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All-time NBA champions

Bill Sullivan — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 06:30:20 +0000

The Los Angeles Lakers claimed the 2009 NBA championship, defeating the Orlando Magic in five games. It was the Lakers’ 15th title overall, their first since 2002, and Kobe Bryant’s first without Shaquille O’Neal.

Here’s a list of all-time NBA champions, a roll call dominated by Celtic green and Laker purple and gold:

2008-09: Los Angeles Lakers
2007-08: Boston Celtics
2006-07: San Antonio Spurs
2005-06: Miami Heat
2004-05: San Antonio Spurs
2003-04: Detroit Pistons
2002-03: San Antonio Spurs
2001-02: Los Angeles Lakers
2000-01: Los Angeles Lakers

Most NBA titles by team

Bill Sullivan — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 06:15:35 +0000

In the 62-year history of the National Basketball Association, more than half the league’s champions have been produced by two teams — the Boston Celtics and the Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers.

By defeating the Orlando Magic in the 2009 Finals, the Lakers wrapped up their 15th title overall, their first since 2002. In doing so, they pulled within two of Boston’s all-time best 17 NBA crowns.

Only 16 teams have actually claimed the league’s most coveted trophy. Only 10 have won more than once.

In other words, it’s a pretty exclusive club, and here are the members:

17 — Boston Celtics (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1986, 2008)
15 — Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers (1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009)
6 — Chicago Bulls (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998)
4 — San Antonio Spurs (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007)
3 — Philadelphia/Golden State Warriors (1947, 1956, 1975)
3 — Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers (1955, 1967, 1983)
3 – Detroit Pistons (1989, 1990, 2004)
2 — Baltimore/Washington Bullets (1948, 1978)
2 — Houston Rockets (1994, 1995)
2 – New York Knickerbockers (1970, 1973)
1 — Miami Heat (2006 )
1 — Milwaukee Bucks (1971)
1 — Portland Trailblazers (1977)
1 – Rochester Royals (1951)
1 — Saint Louis Hawks (1958)
1 — Seattle Supersonics (1979)

Source: NBA

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NBA playoff scoring leaders

Bill Sullivan — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 06:05:44 +0000

The 82-game NBA regular season amounts to little more than jockeying for position. It’s the playoffs that make or break franchises and reputations.

Small wonder, then, that the list of all-time playoff scorers is headed by arguably the game’s greatest winner — Michael Jordan, who won six championships with the Chicago Bulls. Plenty of other big names are sprinkled through this Top 10 list, plus a few that might surprise.

When winter gives way to spring and every game matters, here are some of the players who do (or did) the most to help their team get to the top. (Note: Averages through 2009 playoffs.)

1. Michael Jordan (Chicago) — 33.4 ppg. No one was tougher with the game on the line.

2. * Allen Iverson (Philadelphia, Denver) — 29.7. One of the fiercest little men ever to take the court.

3. * LeBron James (Cleveland) — 29.4. Moved up two spots this year. And he’s just getting started.

4. Jerry West (Los Angeles Lakers) — 29.1. He isn’t featured on the NBA logo for nothing.

5. * Tracy McGrady (Orlando, Houston) — 28.5. Nice numbers, but has yet to show he can carry a team in the postseason.

6. Elgin Baylor (Los Angeles Lakers) — 27.0. One of the classiest small forwards of all time.

7. George Gervin (San Antonio Spurs, Chicago) — 27.0. The Iceman cameth.

8. Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston, Toronto) — 25.9. Led the Rockets to a pair of title in the mid-’90s.

9. * Vince Carter (Toronto, New Jersey) — 25.9. Impressive numbers, but no rings.

10. * Shaquille O’Neal (Orlando, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami, Phoenix) — 25.2. Won championships with both the Lakers and Heat, and led the Magic to The Finals.

