What it takes to win the NBA Championship
Each game of NBA basketball has 3 distinct phases:
(I) Offense, (II) Defense and III) Rebounding.
Offense is what happens when a team has possession of the ball.
Defense is what happens when that team’s opponent has possession of the ball.
Rebounding is what happens when neither team has possession of the ball.
Every year since 2000-2001, each of the two teams which have reached the NBA Finals (i.e. the Champion and the Finalist) have also finished the regular season schedule with a Quality Rating (QR) of 34 or better and a Quality Index Rank (QIR) of #11 or better (when compared to all playoff teams that year).
A team’s Quality Rating (QR) is calculated by the following equation:
QR = A + B + C, where
A = Score Differential Rank (Score Differential ordered from 1-30), when Score Differential = [Points Scored Per Game] – [Opponent’s Points Scored Per Game];
B = Opponent’s Points Scored Per Game Rank (ordered from 1-30) ;
C = Rebounding Differential Rank (Rebounding Differential ordered from 1-30), when Rebounding Differential = [Rebounds Per Game] – [Opponent’s Rebounds Per Game];
and,
Quality Index Rank (QIR) = QR ordered from 1-16.
2006-2007
Champion, San Antonio Spurs, QR = 12; QIR = #2
Finalist, Cleveland Cavaliers, QR = 16; QIR = #4
2005-2006
Champion, Miami Heat, QR = 20; QIR = #3
Finalist, Dallas Mavericks, QR = 13; QIR = #2
2004-2005
Champion, San Antonio Spurs, QR = 9; QIR = #1 (tie)
Finalist, Detroit Pistons, QR = 9; QIR = #1 (tie)
2003-2004
Champion, Detroit Pistons, QR = 8; QIR = #1
Finalist, LA Lakers, QR = 34; QIR = #7
2002-2003
Champion, San Antonio Spurs, QR = 17; QIR = #1
Finalist, New Jersey Nets, QR = 19; QIR = #4
2001-2002
Champion, LA Lakers, QR = 21; QIR = #4
Finalist, New Jersey Nets, QR = 22; QIR = #5
2000-2001
Champion, LA Lakers, QR = 34; QIR = #9
Finalist, Philadelphia 76ers, QR = 10; QIR = #1
Within any given year, measuring a team’s performance in this way - which balances Offense, Defense and Rebounding – is a simple and effective tool for determining whether or not it has a legitimate chance to win the NBA championship.
Does your favorite team have what it takes to win the NBA championship this year?
Check their QR and QIR … the answer might surprise you!
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Update:
Now including …
2007-2008
Champion, Boston Celtics, QR = 6; QIR = #1
Finalist, LA Lakers, QR = 30; QIR = #10
March 13, 2008 at 8:57 pm |
[...] What it takes to win the NBA Championship [...]
March 14, 2008 at 7:58 am |
[...] What it takes to win the NBA Championship [...]
April 4, 2008 at 8:27 pm |
[...] What it takes to win the NBA Championship [...]
April 18, 2008 at 6:32 pm |
[...] What it takes to win the NBA Championship [...]
July 19, 2008 at 11:59 am |
This post was fairly enlightening; thanks for describing the QR and QIR metrics.
If I’m reading this post correctly, lower QR values are preferable to higher QR values. This implies that the 2003-04 edition of the Lakers was actually much weaker than expected. Looking back on that season, I remember that there was a lot of hype about their 4 superstars (O’Neal, Bryant, Malone and Payton).
Maybe that team lacked the balance needed to win a championship…
July 20, 2008 at 3:31 am |
flashbuzzer,
You’re most welcome.
IMHO, the most important things the ‘03-04 Lakers team lacked were:
i) Cohesion; and,
ii) Good health for the Finals.
Gary Peyton never did buy in to what the Triangle Offense was all about and several of the teams key players were severely hindered by injuries by the time the Finals rolled around that it was almost impossible for that specific Lakers team to compete on an even playing field with that group of Pistons. That said, it was also the case that, despite having a collection of high profile players, this version of the Lakers was not balanced in the way which championship NBA teams usually are.
August 17, 2008 at 9:48 pm |
What do you think about the Sixers resigning Iguodala?
August 18, 2008 at 9:01 pm |
Overall, their team has moved in a positive direction since hiring Ed Stefanski as their GM.
Signing Iggy was a solid move for the 76ers.
It will help them to contend for a playoff spot in the EC.
However, in order to become the best team in the East they will need a better WING player than Iggy in their first 5.
August 19, 2008 at 6:44 am |
Yeah, agreed. But they had to resign him. The Philly fans would’ve gone crazy if they’d gone out and signed Brand and then ignored the home-grown guy.
August 19, 2008 at 7:04 am |
I agree.
The most important thing about the 76ers’ improvement has been their commitment to rebounding.
With this aspect of the game as their basis, they can stay in games against good teams for a long time.
If a player like Thaddeus Young can continue to develop offensively, he will aide their chances for success.
Definitely, a team on the rise in the Eastern Conference.
September 8, 2008 at 8:49 am |
[...] and turnovers … which are totally out-weighed however by the benefits associated with Dramatically improved REBOUNDING & DEFENSE (with there still being ‘enough’ shooters on the floor to keep their opponent honest vs JO [...]
September 16, 2008 at 8:37 am |
[...] By returning the focus in Phoenix to what makes for a championship calibre product, in this League … i.e. a commitment to REBOUNDING, Team Defense and a Balanced [higly structured] Team Offense … Steve Kerr may have accomplished in just one season at the helm something which Jerry Colangelo, Bryan Colangelo & Mike D’Antoni [before him] were NOT able to do over the course of their careers in the ‘Valley of the Sun’ … i.e. transform this team into a LEGITIMATE CONTENDER for an NBA championship … i.e. please see, What it takes to win the NBA Championship. [...]
September 29, 2008 at 10:44 am |
[...] Rebounding & Defense are crucial elements for a legitimate contender in the NBA … but so, too, is QUALITY DEPTH throughout a team’s roster. [...]
November 3, 2008 at 11:52 am |
[...] 1. The lack of QUALITY DEPTH throughout the roster. 2. An inability to REBOUND the ball like a team with a top notch QUALITY INDEX RATING. [...]
December 16, 2008 at 9:19 pm |
[...] What it takes to win the NBA Championship [...]