Why No 70s Team Won Back To Back Titles

Every decade in NBA History besides the 70s had at least one team win back to back championships. But why?
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#nba #lakers #warriors

[@unclehays750]

Which 70s team do you think had the best chance to repeat? Also, sorry if my voice sounds a little weird. I've been sick for about a week.

[@ronepting5030]

Warriors, Bullets, Knicks should've repeated

[@carlosleger8475]

I think the Sonic’s would’ve won back to back titles if Dennis Johnson doesn’t go 0-14 in game 7 of the 1978 finals. I’ll also put the warriors as another team.

[@sirbradfordofhousejones]

Definitely the Knicks. They had a bit of everything. Scoring, a good big man, Clyde, and the depth needed. Too bad they had the Bullets and Celtics at that same level

[@Glide9441]

Knicks

[@mongoslade277]

The Warriors in 1976. Rick Barry took 2 shots in the 2nd half of game 7 of the conference finals. Both shots were right underneath the rim. The 1978 Blazers. They were on pace for 70 wins. Injuries depleted them

[@hitek9too255]

Finally a video talking about 70's basketball and not always stuck in the 90's.

[@fortynights1513]

The 70’s is often portrayed as a dark age. You’ll find that the league wasn’t doing well financially, but that era did have very good parity, and some good, overlooked players (though other than Kareem, there’s nobody else who played primarily in that decade who you’re likely to find higher than maybe 25th to 30th on an all time player list).

[@Bigedub101]

​@fortynights1513 U right because alot of the good players played in the ABA. Hell the the 2nd best player of the 70s played in ABA

[@brucebaron1212]

It was a strange era when the Spurs and Rockets were in the east and the Bucks and Pistons were in the west

[@oliverdelica2289]

How did that ever happen?

[@hitek9too255]

Yep Kareem and Big O had to face Wilt, West, and the Lakers in the WCF.

[@romanramirez7847]

Bulls were also in the West as well.

[@11kful]

The realignment wasn't set right due to how the elder teams were already lined up. But you could tell the head guys of the NBA weren't taking their league seriously.

[@jacobwilliams1223]

ABA had a lot to do with it. A lot of the best players in the 70s were not in the NBA, and the two Leagues caused a split in the talent pool and thus there was not one dominant team like there are in other decades in basketball.

[@fortynights1513]

If this wasn’t the case, do you think a repeat champion could have been more likely?

[@jacobwilliams1223]

@@fortynights1513 There is no doubt in my mind. Guys like Dr. J and Moses would've helped tip the scales from somebody had they and other ABA stars gotten to the NBA sooner. Walton's injuries also prevented the Trail Blazers from probably least winning another title.

[@Bigedub101]

​@@jacobwilliams1223Yea forgot about that too but the ABA when u look back at it was more like modern NBA too.

[@axucaroso]

Yay! The 70s were way more competitive than people know...lots of great players, no superteams, and teams were built, not bought ir rented.

[@keithjoseph128]

More superteams the the debate show make you believe there are now. And you can buy team with a salary cap.

[@jamoa3395]

Tell that to the firefighters and blunders that people said 😂😂

[@Kalinbuggs]

Tbh the 2020s have been like the 70s so far 2020 Lakers 2021 Bucks 2022 Warriors 2023 Nuggets

[@keithjoseph128]

@@Kalinbuggs every NBA champion is like the 70s-80s. That's why they win. The best combination of ball movement and defense has always won.

[@dusk6159]

Thank god for Hondo Havlicek and other players making the Celtics be the best part exception of them all, otherwise they would've met the same end as the Lakers, until Magic Johnson came around.

[@jackburton6178]

I read the thumbnail as "too much party?" 😂 The widespread use of coke could've contributed, haha

[@unclehays750]

Party on dude

[@charles-cjbox4661]

Not gonna lie the 70 & 74 finals are some all timers for me

[@thamiosmgtow3678]

NES music over old school NBA videos sounds dope

[@josephmayo3253]

So many excellent teams in the 70s. A great era in basketball.

