Drygon
07-29-2025, 12:31 PM
2000 Miami Heat The Heat wrapped up the season with a strong 52-30 record, locking in the No. 2 seed in the East, largely thanks to their suffocating defense. Alonzo Mourning anchored the paint, earning Defensive Player of the Year and a spot on the All-NBA First Team. Meanwhile, 33-year-old Tim Hardaway still controlled the tempo, showing he had plenty left in the tank. PJ Brown and Jamal Mashburn chipped in with reliable scoring, and Bruce Bowen did what he did best — harassed opposing wings. They breezed past the Pistons in the opening round, but a sudden illness sidelined Mourning, and Miami was stunned by the Knicks — again. It marked their third postseason exit at the hands of New York in just four years.
2001 Sacramento Kings While the 2002 Kings usually steal the spotlight, the ’01 squad was already a force. Sacramento went 55-27, ranking third in both offensive and net rating. Chris Webber was in full command, averaging a monster 27-11-4, and Peja Stojaković was starting to turn heads with his sharpshooting. Mike Bibby hadn’t arrived just yet, but Jason Williams brought flair and creativity to the point. They ultimately got swept by the eventual champion Lakers, but this version of the Kings laid the groundwork for their brief reign as Western contenders.
2002 New Jersey Nets At 52-30, the Nets not only posted the East’s best record — they ran through the conference like a team on a mission. Jason Kidd, in his first season with the franchise, played MVP-caliber ball, completely transforming their identity. Fast breaks became their calling card, with Kidd orchestrating every sequence. Kenyon Martin, Kerry Kittles, Richard Jefferson, and Keith Van Horn all played their roles to perfection. They made it to the Finals, where the Lakers — chasing their third straight title — proved too much. Still, this squad remains one of the most dynamic fast-break teams of its time.
2003 Portland Trail Blazers Portland flew under the radar, finishing 50-32 in the brutal Western Conference. The roster was deep and veteran-laden: Rasheed Wallace was still near his peak, Zach Randolph was just starting to blossom, and Scottie Pippen brought leadership and control on both ends. Impressively, nine players averaged at least seven points a night. After falling behind 0-3 to Dallas in the first round, the Blazers clawed back to force a Game 7 — something only two teams had done before in NBA history. They came up short, but that comeback spoke volumes about their resilience.
2004 Memphis Grizzlies This was the year Memphis finally arrived. The Grizzlies finished 50-32 and secured the first playoff berth in franchise history. Hubie Brown won Coach of the Year, masterminding a system that emphasized ball movement and depth. Pau Gasol led the way, and incredibly, ten players averaged at least five points per game — a testament to their balance. Though they were swept by the Spurs in round one, the turnaround from bottom-dweller to 50-win team was nothing short of remarkable.
2005 Seattle SuperSonics No one saw it coming. Seattle surged to a 52-30 finish, good for third in the West. Ray Allen delivered a career year, Rashard Lewis fit seamlessly as the secondary scorer, and Luke Ridnour and Antonio Daniels held it down in the backcourt. They had a top-tier offense, and their defense — gritty and versatile — punched above its weight. They dispatched Sacramento in the first round and pushed the champion Spurs to six hard-fought games. Allen went toe-to-toe with Tim Duncan, night in and night out. This would turn out to be Seattle’s final standout season before the relocation clouds started gathering.
2006 New Jersey Nets This version of the Nets had one of the best trios in the league: Vince Carter, Jason Kidd, and Richard Jefferson firing on all cylinders. They won 49 games, with Carter averaging 24-5-4 and delivering in crunch time. Kidd was still an elite floor general and a tenacious defender. They swept the Pacers and gave the Pistons a real scare before bowing out in six. It was arguably the peak of the “post-Shaq East” Nets — quick, skill-heavy, and fun to watch, even if they never quite had the size to get back to the Finals.
2007 Houston Rockets Houston went 52-30 behind a stifling defense and the high-low threat of Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady. Shane Battier, Rafer Alston, and Luther Head provided shooting and defensive help, complementing the stars. Yao was dominant before injuries cut his season short, averaging 25 and 9. Despite the setback, they took a tough 51-win Utah team to seven games in the first round. McGrady played like an All-NBA talent, but yet again, couldn't get past the opening round — a recurring theme that left fans asking, “What if?”
2008 New Orleans Hornets This was the year Chris Paul went from promising young star to full-blown MVP candidate. He averaged 21-11-4 and led the Hornets to a 56-26 record — second-best in the West. David West gave him a lethal pick-and-pop partner, Tyson Chandler controlled the glass and the rim, and Peja Stojaković spaced the floor with his shooting. Even Bonzi Wells added toughness off the bench. They cruised past Dallas in round one before losing a heartbreaking Game 7 to the Spurs. It remains one of the finest seasons of Paul’s career — and possibly the best team he ever had in New Orleans.
2009 Denver Nuggets Denver put together a 54-28 campaign and finally broke through with a deep playoff run in the Carmelo Anthony era. The midseason arrival of Chauncey Billups changed everything — he brought leadership, defensive grit, and poise to a team that desperately needed it. Melo averaged 22-6-3, no longer forced to carry the entire load. Nene, Kenyon Martin, and Chris Andersen provided athleticism inside, while J.R. Smith and Linas Kleiza brought scoring punch off the bench. They demolished the Hornets in round one — including a historic 58-point win in Game 4 — and dispatched Dallas in five. In the Conference Finals, they pushed the eventual champion Lakers to the brink before falling in six. Overshadowed by Kobe’s title run and LeBron’s MVP season, this Nuggets squad was closer to a Finals berth than most remember.
