best nba teams to not make the playoffs

The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox. The playoffs seem as wide open as ever this year, so here are three teams that could make a surprise run. With some teams having been consigned to their early finish for months now, certain games have been, well, lacking intensity. Injuries, fluke upsets, and bad matchups have sent some of the greatest single-season squads to an early vacation. W/L: 15-3 (.833 tied-sixth) ASM: 11.3 (fourth) … Although the 1973 Celtics were without the retired Bill Russell, they remained an Eastern Conference powerhouse under coach Tommy Heinsohn. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. After a long and difficult five months, which included a brief period with calls for the league to suspend play over a rising number of COVID-19 casts, the 2020-21 NBA season has reached the playoffs. His Sixers fought valiantly in the 1968 conference finals, only for the Celtics to win an all-time Game 7 in a series decided by a grand total of just 17 points. Portland Trail Blazers First up is a team that just narrowly avoided the NBA play-in tournament: the Portland Trail Blazers. Star players: Chris Webber, Peja Stojakovic, Vlade Divac, Mike Bibby, Postseason result: Defeated by Los Angeles Lakers (4-3) in Western Conference finals. 8 seed, a moment encapsulated forever by the image of Mutombo lying flat on the Key Arena court, shaking the basketball over his head in an ultimate expression of triumph. Since the NBA playoffs expanded to 16 teams in 1984, no lottery team has been better than the current Timberwolves, Suns or Mavericks. LeBron James had one of the best playoff series of his career in 2009 against Dwight Howard's Magic, averaging 38.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.2 blocks, but his lack of help sent the Cavaliers home early and deprived us of a LeBron/Kobe NBA Finals. RECORD: 67-15. That streak came to an end in 1973-74, however, as the Celtics beat Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the Milwaukee Bucks for their 12th NBA title. The playoffs have arrived, the 16-team field that will vie for the Larry O’Brien Trophy is set, and here are 10 storylines to watch along the way: However, the approximately US$43-million owed to Rudy Gay, Andrea Bargnani, DeMar DeRozan and Landry Fields next season should negate most of that enthusiasm. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited. The Spurs went on to crush a young LeBron James and his Cavaliers, while the Suns never made the Finals during Nash's tenure. Find out here! Main Source of Hope: lottery luck. The hip check heard 'round the world — and Steve Nash's subsequent embellishment of the contact — cost the Suns their best chance at winning a championship in the Seven Seconds or Less era. Star players: Shaquille O'Neal, Penny Hardaway, Postseason result: Defeated by Chicago Bulls (4-0) in Eastern Conference finals. Rookie shooting guard Bradley Beal looks to be a very good backcourt partner for Wall. An additional team will make the play-in tournament for the final playoff seed. 12. Since there are so many teams in contention, it’s hard to predict who will avoid the play-in games or miss the playoffs; however, these teams have the best chances. Again, Charlotte is in the best position to do just that. With the Warriors getting eliminated last night, Steph becomes the only player in the last 40 years to be top 3 in MVP and not make the playoffs. Philadelphia 76ers, 31-45 Main Source of Hope: Andrew Bynum If Bynum a) re-signs in Philadelphia; b) takes a discount because of his lost season; and c) can stay healthy next year, the 76ers could have one of the best centres in the league, all of a sudden. You need to know that only sixteen league teams can reach the playoff birth from thirty teams of the year. We have an obligation as NBA fans to keep the memory of the early '00s Kings teams alive, lest they slip into obscurity. Star players: John Havlicek, Dave Cowens, Paul Silas, Don Nelson, Jo Jo White, Postseason result: Defeated by New York Knicks (4-3) in Eastern Conference finals. The 1994 Sonics were in prime position to make the most of Michael Jordan's first retirement. 2012-13 Oklahoma City Thunder. 13. This year’s draft is … The throw-in from the Dwight Howard trade is averaging 12.7 points and 11.8 rebounds. 2. 47-25. Really, the Blazers just have to find a way to obtain a non-awful bench. Theoretically virtually any team can make the playoffs … We apologize, but this video has failed to load. If you can still find Indiana to miss the playoffs at plus money, take it. The Magic expected to build on their 1995 Finals experience with a compelling, back-and-forth series against the 72-10 Chicago Bulls — until the games actually started. 