256 Team All Time Basketball Tournament Preview-Region 7

Region 6

The Warriors have the first and third overall seeds - they also have the 7th; the 2016 Warriors.

1. 2016 WEST CHAMP GST WARRIORS v. 16. PLAY IN WINNER

(73-9)

-It's the only single digit loss team in NBA history and our first non NBA Champion top seed; the 2016 Warriors lost in the Finals.  Steph Curry's 27, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green 25. They face the Play In Winner between the 2020 Heat and 1971 Bulls. 

8. 1968 EAST DIV CHAMP PHILLY 76ERS v. 9. NBA CHAMPION 1977 PORT TRAIL BLAZERS

(62-20)                                                                  (49-33)

-The Sixers lost in the East Finals - Wilt and Hal Greer are 31; Chet Walker 27.  They take on a Portland team that beat Philly to win the Finals.  Bill Walton and Maurice Lucas are 24. 

5. 1990 NBA CHAMPION DETROIT PISTONS v. 12. 2013 MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

(59-23)                                                                         (56-26)

-The top seed in the region didn't win the title, but the 9th did and so did this 5th seed, the Pistons beat the Blazers in the Finals. Isiah and Rodman are 28, Dumars is 26.  Mark Aguirre leads in PPG, he's 30. They face 25 year old Mike Conley, 28 year old Marc Gasol and a Grizzlies group that lost in the West Finals.

4. 1965 NBA CHAMPION BOSTON CELTICS v. 13. 1976 ABA DENVER NUGGETS

(62-18)                                                                       (60-24)

-One more Celtics World Champion; this team beat the Lakers in the Finals. Russell's 30, Havlicek 24, Sam Jones is 31. They take on a Nuggets team that lost the ABA Finals to the Nets. Dan Issel's 27, David Thompson 21. 

3. 1993 NBA CHAMPION CHICAGO BULLS v. 14. 1998 PAC DIV CHAMP SEATTLE SUPER SONICS

(57-25)                                                                            (61-21)

-If the Warriors win this region they'll have earned it, as just an onslaught of NBA Champs looks to knock them off.  Here's Jordan's third title team; the Bulls beat Phoenix in the Finals. Michael's 29, Pippen and Horace Grant are 27.  They take on a Seattle team that fell in the West Semis; 29 year old Gary Payton leads the Sonics.  

6. 2020 CEN DIV CHAMP MILWAUKEE BUCKS v. 11. 2002 DALLAS MAVERICKS

(56-17)                                                                             (57-25)

-The CoronaBucks lost in the East Semis; 25 year old Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the way.  The Mavs losst in the West Semis, Dirk's 23, Nash is 27. 

7. 1987 CEN DIV CHAMP ATLANTA HAWKS v. 10. 1973 ABA KENTUCKY COLONELS

(57-25)                                                                         (56-28)

-27 year old Dominique Wilkins leads the Hawks team that fell in the East Semis against the losers of the '73 ABA Finals, 24 year old Dan Issel, 23 year old Artis Gilmore lead the way. 

2. 1985 NBA CHAMPION LA LAKERS v. 15. 1949 BAA WEST CHAMP ROCHESTER ROYALS

(62-20)                                                            (45-15)

-Why not finish off the Region with another World Champion; these Lakers beat Boston in the Finals. Kareem's 37, Magic's 25, Worthy's 23. They take on one of the two teams in the field from the 40s, the Royals lost to the Lakers in the Finals, they're led by a 24 year old Arnie Risen.  

256 Team All Time Basketball Tournament Preview-Region 6

 Region 5

The 2nd and 4th overall ranked teams in the tournament belong to the Bulls - and so does the 6th, the 1997 Chicago Bulls. 

1. 1997 NBA CHAMPION CHICAGO BULLS v. 16. PLAY IN WINNER

(69-13)

-Michael's 3rd best team.  The '97 Bulls beat Utah in the Finals. MJs 33. Pippen 31. Rodman's 35. They'll face the winner of the Play in Game between the '85 Sixers and '94 Spurs.

8. 2001 NBA CHAMPION LA LAKERS v. 9. 1967 BOSTON CELTICS

(56-26)                                                           (60-21)

-Phil v. Phil looks like a Round 2 matchup here in Region 6; the '01 Lakers beat the Sixers in the Finals. Shaq's 28,  Kobe's 22.  And it's our first Lakers/Celtics matchup; the '67 Celtics fell in the East Finals. Russell's 32, Havlicek 26. Sam Jones is 33. 

