With the sudden collapse of the Golden State Warriors (Kevin Durant leaving for Brooklyn and Klay Thompson and Steph Curry getting hurt), this year's NBA title race is among the most competitive in years.
At least, that was the thought before the coronavirus put everything on hold.
Ten years from now, if the rampaging Milwaukee Bucks get a chance to lay waste to everyone in the playoffs like they've done for much of the season, we may look back on this season as the inevitable coronation of Giannis Antetokounmpo as an all-time great.
Based on the Bucks' season record and average victory margin, Milwaukee is the only team that can really make a run as one of the league's top all-time teams .... provided they win the title.
Here's a ranking of the 43 NBA champions since the ABA-NBA merger. I'm only going back that far because comparing teams in the pre-merger era is impossible. Pre ABA, there were very few teams and very few playoff rounds. During the ABA, the top players weren't playing against each other.
There's no "opinion" in these rankings. I created a scale using regular season winning percentage and margin of victory, playoff margin of victory and then bonus points each playoff round based on the winning percentage of the teams they played and how many games it took to dispatch them.
I'll release the list little by little from now until the NBA Finals.
 |
| The Big E, Elvin Hayes, holds up his only NBA championship trophy. |
| No. 43: 1977-1978 Washington Bullets |
| Coach: Dick Motta |
| Leading Scorers: Elvin Hayes (19.7), Bob Dandridge (19.3) |
| Leading Rebounders: Hayes (13.3), Wes Unseld (11.9) |
| Leading Passers: Tom Henderson (5.4), Unseld (4.1) |
|
Data |
Formula |
Points |
Rank |
| Regular Season Record |
44-38 (.537) |
x 400 |
268.29 |
43rd |
| Average Victory Margin |
0.9 |
x 5 |
4.5 |
43rd |
| First Round |
| Atlanta Hawks (2-0) |
41-41 (.500) |
(.500 x 100)*2/2 |
50.0 |
15th (tie) |
| Second Round |
| San Antonio Spurs (4-2) |
52-30 (.634) |
(.634 x 100)*4/6 |
42.28 |
29th (tie) |
| Conference Finals |
| Philadelphia 76ers (4-2) |
55-27 (.670) |
(.670 x 100)*4/6 |
44.72 |
31st |
| Finals |
| Seattle Supersonics (4-3) |
47-35 (.573) |
(.573 x 100)*4/7 |
32.75 |
42nd |
| Playoff Victory Margin |
3.8 |
x 5 |
19 |
34th (tie) |
| Final Score |
461.54 |
|
 |
| Clyde Drexler teamed up with Hakeem Olajuwon in 1995 to win the title. |
| No. 42: 1994-1995 Houston Rockets |
| Coach: Rudy Tomjanovich |
| Leading Scorers: Hakeem Olajuwon (27.8), Clyde Drexler (21.4) |
| Leading Rebounders: Olajuwon (10.8), Drexler (7.0) |
| Leading Passers: Sam Cassel (4.9), Drexler (4.4) |
|
Data |
Formula |
Points |
Rank |
| Regular Season Record |
47-35 (.573) |
x 500 |
286.59 |
42nd |
| Average Victory Margin |
2.1 |
x 5 |
10.5 |
42nd |
