Hardest paths to an NBA Finals/Championship

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  • Brankles
    Banned
    • May 2003
    • 5113

    #1

    Hardest paths to an NBA Finals/Championship

    Me and my homer Magic friend were talking on our way back from Game 6 about how tough the road has been for the Magic this season to make it to the Finals. We played a very tough, unconventional 6 seed in the Philadelphia 76ers. We follow that up by playing the Celtics, who have the 3rd best record in the league and then the Cavs who had the best. Now we're playing the Lakers who have the second best record. We've had home court advantage exactly one time, in the first round, and had lost it by Game 2.

    Obviously, the Celtics weren't at their best and the Sixers aren't exactly a team our kids will be talking about in 20 years, but I still feel the Magic have taken one of the hardest recent paths to the Finals, especially out of the Eastern Conference. Tough losses via buzzer beaters, road wins, unorthodox opponents and the underdog in almost every series so far.

    How do the Magic and their road to the Finals stack up against other Finals teams in recent years?
  • Bornindamecca
    Books Nelson Simnation
    • Jul 2007
    • 10919

    #2
    Re: Hardest paths to an NBA Finals/Championship

    Meh...Sixers were gobbige. Boston didn't have KG. Cavs are a good team, but Orlando's inconsistencies and lead dropping extended the first two series.
    My Art
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    • ex carrabba fan
      I'll thank him for you
      • Oct 2004
      • 32744

      #3
      Re: Hardest paths to an NBA Finals/Championship

      Great question, I'll be back in a few minutes.

      ORL definitely didn't have that tough of a road though IMO.

      CLE is their only saving grace even though they were a juggernaut.

      Edit: Looks like I'd go with one of the Spurs' or Lakers' title runs

      Besides the Spurs, LA had to go up against the early 2000 Kings/Blazers-- which could be argued to be the most talented teams of those years

      Besides the Lakers, SA had to go up against the Mavs w/Dirk and the Suns-- yes it's still a shame what happened that year.
      Last edited by ex carrabba fan; 06-01-2009, 11:51 AM.

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      • Cebby
        Banned
        • Apr 2005
        • 22327

        #4
        Re: Hardest paths to an NBA Finals/Championship

        Given that the Magic got the Celtics and Sixers without arguably each team's best player (and certainly top 2-3), I don't really think it stands above any of the Western Conference teams of the 2000s aside from this year's Lakers. The 87 Celtics also seem to be a pretty good candidate.

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        • ProfessaPackMan
          Bamma
          • Mar 2008
          • 63852

          #5
          Re: Hardest paths to an NBA Finals/Championship

          Gimme a few minutes but I do know that the Magic shouldn't even be mentioned for having the "toughest" road to the Finals.
          #RespectTheCulture

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          • ex carrabba fan
            I'll thank him for you
            • Oct 2004
            • 32744

            #6
            Re: Hardest paths to an NBA Finals/Championship

            BTW I just went as far back as the lockout season because I honestly can't say I watched the entire playoffs before that year.. or I simply don't remember them that well.

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            • Brankles
              Banned
              • May 2003
              • 5113

              #7
              Re: Hardest paths to an NBA Finals/Championship

              Originally posted by ProfessaPackMan
              Gimme a few minutes but I do know that the Magic shouldn't even be mentioned for having the "toughest" road to the Finals.
              haha Keep in mind it was me and my homer friend having this discussion. I'm not going to defend the Magic too much, because I honestly believe we should have run Philly and Boston out of the arena and they were not complete teams. It was more of an example to bring up.

              On paper it does look rough, though. By the time the Finals are over, we will have played the 1st, 2nd and 3rd best regular-season teams in the NBA.

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              • ex carrabba fan
                I'll thank him for you
                • Oct 2004
                • 32744

                #8
                Re: Hardest paths to an NBA Finals/Championship

                Yep on paper

                Even on paper it might not look that great if on that same paper there was a * by Boston's record

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                • Brankles
                  Banned
                  • May 2003
                  • 5113

                  #9
                  Re: Hardest paths to an NBA Finals/Championship

                  Originally posted by ex carrabba fan
                  Yep on paper

                  Even on paper it might not look that great if on that same paper there was a * by Boston's record
                  Does that * stand for "defending champs"?

