Here is the third of the five lists of the fifty greatest NBA teams (according to me). Without futher ado, let's see 30-21:

30. 1993-94 Houston Rockets: I know Hoffman thought the 1995 Rockets may have been underated, but I feel the 1994 version was a little bit better. The backstory for this team began (oddly enough) in 1986. That year, Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson led the Rockets to the Finals (stunning heavily favored L.A. in the Western Finals) and the future seemed very bright. Then, Sampson got hurt (and was eventually traded) and the Rockets became a mid-level playoff team.

The turning point came early in the 1991-92 season, when Houston fired Don Chaney (who I feel isn't a great coach) and replaced him with assistant Rudy Tomjanovich. The 1992-93 Rockets won the Midwest with 55 wins, and it was a prelude to the 1994 season, as Olajuwon won the MVP trophy (the first Rocket to do so since Moses Malone in 1982) and led the team to a 22-1 start en route to 58 wins.

After beating Portland in four, the Phoenix Suns won the first two games at Houston in the second round. The Rockets lashed back with two wins in Phoenix, and eventually disposed of them in seven. After toasting Utah 4-1, the Rockets met the New York Knicks, in a matchup of two of the best centers at the time: Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing.

The series was primarily a defensive struggle; for the first time since the shot clock was used, neither team scored 100 points in any game. Houston won the first at home, dropped game two, then won at Madison Square Garden when rookie Sam Cassell had a big 4th quarter. The Knicks took the next two at home, and were poised to win their first title since 1973.

In game six, John Starks had a magnificent 4th that nearly gave New York the title, but his last shot was deflected by Olajuwon, and Houston won 86-84. In game 7, Starks had an abysmal 2-18 night (0-10 from three) as Houston won 90-84. Olajuwon won Finals MVP, and had fulfilled the promise of 1986.

29. 1953-54 Minneapolis Lakers: The Lakers of the 1950s were the NBA's greatest early team. They had won the NBL title in 1948, and then moved to the BAA/NBA and dominated, taking four titles in their first five years. In 1954, the Lakers set out to become the league's first "three-peat" team.

While George Mikan was clearly on the downside of a brilliant career, he still finished 4th in scoring and second in rebounds (18.1 PPG and 14.3 RPG). His presence still made an impact in the playoffs, which for the first (and only) time was a round robin format.

The Lakers went 3-0 against the Rochester Royals (now the Kings) and the Fort Wayne Pistons, causing the last game of the round robin to be cancelled because they had already clinched. In their division final against the Royals, they won 2-1 to face the Syracuse Nationals in the Finals.

The Nats fought bravely, forcing a seventh game, but the Lakers hung on to win game seven 87-80 to complete the first three-peat. Shortly thereafter, Mikan retired, and the dynasty was over.

28. 1979-80 Los Angeles Lakers: The Lakers of the mid-70s were only an above-average team, even after adding superstar Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in a trade with Milwaukee in 1975. While Kareem won two MVPs, the Lakers had little to show for it, going to only one conference final (a sweep by Portland in 1977). Then, after acquiring a chance to select #1 after a trade with the Jazz, the Lakers won the coin flip, and selected Earvin "Magic" Johnson.

Johnson's impact emotionally on the stoic Lakers was evident in his first game (a nationally televised game against the Clippers). After Kareem hit a skyhook to win it, Magic nearly choked him in celebrating! The Lakers were in high gear, until coach Jack McKinney suffered an injury in an accident, and was replaced by Paul Wetshead. The early jitters calmed down, and the Lakers didn't skip a beat, winning the Pacific with a 60-22 record. Kareem won his record sixth MVP.

In the playoffs, the Lakers rolled past the Suns 4-1, then stomped the defending champion Sonics 4-1 to advance to the Finals. There, they faced the 76ers, who had stormed past Boston 4-1 to reach their seconf Finals in four years.

The teams exchanged victories through four games, then L.A. won game five at home, but at a tremendous price. Kareem twisted his ankle, and though he came back and finished the game, he was out for game six. Most assumed the Lakers would concede game six and simply wait for game seven to win. But not Magic Johnson. He insisted on starting at center for Kareem. And he got his wish.

Instead of a concession, the Lakers rolled past Philly 123-107 to win the title. Magic eventually played all five positions, and had perhaps his greatest game ever; a playoff-career high 42 points, 15 rebounds and 7 assists, and the performance helped him become Finals MVP, and launched him as a major star in the NBA.

27. 1997-98 Chicago Bulls: I have a feeling that this one may get me in trouble, but hear me out. The 1998 Bulls' season might have been akin to a Beatles tour, as the "Last Season" made them an almost-guaranteed sellout everywhere they went. The Bulls won 62 games and finished tied for the best record in the NBA (Utah won the tiebreaker), and Chicago was ready to finish their run with a thrill, not a whimper. Michael Jordan won his tenth scoring title (28.7 PPG) and his fifth MVP.

