Blog Archives
NBA Teams That Have Come Back from 3-1 to Win a Playoff Series
Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler and the Houston Rockets Won the 1995 NBA Title (the Rockets’ Second in a Row)
Only eight teams in NBA Playoff history have come back from a 3-1 deficit to win their series. It has never happened in the NBA Finals or Western Conference Finals.
Three times, though, a team has done this – the ultimate in NBA postseason comebacks, as no team has ever come back from 3-0 (see here) – in the Eastern Conference Finals.
In 2013, the Brooklyn Nets had a shot at becoming the ninth team, but fell to the undermanned and underdog Chicago Bulls in Round 1. The Oklahoma City Thunder are now down 3-1 to the Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Semis and the Bulls are themselves now down 3-1 to the Miami Heat i the Eastern Semis. Meanwhile, the New York Knicks are looking to avoid a 3-1 deficit. They are down 2-1 to the Indiana Pacers.
Of the eight teams to come back from 3-1, only two were underdogs according to seeding, and so won that seventh game on the road (noted with an asterisk).
The 1994-95 Houston Rockets, for example, who went on to win their second title in a row, had to get past the Suns in Phoenix in a 115-114 Game 7 first.
The 1967-68 Boston Celtics is the other team to win that Game 7 on the road. They went on to win their 10th title in 12 years.
The 1980-81 Boston Celtics are the third (and last) team on the list below that went on the win the NBA Finals.
The 1996-97 New York Knicks should have won their Semifinals series against the Miami Heat, but a melee in Game 5 led to five staggered suspensions for New York in Games 6 and 7. For the full story, check out the 15 Biggest Disappointments in NY Knicks History.
Follow @VinGetz| WINNER (SEED) | LOSER (SEED) | YEAR | ROUND | GAME 7 SCORE | |
| 1. | Phoenix Suns (2) | Los Angeles Lakers (7) | 2006 | Eastern 1 | 121-90 |
| 2. | Detroit Pistons (1) | Orlando Magic (8) | 2003 | Eastern 1 | 108-93 |
| 3. | Miami Heat (2) | New York Knicks (3) | 1997 | Eastern Semis | 101-90 |
| 4. | Houston Rockets (6) | Phoenix Suns (3) | 1995 | Western Semis | 115-114* |
| 5. | Boston Celtics (1) | Philadelphia 76ers (2) | 1981 | Eastern Finals | 91-90 |
| 6. | Washington Bullets (1) | San Antonio Spurs (2) | 1979 | Eastern Finals | 107-105 |
| 7. | Los Angeles Lakers (2) | Phoenix Suns (3) | 1970 | Western Semis | 129-94 |
| 8. | Boston Celtics (2) | Philadelphia 76ers (1) | 1968 | Eastern Finals | 100-96* |
Thanks to sports.yahoo.com.
Photo: wagesofwins.com
NBA: Best Regular-Season Records for Each Team
Michael Jordan’s 1995-96 Chicago Bulls Had the Best Record of All Time
In 2012-13, four NBA teams are either going for or already have achieved the best regular-season record in their franchise’s history.
The Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies will finish 2012-13 with their best records ever. The Denver Nuggets just tied their all-time win record and still have four games to go.
What about the other 26 franchises? Below, check out every one’s best all-time regular-season record by wins/percentage, and in only the case of the Sacramento Kings, both. The Kings won 61 games in 2001-02, but had two seasons (as the Rochester Royals) with higher percentages in the game’s first years.
The Kings, Brooklyn Nets, Oklahoma City Thunder and Washington Wizards made their marks as “other teams.” The Kings, as noted above, were the Rochester Royals. Then, respectively, the New Jersey Nets, Seattle SuperSonics and Washington Bullets.
(As an aside – you can see the history of all the NBA’s team name changes over the years here.)
Included below are how each team finished up in the playoffs, on the heels of their best records. Only six went on to win it all. Very interesting. There is apparently not much of a connection (20%) between having your most dominant season and winning the NBA Finals (or as much as one might think). There’s an 80% chance your team will get knocked off before getting a chance to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy.
