BasketBall nba finals

: Minneapolis/ LA Lakers vs. Philadelphia 76ers 4-1

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2001: Minneapolis/ LA Lakers vs. Philadelphia 76ers 4-1 Was Lakers 2^nd consecutive victory. This was the 76er's first appearance in the championship round since Moses Malone and Julius Erving led the 1983 squad to the NBA championship (coincidently, last defeating the Lakers) in the famous "'fo, fo', fo'" year (which ended up being "fo', fi', fo", as Philadelphia lost one second-round game that year). However, this was the Laker's turn to put together the most dominant postseason in league history, finishing 15-1 with their only setback being an overtime loss to the Sixers in Game 1 of the championship round. The Lakers set a multitude of playoff records, including going undefeated in both regulation and on the road (finishing an unprecedented 8-0 in the latter category). They were the second NBA champion to defeat 4 successive 50-win or better teams on their way to the title as the Houston Rockets did it first in 1995. This team is widely regarded as one of the greatest teams of all time along with the 1967 Philadelphia 76ers, 1972 Los Angeles Lakers, 1983 Philadelphia 76ers, 1986 Boston Celtics, 1987 Los Angeles Lakers, 1989 Detroit Pistons and the 1996 Chicago Bulls. The Milwaukee Bucks were one of the surprise teams of the playoffs, winning a playoff series for the first time since 1989 and advancing to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 1986. As of 2010^[update], however, they have been unable to duplicate this feat. The Dallas Mavericks also ended years of futility in the 2001 playoffs, making the postseason for the first time since 1990. Along the way they had had several abysmal seasons including back-to-back years with only 11 and 13 wins. By stunning the Utah Jazz in the first round, the Mavericks won their first playoff series since 1988. Reunion Arena, the Mavs' home court for 21 years, hosted its last game (Game 4 of the second round against the San Antonio Spurs); the Mavs moved to American Airlines Center in 2001. The Sacramento Kings won their first playoff series since 1981 (when they were then known as the Kansas City Kings) and first since the franchise moved to Sacramento. The Toronto Raptors won their first playoff series in franchise history with a 3-2 series win over the New York Knicks, but fell in seven games to the 76ers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The total of number of playoff games in the NBA Playoffs is 72, including the NBA Finals. For the first time since 1991, the New York Knicks failed to win a first round playoff series (losing to the Toronto Raptors 3 games to 2). This was the 76er's first appearance in the championship round since Moses Malone and Julius Erving led the 1983 squad to the NBA championship (coincidently, last defeating the Lakers) in the famous "'fo, fo', fo'" year (which ended up being "fo', fi', fo", as Philadelphia lost one second-round game that year). However, this was the Laker's turn to put together the most dominant postseason in league history, finishing 15-1 with their only setback being an overtime loss to the Sixers in Game 1 of the championship round. The Lakers set a multitude of playoff records, including going undefeated in both regulation and on the road (finishing an unprecedented 8-0 in the latter category). They were the second NBA champion to defeat 4 successive 50-win or better teams on their way to the title as the Houston Rockets did it first in 1995. This team is widely regarded as one of the greatest teams of all time along with the 1967 Philadelphia 76ers, 1972 Los Angeles Lakers, 1983 Philadelphia 76ers, 1986 Boston Celtics, 1987 Los Angeles Lakers, 1989 Detroit Pistons and the 1996 Chicago Bulls. The Milwaukee Bucks were one of the surprise teams of the playoffs, winning a playoff series for the first time since 1989 and advancing to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 1986. As of 2010^[update], however, they have been unable to duplicate this feat. The Dallas Mavericks also ended years of futility in the 2001 playoffs, making the postseason for the first time since 1990. Along the way they had had several abysmal seasons including back-to-back years with only 11 and 13 wins. By stunning the Utah Jazz in the first round, the Mavericks won their first playoff series since 1988. Reunion Arena, the Mavs' home court for 21 years, hosted its last game (Game 4 of the second round against the San Antonio Spurs); the Mavs moved to American Airlines Center in 2001. The Sacramento Kings won their first playoff series since 1981 (when they were then known as the Kansas City Kings) and first since the franchise moved to Sacramento. The Toronto Raptors won their first playoff series in franchise history with a 3-2 series win over the New York Knicks, but fell in seven games to the 76ers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The total of number of playoff games in the NBA Playoffs is 72, including the NBA Finals. For the first time since 1991, the New York Knicks failed to win a first round playoff series (losing to the Toronto Raptors 3 games to 2).