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4. Dallas Mavericks, 38-39 Main Source of Hope: Mark Cuban They have a legitimate, if aging, offensive force in Dirk Nowitzki. Star players: Steve Nash, Amar'e Stoudemire, Postseason result: Defeated by San Antonio Spurs (4-2) in Western Conference semifinals. But when you fail to take care of business in the semis, wondering is all you can do. Use of this website (including any and all parts and components) constitutes your acceptance of these TERMS OF USE and UPDATED PRIVACY POLICY. The superstar duo and a strong supporting cast make the Lakers a top-three team in the league and if Davis and LeBron are healthy for the playoffs, it’s hard to envision them not lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy again in 2021 – even with all of the Nets’ offensive firepower. By Ameer Tyree @its_ameericle May 23, 2021, 12:10pm PDT Share this story. We encountered an issue signing you up. GOLDEN STATE (-113 to Make) The playoff picture in the West is much clearer than the East right not. The best basketball betting sites have the Lakers and Bucks both listed at -5000 in NBA odds to make the playoffs… The Golden State Warriors are the only NBA team to miss the playoffs with a winning record one year and then win the NBA title the following season. All hope is lost for this year, but let’s see how the 13 teams with virtually extinguished playoff dreams look for the years to come. Keep track of how your favorite teams are performing and who will make the playoffs. 5. Oklahoma City fell short of a second consecutive Finals matchup with the Miami Heat, setting the wheels in motion for Durant's eventual departure for Golden State. Any other Sports lists you want us to do? Nikola Jokic, C, Denver Nuggets. 9. That summer, Orlando low-balled Shaq, and what should have been one of the most fun franchises in NBA history fell apart. Toronto Raptors, 29-48 Main Source of Hope: Jonas Valanciunas The Eastern Conference rookie of the month in March, Valanciunas looks well on his way to being a very good centre in the NBA. The Bucks made their way back to the Finals in 1974, falling to those aforementioned Boston Celtics, before Abdul-Jabbar left for Los Angeles that offseason. [np_storybar title=”Raptors’ Jonas Valanciunas taking momentum into off-season” link=”http://sports.nationalpost.com/2013/04/05/raptors-jonas-valanciunas-taking-momentum-into-off-season/”][/np_storybar]. 2006-07 Dallas Mavericks. 6 of 11. The 2017 NBA Finals feature the two very best teams in the Association — but that's not always how things shake out in June. At a glance who can clinch the playoff seeds of East conference and West conference. The top six teams are locks for the playoffs with Dallas in a pretty comfortable position as the seventh-place team. 2021 Playoffs Bracket. Can anyone think of any other comparable seasons where a bonafide MVP candidate/HoF player in his prime missed the playoffs entirely … This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. With the Golden State Warriors' Game 1 blowout of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the books — and with the very real chance this series will be over far sooner than anyone would prefer — we're running down the 10 best teams in NBA history that failed to make the Finals in their year of dominance. Postseason result: Defeated by Denver Nuggets (3-2) in Western Conference first round. Some NBA fans … We go over some of the best teams to stack for DFS on DraftKings for Sunday’s 4-game slate in Round 1 of the 2021 NBA playoffs. Do Not Sell my Personal Info. © 2021 National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Unfortunately, Oklahoma City couldn't withstand the loss of Russell Westbrook, who suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee during the Thunder's opening-round series win over the Houston Rockets. Introducing 5 FP Newsletters: Energy, Economy, Investor, Work and Finance, Financial Post: Introducing 5 Newsletters, 13 shades of terrible: Ranking NBA teams who didn't make the playoffs, tap here to see other videos from our team. The West has 15 teams, and 8 of them get to make the playoffs. But it is next year’s free agency — and the possible return of LeBron James — that looms largest. Phoenix Suns PHOENIX (AP) -- The Phoenix Suns are the ''best team not to make the playoffs.'' Nonetheless, the Magic are arguably the worst team in basketball, with no stars in waiting. Entering this year's playoffs, the loaded Nets are the consensus favorites to win the NBA title, and more money has been bet on Brooklyn than any other team at multiple U.S. sportsbooks. James’ homecoming is a long shot, but the Cavaliers are still in excellent shape. LeBron James is often mocked for his lackluster 3-6 NBA Finals record heading into the 2020 championship series. Given what we saw in Game 1 of this year's Western Conference finals, and given that the 2015-16 Warriors didn't have Kevin Durant, it's fair to wonder just how a potential Spurs-Dubs series might have gone in 2016. From here on out, it is crucial to win games and get the team into full playoff form. Best NBA playoff team stacks for DFS on Sunday, May 23rd. All hope is lost for this year, but let’s see how the 13 teams with virtually extinguished playoff dreams look for the years to come. Gordon was unhappy when the Hornets matched Phoenix’s offer sheet for him this summer, and now he is playing like it, shooting just 40% from the field and 33% from three-point range. The birth of the Air Coryell offense did not save these … Even without James Harden, the 2012-13 Thunder were among the most talented teams of the post-Michael Jordan era. Minnesota Timberwolves, 29-47 Main Source of Hope: the basketball deities Kevin Love, Ricky Rubio, Nikola Pekovic, Andrei Kirilenko and Chase Budinger have combined to miss 176 games this year. