One more Region - One more top seed - it's the 2008 Boston Celtics.
1. 2008 NBA CHAMPION BOSTON CELTICS v. 16. PLAY IN WINNER
(66-16)
-Doc Rivers leads a 66 win Celtics team, they beat LA in the Finals and will take on the winners of the 2007 Pistons vs the 2011 Magic. Pierce is 30, Garnett 31, Allen 32.
8. 2010 NBA CHAMPION LA LAKERS v. 9. 2015 EAST CHAMP CLEVELAND CAVS
(57-25) (53-29)
-Fast Forward two seasons and the Finals result was flipped, the Lakers beating Boston, setting up a possible Round 2 rubber match. Kobe's 31, Pau's 29. We get a round one Kobe v. LeBron matchup as the Cavs team that lost to the Warriors the first time in the Finals is here. James is 30, Kyrie 22.
5. 1986 CEN DIV CHAMP MILWAUKEE BUCKS v. 12. 1972 CHICAGO BULLS
(57-25) (57-25)
-The Bucks lost in the East Finals; Moncrief is 28, Terry Cummings 24. They'll host a Bulls team that lost in the West Semis; Chet Walker's 31, Bob Love 29.
4. 2003 NBA CHAMPION SAN ANTONIO SPURS v. 13. 2019 PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
(60-22) (53-29)
-The Spurs won the title in '03, beating the Nets. Duncan 26, Ginobli 25, Parker 20. The Blazers lost in the West Finals; Damian Lillard's 28, CJ McCollum's 27.
3. 2012 SW DIV CHAMP SAN ANTONIO SPURS v. 14. 1995 NBA CHAMP HOUSTON ROCKETS
(50-16) (47-35) -The final Spurs team in the bracket, this one lost in the West Finals. Duncan's 35, Ginobli 34, Parker 29. They face the back half of the Rocket back to back title teams, they swept the Magic. Olajuwon and Drexler are both 32.
6. 2006 WEST CHAMP DALLAS MAVERICKS v. 11. 1969 NEW YORK KNICKS
(60-22) (54-28)
-The Mavs lost in the NBA Finals; Dirk's 27. They take on a Knicks squad that lost in the East Finals; Reed's 26, Frazier 23.
7. 1990 PHOENIX SUNS v. 10. 1952 NBA CHAMPION MINNEAPOLIS LAKERS
(54-28) (40-26)
-Just two games left; the Suns made the West Semis, KJ is 23, Hornacek 26, Tom Chambers 30. They face the last NBA Champs remaining in the field, the '52 Lakers who beat the Knicks. Mikan's 27.
2. 2009 CEN DIV CHAMP CLEVELAND CAVALIERS v. 15. 2010 UTAH JAZZ
(66-16) (53-29)
-The last LeBron James team in the field; he's 24, the Cavs reached the East Finals. The Jazz lost in the West SemiFinals, Deron Williams is 25, Carlos Boozer 28.