[@Nazoto]

So great that they were thinking of shutting it down... Can't even get to prime time channel. Let's face it teams became great after Bird, Magic and Dr J lead the way to exciting basketball. MJ took it to the next level and the rest is history

[@johnnythekid4601]

@@Nazoto Are you also one of these people that thinks " I could have played in the NBA in that era? Or those white role playing guards in the 70's would get cooked by me and my LA fitness rec league team???" you probably are if you make a stupid comment like thinking the NBA sucked in the 70's

[@wpl8275]

I would argue that the 70's were underappreciated. Both the 70's and 80's had great teams but the 80's were dominated primarily by two great players. @@Nazoto

[@Wallyworld30]

@@Nazoto NBA Merger saved the NBA. They brought in the fun and excitement the NBA was missing. The Merger also brought a TV Contract and TV made Magic and Bird superstars.

[@fortynights1513]

@@NazotoIt’s possible that there were some good teams and players, but that they simply weren’t marketable.

[@TheIcemanthomas]

So far it looks like the 20s is going the same way

[@hamdeali53]

Maybe the nuggets can since there the most consistent

[@coachshawnkent397]

Great Video Definitely a forgotten Decade . Doesn't get talked about at all.

[@thehec8]

If The Big RedHead doesn’t get hurt, the Trail Blazers repeat as champions. They started the season 50-8 & were well on their way. But once he got hurt, that was the beginning of the end Great video…seeing all those hilites was tremendous 🏀

[@tperk]

That was a fascinating decade. The Finals went from power rivalries like Knicks-Lakers to Bullets-Sonics (back to back?) and then Magic & Bird showed up.

[@zacharythomason7359]

Blazers, Celtics ,& Warriors.

[@RayManzarekRocks]

The 1970s NBA was one of the best ev-er! Ultra competitive, great names and individual matchups, lots of very good-to-great teams and very few bad ones, which is why there were no repeat champs. It also was the last decade without the 3-pointer, which made for a far more balanced, aesthetically pleasing game. Oh, and the NBA on CBS was some of the best coverage ever.

[@MFHeadMan]

This gonna blow up fr

[@TheRickeyscott]

The talent level was more balanced in those days and that's what made it so good it came down to who wanted it more.

[@abcdlilbit11]

Another great video deep diving into NBA history! I hope we keep getting these gems from you. Your content is by far the most original out there. All good stuff!!

[@user-rt2mq3qp2k]

You always pull out some of the most unique video topics, great job as always! I was wondering if you could do a video about why the 2013 Draft was extremely bad for almost every sport. I don’t know if this is really your style, but I always wondered this and never found any really good answers

[@cornbreadmilton5265]

agreed 💯.I still go back n look at the 75 Warriors Underdog Story.That season for the Worriors would make for a Great movie,Also NBA 2k needs to add the team to the the LEGENDS roster.

[@westies1962]

Great video! I cannot find too much, if anything wrong with the entire narrative! Very well done!!

[@joejett5084]

The 70s was watered down but yet had parity. With the nba being a thing, all the talent just wasn’t there.

[@parkerjohnson8060]

Keep up the good work my friend.

[@lukesmith9692]

I appreciate you and your work

[@Nolmy300]

You earned a sub bro, very knowledgeable, and the NES osts are fire

[@zacharythomason7359]

Great video, Love the video game music as well, just saying.

[@alexcamp9320]

I thought the title said “Too much party?” And yeah that was probably why ❄️

[@Bigedub101]

😂😂😂😂 that too

[@johnhearn7329]

Nice! I like the Castlevania and Ninja Gaiden music playing in the background! 👍👍

[@BatmanBoss]

Thanks buddy

[@bretskywater774]

I’d say there’s an easier way to determine why no one repeated in the 70s. NO FREE AGENCY

[@75aces97]

The NBA expanded from 9 teams in 1966 to 17 teams by 1971, so the number of teams and roster spots nearly doubled in 5 years. Think about that kind of talent dilution. And if th a t wasn't enough meanwhile the ABA poached some of the best young talent for a while: Rick Barry, Dr J, Artis Gilmore, Dan Issel, Swen Nater, Moses, Mo Lucas, George McGinnis, Gervin, David Thompson, Don Buse, the Joneses. The NBA was struggling just to put out the best possible basketball product.

[@RayManzarekRocks]

Given the increased participation of the sport and population in the country, there were enough competent players to fill NBA roster spots. The scarcity was felt on the ABA benches, which was the equivalent of Triple-A ball.

