It's that time of year again, The NBA playoffs, and soon the NBA Finals. The NBA has seen some awesome championships and dynasties. Legends have been made during this time. This week, I am highlighting my top seven personal favorite championship teams
1. 1973 New York Knicks
Yes I am a Knicks fan, and this was our last championship team. It featured Finals MVP Willis Reed and Earl "The Pearl" Monroe. We had a good run in the 90s and should have gotten two more while Jordan was still retired. This team raised the bar that we are still trying to reach. Slowly we are getting back there.
2.1988 LA Lakers
I hate the Lakers as much or more than I love the Knicks. However, they and Boston dominated the 1980s. Urban audiences paid attention to the Showtime Lakers with Magic, Kareem and Worthy. They just ran you roughshod all over the court and the league was just exciting, albeit a two team race. The 1988 team was my favorite of that dynasty because it was the final with that group. Magic and the gang were still together, Pat Riley was still coaching and they got one more before the decade ended. Not even Kobe's Lakers with five of their own have yet to match these Lakers.
3.1989 Detroit Pistons
It's hard not to like the back to back champion Bad Boys with a young Dennis Rodman, Bill Laimbeer, and even Isaiah Thomas. That team was a special one and a gritty one. They had their own style of play and came to win.
4.1996 Chicago Bulls
They were easily the best team in NBA history to date. Just like all of the present day Heat, Celtics, and Lakers fans, seemed everyone was a Bulls fan in the 90s. It seemed after Jordan returned from his first retirement with Scottie Pippen, Rodman, Ron Harper, Toni Kukoc and those, there was no stopping them. They dominated the regular season with 72 wins and then only lost three playoff games enroute to the championship. They were destined to win everytime they hit the hardwood and had a swagger unmatched before or after.
5. 2004 Detroit Pistons
It appeared at the time the whole world expected Shaq and Kobe to restart another dynasty as they added veterans and rookies alike to their all star palette. However Larry Brown and his team of underdogs had other ideas. Led by Big Ben Wallace, Finals MVP Chauncey Billups, Rasheed Wallace, and rookie Tayshaun Prince, the 2004 Pistons lacked flash and style. However, like the original Bad Boys they played with grit and heart. They not only beat the Lakers, they did it in five games. Billups elevated himself to a second tier point guard, and the Pistons were again on the map.
6. 2008 Boston Celtics
This franchise went from dominant, to mediocre, to plain awful. They were almost (but not nearly) as bad as last years Cleveland Cavaliers or this year's Charlotte Bobcats. However, they gave their young point guard Rajon Rondo and holdover Paul Pierce some much needed weapons in Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. Suddenly a new Big Three was born. This team went from worst to first in one year, one of the quickest turnarounds in NBA history. Garnett will forever be remembered for saying Anything Is Possible!
7.2011 Dallas Mavericks
This was another team and owner in Mark Cuban that received a long overdue NBA title. Like the 2008 Celtics, the 2011 Heat were supposed to dominate the league and win it all with their Big Three of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. However, Dallas, led by Dirk Novitizi and Jason Terry, had other plans. They caught fire in their bellies, took advantage of LeBron's historic poor fourth quarter play, and captured the championship. The Mavs were denied in 2006 by the Heat, but not this time. They shined when no one else expected them to, like other teams on this list.
So who are some of your favorite NBA champions that I omitted?
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