Great/greatest Conference Finalists teams to have never won an NBA title

[Axe]

Share any great teams that would come into your mind to have played in the conference finals but have never won an NBA championship. Can also include conference champions that have went into the finals but lost against their respective rivals there.

Let me start:

*2011 bulls (62-20)
*2012 celtics (40-26)
*2006 pistons (64-18)
*2013 grizzlies (56-26)
*2009 cavaliers (66-16)
*2007 jazz (51-31)

[Overdrive]

2002 Kings. They would've won the chip. Easily.

[Axe]

Agreed. The league had to rig the series though for their Hollywood rivals.

[tpols]

'18 Rockets > them all

'16 thunder too.

[Phoenix]

2002 Kings. They would've won the chip. Easily.

Exactly. This is basically 'Sacramento Kings 2002- the thread'.

[Phoenix]

'18 Rockets > them all

'16 thunder too.

That team was way too close to the brink of a title to blow it up. Russ and KD were both 28. Shame KD decided to skip the line, and somehow end up less respected for it in spite of winning.

[Reggie43]

1998 Pacers (58-24)

[BigShotBob]

2000 Blazers

[ImKobe]

2014 Thunder
2012 Spurs
1998 Lakers

[SouBeachTalents]

Share any great teams that would come into your mind to have played in the conference finals but have never won an NBA championship. Can also include conference champions that have went into the finals but lost against their respective rivals there.

Let me start:

*2011 bulls (62-20)
*2012 celtics (40-26)
*2006 pistons (64-18)
*2013 grizzlies (56-26)
*2009 cavaliers (66-16)
*2007 jazz (51-31)
https://media2.giphy.com/media/9WqamNCgHN4s0/giphy.gif

You picked arguably the two worst West finalists over the last 20 years. The Jazz made it primarily due to being gifted the 8th seeded Warriors in the 2nd round, while the Grizzlies got the Thunder with Westbrook missing the entire series. It's not a coincidence neither team made a single conference finals outside of those two fluke years, with both losing in completely noncompetitive WCF's

My picks would be

'00 Blazers
'02 Kings
'05 Suns
'12 Spurs
'16 Thunder
'18 Rockets

[Phoenix]

96 Magic warrant a mention. 60-22 with Shaq missing 28 games and coming off the experience/humiliation of the prior years finals sweep. I would have taken them over the Sonics if they met. Penny and Payton probably cancel out for the most part but Shaq completely neutralizes Kemp inside and overall dominates the Sonics frontline. Nick Anderson, 3D and Horace more than hold their own against the Sonics role players.

[tpols]

That team was way too close to the brink of a title to blow it up. Russ and KD were both 28. Shame KD decided to skip the line, and somehow end up less respected for it in spite of winning.

That had to be the biggest, most athletic team ever. Basically three 7 footers on your frontline in Adams ibaka, and Durant.. and two oversized athletic guards in Westbrook and Roberson. Their playoff defense was insane, the 73 win splash bros barely beat them by a hair.

[Phoenix]

That had to be the biggest, most athletic team ever. Basically three 7 footers on your frontline in Adams ibaka, and Durant.. and two oversized athletic guards in Westbrook and Roberson. Their playoff defense was insane, the 73 win splash bros barely beat them by a hair.

I think they had a great opportunity to come back in 2017 and possibly get to the finals taking lessons from the prior years meltdown. Would have made for a far more entertaining finals with Cleveland. If KD was able to look Bron dead in the eye in that situation and come out on top, even if that was the only title he won, legacy-wise it would have been worth 10 times as much as the titles he ended up winning with Golden State. KD vs Bron and Russ vs Kyrie in 2017 would have been major box office.

[Horatio33]

That had to be the biggest, most athletic team ever. Basically three 7 footers on your frontline in Adams ibaka, and Durant.. and two oversized athletic guards in Westbrook and Roberson. Their playoff defense was insane, the 73 win splash bros barely beat them by a hair.

Outside of Durant and a bit of Ibaka, had no outside shooting.

[nikosvault]

Share any great teams that would come into your mind to have played in the conference finals but have never won an NBA championship. Can also include conference champions that have went into the finals but lost against their respective rivals there.

Let me start:

*2011 bulls (62-20)
*2012 celtics (40-26)
*2006 pistons (64-18)
*2013 grizzlies (56-26)
*2009 cavaliers (66-16)
*2007 jazz (51-31)

Lots of regular season paper tigers on that list.

I think the 09 Cavs were like 3-12 against the other top 4 teams in the league that year.

And no team where the teams best player is Rajon Rondo can be the "greatest" anyhting.

[Axe]

https://media2.giphy.com/media/9WqamNCgHN4s0/giphy.gif

You picked arguably the two worst West finalists over the last 20 years. The Jazz made it primarily due to being gifted the 8th seeded Warriors in the 2nd round, while the Grizzlies got the Thunder with Westbrook missing the entire series. It's not a coincidence neither team made a single conference finals outside of those two fluke years, with both losing in completely noncompetitive WCF's

My picks would be

'00 Blazers
'02 Kings
'05 Suns
'12 Spurs
'16 Thunder
'18 Rockets
*Loud fart*

Lmao what? Hold your horses, smarty pants and try not to act so cocky here now. You may think they're the worst amongst the west and while it may be true, i have my own reasons for putting them in the damn list.

