Cream of the Crop: The 15 best Basketball Teams ever assembled

With the formation of the Miami Thrice or whatever the hell they are called, a question has popped into my mind as to what teams are truly the best of all time.

There were many great teams built throughout the NBA history and I will try my hardest to rank the top 15.

On a side note, this is my opinion and my opinion only and it does not matter how many rings (if any) a team won, it all depends on how they played, the players, and also in the case of two teams, who they got defeated by in the Finals....

Honorable Mentions

Steve Nash's Suns: They never went to the Finals, but they were entertaining and contained a nice gropu of players with great chemistry.

The Chauncey Pistons: They did win a ring in 2004 and they just miss getting on this list

The Superman Magic: This team is very close to cracking the list and one more trip to the Finals and even better, a win will earn them the spot on the list.

Jerry West's Lakers: Never won a ring and wasn't that much of a team aside for the Logo.

Barkley's Suns: defeated by Mike and truly was not that much of a truly amazing team.

On a side note remember this is all one man's opinion and I'm sure you all have yours.

Feel free to comment and enjoy!

15. Hakeem's Rockets

The Dream.

Hakeem Olajuwon will forever be remembered as one of the best players in the history of the NBA. During his time with the Rockets he led them to 2 NBA Championships as well as denying the very young Shaq his ring in Orlando.

Other than Olajuwon the team had guys like Kenny Smith, Robert Horry, and Sam Cassell, Clyde Drexler, and others during their championship runs.

This team did not contain the star power of many other teams on this list, but they were a great team that fell during Jordan's second three-peat

14. Oscar's Bucks

The Bucks team led by one the greatest players of all time in Oscar Robertson won the NBA championship in 1971.
This proved to be the only championship win for the Bucks. The MVP of that championship series was none other than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in his often overlooked stint with the Bucks.
This Bucks team also became the first team in NBA history to have three consecutive 60 win seasons.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was traded in 1974 ending the hopes of Milwakee fans at possibly another NBA Championship.

13. Kobe's Lakers

This Lakers team is not broken apart yet so they could very quickly make it up this list if their success continues. As of right now, the Lakers are sitting on two consecutive NBA Championships, and are no doubt looking for a third in the coming season.
This team is headed by Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol as well as the Hall of Fame coach Phil Jackson.
The team has made the NBA Finals in three consecutive seasons and has only lost once. This played a big part in their latest wins, no doubt about it as it came from their arch nemesis the Boston Celtics.
I will not go into that particular team because it is only one slide away, but nonetheless, this team is still building their legacy and I find it hard to imagine that they will go down without a fight.

12. Boston Big Three

These guys are done. The amazing run they posted right there was like an 80 year old Cinderella looking for a new prince after the old one had a knee injury and died.

Now, let me explain why I put them ahead of such deserving teams like the Lakers, well the answer is very simple, they beat them. Again, let me explain. Kevin Garnett was playing great in 2008, and even captured the Defensive Player of the Year award. He joined Paul Pierce and sharpshooting Ray Allen to create one of the greatest team ever assembled.

That year they faced the Los Angeles Lakers headed by the season MVP Kobe Bryant. The Celtics put them down in 6 games which included a dominant Game 6 which saw the Celtics win by 39 points.
The very next season the Kevin Garnett went down with an injury and the Celtics were eliminated from the playoffs by the Orlando Magic.
However, the 2008 team still remains the 14th best basketball team in history.

11. Wilt's sixers

This was a dominant team, no question about it. They steamrolled their way through the NAB season with a 68-13 record which was the best in history at the time.

They were led by MVP Wilt Chamberlain and won that year's NBA championship. There is not much else I can really write about this team other then, they dominated and that they weren't really met with any competition from anyone, but the Boston Celtics.

The won the NBA Finals in six games against the San Francisco Warriors.

10. Isiah's Pistons

Another great NBA team that ended up winning back to back NBA championships. Their team was headed by Isiah Thomas (pictured) and Dennis Rodman.

The year before their two championships, the Pistons made it to the finals where they were eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers. Those Lakers were also the team which the Pistons swept the next year in order to capture their first NBA title. The game 4 of that series also marked the last game in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Hall of Fame career.

The next year the Pistons won 59 games and defeated the Portland Trailblazers in 5 games following Vinnie Johnson's 18 footer with only 00.7 seconds left in the game.

The Pistons were hit by injuries the following year and were swept in the NBA Finals by the eventual champions, the Chicago Bulls.

9. 2010 New jersey Nets

Just kidding!

9. Reed's Knicks

This was a great team. Led by Hall of Famer Willis Reed., this team beat the Jerry West's Lakers in the 1970 Finals in an epic seven game series that is one of the best in NBA history.

This team also lacked star-power, but made up for it with hard work, dedication, and a never-say-die attitude. Aside from Reed the team had Walt Frazier, and Earl Monroe during their great run which ended in 1974.

This team won two championships, both against Jerry West and his extremely talented Lakers team.

This team was the definition of underdog and will always be remembered as one the greatest teams in NBA history.

9. Reed's Knicks

This was a great team. Led by Hall of Famer Willis Reed., this team beat the Jerry West's Lakers in the 1970 Finals in an epic seven game series that is one of the best in NBA history.

