Shutterstock
No better occasion exists for any team in the NBA than when they win a tournament. Right now, only about twenty clubs can boast of such an achievement. The NBA has a lot of great stories about how these crews performed during the tournament and how they fared. In 1996, the association celebrated its fiftieth anniversary and published a number of the top ten teams in no particular order. This list was compiled by media personnel who were basketball frequenters.
We will look at seven of the world’s most dominant teams in NBA history. Listing them in order makes it all the more difficult because they played on separate occasions. These teams all excelled in their era. The major consideration for this list will be the achievements that the teams could clinch.
1. 1966-1967 PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
Achievements:
- Most outstanding start in the NBA in 50 games (46-5).
- Number one in Eastern Division.
- Put an end to the Celtics’ tournament run.
- Beat the Warriors for the tournament title.
- Took home the franchise’s second tournament.
There has been no other crew to start in such a tremendous fashion. The Sixers were an unstoppable force in the Eastern Division. By defeating Celtics, the eighth-time champions at the time, they took home the trophy.
With overpowering zeal, the Sixers came out strong during the Finals. Wilt Chamberlain had his famous blocks working for him. Blocking Thurmond’s shot in the final seconds proceeded to overtime. Their desire to be victorious could not be put out as they finished the series in only six games. He was a powerful presence in the series with a personal 17.7 points and 28.5 rebound average. His teammates, Hal Greer and Chet Walker, also did quite well with 26.0 and 23.3 pts average, respectively.
Cunningham contributed 19.7 pts per match. Luke Jackson almost gave a near double-double average of 9 2 pts and 12.5 rebounds per match. They were a red-hot crew all through the period. They started and ended in a strong fashion. They deserve a spot in the top seven.
The attention to the game has always been unbelievable ever since that championship. US basketball remains the all time favorite despite any possible problems.
2. 2016-2017 GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
Achievements:
- Best playoff record in NBA.
- Number one seed in Western Conference.
- Franchise’s 5th tournament winner.
They had to surmount immense difficulty before they could achieve what they did. Their defining moments make them subjects of many basketball essays and fan favorites in the East and West alike. Their comeback from a disappointing previous regular season was remarkable.
The following year, they made a high-profile purchase from the All-Star crew — Kevin Durrant. He came to play with top-notch players like Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson. With such a powerful forward, every other crew was fighting for runner-up.
3. 1985-1986 BOSTON CELTICS
Achievements:
- Most victories at home (40).
- Second highest wins in franchise history (67).
- Beat the Rockets to clinch the championship.
- Sixteenth franchise tournament victory.
Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish spearhead the crew. Bill Walton was also quite instrumental. Due to the quality of ballers on their roster, they stood out in the NBA that season. This was particularly shown at home, where they only succumbed to defeat once.
Bird led the crew in scores and rebounds with his 25.8 points and 9.8 rebounds average per event. McHale had a running 21.3 pts and 8.1 rebounds average per event. Parish put in 16.1 pts and 9.5 rebounds on average. Dennis Johnson and Danny Ainge were another pair that often contributed double digits. They had 15.6 and 10.7 pts on average, respectively.
The Celtics had a blast at the Eastern Conference. The smallest margin was 111-106. They were ready to go for the crown, coming off such a sensational series. Hakeem Olajuwon and his Rockets could only move the Celtics an inch away from their goal. They bounced back at Game 5 and won the series with a 114-97 victory. This makes them deserving of a place in the countdown.
4. 2000-2001 LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Achievements:
- Number one seed in Western Conference.
- Almost unbeaten playoffs records.
- Won the franchise’s 13th tournament victory.
This Lakers crew was fresh off another tournament. Yet, they went all in, in their pursuit of another one. Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant were the unstoppable duos of the season. Even though they had a bit of a stumbling block, they turned it into a stepping stone under the direction of Phil Jackson as they progressed, undefeated, to the NBA finals.
O’Neal was the frontman with his fantastic 30.5-point average and 15.4 rebounds. He later came to be named to the NBA finals MVP titles. Kobe was also very powerful, with a 29.4 score average.
5. 1986-1987 LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Achievements:
- The premier crew in the Western Conference
- Defeated the Boston-Celtics in the NBA Finals.
- Gained the franchise’s 17th tournament victory and 2nd straight.
Another crew that deserves a spot is the Lakers 1986-87 one. They had Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and James Worthy. Other teammates include A.C. GREEN, Mychal Thompson, and Wes Matthews. Such a lineup makes them a legitimate contender and a dominant force in its era.
6. 1991-1992 CHICAGO BULLS
Achievements:
- First, in terms of Offensive Rating (115.5).
- Number one seed in the Eastern Conference, 37-5 start to the season.
- Second straight tournament victory.
The 91-92 team was the crew to beat. Coached by Phil Jackson, this was very lethal. With Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, John Paxson, and Bill Cartwright on board, they were on fire. This Bulls crew was hungry for their second straight victory, so they were a class of their own in the Eastern Conference.
7. 1995-1996 CHICAGO BULLS
Achievements:
- Second in the number of victories in a regular season.
- First NBA crew to be victorious in 70 events in the regular season.
- Recorded a 44-game winning streak.
- Only crew to dominate 70 games in a season and clinch the tournament.
- Eastern Conference champions.
- Franchise’s 4th NBA tournament winner.
Conclusion
This list, of course, does not include all the prominent NBA teams in history. There are plenty of world-famous players with numerous sports awards. They receive utmost attention from the public, become celebrities, star in Hollywood films and TV shows. Not to mention the handsome salary they receive.
It is important to remember what exactly stands behind the unbelievably high acknowledgement of these celebrated sportsmen. It takes long hours of exhausting trainings along with numerous fails to overcome. They work extremely hard, and deserve all the praise they get.
