NBA Finals 2011: The 18 Most Dominant Championship Teams of All Time

If not for one of the worst collapses in NBA Finals history, the Miami Heat could very well find themselves on this list soon. Instead, we'll just have to wait and see how this series pans out before we make any assumptions.

For now, we'll take a look at some of the most dominant championship teams ever assembled. Unlike my previous article where I based the rankings of each championship team on their rosters, regular-season record and postseason performance, these power rankings will only be loosely based on the regular season and roster, with the team and how they fared in the playoffs being the key factor.

So if you see a team that finished with 65-plus wins behind a team with less than 55 wins, please don't freak out and write an asinine comment. You're only going to make yourself look foolish once you read this introduction.

The postseason is when we truly see what separates the good teams from the great teams. There have been championship teams that have finished with as little as 47 wins, but still were able to secure titles because they had the tenacity, ambition and talent to beat teams that thought they'd take the title solely based on how they performed in the regular season.

There is also the deal of teams turning it on for the postseason. There have been plenty of times when you witness a team skate through the regular season only to see them absolutely dominate in that year's postseason. Take, for instance, this year's Miami Heat. They finished a combined 1-9 against Boston, Chicago and Dallas in the regular season and are now 10-3 against those same teams in the playoffs thus far.

With a pivotal Game 4 on the line tonight, let's take a look at some of the league's most dominant championship teams and just how they compare to teams today.

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18. 1964 Boston Celtics

Regular-Season Record: 59-21

Starting Lineup: PG K.C. Jones, SG Sam Jones, SF John Havlicek, PF Tom Heinsohn, C Bill Russell 

Road to the Title

Conference finals: Defeated Cincinnati Royals 4-1

NBA Finals: Defeated San Francisco Warriors 4-1

Who needs Bob Cousy when you still have Bill Russell, John Havlicek and too many Hall of Famers to name?

The 1964 Boston Celtics steamrolled their way through another regular season by winning 59 of their 80 regular-season games en route to another postseason appearance. With only two rounds in the postseason then, the road to a title was much easier than it is today. With fatigue hardly a factor, the Celtics took advantage with one of the league's most dominant centers and shooting guards.

The Celtics only lost twice on their way to a seventh championship with Sam Jones leading the way in scoring at 23 points per game. Bill Russell was dominant under the boards as usual and averaged 27 rebounds per game in that year's playoffs. Havlicek and Tom Heinshon averaged 16 and 18 points respectively.

17. 1980 Los Angeles Lakers

Regular-Season Record: 60-22

Starting Lineup: PG Magic Johnson, SG Norm Nixon, SF Jamaal Wilkes, PF Jim Chones, C Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Road to the Title

Semifinals: Defeated Phoenix Suns 4-1

Conference finals: Defeated Seattle Supersonics 4-1

NBA Finals: Defeated Philadelphia 76ers 4-2

The 1979-80 Los Angeles Lakers won the title with ease that season after reeling off a 60-win regular season and then losing only four times in three series, but it will be most remembered for Magic Johnson's performance in Game 6 as the team's starting center.

In the deciding game of the NBA Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers, Johnson, who usually plays as a point guard, started in place of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and basically played all five positions for the night. He finished with 42 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists for the game and would take home a very deserving NBA Finals MVP Award.

Abdul-Jabbar led the Lakers in the postseason with 31 points and 12 rebounds per game, while Johnson came 0.6 assists away from averaging a triple-double. Jamaal Wilkes averaged 20 points and eight rebounds.

16. 2004 Detroit Pistons

Regular-Season Record: 54-28

Starting Lineup: PG Chauncey Billups, SG Richard Hamilton, SF Tayshaun Prince, PF Rasheed Wallace, C Ben Wallace

Road to the Title

First round: Defeated Milwaukee Bucks 4-1

Semifinals: Defeated New Jersey Nets 4-3

Conference finals: Defeated Indiana Pacers 4-2

NBA Finals: Defeated Los Angeles Lakers 4-1

The 2004 Detroit Pistons might not have swept a team and they might have seen a series actually go seven games, but how they finished off the postseason is why they're remembered as one of the top teams of the decade.

They would struggle in the Eastern Conference playoffs as they needed seven games to get past New Jersey in the semifinals before needing six games to defeat Indiana in the conference finals. In the NBA Finals against a heavily favored Lakers team that featured Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Gary Payton and Karl Malone, the Pistons defense stepped up in a way that some of the NBA's greatest players couldn't figure out.

