Seppeh
06-07-2007, 10:45 AM
We've had 30 NBA Finals matchups since the NBA-ABA merger, so we at ESPN.com decided it would be a good time to rank all 60 teams that have played on the NBA's biggest stage in the modern era.
(We also have to thank Page 2 for the idea, since they did something similar for the Super Bowl.)
Of course, that means we're sorting out the greatest of the great, and you can find those teams listed below.
But it also means that we have to find a place for an NBA Finals team that finished the season with a 40-42 record, believe it or not -- you can find them here.
And, yes, we've figured out the worst NBA champions of the past 30 years -- no, it's not the 2006 Miami Heat, though they were close.
As you might have guessed, I devised a little formula to help me get through this task. My premise is we want to look at three factors in rating greatness: regular-season performance, postseason performance, and finally, whether the team won a championship. See the box to the right for all the gory details.
As you'll see, the way the numbers shook out produced a ranking that conformed very much with conventional wisdom, with a few interesting exceptions.
In other words, the list below is how I'd rank them even without a formula, more or less, but it's nice to know the numbers have my back.
Now, on to the list:
ESPN - Hollinger: Ranking the NBA Finals teams, from best to worst: 1-10 (http://proxy.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2007/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=Finalists1-10)
1. 1996 Chicago Bulls Score: 327.9
KEY FACTS
Regular-season record: 72-10
Postseason record: 15-3
Avg. scoring margin: +12.2
Avg. scoring margin, playoffs: +10.6
Finals result: Beat Seattle, 4-2
LEADERS (regular-season stats)
Scoring: Michael Jordan, 30.4 ppg
Rebounds: Dennis Rodman, 14.9 rpg
Assists: Scottie Pippen, 5.9 apg
Coach: Phil Jackson
Finals MVP: Michael Jordan
Hands down, the greatest team of all time. How can you choose another when these guys won 72 regular-season games and 14 of their first 15 in the postseason? The Bulls were so good they were first in both offensive and defensive efficiency, and outscored their opponents by 12.2 points per game.
With names like Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, and Toni Kukoc, not to mention a coach like Phil Jackson, this team was pretty much unbeatable -- in fact, seven of its playoff wins were by 17 points or more. The only nit to pick was the Bulls' consecutive losses to the Sonics in the Finals, but they were up 3-0 by then and seemingly bored with how good they were.
2. 1987 Los Angeles Lakers
3. 1986 Boston Celtics
4. 1991 Chicago Bulls
5. 1997 Chicago Bulls
6. 1985 Los Angeles Lakers
7. 1992 Chicago Bulls
8. 1999 San Antonio Spurs
9. 1983 Philadelphia 76ers
10. 1989 Detroit Pistons
(We also have to thank Page 2 for the idea, since they did something similar for the Super Bowl.)
Of course, that means we're sorting out the greatest of the great, and you can find those teams listed below.
But it also means that we have to find a place for an NBA Finals team that finished the season with a 40-42 record, believe it or not -- you can find them here.
And, yes, we've figured out the worst NBA champions of the past 30 years -- no, it's not the 2006 Miami Heat, though they were close.
As you might have guessed, I devised a little formula to help me get through this task. My premise is we want to look at three factors in rating greatness: regular-season performance, postseason performance, and finally, whether the team won a championship. See the box to the right for all the gory details.
As you'll see, the way the numbers shook out produced a ranking that conformed very much with conventional wisdom, with a few interesting exceptions.
In other words, the list below is how I'd rank them even without a formula, more or less, but it's nice to know the numbers have my back.
Now, on to the list:
ESPN - Hollinger: Ranking the NBA Finals teams, from best to worst: 1-10 (http://proxy.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2007/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=Finalists1-10)
1. 1996 Chicago Bulls Score: 327.9
KEY FACTS
Regular-season record: 72-10
Postseason record: 15-3
Avg. scoring margin: +12.2
Avg. scoring margin, playoffs: +10.6
Finals result: Beat Seattle, 4-2
LEADERS (regular-season stats)
Scoring: Michael Jordan, 30.4 ppg
Rebounds: Dennis Rodman, 14.9 rpg
Assists: Scottie Pippen, 5.9 apg
Coach: Phil Jackson
Finals MVP: Michael Jordan
Hands down, the greatest team of all time. How can you choose another when these guys won 72 regular-season games and 14 of their first 15 in the postseason? The Bulls were so good they were first in both offensive and defensive efficiency, and outscored their opponents by 12.2 points per game.
With names like Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, and Toni Kukoc, not to mention a coach like Phil Jackson, this team was pretty much unbeatable -- in fact, seven of its playoff wins were by 17 points or more. The only nit to pick was the Bulls' consecutive losses to the Sonics in the Finals, but they were up 3-0 by then and seemingly bored with how good they were.
2. 1987 Los Angeles Lakers
3. 1986 Boston Celtics
4. 1991 Chicago Bulls
5. 1997 Chicago Bulls
6. 1985 Los Angeles Lakers
7. 1992 Chicago Bulls
8. 1999 San Antonio Spurs
9. 1983 Philadelphia 76ers
10. 1989 Detroit Pistons