TheLeguminati | Bulls

640 | 6 hours ago

The 8th seed Miami Heat, absolutely. They were an emaciated team that clawed their way out of the East with a much weaker team (edit: than 2020). Cue the talks of JB leaving the heat soon after, and most thought it was their last hurrah.

sebastianqu | Heat

179 | 6 hours ago

Even though we lost in the end, that is still my favorite playoff run I’ve ever personally watched, of any sport.

Vegetable-Tooth8463 | Hornets

47 | 5 hours ago

More than your two wins in the Bron era?

sebastianqu | Heat

53 | 5 hours ago

I only started watching basketball shortly before Covid shut the league down. I missed the Heatles era. I can’t really objectively explain why, but going in with no expectations, to Jimmy dropping 56 in Game 4, and making it all the way to the Finals was otherworldly. More fun for me than either Panthers Stanley Cup wins or Eagles Superbowl wins.

PracticeAcrobatic748

21 | 3 hours ago

There’s something to be said of watching a team with no real championship expectations, make a deep run. The 2014-18 Bron years were fun as a Cavs fan, but there was the pressure of knowing that your team “belongs” in the finals, same as the 10-14 Heat.

The 2007 run with the Cavs was special though. After that expectations started creeping in.

Short_Stay_9283

7 | 3 hours ago

Watching young Bron score like 30 straight or howevermany over those vaunted Pistons is forever etched in my mind as one of my earliest hoops memories. Along with seeing the Pistons beat the Lakers when everyone thought the Lakers would sweep for the three peat.

Fap2theBeat | Knicks

2 | 2 hours ago

I think it was the final 25 for the Cavs in the 4th and OT.

I’m pretty sure the Lakers already had the threepeat. They were looking for four with the god damn geriatric ring chasing bench that consisted of Karl Malone and Gary Payton.

I recall a a commercial that came out after with Phil Jackson in a convenience store playing a scratcher lottery ticket. The store clerk marveled as he won three straight. Then the 4th scratch lost, much to the dismay of the clerk. Phil simply shrugged and said, “Eh. Can’t win ‘em all.”

I just looked it up after typing that out cuz the years didn’t seem right in my head. They indeed won 3 from 2000-2002, but then didn’t make the finals in 2003 as the Spurs bookended their 3 titles. Then Pistons won the next year in ‘04 against the Lakers. That was my senior year of high school, and I remember watching Billups hit a half-court shot that I think won a game, or at least sent a game to OT at my friend’s house as we were celebrating the end of highschool. Good times.

fisheggsoup | Jazz

0 | an hour ago

I mean, that prediction was before Magic Johnson and Byron Scott went out with injuries, to add a little context.

Short_Stay_9283

1 | an hour ago

No I’m talking about 2004. And as someone pointed out they were going for a fourpeat, actually. I botched the details since I was 10 then haha

Zeeron1 | Thunder

8 | 3 hours ago

What a random assortment of teams

a Thunder, Colts, Lightning fan

fundraiser | Knicks

7 | 3 hours ago

yeah that guy is a weirdo

a Knicks, Rams, Stars fan

fisheggsoup | Jazz

2 | an hour ago

This Jazz, Sharks, Bengals, Angels and Marlins fan thinks you guys are some strange losers.

TheAsianIsGamin | Celtics

1 | 20 minutes ago

As a lifelong Celtics, Golden Knights, Ravens, and Orioles fan, I’m ashamed to share a subreddit with you.

Vegetable-Tooth8463 | Hornets

1 | 3 hours ago

Wait, why are you an Eagles fan?

sebastianqu | Heat

4 | 3 hours ago

As a kid, I always picked them in Madden (I think 06’) as they had a slightly higher overall ranking than the Dolphins, who my grandpa always picked (as he’s a Dolphins fan). As I was a stupid kid, this led me to being an Eagles fan, though I didn’t regularly watch regular season football until 2018 when I moved out and could control the TV.

Vegetable-Tooth8463 | Hornets

2 | 3 hours ago

Well, you’ve at least saved yourself some pain not rooting for the Dolphins lol

Altierigualtieri

1 | an hour ago

That run was the closest anyone has come to Michael Jordan, just the shear willpower to make every necessary bucket

Millennials-In-Power | Timberwolves

4 | 3 hours ago

Half the sub was born during or after that era

Vegetable-Tooth8463 | Hornets

3 | 3 hours ago

LOL

MaraudingWalrus | MIA

3 | 3 hours ago

For me, absolutely. It was all upside. There were no expectations or fear of a let down. It was only fun.

Vegetable-Tooth8463 | Hornets

-2 | 3 hours ago

Yet your flair is Ray Allen lol

MaraudingWalrus | MIA

3 | 3 hours ago

Bröther my account is 13 years old. I set player flair a long time ago.