Detroit allowed over 87 points once in the series and that came during an overtime loss. They would hold the Lakers to 75 in Game 1, 68 in Game 3, 80 in Game 4 and 87 in Game 5.

Richard Hamilton led the way for Detroit with 22 points, five rebounds and four assists per game, while NBA Finals MVP Chauncey Billups contributed 16 points and six assists. Rasheed Wallace and Ben Wallace would both average over 10 points per game with Ben averaging 14 rebounds and providing the necessary defense on O'Neal to give the Pistons the series victory.

15. 1985 Los Angeles Lakers

Regular-Season Record: 62-20

Starting Lineup: PG Magic Johnson, SG Byron Scott, SF James Worthy, PF Kurt Rambis, C Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Road to the Title

First round: Defeated Phoenix Suns 3-0

Semifinals: Defeated Portland Trail Blazers 4-1

Conference finals: Defeated Denver Nuggets 4-1

NBA Finals: Defeated Boston Celtics 4-2

When a team falls by 34 points, the chances are that they'll become demoralized. The 1980 Los Angeles Lakers weren't one of those teams. Instead of laying down in the fetal position following that loss, they'd win four of the next five games for a title win over the rival Boston Celtics.

The Lakers made easy work of their first three opponents, going 11-2. They ran into a roadblock in Boston, but they would overcome the putrid first game and would steal the series in six games. They would win Game 3 by 25 points and would win every game by at least seven points.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar led the Lakers with 22 points and eight rebounds per contest, while James Worthy chipped in 22 points. Magic Johnson came up big once again as he led the team with 15 assists per to go along with 18 points and seven rebounds.

14. 2007 San Antonio Spurs

Regular-Season Record: 58-24

Starting Lineup: PG Tony Parker, SG Manu Ginobili, SF Bruce Bowen, PF Tim Duncan, C Fabricio Oberto

Road to the Title:

First round: Defeated Denver Nuggets 4-1

Semifinals: Defeated Phoenix Suns 4-2

Conference finals: Defeated Utah Jazz 4-1

NBA Finals: Defeated Cleveland Cavaliers 4-0

There was a reason why the San Antonio Spurs were always one of the league's best teams. They had a fine balance among their three core players and would then use solid defense from each and every player on the floor to win games.

In the 2007 postseason, the Spurs wouldn't sweep any teams in the Western Conference, but they also wouldn't allow a series to go further than six games. It turns out that their easiest opponent came in the NBA Finals when they took on LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was basically a one-man show for the Cavs, as the Spurs took advantage and swept Cleveland in their first NBA Finals appearance.

Duncan and Parker would both average over 20 points per game with Duncan also contributing 12 rebounds and Parker dishing out six assists. Manu Ginobili and Michael Finley would help the cause as they averaged over 10 points per game.

13. 1965 Boston Celtics

Regular-Season Record: 62-18

Starting Lineup: PG K.C. Jones, SG Sam Jones, SF John Havlicek, PF Tom Heinsohn, C Bill Russell

Road to the Title

Conference finals: Defeated Philadelphia 76ers 4-3

NBA Finals: Defeated Los Angeles Lakers 4-1

A year after winning their seventh title, the Celtics made it eight with a dominant NBA Finals over the rival Los Angeles Lakers.

The Celtics won 62 of 80 games in the regular season and made yet another postseason in their short NBA history. Their first-round opponent wasn't as easy as the year before as it took them seven games to put away the Philadelphia 76ers. However, they truly made their impression felt in the NBA Finals after only needing five games to defeat Jerry West and the Lakers.

Boston won Game 1 of that series by 32 points and the final game of the series by 33.

Sam Jones once again led the team in scoring, this time with 29 points, while Bill Russell contributed 17 points, 25 rebounds and six assists per game. John Havlicek, Tom Sanders and K.C. Jones all scored at least 10 points per game in the postseason.

12. 1987 Los Angeles Lakers

Regular-Season Record: 65-17

Starting Lineup: PG Magic Johnson, SG Byron Scott, SF James Worthy, PF AC Green, C Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Road to the Title:

First round: Defeated Denver Nuggets 3-0

Semifinals: Defeated Golden State Warriors 4-1

Conference finals: Defeated Seattle Supersonics 4-0

NBA Finals: Defeated Boston Celtics 4-2

Following an easy Western Conference playoff run, the Los Angeles Lakers decided to make easy work of the Boston Celtics once again in the NBA Finals.

