The best team to never make it in the nba finals

[Lebron23]

https://scontent.fmnl8-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/362643680_6523655634394542_1423557571982088412_n.p ng?_nc_cat=1&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=Iqx0608F3bAAX_ylFrb&_nc_ht=scontent.fmnl8-1.fna&_nc_e2o=c&oh=00_AfDsaM7leOj00RprqTLZWSEKq4J6tzeM5uatF-x02cyjPA&oe=64C21369

[Baller234]

That Kings team was great, and one could argue that they probably should have made the finals if not for a few questionable calls. Their biggest problem though was that they didn't have a reliable enough closer in crunch time. Bibby was the guy for them, which isn't saying much. He was good but in like a Jalen Brunson type of way. He's wasn't afraid of the moment but there was only so much he could do.

I would take the best version of the mid 2000's Suns team over them. That team was way ahead of their time.

[90sgoat]

Knew who it was before clicking.

[1987_Lakers]

'00 Blazers
'02 Kings
'05 & '07 Suns
'18 Rockets

Excluding teams that made the Finals in previous/future years with the same cast.

[Axe]

'11 bulls

[Manny98]

21 Nets

[ShawkFactory]

18 Rockets for me.

[JohnMax]

2004 Spurs
2006 Spurs
2012 Spurs

[SaltyMeatballs]

'18 Rockets
'16 Spurs
'09 Cavs
'05 Suns
'02 Kings

[SouBeachTalents]

21 Nets
Of all the teams listed, I’d want to play this team last. They would have probably cruised to the title had they stayed healthy.

[Full Court]

The 2022 Lakers were the best team to ever not make the playoffs.

[Jasper]

That Kings team was great, and one could argue that they probably should have made the finals if not for a few questionable calls. Their biggest problem though was that they didn't have a reliable enough closer in crunch time. Bibby was the guy for them, which isn't saying much. He was good but in like a Jalen Brunson type of way. He's wasn't afraid of the moment but there was only so much he could do.

I would take the best version of the mid 2000's Suns team over them. That team was way ahead of their time.

Questionable calls ? Hell they were the worst calls in history of the league. The NBA was faltering and needed a brand.
That brand was LA Kobe and Shaq.:facepalm

[JohnMax]

There's not a year that goes by without someone crying about Kings vs Lakers.

We all know it's not Kings fans or even Lakers haters. It's people who hate 3peats and want to prevent them from happening.

Now it makes sense why Jordan was forced to retire twice. They didn't want him to have a shot at a 4peat.

[HoopsNY]

There's not a year that goes by without someone crying about Kings vs Lakers.

We all know it's not Kings fans or even Lakers haters. It's people who hate 3peats and want to prevent them from happening.

Now it makes sense why Jordan was forced to retire twice. They didn't want him to have a shot at a 4peat.

That's not true at all. This was a big deal at the time, dating back to the 2000 season and specifically the WCF. The league was making it apparent that they needed a reason to rise the plummeting rating and turned to the Lakers and Shaq to create a dynasty. The officiating on Shaq was blatant and then the series with SAC only solidified this fixing in the minds of people.

Btw, Shaq is the only elite superstar who gets away with all of this. Not to mention the fact that he played with the elite of the elite and some seriously stacked teams, but has little to show for it.

[ArbitraryWater]

'11 bulls


no chance lool

[sdot_thadon]

I'll never forget Bibby's face fouling Kobe's elbow.:lol

[StrongLurk]

21 Nets

This is the answer. Injuries to Kyrie and Harden are the only reason why they didn't beat the Bucks.

If they beat the bucks, then they go on to SMASH the Hawks and make the finals.

[Smook A.]

2018 Rockets

65-17 in the regular season with Harden missing 10 games, CP3 missing 24 games, Eric Gordon missing 13 games, and Ariza missing 15.

Rockets were 50-5 when Harden, CP3, and Capela played together that season. Let that sink in. 50 and 5..... No doubt they would've won 70 if the core guys missed less games

Could've been champs if CP3 didn't hurt his hamstring

[SouBeachTalents]

That's not true at all. This was a big deal at the time, dating back to the 2000 season and specifically the WCF. The league was making it apparent that they needed a reason to rise the plummeting rating and turned to the Lakers and Shaq to create a dynasty. The officiating on Shaq was blatant and then the series with SAC only solidified this fixing in the minds of people.