Which beings us to Michael Jordan. What? Yes.
Jordan is the best-season killer. His Chicago Bulls knocked off five of these franchise-bests on the way to (or in) the NBA Finals.
And how about the Los Angeles/Minneapolis Lakers? They knocked off six of the greatest teams below (four times with Kobe Bryant).
Bonus: A second list below sorts all teams by wins so you can see where your team ranks. Remember, this is not the all-time best records list (you can see that here). This is each team’s best record (primarily, most wins), sorted. So, we’re ranking each franchise by its best performance, not the best teams overall. Some franchises obviously have non-best seasons that are nonetheless better than other teams’ (ex: Toronto Raptors) best seasons.
On either list, you can click on the season to see the team’s roster and statistics.
Enough chatter! Here are today’s lists.
Follow @VinGetzBEST REGULAR-SEASON RECORDS OF EVERY TEAM
| TEAM/FRANCHISE | W | L | W-L % | SEASON | POSTSEASON RESULT |
| Atlanta Hawks | 57 | 25 | .695 | 1986-87 | Lost Eastern Semifinals to Detroit Pistons (4-1) |
| 57 | 25 | .695 | 1993-94 | Lost Eastern Semifinals to Indiana Pacers (4-2) | |
| Boston Celtics | 68 | 14 | .829 | 1972-73 | Lost Eastern Finals to New York Knicks (4-3) |
| Brooklyn Nets | 52 | 30 | .634 | 2001-02 | LOST NBA FINALS to L.A. Lakers (4-0) |
| Charlotte Bobcats | 44 | 38 | .537 | 2009-10 | Lost Eastern First Round to Orlando Magic (4-0) |
| Chicago Bulls | 72 | 10 | .878 | 1995-96 | WON NBA FINALS over Seattle SuperSonics (4-2) |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 66 | 16 | .805 | 2008-09 | Lost Eastern Finals to Orlando Magic (4-2) |
| Dallas Mavericks | 67 | 15 | .817 | 2006-07 | Lost Western First Round to Golden State Warriors (4-2) |
| Denver Nuggets* | 54 | 28 | .659 | 1987-88 | Lost Western Semifinals to Dallas Mavericks (4-2) |
| 54 | 28 | .659 | 2008-09 | Lost Western Finals to L.A. Lakers (4-2) | |
| 54 | 24 | .692 | 2012-13 | TBD | |
| Detroit Pistons | 64 | 18 | .780 | 2005-06 | Lost Eastern Finals to Miami Heat (4-2) |
| Golden State Warriors | 59 | 23 | .720 | 1975-76 | Lost Western Finals to Phoenix Suns (4-3) |
| Houston Rockets | 58 | 24 | .707 | 1993-94 | WON NBA FINALS over New York Knicks (4-3) |
| Indiana Pacers | 61 | 21 | .744 | 2003-04 | Lost Eastern Finals to Detroit Pistons (4-2) |
| Los Angeles Clippers* | 52 | 26 | .667 | 2012-13 | TBD |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 69 | 13 | .841 | 1971-72 | WON NBA FINALS over New York Knicks (4-1) |
| Memphis Grizzlies* | 53 | 25 | .679 | 2012-13 | TBD |
| Miami Heat* | 62 | 16 | .795 | 2012-13 | TBD |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 66 | 16 | .805 | 1970-71 | WON NBA FINALS over Baltimore Bullets (4-0) |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 58 | 24 | .707 | 2003-04 | Lost Western Finals to L.A. Lakers (4-2) |
| New Orleans Hornets | 56 | 26 | .683 | 2007-08 | Lost Western Semifinals to San Antonio Spurs (4-3) |
| New York Knicks | 60 | 22 | .732 | 1969-70 | WON NBA FINALS over L.A. Lakers (4-3) |
| 60 | 22 | .732 | 1992-93 | Lost Eastern Finals to Chicago Bulls (4-2) | |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 64 | 18 | .780 | 1995-96 | LOST NBA FINALS to Chicago Bulls (4-2) |
