For me, it'd be the Portland Trailblazers of 2000 and the Scarmento Kings... those two teams, I believe, had the talent to win. However, they were the teams who lost in the final moments. No doubt they would have won the championship if they made the Finals in the years they made the West Conference Finals.
Would the Pistons who lost to San Antonio be included in an answer for this question considering that they had a chance to win by going to the finals?
I'm going to go with Sacramento. The 2000 Blazers and 2004 Lakers might have been the best single year teams and the Blazers of 2001 and 2002 were pretty deep, but they were swept from the Playoffs whereas the 2000 team came within a quarter of the NBA Finals. The Kings of course had a few years as a legitimate contender, coming close to making the Finals in 2002 and remaining the following year.
“I'm just honored to play for the Jazz and to play after John Stockton, to wear the same jersey he wore and be on the same floor he was on because he's one of the best players of all-time, one of the best point guards of all-time" Derron Williams - Utah Jazz
The Kings , since they led the series 3-2 that year against the Lakers and blew it.
And I can't help but take another shot at one of my least favorite teams in the NBA , the Miami Heat. I heard so much about Shaq guaranteeing a championship in Miami his first year , and then the team was "red hot" in the playoffs until they met a legitimate team in Detroit . The Heat led 3-2 , got their asses kicked in game 6 , I believe , and blew game 7.
Nick wrote:Someone who hasn't been mention yet: Last year's Miami Heat.
Already mentioned.
I thought the Heat had their best shot last year but unforntately they ran into Detroit.
As far as 2000-2005 goes, I would say Portland and Sacramento. Both teams were right there but just couldnt get over the hump. Sacramento was a scary team with Webber playing some of his best basketball and Vlade getting into Shaq's head with all his flip flopping. Very unfortunate Peja didnt come through for them in the clutch. That team had all the makings of an NBA champion. Portland was great also and they gave LA a hell of alotta trouble(Had make a historic run just to beat them).
Another good team is the 2004 Indiana Pacers who won 61 games but lost in the East Finals. They made the Finals in 2000 though.
the bucks in 2001. they were pretty fucking good, with the big 3 of ray allen, glenn robinson (before he started to suck), and sam cassell -- with a great supporting cast of ervin johnson, mike redd, and others. unfortunate they lost to the sixers in the 2001 ECF though.
(off the top of my head)
The 2003 Mavs were amazing but got knocked out by Sacramento.
*looks online*
EDIT:
Yeah, it was the 2002-2003 Mavs, they went 60-22, had Nowitzki, Nash, Finley, Bradley AND Van Exel (even Avery Johnson ) but lost to the Spurs in the Conf Finals.
Lakers are the best for sure GP, Kobez, Shaq, Malone, Dfish just to name a few.
“I'm just honored to play for the Jazz and to play after John Stockton, to wear the same jersey he wore and be on the same floor he was on because he's one of the best players of all-time, one of the best point guards of all-time" Derron Williams - Utah Jazz