| First Round |
| Utah Jazz (3-2) |
60-22 (.731) |
(.731 x 100)*3/5 |
43.90 |
25th (tie) |
| Second Round |
| Phoenix Suns (4-3) |
59-23 (.720) |
(.720 x 100)*4/7 |
41.11 |
31st |
| Conference Finals |
| San Antonio Spurs (4-2) |
62-20 (.756) |
(.756 x 100)*4/6 |
50.41 |
17th |
| Finals |
| Orlando Magic (4-0) |
57-25 (.695) |
(.695 x 100)*4/4 |
69.51 |
2nd (tie) |
| Playoff Victory Margin |
2.8 |
x 5 |
14 |
39th |
| Final Score |
516.02 |
|
| No. 41: 1978-1979 Seattle SuperSonics |
| Coach: Lenny Wilkens |
| Leading Scorers: Gus Williams (19.2), Dennis Johnson (15.9) |
| Leading Rebounders: Jack Sikma (12-4), Paul Silas (7.0) |
| Leading Passers: John Johnson (4.4), Gus Williams (4.0) |
|
Data |
Formula |
Points |
Rank |
| Regular Season Record |
52-30 (.634) |
x 500 |
317.07 |
40th |
| Average Victory Margin |
2.7 |
x 5 |
13.5 |
41st |
| First Round |
| No Opponent |
|
|
45.85* |
|
| Second Round |
| Los Angeles Lakers (4-1) |
47-35 (.573) |
(.573 x 100)*4/5 |
45.85 |
22nd (tie) |
| Conference Finals |
| Phoenix Suns (4-3) |
50-32 (.610) |
(.610 x 100)*4/7 |
34.84 |
41st |
| Finals |
| Washington Bullets (4-1) |
54-28 (.659) |
(.659 x 100)*4/5 |
52.68 |
14th (tie) |
| Playoff Victory Margin |
2.5 |
x 5 |
12.5 |
40th |
| Final Score |
522.31 |
|
| No. 40: 1976-1977 Portland Trail Blazers |
| Coach: Jack Ramsey |
| Leading Scorers: Maurice Lucas (20.2), Bill Walton (18.6) |
| Leading Rebounders: Walton (14.4), Lucas (11.4) |
| Leading Passers: Lionel Hollins (4.1), Walton (3.8) |
|
Data |
Formula |
Points |
Rank |
| Regular Season Record |
49-33 (.598) |
x 500 |
298.78 |
41st |
| Average Victory Margin |
5.5 |
x 5 |
27.5 |
33rd |
| First Round |
| Chicago Bulls (2-1) |
44-38 (.537) |
(.537 x 100)*2/3 |
35.77 |
37th (tie) |
| Second Round |
| Denver Nuggets (4-2) |
50-32 (.610) |
(.610 x 100)*4/6 |
40.65 |
35th (tie) |
| Conference Finals |
| Los Angeles Lakers (4-0) |
53-29 (.646) |
(.646 x 100)*4/4 |
64.63 |
6th |
| Finals |
| Philadelphia 76ers (4-2) |
50-32 (.610) |
(.610 x 100)*4/6 |
40.65 |
34th |
| Playoff Victory Margin |
4.7 |
x 5 |
23.5 |
29th |
| Final Score |
531.49 |
|
| No. 39: 2005-2006 Miami Heat |
| Coach: Pat Riley |
| Leading Scorers: Dwyane Wade (27.2), Shaquille O'Neal (20.0) |
| Leading Rebounders: O'Neal (9.2), Udonis Haslem (7.8) |
| Leading Passers: Dwyane Wade (6.7), Jason Williams (4.9) |
|
Data |
Formula |
Points |
Rank |
| Regular Season Record |
52-30 (.634) |
x 500 |
317.07 |
39th (tie) |
| Average Victory Margin |
3.9 |
x 5 |
19.5 |
39th |
| First Round |
| Chicago Bulls (4-2) |
41-41 (.500) |
(.500 x 100)*4/6 |
33.33 |
40th |
| Second Round |
| New Jersey Nets (4-1) |
49-33 (.598) |
(.598 x 100)*4/5 |
47.80 |
20th |
| Conference Finals |
| Detroit Pistons (4-2) |
64-18 (.780) |
(.780 x 100)*4/6 |
