Best All-Around Team to never win a title

 Early 2000 Kings

Bibby

Christie

Stojakovic

Webber

Divac

& 90s Knicks

 Early 2000 Kings

Bibby

Christie

Stojakovic

Webber

Divac

& 90s Knicks

I might have to go with the 90s Utah Jazz led by Stockton and Malone. That team was great they just unfortunately ran into the goat.

I might have to go with the 90s Utah Jazz led by Stockton and Malone. That team was great they just unfortunately ran into the goat.

The 1989 Cleveland Cavaliers. Probably the best team to lose in the first round of the playoffs.

They had a top 5 PG in the league (Magic, Isiah Thomas, Stockton, and then either Kevin Johnson or Cav Mark Price), top 5 SG in the league (Jordan, Drexler, Dale Ellis and then Ron Harper or Joe Dumars), top 5 PF in the league (Nance might have been closer to 6 with Malone, Barkley, McHale, Cummings, and Chambers ahead of him) and and a top 5 C in the league (Hakeem, Ewing, Moses Malone and then Daugherty) all in the primes of their career.

Mark Price, 24 years old: 18.9 PPG, 8.4 APG, 53 FG%, 44 3PT%, 90 FT%
Ron Harper, 25 years old: 18.6 PPG, 5 RPG, 5.3 APG, 2.3 SPG, 51 FG%
Larry Nance, 29 years old: 17.2 PPG, 8 RPG, 2.8 BPG, 54 FG%, 80 FT%
Brad Daugherty, 23 years old: 18.9 PPG, 9,2 RPG, 3.7 APG, 54 FG%

They also had Hot Rod Williams coming off the bench as their 6th man with 11.6 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.6 BPG, 51 FG% and Craig Ehlo as a shooter to stretch the floor off the bench as well.

They went 57-25 in the regular season but lost in a fantastic first round as MJ put the Bulls on his back and averaged 39.8 PPG and 8.2 APG in the 5 game series. With the series tied 2-2, the Bulls won the clinching game 5 by a score of 101-100 with Jordan putting up 44 points.

The 1989 Cleveland Cavaliers. Probably the best team to lose in the first round of the playoffs.

They had a top 5 PG in the league (Magic, Isiah Thomas, Stockton, and then either Kevin Johnson or Cav Mark Price), top 5 SG in the league (Jordan, Drexler, Dale Ellis and then Ron Harper or Joe Dumars), top 5 PF in the league (Nance might have been closer to 6 with Malone, Barkley, McHale, Cummings, and Chambers ahead of him) and and a top 5 C in the league (Hakeem, Ewing, Moses Malone and then Daugherty) all in the primes of their career.

Mark Price, 24 years old: 18.9 PPG, 8.4 APG, 53 FG%, 44 3PT%, 90 FT%
Ron Harper, 25 years old: 18.6 PPG, 5 RPG, 5.3 APG, 2.3 SPG, 51 FG%
Larry Nance, 29 years old: 17.2 PPG, 8 RPG, 2.8 BPG, 54 FG%, 80 FT%
Brad Daugherty, 23 years old: 18.9 PPG, 9,2 RPG, 3.7 APG, 54 FG%

They also had Hot Rod Williams coming off the bench as their 6th man with 11.6 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.6 BPG, 51 FG% and Craig Ehlo as a shooter to stretch the floor off the bench as well.

They went 57-25 in the regular season but lost in a fantastic first round as MJ put the Bulls on his back and averaged 39.8 PPG and 8.2 APG in the 5 game series. With the series tied 2-2, the Bulls won the clinching game 5 by a score of 101-100 with Jordan putting up 44 points.

Does the Pacers that ruined any chance with the Malice in the Palace count. That team was crazy talented.

Does the Pacers that ruined any chance with the Malice in the Palace count. That team was crazy talented.

Another team that pops into my head is the 2000 Portland team that forced the Lakers to a game 7 in the Western Finals. They didn’t have a single player average over 17 PPG in the regular season but they had players with complete games that complimented each other and had the deepest team I had ever seen up to that point in time.

At center they had an over the hill and broken down but still very effective Arvydas Sabonis manning the paint.

At PF they had a prime Rasheed Wallace who could stretch the floor and defend with his length.

At SF they had an old but still dangerous Scottie Pippen doing everything on the court.

At SG they had veteran Steve Smith who could handle the ball and shoot.