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. The 2020-21 NBA Regular Season Standings for East conference, West conference, and NBA Playoffs 2021. Technically that means that it was the Tampa Bay Raptors that didn’t make the playoffs. Plus, the Bulls, with a healthy LaVine, are simply better. Lillard will be the rookie of the year. Downside: Nene is owed US$13-million in each of the next three years. pic.twitter.com/uflo0fuBEy We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. But the team’s possible move to Seattle clouds everything. Read more about cookies here. 8. The fates have to be nicer to them next year. Still, any team as woebegone as the Bobcats would still prefer choosing first, given the choice. Clippers 24-14. Good defense or not, the Nets still have three of the best superstars of the NBA and when they get going, they are virtually impossible to stop. Two of them will not make the postseason. 11. FS1 | FOX | FOX News | Fox Corporation | FOX Sports Supports | FOX Deportes, ™ and © 2020 Fox Media LLC and Fox Sports Interactive Media, LLC. Gary Payton, pictured here, had a different reaction. New Orleans Hornets 27-50 Main Source of Hope: Anthony Davis Two things conspire against the Hornets: geography and Eric Gordon’s contract. He is owed US$44-million over the next three years. Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. POINT … 24% 15% The Sonics became the first No. Does your team make the cut? The standings and stats of the current NBA season. Portland Trail Blazers, 33-44 Main Source of Hope: Damian Lillard Portland has a lot of money tied up in LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum and Wesley Matthews, but they are all productive players. They are five of Minnesota’s eight leading scorers. KD and Serge Ibaka did what they could, but the "Grit 'N' Grind" Grizzlies were too much. Star players: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Oscar Robertson, Postseason result: Defeated by Los Angeles Lakers (4-2) in Western Conference finals. The Pistons have fewer long-term options on the perimeter, but they also lack the onerous contracts that come with those options. The race for the NBA title may not seem as wide open as it was last season but in order to compete for the NBA championship, you need to make the playoffs first and the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks are the likeliest teams to get to the postseason. 1. Charlotte Bobcats, 18-59 Main Source of Hope: lottery luck This year’s draft is supposed to be a weak one. 1 seed in NBA history to lose to the No. Of course, those Kings ran into Shaq, Kobe and the Lakers in perhaps the most infamous playoff series in NBA history. The march of meaningless games ends, and every contest is important. PHOENIX (AP) — The Phoenix Suns are the "best team not to make the playoffs." Star players: Tim Duncan, Kawhi Leonard, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, Postseason result: Defeated by Oklahoma City Thunder (4-2) in Western Conference semifinals. The first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs will begin on Saturday, May 21. The NBA suspended both Diaw and Stoudemire for Game 6, and Phoenix dropped the next two games and the series. Nonetheless, these are perilous times for the Kings. For the first time in eight seasons, the Raptors have been eliminated from playoff contention. They ranked second in offense and third in defense, and they split the season series with the eventual champion Houston Rockets at two games apiece. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings. The next season was back to business as usual for the Big Dipper. Sacramento Kings, 27-50 Main Source of Hope: Kevin Johnson The Kings have some talent, particularly in the form of unpredictable centre DeMarcus Cousins. Then Seattle ran into Dikembe Mutombo. The San Antonio Spurs have a record that just does not make… If you don't see it please check your junk folder. Charlotte Bobcats, 18-59. West. Not playing since March, these 8 … Part of the beauty of the arrival of the playoffs is that you get to instantly forget about the spotty basketball that led up to mid-April. Phoenix Suns, 23-54 Main Source of Hope: Goran Dragic Dragic is the Suns’ only player that is 26 or younger that inspires much excitement. At least nobody, save for Michael Beasley, is wildly overpaid. They have one of the league’s best coaches in Rick Carlisle. 