Vegetable-Tooth8463 | Hornets

-2 | 2 hours ago

That only proves my point lol

inkyblinkypinkysue | Knicks

6 | 5 hours ago

This is crazy to me. I loved watching the 1999 run with zero expectations as an 8 seed but I’ve got to say nothing beats 2026! I would think 2006, 2012 and 2013 would have been more fun.

AdamSilverJr | Heat

8 | 4 hours ago

For me 2013 is the most fun. The 27 game win streak, LeBron’s dominance on both ends of the floor and the clash with the Spurs ending with Ray Allen’s shot can’t be unbeaten imo

OkStatus4812

1 | 3 hours ago

As a heat fan that has watched all these runs, I would say that 2012 and 2013 is definitely the most fun. This is when the Heatles really gelled into their roles and they were playing to their peak potential. Lebron went from a villain to just having fun playing basketball and it showed. Watching the heat dominate was really fun, but expected.

However, I think the 2023 run with the 8th seed Heat was the most exciting run even though we didn’t get the job done in the end. None of the series we won in the East was expected. We played the Knicks, Bucks, and Celtics and we were major underdogs in each series. I remember sports analysts had Celtics still winning the series even when we built a 3-1 lead over them. Every series felt like a ECF. Our team caught a hot streak at the perfect time and we were playing absolutely beautiful basketball on both sides of the floor.

PracticeAcrobatic748

1 | 3 hours ago

I’m glad the Knicks won, but I don’t think anyone was giving them a realistic shot until they won game 1 in San Antonio except for the most die-hard Knicks fans. Even less-so during the regular season.

inkyblinkypinkysue | Knicks

1 | 3 hours ago

It’s hard to see it from the inside but I watched most of the games this season and when the Knicks played at their best they could beat anyone. This is why I was confident going into every series - in past years I was always thinking about something having to go wrong for the other team in order to win but this year I just thought, “if we play our best, we will win.”

It was surprising to hear all the talk about how the WCF was the “real Finals” and honestly, as soon as the Spurs beat the Thunder and they all started acting like they won the Finals, I knew they were in trouble. Barring injury, they will almost certainly be back.

PracticeAcrobatic748

1 | 3 hours ago

I think most teams in the playoffs playing at their best could make most game competitive. Cavs had good wins this year at MSG and at San Antonio. They just ran into a red hot Knicks team and decided to play their worst basketball of the year against them. Credit to the Knicks though.

I think the only series I was surprised that the Knicks won was against the Spurs. Atlanta, Philly and that version of Cleveland is a pretty desirable path to the finals.

ChocolateBeautiful95

47 | 6 hours ago

Jimmy Butler vs The Lakers was some very fine basketball

Vegetable-Tooth8463 | Hornets

17 | 5 hours ago

That was 2020, not the 2023.

verrizemzzi | Knicks

47 | 6 hours ago

Funnily enough, though, they are one of only three teams to have made it to the finals twice during that period. However, they are also the only one of those to have lost both times.

ALTr_AnubiS | Heat

32 | 5 hours ago

Yup… we unfortunately ran into two teams that had generational talent (that was ready) on it. If only we ended up against Phoenix like the Bucks did 🥲. Such is life though

I know I’m biased but Spo will always be a Top 5 All-Time Coach to me. Dude is truly a nerd when it comes to schemes and adjustments, and I love him for it.

Portmanteau_that | Hornets

10 | 5 hours ago

On paper that Suns team was talented

rooney821

20 | 4 hours ago

On the hardwood, too? They got within two wins of a championship. They were legitimately very good

SplitOk186

4 | 4 hours ago

They literally played severely injured teams every round to make it there

2021 was the true Mickey Mouse year all of the true contenders were killed by the short offseason

ER1CNOIR

0 | 3 hours ago

Yeah didnt the Pelicans take them to 6 or 7 games without Zion?

Spartan-24 | Suns

6 | 3 hours ago

That was 2022

ER1CNOIR

2 | 3 hours ago

Ahh you’re right

ER1CNOIR

1 | 3 hours ago

I get those years confused all the time for some reason

kidfrombellwood | Heat

2 | 4 hours ago

Perennial bridesmaids in every aspect lmao. They are the NBA’s newest poverty franchise.

Little_Obligation_90

-1 | 5 hours ago

I suspect both Miami teams didn’t have much chance against any of the 8 West teams.

AdamSilverJr | Heat

7 | 4 hours ago

Nobody thought we’d be back after 2020 yet made the ECF in 2022 (fuck the refs) and finals again in 2023

BOBANYPC | Grizzlies

2 | 4 hours ago

And went on a generational 3pt% hot streak. I have no idea how to use bbal reference but even Jimmy Butler was hitting 3s 🤯

Such a fun team to watch

BarLuchador

1 | 3 hours ago

The game where Jimmy put up 56 against the top seeded bucks and went off I’ve never had so much fun watching a game live

Sea_Dawgz

1 | 3 hours ago

Jalen Brunson would never leave! He’s the real JB!!!

youjuanfrieswiththat | Thunder

455 | 6 hours ago

2025 Pacers because of Hali’s injury

MaintenanceParty7933

130 | 6 hours ago

Even without his injury they would be one of the top options.