2001 Sacramento Kings While the 2002 Kings usually steal the spotlight, the ’01 squad was already a force. Sacramento went 55-27, ranking third in both offensive and net rating. Chris Webber was in full command, averaging a monster 27-11-4, and Peja Stojaković was starting to turn heads with his sharpshooting. Mike Bibby hadn’t arrived just yet, but Jason Williams brought flair and creativity to the point. They ultimately got swept by the eventual champion Lakers, but this version of the Kings laid the groundwork for their brief reign as Western contenders.
2002 New Jersey Nets At 52-30, the Nets not only posted the East’s best record — they ran through the conference like a team on a mission. Jason Kidd, in his first season with the franchise, played MVP-caliber ball, completely transforming their identity. Fast breaks became their calling card, with Kidd orchestrating every sequence. Kenyon Martin, Kerry Kittles, Richard Jefferson, and Keith Van Horn all played their roles to perfection. They made it to the Finals, where the Lakers — chasing their third straight title — proved too much. Still, this squad remains one of the most dynamic fast-break teams of its time.
2003 Portland Trail Blazers Portland flew under the radar, finishing 50-32 in the brutal Western Conference. The roster was deep and veteran-laden: Rasheed Wallace was still near his peak, Zach Randolph was just starting to blossom, and Scottie Pippen brought leadership and control on both ends. Impressively, nine players averaged at least seven points a night. After falling behind 0-3 to Dallas in the first round, the Blazers clawed back to force a Game 7 — something only two teams had done before in NBA history. They came up short, but that comeback spoke volumes about their resilience.
2004 Memphis Grizzlies This was the year Memphis finally arrived. The Grizzlies finished 50-32 and secured the first playoff berth in franchise history. Hubie Brown won Coach of the Year, masterminding a system that emphasized ball movement and depth. Pau Gasol led the way, and incredibly, ten players averaged at least five points per game — a testament to their balance. Though they were swept by the Spurs in round one, the turnaround from bottom-dweller to 50-win team was nothing short of remarkable.
2005 Seattle SuperSonics No one saw it coming. Seattle surged to a 52-30 finish, good for third in the West. Ray Allen delivered a career year, Rashard Lewis fit seamlessly as the secondary scorer, and Luke Ridnour and Antonio Daniels held it down in the backcourt. They had a top-tier offense, and their defense — gritty and versatile — punched above its weight. They dispatched Sacramento in the first round and pushed the champion Spurs to six hard-fought games. Allen went toe-to-toe with Tim Duncan, night in and night out. This would turn out to be Seattle’s final standout season before the relocation clouds started gathering.
2006 New Jersey Nets This version of the Nets had one of the best trios in the league: Vince Carter, Jason Kidd, and Richard Jefferson firing on all cylinders. They won 49 games, with Carter averaging 24-5-4 and delivering in crunch time. Kidd was still an elite floor general and a tenacious defender. They swept the Pacers and gave the Pistons a real scare before bowing out in six. It was arguably the peak of the “post-Shaq East” Nets — quick, skill-heavy, and fun to watch, even if they never quite had the size to get back to the Finals.
2007 Houston Rockets Houston went 52-30 behind a stifling defense and the high-low threat of Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady. Shane Battier, Rafer Alston, and Luther Head provided shooting and defensive help, complementing the stars. Yao was dominant before injuries cut his season short, averaging 25 and 9. Despite the setback, they took a tough 51-win Utah team to seven games in the first round. McGrady played like an All-NBA talent, but yet again, couldn't get past the opening round — a recurring theme that left fans asking, “What if?”
2008 New Orleans Hornets This was the year Chris Paul went from promising young star to full-blown MVP candidate. He averaged 21-11-4 and led the Hornets to a 56-26 record — second-best in the West. David West gave him a lethal pick-and-pop partner, Tyson Chandler controlled the glass and the rim, and Peja Stojaković spaced the floor with his shooting. Even Bonzi Wells added toughness off the bench. They cruised past Dallas in round one before losing a heartbreaking Game 7 to the Spurs. It remains one of the finest seasons of Paul’s career — and possibly the best team he ever had in New Orleans.
2009 Denver Nuggets Denver put together a 54-28 campaign and finally broke through with a deep playoff run in the Carmelo Anthony era. The midseason arrival of Chauncey Billups changed everything — he brought leadership, defensive grit, and poise to a team that desperately needed it. Melo averaged 22-6-3, no longer forced to carry the entire load. Nene, Kenyon Martin, and Chris Andersen provided athleticism inside, while J.R. Smith and Linas Kleiza brought scoring punch off the bench. They demolished the Hornets in round one — including a historic 58-point win in Game 4 — and dispatched Dallas in five. In the Conference Finals, they pushed the eventual champion Lakers to the brink before falling in six. Overshadowed by Kobe’s title run and LeBron’s MVP season, this Nuggets squad was closer to a Finals berth than most remember.