The 10 Greatest Teams in NBA History (As Proclaimed by the Puma)

A little bit ago I did one of the statistical deep dives that I have been known to do from time to time and chose my ten greatest basketball players of all time. Well then one of the loyal fives of readers said in a glancing comment, you should do the top teams of all time too! Well as someone who will never turn down an opportunity to talk about basketball I am taking you up on that challenge sir!

10. 2015-16 Golden St. Warriors (73-9)
Kicking off my list of the top ten teams of all time is the team that broke my beloved Bulls record for most wins in a regular season. Now why would I have them at ten? Well despite their dominance it came down to the simple fact that they did not win the championship.

The play that keeps this team from being much higher

In fact they had one of the more epic collapses in recent history. That being said they finished first in the league in offensive rating, 5th in the league in defensive rating, and had the 2nd best offensive pace. Featuring 2 of the best three point shooters in recent history if not all time in Klay Thompson and Steph Curry and 2 of the best defensive anchors in recent history in Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala.

9. 2013-14 San Antonio Spurs (67-15)
Next up we have the perennial contenders San Antonio Spurs. Of all of their championship runs this may have been the most masterful of all of them. Coming off a loss to the Miami Heat in the previous Finals this team had a chip on its shoulder. As a team they began probably the most seamless handling of the team from one superstar in Tim Duncan to the next generation of superstar in Kawahi Leonard.

Calm down Kawahi!

Using a combination of defense anchored by Duncan in the post and Leonard on the wing, they also were instrumental in ushering in the current style of offense being used teams like the Warriors and the Rockets. Granted it's all a wrinkle of the offense Don Nelson was doing in the early to mid 90s.

8. 1985-86 Boston Celtics (67-15)
There may not have been a better front court in NBA history than the one boasted by the '85 Celtics. Four hall of famers led by Larry Bird were out for vengeance after losing in the Finals the previous year. They would go on to lead the league in margin of victory, defensive rating, three point percentage, defensive rebounds and total rebounds.

I'm here to kick ass and chew bubblegum and I'm all out of bubblegum

They would fly through the playoffs sweeping my beloved Bulls, beating the Hawks in 5, and sweeping the Bucks to go on to the Finals. There they dispatched the upstart Houston Rockets led by the original twin towers Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson winning each game by at least 12 points.

7. 1988-89 Detroit Pistons (63-19)
As much as it pains me, this team is high on the list because if we're being honest no team has been as balanced as this squad. They had 6 players average over 13 points per game and 4 guys averaged over 5 rebounds per night. With this kind of balance even if Isaiah Thomas or Joe Dumars had an off night they more than capable of picking up the slack.

What this playoff run by this squad is most famous for implementing is the Jordan Rules. Michael Jordan had just gone super saiyan for a full season averaging 32.5 points to go along with 8 assists and 8 rebounds. They harassed and played Jordan physical and basically didn't worry about anyone else. It was the perfect scheme. And once they got to the finals in a development no one saw coming they just straight up swept the Showtime Lakers right out the playoffs. Bad Boys, first you peaked my curiosity, but that gives you my attention.


6. 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers (68-13)
The 1966-67 76ers were led by Wilt Chamberlain and his 24 points and 24 rebounds. But by no means was it a one man show. Add hall of famers Billy Cunningham and Hal Greer and the groundwork is laid for a purely dominant team.This team set the record for the best winning percentage of all time and was chosen as the greatest team for the NBA 35th Anniversary Team in 1980.

Now while I may disagree with that assessment I can not disagree with the excellence exhibited by this team. First in offensive rating, points per game, margin of victory and third in defensive rating. To this day they still have the best 50 game start in NBA history wining 46 of their first 50 games.

5. 1964-65 Boston Celtics (62-18)
The 1964-65 season was the Celtics 19th season in the NBA. They won their 8th championship. So to say there was growing pains would not be the most accurate statement. To give you an idea of how good this team was, of the 13 men on the roster FIVE of them made the Hall of Fame as did their coach the legend himself, Red Auerbach.