Gavina4444 | ORL

194 | 6 hours ago

Yeah no disrespect but their run was so magical that it really felt like they missed their once chance

whenishit-itsbigturd

66 | 6 hours ago

They had a good matchup vs OKC and the Knicks, the two best teams in the league right now. They could def return, it’s always luck-based anyway

DTxRED524 | Knicks

67 | 6 hours ago

They matched up well against the Thibs Knicks, it’ll be interesting to see how they matchup against this evolved version of the team. Hell it’ll be interesting to see if this version of the Knicks is even sustainable or if they just hit a flow state at the perfect time

TH3PhilipJFry | Nuggets

25 | 5 hours ago

It’s gotta be harder to talk guys into abstaining from sexy time when they’re already champs

rgijgnqiw | Knicks

1 | 4 hours ago

with what team? all their players left

roshambo113

9 | 4 hours ago

“Knicks” and “best team in the league” in the same sentence. God damn it’s beautiful

youjuanfrieswiththat | Thunder

41 | 6 hours ago

I mean, they were one of the best teams in the league post All Star break or around that time and they handled their first 2 series in 5 games.

Obviously there’s luck involved with every playoff run but I was convinced they could be a top 3ish seed this year until Hali went down

rounder55 | Celtics

9 | 4 hours ago

Agreed

They made the ECF the year before and while the Celtics beat them in 4, three of the games were under ten and very close. That team fully healthy would have been near the top of the East

narcistic_asshole | Cavaliers

31 | 5 hours ago

It was a little bit of postseason magic, but that Pacers team was also built for the playoffs. Just a lot of quality two-way players, a deep bench, and a complicated movement offense that wasn’t predicated on scheme, but by having a playmaking savant in Hali.

RoseL123 | Nuggets

1 | an hour ago

Hard not to feel this way, but I’m still very interested to see how they look when he’s back on the court. During that run he looked like the best guard in the league and seems to elevate the whole team.

Bill_Sandwich | Pacers

51 | 6 hours ago

People always say this but I don’t see why considering they’d been to the ECF two years in a row at that point.

Top-Choice6069 | Knicks

21 | 4 hours ago

Pacers will always be underrated in this era for some reason even though they’ve been legitimately good. They’re the one team from the east I don’t want to see the Knicks play in the playoffs next year

Resident-Ear-8674

14 | 4 hours ago

I feel like im taking crazy pills listening to this recency bias, they took a year off to tank and wait for the Haliban to come back and people act like all the players died. Their playoff run was not luck, they build rosters meant for depth and being able to substitute anyone at a moments notice similar to OKC and Knicks. They’re gonna be a on a burner revenge tour next year and it’s gonna be beautiful.

FireInTheWater1

-6 | 3 hours ago

Unless they do serious work in the offseason, they’re in next year’s play-in

that1prince | Magic

15 | 3 hours ago

They’re underrated in every era. Every 10 years, the Pacers get really good but can’t get over the hump. Like conference finals good. In the 90s with Reggie miller, in the 2000s with Jermaine O’Neal, in the 2010s with Paul George, in the 2020s with Hali. It’s crazy that a few things going differently and they’d have a ring in recent memory now. They’ve literally been a series or a few games away more times than most franchises over the past 40 years.

Alone-Impact-7944 | Pacers

5 | an hour ago

Thank you for describing the pain of being a Pacers fan. Close but no cigar. And then you have to watch the Knicks win it all. The world is cruel and random

MaintenanceParty7933

2 | 6 hours ago

I mean, they got swept.

BlueCollarGoldSwaggr

12 | 5 hours ago

Haliburton missed games 3 and 4

barbaraanderson

9 | 5 hours ago

But they were a few dumb fouls and plays away from stealing some games away from the celtics

Aggravating_Alps_953 | Pacers

9 | 4 hours ago

Yeah and considering in the next years playoffs they were extremely composed and effective in close or losing games it certainly seemed clear they had learned a great deal from those close games.

MaintenanceParty7933

-8 | 5 hours ago

That doesn’t matter if you get swept.

barbaraanderson

1 | 5 hours ago

Fair, but for a team that was supposed to be so good, you shouldn’t be getting that close to not sweeping

banjogambler | Pacers

1 | 5 hours ago

But it does matter in the context of what we are discussing, which is the skill level of the pacers in the 2024 and 2025 post season. In the context of that conversation, it is absolutely relevant to talk about how the Pacers almost won 3 of the 4 games against the team that won the championship, and didn’t have their best player for 2 of those games.