Led by Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, both nearing retirement, the Lakers won 65 of 82 regular-season games and then swept two teams on their way to another NBA Finals appearance. They would score 141 points in Game 2 and would steal the series away once they won by one point in Game 4 in Boston. They would then end the series in Boston with a 13-point victory.

This time, it was James Worthy leading the way with 24 points and six rebounds per game. Johnson once again came up huge with 22 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds, while Kareem Abdul-Jabbar offered 19 points and seven rebounds.

11. 1967 Philadelphia 76ers

Regular-Season Record: 68-13

Starting Lineup: PG Hal Green, SG Wali Jones, SF Chet Walker, PF Billy Cunningham, C Wilt Chamberlain

Road to the Title

Semifinals: Defeated Cincinnati Royals 3-1

Conference finals: Defeated Boston Celtics 4-1

NBA Finals: Defeated San Francisco Warriors 4-2

At long last, Wilt Chamberlain was finally able to secure his first title. He led the Sixers to one of the league's greatest single-season records after winning 68 of 81 regular-season games, and then went 11-4 in the postseason to give Philadelphia its first title.

By beating the Boston Celtics in the conference finals, it marked the first time in 11 years that the C's would not make it to the NBA Finals. It was truly a historic moment for the 76ers as they finally knocked off the Celtics and ended their reign at the top of the NBA. After that, it was smooth sailing as they used six games to dispose of the San Francisco Warriors.

Chamberlain was supreme, averaging 22 points, 29 rebounds and nine assists in the postseason. Hall of Famer Hal Greer led the team in scoring with 28 points per game, while Chet Walker scored 22 points per contest. Wali Jones, Billy Cunningham and Luke Jackson all averaged over 10 points per game.

10. 1986 Boston Celtics

Regular-Season Record: 67-15

Starting Lineup: PG Dennis Johnson, SG Danny Ainge, SF Larry Bird, PF Kevin McHale, C Robert Parish

Road to the Title:

First round: Defeated Chicago Bulls 3-0

Semifinals: Defeated Atlanta Hawks 4-1

Conference finals: Defeated Milwaukee Bucks 4-1

NBA Finals: Defeated Houston Rockets 4-2

One of the best teams to ever be assembled, the 1985-86 Boston Celtics were dominant in the regular season and postseason.

They overcame the offensive onslaught of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls by sweeping them and then needed only 10 games to eliminate the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks. Their longest series came in the NBA Finals when they needed six games to take out the Houston Rockets. This would be their last championship until 2008.

Larry Bird and Kevin McHale absolutely dominated the postseason, with each player averaging over 25 points per game to go along with nine rebounds from each. Dennis Johnson, Danny Ainge and Robert Parish all averaged over 15 points per game.

9. 1997 Chicago Bulls

Regular-Season Record: 69-13

Starting Lineup: PG Ron Harper, SG Michael Jordan, SF Scottie Pippen, PF Dennis Rodman, C Luc Longley

Road to the Title

First round: Defeated Washington Bullets 3-0

Semifinals: Defeated Atlanta Hawks 4-1

Conference finals: Defeated Miami Heat 4-1

NBA Finals: Defeated Utah Jazz 4-2

You know you have a really good team if you nearly match your record-setting season from the year before. The Chicago Bulls might not have won 72 games, but they did take 69 in the season after for yet another dominant regular-season performance.

Their postseason wasn't as easy, as they actually lost two games during their run to the NBA Finals by losing one game each to the Atlanta Hawks and the Miami Heat after sweeping the Washington Bullets. Their NBA Finals win didn't come any easier, as the Utah Jazz would actually tie the series at two games apiece before the Bulls persevered to take Games 5 and 6 by a combined six points.

The Bulls only had two players in that year's postseason, averaging over 10 points per game. Michael Jordan averaged 31 points, eight rebounds and five assists, while Scottie Pippen averaged 19 points and seven rebounds. No other player averaged more than eight points per game.

8. 1972 Los Angeles Lakers

Regular-Season Record: 69-13

Starting Lineup: PG Gail Goodrich, SG Jerry West, SF Jim McMillan, PF Happy Hairston, C Wilt Chamberlain

Road to the Title

Semifinals: Defeated Chicago Bulls 4-0

Conference finals: Defeated Milwaukee Bucks 4-2

NBA Finals: Defeated New York Knicks 4-1

The record-holder for most wins in a regular season for the next 24 years, the 1972 Los Angeles Lakers had one of the greatest starting lineups in NBA history and it translated to regular season and postseason success.