                  Haha man, you shoulda heard our discussion. Me and my buddy were milking the hell out of that Boston series.

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                  • ex carrabba fan
                    I'll thank him for you
                    • Oct 2004
                    • 32744

                    #10
                    Re: Hardest paths to an NBA Finals/Championship

                    Originally posted by Brankles
                    Does that * stand for "defending champs"?

                    Haha man, you shoulda heard our discussion. Me and my buddy were milking the hell out of that Boston series.
                    Hahaha na it stands for *this team is missing their defensive center piece and overall heartbeat of the team

                    I definitely didn't give BOS enough credit though. They were a ton better than I thought.. that's why I feel so sick about the injuries this playoff. With KG/Jameer the series would have been that much more epic

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                    • Cebby
                      Banned
                      • Apr 2005
                      • 22327

                      #11
                      Re: Hardest paths to an NBA Finals/Championship

                      Originally posted by Brankles
                      Does that * stand for "defending champs"?
                      I think it stands for going to 7 games while missing (allegedly) their best player.

                      While still good, they're likely the 4-8 seed without KG the entire season.

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                      • Brankles
                        Banned
                        • May 2003
                        • 5113

                        #12
                        Re: Hardest paths to an NBA Finals/Championship

                        Originally posted by Cebby
                        I think it stands for going to 7 games while missing (allegedly) their best player.

                        While still good, they're likely the 4-8 seed without KG the entire season.
                        Yeah, I agree completely. I was e-exaggerating.

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                        • SPTO
                          binging
                          • Feb 2003
                          • 68046

                          #13
                          Re: Hardest paths to an NBA Finals/Championship

                          Orlando having the hardest path of all time?

                          Um no, I'd take the Lakers in one of their title runs in this decade. As far as all time I think at least one of the Bulls runs in the '90s and Laker runs in the '80s has to qualify.
                          Member of the Official OS Bills Backers Club

                          "Baseball is the most important thing that doesn't matter at all" - Robert B. Parker

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                          • Havoc
                            Rookie
                            • Feb 2003
                            • 8

                            #14
                            Re: Hardest paths to an NBA Finals/Championship

                            Ya the Magic's run has been against some good teams. But I'm gonna go back before the lockout, and say that the '95 Rockets had the toughest run.

                            They were the 6th seed, never had homecourt advantage, and still managed to win it all. The teams they faced were the Stockton and Malone Utah Jazz in the first round, the Barkley and Kevin Johnson Phoenix Suns in the second, the MVP David Robinson and Dennis Rodman led Spurs in the WCF, and finally the Shaq/Penny Magic in the finals, which they swept. They are the lowest seeded team to win a championship I believe, and they beat four 50 win teams, two of which won at least 60 games. That was an amazing title run.

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                            • ex carrabba fan
                              I'll thank him for you
                              • Oct 2004
                              • 32744

                              #15
                              Re: Hardest paths to an NBA Finals/Championship

                              Originally posted by Havoc
                              Ya the Magic's run has been against some good teams. But I'm gonna go back before the lockout, and say that the '95 Rockets had the toughest run.

                              They were the 6th seed, never had homecourt advantage, and still managed to win it all. The teams they faced were the Stockton and Malone Utah Jazz in the first round, the Barkley and Kevin Johnson Phoenix Suns in the second, the MVP David Robinson and Dennis Rodman led Spurs in the WCF, and finally the Shaq/Penny Magic in the finals, which they swept. They are the lowest seeded team to win a championship I believe, and they beat four 50 win teams, two of which won at least 60 games. That was an amazing title run.
                              Yep I was going to say that one from the limited research I did but I was too young back then so I only remember watching the Finals where HOU made ORL their female dog.

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