Just two qualifying spots remaining, everyone...
1964 Cincinnati Royals (2)
1969 LA Lakers (1)
1973 Boston Celtics (1)
1978 Portland Trailblazers (2)
1981 Philadelphia 76ers (2)
1985 Boston Celtics (1)
1993 Phoenix Suns (2)
1998 Indiana Pacers (1)
2000 Portland Trailblazers (2)
2002 Sacramento Kings (1)
Just an FYI, since this is just half a decade, Only the top vote-getter from this group will qualify, and then the 12th and final wild card spot will be selected from the remaining pool by vote count.
As it stands, right now that would be the 2007 Phoenix Suns, with 9 votes.
1964 Cincinnati Royals (2)
1969 LA Lakers (1)
1973 Boston Celtics (1)
1978 Portland Trailblazers (2)
1981 Philadelphia 76ers (2)
1985 Boston Celtics (1)
1993 Phoenix Suns (2)
1998 Indiana Pacers (1)
2000 Portland Trailblazers (2)
2002 Sacramento Kings (1)
Just an FYI, since this is just half a decade, Only the top vote-getter from this group will qualify, and then the 12th and final wild card spot will be selected from the remaining pool by vote count.
As it stands, right now that would be the 2007 Phoenix Suns, with 9 votes.
2010 Boston Celtics
Record: 50-32
PPG: 99.2 (19th) Ortg: 107.7 (15th)
Opp PPG: 95.6 (5th) Drtg: 103.8 (5th)
Key Players:
Rajon Rondo (14/10/4/2stls, all-star)
Paul Pierce (18/4/3, all-star)
Kevin Garnett (14/7/3. all-star)
Ray Allen (16/3/3)
Rasheed Wallace (9/4/1)
The case for them: A very different team from the 2008 and 2009 versions, This celtics team featured Rajon Rondo in his first full season as an all-star, in total control of the offense. Veterans like Rasheed Wallace, Marquis Daniels and Nate Robinson tagged along to add depth, and Tony Allen finally matured into a premier defensive stopper. After a pedestrian regular season the Celtics peaked in the postseason, smashing Wade's Heat, LeBron's cavaliers and Dwight Howard's Magic on their way to their second finals appearance in 3 seasons.
Who beat them and why: The Lakers were a far better team than the group the Celtics humiliated in 2008. With Paul Gasol and Andrew Bynum in their primes, Kobe Bryant no longer had to carry them to wins. The Celtics actually took 3 of the first 5 games from the Lakers, but just didn't have the legs to finish them off. Simply put, they ran out of gas, blown out in game 6 and fought through a tough game 7 in the Staples center, only to be broken by Pau Gasol's shot clock buzzer-beater. It was Boston's last, best chance at a second title.
Record: 50-32
PPG: 99.2 (19th) Ortg: 107.7 (15th)
Opp PPG: 95.6 (5th) Drtg: 103.8 (5th)
Key Players:
Rajon Rondo (14/10/4/2stls, all-star)
Paul Pierce (18/4/3, all-star)
Kevin Garnett (14/7/3. all-star)
Ray Allen (16/3/3)
Rasheed Wallace (9/4/1)
The case for them: A very different team from the 2008 and 2009 versions, This celtics team featured Rajon Rondo in his first full season as an all-star, in total control of the offense. Veterans like Rasheed Wallace, Marquis Daniels and Nate Robinson tagged along to add depth, and Tony Allen finally matured into a premier defensive stopper. After a pedestrian regular season the Celtics peaked in the postseason, smashing Wade's Heat, LeBron's cavaliers and Dwight Howard's Magic on their way to their second finals appearance in 3 seasons.
Who beat them and why: The Lakers were a far better team than the group the Celtics humiliated in 2008. With Paul Gasol and Andrew Bynum in their primes, Kobe Bryant no longer had to carry them to wins. The Celtics actually took 3 of the first 5 games from the Lakers, but just didn't have the legs to finish them off. Simply put, they ran out of gas, blown out in game 6 and fought through a tough game 7 in the Staples center, only to be broken by Pau Gasol's shot clock buzzer-beater. It was Boston's last, best chance at a second title.
2011 Miami Heat
Record: 58-24
PPG: 102.1 (8th) Ortg: 111.7 (3rd)
Opp PPG: 94.6 (6th) Drtg: 103.5 (5th)
Key Players:
LeBron James (27/8/7/2stls, 1st team all-NBA)
Dwyane Wade (26/6/5/2stls, 2nd team all-NBA)
Chris Bosh (19/8/2, all-star)
The case for them: In the aftermath of the Celtics crushing them in the 2010 playoffs, LeBron and Wade famously joined forces along with Chris Bosh to form one of the most dominant trios in NBA history. After a slow start that saw them just 9-8 through 17 games, Miami went a blistering 49-16 the rest of the way, cruising to the league's 3rd-best record, and they would have their revenge on Boston in the playoffs, ousting both Boston and top-seeded Chicago in just 5 games each.