[@thafinessekid7879]

Loved this video u got a new sub

[@evifnoskcaj]

Your choice of music! ❤

[@wolfiewiggins2810]

If it was such a great era the league wouldn't have been dying out before bird and magic

[@mrbeaverstate]

Can't blame Bill Walton. Just malpractice sending him out with a painkiller.

[@dionysise5008]

I watched all your videos in one week

[@user-td1me4tv3u]

The 1970’s was an interesting decade for The NBA.

[@2414TQB]

No disrespect to the generation before them but the 70s was when the talent started to emerge

[@robleavold84]

Love watching those Cowen’s games such a talent for an undersized centre who could do it all I would have loved him at the lakers after Wilt and before Cream Abb-duel Jab-bar.

[@RayManzarekRocks]

Cowens > Walton.

[@smoothALOE]

There was plenty of great talent, yes, but there was also plenty of talent jumping around between the ABA and NBA and more players were beginning to consider better financial options. Much like the league today, it was more about making money than it was about winning; more of an individual-centered league.

[@RayManzarekRocks]

Huh? The 1970s Knicks were some of the least self-centered teams in NBA history. And players weren't jumping leagues because of bidding wars. The were bailing on ABA teams that couldn't afford them. Players and management have wrangled over money since the first jump ball. But NBA salaries didn't take off until late in the Jordan era, when the player reaped the benefits of huge TV contracts and shoe deals

[@smoothALOE]

@@RayManzarekRocks I don’t see how you disproved anything I just said. Yes, the Knicks played great team ball, but they only won two titles and most of their best players were on the back end of their careers by then.

[@RayManzarekRocks]

@@smoothALOE The ABA was known for its hero ball, but the NBA played a different game. In particular, the Bulls, Cavaliers, Celtics, Pistons, Sonics, Suns, Trail Blazers and Warriors also were known for their team play. The obvious exception was the 76ers, and that's a major reason why they didn't win a title that decade. BTW, how many franchises have ever won two league championships in four seasons?

[@smoothALOE]

@@RayManzarekRocks it was more common in the ABA, but to act like it didn’t exist in the NBA is disingenuous, in my view. The Pistons and Cavs never won anything during that era and neither did the Bulls. The Suns were a slightly above-average team that managed to catch lightning in a bottle long enough to propel themselves to the Finals. The Blazers and Sonics won titles, but it was after the NBA-ABA merger, so it’s a little after the time I was referring to. As for the Warriors, they won a single title, but proceeded to get worse every season after that until Rick Barry eventually went to the Rockets. You ask how many teams won two titles in four seasons, well, the Celtics, also did so in the same decade as did the Lakers and Celtics in the ‘80s until five consecutive teams went back-to-back or three-peated.

[@RayManzarekRocks]

@@smoothALOE Winning was more important in the 1970s than is it now. Not even close. Current players are concerned about their brands and social media, neither of which was a priority back in the day. Those guys rarely took days off. Rest management hadn't been invented yet. So how many franchise have won two league titles in four seasons. Still waiting for your answer. Twenty? Twenty-five? Thirty?

[@kincamell]

Chemistry and or Injuries prevented a lot of Back to Back NBA Championships.

[@williepep-fy7qm]

Because Bill Russell retired

[@RayManzarekRocks]

And rewarded us with some of the worst broadcasting of all time. #DEIHire

[@NelGill1]

The 2020s may be the second decade in NBA history with no back to back champions.

[@hamdeali53]

It’s extremely difficult to go back to back warriors were the last to do it in 2018 but I don’t see anybody in this era going back to back

[@jaycarter646]

More videos on 70s nba!!!

[@austinneveau9387]

no such thing as too much parity. I'd much rather see 10 different champions throughout a decade as opposed to a single team or 2 stringing together a bunch of back to backs

[@chieflancewaiters7034]

@@TheCrypticKnightalready half way to his way now and u still seem invested in the nba

[@patreecepickett7790]

Why Does all of these sports casters lie about No one has Blocked the Sky Hook I seen Wilt Block him More than 10 Different Times

[@sirbradfordofhousejones]

Hey Uncle- do you have any good recommendations for being able to watch 1970s nba games/documentaries?

