUAL AWARDS AND STATISTICS PREDICT TEAM SUCCESS?92% of NBA Champions had a recent All-NBA 1st Team SelectionOf the past 49 NBA Champions, 45 had a player named All-NBA 1st team during the 4 years preceding the championship season. In other words, an NBA championship roster should include a Top 5 caliber player operating at the top of his game.Only 4 NBA champions failed to have a player named All-NBA 1st team during the 4 years preceding the championship season. Two of these teams, the 1976-77 Portland Trailblazer and the 1978-79 Seattle Supersonics had playersBill Walton and Dennis Johnson, respectivelywho were named All-NBA 1st Team in subsequent seasons. The other two teams, the 2003-04 Detroit Pistons and 1969-70 New York Knicks, had Top 10 caliber players who were named All-NBA 2nd Team the prior season.The MVP is usually awarded to a player named to the All NBA 1st Team, and provides an advantage over other All NBA selections. Over 65% of all NBA Champions had a player named the leagues MVP in one of the four seasons prior to winning the NBA title (over 75% if you look beyond four years).81% of NBA Champions had a recent All-Defensive 1st Team SelectionDoes defense win NBA championships? All-Defensive teams were first named following the 1969-70 season. Since that time, 29 of 36 NBA champions had at least one player named All-Defensive 1st Team during the 4 seasons prior to the championship season. When All-Defensive 2nd Team selections are considered, the percentage jumps to 89% of NBA champions.Even the 7 teams without an All-Defensive honoree had All-Defensive caliber players on the roster. Players on five of these championship teams were named All-Defensive 1st Team in a subsequent season, and the other two championship teams, the 1974-75 Golden State Warriors and the 1980-81 Boston Celtics, included at least two players who were named All-Defensive 2nd Team in a subsequent season.The defensive player of the year (DPOY) award is usually given to an All-Defensive 1st Team selection. Since the DPOY award was created, 12 of the 22 NBA Champions had a previous DPOY winner on the roster.92% of NBA Champions had a Player Ranked in the Top 8 in Efficiency the Preceding SeasonWhich statistical leaders are important to a championship team? I found correlations between championship teams and the prior seasons top 10 scorers and top 10 rebounders. Leaders in assists, blocked shots and steals were less relevant to championship success the following season.The statistical leaders who appeared most on championship rosters were leaders in the NBAs efficiency statistic. Recently adopted as an official statistic by the NBA, efficiency is a measure of a players overall effectiveness. According to efficiency statistics published by www.basketballreference.com, of the past 49 NBA Champions, 45 had a player who finished in the Top 8 in efficiency the preceding season.BUILDING A CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMSTEP 1: Acquire a Championship SuperstarApproach #1: Acquire a Top 5 caliber playerOnly two NBA Champions failed to include a player named to the All-NBA first team during their careers. These players are easy to identify as all but 4 NBA championship teams included players named All-NBA 1st Team in the prior four seasons.Approach #2: If you fail to acquire a Top 5 caliber player, then you need a Top 5 caliber defender.Only two NBA Champions failed to include a player named to the All-Defensive first team during their careers, and each of these teams included Top 5 Players.Approach #3: Clear salary cap space for next year.No NBA team has won a championship without a Top 5 player or Top 5 defender.STEP 2: Add a championship sidekick (or two)Every NBA championship roster included a Top 10 caliber player or Top 10 defender as a sidekick. Most championship sidekicks can be identified by looking at players named All-NBA 1st or 2nd Team or All-Defensive 1st or 2nd Team in one of the prior 4 seasons. All told, 86% of all championship rosters included at least one sidekick with a previous All-NBA or All-Defensive selection, and over half of the championship rosters (57%) included 2 or more sidekicks with a previous All-NBA or All-Defensive selection.STEP 3: Make sure one of your players (superstar or sidekick) can defendNo team has won an NBA title without a Top 10 caliber defender.WHO ARE TODAYS CHAMPIONSHIP SUPERSTARS?Every NBA champion has had at least one player named 1st or 2nd Team All-NBA or 1st Team All-Defensive in one of the preceding four seasons, and/or a player who finished in the Top 8 in efficiency the prior season. The 23 current players that meet this championship criteria are listed in the tables below. The 11 Top Tier Players give a team the best chance to win an NBA title. The 12 Second Tier Players give a Team and outside chance of winning an NBA title. The 7 NBA teams who best resemble championship rosters of the past are discussed in further detail below.7. Indiana Pacers: Jermaine ONeal & Peja Stojakovic have each been named All-NBA 2nd Team one time. With the departure of Ron Artest, the Pacers lack a top tier superstar and a top defender. Potential future stars include Jeff Foster and Anthony Johnson who both received votes last season for the All-Defensive teams, but neither is looking like a Top 10 caliber defender.6. Philadelphia 76ers: Allen Iverson is a former MVP and was named All-NBA 1st Team last year. In addition, in the past four years Allen Iverson and Chris Webber were each named All-NBA 2nd Team two times. The 76ers come up short on defense where only 19% of prior NBA champions have won without a previous All-Defensive selection. Allen Iverson and potential future star Andre Iguodala both