* Still active

Source: NBA.com

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Coaches with most NBA titles

Bill Sullivan — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 06:05:04 +0000

In winning the 2009 NBA championship, Lakers coach Phil Jackson claimed an all-time best 10th title, breaking a tie with longtime Celtics coach Red Auerbach. Jackson won six of those championships with the Chicago Bulls and now has four in two stints with the Lakers.

Here’s a list of the coaches with the most NBA titles:

10 — Phil Jackson: Chicago Bulls 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998; Los Angeles Lakers 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009

9 — Red Auerbach: Boston Celtics 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966

5 — Pat Riley: Los Angeles Lakers 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988; Miami Heat 2006

5 — John Kundla: Minneapolis Lakers 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954

4 — Gregg Popovich: San Antonio Spurs 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007

Source: NBA.com

2009 NBA Draft order

Bill Sullivan — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:52:42 +0000

By winning the annual NBA Draft Lottery, the Los Angeles Clippers earned the right to make the first selection in the 2009 NBA Draft of college and international talent.

Here’s the order of selection for the first round of the draft, which will take place June 25:

1. Los Angeles Clippers
2. Memphis Grizzlies
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
4. Sacramento Kings
5. Washington Wizards
6. Minnesota Timberwolves
7. Golden State Warriors
8. New York Knicks
9. Toronto Raptors
10. Milwaukee Bucks
11. New Jersey Nets
12. Charlotte Bobcats
13. Indiana Pacers
14. Phoenix Suns
15. Detroit
16. Chicago
17. Philadelphia
18. Miami (To Minnesota)
19. Atlanta
20. Utah
21. New Orleans
22. Dallas
23. Houston (To Sacramento)
24. Portland
25. San Antonio (To Oklahoma City)
26. Denver (To Chicago via Oklahoma City)
27. Orlando (To Memphis)
28. Boston (To Minnesota)
29. LA Lakers
30. Cleveland

Biggest NBA playoff upsets

Bill Sullivan — Tue, 05 May 2009 20:01:19 +0000

While the first round of the 2009 NBA playoffs had some memorable moments, it didn’t quite produce the shock waves of seasons past. Yes, No. 6 Dallas ousted No. 3 San Antonio in the Western Conference, but the Spurs were a nicked-up team that looked very much ready to go.

Big upsets keep the game interesting, and more than a few favorites have felt the embarrassment of that hard fall from grace.

Here’s a look at some of the most famous shockers in NBA postseason history:

2007: Golden State over Dallas — The Mavericks finished with the league’s best record, while the Warriors came in eighth in the Western Conference. Despite Golden State’s 3-0 season series win over Dallas, hardly anyone gave the underdogs a chance. The Warriors blew the Mavericks out of the playoffs, four games to two. Making matters worse for Dallas: Golden State coach Don Nelson had come from Dallas, eventually destroying the team he had helped build.

1987: Seattle over Dallas — Not to pick on the Mavericks, but going down hard seems to be part of the fabric of the franchise. (Don’t get us started on that 2-0 lead Dallas blew against Miami in the 2006 Finals.) This time, the Mavs were No. 2 in the seedings and a huge favorite. After a blowout win in Game 1, Dallas didn’t win another game and bowed out meekly.

1994: Denver over Seattle — The Nuggets, another No. 8 seed, were given little chance against the No. 1-seed Sonics, but Dikembe Mutombo led a spirited effort in sending the softer favorite home early.

1991: Golden State over San Antonio — For a franchise that hasn’t really won anything since the 1970s, the Warriors have a knack for making trouble for higher-seeded opponents. This time, Golden State entered the playoffs at No. 7 in the West before proving too much for the No. 2 Spurs.

Top NBA team payrolls

Bill Sullivan — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:00:04 +0000

When Mavericks owner Mark Cuban threatened to turn over the club’s roster after an embarrassing loss to the shorthanded Oklahoma City Thunder, he had plenty of reason to be peeved.