The '07 jazz was the closest the team got to the finals and their first time outside of the malone-stockton era while in '13, the grizzlies finally got a taste of being present in the western finals. Sure, you may have a point that both of them are lucky because of instances that occurred along their way to the wcf but regardless, i couldn't overlook the feat.

And if you want to know what's the worst team amongst the west finalists in the last 20 years, then look no further than the '19 trailblazers, a team that blew at least 15-point leads in 75% of the games they've lost in that year's wcf and therefore, got swept by a hobbled warriors team that just lost to the raptors in the finals of the same year.

[baudkarma]

The 7 seconds or less Suns of 2004-5. They went 62-20 in the regular season and lost in the WCF to the eventual champion Spurs. Nash won MVP that season, and Amare put up monster numbers. They made the WCF the following season as well, even though Amare was injured and only played in 3 games.

[Phoenix]

Outside of Durant and a bit of Ibaka, had no outside shooting.

They were up 3-1 on the Warriors despite being an inferior shooting team. That team has the athleticism and length to neutralize what the Warriors were doing and basically choked away the series.

[Axe]

Lots of regular season paper tigers on that list.

I think the 09 Cavs were like 3-12 against the other top 4 teams in the league that year.

And no team where the teams best player is Rajon Rondo can be the "greatest" anyhting.
You probably think so, and by "season paper tiger", I'm certain that james harden's rockets are included in it. Anyway, there are just some exceptions in there. I don't think you wouldn't call the pistons, cavaliers nor celtics "season paper tigers", since those teams made the finals at least once during the '00s decade, with the pistons winning a title in '04, coming back in the finals in '05 and appearing in six straight ecfs while the celtics attained a title in 2008, with their last appearance in the finals being decade ago in 2010. Btw, what the hell is it about with rondo?

[Axe]

You probably think so, and by "season paper tiger", I'm certain that james harden's rockets are included in it. Anyway, there are just some exceptions in there. I don't think you wouldn't call the pistons, cavaliers nor celtics "season paper tigers", since those teams made the finals at least once during the '00s decade, with the pistons winning a title in '04, coming back in the finals in '05 and appearing in six straight ecfs while the celtics attained a title in 2008, with their last appearance in the finals being decade ago in 2010. Btw, what the hell is it about with rondo?
Correction: would and or

[ArbitraryWater]

Share any great teams that would come into your mind to have played in the conference finals but have never won an NBA championship. Can also include conference champions that have went into the finals but lost against their respective rivals there.

Let me start:

*2013 grizzlies (56-26)
*2007 jazz (51-31)


errrrr.....

what is going on here?

why are people like this?


and yea, the 09 cavs were just amazing.

whole team was trash outside 1 player who played at gigantic levels and it still wasnt enough for more than 2 games.

some team.

[Axe]

A holier-than-thou know-it-all is awake but is crying as if it were a damned infant once again.

God, just get outta my thread...

[JBSptfn]

1991 Blazers: Best record in the league at 63-19. Blew the WCF against the Lakers in Game 1 when Adelman benched his starters in the fourth quarter with a big lead. They should have set the tone right there, and they didn't.

1989 and 90 Suns: Had some good teams with KJ, Hornacek, Thunder Dan, Torcher Chambers, and Eddie Johnson. However, they couldn't get past the Lakers or Blazers.

[nikosvault]

You probably think so, and by "season paper tiger", I'm certain that james harden's rockets are included in it. Anyway, there are just some exceptions in there. I don't think you wouldn't call the pistons, cavaliers nor celtics "season paper tigers", since those teams made the finals at least once during the '00s decade, with the pistons winning a title in '04, coming back in the finals in '05 and appearing in six straight ecfs while the celtics attained a title in 2008, with their last appearance in the finals being decade ago in 2010. Btw, what the hell is it about with rondo?

I frankly think that the 2006-2008 Flip Saunders Detroit Pistons were paper tigers.

They had lost the defense edge that made them a special playoff team. Wade and Lebron carved them up in 2006 and 2007. Rasheed aged in dog years after 2005 on the defensive end.

And the 2007 Cavs making the finals proves very little to me. That was the easiest finals run in history (41-41, 41-41, 53-29)

[Axe]

I frankly think that the 2006-2008 Flip Saunders Detroit Pistons were paper tigers.

They had lost the defense edge that made them special. Wade and Lebron carved them up in 2006 and 2007. Rasheed aged in dog years after 2005.

And the 2007 Cavs making the finals proves very little to me. That was the easiest finals run in history (41-41, 41-41, 53-29)
Oh goody, i forgot larry brown didn't coach the pistons anymore during those years. Despite that, during '06, they're still probably one of the favored ones to come out in the east, especially with a new franchise record in regular season but they lost in ecf to the heat. And about '07? Well, lbj stans wouldn't probably want to hear about that.

[Gougou]

The 16 Thunders team leading 3-1 to the Warriors then got beaten up by Game 6 Klay...