The playoffs started out simple enough, with the Nets (3-0) and the Hornets (4-1) falling by the wayside. Then, in perhaps their toughest challenge of their run, the Indiana Pacers extended them to seven games (only the Knicks in 1992 had done that). But with the Pacers unable to get any key rebounds in game seven, Chicago won 88-83 to reach the Finals, and their first rematch, against the Jazz.

The Bulls seemed ready to coast after taking a 3-1 lead (including an embarassing 96-54 win where the Jazz set a record for fewest points in the Finals), but Utah put the coronation on hold by winning game 5. That set up game six, and brought out the conspiracy theorist in me.

The Bulls won 87-86 as Jordan punctuated his career (we thought) with another game-winning shot. But I feel it should never had come to that. There where two bad referee calls (one negating a Howard Eisley three, and calling an after-the-shot-clock-went-off shot by Ron Harper good) that tainted that game for me. Still, it allowed the old gang to end their run in (some) style.

26. 1980-81 Boston Celtics: The Celtics had fallen into a major slump in the 1970s, as bad trades (Bob McAdoo, anyone?) and bad seeds plagued them. Red Auerbach even considered taking the Knicks' GM job. But he stayed, and in 1978, he took Larry Bird #6, even though he knew Bird was going back to college for his senoir year.

While Bird nearly didn't sign with the C's, he instantly made the Celtics legit contenders again. Leading the team to one of the biggest single-season turnarounds in NBA history (from 29 wins to 61) Bird was the ROY. But the C's were bounced by the 76ers in five games, and Auerbach sensed the team needed more reinforcements.

After inquiring about Ralph Sampson's eligibility, the Celtics completed one of the best trades in NBA history, shipping the 1st and 13th picks to the Warriors for the 3rd pick and center Robert Parish. The 3rd pick turned into Kevin McHale. Together with Bird, the league's best frontcourt of the 80s had just been formed.

The Celtics won the Atlantic on tiebreakers with the Sixers, then stomped Chicago in 4 straight to face Philly in the conference finals. The Sixers made the series look like a repeat of 1980, as they took a 3-1 series lead. The Celtics then made a miraculous comeback, and ousted Philly with a 91-90 win in game seven. That set up a Finals against the Rockets, the first team since 1959 to make the Finals with a losing record (and only the third to do so).

The Rockets put up a mild resistence, led by Moses Malone, but the Celtics prevailed in six games. Cedric Maxwell won Finals MVP honors, and the C's run of dominance in the 80s over the East began.

25. 1975 -76 Boston Celtics: The Celtics were in the midst of their dominance of the mid 70s. They had won at least 56 games each of the previous four years, and had a title in 1974. But the team (especially John Havlicek) was getting older, and there were concerns over how long they could keep up the excellence.

The Celtics managed to win 54 games, good enough for the best record in the East. They beat the Buffalo Braves (now the Clippers) 4-2, then beat the miracle Cavaliers 4-2 to reach the Finals. There, they met ultimate underdog Phoenix, who had only a 42-40 regulat season, but had caught fire late in the year and knocked off Seattle and defending champ Golden State to make their first Finals.

The Celtics won the first two at home, and most prognosticators expected a sweep. But Phoenix lashed back with two wins at home, setting up a critical game 5 that will go down as an all-time classic. The Celtics led by 20 early, but Phoenix forced OT with a slow and steady approach. The first OT settled nothing, then the second OT saw Havlicek hit an apparent game-winning shot, but there was still a second left.

Paul Westphal called timeout to take a technical, but advance the ball to midcourt (the rule has since been changed). That's where Gar Heard hit a tying shot to force a third OT. The Celtics won in the third OT behind a great showing from Glenn McDonald (who played only 9 more NBA games after that). The C's wrapped up the title with a 87-80 win in Phoenix in game six.

24. 1956-57 Boston Celtics: The Celtics of the mid 50s enjoyed the more up-tempo game created by the shot clock. Bob Cousy, Bill Sharman, and Ed Macauley were perennial All-Stars. But without a presence on defense, the Celts never got past the conference finals in Red Auerbach's first six years.

In the 1956 draft, Auerbach knew he was taking Tom Heinsohn with a territorial pick, which meant he would not have a first round pick. He had his sights set on San Francisco C Bill Russell, who he felt would instantly improve the defense. So he manuvered with the Hawks and Royals, drafting #1 & 2. He traded Macauley (a St. Louis native) and Cliff Hagan (who played at Kentucky) to the Hawks for their pick, then (according to legend) convinced Rochester to pass on Russell by having owner Walter Brown steer the Ice Capades through Rochester for a few years!

With those picks, the seed for the Boston dynasty were in place. Russell missed the first 24 games to play in the Olympics, but his impact was immediate (he finished 4th in rebounds, but his average led the league), and the Celtics won 44 games and had the best record in the league.

 In the playoffs, Boston dominated the Nationals 3-0 to face those Hawks in the Finals. The series was one of the best in early NBA history. It went the full seven games, and the seventh was a classic, 125-123 double OT win. While Cousy (the league MVP that year) and Sharman had off games, Russell (19 points, 32 rebounds) and Heinsohn (37 points, 23 rebounds) carried them to victory, launching a modern dynasty.

