NBA History: Jordan's Bulls, Bird's Celtics and the 10 Greatest Teams

It’s pretty difficult to compile a list of the greatest teams in NBA history.

How can we possibly compare teams from entirely different eras with all of the different rule changes and stylistic differences? It’s really tough, but I dug deep and came up with a list of who I thought was the top ten teams in NBA history.

And the greatest teams in NBA history are...

10. 2007-08 Boston Celtics

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

BOSTON - JUNE 17: (L-R) Glen Davis #11, Kevin Garnett #5, Paul Pierce #34, Ray Allen #20 and head coach Doc Rivers of the Boston Celtics celebrate after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Six of the 2008 NBA Finals on June 17, 2008 at TD Banknorth

Key Players: Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins, Eddie House, James Posey

Regular Season: 66-16

Playoffs: 16-10

MOV (Margin Of Victory): 10

"The Big Three", as they were dubbed at the beginning of Boston's magnificent turnaround season, jelled from the start winning 29 of their first 32 games. They finished the season 67-15 and were by far the league's top defensive unit. 

However, once they hit the playoffs they had trouble and played two game sevens in the first two rounds. Once they got to the finals they took out a very good, yet over-matched Lakers squad led by Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol.

9. 1982-83 Philadelphia Sixers

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES - 1987: Julius Erving #6 of the Philadelphia 76ers rests during the 1987 game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Key Players: Moses Malone, Julius Erving, Andrew Toney, Maurice Cheeks, Bobby Jones

Regular Season: 65-17

Playoffs: 12-1

MOV: 7.7

Moses and "Dr. J", this team had some extravagant talent. They posted the best playoff winning percentage in NBA history at the time, losing only once on their way to the title. 

They had three players average over 22 points and shooting 50 percent or above: Malone (23.5 points, 50 percent), Erving (22.9 points, 52 percent), and Toney (23.3, 50 percent).

8. 1991-92 Chicago Bulls

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

ATLANTA - JANUARY 21: Scottie Pippen #33 of the Chicago Bulls shoots a free throw during the game against the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena on January 21, 2004 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Hawks won 97-87. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and ag

Key Players: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, B.J. Armstrong, John Paxson

Regular Season: 67-15

Playoffs: 15-7

MOV: 10.4

Outside of Jordan and Pippen, nobody really scared the opposition..

But role players like Armstrong and Paxson were perfect fits that produced when called upon. They meshed with Jordan's game well and defended their asses off. 

This might not have been the best Bulls squad ever, but they sure were in the discussion. Horace Grant was a tireless worker who did the dirty work inside, a critical component to any championship team. 

7. 2000-01 Los Angeles Lakers

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

SEATTLE - NOVEMBER 30: Center Shaquille O'Neal #34 of the Los Angeles Lakers stands on the sideline with guard Kobe Bryant #8 and head coach Phil Jackson during the NBA game against the Seattle SuperSonics at Key Arena in Seattle, Washington on November

Key Players: Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Robert Horry, Derek Fisher, Rick Fox

Regular Season: 56-26

Playoffs: 15-1

MOV: 4.4

Similar to the '91 Bulls, this squad had two dominant players in Shaq and Kobe and also elite role players that included Big Shot Bob and Derek Fisher. 

To me this was Shaq and Kobe at their best together. Nobody could stop either one of them one on one, which left them both in a position to make big plays.

Managing these two egos, however, was probably one of the toughest things in Phil Jackson's career. 

6. 1988-89 Detroit Pistons

Tim DeFrisco/Getty Images

11 May 1994: DETROIT POINT GUARD ISIAH THOMAS AT FREE THROW LINE DURING THE PISTONS GAME AT THE DENVER NUGGETS.

Key Players: Isaiah Thomas, Bill Lambier, Joe Dumars, Mark Aguirre, Vinne Johnson, Dennis Rodman, Adrian Dantley

Regular Season: 63-19

Playoffs: 15-2

MOV: 5.8

This team was the bad boys of the NBA. They featured a dominant three guard rotation and harassed like no other on the defensive end.

In fact, they were one of the best defensive teams of all time. Only the Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals didn't get swept by this hard-nosed, physical team. 

