Let's take a look at how the best NBA dynasties dealt with the playoffs, grading their journeys on difficulty and attempting to explain why they are so memorable.
The NBA playoffs are frequently dominated by a single team chasing the championship with their heads down. All opponents are annihilated from the first round to the finals. Of course, all of the teams considered in this ranking went on to win the ring.
A title race, on the other hand, can be made more epic - or simply more difficult - by many factors. The strength of the opponents faced, the team's winning record, and how they arrived are all taken into account in this ranking. The combination of these factors allows us to identify the top ten NBA championship races.
10. Philadelphia 76ers - 1983
Playoff Record: 12-1
Teams tackled: NYK (44-38), MIL (51-31), LAL (58-24)
Julius Erving and Moses Malone's legendary 76ers. During its NBA championship run, Philadelphia only lost one game. The only loss came in the Conference Finals against the outstanding Milwaukee Bucks. Because of their high win percentage, this team earns a spot in the top ten. They also dominated the Los Angeles Lakers, winning 4-0. Those Lakers were led by a legendary duo, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who are both Hall of Famers.
9. San Antonio Spurs - 1999
Playoff Record: 15-2
Teams played: MIN (25-25), LAL (31-19), POR (35-15), NYK (27-23)
Given the long lockout, the 1999 season is marked with a large asterisk. This does not negate the San Antonio Spurs' right to participate in this unique ranking. With Tim Duncan and David Robinson, this team has the potential to field one of the best long pairs ever. Tim scored 23 points per game in his second season.
The Spurs "swept" the Lakers of Kobe and Shaq, as well as the Portland Trail-Blazers of Rasheed Wallace and Damon Stoudamire, in this playoff run. Only Kevin Garnett in the first round and an extraordinary Allan Houston in Game 3 of the Finals were able to stop the team's race for the NBA title, at least for one evening. Gregg Popovich is a well-known coach in the United States.
8. Boston Celtics - 1986
Playoff Record: 15-3
Teams played : CHI (30-51), ATL (50-32), MIL (57-25), HOU (51-31)
The Boston Celtics of 1986 are widely considered to be one of the best teams in NBA history. The frontcourt was a force to be reckoned with. Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, and Bill Walton were among the players who contributed. In the first round, the Celtics defeated Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls.
As they got closer to the NBA Finals, they ran into a small group of opponents, led by Dominique Wilkins. They met the Houston Rockets in the final, who tried unsuccessfully to stymie the green-and-white's title hopes: the Texans had to concede with a score of 4-2.
7. Cleveland Cavaliers - 2016
Playoff Record: 16-5
Teams played : DET (44-38), ATL (48-34), TOR (56-26), GSW (73-9)
LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers faced the best team in NBA history. The Golden State Warriors not only won the regular season (73-9, ed), but they were also only one race away from winning the championship. The comeback in the NBA Finals after falling behind 1-3 is the stuff of legend for the Cavs' championship run.
Cleveland won the first two postseason series by a combined score of 4-0 but lost two games in the Conference Finals to the Toronto Raptors. This year's NBA championship race isn't the most dominant in history, but it stirs up strong feelings in all fans.
6. Los Angeles Lakers - 1987
Playoff record: 15-3
Teams played : DEN (37-45), GSW (42-40), SEA (39-43), BOS (59-23)
During the 1987 playoffs, Magic Johnson showed off all of his skills. The Lakers needed to make amends for the previous season's failure. They dominated their Conference en route to the Finals, losing only one game to the Golden State Warriors.
Nevertheless, they faced the reigning NBA champions, the Boston Celtics, in the NBA final. The series was gripping, and the Californians came out on top. During their championship run, the Lakers did not have to contend with any dangerous opponents. Boston was the only team at their level, and they tried unsuccessfully to defend the scepter, losing 4-2 to the yellow and purple.
5. Chicago Bulls - 1996
Playoff record: 15-3
Teams played: MIA (42-40), NYK (47-35), ORL (60-22), SEA (64-18)
Michael Jordan returned to his former glory with the Chicago Bulls in 1996. The team had a great regular season (72 wins) and was in great shape for the playoffs. The Bulls were able to keep the gas pedal pressed to the Finals. Only once did they lose, to the New York Knicks.
The Seattle Supersonics, led by Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp, was the team to beat in the NBA Finals. The Sonics struggled against the Bulls in Games 4 and 5, but the Bulls were able to regroup and win the championship. On Father's Day, Game 6 was played, and an ecstatic Michael Jordan dedicated the trophy to his missing father.
4. Detroit Pistons - 1989
Playoff record: 15-2
Teams played : BOS (42-40), MIL (49-33), CHI (47-35), LAL (57-25)
The Bad Boys are a group of underappreciated immortals. The Detroit Pistons defeated the best players and teams in the league at the time. To summarize, they defeated the Celtics, Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls, and - in the NBA final - Magic Johnson's Lakers during this race for the NBA title.
Thanks to its versatility and unrivaled defense, this team was able to dominate the NBA. They were also fortunate in their journey: in the first round, they faced the Celtics without Larry Bird. The Los Angeles Lakers, on the other hand, had to give up Byron Scott in the NBA final.
3. Chicago Bulls - 1991
Bill and Michael
Playoff record: 15-2
Teams tackled: NYK (39-43), PHI (44-38), DET (50-32), LAL (58-24)
The first time is always remembered. The legendary Chicago Bulls dynasty began during the 1991 playoffs. Jordan faced his nemesis, the Bad Boys, after dispatching Patrick Ewing and Charles Barkley with relative ease. The Bulls had been eliminated by the Detroit Pistons in each of the previous three seasons.
Michael found the "sweep" handed over to the Pistons by Phil Jackson's gang to be very sweet. The Chicago Bulls faced the Los Angeles Lakers, led by Magic Johnson, in the NBA Finals. Despite an early loss in the final series, the Bulls regained their composure and won the championship in Game 5. This NBA championship race is a watershed moment in the league's history.
2. Golden State Warriors - 2017
Playoff record: 16-1
Teams played: POR (41-41), UTA (51-31), SAS (61-21), CLE (51-31)
The Warriors introduced none other than Kevin Durant to the team to help them recover from last year's defeat. This group was terrifyingly powerful. Golden State dominated across the board, with no team able to compete with them.
They were the first team in history to win 15 games in a row in the playoffs. Only an unlucky game 4 in the Finals kept Curry and his teammates from making even more history by remaining undefeated in the postseason. The Warriors benefited from Spurs injuries as well. The only reason the Cavs aren't at the top of this list is because of their rush of pride.
1. Los Angeles Lakers - 2001
Playoff record: 15-1
Teams played: POR (50-32), SAC (55-27), SAS (58-24), PHI (56-26)
The Los Angeles Lakers' determination to win the NBA title in 2001 was horrific. They are the only team in this ranking that has only faced opponents with at least 50 victories. Only one man on a mission was able to stop them: Allen Iverson had to put on an incredible show, scoring 48 points in 53 minutes, as the Lakers needed more time to fold. Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant formed a natural partnership that gave them strength.
In general, the yellow-violets won by a comfortable margin, demonstrating to the rest of the NBA that they are unbeatable. The backstory to their tumultuous relationship only adds to the epic nature of this NBA championship race, which is already one of the best in history.
