The 10 best teams of the decade never to win a championship

Close, but no cigar!!!!!!!! Also-rans get also-rung for many reasons. Players could fall short, coaches could come up lame, the refs could play a part, the matchups could play a role, and injuries could come up at the worst time. Or, our own overstating of one team's brilliance could lead them to believe the hype and disbelieve in the idea of boxing out.

Here are a list of the 10 best teams to fall short of a ring,since the 1999-2000 season.

10. Miami Heat, 2004-05

The won 59 games that year with Shaq's 1st year there. They were ranked 6th in defense and 5th in offense. With Wade and O'Neal injured in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Heat lost to the Pistons. Next year, Pat Riley made some moves and added Antoine Walker, Jason Williams, James Posey and Gary Payton and the Heat won the ring in 2006

9. Detroit Pistons, 2005-06

Under coach Flip Saunders, the Pistons were 4th in offense(from 17th) and 5th in defense. They were on a good pace to win 70 wins until a March and April slump saw a 47-9 team go 17-9 to finish the season. In the 1st 2 rounds of the playoffs. They lost key games to the Bucks and Cavs then losing in 6 games to the Heat in the Conference Finals.

8. Phoenix Suns, 2004-05

The Suns were incredible to watch that year. Their run-and-gun style sparked a whole new generation to NBA fans. A freewhelming offense and an upgrade in the running game. They won 62 games and averaged 110 points per game. When the playoffs rolled around, Joe Johnson went down with a broken face in Game 2 on the Conference Semifinals. Jim Jackson stepped in, but the Suns werent the same team at all. The Suns started to run out of gas and were beat by the Spurs in 5 games on the Western Conference Finals.

7. Minnesota Timberwolves, 2003-04

It was the big 3 of Kevin Garnett(who was MVP that year). Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell. They paved the way under coach Flip Saunders and were a forced to be reconded with. They were also ranked #1 in defense! In the playoffs, Cassell had a bum hamstring. Darrick Martin, Fred Hoiberg and even Garnett had to bring the ball upcourt for the T'Wolves. It worked fine. Until they ran into the Lakers in the Conference Finals and it was all over with.

6. Los Angeles Lakers, 2003-04

Besides all the crap that was going on with this team: Kobe's legal troubles, Shaq out of shape, Karl Malone's knee injuries, and Gary Payton never learning the triangle offense. The Lakers were still a great team and STILL MADE THE NBA FINALS. This team wouldve went down as one of the best in history. If it all came together. The Pistons destroyed them in 5 games.

5. San Antonio Spurs, 2003-04

After winning the championship in 2003. The Spurs were ready to win back to back Championships. Until they ran into the Lakers in the Semifinals. This had to be the most heart breaking loss to a team that I ever witnessed. Derek Fisher completely ripped their hearts out in Game 5 of Semifinals. Nailing an impossible jumper with .4 seconds left on the clock. In Game 6, the Spurs were completely out of sync and couldnt regroup.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers, 2008-09

Already having the best player in the league this year(Lebron James) and a great pickup in the offseason(Mo Williams). The Cavs were dominating the league. Winning 66 games, including winning 74 of their last 90 games with an 8.9 point differential. Things were going great, until they ran into the Orlando Magic in the Conference Finals. They were trapped in matchup problems. They had nodody to guard Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis, or Dwight Howard. They were too small on defense( DeLonte West and Mo Williams) and were defeated in 6 games.

3. Sacramento Kings, 2001-02

This team were well deserving of a championship that year. They were led by an MVP caliber Chris Webber, Peja Stojakovic, and Mike Bibby. Led by Rick Adleman and were ranked 6th in defense. When the playoffs came about. The were once again matched up against the Lakers. The Kings were robbed by the refs in Game 6 of the Conference Finals vs. the Lakers. They did have a Game 7 in Sacremento, but they totally blew the game completely. Even with the game going to overtime. Webber and Stojakovic were a no-show. Peja even shot a couple of airballs in the mix too. This was the best chance they ever had on winning a championship.

2. Portland Trail Blazers, 1999-00

This was one of the deepest team that I ever seen assembled in all the year i ever watched basketball. They had a great player in every position and a bench that could start on any other NBA team. They were the talk of the league(besides the Lakers, of course). They even defeated them on Feb.29. The Lakers already bounced them out the playoffs twice already. But this year, Mike Dunleavy and his team had revenge and the championship on their minds. Game 7 of the Conference Finals, the Blazers were up by 20. The shots stopped falling and they had no fallback option and lost the lead. The Lakers sparked one of the biggest playoff comebacks in NBA history. Ending the Blazers only chance on winning the champoinship for a long time.

1. Dallas Mavericks, 2006-07

I really hate that I put my favorite team #1 on this list. But I love them so much that i have to speak the truth about this so I can get it out of my head for good. After losing the 2006 NBA Finals. The Mavs were on redemption mode the next season. Even though the started next season 0-4, they finished with a whopping 67-11 record to end the season. Dirk won the MVP and all eyes were on the Mavs to win it all. But they had one obstacle they couldnt get over; Golden State. They ignored the fact they couldve avoided playing the Warriors if they wont the rest of their games and didnt sit their starters. They also ignored the fact they were 1-6 vs. the Warriors the last 2 season. Game 1 started and Don Nelson began the matchup problems and Avery Johnson fell into the trap. The Warriors beat the Mavs in 6 games and ruined the Mavs best season of their franchise.

Honorable Mention

Here are some Honorable Mention for the decade also:
Orlando Magic 2008-09
Indiana Pacers, 2003-04
Indiana Pacers 1999-00
Philadelphia 76ers, 2000-01
Sacramento Kings, 2002-03
Sacramento Kings, 2003-04
San Antonio Spurs, 2005-06
San Antonio Spurs, 2001-02
San Antonio Spurs, 2000-01
Dallas Mavericks, 2005-06
Dallas Mavericks, 2002-03
Dallas Mavericks, 2004-05.
Los Angeles Lakers, 2007-08
Phoenix Suns, 2006-07
Detroit Pistons, 2004-05
Detroit Pistons 2007-08