Spurs have their 16th consecutive 50 win season
Mon Apr 06, 2015 9:47 am
A couple of days late in bringing this up, but the Spurs have recorded their 16th consecutive season with 50 or more wins this season. NBA.com has posted an article on the feat here, which is worth a read.
That's also 17 50+ win seasons in the past 18 seasons, which gives Tim Duncan more 50+ win seasons than 26 NBA teams. The streak would actually be at 18 seasons if not for the lockout in 1999, and even then, their 37-13 record was equivalent to a 60 win season in the normal course.
It's a testament to the way they've been able to retool on the fly, drafting well and transitioning smoothly between number one options. Granted, they lucked out big time in 1997 when a tough season led to the top pick and Tim Duncan, but plenty of times have had good luck and squandered it, or their success hasn't been nearly as long-lived. A lot of people talk about how the Lakers have remained relevant throughout the years, and for good reason: they've got the best all-time winning percentage in league history, the second most championships, and they generally haven't dipped below average (ie. in contention for the Playoffs at least). These past couple of years are the first time since the early days in Minneapolis that they've been down for more than a year.
With what the Spurs have done in the past couple of decades or so, however, they have to be right up there. Even going back to the 90s, they only dipped below 50 wins three times (not counting the lockout shortened 1999 season) after David Robinson made his debut: the injury plagued 1997 season that led to Duncan, and a couple of seasons with 47 and 49 wins (close enough to 50) that still placed them fifth in the West. Throw in five titles and several appearances in the second round or later - several seasons of relevance - and you realise that they've been one of the best teams in the league for the past quarter of a century.
That's also 17 50+ win seasons in the past 18 seasons, which gives Tim Duncan more 50+ win seasons than 26 NBA teams. The streak would actually be at 18 seasons if not for the lockout in 1999, and even then, their 37-13 record was equivalent to a 60 win season in the normal course.
It's a testament to the way they've been able to retool on the fly, drafting well and transitioning smoothly between number one options. Granted, they lucked out big time in 1997 when a tough season led to the top pick and Tim Duncan, but plenty of times have had good luck and squandered it, or their success hasn't been nearly as long-lived. A lot of people talk about how the Lakers have remained relevant throughout the years, and for good reason: they've got the best all-time winning percentage in league history, the second most championships, and they generally haven't dipped below average (ie. in contention for the Playoffs at least). These past couple of years are the first time since the early days in Minneapolis that they've been down for more than a year.
With what the Spurs have done in the past couple of decades or so, however, they have to be right up there. Even going back to the 90s, they only dipped below 50 wins three times (not counting the lockout shortened 1999 season) after David Robinson made his debut: the injury plagued 1997 season that led to Duncan, and a couple of seasons with 47 and 49 wins (close enough to 50) that still placed them fifth in the West. Throw in five titles and several appearances in the second round or later - several seasons of relevance - and you realise that they've been one of the best teams in the league for the past quarter of a century.