The Missing Rings - best teams to never win a title

[DeadlyDynasty]

What are some that come to mind?

The 93-94 Sonics and Knicks, 2007 Mavs, 2004 Lakers, 1984 Lakers

I would say 02 Kings too, but 11 of 12 guys were scared to death of touching the ball in the 4th quarter.

Who else?

[Killakobe81]

Disagree on 2004 Lakers that team was talented but never were a "true" team.

the 1999 Lakers with Shaq, Kobe, Eddie Jones, JR rider, Elden Campbell and Horry was more talented top to bottom ...tbh. But were horribly coached and BOTH Shaq and Kobe needed PJ to lead them ...

[NewcastleKEG]

It's kinda tough to do this in NBA as opposed to the NFL or MLB because the ''best team'' usually wins in this sport

[Killakobe81]

Jailblazers 2000 edition ...

[angelbelow]

Hmm.. maybe one of the Utah teams in the mid 90s. They featured a big three of Stockon at pg, Malone at pf, and Jerry Sloan at all other positions. They had some nice role players too, Ostertag, Russel, Hornacek, Shannon Anderson.

[DeadlyDynasty]

It's kinda tough to do this in NBA as opposed to the NFL or MLB because the ''best team'' usually wins in this sport

This is your first good post. Congratulations, Newc:tu

I agree for the most part, but there are still very good teams that were just a couple possessions away from ringing (not all the ones I mentioned, but still).

[lefty]

1977 Sixers
1981 Sixers
1988 Pistons
1990-1991-1992 Blazers
2000 Blazers
1993 Rockets

[mavs>spurs]

add 06 mavs to the list too

[Calispursfan11]

Hmm.. maybe one of the Utah teams in the mid 90s. They featured a big three of Stockon at pg, Malone at pf, and Jerry Sloan at all other positions. They had some nice role players too, Ostertag, Russel, Hornacek, Shannon Anderson.

Gotta be the Jazz, agree.

[Killakobe81]

1977 Sixers
1981 Sixers
1988 Pistons
1990-1991-1992 Blazers
2000 Blazers
1993 Rockets

Some good call outs ...Lefty :toast

Wasnt around for 1977 and in 1981 I only could stay up on weekends to watch games ...but I agree with all your calls ...dont remember 1993 Rox that well however ...

[tlongII]

91 Blazers.

[Dunc n Dave]

The 90-92 Trailblazers with a prime Drexler, Porter, Kersey (what an athlete in his day!), Buck Williams, Duckworth... not to mention guys like Drazen Petrovic and a young Cliff Robinson coming off the bench. Immensely talented teams, but couldn't get past Jordan or Magic...

[DeadlyDynasty]

91 Blazers.

Game 1 still gives you nightmares, doesn't it?:lol

[DeadlyDynasty]

The 90-92 Trailblazers with a prime Drexler, Porter, Kersey (what an athlete in his day!), Buck Williams, Duckworth... not to mention guys like Drazen Petrovic and a young Cliff Robinson coming off the bench. Immensely talented teams, but couldn't get past Jordan or Magic...

or Zeke

[Dunc n Dave]

Game 1 still gives you nightmares, doesn't it?:lol

The closeout Game in that series where Magic ran out the clock by throwing the ball down the court was a sports moment I'll always remember. Smart basketball play!

[JoeTait75]

1977 Sixers
1981 Sixers

Yeah, them definitely. Especially the '81 team, imo.

1978 Blazers

1985 Celtics

2002 Kings (such chokers, though, I feel kind of dirty naming them.)

[DeadlyDynasty]

The closeout Game in that series where Magic ran out the clock by throwing the ball down the court was a sports moment I'll always remember. Smart basketball play!

Definitely a classic:toast

I was referring to Game 1 cause tlong said he was at that game and the officials were with the Lakers. I didn't remember (cause I was 8), so I watched the youtube of it and lo and behold the Blazers actually got more calls.

:lolthinking an opponent ever gets an adavntage in the Rose Garden

[lefty]

Some good call outs ...Lefty :toast

Wasnt around for 1977 and in 1981 I only could stay up on weekends to watch games ...but I agree with all your calls ...dont remember 1993 Rox that well however ...