At PG they had Damon Stoudamire who was a willing passer and floor general but could also shoot the ball

And off the bench they had Brian Grant, Detlef Shrempf, Bonzi Wells and Greg Anthony who all got solid minutes in the rotations. They were a few tough calls away from a championship that year.

Another team that pops into my head is the 2000 Portland team that forced the Lakers to a game 7 in the Western Finals. They didn’t have a single player average over 17 PPG in the regular season but they had players with complete games that complimented each other and had the deepest team I had ever seen up to that point in time.

At center they had an over the hill and broken down but still very effective Arvydas Sabonis manning the paint.

At PF they had a prime Rasheed Wallace who could stretch the floor and defend with his length.

At SF they had an old but still dangerous Scottie Pippen doing everything on the court.

At SG they had veteran Steve Smith who could handle the ball and shoot.

At PG they had Damon Stoudamire who was a willing passer and floor general but could also shoot the ball

And off the bench they had Brian Grant, Detlef Shrempf, Bonzi Wells and Greg Anthony who all got solid minutes in the rotations. They were a few tough calls away from a championship that year.

 I think Barkely’s Suns team that lost to Jordan’s Bulls has to be mentioned here, KJ, prime Barkley, Thunder Dan among others.

 I think Barkely’s Suns team that lost to Jordan’s Bulls has to be mentioned here, KJ, prime Barkley, Thunder Dan among others.

The early 90’s Blazers were a stacked team going up against such titans as the Magic Led Lakers, Pistons Bad Boys and Jordans Bulls.

Terry Porter, Drexler, Kersey, Buck Williams, Duckworth.

Clyde Drexler is one of the most underrated stars of all time…

Add in Danny Ainger, Walter Davis and a young Drazen Petrovic.

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The early 90’s Blazers were a stacked team going up against such titans as the Magic Led Lakers, Pistons Bad Boys and Jordans Bulls.

Terry Porter, Drexler, Kersey, Buck Williams, Duckworth.

Clyde Drexler is one of the most underrated stars of all time…

Add in Danny Ainger, Walter Davis and a young Drazen Petrovic.

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The early 90’s Blazers were a stacked team going up against such titans as the Magic Led Lakers, Pistons Bad Boys and Jordans Bulls.

Terry Porter, Drexler, Kersey, Buck Williams, Duckworth.

Clyde Drexler is one of the most underrated stars of all time…

Add in Danny Ainge, Walter Davis and a young Drazen Petrovic.

The early 90’s Blazers were a stacked team going up against such titans as the Magic Led Lakers, Pistons Bad Boys and Jordans Bulls.

Terry Porter, Drexler, Kersey, Buck Williams, Duckworth.

Clyde Drexler is one of the most underrated stars of all time…

Add in Danny Ainge, Walter Davis and a young Drazen Petrovic.

 Early 90’s Magic easy man. You’ve got two of the best players of that generation Shaq and Penny paired with all-star caliber players Horace Grant and Nick Anderson. And if that weren’t enough, they had the perfect role player to go along with them in sharpshooter Dennis Scott.

 But, the bottomline was they had Shaq and Penny; two elite franchise players. Such a shame that team didn’t last that long with Shaq leaving for the Lakers early and we all know how Penny’s supposed to be Hall of Fame career was dismantled with injuries.

 Early 90’s Magic easy man. You’ve got two of the best players of that generation Shaq and Penny paired with all-star caliber players Horace Grant and Nick Anderson. And if that weren’t enough, they had the perfect role player to go along with them in sharpshooter Dennis Scott.

 But, the bottomline was they had Shaq and Penny; two elite franchise players. Such a shame that team didn’t last that long with Shaq leaving for the Lakers early and we all know how Penny’s supposed to be Hall of Fame career was dismantled with injuries.

 How about the mid 90’s Sonics with Payton, Kemp, Schrempf, Hawkins, Ellis, McMillan that lost to Jordan led Bulls in the Finals.

 How about the mid 90’s Sonics with Payton, Kemp, Schrempf, Hawkins, Ellis, McMillan that lost to Jordan led Bulls in the Finals.

It might not be a team that shows up on a lot of radars, but the 1980’s Milwaukee Bucks were an awfully good squad in a much more compact NBA. Sidney Moncrief, Marques Johnson, Junior Bridgeman (and Mike Dunleavy!). Big men included guys like Bob Lanier and Jack Sikma. They were a really tough playoff out and quite a talented team.