Btw, Shaq is the only elite superstar who gets away with all of this. Not to mention the fact that he played with the elite of the elite and some seriously stacked teams, but has little to show for it.
You’re responding to one of the biggest trolls on the forum. He doesn’t believe a single thing he posts, he just does it to stir shit up :lol

[ArbitraryWater]

2018 Rockets by the way, for sure

[Axe]

Add 2015 hawks. Looked promising in the rs but happened to face the mighty king kong rt bt.


no chance lool
Apparently. Just wanted to bring up 1st seed teams that others haven't mentioned yet. :oldlol:

[jayfan]

Early 80's Bucks.


.

[HoopsNY]

You’re responding to one of the biggest trolls on the forum. He doesn’t believe a single thing he posts, he just does it to stir shit up :lol

lol good to know, thanks.

[LeGoat4Life]

Cavs 09-10

That team was stacked and well build around Lebron

Too bad Lebron choked as usual

[Reggie43]

'97 Heat

[John8204]

Run TMC warriors, Bing/Lanier Pistons, Pete Maravich's Atlanta Hawks team

[theman93]

2016 Spurs

67-15
10.28 SRS
11.3 Net Rtg
#1 defense
40-1 record at home
Kawhi DPOY and 2nd in MVP voting

OKC handled them in the playoffs though

[ShawkFactory]

Run TMC warriors, Bing/Lanier Pistons, Pete Maravich's Atlanta Hawks team

What? Terrible choices lol

The warriors were certainly fun but they were awful defensively and if I remember correctly never even made it past the second round. We're even close really.

Story is exactly the same for the Hawks but they didn't even make it past the first.

[JBSptfn]

Pete Maravich's Atlanta Hawks team

Imagine if they were allowed to keep Dr. J. Heck, if they didn't draft Tom Payne the year before in a special draft (think NFL Supplemental Draft), they picked ahead of Milwaukee, and they could have drafted Julius for themselves in 72. If they drafted him, maybe they could have kept him.

[Lebron23]

2016 Spurs

67-15
10.28 SRS
11.3 Net Rtg
#1 defense
40-1 record at home
Kawhi DPOY and 2nd in MVP voting

OKC handled them in the playoffs though

If Durant stay with OKC and win some titles. He could have been a top 10 player of all time.

[kawhileonard2]

That Kings team was great, and one could argue that they probably should have made the finals if not for a few questionable calls. Their biggest problem though was that they didn't have a reliable enough closer in crunch time. Bibby was the guy for them, which isn't saying much. He was good but in like a Jalen Brunson type of way. He's wasn't afraid of the moment but there was only so much he could do.

I would take the best version of the mid 2000's Suns team over them. That team was way ahead of their time.

The Cavs in the late 80's or early 90's.

[HoopsNY]

2016 Spurs

67-15
10.28 SRS
11.3 Net Rtg
#1 defense
40-1 record at home
Kawhi DPOY and 2nd in MVP voting

OKC handled them in the playoffs though

This is something that got me thinking. Everyone brings up Kawhi's choke job vs Denver in 2020, and rightfully so. But how did everyone forget his 2016 performance vs OKC?

Kawhi was anything but clutch in that series. Kawhi shot 36% in the 4th quarter in that series, on 49% TS%. In the elimination game, Kawhi put up 22/9/5/3, but shot just 39%. Not to mention, SA was up 2-1 in that series and ended up losing 4-2.

I remember it being brought up at the time, but it's really been forgotten since.

[RRR3]

This is something that got me thinking. Everyone brings up Kawhi's choke job vs Denver in 2020, and rightfully so. But how did everyone forget his 2016 performance vs OKC?

Kawhi was anything but clutch in that series. Kawhi shot 36% in the 4th quarter in that series, on 49% TS%. In the elimination game, Kawhi put up 22/9/5/3, but shot just 39%. Not to mention, SA was up 2-1 in that series and ended up losing 4-2.

I remember it being brought up at the time, but it's really been forgotten since.
Kawhi isn't held to GOAT standards so no one cares.

[HoopsNY]

Kawhi isn't held to GOAT standards so no one cares.

He was held to GOAT standards before though. 2019 erased all memory of 2016, but even in 2020 people had seemed to have forgotten.