| Orlando Magic | 60 | 22 | .732 | 1995-96 | Lost Eastern Finals to Chicago Bulls (4-0) |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 68 | 13 | .840 | 1966-67 | WON NBA FINALS over San Francisco Warriors (4-2) |
| Phoenix Suns | 62 | 20 | .756 | 1992-93 | LOST NBA FINALS to Chicago Bulls (4-2) |
| 62 | 20 | .756 | 2004-05 | Lost Western Finals to San Antonio Spurs (4-1) | |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 63 | 19 | .768 | 1990-91 | Lost Western Finals to L.A. Lakers (4-2) |
| Sacramento Kings** | 61 | 21 | .744 | 2001-02 | Lost Western Finals to L.A. Lakers (4-3) |
| 45 | 15 | .750 | 1948-49 | Lost Western Finals to Minneapolis Lakers (2-0) | |
| 51 | 17 | .759 | 1949-50 | Lost Central Semifinals to Fort Wayne Pistons (2-0) | |
| San Antonio Spurs | 63 | 19 | .768 | 2005-06 | Lost Western Semifinals to Dallas Mavericks (4-3) |
| Toronto Raptors | 47 | 35 | .573 | 2000-01 | Lost Eastern Semifinals to Philadelphia 76ers (4-3) |
| 47 | 35 | .573 | 2006-07 | Lost Eastern First Round to New Jersey Nets (4-2) | |
| Utah Jazz | 64 | 18 | .780 | 1996-97 | LOST NBA FINALS to Chicago Bulls (4-2) |
| Washington Wizards | 60 | 22 | .732 | 1974-75 | LOST NBA FINALS to Golden State Warriors (4-0) |
RANKING FRANCHISES BY THEIR BEST RECORDS (MOST WINS)
| TEAM/FRANCHISE | W | L | W-L % | SEASON | POSTSEASON RESULT | |
| 1. | Chicago Bulls | 72 | 10 | .878 | 1995-96 | WON NBA FINALS over Seattle SuperSonics (4-2) |
| 2. | Los Angeles Lakers | 69 | 13 | .841 | 1971-72 | WON NBA FINALS over New York Knicks (4-1) |
| 3. | Boston Celtics | 68 | 14 | .829 | 1972-73 | Lost Eastern Finals to New York Knicks (4-3) |
| 3. | Philadelphia 76ers | 68 | 13 | .840 | 1966-67 | WON NBA FINALS over San Francisco Warriors (4-2) |
| 5. | Dallas Mavericks | 67 | 15 | .817 | 2006-07 | Lost Western First Round to Golden State Warriors (4-2) |
| 6. | Cleveland Cavaliers | 66 | 16 | .805 | 2008-09 | Lost Eastern Finals to Orlando Magic (4-2) |
| 6. | Milwaukee Bucks | 66 | 16 | .805 | 1970-71 | WON NBA FINALS over Baltimore Bullets (4-0) |
| 8. | Detroit Pistons | 64 | 18 | .780 | 2005-06 | Lost Eastern Finals to Miami Heat (4-2) |
| 8. | Oklahoma City Thunder | 64 | 18 | .780 | 1995-96 | LOST NBA FINALS to Chicago Bulls (4-2) |
| 8. | Utah Jazz | 64 | 18 | .780 | 1996-97 | LOST NBA FINALS to Chicago Bulls (4-2) |
| 11. | Portland Trail Blazers | 63 | 19 | .768 | 1990-91 | Lost Western Finals to L.A. Lakers (4-2) |
| 11. | San Antonio Spurs | 63 | 19 | .768 | 2005-06 | Lost Western Semifinals to Dallas Mavericks (4-3) |
| 13. | Miami Heat* | 62 | 16 | .795 | 2012-13 | TBD |
| 13. | Phoenix Suns | 62 | 20 | .756 | 1992-93 | LOST NBA FINALS to Chicago Bulls (4-2) |
| 13. | Phoenix Suns | 62 | 20 | .756 | 2004-05 | Lost Western Finals to San Antonio Spurs (4-1) |
| 16. | Indiana Pacers | 61 | 21 | .744 | 2003-04 | Lost Eastern Finals to Detroit Pistons (4-2) |
| 16. | Sacramento Kings | 61 | 21 | .744 | 2001-02 | Lost Western Finals to L.A. Lakers (4-3) |
| 18. | New York Knicks | 60 | 22 | .732 | 1969-70 | WON NBA FINALS over L.A. Lakers (4-3) |
