After Oklahoma City's younger roster choked away leads throughout Game five and also Game a few of the NBA's Western Conference finals to help permit veteran Dallas advance, a frequent refrain seemed to be this: Give the fresh Thunder squad several time, and yes it will make it to help its reveal with tournament series.
But given that 1999, five some other teams from the actual West achieved it that far, but none followed upwards which has a trip into the finals. All ones leaped into the Lakers, Spurs or Mavericks, the only groups to help stand for the discussion inside the finals recently tough luck seasons. While many three of the coaches and teams usually are aging, which will make it less difficult for just a new workforce similar to OKC to principle the actual West inside the future, one should never help to make assumptions. Here is often a quick look at that six groups whose instance the Thunder will desire to avoid.
Portland (1999, 2000):The Trail Blazers directed the Lakers (in L.A.) by fifteen factors while in the next fraction with Game several around 2000 just before a great epic collapse. They didn't state-of-the-art past the primary round on the playoffs since.
Sacramento (2002):The Kings experienced the actual NBA's best regular-season record. Their three major scorers were Peja Stojavokic (24), Chris Webber (28) along with Mike Bibby (23). But your Kings, who directed your Lakers 3-2 for their series, lost 106-102 around Game some within L.A. (a online game of which referee Tim Donaghy would subsequently assert was fixed) and dropped throughout OT at your house with Game 7. They for no reason managed to get earlier your seminar semifinals following that.
Minnesota (2004):MV3 (Kevin Garnett, Latrell Sprewell as well as Sam Cassell) carried the actual Wolves for the finest document in the West as well as a the show-down with the Lakers while in the conference finals. But Cassell's injury derailed this series, plus the relaxation is actually history. The Wolves haven't so much even already been to come back for the playoffs.
Phoenix (2005, 2006, 2010):The run-and-gun Suns looked meant to be able to separate through. Steve Nash, then 30, ended up being the only key gamer through 26 with a 2006 squad of which gone a strong NBA-best 62-20 although missing in personal trainer meek video games towards the Spurs from the management meeting finals. Even although Suns made two more trips for the West finals, some people in no way experienced the proper mix to have on the hump.
Utah (2007):Another workforce using a beginning nucleus Deron Williams (22), Mehmet Okur (27) plus Carlos Boozer (25) the Jazz benefited through No. 8-seed Golden State knocking out of No. 1 Dallas inside management meeting quarterfinals, giving that Jazz a less severe path into the conference finals. Utah has been steamrolled presently there through the Spurs and also were over this conference semis since.
Denver (2009):After losing with the primary rounded for five consecutive seasons, the Nuggets in addition to Carmelo Anthony shown up for you to break up through inside 2010 by way of reaching the meeting finals plus throwing a scare to the Lakers previous to burning off throughout half a dozen games. Since then, though, this Nuggets haven't picked up an additional playoff collection and Anthony has been exchanged away.
MICHAEL RAND
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