23. 1972-73 New York Knicks: The Knicks came up short in the 1972 Finals against the Lakers, in part because Willis Reed missed 71 games and wasn't available to defend Wilt Chamberlain. Reed returned to play 69 games in 1973, and having Jerry Lucas as a backup helped immensely. The Knicks won 57 games but finished 11 games behind the streaking Celtics.

After beating Baltimore 4-1 in the first round, the Knicks faced the Celtics in the conference finals. New York took a 3-1 lead, then allowed Boston to tie the series. However, with John Havlicek out with a shoulder injury, the Knicks easily won game 7 to face the Lakers in the Finals for the third time in four years.

The series was played tight to the vest (the largest margin of victory was nine points), but the Knicks managed to win 4 straight after losing game one to win their second (and last) title. It marked the last Finals appearences for Chamberlain, Jerry West, and the Knicks' starters, including Reed, who was Finals MVP.

22. 1957-58 St. Louis Hawks: The Hawks of St. Louis are largely forgotten because it's been 40 years since they moved to Atlanta. But these 1958 Hawks were the only team to beat Bill Russell in the NBA Finals, and for 27 years, were the only team to beat the Celtics in the Finals.

Bob Pettit was one of the best PFs of the NBA's early years. He finished third in scoring (24.6 per) and second in rebounds (17.4). The Hawks rolled to the Western Division title, securing a 41-31 record. The Hawks then beat the Detroit Pistons 4-1 to reach the Finals, and a 1957 rematch with the defending champs.

The series turned when Russell injured his ankle in game 3. Without him until the sixth game, the Hawks won the series 4-2, as Pettit exploited the injured Russell with 50 points in the clincher. The Hawks have never won a title since.

21. 1973-74 Boston Celtics: The Celtics had regained their position as a great team shortly after Bill Russell retired in 1969. Within two years, they had regained the division title, but could not get past the Knicks, who ended their season in 1972 and 1973 (which saw the Knicks win game seven on the road after John Havlicek got hurt).

In 1974, the Celtics were determined to get back the NBA title. The changing league certainly helped; Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, Willis Reed, and Dave DeBusschere were in their final seasons with their teams. The Celtics dropped from 68 wins to 56, but still had the best record in the East. The C's beat Buffalo in six, then hammered the defending champion Knicks 4-1 to make the Finals against Milwaukee, who made their first Finals in three years.

The series hinged on the matchup between Dave Cowens and league MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The Celtics game plan was to have Cowens defend him straight up. The teams exchanged wins through the first six games (including a classic finish in game six where Abdul-Jabbar hit a skyhook in double OT to win it for the Bucks). Most expected a close game seven, but coach Tom Heinsohn changed his game plan, and decided to double and triple team Kareem. Cowens was freed up to score 28 points, and Boston won easily 102-87. Once again, the Celtics were back on top.

That's the list for today. Tomorrow will be #'s 20-11. See ya then!

Continuing my series of lists counting down the 50 greatest NBA teams (according to me), here are the next ten in the list, #'s 40-31:

40. 2001-02 Los Angeles Lakers: The Lakers had won two straight NBA titles, and had just come off the greatest run in NBA playoff history. They now sought to make it three in a row, something only three teams (50s Lakers, 60s Celtics and 90s Bulls) had done. As had become their custom during their run, the Lakers coasted through the season, going 58-24. But the Sacramento Kings swooped in to claim the Pacific by three games. With an intense rivalry between both teams, a Lakers-Kings showdown made for good box office.

The Lakers coasted through the first two rounds, pounding Portland 3-0 for the second straight year, and the Spurs 4-1, before their showdown with the Kings. Sacramento took two of the first three, and appeared ready to take game 4, before an errant shot under the basket bounced to Robert Horry, who sank a three to win the game. The Lakers took the series in seven after Sacramento stopped hitting free throws down the stretch.

The NBA Finals were anticlimatic; the Lakers swept the New Jersey Nets, marking the first time the Lakers swept a Finals series. Shaquille O'Neal won Finals MVP for the third straight time, joining Michael Jordan as the only players to win three straight. O'Neal and Kobe Bryant both were first team All-NBA (1st time for Kobe). As it turned out, it was the end of the Lakers' run, as the team was dismantled two years later (but are now poised to regain the title).

39. 1996-97 Chicago Bulls: The Bulls had set a league record with 87 wins (including playoffs) the previous season, and what could this team do for an encore? Michael Jordan continued to lord over the league, claiming his ninth scoring title with a 29.6 average. The Bulls had a chance to win 70 games again before a last-game loss to New York dropped them to 69 wins. There were concerns that this team might not have the juice to run to another title.

The Bulls quickly showed those fears should have been unfounded, as they rolled past Washington (3-0), Atlanta (4-1) and Miami (4-1) to reach the Finals. There, they faced the Utah Jazz, who were making their first trip. The series had several memorable moments.