[@Timoboza]

Feel like the 2020s will be like the 70s in that no team will go back-to-back... similar level of parity as the 70s NBA. We'll see though

[@mongoslade277]

You don't think Denver wins next year?? Like you said it's wide open. Last year Denver lost in the 1st round. Not even sure who's favored in 2024

[@Timoboza]

@@mongoslade277 I don't think Denver wins next year, though it's very possible that they could. We thought the same of the Bucks and Warriors. The parity is very high in the league right now it's difficult to call who'll win

[@hamdeali53]

@@Timoboza maybe the suns win or the lakers are motivated or Celtics a lot of teams can win next year

[@sonny.9998]

At 16:35 is Dr. J in his pure form. Man I love that move... when I was a teenager ( im 62 ) i use to practice that move practically every night... sometimes with a can if i couldn't get a Ball. Thats How it was inda Boston Ghetto of Roxbury. Dig it???

[@williepep-fy7qm]

People have no idea what parity actually is, if Bill Russell hadn’t retired/gotten older he would have 20 chips. Different teams winning titles doesn’t automatically mean parity.

[@basket472]

right, because a lot of these teams faded out and the champion that year was the heavy favorite lmaooo

[@melvinwalls1426]

This was when they was playing to win bread water and sweat the NBA was a contest of the best east and west*

[@blurplebear8573]

It wasn't to much parity it was a much more condensed talent pool that would give the chance for much more variation among outcomes. There were more players on each team capable of taking over a game then there are currently. I mean you had guys that were 8th men on rosters that would be starters today. When you have that many great players on each team you are going to have games where a couple of those guys blow up and throw the conventional balance out of whack.

[@75aces97]

No way. Take a look at some of those players pre merger. A 7th or 8th guy on the best teams was someone like 36 year old Don Nelson, whose training table was Schlitz, Ruffles, and Camel filters.

[@blurplebear8573]

@@75aces97 Wow you have one example of a 36 year old guy. Great argument. The rosters now are filled with guys that would not have lasted half a season in the 80s or 90s. I'd say at least half the league fits that description, maybe more.

[@75aces97]

@@blurplebear8573 are you talking about the physical durability? Current players being too soft? If so, fine. But at the same time, I bring up Nelson because he was one of many players as late as 1976 who played with a paunch. Plus, any given roster would have had at least one guy who smoked cigarettes during halftime. You don't see that now, do you? But even at that, in the 1980s or 90s the game was played down the center lane of the court. There was a 3 point shot, but 15 years in, players were still so bad at shooting it that the league shortened the arc. Which is to say few guys could shoot it reliably. Which means defenses didn't have to respect most shooters I'd they parked in the perimeter. Which means there was less total area to defend. Further, since you bring up the 1990s, with 6 teams added in 8 years the league was watered down to the pint that Greg Kite, Frank Brickowski, Danny Schayes, Will Perdue, Greg Foster, Tom Hammonds, and Doug Overton clogged up rosters for 12 years instead of washing out quickly. Contrast that with recent years, where Roy Hibbert, Greg Monroe, Kenneth Faried, and Andre Roberson were done before age 30 because they couldn't keep up with the trends of the game.

[@blurplebear8573]

@@75aces97 All those guys are better than every 9th man on every team currently in the NBA. Just because the rules were changed to pussify the league doesn't mean they were less talented. Steph Curry would have been a worse player than his dad if he played in the same era as he did.

[@75aces97]

@@blurplebear8573 sorry but disagree completely. Greg Anthony couldn’t finish at the rim at point blank but he carved out a 10 year career. Even in those days Greg Kite’s most useful attribute was having 6 fouls. Vernon Maxwell could theoretically shoot and handle the ball and he was a *starter* on a good team. These guys would not make an NBA roster today.

