Greatest Team of the Decade: Pats or Lakers?

[BradyManny]

You can't compare an NFL team with an NBA team, in my opinion.

I think a more proper question would be, who impressed you more?

Agreed. What the Pats did in the NFL is far more impressive than what the Lakers or Spurs have done in the NBA.

Frankly, what the Celtics did in one season to turn around their entire franchise was the most impressive thing to go down in the NBA recently. The NBA is set up as a ridicolously stratified society - there are very clear haves and have nots, and there is no moving between the haves and have nots quickly - or at all. Once you have an elite player in the NBA, you're set for 10 years - if you don't have said player, you're screwed indefinitely, and stuck in a permanent Purgatory. You'll finish in the middle of the pack, draft in the middle of the first round (which isn't any better than late first round or early 2nd round), and continue to be a middle of the road team until the end of time.

So what Ainge pulls off truly impresses me.

Sorry for the sidetrack.

But, back to Lakers v Pats - it does turn into an NBA v NFL comparison. And given the nature of the NBA, and given the state of the league, its refereeing, its stardom, its salary cap, etc., its just not worthy of putting any team achievements in the NBA in the same category as those in the NFL. You are really comparing apples to oranges. And this is coming from someone who truly loves the game of basketball.

 

[BionicPatriot]

maybe we could ask tim donaghey.

Exactly, This is why basketball frustrates the living **** out of me. It's so annoying when your team plays on the road, you just know if you're going against Kobe/Wade/Lebron in their house it's going to be a long night at the FT line.

A lot of people claim the Lakers got terrible calls in the playoffs for them. Add to the fact a ref from that time comes out and says the league is so fixed and you tell me why they're not questioned?

 

[BradyManny]

A lot of people claim the Lakers got terrible calls in the playoffs for them. Add to the fact a ref from that time comes out and says the league is so fixed and you tell me why they're not questioned?

You don't have to even be mildly paranoid to think the infamous Kings-Lakers series was influenced by the league. I'm not sure I believe everything Donaghy says, but I believe him that that series, and that game 6 was rigged. It was, without a doubt, the most blatantly biased officiating I've seen in the NBA.

 

[Patspsycho]

You don't have to even be mildly paranoid to think the infamous Kings-Lakers series was influenced by the league. I'm not sure I believe everything Donaghy says, but I believe him that that series, and that game 6 was rigged. It was, without a doubt, the most blatantly biased officiating I've seen in the NBA.

Lakers Kings Game 6 2002 NBA Playoffs Officiating breakdown -- from 82games.com

 

[BradyManny]

Lakers Kings Game 6 2002 NBA Playoffs Officiating breakdown -- from 82games.com

That's a useless exercise though - it's one guy's subjective opinion on three other guy's subjective judgment calls. I have my own opinion, I watched the game, and like the rest of the world, thought it was pure garbage. Everyone is entitled to their $.02.

 

[aluminum seats]

But, back to Lakers v Pats - it does turn into an NBA v NFL comparison. And given the nature of the NBA, and given the state of the league, its refereeing, its stardom, its salary cap, etc., its just not worthy of putting any team achievements in the NBA in the same category as those in the NFL. You are really comparing apples to oranges. And this is coming from someone who truly loves the game of basketball.

I actually think the differences make the comparison interesting--good fodder for debate. But in a sense I agree that the differences in the leagues favor the Pats. I noted in the other thread that the NFL being King in the U.S. is an element of the Pats' favor, in that their stature is just so enormous.

(Your take on the state of the NBA is interesting, btw--just don't want to go too far down that road on a Pats' board.)

 

[condon84]

It's hard to compare regular seasons between the two sports. The NFL regular season means more because the limited number of games that teams have. Meanwhile in the NBA, you have 82 games. The way NBA teams have to travel, play back-to-back games on the road against teams that suck, it's more likely for players to not give it their all. Meanwhile in the NFL, every week is almost a must win and you hardly see teams loaf their way through a game.

The better comparison would be their playoff records. I don't want to put the effort right now (sorry, I'm feeling lazy), but if someone can compare the number of playoff games the Pats have won/lost, versus the number of playoff series the Lakers have won/lost, that would be more indicative of how both teams faired against top notch competition.

 

[Amnorix]

I hate the Lakers with a passion and obviously am a huge Pats fan, but I think the Lakers are easily the better team. Other than winning what defines greatness... and if you want to use the regular season argument, how come the Colts aren't ahead of us then?

The only argument you can make in the Pats favor is that football has a legit salary cap while in bball from what I understand doesn't really matter. Plus Pau Gasol was handed to them on a silver platter. But hey that's what the NBA is nowadays. The Pats accomplishments may be more impressive. But talking strictly which team was better it's easily the Lakers.