MaintenanceParty7933

1 | 5 hours ago

They didn’t beat any good teams to get to the ECF. They got swept. They weren’t a real contender.

dijjitalnomad

1 | 5 hours ago

and they beat the hospital knicks to get there. The ECF was an over-performance that year. Last year they prob deserved the finals though.

Fuzzy-Signal2678 | Pacers

4 | 4 hours ago

Probably?

rounder55 | Celtics

2 | 4 hours ago

We’re swept but three of the games were very close. The run wasn’t really a fluke given the success the following year

Snoo93550

-1 | 3 hours ago

The media covered their wins over Knicks as if the Knicks won, just full deep throat bias.

Character-Active2208

1 | 5 hours ago

The narrative sure but that wasn’t a fluke, they were that good

rickeyethebeerguy

9 | 6 hours ago

I mean the warriors watched KD and Klay each have massive injuries in the same finals.

No_Rain_1727 | Grizzlies

7 | 6 hours ago

Really? I kinda think they have some real juice.

youjuanfrieswiththat | Thunder

6 | 5 hours ago

I don’t expect them to get back next year, just with Hali’s injury I’m sure they won’t rush it and they’ll load manage a bit and then the adjustment of Zubac could take a bit to settle.

I’d love to be proven wrong though, if Hali came back and they instantly went to the Finals I’d be ecstatic.

fly_low_orange | Pacers

10 | 5 hours ago

It’s a fair take to think Hali will need some time. I agree. But everyone saying last year was a fluke or magic is just a casual fan who doesn’t watch ball. In ‘24 we beat the Knicks then played highly competitive games against the Celtics. A few of those were one-possession games and Pacers’ inexperience lost them. Our performance in the clutch last postseason was a direct result of Rick Carlisle responding to that Series. Since we got Hali we have progressively improved each year. The injury is a setback, but to think we just fall out is kind of crazy. Early next year with be bumpy, but Rick Carlisle is one of the best coaches at making the most with his personnel. I don’t mind being underrated though, and I’m not saying we just make it back to the Finals, but counting us completely out is a super casual take

youjuanfrieswiththat | Thunder

4 | 4 hours ago

Completely agree, I’ve been a huge Hali fan since he got traded to y’all (he’s the only NBA jersey I have lmao) and I fully expect them to be back to normal next year.

Don’t forget those games against the Celtics in ‘24, y’all only had Hali for Game 1 and like 30 mins of Game 2.

I don’t think they’ll be finals bound next year and don’t think they’ll be fighting for the play-in either. I’d optimistically put them around maybe the 4th seed. Definitely rooting for a big return from Hali though

Cactuszach

-3 | 4 hours ago

Everyone thinks Hali will come back great. Losing Turner though is the real problem.

fly_low_orange | Pacers

9 | 4 hours ago

Losing Turner is absolutely not a problem lol

Solaris123-com | Timberwolves

-2 | 4 hours ago

It definitely is. Turner allows ya’ll to play 5 out. With Zubac you have less spacing which definitely will dampen the offense even if a little bit

fly_low_orange | Pacers

4 | 4 hours ago

We hurt on rebounding which Zubac directly improves. We also have Obi Toppin for stretch 5 lineups. Our comebacks against Knicks and Thunder had Toppin at the 5. We didn’t even use Turner. And he was dogshit in the ECF and Finals. Zubac is a consistent rebounder and PnR screener, which sets up Hali for 3 point spacing just as good as Turner pick and popping

EverybodysBuddy24 | Pacers

3 | 3 hours ago

Many of our best minutes in the playoffs vs the Knicks and OKC were with Tony Bradley at center last year. We needed an anchor presence in the paint and relied on a G Leaguer journeyman.

Zubac is a big upgrade there. I think one of the better things he brings is the fact that he’s not able to be switched off of due to his size mismatch. Often people would put a wing on Myles if he floated outside and Myles could not punish a wing in the paint in response. Zu can.

I think it will work out ok.

Methamine | Knicks

2 | 6 hours ago

People have been saying they’ll be back after he comes back

Ok-Way8253

220 | 6 hours ago

i mean hindsight helps but i honestly think the suns. i personally never thought they’d be back

dafdiego777 | Rockets

119 | 6 hours ago

Not a hot take. CP3 was ancient and their third best player - and Deandre Ayton didn’t feel like a sun for life part even at that point.