They swept the Bulls in the first round and then topped the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks in the semifinals in six games. After dropping Game 1 of the NBA Finals by 22 points against the New York Knicks, they ran off four-consecutive wins to take home the title as well as giving Jerry West his first championship.

Despite having West and Wilt Chamberlain on the team, it was Gail Goodrich leading the way in scoring at 24 points per game. West averaged 23 points, nine assists and five rebounds per game, while Chamberlain averaged 15 points and 21 rebounds. Happy Hairston contributed 14 points and 13 rebounds.

7. 1971 Milwaukee Bucks

Regular-Season Record: 66-16

Starting Lineup: PG Oscar Robertson, SG Bob Dandridge, SF Jon McGlocklin, PF Bob Boozer, C Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Road to the Title

Semifinals: Defeated San Francisco Warriors 4-1

Conference finals: Defeated Los Angeles Lakers 4-1

NBA Finals: Defeated Baltimore Bullets 4-0

You thought LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh on one team was unfair? Try saying that to the 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks which had Oscar Robertson as their point guard and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as their center.

The Bucks made easy work of the regular season after winning 66 of 82 games, and then steamrolled their way through the playoffs. Milwaukee only lost twice in the first two series of the postseason and then swept the Baltimore Bullets to take home their first NBA title. Milwaukee won each game in the series by at least eight points and won by as much as 19 in Game 2.

Abdul-Jabbar led the way with 27 points and 17 rebounds per game, while Robertson averaged 18 points, nine assists and five rebounds. Bob Dandridge supported the team with 19 points and 10 rebounds per contest.

6. 1999 San Antonio Spurs

Regular-Season Record: 37-13

Starting Lineup: PG Avery Johnson, SG Mario Elie, SF Sean Elliott, PF Tim Duncan, C David Robinson

Road to the Title

First round: Defeated Minnesota Timberwolves 3-1

Semifinals: Defeated Portland Trail Blazers 4-0

Conference Finals: Defeated Los Angeles Lakers 4-0

NBA Finals: Defeated New York Knicks 4-1

The 1999 NBA season was shortened by a lockout and would begin three months after it was regularly scheduled to begin. The San Antonio Spurs didn't help it last any longer with the way they dominated the postseason.

The Spurs made easy work in the postseason as they would lose in the first round once and then wouldn't fall again until Game 3 of the NBA Finals. They would finish 11-1 in the Western Conference playoffs and would make it 15-2 for the entire postseason after only needing five games to defeat the eighth-seeded New York Knicks.

The Knicks failed to score over 90 points for the entire series and would even score 67 points in Game 2.

Tim Duncan had taken the reins from David Robinson and led the team with 23 points and 12 rebounds per contest. Robinson helped the team's cause with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Avery Johnson and Mario Elie would both average over 10 points per game.

5. 1991 Chicago Bulls

Regular-Season Record: 61-21

Starting Lineup: PG John Paxson, SG Michael Jordan, SF Scottie Pippen, PF Horace Grant, C Bill Cartwright

Road to the Title 

First round: Defeated New York Knicks 3-0

Semifinals: Defeated Philadelphia 76ers 4-1

Conference finals: Defeated Detroit Pistons 4-0

NBA Finals: Defeated Los Angeles Lakers 4-1

The 1990-91 Chicago Bulls almost made it look too easy during their first championship run. Not only did they only lose twice, but they also swept the two-time defending champion.

The Bulls would only lose once during the Eastern Conference playoffs before meeting up with Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. The Lakers stole Game 1 by two points and then dropped four straight against a determined Bulls team that was in its first NBA Finals in franchise history. They would win Game 2 by 21 and didn't look back.

Michael Jordan would begin his championship legacy as he led the Bulls with 31 points, eight assists and six rebounds per game. Scottie Pippen would help lead the way with 22 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Horace Grant would be the only other player to average double figures in scoring, but it wouldn't even matter.

4. 1983 Philadelphia 76ers

Regular-Season Record: 65-17

Starting Lineup: PG Maurice Cheeks, SG Andrew Toney, SF Julius Erving, PF Marc Iavaroni, C Moses Malone

Road to the Title

Semifinals: Defeated New York Knicks 4-0

Conference finals: Defeated Milwaukee Bucks 4-1

NBA Finals: Defeated Los Angeles Lakers 4-0

You would think when the opposing team's best player says his team is going to sweep every team it faces on its way to a title, the other team would get motivated.