2002: LA Lakers vs. NJ. Nets 4-0: The Los Angeles Lakers defeat the New Jersey Nets to complete a Three Peat, becoming only the 5th team to accomplish this feat. This would be the final postseason that held best-of-5 first-round series; next year's postseason would see those series expanded to a best-of-7 format. This tournament marked the return of playoff success for the Boston Celtics, who had last made the playoffs in 1995, and had made their last Eastern Conference finals appearance in 1988. Though they would eventually lose to the New Jersey Nets in six games (avoiding a possible Lakers-Celtics NBA Finals), they did manage to create the biggest fourth quarter playoff comeback in Game 3, winning 94-90 after trailing by as much as 21 prior to the fourth quarter. The playoffs also marked the last appearance of the Charlotte Hornets in the playoffs, as they moved the next year to New Orleans. It was also the last playoff game held at Charlotte Coliseum (Game 4 of second round vs. New Jersey Nets); Charlotte's new team, the Charlotte Bobcats, played for a season at the Coliseum (without hosting a playoff game) before moving to Time Warner Cable Arena (formerly Bobcats Arena) in 2005. The city would not host a playoff game again until 2010. For the first time in his career, Michael Jordan missed the postseason. The total number of playoff games for the NBA was 70 games including the NBA Finals.

2003: San Antonio Spurs vs. New Jersey Nets 4-2: The San Antonio Spurs defeat the New Jersey Nets 4-2, clinching their 2nd NBA title. This postseason was notable for being the first time all series were conducted in a best-of-7 format. It was also the only time in playoff history that no team was swept in a first-round series. From 1984 to 2002, first-round series were best-of-5 series. This is also the first time that the NBA Playoffs would carry more games on cable television, and carry less games on regular broadcast television. This also mark the debut for the NBA Playoffs to be aired on NBA TV, and the return broadcast on ESPN & ABC after the NBA departed from NBC and TBS stations. The Detroit Pistons advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since the Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars-led team were swept by the Chicago Bulls in the 1991 series, ending the Pistons' quest for a third consecutive title. The Dallas Mavericks also ended a long conference finals drought by making it to the third round of the playoffs for the first time since 1988.

2004: Detroit Pistons vs. LA Lakers 4-1: Detroit Pistons defeat the favored Los Angeles Lakers 4-1. The Pistons won Game 1, 3, 4 and 5. This was the first time a team without home court advantage had won all 3 of their home games in the 2-3-2 format. Consisting of 16 teams in two conferences, the playoffs involved about two months of play. The playoffs were conducted in seven-game series, with the team with the better record holding home court advantage. The Minnesota Timberwolves, after missing the playoffs their first seven seasons and losing in the first round the next seven years, won their first two playoff series in 2004 before falling to the Lakers in the Western Conference finals. The Indiana Pacers made the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since their NBA Finals run in 2000, after which they significantly changed the makeup of their team (yet continued to make the playoffs every year). Reggie Miller's clutch three-point shooting wasn't enough. Game 2 of their Eastern Conference Finals series with the Pistons proved to be pivotal, as Tayshaun Prince blocked an easy lay-up by Miller late in the game to preserve the victory for the Pistons; the Pistons won in six games. The 2004 playoffs marked the first postseason appearance for the Memphis Grizzlies in their nine-year history which began as the Vancouver Grizzlies. 2004 also saw the Utah Jazz missing the playoffs for the first time since 1983. The Portland Trail Blazers missed the playoffs after qualifying the previous 21 seasons. This was the first playoff appearance for the Denver Nuggets since the 1994–95 season. The New Orleans Hornets made their final postseason appearance as a member of the Eastern Conference. They would not make the postseason again until 2008, as a member of the Western Conference (the result of a realignment with the addition of the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2004-05 NBA season). Their playoff series with the Miami Heat, led by Dwyane Wade, was the last playoff series where the home team won all seven games until 2008's Boston-Atlanta and Boston-Cleveland playoff series. 2004 also marked the first time in 14 years that all Texas teams made the playoffs, and the second time (first in 10 years) that all former ABA teams made the playoffs.