1978 San Diego Chargers. Of course, the third point already failed the Sixers this year. You know the story: Late in a Game 4 Phoenix victory that drew the series even at 2-2, Robert Horry sent Nash crashing into the scorer's table, bringing Suns Boris Diaw and Amar'e Stoudemire off the bench in the ensuing kerfuffle. Michael Jordan exacted his revenge for the Magic eliminating the Bulls in 1995, as Chicago dominated the upstart Magic by an average scoring margin of 101.5 to 84.8 points per game in an Eastern Conference finals sweep. And, one of these years, Cuban is not going to come up empty in free agency. Everything from here on out is a no-brainer, list toppers. Postseason result: Defeated by Orlando Magic (4-2) in Eastern Conference finals. Star players: Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, … 2011-12: Philadelphia 76ers get lucky against the Chicago Bulls. Postseason result: Defeated by Boston Celtics (4-3) in Eastern Conference finals. >99% 1720. Be on the lookout for Washington. +5.3. The best time of the NBA season is here. 10. Sign up to receive the daily top stories from the National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. Johnson, Sacramento’s mayor, has done a good job of fighting the proposed exit of the team, and a group that intends to keep the team in Sacramento, led by 24-Hour Fitness boss Mark Mastrov, has emerged. Those Sacramento squads didn't boast a ton of top-end firepower; they just played the game the right way, with a shared joy that made them the second-favorite team of everyone who appreciated basketball at the turn of the millennium. Wilt finally broke through against Bill Russell's Celtics in 1967, beating his archrivals 4-1 in the Eastern finals to snap Boston's run of eight consecutive championships and deliver Chamberlain his first NBA title. Detroit Pistons, 26-52 Main Source of Hope: Andre Drummond Like the Raptors, the Pistons are set up in the frontcourt: Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond are both keepers. ERA: Dirk, Before Carlisle. However, nothing short of bringing both Chris Paul and Dwight Howard to Dallas this summer will make them a serious contender again. The Bucks won the NBA championship in 1971, their first year with both Robertson and Abdul-Jabbar on the team, but failed to recapture that glory over the next two seasons; Wilt Chamberlain's Lakers sent the Bucks packing in 1972, and Milwaukee suffered a first-round defeat to Rick Barry's Warriors in 1973. 1987 Los Angeles Lakers. The Spurs never got a chance to test themselves against the 73-9 Warriors last year, as the Thunder's athleticism was too much for a San Antonio squad featuring Tim Duncan in his final NBA season. If you double-team one of them, somebody will be left open and if all of Brooklyn’s stars are covered, Joe Harris, a 47.5% three-point shooter is left open. Other than that, this team is full of role players or players that aspire to find a role. All rights reserved Star players: Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, Postseason result: Defeated by Memphis Grizzlies (4-1) in Western Conference semifinals. 1667. Cleveland Cavaliers, 24-52 Main Source of Hope: 2014 Kyrie Irving is, almost inarguably, the best player under 22 in the league. Best Player to Not Make the Playoffs? If the season ended today, these are the teams that would face off in first-round NBA playoff action. Get ready for all the action in the 2021 NBA Playoffs. 3. With the NBA All-Star Break finally coming to a close, there is no time for NBA teams to take any more breaks. Before we say goodbye to them, however, it is worth assessing their places in the league. 6. Don't worry, this list isn't all young players on … Orlando Magic, 19-58 Main Source of Hope: Nikola Vucevic Vucevic has been a revelation this year. Please try again. Chicago and Toronto are outside of the top ten but are close to getting in the play-in games as well. There was an error, please provide a valid email address. Boston tied the mark for second-most wins in an NBA season at the time with 68 victories, but a John Havlicek shoulder injury in Game 3 against the Knicks spelled the end for Boston — and a fourth straight year without a championship. Either way, for the first time in eight seasons, the Raptors will not be playing playoff basketball. This coming Saturday sees a return of the best time of the year, as the NBA playoffs kick off properly. Washington Wizards, 29-48 Main Source of Hope: Bradley Beal Since John Wall returned to the starting lineup on Jan. 25, the Wizards are 20-17. We'll let you decide whether Los Angeles or the officials beat Sacramento in 2002. 7. While the top of the conference is led by the LA Lakers and Clippers, there is a lot of parity in the rest of the conference. The NBA’s next season will count not only with the teams who went to Florida to finish the 2020 season but also with all the others that couldn’t make it to the great NBA playoffs. That a team dependent on Mo Williams, Delonte West, Anderson Varejao and Boobie Gibson could rank this high is all you need to know about LeBron's greatness. SportsPulse: USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Zillgitt breaks down two teams at the top of the Eastern Conference who are under pressure to make a deep run in the NBA playoffs. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. 10 nba teams that should have made the playoffs What other great NBA teams missed the playoffs? 4. Help | Viewer Feedback | Press | Advertise With Us | Jobs | FOX Cincy | RSS | Site Map

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