5. 2014 PAC DIV CHAMP LA CLIPPERS v. 12. 2008 HOUSTON ROCKETS

(57-25)                                                                  (55-27)

-The '14 Clips are the 5th seeds in Region 6; they lost in the West Semis, Blake Griffin's 24, Chris Paul is 28. They host the Rockets team that fell in the opening round of the playoffs; Yao Ming is 27, TMac, 28. 

4. 2012 NBA CHAMPION MIAMI HEAT v. 13. 2011 SW DIV CHAMP SA SPURS

(46-20)                                                              (61-21)

-It's the third NBA Champion in the Region; the Heat beat OKC in the Finals. LeBron and Bosh are 27, Wade's 30. And they face yet another Spurs team; Duncan's 34, Ginobli 33, Parker 28

3. 1996 WEST CHAMP SEATTLE SUPERSONICS v. 14. 1978 ATL DIV CHAMP PHILLY 76ERS

(64-18)                                                                              (55-27)

-It's 26 year old Kemp, 27 year old Payton and the Sonics team that lost to Jordan in the Finals. The Sixers lost in the East Finals; Erving and George McGuinness are 27. 

6. 2020 ATL DIV CHAMP TORONTO RAPTORS v. 11. 1966 NBA CHAMPION BOSTON CELTICS

(53-19)                                                                            (54-26)

-It's the Covid Raptors; they lost in the East Semis. Kyle Lowry's 33, Pascal Siakam's 25. They take on, of course, a Celtics title team - Boston beat the Lakers in the Finals. Russell's 31, Havlickek's 25, Sam Jones is 32.

7. 2011 NBA CHAMPION DALLAS MAVERICKS v. 10.1993 CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

(57-25)                                                                              (54-28)

-The 5th NBA Champion in the Region.  The Mavs took out the Heat - and there Miami sits from the year following also in this region. Dirk's 32.  The Cavs made the East Finals; Brad Daugherty is 27, Mark Price is 28. 

2. 1950 NBA CHAMP MINN LAKERS v. 15. 1976 PAC DIV CHAMP GST WARRIORS 

(51-17)                                                            (59-23)

-And here's the 6th NBA Champ in the Region.  The Lakers beat the Nationals in the Finals; George Mikan's 25. They face a Warriors team that lost in the West Finals, Rick Barry's 31. 

256 Team All Time Basketball Tournament Preview - Region 5

 Region 4

2 Warriors teams and 2 Bulls teams have made up the top seeds so far; the 5th overall seed in this tournament is the 1986 Boston Celtics.

1. 1986 NBA CHAMPION BOSTON CELTICS v. 16. PLAY IN WINNER

(67-15)

-The Celtics took out the Rockets in the NBA Finals; it's our first look at this Boston group - Larry Bird is 29; Kevin McHale 28, Robert Parish 32. They'll face the winner of the play in game between the 1990 Spurs and the 1994 Hawks.  

8. 1953 NBA CHAMP MINN LAKERS v. 9. 2012 CEN DIV CHAMP CHICAGO  BULLS      

(48-22)                                                            (50-16)

-The Lakers won the whole thing, knocking off the Knicks in the Finals. George Mikan's 28, Vern Mikkelsen's 24. The Bulls lost in the first round; Derrick Rose's 23. 

5. 2007 PAC DIV CHAMP PHOENIX SUNS v. 12. 2019 UTAH JAZZ

(61-21)                                                                     (50-32)

-The Suns fell to the Spurs in the West Semis. Steve Nash is 32, Amare Stoudemire's 24. They face a Jazz squad from just a couple years back which lost in the first round. Donovan Mitchell's 22, Rudy Gobert 26.

4. 1992 WEST CHAMP PORT TRAIL BLAZERS v. 13. 2009 HOUSTON ROCKETS

(57-25)                                                                           (53-29)

-Clyde Drexler's 29 and he leads the way for the Blazers club that fell to the Bulls in the Finals. Yao Ming leads the Rockets, he's 28, Tracy McGrady's 29; this group fell in the West Semis.

3. 2018 NBA CHAMPION GOLDEN ST WARRIORS v. 14. 1987 DETROIT PISTONS

(58-24)                                                                                     (52-30)

-The Warriors won their 3rd title in 4 seasons, sweeping the Cavs in the Finals. Steph and KD are 29. Green and Thompson, 27.  They'll host the Pistons team that lost in the East Finals - Isiah's 25, Dumars 23 and 31 year old Adrian Dantley leds the club in PPG.