Hit em with the 23 skadoo! 

While not as statistically dominant as other teams on the list I think you'd be hard pressed to find a more consistent team. Leading the league in offensive pace, defensive rating, opponents points per game and rebounding, Bill Russell and the boys basically blocked and fast breaked their way past the opponents beating the Lakers in 5 winning by an average of 21 points.

4. 1991-92 Chicago Bulls (67-15)
Oh you knew this was coming so buckle up buckaroos, it's time for the Puma to wax poetically about the Chicago Bulls. Now while the 90-91 Bulls were the team that jumpstarted the dynasty, it was the 1991 edition that truly personified dominance.

With a league high 67 wins the Bulls of course were led by Michael Jordan with 30.1 points per game but the performance of his supporting cast is not to be overlooked. Scottie Pippen averaged 21 and was as Chuck Daly called him a Swiss Army knife player. Horace Grant averaged a double-double and B.J. Armstrong shot over 40% from the 3 point line.

3. 2016-17 Golden State Warriors (67-15)
The team that was the presumptive favorite coming into the season filled a hole that didn't even need to be filled when they pulled the heist of the century and signed Kevin Durant who could be the most gifted scorer of his time. Seriously when has a 7 footer had handles, could post up, shoot the three over defenses and be a ridiculous finisher?

Add that to possibly the best shooter of all time in Steph Curry, a top 5 shooter in Klay Thompson, and two swiss army knife players like Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala and you have the recipe for dominance. And dominate they did. They led the league in points per game, offensive rating and not to be comfused as a one trick pony they finished in the top 5 in defensive rating. They completely obliterated their opponents in the playoffs finishing with a 16-1 record (a new NBA record). They also had the best post season start in NBA history winning their first 15 games. Hot. Damn.

2. 1986-87 LA Lakers (65-17)
Now when we talked about defensive balance in regards to the Pistons, the Lakers were the epitome of offensive balance with 7 players averaging in double figures. Led by Magic Johnson who averaged 24 points, 12 assists and 6 rebounds this was by no means a one man show. In fact Kareem Abdul Jabaar averaged 17.5 points a game and he was 86 years old (approximately.)

The sky hook was problems.

They flew threw the regular season and that momentum continued in the playoffs as they won 11 of their first 12 games. Once in the finals they were against a familiar foe in the Boston Celtics but this time would not be as competitve as years past and the Lake show show would win the franchises 10th NBA title.

1. 1995-96 Chicago Bulls (72-10)
And here we are with the greatest team in NBA history and surprise, surprise it's the Chicago Bulls! Where to begin? Well first off they won their first 37 games of the season, won 33 road games which was a record until it was broken by the Warriors of 2015-16, and had the best combined regular and post season record going 87-13. They obviously led the league in wins, margin of victory, offensive rating, defensive rating, turnover percentage, and offensive rebound percentage. In a word they were absolutely dominant.

They won 11 of their first 12 playoff games and dispatched the upstart SuperSonics in 6. Led by the original Big 3 of Jordan, Pippen and Rodman they became one of the most awarded teams of all time. Phil Jackson won coach of the year, Toni Kukoc won 6th man of the year, Michael Jordan won MVP of the regular season, all star game and the Finals. Rodman and Pippen were both members of the All-Defensive First Team and Jordan and Pippen were both All NBA first team. Needless to say their accomplishments are nothing short of amazing. As the motto for that season went; "72-10 don't mean a thing without that ring."

Well there you have it, young Puma has sat and looked at grainy YouTube videos, and poured through the team stats of every team for 71 seasons. You people should be grateful!

I Hope I'm Wrong...But I'm Probably Not.