Did you take into account the massively questionable (i.e. fraudulent) refereeing that took place during the Lakers three-in-a-row early this decade?

You can talk spygate all you want, but it doesn't begin to compare in terms of tainting the championships, IMHO.

 

[BadMoFo]

Wow, what a surprise. The Pats are in the lead.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

It's an unfair comparison because they're different sports. But if I had to chose one, it's easily the Lakers. Being a long time Lakers fan, they have flat out dominated teams in the playoffs - unlike the Patriots. In addition, the Lakers look as though they're going to capture ring #5 this decade and the Pats are going to have to settle for 3. Last but not least, the Lakers are loaded for the next several years while the Patriots are on the decline.

 

[BadMoFo]

According to Forbes, which takes into account more than just winning, the team of the Decade are the Spurs. Colts are the Top NFL team.

The Best (And Worst) Teams of the Decade - Forbes.com

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Did you take into account the massively questionable (i.e. fraudulent) refereeing that took place during the Lakers three-in-a-row early this decade?

You can talk spygate all you want, but it doesn't begin to compare in terms of tainting the championships, IMHO.

Determining the degree of taint is subjective at best. I personally think neither team's titles are tainted and neither controversy should be taken into account here. I'm sure if you ask Laker fans they'd think spygate is the bigger issue. It's not worth arguing.

 

[aluminum seats]

It's an unfair comparison because they're different sports. But if I had to chose one, it's easily the Lakers. Being a long time Lakers fan, they have flat out dominated teams in the playoffs - unlike the Patriots. In addition, the Lakers look as though they're going to capture ring #5 this decade and the Pats are going to have to settle for 3. Last but not least, the Lakers are loaded for the next several years while the Patriots are on the decline.

Lots wrong with this post. First, what's with being a Lakers fan and a Pats fan, that sounds bogus. Being loaded for the next several years doesn't have anything to do with this decade (whether it's true is another story.) And you can only give the Lakers 5 titles this decade if you make the decade 11 years.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

First, what's with being a Lakers fan and a Pats fan, that sounds bogus.

LOL yeah that is so lame, no offense HeyBro. It's still not the worst I've come across, one person I know is a Yankees/Lakers/Duke fan

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

The Red Wings of the NHL have been pretty darn good this decade too.

 

[Schmo]

Actually I'm also a Lakers/Pats fan. I grew up in LA... tell me what team I should be a fan of in the late 80's/early 90's. The Raiders? Rams? I started following the Pats and got addicted during the 90's. Hopefully that's good enough for all of you.

As far as the question, I actually consider myself more of a Pats fan (despite watching around 90 Laker games last year including playoffs). But I quickly chose the Lakers. There are a lot of particulars you can analyze: winning streaks, winning %, playoff winning % etc. Other than the number of championships, the most impressive thing to me is that the Lakers won championships with 2 completely different teams. Putting together that kind of excellence twice in one decade is simply amazing. That said, if both the Lakers and Pats win their respective championships this year, I would easily change my vote to the Pats.

As far as the whole cheating/officiating thing, it is completely shocking that Patriots fans would go there. We all know that despite spygate, the Pats are easily the best NFL team of the decade. I understand a rivalry like Lakers/Celtics, but I don't understand how you all can quickly become the same kind of people you have despised since September 2007.

 

[MaxVonDoom]

Determining the degree of taint is subjective at best. I personally think neither team's titles are tainted and neither controversy should be taken into account here. I'm sure if you ask Laker fans they'd think spygate is the bigger issue. It's not worth arguing.

He did ask a Lakers fan.....oh snap!


BTW The Lakers championship last year was a fraud because of Garnetts injury. It was akin to Steelers/Seahawks or Steelers/Cardinals

 

[SyN65]

You can't really compare different sports but it's the Lakers.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

Lots wrong with this post. First, what's with being a Lakers fan and a Pats fan, that sounds bogus. Being loaded for the next several years doesn't have anything to do with this decade (whether it's true is another story.) And you can only give the Lakers 5 titles this decade if you make the decade 11 years.

LOL yeah that is so lame, no offense HeyBro. It's still not the worst I've come across, one person I know is a Yankees/Lakers/Duke fan

I live in the LA area and I grew up a Lakers fan. I became a fan of the Patriots in the late 90's.

 

[MaxVonDoom]

Determining the degree of taint is subjective at best.

Determining the degree of taint is easy you start at the old balloon knot and measure to right up against the underside of the brain bag.