| 18. | New York Knicks | 60 | 22 | .732 | 1992-93 | Lost Eastern Finals to Chicago Bulls (4-2) |
| 18. | Orlando Magic | 60 | 22 | .732 | 1995-96 | Lost Eastern Finals to Chicago Bulls (4-0) |
| 18. | Washington Wizards | 60 | 22 | .732 | 1974-75 | LOST NBA FINALS to Golden State Warriors (4-0) |
| 22. | Golden State Warriors | 59 | 23 | .720 | 1975-76 | Lost Western Finals to Phoenix Suns (4-3) |
| 23. | Houston Rockets | 58 | 24 | .707 | 1993-94 | WON NBA FINALS over New York Knicks (4-3) |
| 23. | Minnesota Timberwolves | 58 | 24 | .707 | 2003-04 | Lost Western Finals to L.A. Lakers (4-2) |
| 25. | Atlanta Hawks | 57 | 25 | .695 | 1986-87 | Lost Eastern Semifinals to Detroit Pistons (4-1) |
| 25. | Atlanta Hawks | 57 | 25 | .695 | 1993-94 | Lost Eastern Semifinals to Indiana Pacers (4-2) |
| 27. | New Orleans Hornets | 56 | 26 | .683 | 2007-08 | Lost Western Semifinals to San Antonio Spurs (4-3) |
| 28. | Denver Nuggets | 54 | 28 | .659 | 1987-88 | Lost Western Semifinals to Dallas Mavericks (4-2) |
| 28. | Denver Nuggets | 54 | 28 | .659 | 2008-09 | Lost Western Finals to L.A. Lakers (4-2) |
| 28. | Denver Nuggets* | 54 | 24 | .692 | 2012-13 | TBD |
| 31. | Memphis Grizzlies* | 53 | 25 | .679 | 2012-13 | TBD |
| 32. | Brooklyn Nets | 52 | 30 | .634 | 2001-02 | LOST NBA FINALS to L.A. Lakers (4-0) |
| 32. | Los Angeles Clippers* | 52 | 26 | .667 | 2012-13 | TBD |
| 34. | Toronto Raptors | 47 | 35 | .573 | 2000-01 | Lost Eastern Semifinals to Philadelphia 76ers (4-3) |
| 34. | Toronto Raptors | 47 | 35 | .573 | 2006-07 | Lost Eastern First Round to New Jersey Nets (4-2) |
| 36. | Charlotte Bobcats | 44 | 38 | .537 | 2009-10 | Lost Eastern First Round to Orlando Magic (4-0) |
* Team’s best record is this season (2012-13)
** Franchise best-record under different team name. For the Kings, see the technicality noted above. This is the Brooklyn Nets’ first season, so whatever their record winds up being will be their best. The Oklahoma City Thunder have already won 58 this year, which will be that team’s (in its five seasons) best record. And, finally, the Washington Wizards’ best record of all time was 45-37 in 2004-05. Maybe they should change their name again,
These records do not include the ABA. They include the NBA (1949-50 to present) and also the BAA (1946-47 through 1948-49), which was the precursor to the NBA.
Thanks to basketball-reference.com where I sifted through the data.
Most and Fewest Points Scored in an NCAA Tournament Championship Game (School)
Hall of Famer Jerry Tarkanian and His 1990 UNLV Runnin’ Rebels Scored the Most Points in an NCAA Tournament Championship Game
Offense is just not the name of the game in college basketball anymore. These are some low-scoring affairs in the 2013 NCAA Tournament.
So, it’s likely that tonight’s Final may produce a team that makes the second list below – lowest scores by a team in the Championship game.
As with a previous post – schools with the lowest scores in any round – this is broken up into two groupings: all-time, and since 1979 for a fairer, modern look. Those old-school teams (literally) didn’t score as much. 1978-79 was the first season when schools were seeded for the Tournament.