Thanks man

The reason Im listing the 93 Rockets is because they matched up so well vs the Bulls

That season, they absoluty destroyed them in both Houston and Chicago

Hakeem and Thorpe absolutely torched Cartwright & Grant.
Horry matched up well vs Pippen
Smith was better than the Bulls PG's - at least on offense
And Maxwell - even though he was a streaky player - always played well vs Jordan ... for some reason

Then the Rockets got shafted by the refs late in game 7 vs Seattle.
Judging by what happened in 94 and 95, I think it's safe to assume the Rockets would have won the WCF

I guess Stern wanted MJ vs Sir Charles in the Finals
Case in point - the FT differential in game 7 of the WCF


And I typed all this on my iPhone - so fuck yeah

[lil_penny]

The closeout Game in that series where Magic ran out the clock by throwing the ball down the court was a sports moment I'll always remember. Smart basketball play!

4 things I remember that I wish I wouldn't

That
Kobe to shaq oop
Jordans shrug
Memorial day miracle
:lol

[Killakobe81]

or Zeke

Good catch, DD

[DeadlyDynasty]

4 things I remember that I wish I wouldn't

That
Kobe to shaq oop
Jordans shrug
Memorial day miracle
:lol

damn son you guys have had some heartbreakers:lol

[Killakobe81]

damn son you guys have had some heartbreakers:lol

heartbreakers, kneebreakers, just add break to any body part and the Blazers and clips have had it happen to them ...:depressed

[Dunc n Dave]

damn son you guys have had some heartbreakers:lol

RIP City.... the city of broken dreams:toast

[lil_penny]

Yea the kobe to shaq is the top though lol I was in a room full of laker fans and to think about 10 mins before I was feeling pretty good

[baseline bum]

1. '96 Sonics
2. '93 Suns

[Killakobe81]

what game was that infamous Rod Strickland turnover?

[Jelloisjigglin]

1998 Lakers

[Dunc n Dave]

what game was that infamous Rod Strickland turnover?

Game 7 OVERTIME :bang

[baseline bum]

What are some that come to mind?

The 93-94 Sonics and Knicks, 2007 Mavs, 2004 Lakers, 1984 Lakers

I would say 02 Kings too, but 11 of 12 guys were scared to death of touching the ball in the 4th quarter.

Who else?

93-94 Knicks? Seriously? Ewing was a choker, their offense was shit, and they lost to one of the weakest champions of all time in the Finals.

[DeadlyDynasty]

Petrovic getting under Strick's skin:lol

[baseline bum]

what game was that infamous Rod Strickland turnover?

That was game 7 of the 1990 second round. No way that Spurs team would have gotten through the Bad Boys in the finals anyways though.

[Killakobe81]

1. '96 Sonics
2. '93 Suns

93 Suns is another good call ...

No one mentioned Jazz yet, but tbh almost every team mentioned so far probably beats those Jazz teams. I think they were a bit overrated tbh ...they were good very but they just arent as good a sthe teams mentioned ...

Also, the Aguirre, Blackmon, Tarpley etc. those Mavs I think the 1988 edition?
The one that pushed the Lakers to 7 in the WCF they were a deep team ...

[baseline bum]

Game 7 OVERTIME :bang

I always find it kind of funny that Spurs fans forget Willie Anderson had a fast break and could have laid it in at the buzzer to win the game, but let Drexler strip him. It was a shitty pass for sure from Rocket Rod, but the Spurs blew a ton of chances to close that game out.

[DeadlyDynasty]

93-94 Knicks? Seriously? Ewing was a choker, their offense was shit, and they lost to one of the weakest champions of all time in the Finals.

The Riley Knicks were one of the best defensive teams, and gave the Bulls fits every year but could never get over the top. What team had more hardcore niggas than them? Oak and Mason alone:lol

Losing to Dream is nothing to be ashamed of, tbh...especially when he's embarrassed certain other players worse than Ewing imo

[Hoops Czar]

'04 spurs. They were on a 15 game win streak before the lakers beat them 4 strait. Damn fisher.

[baseline bum]

The Riley Knicks were one of the best defensive teams, and gave the Bulls fits every year but could never get over the top. What team had more hardcore niggas then them?