StrtupJ | Heat

35 | 6 hours ago

Yeah at the time it felt like this way really CP3’s last chance to get a ring, and it seemed like the stars were aligning

dark-flamessussano

12 | 5 hours ago

I mean tbh Ayton was was really good because of cp3 but Giannis destroyed his confidence and he never recovered from that

Icy_Boysenberry_1060 | Lakers

7 | 6 hours ago

I’d say more like the ‘22 Warriors tbh

Neither_Ad7066 | San Francisco Warriors

21 | 6 hours ago

Eh, there may be some bias since im a warriors fan, but at the time we won in 2022 people were still high on wiseman and kuminga and thought we would still be a threat to the championship, of course those two were fucking bums and draymond punching JP didn’t help either, but a lot of people were still high on us developing the young guys and continuing the dynasty

d-y-l- | Celtics

7 | 5 hours ago

Wiseman? Eh.

Kuminga? Yes. He played great defense in those finals. And that was around the time of peak Poole hype too. Not to mention Wiggins looked like a super role player a la Aaron Gordon/Derrick White. I thought that timeline had some footing for sure, of course still predicated on Steph’s success in his latter years.

Photo_Synthetic | Mavericks

5 | 4 hours ago

That was a big ‘Wiggins is finally who we all wanted him to be’ as he was basically the second best player in that run. It’s a shame he went through whatever it is he went through because he really figured out his role on that team and looked like one of the best two way players in the league.

Icy_Boysenberry_1060 | Lakers

3 | 5 hours ago

I don’t tbh, a lot of people still thought like that was pretty much all yall had left in the tank

Neither_Ad7066 | San Francisco Warriors

6 | 5 hours ago

To each to their own brotha, im just remembering the last moments we were good 💔😔

americanbeaver | Bucks

2 | 2 hours ago

CP3 was ancient and their third best player

I think you’re misremembering how good Chris Paul was for the 2021 and 2022 season for the Suns. He was old but he looked like the kind of floor general that could be effective for 2 or 3 more years. Chris Paul was their at least 2nd best player and sometimes he was their best player. In 2021 he was an All-Star, All-NBA 2nd team and fifth in MVP (not significant for MVP but still), the next year he was an All-Star again, All NBA 3rd team and 9th in MVP (even less significant but still). The Suns dominated the regular season (64-18). Then Chris Paul turned 36, they lost in 7 against Dallas and it was over.

Not disagreeing that overall it wasn’t that much of a hot take to say the Suns wouldn’t make it back.

pokexchespin | BOS

1 | an hour ago

but he was addicted to the finals!

ClassroomWrong2161

-1 | 4 hours ago

They also had the luckiest run ever, only facing teams that are missing one of their top 2 players.

endlessmeat | Suns

27 | 5 hours ago

In their way to the Finals they defeated the reigning champs Lakers and swept Jokic and the Nuggets.Then they won 64 games next season. It was a given they would be back, that was what made the defeat against the Mavs so humiliating and devastating.

DanFlashesC0up0n | Pelicans

-4 | 5 hours ago

Down 2-1 to the Lakers when AD went down

Nuggets missing Murray

Clippers missing Kawhi.

It wasn’t shocking yall never got back as an outsider.

clearsurname | Timberwolves

10 | 5 hours ago

People love forgetting that the Lakers went UP 2-1 because CP3 went down. The guy couldn’t dribble and was a liability after messing up his shoulder in the fist half of game 1

endlessmeat | Suns

4 | 4 hours ago

Also that it was literally the first playoffs for most of the team, so going against the reigning champions (with one of the two best players ever on the roster) was one of the toughest challenges for a young team.

Also people love to bring up AD’s injury as the determining factor, but Ayton dried him on game 1 (⁵⁄₁₆ from the field and out rebounded 7 to 16) and was doing it again on game 4 (he was ²⁄₉) before the injury. So, while we’ll never know if later in the series he would have monster games like 2 and 3, it’s also not a guarantee at all that he would be the deciding factor on an inevitable Lakers win.

russfan0987 | Magic

5 | 4 hours ago

Hate that talking heads have made people talk about 1-1 like its a meaningful deficit because it really isn’t bro

3 out’ve 7 championship teams this decade have been down 1-2; the Bucks were down 0-2

deiulei | Rockets

26 | 5 hours ago

I disagree, they came back and had by far the best record in the league the next season. It very much felt like they were on the way to redeem their finals loss until they collapsed against the Mavs.

Scutty__ | Bucks

2 | 3 hours ago

Idk things were pretty hype for them after the “bubble suns”

Grooviemann1 | Suns

2 | 2 hours ago

Even in the moment, the popular discourse was that we were only there because of injuries to other teams. I think this is the number one answer even without hindsight.

