When Did Your Team Become Legit?
Are Joe Johnson and the Hawks legit?In today’s Smack we talked about how the James Posey signing was a moment where Hornets fans could feel like their team had reached the next level after “legit.” In the post-Baron Davis era, the Hornets first became legit the moment they drafted Chris Paul. And for a squad that came one game away from knocking off the defending-champ Spurs in this year’s playoffs and making the Western Conference Finals, a pickup like Posey — while it doesn’t seem like a big deal — is the kind that can help put them over the top. (The Celtics wouldn’t have won the championship this year without Posey, and you could say the same for Miami in 2006.)
For your favorite team, can you remember the moment (or moments) when you felt your team had become legit? When did they become truly relevant? Was it a draft pick, a trade, a free agent signing? Maybe it was one game or one playoff series. Maybe it was just one play. And how about when they hit the next level after that, from “legit” to “We can actually win the whole thing?”
July 17th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Jimmy says:
Nash to the suns!!!! With marbury they were garbage even though they had S.T.A.T but with nash, amare looked like a new breed of PF’s. Nash is legit, but they would only if the played some D.
July 17th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
miamiVIS3 says:
The Heat first became “legit” earlier than most people think when they drafted D-Wade and went from cellar dwellers to playoff team (like the Hornets) and stepped up to the next level when Riley came back to coach.
July 17th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
miamiVIS3 says:
Oh and signing Odom made them legit in 03 to
July 17th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Marcus says:
I think any team becomes legit when they get rid of Marbury. Its like a sure fire way to get deep into the playoffs next year. We will get to see how true that is this year with the Knicks from the look of things.
July 17th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Zach says:
The Detroit Pistons traded Jerry Stackhouse to the Wizards for Rip Hamilton. I remember thinking that we could finally contend again and bring the Pistons back to relevancy (after the Bad Boys got old and Grant Hill left for O-town). The moment we became more than legit, playoffs trailing the Pacers late in the game (trailing in the series too) with Reggie Miller on a breakaway and then TAYSHAUN comes up with THE block.They haven’t looked back since
July 17th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Markail says:
When Chauncey and Rip came to the Pistons in 2002, we became legit. When Sheed came in February of 2004 we became contenders!
Deeeeeetroit Basketbaaaaaaaall!!!
July 17th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
James says:
when the spurs drafted Timmy
July 17th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
pittbull says:
When my Sonics stole Detlef Schrempf from the Pacers back in 93. adding that stroke to a young #40 and our GOAT, The Glove, had my and my boys thinkin big things were ahead
July 17th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Imperial-Mel says:
My team became legit when…well they still arent legit
July 17th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
sans says:
When the Cavs drafted Brad Daugherty (and years later Lebron). Two completely different players, but when Brad came on with Price and Nance, couple seasons later they were balling crazy style, once even winning the Central over Michael. It didn’t matter though, from The Shot onwards it was nothing but the MJ buzzsaw tearing out our Cleveland hearts. That team became legit with that draft, and contenders through time. Lebron’s squad became legit against the Pistons in 07, and I’m still waiting for them to strive for contention with King, but they still need more than Lebron playing 1-on-5.
July 17th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Jim says:
I didn’t feel like the Spurs were legit until they won in 99. They had always been very good, but they never felt like serious contenders. Maybe when they had the most Ws in the league or when David won the MVP, but it never really felt like it.
July 17th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Ross says:
I agree with Jim. My Spurs weren’t legit until the 99 Championship.
My Rockets will be when they make it out of the first round with McGrady.
July 17th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Kobeef says:
my team is the lakers and they are ALWAYS legit!
July 17th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Big V says:
When Charles Smith got blocked.
July 17th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Damon says:
@Zach
the pacers were trailing 2 points when prince blocked reggie.
and it wasn’t like that play won the sreies. indiana still had homecourt advantage after game 4. but then JO got injured.
but not hatin, detroit deserved it that year.
July 17th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
BlazeMcHerbs says:
My team became legit when we fired Thomas.
July 17th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Data says:
I’m gonna flip the script and say when my team stopped being legit. When VC missed that buzzer beater against philly. It was all downhill from there.
July 17th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Uhm.... says:
Nah, the pistons became legit in the playoff series against the Magics when they were down 3-1 and TMac said in the interview that the series was over. Prince started to lock down mcgrady and won 3 straight to win the series. That was when the Pistons became Legit, and then they became a championship-caliber team when they got Rasheed.
July 17th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
K Dizzle says:
LMAO @ Kobeef - it’s just true
where you wanna start?
Mikan, West, Baylor, Goodrich, Wilt, Kareem, Magic, Coop, Worthy, Nick, Eddie, Shaq, Kobe
Damn! No wonder they hate on us lol
@ post 17 - only funny cuz it’s true
July 17th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
D.Phoenix says:
During the summer of ‘96, the Knicks signed Allan Houston and Chris Childs and traded Mason for LJ. I wasn’t sold on the moves until we split the season series with the Bulls and won our first game ever in the United Center. Entering the playoffs I was in full-on “we can win this thing” mode. At the least, NY would give Chicago a serious run for its money. Then, leading Miami 3 games to 1 in the semis, PJ Brown had to go and body slam Charlie Ward, and the entire Knicks squad left the bench in the ensuing brawl. The rest is history. Friggin PJ Brown, man. A decade later he wins a ‘chip with the Celts and my Knicks are pinning their hopes on Chris Duhon and the Rooster. SMH.