52.03 |
14th |
| Finals |
| Dallas Mavericks (4-2) |
60-22 (.695) |
(.731 x 100)*4/6 |
48.78 |
14th |
| Playoff Victory Margin |
3.8 |
x 5 |
19 |
34th |
| Final Score |
537.52 |
|
| No. 38: 1987-1988 Los Angeles Lakers |
| Coach: Pat Riley |
| Leading Scorers: Byron Scott (21.7), James Worthy (19.6) |
| Leading Rebounders: A.C. Green (8.7), Magic Johnson (6.2) |
| Leading Passers: Magic Johnson (11.9), Michael Cooper (4.7) |
|
Data |
Formula |
Points |
Rank |
| Regular Season Record |
62-20 (.756) |
x 500 |
378.05 |
32nd |
| Average Victory Margin |
5.8 |
x 5 |
29 |
30th (tie) |
| First Round |
| San Antonio Spurs (3-0) |
31-51 (.378) |
(.378 x 100)*3/3 |
37.80 |
34th |
| Second Round |
| Utah Jazz (4-3) |
47-35 (.573) |
(.573 x 100)*4/7 |
32.75 |
41st (tie) |
| Conference Finals |
| Dallas Mavericks (4-3) |
53-29 (.646) |
(.646 x 100)*4/7 |
37.39 |
40th |
| Finals |
| Detroit Pistons (4-3) |
54-28 (.695) |
(.659 x 100)*4/7 |
37.63 |
38th (tie) |
| Playoff Victory Margin |
1.6 |
x 5 |
8 |
43rd |
| Final Score |
560.63 |
|
| No. 37: 1993-1994 Houston Rockets |
| Coach: Rudy Tomjanovich |
| Leading Scorers: Hakeem Olajuwon (27.3), Otis Thorpe (14.0) |
| Leading Rebounders: Olajuwon (11.9), Thorpe (10.6) |
| Leading Passers: Vernon Maxwell (5.1), Kenny Smith (4.2) |
|
Data |
Formula |
Points |
Rank |
| Regular Season Record |
58-24 (.707) |
x 500 |
353.66 |
27th (tie) |
| Average Victory Margin |
4.3 |
x 5 |
21.5 |
37th |
| First Round |
| Portland Trailblazers (3-1) |
47-35 (.573) |
(.573 x 100)*3/4 |
42.99 |
29th |
| Second Round |
| Phoenix Suns (4-3) |
56-26 (.683) |
(.683 x 100)*4/7 |
39.02 |
37th |
| Conference Finals |
| Utah Jazz (4-1) |
53-29 (.646) |
(.646 x 100)*4/5 |
51.71 |
15th |
| Finals |
| Orlando Magic (4-3) |
57-25 (.695) |
(.695 x 100)*4/7) |
39.72 |
37th |
| Playoff Victory Margin |
3.1 |
x 5 |
15.5 |
38th |
| Final Score |
564.10 |
|
| No. 36: 2009-2010 Los Angeles Lakers |
| Coach: Phil Jackson |
| Leading Scorers: Kobe Bryant (27.0), Pau Gasol (18.3) |
| Leading Rebounders: Gasol (11.3), Lamar Odom (9.8) |
| Leading Passers: Kobe Bryant (5.0), Gasol (3.4) |
|
Data |
Formula |
Points |
Rank |
| Regular Season Record |
57-25 (.695) |
x 500 |
347.56 |
33rd (tie) |
| Average Victory Margin |
4.7 |
x 5 |
23.5 |
36th |
| First Round |
| Oklahoma City Thunder (4-2) |
50-32 (.610) |
(.610 x 100)*4/6 |
40.65 |
31st |
| Second Round |
| Utah Jazz (4-0) |
53-29 (.646) |
(.646 x 100)*4/4 |
64.63 |
4th |
| Conference Finals |
| Phoenix Suns (4-2) |
54-28 (.659) |
(.659 x 100)*4/6 |
43.90 |
32nd (tie) |
| Finals |
| Boston Celtics (4-3) |
50-32 (.610) |
(.610 x 100)*4/7 |
34.84 |
41st |
| Playoff Victory Margin |
3.8 |
x 5 |
19 |
34th (tie) |
| Final Score |
574.09 |
|
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