Oak and Mason alone:lol

Losing to Dream is nothing to be ashamed of, tbh...especially when he's embarrassed certain other players worse than Ewing imo

Robinson didn't shoot 36% in the series he lost to Hakeem. Besides, the 95 Rockets were way better than the 94 team. The 94 team blew a lot of leads and had a horrible offense. I mean, their #2 guy was Vernon Maxwell. The 95 team had the toughest road to a title in NBA history and just shit all over everyone in the way. Drexler was an enormous upgrade over Maxwell.

[DeadlyDynasty]

Another tough Blazers moment that goes unheralded was when they came back from 3-0 against Dallas and were neck-and-neck with them late in Game 7 before losing. Think that was 2003 iirc

[baseline bum]

My favorite Blazer moment was when Damon Stoudamire had a look on his face like he was about to cry after missing a free throw right before Elliott hit the Memorial Day Miracle.

[baseline bum]

'04 spurs. They were on a 15 game win streak before the lakers beat them 4 strait. Damn fisher.

Fucking Turkoglu; LA flat out did not guard him, and the only time he hit was for the first quarter and a half of game 4. I don't think I have ever seen another Spurs player get the kind of open looks the Lakers were giving him in games 3-6.

Then there was Horry missing a wide open three from the Webber spot that would have iced game 5. He must have missed it by 2 feet. :pctoss

[DeadlyDynasty]

Robinson didn't shoot 36% in the series he lost to Hakeem. Besides, the 95 Rockets were way better than the 94 team. The 94 team blew a lot of leads and had a horrible offense. I mean, their #2 guy was Vernon Maxwell. The 95 team had the toughest road to a title in NBA history and just shit all over everyone in the way. Drexler was an enormous upgrade over Maxwell.

tbh Hakeem didn't avg 35+ppg on Ewing, and Patrick still avg'd 19, 12, and >4blks

[NewcastleKEG]

The Riley Knicks were one of the best defensive teams, and gave the Bulls fits every year but could never get over the top. What team had more hardcore niggas than them? Oak and Mason alone:lol

Losing to Dream is nothing to be ashamed of, tbh...especially when he's embarrassed certain other players worse than Ewing imo
This is true. Only 2 teams took those Bulls to the max 7 games

- 98 Pacers
- 92 Knicks

[baseline bum]

I find it hilarious that Ewing is viewed as some kind of warrior when he got his shit pushed in on the biggest stage of his career too.

[baseline bum]

This is true. Only 2 teams took those Bulls to the max 7 games

- 98 Pacers
- 92 Knicks

98 Pacers were sick. Too bad Mullin started really showing his age the next season and they handed the reigns over to shitty Jalen Rose. It's too bad New York didn't keep that 92 team together with Mark Jackson and Xavier McDaniel. They would have been way better than their finals team in 94.

[DeadlyDynasty]

I find it hilarious that Ewing is viewed as some kind of warrior when he got his shit pushed in on the biggest stage of his career too.

He's not, he choked too but not as bad. Plus, let's be real...Game 7 of that Finals is infamous for one's man performance, and even the casual basketball fan knows who that is.:lol

[baseline bum]

And if Ewing wasn't performing like shit you'd have to think Riley doesn't green-light Starks to shoot 20 times.

[DeadlyDynasty]

And if Ewing wasn't performing like shit you'd have to think Riley doesn't green-light Starks to shoot 20 times.

You're seriously defending 2-18 (0-10 in the 4th)?:lol

[baseline bum]

Nope. I don't understand why you're defending a Knicks team whose top 2 offensive options weren't very good.

[Arcadian]

2004 Spurs
2006 Spurs

It should have been five straight titles.

[DeadlyDynasty]

Nope. I don't understand why you're defending a Knicks team whose top 2 offensive options weren't very good.

That makes it all the more impressive that they could hang with Jordan's Bulls.


I'm no Ewing-apologist (there's a Ewing-theory for a reason), and you're a cool scro BB, but you get real defensive about D-Rob. He was playoff choker.

There's nothing wrong with saying that. it doesn't make him a shitty human being. I'm a Bills fan and I love Kelly, Thurman, Reed, Lofton, Tasker, beebe, Smith, Talley, Bennett, Hull, Hansen, et al...but they're ultimately chokers.