Who beat them and why: The 2011 Dallas Mavericks brought two things to the table that the Heat lacked: Depth and experience. In their final run at an elusive first championship, the Mavericks took Miami apart time and time again in the clutch, erasing a double-digit 4th quarter deficit to steal game 2, and riding the clutch shooting of Jason Terry and Dirk Nowitzki to out-duel Miami in games 4 and 5. In game 6, Miami's last of cohesion and depth caught up to them, as the Mavericks' bench pounded them into submission. With Wade and LeBron waiting for each other to take over, the Mavs easily pulled away in the 4th, handing LeBron's super-team its first playoff defeat.
Record: 58-24
PPG: 102.1 (8th) Ortg: 111.7 (3rd)
Opp PPG: 94.6 (6th) Drtg: 103.5 (5th)
Key Players:
LeBron James (27/8/7/2stls, 1st team all-NBA)
Dwyane Wade (26/6/5/2stls, 2nd team all-NBA)
Chris Bosh (19/8/2, all-star)
The case for them: In the aftermath of the Celtics crushing them in the 2010 playoffs, LeBron and Wade famously joined forces along with Chris Bosh to form one of the most dominant trios in NBA history. After a slow start that saw them just 9-8 through 17 games, Miami went a blistering 49-16 the rest of the way, cruising to the league's 3rd-best record, and they would have their revenge on Boston in the playoffs, ousting both Boston and top-seeded Chicago in just 5 games each.
Who beat them and why: The 2011 Dallas Mavericks brought two things to the table that the Heat lacked: Depth and experience. In their final run at an elusive first championship, the Mavericks took Miami apart time and time again in the clutch, erasing a double-digit 4th quarter deficit to steal game 2, and riding the clutch shooting of Jason Terry and Dirk Nowitzki to out-duel Miami in games 4 and 5. In game 6, Miami's last of cohesion and depth caught up to them, as the Mavericks' bench pounded them into submission. With Wade and LeBron waiting for each other to take over, the Mavs easily pulled away in the 4th, handing LeBron's super-team its first playoff defeat.
2012 Oklahoma City Thunder
Record: 47-19
PPG: 103.1 (3rd) Ortg: 109.8 (2nd)
Opp PPG: 96.9 (17th) Drtg: 103.2 (11th)
Key Players:
Kevin Durant (28/8/4, 1st team all-NBA)
Russell Westbrook (24/6/5/2stls, 2nd team all-NBA)
James Harden (17/4/4/, 6th man of the year)
Serge Ibaka (9/8/0/4blks)
The case for them: The final run for OKC's big three before they were broken up. James Harden finally arrived as a dominant force in 2012, dominating as the 6th man to compliment the relentless Westbrook and reigning scoring king Durant. OKC came of age in the postseason as well, annihilating the past three champions (LA and Dallas) in just nine combined games. In the conference finals, they overcame an 0-2 hole against the top-seeded spurs to beat them in 4 straight games as well.
Who beat them and why: Ultimately it was too much, too soon. The Miami Heat had learned their lesson against Dallas the year before, and LeBron would not be denied his championship, averaging 29, 10 and 7 on his way to his first finals MVP. Durant played exceptionally well himself, but it simply wasn't enough as Westbrook's erratic play and Harden's collapse in the finals was too much for him to carry. Ironically it was now Miami's bench that would do in the Thunder, exposing their own lack of depth and perhaps convincing them to over-compensate by dealing away Harden later that summer.
Record: 47-19
PPG: 103.1 (3rd) Ortg: 109.8 (2nd)
Opp PPG: 96.9 (17th) Drtg: 103.2 (11th)
Key Players:
Kevin Durant (28/8/4, 1st team all-NBA)
Russell Westbrook (24/6/5/2stls, 2nd team all-NBA)
James Harden (17/4/4/, 6th man of the year)
Serge Ibaka (9/8/0/4blks)
The case for them: The final run for OKC's big three before they were broken up. James Harden finally arrived as a dominant force in 2012, dominating as the 6th man to compliment the relentless Westbrook and reigning scoring king Durant. OKC came of age in the postseason as well, annihilating the past three champions (LA and Dallas) in just nine combined games. In the conference finals, they overcame an 0-2 hole against the top-seeded spurs to beat them in 4 straight games as well.
