How often do the two best teams meet in the postseason before the finals?

[dankok8]

This happens more often than people think. Finals are hyped but often times the "Real Finals" is in earlier rounds.

Some obvious ones that come to mind:

1966 ECF Celtics vs. Sixers
1967 ECF Sixers vs. Celtics
1968 ECF Celtics vs. Sixers
1972 WCF Lakers vs. Bucks
1973 ECF Knicks vs. Celtics
1990 ECF Pistons vs. Bulls
1999 2nd Spurs vs. Lakers
2000 WCF Lakers vs. Blazers
2001 WCF Lakers vs. Spurs
2002 WCF Lakers vs. Kings
2003 WCF Spurs vs. Lakers
2007 2nd Spurs vs. Suns
2009 WCF Lakers vs. Nuggets
2018 WCF Warriors vs. Rockets

There is a lot more debatable ones but I think in the years above the two best teams clearly met before the finals.

[1987_Lakers]

I wouldn't call the Nuggets the clear cut 2nd best team in 2009.

[BigShotBob]

Interesting enough there were a couple of times where arguably the two best teams met in the first round.

Can you name one?

[gonzaldo]

jazz-rockets

[dankok8]

I wouldn't call the Nuggets the clear cut 2nd best team in 2009.

The Melo-Billups Nuggets were a really good team. If Melo doesn't get hurt in Game 3, they might have won it all. They were way better than the Magic.

[1987_Lakers]

The Melo-Billups Nuggets were a really good team. If Melo doesn't get hurt in Game 3, they might have won it all. They were way better than the Magic.

Both the Cavs and Orlando had better records, nobody at the time labeled the WCF as the real Finals that year. I also wouldn't call the 2000 WCF the real finals, Pacers were a really good and proven team, I could see them giving the Blazers real problems. Rest of your list looks good though.

[dankok8]

Both the Cavs and Orlando had better records, nobody at the time labeled the WCF as the real Finals that year. I also wouldn't call the 2000 WCF the real finals, Pacers were a really good and proven team, I could see them giving the Blazers real problems. Rest of your list looks good though.

Good point on the Blazers vs. Pacers. I misremembered about the Blazers. I could have sworn they won well over 60 games. Turn out they were a 59-win +6.36 SRS compared to the Pacers who were a 56-win +4.15 SRS team. Yea that could have been a very competitive series.

Any other one that you think I missed that should be on the list?

[1987_Lakers]

good point on the blazers vs. Pacers. I misremembered about the blazers. I could have sworn they won well over 60 games. Turn out they were a 59-win +6.36 srs compared to the pacers who were a 56-win +4.15 srs team. Yea that could have been a very competitive series.

Any other one that you think i missed that should be on the list?

1981 ecf. Boston vs Philly

[dankok8]

1981 ecf. Boston vs Philly

Good one! That was definitely the real finals that year.

[kawhileonard2]

This happens more often than people think. Finals are hyped but often times the "Real Finals" is in earlier rounds.

Some obvious ones that come to mind:

1966 ECF Celtics vs. Sixers
1967 ECF Sixers vs. Celtics
1968 ECF Celtics vs. Sixers
1972 WCF Lakers vs. Bucks
1973 ECF Knicks vs. Celtics
1990 ECF Pistons vs. Bulls
1999 2nd Spurs vs. Lakers
2000 WCF Lakers vs. Blazers
2001 WCF Lakers vs. Spurs
2002 WCF Lakers vs. Kings
2003 WCF Spurs vs. Lakers
2007 2nd Spurs vs. Suns
2009 WCF Lakers vs. Nuggets
2018 WCF Warriors vs. Rockets

There is a lot more debatable ones but I think in the years above the two best teams clearly met before the finals.

Bulls vs Knicks 1993 and maybe Bulls vs Magic 1996.
Spurs vs Warriors 2017. Spurs would have won had the injury not happened

[1987_Lakers]

Bulls vs Knicks 1993 and maybe Bulls vs Magic 1996.
Spurs vs Warriors 2017. Spurs would have won had the injury not happened

Suns, Sonics & Cavs were too good to flat out say they didn't perform in the real Finals.

[Jay-B]

2006 - Heat vs Pistons, Pistons were 64-18 that year