Game one went to Chicago 84-82 as Jordan hit a jumper over Bryon Russell (we'll see them again later in the countdown) after Karl Malone, the regular season MVP, missed two critical free throws. They took game two at home, then lost two straight in Utah. Prior to game 5, Jordan came down with the flu, and there were wonders if he could play, or play effectively.

Jordan would proceed to put on one of the greatest performances in NBA history, scoring 38 points (including a key three late) to lead Chicago to a 90-88 win. Game six featured similar drama, as with the game tied at 86, Jordan jumped in the air... and hit Steve Kerr with a pass. Kerr swished the jumper, and after the Jazz turned the ball over, the Bulls had thier fifth title in seven years. Jordan won his 5th Finals MVP.

38. 1994-95 Houston Rockets: The Rockets had reason to feel good. They had won a dramatic Finals in 7 over the Knicks the year before, and were favorites to keep the repeats going (each of the three previous title holders repeated). But their season was a struggle, as they didn't look like the defending champs.

Then, in February, management made a bold move, trading Otis Thorpe to Portland for Clyde Drexler, reuniting Drexler with former University of Houston teammate Hakeem Olajuwon. The Rockets still finished 3rd in the Midwest (6th overall) at 47-35, and no team had won a title from that low a seeding.

The Rockets faced division rival Utah first. The Rockets came back from 2-1 down to win the series in five. Then, they faced Phoenix, who had taken them to seven the previous year. Phoenix went up 3-1, but couldn't put Houston away. The Rockets won three straight (including a 115-114 game seven in Phoenix), then dispatched San Antonio in six, to reach the Finals against Orlando.

Game one saw Orlando take an early 20 point lead, but Houston fougght back (aided by a record seven threes by Kenny Smith) to tie it late. After Nick Anderson missed four free throws late that would have sealed it, The Rockets won in OT. The Magic never recovered, and Houston sewpt the series. Olajuwon was named MVP.

37. 1959-60 Boston Celtics: The Celtics were now two time defending champs, and the 1959-60 season saw them firmly establish themselves as the dominant force in the league. Even with the Warriors adding rookie Wilt Chamberlain (ROY and MVP that season), the Celtics finished ten games ahead of Philly with a 59-16 record. In the first playoff meeting between Bill Russell and Chamberlain, the C's had little trouble, winning in six games.

That led to a showdown with the St. Louis Hawks, who withstood a seven game series with the Lakers (in their last season in Minneapolis) to make the Finals. The series went seven, and with Russell scoring 22 and adding 35 rebounds, the Celtics won 122-103 for their third straight title.

36. 1981-82 Los Angeles Lakers: The Lakers had just come off a tumutuous 1981 season, where their title repeat dreams were dashed by Magic Johnson's knee troubles and dissention in the ranks, leading to a 1st round ouster by Houston. While some of the trouble seeds were dumped in the offseason, Johnson and coach Paul Westhead didn't see eye to eye, as Westhead's power philosophy clashed with Johnson's push-it-up style. Westhead was fired after a 7-4 start, and Johnson was actually booed a little in L.A.

The Lakers tried to convince Jerry West to take over as coach, but he refused, and they settled for Westhead assistant Pat Riley (West agreed to sit next to Riley early on to ease him in). Riley pushed the tempo up, and the Lakers (with the help of midseason addition Bob McAdoo) won 50 of their last 71 games to finish first in the West.

The playoffs turned into their showcase. The Lakers rolled past Phoenix and San Antonio in sweeps, leading to a rematch of the 1980 Finals against the 76ers, who survived a seven game series with the defending champion Celtics.

The series was full of blowouts. The closest game was a seven point finish in game one, as Riley and Billy Cunningham outschemed each other. The Lakers won the series in six, with Johnson winning his second Finals MVP. It was the first of five titles for Riles as a head coach.

35. 1978-79 Seattle Supersonics: The Supersonics had come agonizingly close to the NBA title in 1978, losing the seventh game to Washington 105-99 after Dennis Johnson went 0-14 in the game. The Sonics, with coach Lenny Wilkens in for a full season, won the Pacific division with a 52-30 record, and secured home court throughout the West.

In the playoffs, they beat the Lakers in five, then survived a tough seven game series with Phoenix to make the Finals, and once again face the Bullets, who themselves won a seven game finals against the Spurs.

The Sonics lost game one after Larry Wright hit two free throws with no time on ther clock. The loss only inspired the Sonics. With Johnson and Gus Williams scoring over half their teams' points in the series, the Sonics won four straight for their only NBA title. Johnson was named Finals MVP.

34. 1977-78 Washington Bullets: The Bullets had had no luck at all in their two previous Finals appearences. Both times (1971 and 1975) they had been swept. So when they quietly won 44 games and finished second in the Central division (3rd in the conference), no one expected much.

After winning their 1st round series with Atlanta 2-0, the Bullets surprised the Spurs by beating them 4-2 in round two. Agianst the Sixers, who had swept New York in their second round matchup, the Bullets won game 1 in Philly, a crucial victory, and won in six games.