6. 1991 WEST CHAMP LA LAKERS v. 11. 1996 ATL DIV CHAMP ORLANDO MAGIC

(58-24)                                                       (60-22)

-The Lakers 80s run ends here, with a Finals loss to the Bulls.  Magic's 31.  Worthy 29.  The Magic lost in the East Finals. Shaq's 23.  Penny's 24. 

7. 1961 NBA CHAMPION BOSTON CELTICS v. 10. 2001 SACRAMENTO KINGS

(57-22)                                                                       (55-27)

-Another World Champion Celtics squad; this team took out the Hawks in the Finals. Russell's 26, Cousy 32, 26 year old Tommy Heinsohn leads in PPG. The Kings lost in the West Semis; they're led by a 27 year old Chris Webber.

2. 2007 NBA CHAMPION SA SPURS v. 15. 2001 DALLAS MAVERICKS

(58-24)                                                        (53-29)

-Just a load of World Champions in Region 5. These Spurs swept the Cavs in the Finals. Duncan's 30, Ginobli 29, Parker 24. They'll host the Mavs who lost the West Semis -- to the Spurs.  Dirk Nowitzki's 22, Steve Nash 26. 

256 Team All Time Basketball Tournament Preview: Region 4

 Region 3

The '96 Bulls were the second overall seed-  in Region 4 we meet the 4th overall seed - the 1992 Bulls.

1. 1992 NBA CHAMPION CHICAGO BULLS v. 16 PLAY IN WINNER

(67-15)

-The second best Jordan team is the '92 Bulls. They beat the Blazers in the NBA Finals and will meet the winner of the Play In game between the '58 Celtics and '71 Pacers.  

8. 1995 MW CHAMP SA SPURS v. 9. 1988 NBA CHAMPION LA LAKERS

(62-20)                                                 (62-20)

-Can you believe it? Another Spurs team.  This one lost in the West Finals.  Robinson's 29. Sean Elliott 26. They'll get home court in this first round matchup against the World Champion Lakers team who beat the Pistons.  Kareem's 40. Magic's 28. Worthy's 26.

5. 2019 WEST CHAMP GST WARRIORS v. 12. 1980 EAST CHAMP PHIL 76ERS

(57-25)                                                               (59-23)

-The likely end of the Warrior dynasty; they fell in the NBA Finals to Toronto. Curry and Durant are both 30. Klay and Dray, both 28.  They meet a Sixers team that also lost in the NBA Finals. Dr J is 29.

4. 1995 SEATTLE SUPERSONICS v. 13. 1995 EAST CHAMP ORLANDO MAGIC

(57-25)                                                  (57-25)

-The Sonics lost in the first round of the playoffs; Gary Payton's 26, Shawn Kemp 25. They'll host the young Magic team that got swept by the Rockets in the NBA Finals. Shaq's 22.  Penny Hardaway, 23.

3. 2013 NW DIV CHAMP OKC THUNDER v. 14. 1954 EAST CHAMP SYRACUSE NATIONALS

(60-22)                                                                  (42-30)

-Durant and Westbrook are 24; they fell to the Grizzlies in the West Semis. The Nationals lost to the Lakers in the NBA Finals; Dolph Schayes is 25.

6. 2009 ATL DIV CHAMP BOSTON CELTICS v. 11. 2017 EAST CHAMP CLEVELAND CAVS

(62-20)                                                                       (51-31)

-The Celtics lost in the East Semis; Garnett's 32, Pierce 31, Allen 33.  They'll take on 32 year old LeBron James, 24 year old Kyrie Irving and the Cavs squad that lost the NBA Finals.  

7. 1996 UTAH JAZZ     v. 10. 1970 NBA CHAMPION NEW YORK KNICKS

(55-27)                               (60-22)

-Malone and Hornacek are 32, Stockton's 33. This Jazz club made the West Finals. They'll take on the NBA Champion Knicks who defeated the Lakers in 7.  Willie Reed is 27, Clyde Frazier 24. 

2. 1989 NBA CHAMPION DETROIT PISTONS v. 15. 2003 LOS ANGELES LAKERS

(63-19)                                                                        (50-32)

-If seeding holds, we may see the Jordan Rules in the Region 4 final, with the '92 Bulls facing the Bad Boy Pistons.  This team swept the Lakers in the Finals.  Isiah Thomas is 27, so is Dennis Rodman. Joe Dumars is 25.  They host the '03 Lakers who lost in the West Semis. Kobe's 24.  Shaq's 30. 

256 Team All Time Basketball Tournament Preview - Region 3

 Region 2

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.