[@kel9855]

This video shouldn't stop at the end of the 70s. The no-repeat champs lasted until 1987. So there were 18 years without a b2b title. That's why the Lakers' repeat in 1988 was such a big deal. In the 80s, three super teams were loaded with talents. 76ers HOFers: Julius, Cheeks, Jones, Moses Celtics: Bird, McHale, Parish, Tiny, Walton Lakers: Kareem, Magic, Wilkes, Worthy, McAdoo Besides the Celtics, the Lakers and 76ers basically took turns to foil repeat bids. 1980 Lakers beat the Supersonics 1982 76ers beat the Celtics 1983 76ers beat the Lakers 1985 Lakers beat the Celtics 1987 Lakers beat the Celtics

[@johnpatrickgaviola3918]

2020s have no back2back winners yet as well

[@JeffreyWilliams-dr7qe]

Fewer and better teams. Can we go back in time and save the league?

[@JorgeFlores-ox4pr]

You mean the talent was not watered down like it is now.

[@orrad06]

Good content but your background music drove me away 🙉

[@master-kq3nw]

That was golden era interesting two teams had chance to repeat knicks and lakers

[@brianarbenz1329]

I first read the headline as, “Too Much _Party._ So he’s saying that lived it up too much to win two straight titles? Well, not really.

[@Orion26DML]

Awesome Ninja Gaiden music…

[@unclehays750]

I beat the third game for the first time about a month ago. Lemme tell ya, that game doesn’t f around

[@Orion26DML]

@@unclehays750 Agreed. The lack of continues alone make it harder than the first two. It’s on my short list of hardest NES games beat(with Castlevania 3, TMNT1, Bart vs. the Space Mutants…)

[@unclehays750]

@@Orion26DML I used to pride myself on the fact that I could beat TMNT when I was 9 or 10. I've beaten the Alucard path in Castlevania 3 but no such luck with Grant or Syfa. I made it to the 4th level in Bart vs the Space Mutants once I think lol

[@Alexeiyeah]

Of course, when I talk about my team, I will always hope they win everything, everytime. But a very close competition is much more interesting when other teams win. That's why brazilian football/soccer national championship used to be interesting: your team would fight relegation one time and be champions next and vice-versa, every year was a nail biter.

[@YusefAnderson-ds2lg]

Peace w reid played against the greatest centers wilt russell kareem, he was under size 🏀👍✌️

[@CiabanItReal]

The biggest reason there were no teams to win multiple title back to back, is half the best talent was in the ABA.

[@souperstar7050]

If the Milwaukee Bucks would have gotten Dr. J, they would not only won back to back titles the Bucks would have had a dynasty.

[@williamtoad8040]

It’s funny how one extreme and the other the 60s and 70s were compared to each other Celtics x 7 Sixers Celtics x 2

[@DanielSong39]

NBA was not as rigged back then

[@shaft9000]

@13:00 Rick Barry gets asked about it point-blank in a live podcast last month: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpipeKeAq7elqMk

[@matthewpredmore6523]

Not true: the Indiana Pacers won back-to-back titles in the early 70s.

[@shackdaddy7106]

Michael Jordan did not quit. He was suspended for 18 months for associating with known criminal figures and gambling.

[@brachio1000]

Gianelli is pronounced "Jee-ann-elly."

[@unclehays750]

Aww man. The internet pronunciation told me “Ja-Nelly”. I recorded it both ways but chose the wrong one!

[@brachio1000]

@@unclehays750: I was a kid watching the NBA Game of the Week, which was very nearly the Knicks Game of the Week, and hoping Gianelli would turn into more than a decent backup.

[@USMC-cv5sd]

You mean, no Bill Russell.

[@hart63]

Didn't have the Steelers in the NBA

[@owensmith2137]

Mind you Rick Barry was a big prick, not even his teammates liked him much

[@patreecepickett7790]

Injuries

[@noisepuppet]

It felt different watching the NBA back then. Much less money in it, and the science was just getting started. As a result, I think ordinary guys felt that they were closer to the level of basketball stars back then. It was an illusion, of course. The pros were still on an entirely different planet from the rest of us. But the league felt less remote, more accessible somehow.

[@fernandocarrazzoni]

Was this decade after which Magic and Larry saved the NBA from bankruptcy? Sounds strange, apparently parity was not that great or maybe the show of dynasties was needed.

[@Red-gc6dw]

Didnt the Knicks win back to back?

[@adamsdwyer]

Great Video Hays - Sparks gave me your number we should hop on a video together sometime.

[@unclehays750]

Definitely man, great to hear from you

[@bepatientIhaveautism]

"Butch Beard" is a great name for a lesbian