The Finals matchup with Seattle was hard fought. Each team traded victories in the first six games, before the Bullets cliamed the title in game seven, primarily by holding Dennis Johnson to 0-14 shooting. Wes Unseld was named MVP, and it was the only title for both Unseld (984 games played) and Elvin Hayes (1,303 games).

33. 1968-69 Boston Celtics: The Celtics looked like a tired team throughout the 1968-69 season, as they struggled to a 48-34 record, the worst record since Bill Russell joined the team. Russell still was effective as a rebounder (third in the league) and the Celtics had an aura around them that, even without home court advantage, they could win a title.

In round one, they turned back the Sixers 4-1, looking like the old Celtics. Against the Knicks in the Easten finals, Russell held Willis Reed in check, and they took the series in six. Still, few expected them to beat the Lakers, who not only had Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, and Wilt Chamberlain, but had vengence in their minds for six prior Finals losses to Boston.

The Lakers won the first two games, Boston fired back with two, and the teams split games 5 & 6. Ther seven game was at the Forum, and as fate would have it, the Celtics discovered a agenda program of Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke. Cooke planned a big celebration with lots of baloons in the rafters and a Chick Hearn interview with Baylor, West and Chamberlain.

The Celtics stormed out and led by double figures after three. The Lakers fought to within two, then Don Nelson (yes, that Don Nelson) hit a jumper that bouned high off the back rim, and in. The Celtics won 108-106. The baloons came down without fanfare the next day. In August, Russell retired. He left with 11 titles in his 13 pro seasons, a record that's unlikely to be matched.

32. 2002-03 San Antonio Spurs: Since last year's team is too new to be ranked, this team will have to suffice. The 2003 Spurs came out determined to regain their throne. With the defending champion Lakers looking vulnerable, the West was as open as it had been in four years.

Tim Duncan captured his second straight MVP, finishing 7th in scoring and 3rd in boards. The Spurs won 60 games to finish 1st in the West, and after having some trouble with the Suns in round one, they faced the Lakers, who had ended their season each of the prior two seasons.

The Spurs had little trouble with the shaky Lakers this time; they won 4-2, including a 28 point thumping in the clincher, then beat Dallas 4-2 to reach the Finals against the Nets.

The series certainly wasn't an artistic classic (only once did a team reach 100 points; SA in game one), but the Spurs clawed their way to their second title of the Duncan era. Duncan was Finals MVP, and Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili had their first rings.

31. 2003-04 Detroit Pistons: As the years have passed, it dawns on me just how special this series was. It may prove to be the only title for this era's Pistons, the one time they caught lightning in a bottle, and by doing so, ending a potential dyansty in the making.

Coming off a postseason where they were swept by the Nets, Detroit finished second in the Central (3rd in conference) with a 54-28 record. They smashed Milwaukee in 5, setting up a rematch of the conference finals in round two. The Pistons took the first two games, then the Nets took the next three (including a triple OT classic in game 5) and seemed poised to deliver the KO shot. But the Pistons won games 6 & 7, holding Jason Kidd scoreless for the first time in his playoff career, to face Indiana in the con. finals.

There, the Pistons outslopped the Pacers in six, the signature moment coming in game two, when Tayshaun Prince blocked a Reggie Miller layup attempt to preserve victory. Still, they were heavy underdogs against the Lakers. They not only had won three of the last four titles, but they wanted rings for Karl Malone and Gary Payton.

The Pistons claimed game one, but L.A. won game two when Kobe Bryant sank a game-tying shot and dominated OT. When the series shifted to Detroit, however, the dissenting Lakers, without the injured Malone, couldn't stop the stampede (or Kobe taking bad shots). The Pistons won all three home games (the first to do so since the 2-3-2 format began in 1985) and the title to boot. Chauncey Billups was named MVP, the first player to win the award without a prior All-Star appearence since Dennis Johnson in 1979. Shortly thgereafter, the Lakers were dismantled.

There are the next ten. Tomorrow will be #'s 30-21. See ya then!

A few days ago, I attempted to start a series of posts to start the crowning of a greatest franchise in NBA history. To make a long story short, it was as successful as the Edsel, New Coca-Cola, and Bush' Iraq War policy. It was in the midst of that mess, that a question from Hoffman (whose NBA opinion I hold in good esteem) that the inspiration for another series began.

In the last post I did for my original concept (those have since been erased, to avoid the blog world from being futher confused), Hoffman said "Are these (the teams I created) one-season teams, or a collection of players from all the teams all-time?". That got me to thinking "Why not just do a list of the best single-season teams of all-time? It will be less confusing.". So now, in the first of the series of lists, here are the 50 best teams in NBA history (according to me; it's not a be-all end-all, I'm always right" lsit.