DanFlashesC0up0n | Pelicans

1 | 5 hours ago

Would have lost in the first round in 2021 if Davis wasn’t injured

yelnod66 | Bulls

165 | 6 hours ago

I felt like with Luka, the Mavs had a pretty good chance of making it back, as long as he stayed healthy. Then, Nico said “Hold my beer.”

barbaraanderson

41 | 5 hours ago

Heck, Luka was hella banged up throughout that entire run and still did his best to power them through, especially when Kyrie went cold in the finals

karmew32 | Pelicans

9 | 3 hours ago

If anything, the Wolves were the team people lost faith in being able to return, particularly after the KAT trade.

bagb8709

3 | 4 hours ago

Injuries were piling on, Luka was even playing hurt, but that team would have slayed still but the shoe miser ruined a good thing.

Musa_2050 | Lakers

0 | 4 hours ago

That team wasnt making it back. Everyone was injured

Philthemage

-1 | 3 hours ago

Technically he asked Finley to hold Lukas beer. All the same. Potato potatoe

chicknsnadwich | Heat

116 | 6 hours ago

Heat in 2020 but then they did

wekapipol [OP] | Spurs

42 | 6 hours ago

I’m still at awe thinking about how they clawed their asses to a Finals in the bubble given their overall perceived talent but then do it again 3 years later.

chicknsnadwich | Heat

21 | 5 hours ago

Just wish we could’ve reached it healthy one of those years. Although the real bummer was not going in 2022 which was a better matchup for us than Lakers or Nuggets.

AdamSilverJr | Heat

7 | 4 hours ago

Fuck those refs. I’m still salty about the Strus 3 bullshit

chicknsnadwich | Heat

0 | 6 hours ago

Then Heat in 2023 and it’s all been a train wreck since

rgijgnqiw | Knicks

109 | 6 hours ago

probably the team whose star blew his ankle and then traded everyone on the team away

priide229 | Hawks

54 | 6 hours ago

the pacers wont be back for another 50 years

baseball_suuuuucks | Pacers

17 | 3 hours ago

I beg your pardon, but the Pacers have established a firm schedule of getting to the Finals every 25 years.

1975 –> 2000 –> 2025 –> 2050 baybeeeee

ResponsibleWater1697 | Pacers

12 | 5 hours ago

Says the Hawks fan.

priide229 | Hawks

68 | 5 hours ago

right, so i know for sure

fragileallstar | Raptors

17 | 4 hours ago

u dont need to claim that energy, second best team in the nba 🙏

NOLASLAW | Pelicans

3 | 3 hours ago

I’m here for the hate

Adreme

25 | 6 hours ago

Probably the Heat (both times) and Pacers.

LazyWeb9421

20 | 6 hours ago

Heat (both times), pacers (injury), warriors (after losing KD and injuring Klay), and the mavs (viewed as good, but not easily the favorites).

TastyPoopKnife

16 | 5 hours ago

Have to say the Pacers. They caught fire during their run with some inspired play and a point guard with a killers heart. But the roster itself screamed one year wonder.

ResponsibleWater1697 | Pacers

-2 | 5 hours ago

The roster with two all-NBA players?

TastyPoopKnife

0 | 5 hours ago

Don’t get me wrong I loved watching the Pacers run. And you still have to be good to get to the finals obviously. What I meant was there “overall roster” did not scream continuing finals threat. Everyone loved that run so don’t get your panties in a bunch Mr Pacers fan. I’m a Heat fan and we got to the finals twice with Jimmy but I never was foolish enough to think we were going to have a great run with that team. It was tough minded like your Pacers team but flawed all the same.

thesonicvision

11 | 4 hours ago

Only BOS, GSW, and SAS felt like they’d be back.

BoredomHeights | Warriors

5 | an hour ago

Agreed. Maybe Mavs too (pre Luka trade) but even they had too much competition in the West. I think some of the others I’d have considered contenders in the sense that it wouldn’t be a shock if they got back, but definitely wouldn’t have bet on it.

thesonicvision

1 | an hour ago

Yep. Well said.

[deleted]

5 | 6 hours ago

[deleted]

whenishit-itsbigturd

3 | 6 hours ago

Really was the devil, made them trade the whole team after and everything. Ig when he comes to collect, he collects. Mf left with Hali’s Achilles and half the Pacers roster and didn’t even let them keep their draft pick. Just fold the club now, they’re cooked. Hali gonna return to the building and be like the Will Smith empty house meme

JxSumk | Nets

1 | 6 hours ago

Why are people calling the run magical as if they werent legitimate lol

They beat this years champ And damn near took down last years champ had ben math not lost his mind in game 4 and hali blow his achilles

UrsineBasterd | Knicks

5 | 6 hours ago

Heat, every time.

Pacers

Mavs after Nico nuked the team lol

BourbonSn4ke | NBA

3 | 5 hours ago

2024 mavs would have returned

justiceway1 | Celtics

3 | 5 hours ago

I don’t think anyone expected Miami to come back. No one expected them to make the finals that year either.

heavyarmszero

2 | 6 hours ago

2021 - Suns and 2025 - Pacers

Prudent-Cat7512 | Germany

2 | 6 hours ago

I am torn on the suns. Yes CP wasn’t getting younger and Ayton was twerkimg for his money, but the pieces were still good enough to do something.

priide229 | Hawks

4 | 6 hours ago

funny thing is the 22 suns were even better than they were in 21

shiznit028

3 | 6 hours ago

After the suns lost I remember saying, “see you in 30 years.”