C'est la vie.

[Nathan89]

I would say 02 Kings too, but 11 of 12 guys were scared to death of touching the ball in the 4th quarter.

Who else?

Refs didn't help either, imho.

[DeadlyDynasty]

Refs didn't help either, imho.

Don't go 16-30 from the FT line in an overtime game at home. No one to blame but themselves. They make just one more FT and they have a title.

No pity from me.

[baseline bum]

That makes it all the more impressive that they could hang with Jordan's Bulls.


I'm no Ewing-apologist (there's a Ewing-theory for a reason), and you're a cool scro BB, but you get real defensive about D-Rob. He was playoff choker.

There's nothing wrong with saying that. it doesn't make him a shitty human being. I'm a Bills fan and I love Kelly, Thurman, Reed, Lofton, Tasker, beebe, Smith, Talley, Bennett, Hull, Hansen, et al...but they're ultimately chokers.

C'est la vie.

Robinson being a regular season player doesn't change the fact that New York was a really flawed team after giving Mark Jackson away for peanuts (can't believe they did the same with Strickland 2 years before).

[Nathan89]

Don't go 16-30 from the FT line in an overtime game at home. No one to blame but themselves... They make just one more FT and they have a title.

No pity from me.

...and the refs. Probably why it's one of the most controversial series of all-time.

[DeadlyDynasty]

...and the refs. Probably why it's one of the most controversial series of all-time.


Don't go 16-30 from the FT line in an overtime game at home. No one to blame but themselves. They make just one more FT and they have a title.

No pity from me.

[baseline bum]

Can't blame the refs for Stojakovic and Christie's airballs. I found it funny watching those motherfuckers choke that series away. That shit should have been over when they took a 24 point lead in game 4.

[baseline bum]

And I'll never consider a team who can't inbound the ball for 2 minutes an all-time great team. I'm surprised they didn't blow game 3 the way they did 4 and 7 tbh.

[DeadlyDynasty]

Can't blame the refs for Stojakovic and Christie's airballs. I found it funny watching those motherfuckers choke that series away. That shit should have been over when they took a 24 point lead in game 4.

:tu

[Nathan89]

So you don't pity a team getting cheated. Ok.

[DeadlyDynasty]

So you don't pity a team getting cheated. Ok.

If you pity a team that went 16-30 from the foul line in Game 7 at home then you have a weak constitution and probably make a lot of excuses in your life.

[mercos]

The 2002 Kings immediately come to mind. Their offense was a thing of beauty. They clicked very well together. The 97-98 Jazz teams were also very good. Two all time greats playing for an all time great coach. Their finals against the Bulls were entertaining. The mid 90s Magic were pretty good as well. Just caught a highlight clip of Penny Hardaway on youtube earlier. Forgot how good he was for a while there. I'll never forget him hitting that halfcourt shot at the end of the first half against the Bulls in game 1 of the 1996 ECF.

[jjktkk]

what game was that infamous Rod Strickland turnover?

89-90 season.

[NewcastleKEG]

Can someone explain the background of this Rod Strickland turnover?

I was 5 years old & never seen it mentioned on NBAnetwork or ESPN

[jjktkk]

Can someone explain the background of this Rod Strickland turnover?

I was 5 years old & never seen it mentioned on NBAnetwork or ESPN

Rod's famous no look pass to Sean, who wasn't expecting the ball. it went out of bounds and pretty much killed the Spur's momentum.

[baseline bum]

Can someone explain the background of this Rod Strickland turnover?

I was 5 years old & never seen it mentioned on NBAnetwork or ESPN

About 35 seconds left in OT of game 7 in Portland with the score tied at 103. The Spurs have the ball and can't seem to run a decent play; the offense looks really chaotic on this possession. Strickland runs out to the right elbow to catch a pass from Robinson. Instead of turning around and facing up Porter, Strickland immediately throws the ball backward over his head, I guess expecting that Elliott was cutting baseline. Instead, Elliott was camped at the three point line. Kersey saves the ball, gets it to Drexler on the break, and Strickland shoves Drexler in the back, giving Portland 2 shots and the ball. Season over. A completely ridiculous blind pass to make in that situation.