This team also lacked star-power, but made up for it with hard work, dedication, and a never-say-die attitude. Aside from Reed the team had Walt Frazier, and Earl Monroe during their great run which ended in 1974.

This team won two championships, both against Jerry West and his extremely talented Lakers team.

This team was the definition of underdog and will always be remembered as one the greatest teams in NBA history.

8. Stockton's Jazz

This is the greatest team to never win a championship in all of NBA History. They had the talent and the chemistry to win multiple championships if it weren't for one man and one team: Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.

The team headed by one of the best one-two punches in history (Stockton-Malone) dominated the NBA.

In both of their seasons when they made the NBA Finals, they were knocked down by the Bulls in epic battles.

Their 1998 series is arguably the best basketball series in history.

This team had both the record holder in steals and assists (Stockton) as well the the man with the second most points in NBA History (Karl Malone).

On paper this team was destined for greatness.

7. Dr. J and the Sixers

There are only players in NBA history who you recognize simply by their initials or just their last name or even just a nickname.

However, there are those players who you just know.

Dr. J is one of them. I don't even have to struggle to write out his whole name, instead: three letters, a period, and a space, that's it.

This team was amazing. They provided us with one the most legendary runs in NBa history when they won the NBA Championship in 1983, knocking out the Lakers in the process.

Who could ever forget arguably the most recognizable quote in NBA history, simpy: Fo' Fo' Fo'

This team was led by greats like Juliu...wait sorry Dr. J, Moses Malone, and the underrated Maurice Cheeks.

This team simply wiped the floor with the Lakers in the Finals. How many teams can say that?

6. Duncan and Robinson-Spurs

This includes the Duncan-Parker Spurs as well.

This was the start of the Spurs Dynasty that would reemerge in 2003 and every two years after that. This dynasty just came to a close last season after giving us so many thrills during their run.

This team had both the chemistry, the star-power, and the defense to get everything accomplished.

This is the most painful team for me to put on here due to how they handled my dear Suns in the Playoffs. Forgive and forget right? NO!

Anyway, this team during their on again off again runs was lead by the likes of Tim Duncan, David Robinson, Manu, Tony Parker, and Popovich.

5. Bird's Celtics

The image says it all. Larry Bird guided the Celtics to three championships during a very tough basketball era. He as helped by the likes of Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, and Nate Archibald.

During his championships in Boston he was coached by Bill Fitch and K.C. Jones. Bird would win 2 Finals MVP Trophies and go down as one of the greatest players to ever play the game.

This Celtics team had talent and if it had played in an easier era it would have been a lock for the Championship year after year.

Again, bot much to say about this team other than it had Larry Legend on it and it is one of the best teams ever assembled in NBA history.

4. Bill Russell and the Celtics

Greatness, that is how you describe Bill Russell. He is one of the best players and leaders to ever step foot on the court. During his time in Boston he had to go through he had to go through discrimination that was present at the time and he fought it straight on.

He won eleven rings, more than he could wear on his fingers. He was a legend.

He was assisted by John Havlicek and Bob Cousy who made up one of the best backcourts in all of basketball history. The only knock against this team is the era they played in. When considering who the had to face and the talent they had, it does not seem fair.

Nonetheless, the rings speak for themselves, and being the fourth best team in NBA history is still a great honor.

3. Showtime Lakers

Headed by one of the best point guards in NBA history and one of the greatest centers in NBA history and also by one of the greatest forwards in history, also by one of the greatest coaches in history and by one of the greatest, ok you get the idea.

This team was meant to win, they had everything needed to be successful and as the five rings prove, they did win.

They played some of the most exciting basketball ever seen and every game, you knew they were gonna put on a show.

They were exciting and they were all winners. The team's star power included Magic, Kareem, Worthy, and Riley all of whom have been inducted into the basketball hall of fame.

2. Shaq's Lakers

This dynasty was just dominant. It was impossible to beat them. If not for the chemistry problems this team faced and if they did not break apart in 2004, there is a good probability the Spurs dynasty listed as number six would have never occurred.

This team was headlined by the Big Aristotle himself, who for a time, was the most dominant force in the NBA. He reached his peak with the Lakers, and played with power and skill that has not been seen since he took a liking to burgers.

They also had the "Zen Master" Phil Jackson on their team and he kept the egoes in check up until 2004 when even he could not fix this team's problems.

The disagreements between the men pictured were the main reason fro this team's eventual collapse.

However, while they lasted the three championships and the dominance they displayed has not been shown very often and their skill has only been trumped by one team.

1. MJ and the Bulls

Hard work and dedication can describe many people, but there is one person who embodied those words more than anyone who every played any sport. Michael Jordan.

There is a reason he is considered to be the best player in the history of the NBA. He worked harder than anyone and his results speak for themselves. He won 6 championships and 6 Finals MVP awards.

Combine that with 5 MVPs and the highest scoring average in history and you have only listed 1% of Michael Jordan's accolades. He was a winner.

Well enough about him, let me focus on the team.

Other than Mike the team was headed by a younger version of Phil Jackson and on the court had Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman take the court with MJ.

This team never lost in the Finals and played in the toughest era in basketball.

This team beat three teams on this list, and even beat the Jazz twice in the Finals.

They hold the best single season record in NBA history with an impressive 72-10 standing.

When looking at their accomplishments there is no denying that indeed this is the greatest basketball team to ever step foot on the court.