I'm gonna be blunt. I'm really trying not to get my hopes up in the tragic tale of Botham Jean. If you're unaware who he is, he is the young man who was in his home and a Dallas Police officer who apparently was confused tried to enter his apartment and for committing the egregious crime of walking through his apartment to the door while someone who did not reside there was trying to enter he is no longer of this earth. A case that one would think is as open and shut as it gets is following the same tried and true script every time something like this happens. 

First the police officer Amber Guyger, is given all the benefit of the doubt. "She had just worked a long shift." "She went to the wrong apartment." And of course the classic line of reasoning, "she feared for her life." You know who else probably feared for their life? Botham Jean. But his benefit of the doubt was erased by a confused constable. Yet her word is being considered an accurate representation of what happened that night of the 6th despite her ever changing account. In the arrest warrant it states when she entered the door was slightly open so when she inserted the key, the door opened right up and that is when she came across Jean and he ignored the verbal commands of a whole ass person who does not pay rent there I might add. In the search warrant (of the murdered victim's apartment) it states "An off-duty Dallas Police Officer, who was wearing a full Dallas Police uniform, was attempting to enter apartment number 1478, with a set of keys. An unknown male, inside the apartment, confronted the officer at the door. A neighbor stated he heard an exchange of words, immediately followed by at least two gunshots.” So which is it? Did he open the door or was the door already open? Is it oochie wally wally or is it one mic? 

Secondly, you read that correctly in the previous paragraph. A search warrant was executed in the home of Jean. And it was even released that marijuana had been found. Well open and shut case Johnson! He was high and attacked this delicate flower! The Dallas PD, on the day the man was buried, is releasing what was found in his apartment as if he was the criminal. What was in Amber Guyger's apartment you may ask? Well we won't know because her apartment wasn't searched and she allegedly has moved out of said apartment already so we'll never know what she had in her apartment. She was even given three days before being charged with a crime possibly to get her story straight and this was the best they came up with. 

So yes, I'm not getting my hopes up that there will be justice for Botham Jean because I can't deal with the anger that's gonna come when she skates with probation and no admission of guilt. And my  fear is that Botham Jean joins Aiyana Stanley-Jones, Rekia Boyd, John Crawford, Akai Gurley, Timothy Stansbury and others who's only crime was being present on this mortal coil. 

Hell in a Cell 2018 Preview

Another month, another chance for me to sit down and wax poetically about the are of professional wrestling! This time I'll take you into Satan's structure itself, Hellllllll in a Cellllllllll! As I usually state most of these will be wrong.

Daniel Bryan and Brie Bella VS The Miz and Maryse
Daniel Bryan is great. The Miz is great. Maryse is great as a manager. Then you have Brie Bella. Despite what the corporate Youtube account and announcers proclaiming her and Nikki Bella as integral members of the ongoing women's evolution in wrestling they were and remain average in ring and stiff as all hell on the mic.

Geronimo! 

While I'm sure Miz and Bryan will be doing the heavy lifting this match is not gonna be great. I just pray that Brie Bella does not go for any dives because...wooo buddy they are awful.
Winner: Bryan and Bella

Rusev and Aiden English vs The New Day (Smackdown Tag Team Championship)
I love both of these teams. First, Rusev and Aiden English. It's refreshing that rather than go the tried method of one screws up, his partner turns on him with these two. English cost Rusev a few matches, showed remorse and then made it up to his friend. And Rusev forgave him! As for the New Day, I mean they are amazing, little else has to be said. There has been no build to this feud I expect both teams to bring it. I especially want to see Big E and Rusev in the ring because duh.

These two should be battling for each other for World titles and maybe it's the optimist in me but one day we shall. i do think the next contender for the Tag titles will be the Bar so for that reason I think the New Day retains. Although I wouldn't be mad if Rusev Day pulled off a miracle.
Winner: New Day

Jeff Hardy VS Randy Orton
This is a feud that surprisingly has not made me roll my eyes every time it's on TV like most feuds with these two involved. The main reason for this has to be creative let Randy Orton be something that he just naturally portrays. A sadistic ass clown. From pulling the man's ear lobes to just vicious assaults he has come across as dangerous and unhinged.