[baseline bum]

That one pass basically ruined Strickland's career in SA. The fans always hated him for it and the cheap-ass owner Red McCombs used that as an excuse to let him walk for nothing in 1993. If that pass never happens that piece of shit Vinny Del Negro probably never puts on a Spurs uniform (he was McCombs' replacement for Strickland).

[DeadlyDynasty]

:lolany youtube footage of that? Didn't see any at first glance

[baseline bum]

I don't know; I have the entire series on my computer. Did I mention how much I hated Del Negro? Think Honky Smush Parker.

[NewcastleKEG]

Whoa that sounds like something Westbrook would do

I'll be honest, never heard about the Spurs being that far in the playoffs with DRob, so I doubt the general NBA fan does either.

I just took a peak at your roster, pretty impresive

[baseline bum]

Here it is... a little after the 1 hour, 27 minute mark.

-HKht9I5ZU8

[DeadlyDynasty]

Here it is... a little after the 1 hour, 27 minute mark.

-HKht9I5ZU8

Danke.:tu

[jjktkk]

Whoa that sounds like something Westbrook would do

I'll be honest, never heard about the Spurs being that far in the playoffs with DRob, so I doubt the general NBA fan does either.

I just took a peak at your roster, pretty impresive

Yea that roster was pretty stacked. Even though Strickland was a knucklehead, after they shipped him out, the Spurs never could find a decent pg, until Avery Johnson several years later.

[DeadlyDynasty]

Holy fuck what a stupid pass:rollin

[NewcastleKEG]

Whoa. The balls to make that pass given the situation. You ain't gonna win a title with heroes like that

[ElNono]

:lol Larry Brown with hair :lmao

[Jacob1983]

What about the Cavs from 2008 to 2010? They had the best record in the NBA in those two seasons and didn't even make it to the Finals.

[NewcastleKEG]

What about the Cavs from 2008 to 2010? They had the best record in the NBA in those two seasons and didn't even make it to the Finals.
REALLY REALLY REALLY bad Eastern Conference

[TDMVPDPOY]

i think during the lakers 3peat, the spurs couldve won one there, what was the spurs record against the kings that season 02?

[Jacob1983]

True but they didn't even go to the Finals in a bad Eastern Conference.

I would still say that the best teams to never win the championship are the 2006-2007 Mavs, 1997 and 1998 Jazz, and the 2002 Kings.

[NewcastleKEG]

True but they didn't even go to the Finals in a bad Eastern Conference.

I would still say that the best teams to never win the championship are the 2006-2007 Mavs, 1997 and 1998 Jazz, and the 2002 Kings.
06/07 being the 1st Round exit team?

Team wasn't that good man
- Josh Howard
- Jason Terry
- Stackhouse
- Devin Harris
- Dampier
- George

That's a lot of mediocrity, especially since Howard flamed out.

[Rapper]

The 1998 San Antonio Spurs

The 2000 San Antonio Spurs

The 2001 San Antonio Spurs

The 2002 San Antonio Spurs

The 2004 San Antonio Spurs

The 2006 San Antonio Spurs

The 2008 San Antonio Spurs

The 2009 San Antonio Spurs

The 2010 San Antonio Spurs

The 2011 San Antonio Spurs

[LkrFan]

1997 Lakers

Shaq
Kobe
NVE
Eddie
Campbell
Fox
Horry

:(

[angelbelow]

1997 Lakers

Shaq
Kobe
NVE
Eddie
Campbell
Fox
Horry

:(

I assume you mean the 97/98 Lakers? Jones and Kobe had TERRIBLE chemistry. Besides, Kobe wasn't Kobe yet (was that the year he airballed 3 times against the Jazz?) Horry took a few seasons to vacation too and I suspect that was one of them.

Flashy names but don't think that team was a legit contender for various reasons, the main one being an underdeveloped Kobe.