Lets' start with #'s 50-41

50. 1998-99 San Antonio Spurs: The Spurs of the early-to-mid 1990s were seemingly always on the doorstep to greatness. With David Robinson at his peak, the Spurs would win four division titles between 1990 and 1996 (with a Western Conference Finals berth in 1995). Then, in 1997, Robinson got hurt, missed 76 games, and the Spurs went 20-62.

It was that bad season that set the foundation of the Spurs' dynasty to follow, as after they won the lottery, they selected Tim Duncan #1. Duncan paid immediate dividends, as San Antonio won 56 games his first season. In the lockout shortened 1999 season (the major reason they're so low), the Spurs were poised to win a title. They added Mario Elie, who had won two titles in Houston previous to then, and things looked promising.

The Spurs started slowly, going just 6-8 as fans and the media wondered what was worng. But a 31-5 finish brought then a division title (on tiebreakers with Utah) and the #1 seed. Duncan finished runner-up to Karl Malone in the MVP race, but he would own the playoffs.

After beating Minnesota 3-1 to start, the Spurs swept the Lakers (prompting the hiring of Phil Jackson) and the Blazers, with the dramatic Sean Elliott shot in game 2 providing inspiration. That set up a Finals showdown with the Knicks, who became the first #8 seed to reach the Finals.

The Spurs raced to a 2-0 lead, with Duncan averaging 29 PPG and about 15 RPG. The Knicks took game 3, then SA won the next two and the title, with the clinching field-goal scored by Avery Johnson, a castoff of several teams (including the Spurs twice). The win was the first by an old ABA team in the NBA Finals (also the first appearence by such). Duncan was named Finals MVP, and had established himself as an elite player.

49. 1950-51 Rochester Royals: The Kings franchise has suffered from incredible bad luck. The team has moved four times and has made just one appearence in the NBA Finals. This team listed was that finalist, and it was the stopper (briefly) for the NBA's original dynasty.

In the early 50s, the Lakers and Royals were the league's premier attraction. The two teams had finsihed 1-2 in their division races each of the teams' first two years in the BAA/NBA, with the Royals winning in 1949 and Minneapolis in 1950. The teams would finish 1-2 again in 1951, as George Mikan won his third straight scoring title.

In the playoffs, the teams met in the Western Division Finals, but unlike the two previous years, the Royals won 3-1, as Mikan suffered from a fracture of his ankle and wasn't 100%. That set up the Royals to face the Knicks, who made their first Finals as the three seed (out of four).

The series was hotly contested, as the Royals won the first three games, before the Knicks won three straight of their own, forcing the first game seven in Finals history. In that game, Rochester led by 16 early, then fell behind by two late. But Bob Davies hit critical free throws down the stretch, and the Royals won 79-75. The Royals would win the division the following year, but would never make the Finals again, and moved to Cincinnati in 1957.

48. 1955-56 Philadelphia Warriors: The Warriors were an NBA charter team in 1946, and in their first season, they won the BAA title over Chicago. The team would remain a mid-level team through the next decade, before the advent of the shot clock brought them to life. Led by Paul Arizin, Neil Johnston and Tom Gola, the Warriors improved by 8 their win total from the previous year and finished as the Eastern Division champs.

In the Finals, they faced the Fort Wayne Pistons, who won their second straight division title behind coach Charles Eckman (who officiated the first All-Star game). Eckman claimed he didn't actually run an offensive set; he just let George Yardley do his thing. But the Pistons couldn't stop Arizin, who averaged 28.9 PPG in the playoffs. The Warriors dusted off Fort Wayne in 5.

47. 1967-68 Boston Celtics: It appeared as if the Boston run of dominance was over. The 76ers stopped their record 8 straight title run, and with a majority of that team in or entering their primes, it looked like Philadelphia would reign for as long time to come. Too bad no one told the Celtics that.

The season unfolded routinely, as the Sixers won 62 games in the first season where 82 games were played. The Celts finished at 54-28, second in the East. When the two teams met in the division finals, the Sixers raced to a 3-1 series lead, and victory seemed inevitable. But the Celtics won the last three games (two in Philly) to stun the Sixers and advance to the Finals against the Lakers.

The Finals marked the sixth time the Lakers and Celtics met for the title, and like the previous five, Boston won (4-2), taking the final game in L.A. by 13 points. The win proved Bill Russell could coach and play effectively, and that the old dynasty still had life left in it.

46. 1954-55 Syracuse Nationals: The Nationals (who would become the 76ers) made their mark early in their NBA lives as immediate contenders; they made their first Finals in their 1st season (1949-50) and the year before this team, ahd taken the Lakers to seven in the Finals. Then, in the 1954 offseason, the NBA approved Nats owner Danny Biasone's shot clock suggestion. The results were immediate; league scoring went from 79..5 per game to 93.1, and the Celtics became the first team to score 100 PPG.

The first victors in this new world (post-Mikan) were, ironically, the Nationals. Winning the Eastern Division by 5 over New York, the Nats beat Boton 3-1 to advance to the Finals. There they met the Pistons, who had won their first division title since joining the NBA in 1948. Although not every game was high scoring (one game was 74-71), the Nationals prevailed in seven games for their first NBA title.