5. 1964-65 Boston Celtics

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

SEATTLE - FEBRUARY 11: Former Celtic great Bill Russell waves during the game between the Boston Celtics and the Seattle Sonics at Key Arena on February 11, 2003 in Seattle, Washington. The Celtics won 82-76. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges a

Key Players: Bill Russell, John Havlicek, Tom Sanders, Sam Jones, Tom Heinsohn

Regular Season: 62-18

Playoffs: 8-4

MOV:  8.4

Broke its own league record for most victories in a season and then went on to win the Celtics' seventh consecutive NBA championship. This was the team that resonates with the famous "Havlicek stole the ball!" radio call from Celtics broadcaster Johnny Most.

Russell, arguably the greatest big man to ever play, averaged a ridiculous 24 rebounds a night that season. Numbers like that will never be approached again.

4. 1986-87 Los Angeles Lakers

Getty Images/Getty Images

2 Feb 1996: Guard Earvin (Magic) Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers yells during a game against the Chicago Bulls at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. The Bulls won the game, 99-84. Mandatory Credit: ALLSPORT USA /Allsport Mandatory Cred

Key Players: Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, Byron Scott, Michael Cooper, A.C. Green

Regular Season: 65-17

Playoffs: 15-3

MOV: 9.3

The "Showtime" Lakers led by coaching legend Pat Riley was one of the greatest offensive teams from any era. They simply were unstoppable with the combination of three dominate hall-of-famers in Magic, Kareem, and Worthy. 

They put up 117.8 points a game that year en route to their title over the Boston Celtics in six. 

3. 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers

Ken Levine/Getty Images

INGLEWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 16: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain sit on the court during Earvin 'Magic' Johnson's retirement ceremony from the Los Angeles Lakers on February 16, 1992 at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood,

Key Players: Gail Goodrich, Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, Jim McMillian, Happy Hairston, Elgin Baylor.

Regular Season: 67-15

Playoffs: 12-3

MOV:  13.3

Just the fact that two of the greatest to ever play, West and Chamberlain, were on the same team was not fair. Throw in Goodrich, who doesn't get the same pub as the previous two do, yet averaged a team-high 25.9 points a night.

Baylor, McMillian, Hairston; the list goes on. This was one of the greatest collection of talent the league will ever see. And if you check out their margin of victory (13.3), it's another sign of just how good these guys were. 

They also won an amazing 33 in a row, something that might never be broken. 

2. 1985-86 Boston Celtics

Tim DeFrisco/Getty Images

1990: Center Robert Parish and forward Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics walk down the court during a game. Mandatory Credit: Tim de Frisco /Allsport

Key Players: Larry Bird, Robert Parish, Danny Ainge, Bill Walton, Kevin McHale, Dennis Johnson

Regular Season: 67-15

Playoffs: 15-3

MOV:  9.4

Five hall of famers: Bird, Parish, Walton, McHale, and Johnson. 

This squad boasted a 40-1 record at home, the best home winning percentage (.976) in NBA history. They were the epitome of efficiency shooting over 50 percent a night. 

Led by Bird, they went on to win it all over the Houston Rockets in a six game battle.

This just might have been Larry Legend's best year as a pro, averaging 25.8 points, 9.8 boards, and 6.8 assists. He shot 49 percent from the field, 42 percent from three, and 89 percent from the stripe.

1. 1995-96 Chicago Bulls

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

13 May 1997: Forward Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan (right) of the Chicago Bulls confer during a playoff game against the Atlanta Hawks at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls won the game 107-92. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Alls

Key Players: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Toni Kukoc, Steve Kerr, Luc Longley

Regular Season: 72-10

Playoffs: 15-3

MOV: 12.3

Everyone was afraid of the Bulls, even before they added wild-man rebounding connoisseur Dennis Rodman to the mix. What happened next was a chemistry experiment of perfection as they went on to win a league record 72 games with the best defensive team of all time.

Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman formed a lethal defensive trio to which nobody could answer. When they wanted a stop they were going to get a stop. It was that simple. 

Like usual, the Bulls had a great supporting cast of efficient role players who didn't step on any toes which included Kukoc, Longley, and others. 

Will this team ever be challenged as the greatest ever? Only time will tell...

Featured on MIASPORTSGUY.COM