It didn't.

Moses Malone's prediction of going "4-4-4" fell one game short as the Philadelphia 76ers dropped one game in the conference finals, but they were still able to fulfill their promise of winning the NBA title. Not only did they win it, they dominated by sweeping Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers. They won the two road games by a combined 22 points.

The Sixers were led by Malone's 26 points and 16 rebounds with Julius Erving supporting the team with 18 points and eight rebounds. Andrew Toney chipped in 18 points and Maurice Cheeks offered 16 points and seven assists to the cause.

3. 1989 Detroit Pistons

Regular-Season Record: 63-19

Starting Lineup: PG Isiah Thomas, SG Joe Dumars, SF Vinnie Johnson, PF Bill Laimbeer, C Rick Mahorn

Road to the Title

First round: Defeated Boston Celtics 3-0

Semifinals: Defeated Milwaukee Bucks 4-0

Conference finals: Defeated Chicago Bulls 4-2

NBA Finals: Defeated Los Angeles Lakers 4-0

The best Detroit Piston team to ever be assembled, they nearly completed the impossible feat of sweeping every team in the postseason. If not for stubborn Michael Jordan in Chicago taking two games during the conference finals, the Pistons would have possibly completed the feat.

They would sweep their first two opponents and would then lose their only games of the playoffs in the conference finals. They would then take on the defending-champion Los Angeles Lakers, the team that they had lost to in the NBA Finals the year prior, and sweep them as well. Each game was close, with the biggest win coming by 12 points.

The Pistons had a fine offensive balance to go along with their elite defense. Isiah Thomas led the way with 18 points and eight assists per game, while Joe Dumars chipped in 18 points and six assists. Vinnie Johnson, Bill Laimbeer and Mark Aguirre would all score at least 10 per.

2. 2001 Los Angeles Lakers

Regular-Season Record: 56-26

Starting Lineup: PG Ron Harper, SG Kobe Bryant, SF Rick Fox, PF Horace Grant, C Shaquille O'Neal

Road to the Title

First round: Defeated Portland Trail Blazers 3-0

Semifinals: Defeated Sacramento Kings 4-0

Conference finals: Defeated San Antonio Spurs 4-0

NBA Finals: Defeated Philadelphia 76ers 4-1

The greatest postseason run in the modern-day format of the postseason, the 2001 Los Angeles Lakers nearly came up unbeatable in the postseason if not for one 6'0" point guard from Philadelphia.

After an average season in which they won 56 games, the Lakers truly made their impression felt when they swept every team they faced in the Western Conference playoffs. Their run would end in Game 1 as Allen Iverson dropped 48 points in an overtime road victory for the 76ers. Unfortunately for Philadelphia, this would be their only win of the series as the Lakers would continue their run by taking the next four.

The playoffs had Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant at their absolute best. They combined to score nearly 60 points per game with O'Neal averaging 15 rebounds and Bryant averaging seven rebounds and six assists. Derek Fisher and Rick Fox would average over 10 points per game for this nearly unstoppable force of a team.

1. 1996 Chicago Bulls

Regular-Season Record: 72-10

Starting Lineup: PG Ron Harper, SG Michael Jordan, SF Scottie Pippen, PF Dennis Rodman, C Luc Longley

Road to the Title

First round: Defeated Miami Heat 3-0

Semifinals: Defeated New York Knicks 4-1

Conference finals: Defeated Orlando Magic 4-0

NBA Finals: Defeated Seattle Supersonics 4-2

Nearly unbeatable in the regular season after posting up the best record in NBA history at 72-10, it turned out that the Bulls were just as good in the postseason.

They would easily sweep the Heat in the first round and would drop their only game of the Eastern Conference playoffs against the New York Knicks. They would then sweep the Orlando Magic before taking on the Seattle Supersonics in the NBA Finals.

Chicago would take the first three games easily before dropping two straight for the first time all season. They would then win Game 6 in Seattle by 12 points to start off their second three-peat of the decade.

Another dominant performance by Michael Jordan as he led the team with 31 points and five rebounds per contest. Scottie Pippen would average 17 points, nine rebounds and six assists to support the cause once again, while Toni Kukoc chipped in a big 11 points. Dennis Rodman also averaged 14 rebounds.