IntelligentAd5460 | Grizzlies

2 | 6 hours ago

i was sorta low on the mavs just off the fact counting on luka to have another series like that Minnesota one would be insane

Efficient_Art_1144 | Celtics

2 | 5 hours ago

Pacers since hali went down at the end of the finals

Bonesawisready5 | Spurs

2 | 5 hours ago

I mean technically Heat got back just didn’t win it. Mavs imploded due to management and pacers well, similar plus haliburtons Achilles tear but they very well may get back.

MrArtless | Warriors

2 | an hour ago

people thought the warriors were cooked after 2019. Also the pacers after 2025

SubstanceEcstatic121 | Mavericks

1 | 6 hours ago

It would shock me if the Knicks are the first team to break the record

Failr0ko | Knicks

3 | 5 hours ago

Wrong team, this thread is about the teams that lost in the finals

qqbeef

1 | 6 hours ago

Not your prompt, but I really thought mavs would be back…

wekapipol [OP] | Spurs

1 | 5 hours ago

I am one of those people that thought as long as they have Luka they will be contenders in the next few seasons.

Sharp_Aide3216

1 | 6 hours ago

The Pacers didn’t have it. Mainly due to injuries and their contract situation.

phlipout22

1 | 6 hours ago

Pacers. I liked the team but if felt a big of a one time run

Disastrous-Tough-966 | Bulls

1 | 5 hours ago

I (wrongly) thought the warriors were done after 2019

Acedaboi1da

1 | 5 hours ago

Mavs, Suns, Pacers

MrCrushus | NBA

1 | 5 hours ago

The heat both times, I didn’t expect the Suns to be back short of another perfect storm. Warriors looked kinda done in 2019 and was a bit of a happy surprise they won again. Pacers for sure I think felt more like a sort of fairytale run than a “they’ll be back”. Id be surprised if they get back with this core though certainly not impossible, Hali injury compounded it further.

Leasir

1 | 5 hours ago

Very few considered 2025 Mavs as contender

20BeersDeep | Gran Destino

1 | 5 hours ago

2019 warriors after they lost KD were a prob not
2020 heat was lighting in a bottle, they were not expected to return
2021 suns you could tell they were on stolen time with Chris Paul
2022 Celtics were expected to make it back for sure
2023 Heat more lighting in a bottle, cooked
2024 Mavs could’ve but Nico
2025 Pacers def not after Hali/Turner gone
2026 Spurs as of now are like a 30% chance of returning depending on how the off season shakes out for wolves/nuggets/okc

randotd152

1 | 5 hours ago

That Suns team was lightning in a bottle. It wasn’t great, Paul was aging, Ayton was looking like he wouldn’t get any better, and you could see some other rising young teams like Denver and Dallas built around real superstars that would be a future threat.

lbh02 | Raptors

1 | 5 hours ago

Probably the Heat but that would obviously mean only the 2023 team didn’t go back. But then I feel like being right on “they won’t be back” doesn’t really count because they already did make it back to the finals, y’know?

Inside-Drink-1311 | Knicks

1 | 5 hours ago

I would say Warriors and Pacers definitely due to injuries. Both of the Heat teams probably because they were not supposed to be there to begin with.

Only ones that probably did a have they’ll be back thing is Suns, Celtics, Mavs.

icemankiller8 | Pistons

1 | 5 hours ago

The heat both times, the warriors even though they did and won the Pacers especially when Hali tore his ACL, the Mavs too even without trading Luka you’d think they would be back eventually with him potentially but not with that roster

Character-Active2208

1 | 5 hours ago

Warriors (Klay and KD Were out the following year already)

Heat

Pacers (Hali….)

Shepher27 | Timberwolves

1 | 4 hours ago

The Heat (ironically both times)

Weak-Bid2774 | Pistons

1 | 4 hours ago

The 8th seed heat

nuhx

1 | 4 hours ago

Heat, Warriors and Mavs for me.

Heat, lower seed runs were pretty much impossible, and they pull it off twice.

Warriors were kind of dead after KD, pulled off a miracle run in 2022 and have been irrelevant since then again.

I don’t really believe in injury prone players being relevant for the playoffs and the Mavs had a healthy Kyrie for their run. That’s not happening again.

shocking_brz

1 | 4 hours ago

Thunder before trading Harden, and before KD left

wekapipol [OP] | Spurs

1 | 4 hours ago

Oh fairs but wrong decade.

shocking_brz

1 | 35 minutes ago

My bad I skimmed and didn’t see that you specified starting as of when…

King_Artis | Pistons

1 | 4 hours ago

The Suns

Something about Books “damn” after the loss made me feel dread for that team.