2005: San Antonio Spurs vs. Detroit Pistons 4-3: San Antonio Spurs 4–3 over the Detroit Pistons. The first four games were blowouts for the home team, but Game 5 was a very tight game in a scene reminiscent of the 1976 Finals. Robert Horry of the Spurs hit a three-pointer at the end of the overtime period for a 96–95 win and a 3-2 lead in the series. The San Antonio Spurs, the number two ranked team in the Western Conference, won the 2005 NBA Playoffs by defeating the defending champions, the Detroit Pistons. The Spurs' Tim Duncan was named Finals MVP. The NBA Finals marked the first time since 1987 that the two previous champions met in the Finals (the Spurs won in 2003, the Pistons in 2004). For the Spurs it wasn't their third championship (they also won in the strike-shortened season of 1999). The Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls both ended long playoff droughts in 2005 (and drew each other as a first-round matchup). For Washington it was their first playoff appearance since 1997 (and even more ironic their opponents for that postseason appearance were the Bulls who swept them 3-0 on their way to the NBA Title), and only their third since 1988. Their 4-2 series victory over the Bulls marked the Wizards' first playoff series win since 1982, a drought of 23 years. The Miami Heat became the first team to go 8-0 through the first two rounds of the playoffs (the first round having been made into a best-of-seven in the 2003 NBA Playoffs). The 2009 Cleveland Cavaliers and 2010 Orlando Magic would follow suit. No team, however, has made the finals after going 8-0 in the first two playoff rounds, let alone winning 12 straight playoff games going to the finals. It was the Bulls' first post-Michael Jordan playoff appearance, as their last playoff game had been the winning game of the NBA Finals in 1998. In the years between, the Bulls had consistently placed at or near the bottom of the Central Division, but their 47-35 season in 2005 marked a 24-game improvement from the previous year. For the 3rd straight year (5th overall) the Indiana Pacers met the Boston Celtics in the first round. Boston prevailed in 2003 in six games, while Indiana swept Boston in 2004. It would be Boston's last postseason appearance before their 2008 title-winning season. For the Los Angeles Lakers, it marked the first time in eleven seasons (dating back to 1994) and the fifth time in NBA history that they were not included in the playoffs. This was the last time that the Seattle SuperSonics would be in the playoffs as the SuperSonics before they had relocated to Oklahoma to become the Oklahoma City Thunder.

2006: Miami Heat vs. Dalla Mavericks 4-2: The Miami Heat defeated the Dallas Mavericks in six games, with Dwyane Wade garnering MVP honors after averaging 34.7 points per game. The title marked the first championship for aging legends Gary Payton and Alonzo Mourning. It also marked the fourth for Shaquille O'Neal and the fifth for coach Pat Riley, both of whom had not previously won a title outside of Los Angeles. Was Heat’s 1^st championship. The Heat's Dwyane Wade was named Finals MVP. The Los Angeles Clippers were one of the playoffs' biggest surprises in 2006, as they not only made the playoffs for the first time since 1997 but they advanced to the second round for the first time since 1976, when they were the Buffalo Braves. They came within one game of making it to the conference finals for the first time ever, but lost Game 7 to the Phoenix Suns. 2006 marked the playoff debut of Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James, who helped the Cavs eke out one-point overtime victories over the Washington Wizards in Games 5 and 6 of their first-round series to advance to the second round. It was the Cavaliers' first playoff appearance since 1998, and they earned their first playoff series win since 1993. Against the two-time defending Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons, the Cavaliers were routed in Game 1 of the semifinal series and lost by six in Game 2 before coming back to win the following three games and come within one game of handing the Pistons a playoff defeat. The Pistons recovered and won the last two games of the series for a seven-game series win.

