Various clubs and their followers have boasted about their historic success for years, even if they haven't made it to the NBA Finals in almost a decade. The NBA has seen several great teams develop since the beginning of the 21st century and a few of them have even won the NBA championship. Listed below are our top 5 NBA teams over the past century.
San Antonio Spurs (2013 - 2014)
In this June 15, 2003 file photo, San Antonio Spurs players Tim Duncan (21) holds his MVP trophy while teammate David Robinson (50) holds the championship trophy after the Spurs beat the New Jersey Nets 88-77 to win the NBA Championship in Game 6 of the NBA Finals in San Antonio. Robinson was 37-years-old when he rode off into the NBA sunset with a fresh Lawrence O'Brien trophy under his arm and his legacy as the greatest player in Spurs history firmly intact. It's been 10 years since Robinson retired, leaving his team in the hands of Duncan and a couple of precocious and unpredictable young guards named Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili to carry forward. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)[/caption]Their 2013-2014 season was fantastic. Spurs were arguably one of, if not the most, influential teams of the twenty-first century, dominating the league for almost 15 years, ever since the 2000s.
During their peak, the team appeared in six finals, winning five of them and losing only one. It is one of the most admired NBA teams. Good thing that online casino real money pennsylvania wasn't as popular back then because the wagering sites would've surely lost quite a bit of money. During the 2013-2014 season, the team featured one of the strongest lineups in franchise history, with players such as Tony Parker, Kawhi Leonard, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Dany Grain. Tim Duncan, a future Hall of Famer, and a contender for best NBA center of all time.
Apart from Duncan, the Spurs could rely on Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili for their unwavering stamina and ability to win games in the last seconds. The fans understood this team was unique and that it would go down in history as one of San Antonio's best.
LA Lakers (2001 - 2002)
With probably the best two players of all time, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, the LA Lakers became the world's premier NBA club, kicking off the twenty-first century with a boom. Aside from the two legends, this club had Shaw, who was widely regarded as the league's best
center.
They won 58 games while losing 24. The Lakers faced the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the playoffs and defeated them without losing a single game before defeating the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the second round. The conference finals proved more challenging, but the Lakers triumphed in the end, defeating their opponents in the seventh game.
They performed much better in the NBA finals, crushing the Eastern Conference champs. The games were completely one-sided, with the Lakers defeating their opponents in only four games and becoming the first team to win the finals 4-0.
Cleveland Cavaliers (2015 - 2016)
There are numerous reasons for ranking this Cleveland club among the top three NBA teams of the twenty-first century. LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love all starred for this team and performed admirably. With the help of JR Smith's shooting and Love's excellent rebounds, Kyrie and LeBron each concluded the season with a 25+ point average.
This team will go down in history as one of two teams to ever defeat the Golden State Warriors in the NBA finals in the twenty-first century. It was a thrill to witness their performance, and many of its highlights are still being replayed and popular today.
Miami Heat (2012 - 2013)
This Miami Heat team can be considered one of the super-teams of the past decade. Their lineup included the three of the best players at the time, Lebron James, Dwyane Wade as well as Chris Bosh. The team managed to be in four finals in successive seasons, winning two championships.
Although the team peaked during those four seasons, the members of the 2012-2013 team are praised for their incredible winning mentality. They won a staggering 66 games and lost only 16. In addition to that, they were the team that defeated the aforementioned San Antonio Spurs, handing them their only loss in the finals.
Golden State Warriors (2017 - 2018)
The greatest NBA team of the twenty-first century may seem like an obvious choice. The famous Steve Kerr coached this Golden Warriors team, and he was capable of outsmarting any opponent he faced. This squad's brilliance and magnificence cannot be overstated. Kevin Durant, along with the famed Stephen Curry, was arguably the finest scorer of the decade.
Curry's shooting and Draymond Green's playmaking elevated this team to the top of the NBA. Klay Thompson, who was capable of clutching the game in its last moments, is another player worth mentioning. They concluded the season with a 58-24 record and were crowned NBA champions after defeating the Cavaliers 4-0 - becoming only the third team in history to accomplish that feat.
Conclusion
The 21st century has brought us some of the best basketball teams in history. Many legends of the game spoiled us with their amazing athleticism and never-ending winning spirit. Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, and Shaquille O’Neal are only some of the names that we will forever remember as the greatest in basketball.
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