That UConn-Butler Championship (53-41) in 2011 produced two of the lowest scores in the modern era. The 41 by Butler even made the all-time list.
Some of the lowest scores were winners (noted by an asterisk).
But first, the highest single-team point totals in NCAA Tournament Finals history.
Would you believe that in the 74 National Finals that have been played (1939-2012), only one team has ever broken 100-points! That would be Jerry “The Shark” Tarkanian‘s UNLV Runnin’ Rebels of 1990.
Tarkanian, by the way, was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame today.
Follow @VinGetzMOST POINTS SCORED IN NCAA TOURNAMENT FINALS
| YEAR | SCHOOL | PTS | OPPONENT | PTS | OT | |
| 1. | 1990 | Nevada-Las Vegas (1) | 103 | Duke (3) | 73 | |
| 2. | 1964 | UCLA | 98 | Duke | 83 | |
| 3. | 1978 | Kentucky | 94 | Duke | 88 | |
| 4. | 1954 | La Salle | 92 | Bradley | 76 | |
| 4. | 1969 | UCLA | 92 | Purdue | 72 | |
| 4. | 1975 | UCLA | 92 | Kentucky | 85 | |
| 7. | 1965 | UCLA | 91 | Michigan | 80 | |
| 8. | 1995 | UCLA (1) | 89 | Arkansas (2) | 78 | |
| 8. | 2000 | Michigan State (1) | 89 | Florida (5) | 76 | |
| 8. | 2009 | North Carolina (1) | 89 | Michigan State (2) | 72 |
FEWEST POINTS SCORED IN NCAA TOURNAMENT FINALS (ALL TIME)
| YEAR | SCHOOL | PTS | OPPONENT | PTS | OT | |
| 1. | 1939 | Ohio State | 33 | Oregon | 46 | |
| 2. | 1941 | Washington State | 34 | Wisconsin | 39 | |
| 2. | 1943 | Georgetown | 34 | Wyoming | 46 | |
| 4. | 1949 | Oklahoma State | 36 | Kentucky | 46 | |
| 5. | 1942 | Dartmouth | 38 | Stanford | 53 | |
| 6. | 1941 | Wisconsin* | 39 | Washington State | 34 | |
| 7. | 1946 | North Carolina | 40 | Oklahoma State | 43 | |
| 7. | 1944 | Dartmouth | 40 | Utah | 42 | OT |
| 9. | 2011 | Butler (8) | 41 | Connecticut (3) | 53 | |
| 10. | 1944 | Utah* | 42 | Dartmouth | 40 | OT |
| 10. | 1940 | Kansas | 42 | Indiana | 60 | |
| 10. | 1948 | Baylor | 42 | Kentucky | 58 |
FEWEST POINTS SCORED IN NCAA TOURNAMENT FINALS (SINCE 1979)
| YEAR | SCHOOL | PTS | OPPONENT | PTS | OT | |
| 1. | 2011 | Butler (8) | 41 | Connecticut (3) | 53 | |
| 2. | 1981 | North Carolina (2) | 50 | Indiana (3) | 63 | |
| 3. | 1992 | Michigan (6) | 51 | Duke (1) | 71 | |
| 4. | 2002 | Indiana (5) | 52 | Maryland (1) | 64 | |
| 4. | 1983 | Houston (1) | 52 | North Carolina State (6) | 54 | |
| 6. | 2011 | Connecticut (3)* | 53 | Butler (8) | 41 | |
| 7. | 1980 | UCLA (8) | 54 | Louisville (2) | 59 | |
| 7. | 1983 | North Carolina State (6)* |
54 | Houston (1) | 52 | |
| 9. | 2006 | UCLA (2) | 57 | Florida (3) | 73 | |
| 10. | 2010 | Butler (5) | 59 | Duke (1) | 61 | |
| 10. | 2012 | Kansas (2) | 59 | Kentucky (1) | 67 | |
| 10. | 1980 | Louisville (2) * |
59 | UCLA (8) | 54 |
Thanks to sports-reference.com‘s play index.
Photo: deseretnews.com