Was hoping I was wrong😭

EmptyHeadedKing

1 | 4 hours ago

Heat, Pacers, Mavs imo.

I thought the suns would be able to make it back but I was way off on that one.

Hand_of_Doom1970

1 | 3 hours ago

Oddly (since they literally did come back to win), I’d have said the 2019 Warriors. Durant was leaving, the team was aging, felt like 2019 exposed them as a team past their prime and on the decline.

Icy_Information_6563 | Suns

1 | 3 hours ago

The Celtics and the Spurs are the only ones that felt like an emerging and/or sustainable roster.

Warriors lost KD and their core 3 were getting old. I was wrong. The other teams all felt like they were in the right place at the right time. Either they played teams with key injuries, or teams that were young and quite not there yet.

whaleinapuddle

1 | 3 hours ago

I don’t think any aside from the Spurs and Celtics TBH.

2019 Warriors bottomed out in between appearances and KD and Klay were injured so it was accepted the were stepping back.

trav-senpai | Kings

1 | 3 hours ago

Before the spurs, the Celtics were the only team I’d expect to see multiple times. As an eternal neutral fan I wanted play in Miami and Spo to keep blowing up the east as much as possible.

vikoy

1 | 3 hours ago

Well, definitely not the Mavs now.

Yuddhisthira

1 | 3 hours ago

Time is short for the Spurs, tho. They have 3 players who can pursue max contracts in the coming years, won’t be easy to keep the core together.

redracer67 | Knicks

0 | 3 hours ago

And I genuinely think wemby will break all the records once his supermax comes up. I can see him signing a shorter deal (2 years)and waiting for the next cba negotiations in 2029.

Yuddhisthira

1 | 15 minutes ago

That’s possible. But if all three of Wemby, Castle and Harper can agree to leave some money on the table, they might keep them together for years. We’ll see, ego and greed have destroyed a lot of teams allready.

redracer67 | Knicks

1 | 11 minutes ago

I agree, that’s what they should do. But, who knows. At the rate contracts are going, especially after tv deal negotiations and cba negotiations…I fully expect that one day wemby will be offered a 500 mil contract

El_alacran214

1 | 2 hours ago

Knicks won’t be back, flash in the pan

WillingnessRude386

1 | an hour ago

Didn’t Denver win the championship in 23?

MambaMachine824

1 | an hour ago

I feel like that 8th seeded heat team in 23’ and the Pacers were teams people didn’t think would be back

cholula_is_good | GSW

1 | an hour ago

The 2019 Warriors. Every member of the media was saying the dynasty had ended when KD left and Klay got hurt a second time. Steph was hurt and the team had tanked. You can watch 15 minute compilations of talking heads going on about the end of an era.

D_Simmons | Raptors

1 | 22 minutes ago

Heat.

Their run in 2020 never should have happened and they got through 2023 on injuries and luck.

Whoever came out of the West both years had a guaranteed win (with people calling the conference finals the real championship).

bradperry2435

0 | 6 hours ago

Spurs will be back. Dylan Harper is going to be legit

RowActive4599

0 | 5 hours ago

The Suns are the easy answer because even right after that Finals loss it felt like their path back depended more on everything going right than on having a dynasty-level core.

Potential_Carob6494

0 | 5 hours ago

From your list, the 19 Warriors and 25 Pacers definitely did not exude “they’ll be back” energy because of injuries. The 20 and 23 Heat and 24 Mavericks all felt kinda fluky from their runs and didn’t feel like they would return.

The teams that had upward trajectory even after losing in the finals were the 21 Suns, 22 Celtics, and 26 Spurs. The Suns collapsed in the ensuing playoffs despite having far-and-away the NBA’s best record, while the Celtics fulfilled their promise just 2 years later. Let’s see how the Spurs rebound.

Horror_Cap_7166 | Knicks

0 | 3 hours ago

This thread is reminding me the last 10 years had some pretty mid teams make the finals.

yetagainitry

0 | 2 hours ago

Pacers, no one ever thought they would be a team to beat this year, even before the injury.

AnyFlow5427

-1 | 6 hours ago

Pacers. Even if Haliburton didn’t get hurt, they’d still suck. They’re not even gonna make the playoffs when he’s back

Important_Leather677

-2 | 6 hours ago

Celtics and Spurs would be only ones that got feeling of they will be back. Surprisingly sorry ass teams

FantasticChemical161

-3 | 6 hours ago

Pacers could have improved their roster after winning the G7 and beat 2026 Spurs

During the Parity Era, out of those that lost in the Finals, which teams did not have a “They’ll be back” assumption from the people right after they lost?