2007: San Antonio Spurs vs. Cleveland Cavaliers 4-0: The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers with a sweep. This was their 4th NBA title in 8 years. There were four rounds of postseason action, all of them in a best-of-seven format, with teams seeded on a bracket. The team with the better record wasn't necessarily the basis of seeding teams in the playoffs. Nevertheless, the team with the better record in a match-up had home court advantage. Spurs won 4^th championship in last 9 years. The Spurs' Tony Parker being named Finals MVP.

2008: Boston Celtics vs. LA Lakers 4-2: The Boston Celtics ended their 22-year title drought with a six-game victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. There were four rounds of postseason action, all of them in a best-of-seven format, with teams seeded on a bracket. The team with the better record was not necessarily the basis of seeding teams in the playoffs. Nevertheless, the team with the better record in a match-up had home court advantage. The playoffs were noted for the return of the Atlanta Hawks into postseason action after nine years of absence, taking the #1 seed Boston Celtics into a full seven games before bowing out. Also notable was the race for the Western Conference home court advantage, eventually won by the Los Angeles Lakers who emerged as the Western Conference champions; the debut of the Chris Paul-led New Orleans Hornets in the playoffs after Hurricane Katrina and their 7-game series against defending champions San Antonio Spurs; and the Lakers' and Celtics' revitalization of their franchises, most especially after key trades during the pre-season and regular season. The Celtics ended up playing in 26 postseason games (2 games short of a full length postseason of 28), breaking the 25 game record of both the 1994 New York Knicks, whom Celtics Coach Doc Rivers played for, and the 2005 Detroit Pistons, by one game for the record of most postseason games in a single season played by a single NBA team.^[1] The Knicks, however, only played a Best-of-5 First Round playoff series, and so had two fewer games to accomplish that feat. The two number one seeds, the Lakers and the Celtics, disputed the NBA championship, reviving their old rivalry, last played in the 1987 Finals. Also, it marked the first time since 2000 that both top seeds from each Conference met in the Finals.

2009: LA Lakers vs. Orlando Magic 4-1: Phil Jackson won his 10th championship as a head coach, his 4th with the Los Angeles Lakers, surpassing Red Auerbach for the all time NBA record. Eight teams from each of the league's two conferences qualified for the playoffs, all seeded 1 to 8 in a tournament bracket, with all rounds in a best-of-seven format. The Los Angeles Lakers clinched the top seed in the Western Conference with 65 wins in the regular season. However, the playoffs seedings below #1 were unable to be determined until the final day of the regular season with four teams still in contention to clinch three of the top four seeds and the home court advantage in the first round.The Cleveland Cavaliers finished with 66 wins in the regular season to clinch the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. They also won the Central Division for the first time in 33 years, and earned the home court advantage throughout the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.The Lakers and the number three seed in the Eastern Conference, the Orlando Magic, advanced to the 2009 NBA Finals, with the Lakers holding the home court advantage in the Finals. The Lakers beat the Magic 4–1 in the NBA Finals to win their 15th NBA championship. The Boston Celtics lost a best-of-seven series after leading 3-2 for the first time after 32 tries, courtesy of the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Semifinals. Prior to that, their first round series with the Chicago Bulls set an NBA Playoff record for the most overtime games (4) and periods (7) played. The Houston Rockets won a first-round series for the first time since 1997. They would push the eventual champion Lakers to a Game 7 before losing. The Atlanta Hawks likewise won a first round series for the first time since 1999, but they were swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers after enduring a tough seven-game series with the Miami Heat, who made the playoffs for the fifth time in six years. And the Denver Nuggets won a playoff series for the first time since 1994, eventually reaching their first conference final since 1985. As for the Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs, they failed to advance past the first round for the first time since 2000. The Pistons were swept by the Cavaliers, while the Spurs fell to the Dallas Mavericks in five games. The Portland Trail Blazers made the playoffs for the first time since 2003, but for the fourth straight postseason, they were eliminated in the first round, courtesy of the Houston Rockets in six games.