That's gonna leave a mark.

This allows Jeff Hardy to do the role he is best at, a man who is willing to do whatever it takes in a match to win a feud. That said I would think that this feud has gone as far as it can to be honest and give that it will go down in Hell in a Cell, I think that the charismatic enigma escapes with a victory. I mean the guy has been getting kicked in the dick for 2 months, I'd say he has earned the win.Winner: Jeff Hardy

Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose vs Drew McIntyre and Dolph Ziggler (Raw Tag Team Championship)
Now this should be a pretty damn good match. I mean it would be hard not to have a great match with the WWE's version of the 5 star bout machine Seth Rollins, a reinvigorated Dean Ambrose, Drew McIntyre who looks like he could be a future champion and the always dependable Dolph Ziggler.

A glimpse into the future?

I think this match is gonna be quite violent and the result could possibly play into the Universal Championship match. I think in the end the Shield will get the win and we get another run with them as the dominant faction in all of wrestling.
Winner: Ambrose and Rollins

Alexa Bliss VS Ronda Rousey (Raw Women's Championship)
This match is going to be the biggest foregone conclusion of the night. There is absolutely no way that Alexa Bliss walks away victorious. Even the build up has been kind of lame to be honest.  I mean honestly they haven't even let Rousey show any vulnerability at all leading up to this and if there is not even the slightest chance that Rousey can lose then what's the point of the match? Hoenstly I think I'd be more interested if this was Sasha Banks vs well anyone.
Winner: Rousey

Becky Lynch VS Charlotte Flair (Smackdown Women's Championship)
Now this has been a pretty damn good feud. You have Becky Lynch who worked hard, won her matches and earned a title shot at Summerslam. Then you have Charlotte who showed up, won one match after being gone for weeks and boom, she also gets a title shot. So after Charlotte blindsides Becky to win the title she expected her to hug her and be happy? Nah son. And the fans felt that too, cheering as Becky gave Charlotte them hands all over Brooklyn.

Since then we have seen Becky rationally explain how she has had to earn every shot and is done playing nice while Charlotte kind of comes across insincere and kind of entitled. I think in this match you're going to see the rare double turn as Becky will leave as a face and Charlotte will be getting booed. Hopefully Becky leaves as champ though because come on, she has EARNED it.
Winner: Becky Lynch

Samoa Joe VS AJ Styles (WWE Championship)
Now this feud has been extremely personal. On one hand you have the super popular Styles who has become the longest reigning champ in Smackdown history but has had kind of an underwhelming reign. Then you have Godzilla himself, the Samoan named Joe. There are a few wrestlers who I could listen talk about anything, Juice Robinson, Kevin Owens but right at the top of that list may be Samoa Joe.

Joe has been spitting hot fire since this feud started and frankly the title scene could use a little freshening up. Imagine the possibilities of a Samoa Joe - Big E, Rusev or eventually Daniel Bryan. So it should not be a surprise to anyone who I'm choosing.
Winner: Samoa Joe

Braun Strowman VS Roman Reigns (Universal Championship)
And here we are, the match you know is closing the show. Strowman wins the Money in the Bank contract and instead of surprising with the cash in he uses it to set up a Hell in a Cell match. If I had to guess this was to make his loss a little more palatable. Because whether we like it or not he is losing and the Shield is going to have every title on the Raw roster and it may be a while before any of them lose it.

I could see Ziggler and McIntyre causing Strowman to lose thus turning Strowman face and a feud with those two can begin and it frees the Shield up to feud with an up and coming team like the Authors of Pain or even the Revival. My only hope is that the match gets 20-25 minutes and is at least competitive because it would be a damn shame if they squandered the Monster among Men.
Winner: Roman Reigns

There you have it folks, just the ramblings and prognostications you didn't ask for but I could tell you needed. Until next time this is your friendly neighborhood Puma signing out.