July 17th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
plainview says:
This btw is a horrible signing for the Hornets.
July 17th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
cg says:
When Reggie dropped 25 in a quarter in Game 5 vs. the Knicks (1994)…I started to believe right there and then…The next 10 years was a giant tease…
July 17th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Adam says:
Nice call Data. That was pretty much the peak of VC’s career too if you ask me.
July 17th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
bigdoggchad says:
When MJ finally overcame the “Jordan Rules”.
July 17th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Phil says:
I don’t think my team is legit yet, but very close and very promising. I would say it was a process to becoming legit, mostly putting Pritchard in charge so he could work his draft magic (Roy, Aldridge, Bayless), buy picks (Fernandez) and then just plain luck into getting Oden.
July 17th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
rangerjohn says:
my spurs became legit the day they signed mr robinson, then passed legit and became infamous when they signed timmy.
then again my rockets became legit when they won the title in 1994 and became UNLIGIT when they lost in 1996. they will never be legit until tracy is gone and yao can play an entire season with out leg issues.
July 17th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
MoxWestCoastRep says:
Lakers sign Shaq, draft Kobe. Legit
Lakers trade Kwame for Gasol. Legit
July 17th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
C Burner says:
Utah Jazz..drafting Deron Williams, at taking Andrei Kiristinko from 1st option to defensive stopper!
July 17th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Tha Boddy says:
When Agent-Zero because the DMV hero!!!
July 17th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
SayItAintSo says:
B-Roy
July 17th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Damon says:
when ron artest went into the stands. no wait… that was the moment everything went downhill.
July 17th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
carlos burgos a.k.a DaQuEStiOn says:
my team, the nuggets, were semi-legit and now with the camby trade they took 100 steps back and they are nowhere near the word legit
July 17th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
drose2008 says:
Marbury to the New York Knicks - the Knicks have been legit since then !
July 17th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Luigi says:
here are all the teams that were last legit or when they were last relevant
ATL- Traded 4 JJ n drafted J-Smoove. also taking BOS to 7 gms
BOS-drafted Rondo n Perk. then Traded 4 the big 3
CHA-traded 4 J-Rich n got G-Wallace
CHI-getting D-Rose will surely help
CLE-LeBron
DAL-drafting Dirk but losing to GSW in 1st rd. dey havent been the same
DEN-Melo n trading 4 AI
DET-04 Finals
GSW-Beating DAL in 1st rd. n boom dizzles dunk
HOU-Trading 4 T-Mac. Drafting Yao. but havent reached full potential yet
IND-Gettin Reggie in ‘87 n that 62-20 yr in 04 since they last were legit
LAC-Gettin Baron n that playoff run in 04 when they beat DEN
LAL-Always are. but recent is when they stole Gasol
MEM-getting OJ Mayo n pairing him up with Rudy
MIL-When they had Big Dog. Cassell. n Ray. but there still good with Redd
MIA-D-Wade. but i wish they kept Caron but hey he landed with my Wiz
MIN-being the team that gave up KG. n plus the Mchale debacle as GM
NJ-making the finals back 2 back yrs. with RJ Kmart n Kidd.
NO-CP3 n getting Chandler n getting the 2 seed. n now Posey
NYK-when they made the plyoffs wit steph n also gettin shitted by reggie
ORL-D-12 AKA Superman
OKC/SEA-Moving 2 OKC =[. n getting Kevin D.makin da playffs few yrs ago
PHI-those AI yrs. n getting EB with AI v.2
PHO-STEVE NASH! + STAT
POR-getting youth n potentially a force to come
SAC-K-Mart. n that layup he made against the spurs a few yrs bac
SAS-Dynasty yrs.
TOR-im thinkn CB4 n Calderonnn
UTA-D-Will n signing Booz
WSH-signing Gil back in 03 n trading 4 caron n trading 4 Twan. after all those yrs of mediorcrity
well here ya have it im not sure if its right im only young so plz comment n rate n tell me what u think
July 17th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Amar says:
booz and memo were signed in the same year, d-will came the next year after that, iirc . . .
the jazz will only become legit when they win a game in san antonio. until then, they aren’t there yet.
July 17th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
sunni says:
when vlade was traded for kobe..thats pretty much when the lake’s became legit again
July 18th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
David Brandon says:
@ Luigi…
the kings were legit before kevin’s lay up against the spurs. when webb FINALLY got his ass down to sac after the trade had been announce, when they picked up jwill an he got some experience to go along w/ alla that flash, when we traded for mike an he hit that shot to win the game off the pick by cwebb on dfish, there was the doug christie an rick fox fight, there was when bonz almost took out san anton singlehandedly, i mean, there’s a couple to choose from. granted, our legacy isnt as deep as like, chi town or bean town or SA or the lakers, but now….we got some stuff to be real proud about too. and we kinda got this whole run an gun shit poppin off my man. yeah, d’antoni did come an take it to the next level, but we were THAT TEAM for a min. damn i missed those years! lol!
July 18th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Bartman says:
The Raps were legit after Vince showed everyone what he could do, especially after the dunk contest :O
With Chris Childs, Oakley, Mark Jackson, and Antonio Davis, they were contenders! Why did Vince go to his College Ceremony.
The new Raps are legit with Jermaine O’Neal coming to town, Watch out!