Can you buy a championship?

[silesian]

6 championships by teams spending less than 1 million in luxury tax
6 championship by teams spending more than 1 million in luxury tax

Clearly no statistically significant correlation.

 

[silesian]

10 years ago, who woulduld have guessed that small market nba teams would benefit with an influx of ~125 million of corrupt Russian oil money.

 

[Stifle Tower]

6 championships by teams spending less than 1 million in luxury tax
6 championship by teams spending more than 1 million in luxury tax

Clearly no statistically significant correlation.

Arbitrary cut-off.
From 2003-20013, 9 championships by teams paying the tax; 1 by teams not paying tax. Clearly a correlation.
Last two seasons: champions did not pay luxury tax. A new era caused by the change in the CBA.

 

[silesian]

Arbitrary cut-off.
From 2003-20013, 9 championships by teams paying the tax; 1 by teams not paying tax. Clearly a correlation.
Last two seasons: champions did not pay luxury tax. A new era caused by the change in the CBA.

Your arbitrary cutoff is at zero luxury tax, the teams who are paying under a million in luxury tax are clearly not in the Dallas/ NJ/LA/ Miami camp of buying a championship. I'm sure you must see this difference.

I'm sure you do not believe that the Spurs "bought" two championships when they were under 200,000 over the luxury limit?

 

[silesian]

Arbitrary cut-off.
From 2003-2013, 9 championships by teams paying the tax; 1 by teams not paying tax.

In the nine years you reference:
First 4 champions (2003-2007)paid a total of ~1.2 Million in luxury tax (~0.3 million per championship)
The next 5 champions (2008-2013) paid a total of ~74 million in luxury tax (~15 million per championship)

There is a huge difference between spending a little bit extra to get an edge to win a title and binge spending to win a title. By setting the cutoff arbitrarily at zero, the analysis misses this nuance.