received All-Defensive votes last year.5. Cleveland Cavaliers: Lebron James was one of the league leaders in efficiency last season and was named All-NBA second team. His running mates include Larry Hughes, an All-Defensive 1st team selection last year and Eric Snow an All-Defensive 2nd team selection three years ago. Zydrunas Ilgauskas received votes last year for the All-NBA teams. The Cavaliers lack a player named All-NBA 1st Teamonly 8% of NBA champions have won without an All-NBA 1st Team player on the rosterbut it appear only a matter of time for Lebron James.4. Detroit Pistons: In the past four years, Ben Wallace is a three-time DPOY, two-time All-NBA 2nd team selection and 4 time All-Defensive 1st team selection. Chauncy Billups and Tayshaun Prince have also been named 2nd Team All-Defensive. Like the Cavaliers, the Pistons lack an All-NBA 1st team selection. The other starters include Richard Hamilton who received All-NBA votes last year and Rasheed Wallace, who received All-Defensive votes last year.3. Phoenix Suns: Steve Nash, Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudemire give the Suns 3 star players. Nash has an MVP and an All-NBA 1st team selection. Stoudemire has an All-NBA second team selection and, along with Marion, was one of the leagues leaders last season in efficiency. The Suns come up short on defense where only 19% of prior NBA champions have won without an All-Defensive selection. Marion, Stoudemire and Kurt Thomas all received votes last season for the All-Defensive teams, with Marion appearing most likely to step it up and gain future All-Defensive honors.2. Miami Heat: Shaquille ONeal, Dwayne Wade, Gary Payton and Alonzo Mourning give the Heat 4 star players. In the past four years, Shaq is a 4 time All-NBA 1st team selection, and has been named to the All-Defensive 2nd team. Gary Payton and Dwayne Wade each have an All-NBA 2nd team selection. Payton also was named All-Defensive 1st team and Wade a one time All-Defensive 2nd team. The Heats weakness is age. Shaq is a former MVP and Payton and Mourning have each won the DPOY award, though none within the past four years. Further, neither Payton nor Mourning has received any post-season recognition in the past 3 years.1. San Antonio Spurs: Tim Duncan and Bruce Bowen provide a championship core that no other team can match. In the past four years Duncan is a two-time MVP, 4 time All-NBA 1st team, 3 time All-Defensive 1st team and has been named All-Defensive 2nd Team one time. Bowen has been named two times each to the All-Defensive 1st and 2nd teams. Potential future stars include Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker who each received All-NBA and All-Defensive votes last season. Source=NBA Championship Team</div>The Pistons at 4?Heat number 2?What are your opinions on this article.
i think he's talking about the stars on the team, but i'm not sure. bc no way the pistons would be 4th and the 76ers be 6th in a power ranking..
I think you need a good mix of role players who specialize in certain tasks, a couple stars who can contribute in bunches, veteran players with experience and youth and energy to provide a spark off the bench..
His first point is why this article is a POS. The Pistons don't need a top five player to win championships, so you can throw this article in the garbage.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mavsfan1000 @ Apr 15 2006, 11:19 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Billups is a top 5 player</div>Ever heard of Tim Duncan, Shaq, Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Garnett just to list a few names offf the top of my head.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Diesel @ Apr 15 2006, 09:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Ever heard of Tim Duncan, Shaq, Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Garnett just to list a few names offf the top of my head.</div>Plus Steve Nash
And the Mavs have a top 5 player, and some very good defensive players, with Josh Howard being his main sidekick, and the fact that he's young, and not quite a star, yet, is the only reason they aren't on this list.I think someone put alot of time into this peice, and brings up some good points, but Detriot did prove it wrong.
My blueprint:- Unselfish PG- Defensive mentality- A player who can take over games late- An inside presence- Shooters
im tired of people putitng Wade in the top 5 or even top 10 in the NBA, but yeh the PIstons did prove this wrong.. but nice read.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PureMvp @ Apr 16 2006, 03:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>im tired of people putitng Wade in the top 5 or even top 10 in the NBA, but yeh the PIstons did prove this wrong.. but nice read.</div>I'm not a Wade fan but I know how much he does for the Heat. Wade fills up the stat line through points, assist, steals, blocks, and even rebounds. He is the closest thing to Jordan's game. Jordan didn't depend on 3 pointers for points early in his career.
You need a top coach also to win a championship, don't forget that. Last three coaches to win it all were Popovich, Larry Brown, and Phil Jackson. The Point guard, the coach, and the Post presence are the most important parts in my books.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SunnyD @ Apr 17 2006, 03:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>You need a top coach also to win a championship, don't forget that. Last three coaches to win it all were Popovich, Larry Brown, and Phil Jackson. The Point guard, the coach, and the Post presence are the most important parts in my books.</div>Add to that depth, experience, defense and chemistry and you have a winner..
