We reach Region 3 - the 2017 Warriors are the number one overall seed - the number 3 overall seed - the 2015 Warriors.
1. 2015 NBA CHAMPION GOLDEN ST WARRIORS v 16. PLAY IN WINNER
(67-15)
-The first of the 3 Warriors titles from back half of the decade; Curry is 26, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are both 24. They'll take on the winner of the Play in Game Between the '54 Lakers and the '01 Jazz.
8. 1997 PAC DIV CHAMP SEATTLE SUPERSONICS v. 9. 1993 WEST CHAMP PHOENIX SUNS
(62-20) (62-20)
-It's our first Sonics squad; 28 year old Gary Payton, 27 year old Shawn Kemp. They fell in the West Semis. The Suns went further, losing in the NBA Finals. 29 year old Charles Barkley and 26 year old Kevin Johnson pace the squad.
5. 1981 PHILADELPHIA 76ERS v. 12. 2009 PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
(62-20) (54-28)
-The Sixers lost in the East Finals; the Doctor is 30. They host the Blazers team that lost in the first round of the playoffs. LaMarcus Aldridge is 23 and Brandon Roy, 24, leads the group in PPG.
4. 1964 NBA CHAMPION BOSTON CELTICS v. 13. 1996 MW DIV CHAMP SA SPURS
(59-21) (59-23)
-Another Celtics champion; they beat the Warriors in the Finals. Bill Russell's 29; Hondo's 23, Sam Jones is 30. They face yet another Spurs squad; this one made it to the West Semis; Robinson's 30, Sean Elliott 27.
3. 2011 EAST CHAMP MIAMI HEAT v. 14. 1999 CEN DIV CHAMP INDIANA PACERS
(58-24) (33-17)
-Our first LeBron James team. This is the team that lost in the NBA Finals to Dallas. LeBron's 26 as is Chris Bosh. Dwyane Wade is 29. Our first look at Larry Bird isn't as a player - he's coaching this Pacers team that fell in the East Finals. Reggie Miller's 33. Chris Mullin's on this team, he's 35.
6. 2006 SW DIV CHAMP SA SPURS v. 11. 1957 NBA CHAMP BOSTON CELTICS
(63-19) (44-28)
The Spurs continue to dominate the bracket. This group made the West Semis, Duncan's 29, Ginobli 28, Parker 23. They will host the second World Champion Celtics team in this region; the '57 Celtics beat the Hawks in the Finals. It's a 22 year old Russell's rookie year, Cousy's 28, 30 year old Bill Sharman leads the team in PPG.
7. 2011 CEN DIV CHAMP CHICAGO BULLS v. 10. 2004 WEST CHAMP LA LAKERS
(62-20) (56-26)
-How about a post Jordan era Bulls team? 22 year old Derrick Rose leads this squad that lost the East Finals. They face Phil Jackson and a Lakers team that lost the NBA Finals. Shaq's 31. Kobe's 25 - the Mailman's on this team, he's 40 - and the Glove is also here, he's 35.
2. 1972 MW CHAMP MILWAUKEE BUCKS v. 15. 1975 ABA WEST DIV CHAMP DENVER NUGGETS
(63-19) (65-19)
-The second seed in this Region is a 63 win Buck team that fell in the West Finals. Kareem's 24, Oscar's 33 and Bobby Dandridge is 24. They play another 70s team, this one from the ABA, a 25 year old Ralph Simpson led them in PPG.