2010: LA Lakers vs. Boston Celtics 4-3: Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Boston Celtics in Game 7 (83-79) to once again win back-to-back championships. The Lakers came back from multiple deficits, including a long span in which they were down by 13 points in the 3rd quarter, to win another championship. Kobe Bryant earned the finals MVP. Eight teams from each of the league's two conferences qualified for the playoffs, all seeded 1 to 8 in a tournament bracket, with all rounds in a best-of-seven format. The Cleveland Cavaliers clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference by posting their second consecutive (and second ever) 60-win season; they also won the Central Division for the second year in a row.They also clinched the best record in the NBA on April 5, which guaranteed them home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. For the second time in three seasons and the first time since the 2008 postseason, all 8 Western Conference playoff teams had at least 50 wins. The 7 games separating 1 from 8 was also tied for the smallest margin, also from the 2008 playoffs. Cleveland's 61 in the NBA was the least win total for the best record since the Indiana Pacers won 61 games in 2003–04.^[2] The Cavaliers' second round playoff exit (2–4 vs. Boston Celtics) was the earliest for the top seed since the Dallas Mavericks' first round loss to the Golden State Warriors in 2007. Several teams would also avenge previous losses by defeating teams who defeated them in recent years. The Spurs would defeat the Mavericks who defeated them twice in the previous 4 seasons. The Cavaliers would defeat the Bulls for the first time since The Shot. The Suns would defeat the Spurs who won the previous 4 meetings in the last decade. The Lakers would defeat the Suns who defeated them in the first round in 2006 and 2007. The Celtics would defeat the Magic who eliminated them last year. And in the finals, the Lakers defeated the Celtics who defeated them in the 2008 finals. Game 5 of the Magic-Celtics Conference Finals was the last game played at Amway Arena (formerly Orlando Arena and TD Waterhouse Centre). The Magic, who last year upset the top-seeded Cavaliers in six games after they went 8-0 through the first two rounds, also went 8-0 through two playoff series, only to suffer the same fate as the Cavaliers last year, losing to the Celtics in six games. The Charlotte Bobcats made their first playoff appearance in franchise history. However, they failed to win a single playoff game in a loss to the Magic in the first round. The Celtics-Cavaliers second round series marked the first time that each team lost a home playoff game by record margins: the Celtics lost by 29, 124-95, in Game 3 (May 7), while the Cavaliers lost by 32, 120-88, in Game 5 (May 11). The Oklahoma City Thunder made their first playoff appearance under that name; their last appearance was 2005 as the Seattle Supersonics. Games 3, 4 and 6 were the first playoff games played at Ford Center (the arena's former tenants, the New Orleans Hornets, didn't play a single playoff game in the building). The Thunder (and especially Kevin Durant) would make the most of their debut playoff appearance, pushing the eventual champion Lakers to six games. The Dallas Mavericks would hold the dubious distinction of losing three first round series while holding the top two playoff seeds. The Mavericks lost to the seventh-seeded San Antonio Spurs in six games. They have also lost a playoff series against the Seattle Supersonics (1987, as the second seed) and the Golden State Warriors (2007, as the top seed).

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