3/4 of the bracket completed. Kareem's best ever team is the top seed in Region 13 - the 1971 Milwaukee Bucks.
(66-16)
-The Bucks swept the Bullets in the Finals, Kareem's 23, Oscar 32, Bobby Dandridge 23. They'll face the winner of the Play In between the '86 Rockets and the '87 Mavs.
8. 2014 NW DIV CHAMP OKC THUNDER v. 9. 1989 CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
(59-23) (57-25)
-OKC made the West Finals; Durant and Westbrook are 25. The Cavs got bounced by Jordan in Round 1 of the playoffs. Mark Price is 24, Brad Daugherty 23.
5. 2008 NW CHAMP UTAH JAZZ v. 12. 2005 HOUSTON ROCKETS
(54-28) (51-31)
-Utah was eliminated in the West Semis; Deron Williams is 23, Carlos Boozer 26. The Rockets didn't escape the first round of the playoffs; Yao Ming is 24, T-Mac 25.
4. 2020 NBA CHAMPION LA LAKERS v. 13. 1974 NBA CHAMPION BOSTON CELTICS
(52-19) (56-26)
-Forever the answer to the "who won the title in the Bubble" trivia question; the 2020 Lakers beat the Heat during Corona. LeBron's 35, Anthony Davis, 26. And not only will we get a round one NBA Champs v NBA Champs matchup - but its Lakers v Celtics. Boston beat Milwaukee in the Finals. Havlicek is 33, Cowens 25.
3. 1960 NBA CHAMPION BOSTON CELTICS v. 14. 2018. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
(59-16) (52-30)
-Drop back 14 years - and here's another Celtics Champ. They beat the Hawks in the Finals. Russell's 25, Cousy's 31. They'll meet a Sixers squad whose season ended at the hands of Boston in the East semis. Ben Simmons is 21, Joel Embiid 23.
6. 2000 PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS v. 11. 2006 NBA CHAMPION MIAMI HEAT
(59-23) (52-30)
-The Blazers reached the West Finals; Scottie Pippen is here, he's 34. Rasheed Wallace is 25. They take on the first NBA Champion Heat team. They beat the Mavs in the Finals. Wade's 24, Shaq's 33. Alonzo Mourning is here, he's 35 and Gary Payton is here, he's 37.
7. 2002 MW DIV CHAMP SA SPURS v. 10. 2009 NEW ORLEANS HORNETS
(58-24) (49-33)
-Another Region, another Spurs club, this one lost in the West Semis. Duncan's 25, Robinson's 36. Steve Smith's on this team, two years before he was with the 6th seeded Blazers. Byron Scott's coaching the Hornets; they fell in round one and are led by a 23 year old Chris Paul.
2. 2018 SW DIV CHAMP HOUSTON ROCKETS v. 15. 1979 NBA CHAMP SEATTLE SONICS
(65-17) (52-30)
-The Rockets made it to the West Finals; Harden's 28, Paul 34. They face the World Champion Sonice team that beat the Bullets in the Finals. 24 year old Dennis Johnson and 23 year old Jack Sikma lead the way.