[NewcastleKEG]

1999-2000 Blazers
PG: Damon Stoudamire & Greg Anthony
SG: Bonzi Wells & Steve Smith
SF: Scottie Pippen & Detlef Schrempf
PF: Rasheed Wallace & Jermaine O'Neal
C: Arvydas Sabonis & Brian Grant
BENCH
Stacey Augmon & Joe Kleine



- Epic roster
- Collapse/Choke of some sort
- Would have won title easily
- Franchise that hasn't won often OR in forever


That folks is the recipe of a Missing Rings



10 minutes left - Blazers up 15 - Costas sucking Portland dick

27vW0L8E-MI

[Latarian Milton]

malone/stockton come to my mind first of all tbh, they ain't the best team at that time cuz Jordan & the bulls were the all-time greatest but the 98' jazz would've won a load of rings if they played in the 2000s. that Jazz team w/ malone/stockton were clearly the better team then 11' mavs & the 07' spurs tbh

[NewcastleKEG]

The '97 Jazz won 64 games. That 6-game series against Chicago came down to 4 total points. MJ hits the game winner in Game 1 & the Mail Man doesn't deliver on Sunday.....

[JoeTait75]

So you don't pity a team getting cheated. Ok.

No sympathy for the Kings. They didn't get cheated in Game 7. They had every opportunity to win that game and the series and they gagged it away.

[lefty]

No sympathy for the Kings. They didn't get cheated in Game 7. They had every opportunity to win that game and the series and they gagged it away.
But game 7 shouldnt have happened in the 1st place


So...

[Giuseppe]

...So don't leave Horry.

[JoeTait75]

But game 7 shouldnt have happened in the 1st place


So...

And that's on the Kings too. They had a 24-point lead in Game 4.

Home cooking happens in every series. The great teams find a way to overcome.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

2006 Spurs

[TimmehC]

The 1998 San Antonio Spurs

The 2000 San Antonio Spurs

The 2001 San Antonio Spurs

The 2002 San Antonio Spurs

The 2004 San Antonio Spurs

The 2006 San Antonio Spurs

The 2008 San Antonio Spurs

The 2009 San Antonio Spurs

The 2010 San Antonio Spurs

The 2011 San Antonio Spurs

A case could be made for '04 and '06, but that's really about it.

[manufan10]

'98 Pacers. Played the Bulls extremely tough, and I thought they might actually win.

[jacobdrj]

2001-2003 Kings

[Killakobe81]

If you pity a team that went 16-30 from the foul line in Game 7 at home then you have a weak constitution and probably make a lot of excuses in your life.

post of the month, tbh ...:lol :toast

[Killakobe81]

The '97 Jazz won 64 games. That 6-game series against Chicago came down to 4 total points. MJ hits the game winner in Game 1 & the Mail Man doesn't deliver on Sunday.....

Yes they were one of the best executing teams. HOF PG, PF and coach. But that TEAM was not all that great. Util we started to dig deeper for squads that were NOT mentioned, I think almost every team mentioned would of beat the Jazz in a 7 game series ...

1981 Sixers
2000 Blazers
90-92 Blazers
2002 Sacto queens
1984 Lakers
1996(?) Sonics

I think all of these teams beat UTAh ..

[stretch]

I think the 2006 Spurs squad was the best of any Spurs squad, even though they didn't win it all. They just ran into a really bad matchup against Dallas, who was incredibly motivated to win, while the Spurs were going for a repeat. Dallas was the only team that had a shot at beating them that year, and it took them 7 games and OT to barely pull it off.

[stretch]

and the 2007 Mavs were not nearly as talented as some people (mavs fans in particular) think. They were a very balanced squad, who were playing in a down year for the league, and were incredibly motivated after blowing the Finals the year before. They definitely played above their talent level that year to pull off 67 wins. The 2005, 2006, 2011, and this years Mavs are/were all more talented teams top to bottom than the 2007 squad. The Mavs letting Daniels and Van Horn go, and replacing them with George, Buckner, and Croshere really hurt them on the offensive end, because none of those guys could consistently hit an open shot or find some way to score.

[jacobdrj]

2004 Pacers
2005 Pacers

[baseline bum]

I think the 2006 Spurs squad was the best of any Spurs squad, even though they didn't win it all. They just ran into a really bad matchup against Dallas, who was incredibly motivated to win, while the Spurs were going for a repeat. Dallas was the only team that had a shot at beating them that year, and it took them 7 games and OT to barely pull it off.