Who beat them and why: Ultimately it was too much, too soon. The Miami Heat had learned their lesson against Dallas the year before, and LeBron would not be denied his championship, averaging 29, 10 and 7 on his way to his first finals MVP. Durant played exceptionally well himself, but it simply wasn't enough as Westbrook's erratic play and Harden's collapse in the finals was too much for him to carry. Ironically it was now Miami's bench that would do in the Thunder, exposing their own lack of depth and perhaps convincing them to over-compensate by dealing away Harden later that summer.
2014 San Antonio Spurs
Record: 58-24
PPG: 103.0 (4th) Ortg: 108.3 (7th)
Opp PPG: 96.6 (11th) Drtg: 101/6 (3rd)
Key Players:
Tim Duncan (18/10/3/3blks, 1st team all-NBA)
Tony Parker (20/8/3, 2nd team all-NBA)
Kawhi Leonard (12/6/2/2stls)
Manu Ginobili (12/3/3)
Danny Green (11/3/2)
The case for them: Among teams that came the closest to winning the NBA championship without actually winning one, the 2013 Spurs edge out the 1988 Pistons and 2010 Celtics for the gold star. Given up and left for dead after being stampeded by the younger, more athletic Thunder, the Spurs re-booted and came back stronger in 2013, featuring a zombie-like revival from Tim Duncan, who put in his finest season in six years, landing on the all-NBA first time for the first time since 2007. Parker at the tail end of his prime was arguably at his best as a floor general, and with a stockpile of outside shooters, the Spurs made mincemeat out of the western conference, rolling over the Lakers, Warriors and the top-seeded Thunder on their way to their fist finals appearance since their past championship days.
Who beat them and why: Defending champion Miami was waiting for the Spurs, and with neither team completely healthy, both sides played on guts and stamina through 5 games, with the spurs gaining a 3-2 lead behind Danny Green's finals-record 27 three-pointers. The Spurs had Miami dead to rights in game 6 behind Tim Duncan's 30-point, 17-rebound performance, holding both a 4-point lead and the ball with just 28 seconds left. Then, the slow, methodical self-destruction began. Ginobili split two FTs. Following a time out, Duncan was pulled off the floor for defensive purposes, and and offensive rebound led to a LeBron James three to cut it to 2. Kawhi Leonard then split his two FTs, leaving Miami down just 3 with 20 seconds left. Duncan stays on the bench for Miami's final possession ,which resulted in yet another offensive rebound, which wound up in the hands of Ray Allen for the game-tying three. The Spurs would lose in OT and have nothing left to give for the final game. San Antonio would get their revenge on Miami a year later, but the 2013 banner was won by the Heat.
Record: 58-24
PPG: 103.0 (4th) Ortg: 108.3 (7th)
Opp PPG: 96.6 (11th) Drtg: 101/6 (3rd)
Key Players:
Tim Duncan (18/10/3/3blks, 1st team all-NBA)
Tony Parker (20/8/3, 2nd team all-NBA)
Kawhi Leonard (12/6/2/2stls)
Manu Ginobili (12/3/3)
Danny Green (11/3/2)
The case for them: Among teams that came the closest to winning the NBA championship without actually winning one, the 2013 Spurs edge out the 1988 Pistons and 2010 Celtics for the gold star. Given up and left for dead after being stampeded by the younger, more athletic Thunder, the Spurs re-booted and came back stronger in 2013, featuring a zombie-like revival from Tim Duncan, who put in his finest season in six years, landing on the all-NBA first time for the first time since 2007. Parker at the tail end of his prime was arguably at his best as a floor general, and with a stockpile of outside shooters, the Spurs made mincemeat out of the western conference, rolling over the Lakers, Warriors and the top-seeded Thunder on their way to their fist finals appearance since their past championship days.
Who beat them and why: Defending champion Miami was waiting for the Spurs, and with neither team completely healthy, both sides played on guts and stamina through 5 games, with the spurs gaining a 3-2 lead behind Danny Green's finals-record 27 three-pointers. The Spurs had Miami dead to rights in game 6 behind Tim Duncan's 30-point, 17-rebound performance, holding both a 4-point lead and the ball with just 28 seconds left. Then, the slow, methodical self-destruction began. Ginobili split two FTs. Following a time out, Duncan was pulled off the floor for defensive purposes, and and offensive rebound led to a LeBron James three to cut it to 2. Kawhi Leonard then split his two FTs, leaving Miami down just 3 with 20 seconds left. Duncan stays on the bench for Miami's final possession ,which resulted in yet another offensive rebound, which wound up in the hands of Ray Allen for the game-tying three. The Spurs would lose in OT and have nothing left to give for the final game. San Antonio would get their revenge on Miami a year later, but the 2013 banner was won by the Heat.
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