It might not be a team that shows up on a lot of radars, but the 1980’s Milwaukee Bucks were an awfully good squad in a much more compact NBA. Sidney Moncrief, Marques Johnson, Junior Bridgeman (and Mike Dunleavy!). Big men included guys like Bob Lanier and Jack Sikma. They were a really tough playoff out and quite a talented team.

Mid 90’s Seattle SuperSonics is my vote too.
People forget how dominant they were throughout the season due to the Bulls record. Sonics just got edged out by the Bulls too, probably my favourite year of basketball of all time to be honest. 

Mid 90’s Seattle SuperSonics is my vote too.
People forget how dominant they were throughout the season due to the Bulls record. Sonics just got edged out by the Bulls too, probably my favourite year of basketball of all time to be honest. 

 About 1/2 the teams to lose in the finals to Jordan’s Bulls and whichever of the Celtics and Lakers didn’t win in the 1980s.

 About 1/2 the teams to lose in the finals to Jordan’s Bulls and whichever of the Celtics and Lakers didn’t win in the 1980s.

The Sloan Jazz team of Malone and Stockton sprang to mind as did the Nets team with Kidd and the Nash/STAT Phoenix team, all mentioned above I think.

The current Thunder team is also in this mix at the moment.

The Sloan Jazz team of Malone and Stockton sprang to mind as did the Nets team with Kidd and the Nash/STAT Phoenix team, all mentioned above I think.

The current Thunder team is also in this mix at the moment.

That pic of Drexler, Porter, and Duckworth reminds me of Durant, Westbrook, and Perkins. 

That pic of Drexler, Porter, and Duckworth reminds me of Durant, Westbrook, and Perkins. 

Made it to the Western Conf finals and lost to the Lakers. That team was a great all around team with KG in his prime, Sam I am, and Spree. Unfortunately Cassell was hurt for the Lakers series and the Wolves couldn’t get past the team of Hall of Famers. I thought that was going to be MN’s year.

Made it to the Western Conf finals and lost to the Lakers. That team was a great all around team with KG in his prime, Sam I am, and Spree. Unfortunately Cassell was hurt for the Lakers series and the Wolves couldn’t get past the team of Hall of Famers. I thought that was going to be MN’s year.

This is one heck of a team ON PAPER:

The 1976-1977 Buffalo Braves led by Bob McAdoo, Randy Smith, and Adrian Dantley.  Ernie DiGregorio was on the roster (offense, no defense), along with 2 games out of a kid named Moses Malone. 

This is one heck of a team ON PAPER:

The 1976-1977 Buffalo Braves led by Bob McAdoo, Randy Smith, and Adrian Dantley.  Ernie DiGregorio was on the roster (offense, no defense), along with 2 games out of a kid named Moses Malone. 

The young mid 90s Magic team of Shaq, Penny, Nick Anderson, Horace Grant, Bart Scott…  ONLY team to beat Jordan’s Bulls in a playoff series in the 90s.  So young, so talented, but Shaq left so quick and Penny fell apart physically.

The young mid 90s Magic team of Shaq, Penny, Nick Anderson, Horace Grant, Bart Scott…  ONLY team to beat Jordan’s Bulls in a playoff series in the 90s.  So young, so talented, but Shaq left so quick and Penny fell apart physically.

 Some great teams mentioned here. For me, I would say the 90’s Utah Jazz. Stockton and Malone just couldn’t beat MJ. 

 Some great teams mentioned here. For me, I would say the 90’s Utah Jazz. Stockton and Malone just couldn’t beat MJ. 

Since I started watching around 1991, here are two of the best teams that didn’t win IMO:

1993-94 sonics. Straight up 12 deep. Payton and kemp weren’t superstars yet, but Eddie Johnson, Michael cage, Dana barrows, Nate McMillan, Sam Perkins, Kendall gill and I’m sure there was one other really good wing there too.

2002 kings. Prime Peja, webber, bibby, divas, Christie, bobby jax as well as very solid role played like Keon Clark, Scott pollard and hedo turkoglu. Just super deep and talented.

Since I started watching around 1991, here are two of the best teams that didn’t win IMO:

1993-94 sonics. Straight up 12 deep. Payton and kemp weren’t superstars yet, but Eddie Johnson, Michael cage, Dana barrows, Nate McMillan, Sam Perkins, Kendall gill and I’m sure there was one other really good wing there too.

2002 kings. Prime Peja, webber, bibby, divas, Christie, bobby jax as well as very solid role played like Keon Clark, Scott pollard and hedo turkoglu. Just super deep and talented.