I disagree. The only title team I think they'd have a reasonable chance of beating was the 07 team, and I have my doubts there too. The biggest problem with the Spurs in 06 was Duncan's plantar fasciitis. It didn't really cost him games, but his mobility was lousy that year and thus he put up by far the worst season of his prime. Nazr Mohammed reverted back to the pre-Rasho injury form of 05 when he gave the team absolutely nothing. Van Exel's knees were done and any time he was on the floor was a complete disaster. Horry also was pretty invisible that playoffs. Finley was a huge bright spot that season, but those 63 wins weren't any more meaningful than Detroit's 64, Dallas' 67 the next year, or the Spurs 61 last season. They didn't even look good in the first round vs Sac, needing 6 games to dispatch them despite getting one of the luckiest buzzer-beaters I have ever seen from Brent Barry to force OT game 2.

[Findog]

Honestly I think the 78 Blazers for all intents and purposes should be considered the rightful champions that year. I know the Bullets have the trophy, but they were the best team in basketball by far when Walton broke his foot. Nobody would have touched them in the playoffs.

[Fenix]

1992 knicks. go watch game 7 of that bulls/knicks series, most 1 sided officating game in playoff history, you werent allowed to breath on jordan, it makes lakers/kings look fair.

[Killakobe81]

1992 knicks. go watch game 7 of that bulls/knicks series, most 1 sided officating game in playoff history, you werent allowed to breath on jordan, it makes lakers/kings look fair.

what jordan got calls?! Blasphemy!!!

All jokes aside, hate when people point to reffing for a reason a team wins or loses. Reffing sucks period with blatant home bias and star prefferential treatment. since you are ensured at least 2 home playoff games, you only need to over come homecookin' ref bias for 1 game to ensure a chance to win a series at your home, provided you protect your house (if you do not have HCA) ...

Sure 2002 WCF and plenty others look bad, but often times thouse teams pissed away chances to win the series, that had NOTHING to do with the refs. If Sacto secures a rebound preventing the Horry 3 in game 4 it would of never came down to Game 7 ...heck, if Sacto would of made their FT's (they were one of the league's best FT teams) despite losing out on homecookin' they win that series.

[manufan10]

what jordan got calls?! Blasphemy!!!

All jokes aside, hate when people point to reffing for a reason a team wins or loses. Reffing sucks period with blatant home bias and star prefferential treatment. since you are ensured at least 2 home playoff games, you only need to over come homecookin' ref bias for 1 game to ensure a chance to win a series at your home, provided you protect your house 9if you do not have HCA) ...

Sure 2002 and plenty other look bad, but often times though teams pissed away chances to win series. If Sacto secures a rebound preventing the Horry 3 in game 4 it would never came down to Game 7 ...heck if Sacto would of made their FT's (they were one of the league's best FT teams) despite losing out on homecookin' they win that series.


what jordan got calls?! Blasphemy!!!

All jokes aside, hate when people point to reffing for a reason a team wins or loses. Reffing sucks period with blatant home bias and star prefferential treatment. since you are ensured at least 2 home playoff games, you only need to over come homecookin' ref bias for 1 game to ensure a chance to win a series at your home, provided you protect your house (if you do not have HCA) ...

Sure 2002 WCF and plenty others look bad, but often times thouse teams pissed away chances to win the series, that had NOTHING to do with the refs. If Sacto secures a rebound preventing the Horry 3 in game 4 it would of never came down to Game 7 ...heck, if Sacto would of made their FT's (they were one of the league's best FT teams) despite losing out on homecookin' they win that series.

So nice, you gotta say it twice. :lol

All good points.

[JamStone]

I don't know if they really fit in this category, but a team that comes to mind that could have been really great were the 2000 and 2001 Miami Heat teams. I think the 2000 Heat team was a Tim Hardaway foot injury away from being the NBA Finals East representative team. They probably would have beaten the Pacers. I don't know if they challenge the Lakers but perhaps give a better fight than the Pacers. And the 2001 team had so much promise until they found out about Mourning's kidney disease. They made those big moves for Eddie Jones and Brian Grant and Anthony Mason. I thought they were poised to own the East for a few years.