45. 1947-48 Baltimore Bullets: These Bullets are no relation to the Wizards franchise that exists today. This Bullets team was formed in 1947 and disbanded seven years later, but not before they did something no post-1946 team had or has done; win a title in their first year of play.

The NBA had been reduced in size (by teams folding) from 11 teams to 7, so they needed an 8th team to make two even divisions. The Bullets were added for that purpose. Led by player-coach Buddy Jeannette, the Bullets finished in a three way tie for second in the closest race for a division title in BAA/NBA history (the St. Louis team went 29-19; the other three teams finished 28-20).

The Bullets polished off the Knicks in their quarterfinals matchup, then beat Chiacgo 2-0 to reach the Finals against the defending champion Warriors. The Bullets won 4-2, setting a record (yet to be matched) by overcoming a 21 point deficit in game 2. They would never again win a playoff series.

44. 1949-50 Minneapolis Lakers: The Lakers had established themselves as the best team in basketball. They had won the BAA title the previous year and the NBL title in 1947. When the two leagues merged to form the NBA, they remained the best, winning their seond straight title.

George Mikan continued to set the bar for excellence in the league; he won his second scoring title with a 27.4 average. The Lakers had additional hurdles to cross, with the playoffs a jumbled mess because of three divisions.

The Lakers had to beat Chiacgo (2-0), Fort Wayne (2-0) and the Anderson Packers (2-0) to reach the Finals, while their opponent (Syracuse) needed just two series and 5 games (against Philadlephia and New York) to make it. But even with the HOFer Dolph Schayes, the Nationals couldn't match the Lakers' powerful front line of Mikan, Vern Mikkelsen and Jim Pollard, and lost in 6 games.

43. 1946-47 Philadelphia Warriors: The BAA had just been established, and Warriors owner Ed Gottlieb knew the league needed star power. So he had his SG, Joe Fulks, launch as many shots as he cared to think, believing that scoring would attract fans. Fulks thus became the league's first scoring champion (although he shot under 30%) and led the Warriors to a 35-25 record and second in the East.

The Wahington Capitols had dominated the league, going 49-11 (with Red Auerbach as coach), but had to face Western Division champion Chicago, led by MAx Zaslofsky (the original BAA/NBA playoff format was patterned after the NHL's format at the time; 1-1, 2-2, and 3-3). The Stags beat the Caps 4-2 to face the Warriors, who beat St. Louis and New York. The Warriors won the title 4-1 to capture the BAA's first title.

42. 1989-90 Detroit Pistons: It may seem low to rank these guys, but trust me, there are a lot of great teams here, and it was hard to rank them. Anyhow, the Bad Boys had just won their first title over an injury-ravaged Lakers team (putting Kareem into an unhappy reitrement), and were ready to do it again.

The depth of this team was reduced by the loss of Rick Mahorn to Minnesota in the expansion draft (Mahorn was soon after traded to Philadelphia). But Mahorn's absence actually wasn't all bad; James Edwards became a starter and gave the Pistons a needed low-post threat more consitently as a starter (after an experiment with John Salley as a starter failed). The Pistons overcame some early struggles to finish 59-23 and win the Central for the third straight time.

In the playoffs, the Bad Boys beat Indiana and New York fairly easy, then faced a stiff challenge against the Bulls. With each team winning at home, the Pistons prevailed in seven games. Hoping to face L.A. (healthy) again, the Pistons instead faced Portland, in their first Finals in 13 years.

The Pistons came back from an early deficit in game 1 to win 105-99, but then lost a heart-breaker in game 2 in OT. The series shifted to Portland, where Detroit hadn't won since 1974, but the Pistons didn't seem to mind; they won all three games (the last on a dramatic jumper by Vinnie Johnson) to take the title 4-1. Isiah Thomas (27.6 PPG in Finals) was MVP.

41. 1963-64 Boston Celtics: The Celtics were in the middle of their historic run of championships here, and this title was significant; by winning their sixth straight title, they broke the record held by the Yankees (1949-53) and the Montreal Canadiens (1956-60) of five straight.

Bill Russell remained the driving force of the team and the league; he led the league in rebounds, and finished runner-up to Oscar Robertson as MVP of the league. The Celtics captured the division by four over Robertson's Royals, then beat them 4-1 to advance to the Finals.

There they met the San Francisco Warriors, two year removed from moving from Philadelphia. The Warriors were the first team to feature a Twin Towers alignment, as Wilt Chamberlain and Nate Thurmond (two future HOFers) anchoring a team that had allowed a league-low 102.6 PPG and had beaten St. Louis 4-3 to get to the Finals. Ironcially, it was the first Finals meeting between great rivals Russell and Chamberlain.

The Warriors, however, had no chance against the deeper Celtics. The Celts won 4-1, with only one real close game, to take the title. This was the last series for original 6th man Frank Ramsey, who ceded his role to John Havlicek.

That's #50-41. Tomorrow, the List continues with 40-31.

