Best NBA Team Elite Eight

(5) 2006 Detroit Pistons 93, (10) 1994 Houston Rockets 91


The first game of the Elite Eight introduced us to one tightly knit game. Heading into the fourth quarter, the teams were tied at 67 a piece. With 5:16 remaining, Mario Ellie scored to give Houston an 82-77 lead, the biggest lead of the quarter. However, the Pistons slowly grinded their way back, and with 0:50 left in the game, Tayshaun Prince made a jumper as Detroit to a 90-88 lead. Houston took back the lead after Vernon Maxwell made all his free-throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt, but with 9 seconds remaining, Chauncey Billups, aka Mr. Big Shot, made a three to take back the lead. Hakeem Olauwon, who was easily the game's best player with 28 points, 20 rebounds, and 5 blocks, missed a jumper at the buzzer which would have sent the game to overtime. The key to this game? Taking care of the ball. The two teams were similar across the boards, but Houston committed 18 turnovers compared to just 12 of Detroit.
http://whatifsports.com/NBA/boxscore.asp?GameID=5810792&nomenu=1&teamfee=-1

(1) 1972 LA Lakers 121, (10) 2005 San Antonio Spurs 100


Unlike the game previous, no game winning shot was needed here. The only No. 1 seed remaining brought the 2005 San Antonio Spur's cinderella story to a screeching halt. Gail Goodrich led the LA Lakers in scoring with 30 points and Wilt Chamberlain, Jim McMillan, and Jerry West each recorded a double-double.The team shot at least 50% from both the field and long-range, though both teams shot in the 50s from the stripe. San Antonio got dominated on the boards, 59-47, and no Spur mustered 20 points. I have to say, I was hoping the 2005 Spurs would go far in this tournament, because the Seattle Supersonics were one Ray Allen three-pointer from taking them to a seventh game in 2005. If the Spurs were this good, so must've the Sonics! Then again, this isn't real...
http://whatifsports.com/NBA/boxscore.asp?GameID=5810855&nomenu=1&teamfee=-1

(5) 1993 Phoenix Suns 125, (15) 2002 Sacramento Kings 121


This is probably one of my favorite match-ups because here we have two teams that one could argue were the best of their year, but didn't win it all, and are led by two tremendous power forwards who have never won a championship. Add in the fact that both teams had high powered offenses (Phoenix ranked 1st, Sacramento 3rd) and what you get is a beauty of a game! Heading into the last quarter, Phoenix held a good 82-75 lead, which they would eventually extend into double-digits. However, Sacramento held Phoenix scoreless for nearly 5 1/2 minutes, as they went on a 13-0 run to take the lead with 3:37 to go. The teams would go back and forth over the next few minutes, but after a pair of made free throws, Sacramento took a 101-98 lead. After calling a time-out, Phoenix inbounded the ball from half-court, and Dan Majerle made a tournament-saving three to send the game to extra time.Over time became something one could only see in a simulation like this, as the two teams scored a combine 44 points in five minutes of play. Down 109-121 with just 57 seconds to go, the Kings shot threes in desperation and nearly pulled off a miracle. Peja Stojakovic converted on four three-pointers in the last minute of the game, but that wasn't enough as the Suns downed the Kings 125-121. Stojakovic produced a gem of a game, scoring 30 points and making six threes. Chris Webber managed 32 points and 19 rebounds, though he struggled from the field going 10 of 28. Doug Christie chipped in 20 points, but no one else aside those three scored double figures. In contrast,
Phoenix had six different players in double figures, with five scoring at between 16 and 22 points. Cedric Ceballos led the way with 22 points for Phoenix, but the real star of the game was Charles Barkley, who put 20 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists, as his team moved one step towards his first "championship."
http://whatifsports.com/NBA/boxscore.asp?GameID=5810880&nomenu=1&teamfee=-1

(2) 1986 Boston Celtics 118, (5) 1981 Boston Celtics


The 1981 Larry Bird outplayed the 1986 Bird, and the 1981 Celtics recorded both more assists and more rebounds than the the 1986 Celtics. So how did they lose? Free throws. Though both teams made it to the line about the same amount of times, the 1981 Celtics shot 65% from the charity stripe (22 of 34), compared to 94% (30 of 32) by the 1986 version. The 1986 Celtics made eight more free throws, and what do you know, they won by eight points. Though the 1981 Boston led by 2 to begin the fourth, the 1986 Boston went on a 9-2 run early in the quarter and never looked back. The 1981 Larry Bird put up a terrific 29 points and 16 rebounds, while his five years old version nearly got a triple double, with 23 points, 8 rebounds, and 12 assists.
http://whatifsports.com/NBA/boxscore.asp?GameID=5810955&nomenu=1&teamfee=-1

Thoughts


Finally, we have our Final Four! The match-ups will be the (5) 2006 Detroit Pistons vs. (2) 1986 Boston Celtics, and the (5) 1993 Phoenix Suns vs. (1) 1972 LA Lakers. I was kind of glad that Sacramento lost, because between them and Detroit, I would have had two "accidental" teams in the Final Four. Even though I probably would never consider the 2006 Pistons and the 1993 Suns some of the greatest NBA teams ever, I thought I'd briefly explain why each of the remaining teams has the makings of an all-time great team.

1972 LA Lakers (69-13) This team was an absolute offensive monster.They had two Hall-of-Famers in Gail Goodrich and Jerry West, each around their prime producing 25 points a game. Add in Jim McMillan, who was throwing close to 20 points a game, and teams really had to pick their poison. I think also key was the play down low the Lakers had. Wilt Chamberlain was past his prime, but he was still averaging a double-double a game and a monster 19 rebounds. He was also joined in by Happy Hairston, who grabbed 13 boards a game. This was an efficient, well-rounded, experienced, and well-coached (Bill Sharman won Coach of the Year and is a HOF coach), and that all together made them hard to beat.

1986 Boston Celtics (67-15) Any time with Larry Bird is going to be pretty good. Any team with Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish is going to be great. The Big 3 of the Celtics each averaged at least 16 points per game, while all shooting at least 49% from the field. Add in two other double-figure scorers, and what you had was a team that was the 3rd best offensive team in the league. As good as the team was offensively though, they were actually better defensive, ranking 1st in the league in 1986. McHale and Dennis Johnson both made All-Defense teams that year, and Bird made it in previous years, and as a result, you had a team that was dominant on both sides of the ball.

1993 Phoenix Suns (62-20) Four words: Round Mound of Rebound. Charles Barkley a beast of nature, getting his only MVP that year, while also leading the team 25.6 points and 12.2 rebounds a game. Add in six other players who averaged double figures, and this team could not be stopped. Charles Barkley was a bulldozer down low, Danny Ainge and Dan Majerle were their three point specialists, and Kevin Johnson did a great job running the point. I think what's also impressive was the efficiency at which they scored. Four out of their five top scorers shot at least 49.9% from the field. They were a good, but not elite, defensive team, but their offense was able to carry them for a long time.

2006 Detroit Pistons (64-18) This Pistons team was probably the epitome of teamwork. They had their fair share of good players, but no super stars. Only one player scored over 20 points a game, and that was just barely at 20.1. While most people think of the Pistons as a great defensive team (and they were, ranking 5th), they were actually a better offensive team in 2006, ranking 4th in the league.Looking on paper, it's kind of difficult to see why they were a great team, but here's what I notice. Everyone played their roles, they played great defense, they hardly turned the ball over, and they made their threes. Overall, the 2006 Detroit Pistons don't scream greatest team of all time, but they have made it this far...