Then the 2018 Rocket team lose to Warriors in a 7 games series, game 7 Rockets missed like 27 three pointers or something.

Also the year Suns lose to Spurs, that year they had the best opportunity to win a ring, but Spurs superior team management and coaching beat them.

Yeah those.

[Phoenix]

I frankly think that the 2006-2008 Flip Saunders Detroit Pistons were paper tigers.

They had lost the defense edge that made them a special playoff team. Wade and Lebron carved them up in 2006 and 2007. Rasheed aged in dog years after 2005 on the defensive end.

And the 2007 Cavs making the finals proves very little to me. That was the easiest finals run in history (41-41, 41-41, 53-29)

The Pistons very easily could have gone down in 05 as well. Miami was up 3-2 when Wade got injured and lost the final two games despite HCA.

[Akeem34TheDream]

Hey OP, if you are this sensitive about other peoples opinion of you then don't start threads.

[Axe]

Hey OP, if you are this sensitive about other peoples opinion of you then don't start threads.
Lmao what the hell are you talking about? I'm not sensitive about their opinions. It's just that I believe that some of them could have state or discuss theirs in a more civilized manner but guess what? I think that's a bit too much to expect from them now. 🤷*♀

[ArbitraryWater]

I just, I cant believe it....

guy opens a thread about GOAT conference finals teams to not win the title and goes:

2007 Jazz, 2013 Grizzlies guys




I mean... I can't even. Speechless guys. Speechless.

[Axe]

Speechless with some freaking tears in your goddamn eyes? Seriously? 😒

If you're actually speechless, then don't bother to post anymore. Simple as that. Don't be such a crybaby about it.

[Phoenix]

Lmao what the hell are you talking about? I'm not sensitive about their opinions. It's just that I believe that some of them could have state or discuss theirs in a more civilized manner but guess what? I think that's a bit too much to expect from them now. ��*♀

I see you're a new account, and based on the above I'll assume you actually are new to the board and not an alt. But word of advice, the list of people here that you can converse with without the tone ending up antagonistic, condensending and insult- ridden is very short. You'll also note that the same topics get made over and over by the same people, and generally accepted by admin. You're gonna have a hard time here if you dont treat this place as mostly a joke because its run as one.

[Axe]

I see you're a new account, and based on the above I'll assume you actually are new to the board and not an alt. But word of advice, the list of people here that you can converse with without the tone ending up antagonistic, condensending and insult- ridden is very short. You'll also note that the same topics get made over and over by the same people, and generally accepted by admin. You're gonna have a hard time here if you dont treat this place as mostly a joke because its run as one.
Noted. So i guess i won't have much of a choice but to play along then. You could have sent me a pm though and not in the thread.

[Phoenix]

Noted. So i guess i won't have much of a choice but to play along then. You could have sent me a pm though and not in the thread.

Why? What I said I wanted out in the open.

[Axe]

Why? What I said I wanted out in the open.
I simply think this is a confidential stuff. Anyway, btt now.

[Phoenix]

I simply think this is a confidential stuff. Anyway, btt now.

What's confidential? I didnt drop any secret knowledge or opinion lol. The TLDR version of my post was lower your expectations. Actually, just drop them completely.

[Axe]

What's confidential? I didnt drop any secret knowledge or opinion lol. The TLDR version of my post was lower your expectations. Actually, just drop them completely.
Never mind. I don't want to talk anymore about it.

[Phoenix]

Never mind. I don't want to talk anymore about it.

Ok.

[Manny98]

"07 Jazz" :roll:

You may as well have included every conference final team ever

[Axe]

"07 Jazz" :roll:

You may as well have included every conference final team ever
Oof 💩💩💩

[ArbitraryWater]

Guys Im speechless.

I cant.

He said '07 Jazz and '13 Grizzlies


You're a good guy though, Axe.

I like the avatar.

It is very weird that Phoenix did not PM you that information. Very strange.

[ArbitraryWater]

The '03 Mavs deserve a strong shout here


60-22
Tied best record
Best SRS
2-2 H2H with Spurs
WCF tied at 1-1 having taken HCA when Dirk went down in game 3

[Axe]

Guys Im speechless.

I cant.

He said '07 Jazz and '13 Grizzlies


You're a good guy though, Axe.

I like the avatar.

It is very weird that Phoenix did not PM you that information. Very strange.
???

[Phoenix]

It is very weird that Phoenix did not PM you that information. Very strange.

I gave my opinion on what I see happening on this board with how posters interact with each other. Why does that need to be said in PM? The poster has already observed for himself the things I spoke about. I merely said it's par for the course.

[Axe]

I gave my opinion on what I see happening on this board with how posters interact with each other. Why does that need to be said in PM?
Don't.

[Phoenix]

Don't.

But I did. And will again if called out.

[ArbitraryWater]

I gave my opinion on what I see happening on this board with how posters interact with each other. Why does that need to be said in PM? The poster has already observed for himself the things I spoke about. I merely said it's par for the course.

Lmao I was just kidding.

[Phoenix]

Lmao I was just kidding.

Oh, it's hard to tell sometimes. Never mind.....