Three years ago, his team lost in the NBA Finals. Two years ago, the Mavericks posted the league’s best regular season record before an historic first-round collapse against Golden State. In 2008, Dallas finished seventh in the Western Conference and lost in the first round to New Orleans.

Progress? Hardly. And mediocrity has not come cheap. According to HoopsHype.com, Cuban is carrying the second largest payroll in the league for the 2008-09 season…and for a club in danger of missing the playoffs entirely.

Which front office is shelling out the biggest bucks? Who is getting quality, and who is getting fleeced?

Here’s the list:

1. New York Knicks: $94,368,270

2. Dallas Mavericks: $92,758,122

3. Cleveland Cavaliers: $90,329,718

4. Portland Trail Blazers: $80,600,059

5. Boston Celtics: $79,659,701

6. Houston Rockets: $75,231,879

7. Los Angeles Lakers: $75,255,408

8. Phoenix Suns: $75,245,418

9. Sacramento Kings: $74,613,915

10. Toronto Raptors: $72,782,229

To see the rest of the list, visit HoopsHype.com.

Retired Kings numbers

Bill Sullivan — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:22:54 +0000

Okay, so we all know it took the Kings a while to get to Sacramento, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t bring a bit of history with them. In all, eight players who have worn the colors of the franchise from Rochester to Cincinnati to Kansas City and Omaha and on to California have had their numbers retired by the club.

Now that Vlade Divac’s No. 21 is set to be hoisted into the rafters, who are the other players to be so honored?

Here’s the entire list:

#1 Nate Archibald, G, 1970-76 (Cincinnati, Kansas City)
#2 Mitch Richmond, G, 1991-98
#4 Chris Webber, F, 1998-2005
#11 Bob Davies, G, 1948-55 (Rochester)
#12 Maurice Stokes, F, 1955-58 (Rochester, Cincinnati)
#14 Oscar Robertson, G, 1960-70 (Cincinnati)
#21 Vlade Divac, C, 1998–2004
#27 Jack Twyman, F, 1955-66 (Rochester, Cincinnati)
#44 Sam Lacey, C, 1970-81 (Cincinnati, Kansas City)

(Note: The team also has retired #6 in honor of the fans who have supported the Kings from their arrival in Sacramento in 1985 to the present.)

Source: NBA.com

Fired NBA coaches

Bill Sullivan — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 22:29:35 +0000

It’s an old joke in the sporting world that coaches and managers are hired to be fired. The honeymoon may last a while, and the team may even enjoy some success, but at some point, the message will become lost and the players will find themselves answering to another leader.

With the NBA season only about a third over, coaches are being reminded of the fragile nature of their employment on an almost daily basis. When Sacramento made a change on Dec. 15, it was the sixth such move of the young season.

Who didn’t make it to Christmas?

Here’s the list:

– Reggie Theus, Sacramento

– Sam Mitchell, Toronto

– Maurice Cheeks, Philadelphia

– Eddie Jordan, Washington

– Randy Wittman, Minnesota

– P.J. Carlesimo, Oklahoma City

Source: Time

Richest NBA teams

Bill Sullivan — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:02:49 +0000

While no one will accuse the New York Knicks of being one of the better-run outfits in professional sports, the city’s NBA franchise has one big thing going for it: Location.

Bad (and often comical) as the Knicks have been in recent years, they still have the advantage of a huge fan base in America’s biggest media market. Put it all together, and you have the most valuable team in the league, according to Forbes‘ most recent assessment of NBA clubs.

Who else is raking in the dough?

Here are the Top 10, with 2008 valuations:

1. New York Knicks: $613 million

2. Los Angeles Lakers: $584 million

3. Chicago Bulls: $504 million

4. Detroit Pistons: $480 million

5. Cleveland Cavaliers: $477 million

6. Houston Rockets: $469 million

7. Dallas Mavericks: $466 million

8. Phoenix Suns: $452 million

9. Boston Celtics: $442 million

10. San Antonio Spurs: $415 million

Check out the rest, and see a slideshow, at Forbes.