Maybe they were not as good as some of the other teams mentioned, but a big part of that seems to be that those couple seasons, injuries really derailed their opportunity to see if they could have been great.

[BUMP]

surprised nobody mentioned last year's Heat team

And I also don't see the point of naming teams in their off years that did win titles. Otherwise we could just say (insert year that they didn't win) Showtime Lakers or Celtics

[Killakobe81]

surprised nobody mentioned last year's Heat team

And I also don't see the point of naming teams in their off years that did win titles. Otherwise we could just say (insert year that they didn't win) Showtime Lakers or Celtics

Good point, but wouldnt last year Bulls be right behind or last years SPurs. You could argue Bulls and Spurs had better teams, but Heat had better elite talent (top heavy) ...

[BUMP]

Good point, but wouldnt last year Bulls be right behind or last years SPurs. You could argue Bulls and Spurs had better teams, but Heat had better elite talent (top heavy) ...

?

I don't see how you can say Bulls>Heat when the Heat dispatched of them in 5 games.

And the Spurs were never contenders in most people's eyes.

[mavs>spurs]

:lol dude came out of left field with "bulls and spurs" lmao gtfo. neither of those teams were ever serious contenders and were easily dispatched of.

[Killakobe81]

?

I don't see how you can say Bulls>Heat when the Heat dispatched of them in 5 games.

And the Spurs were never contenders in most people's eyes.

Im just speaking regular season wise ...Obviously even plenty of Spurs fans knew they were flawed ...Heat and Bulls were the more legit teams. And I said right after Heat ... obviously heat was the best team to not win it all last year ...

[JoeTait75]

1992 knicks. go watch game 7 of that bulls/knicks series, most 1 sided officating game in playoff history, you werent allowed to breath on jordan, it makes lakers/kings look fair.

Dude, they lost that game by 30 points. They got killed.

[Latarian Milton]

surprised nobody mentioned last year's Heat team

And I also don't see the point of naming teams in their off years that did win titles. Otherwise we could just say (insert year that they didn't win) Showtime Lakers or Celtics

we ain't that good last year tbh, we had no quality in paint and we made that nigga TC look like a god. however, even though the mavs won it last year, they were the worst team to ever win a title :lol

[Dex]

Already been mentioned, but I'm still bitter about the 2006 Spurs.

A lot of focus went on .4 in 2004, but people seem to forget that the Lakers handled the Spurs pretty easily in three other games.

2006, however....that team was so stacked. Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, and Bowen all in their primes. Barry, Horry, Finley, Mohammed, Rasho, Oberto, Beno, Van Exel....just looked great on paper. 63-win season, #1 seed.

The whole series against the Mavs was epic, but to see it crumble on a stupid foul by Manu, after what should've been a game winner in a Game 7...still just doesn't sit right. I have no doubt the Spurs would've gone on to win the title, but instead we had to sit and watch the Mavs choke it away and give Shaq another ring to match Duncan.

:nutkick:

[mindcrime]

Don't go 16-30 from the FT line in an overtime game at home. No one to blame but themselves. They make just one more FT and they have a title.

No pity from me.

Hate to say it but I have to agree. Kings got shafted in game 6 but they got a big time break toward the end of game 5 when the ball went out of bounds off Webber, but wasn't called. I say that evens things out.

At the end of game 7 nobody was worth a damn besides Bibby. Every single player choked and choked hard. You can't expect a point guard to single handedly win a game against a powerhouse Lakers team.

[Sense]

2004 Spurs

[Leetonidas]

2006 Spurs were something else. That Mavericks team was just put together perfectly to beat them. If only Popovich hadn't been a retard and continued to play Nazr and Rasho instead of starting Michael fucking Finley next to Timmy and expecting him to guard Dirk :pctoss and that's not even bringing up Manu's foul completely shitting all over Timmy's epic game 7 performance. Still probably the greatest and hardest fought series I ever got to witness

[JoeTait75]

At the end of game 7 nobody was worth a damn besides Bibby.

Bobby Jackson too, but that was just about it.

Doug Christie was practically running away from the ball in that game.

Sad. They matched up really well with the Lake Show, too. But they didn't have the stones to close it out.