It seems like the Olympic torch, usually a symbol for the harmony of the Games, has become the victim of protesters around the world. Yesterday, Parisians so vehemently protested, they forced to torch to be extinguished and rushed to a bus for protection (let me get this straight; the French will surrender to Germany in WWII in less than ten seconds, but they have the fortitude to put out a helpless flame? Go figure). Today, there are worries that there could be trouble when the torch arrives at San Francisco.

In the midst of all that, you've got to wonder "Why target the flame"? I know why these people say they're doing it. They are protesting China's appalling displays against Tibet. They are protesting China's repeated human rights abuses. Those are noble causes. But did the flame cause the problems in Tibet? Has it been in charge of China during the Communist regime there? Hell no!

So, instead of targeting the flame, these protesters should target the real culprit; the International Olympic Committee! It was the IOC, after all, who selected Beijing for the Summer Games coming this year. They made the decision in spite of opposition from other people about China's dubious record. So they didn't do their homework, and now the Games, which are as big a political stage (despite the belief it shouldn't) as you can get, are being put head-first into a major firestorn.

And deep down inside, many of these people may be hungry for media exposure. After all, it would actually take work to put their 'energy' into the real cause of the problem. But causing trouble with the torch is much easier and accomplishes the goal they really had. I call it the Sharpton-Jackson theory: these people want the mike/camera because they (think) they need it!

In summation, the problems with Beijing hosting the Olympics are well known. And bringing them to the media's attention is good (although the possibility of change is slim). But people need to go about getting that attention focused on the root, not a victim of circumstance. If you want change, let the IOC get you venom. And leave the torch alone!

Today, the biggest sports story isn't the Final Four, the race in the Western Conference of the NBA, or even that a red-tailed hawk attacked a girl named Alex(a) Rodriguez at Fenway Park. No, the world is abuzz over David Beckham, who single-handedly won the MLS game for the Los Angeles Galaxy last night. He scored his first goal in the U.S., and by doing so, instantly ended the war in Iraq, as the troops and insurgents realized there are better things to do.

But wait, there's more. After the game, Beckham immediately went to work. He found a cure for Pakinson's disease, saved the reefs in Australia, and went to the moon in one fell bound! The entire world sang his praises, as this momentous occasion will go down with Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, the original moon landing, and the end of the Cold War as moments people will never forget!

Yes, all this BLEEP is made up. But after listening to SportsCenter last night and today, you'd think he did all those things. David Beckham did score his first goal with the Galaxy last night, and did have a hand in both Galaxy goals in a 2-0 win against San Jose (soccer is the only sport where a shutout is old hat and not worth mentioning). But to make it the lead story on SportsCenter is a blatent case of oversell.

I have made no secret that I don't like or watch soccer; the game is so structurely flawed (and thus boring) I can't sit through 30 seconds of it. I've reguarly panned it in this blog. So anytime Beckham's mentioned, I scream. I scream "What the BLEEP has he accomplished here?!?". Beckham is the ultimate opportunist; he scammed the Galaxy (and MLS) out of millions simply so he and Victoria could have a good time in L.A. with Tom Cruise and Co.

And there's the kicker (pun intended); he's not here to sell soccer to the masses (who, like me for the most part, have rejected it as a TV sport). No, he's here to sell himself to the American masses. The comparisions to Pele are easily made; who can forget the painful images of an aged Pele somewhere near New York? Beckham was used goods before he got to the Galaxy, and the logic of promoting him is as flawed as soccer's structure.

I think I know enough about soccer to say that one guy can't really stand out as an actual key player (unless he's a goalie). There's too much real estate and players to stand out. So the notion that Becks would make L.A. a respectable team was farfetched. I don't understand how he can still be front page news on ESPN or anywhere for that matter. The novelty was gone a long time ago.

The MLS isn't the NBA, where one guy (like Kobe, the real L.A. star) can (and usually does) win the game. Or the NFL, where, despite the team being supreme, talented guys can make the job of winning easier. Hell, the MLS isn't a major league! The competition is really in Europe, where Becks usually has his attention, anyway. And that's where he should end up.

So, in summation, I beg of all the sports networks, from the bottom of my heart...

STOP REPORTING ON DAVID BECKHAM!!!!

But, until that happens, the misery will continue...

Beckham was at his best today. He showed up at a Clippers practice, and was so impressive, Donald Sterling gave him a 10-day contract (plus, Beckham had to agree to play a soccer game at Staples for Sterling for free). In his debut against the Lakers, of all coincidences, he scored 60 points as the Clips shocked the Lakers.

After that, he hopped down to Dodger Stadium, where he was forced to sub for James Loney at 1st base. He hit three towering home runs as L.A. won easily. He then rushed back to Staples to play for the Kings, and socred 5 goals and 4 assists. Finally, he went to the Govenator himself, and with him, negotiated the move of the Chargers to L.A., giving the city it's first NFL team since 1994. And to top it all off, he signed up to play QB.

What a guy!

What a load of BLEEP!