256 Team All Time Basketball Tournament Preview-Region 9

 Region 8

A ton of Spurs clubs already in the field - but none have been top seeds until Region 9 and the 2016 Spurs. 

1. 2016 SAN ANTONIO SPURS v. 16. PLAY IN WINNER

(67-15)

-67 wins is a helluva lot of wins, and then the Spurs got bounced in the West Semis. Duncan's 39, Parker's 33, Ginobli 38, LaMarcus Aldridge is 30 and Kawhi Leonard is 24. They meet the winner of the Play in Game between the '99 Heat and '53 Knicks.

8. 2012 WEST CHAMPION OKC THUNDER v. 9. 1986 PAC DIV CHAMP LA LAKERS

(47-19)                                                                    (62-20)

-The Thunder made the NBA Finals; Durant and Westbrook are both 23 and James Harden is 22.  The Lakers lost in the West Finals, Kareem's 38, Magic's 26, Worthy's 24.  

5. 1981 CEN DIV CHAMP MIL BUCKS v. 12. 1988 ATL DIV CHAMP BOSTON CELTICS

(60-22)                                                            (57-25)

-Don Nelson's Bucks lost in the East Semis; Bob Lanier is 32, Sidney Moncrief 23, Marques Johnson's 24. They host a Celtics team that lost to Detroit in the East Finals.  Bird's 31, McHale 30, Parish 34. 

4. 2005 PAC DIV CHAMP PHOENIX SUNS v. 13. 2014 HOUSTON ROCKETS

(60-22)                                                                   (54-28)

-The Suns made it to the West Finals; Nash is 30, Marion 26, Stoudemire 22.  Speaking of McHale, he's coaching this Rockets team that fell in the first Round of the playoffs. James Harden is 24, Dwight Hoaward 28.

3. 2002 PAC DIV CHAMP SACRAMENTO KINGS v. 14. 2007 CHICAGO BULLS

(61-21)                                                                               (49-33)

-The Kings lost in the West Finals; Chris Webber's 28. The Bulls fell in the East Semis; 23 year old Ben Gordon led this group in PPG.

6. 1989 WEST CHAMP LA LAKERS v. 11. 2006 CEN DIV CHAMP DETROIT PISTONS

(57-25)                                                       (64-18)

-Pat Riley's Lakers lost the Finals to Detroit; Kareem's 41, Magic's 29, Worthy's 27. The Pistons won 64 in the regular season but lost in the East Finals. Rip Hamilton's 27, Chauncey Billups is 29.

7. 1959 NBA CHAMPION BOSTON CELTICS v. 10. 2010 PHOENIX SUNS

(52-20)                                                                       (54-28)

-It's a World Champion Celtics team that beat...wait for it...the Lakers in the Finals. Russell's 24, Cousy's 30, Bill Sharman's 32.  The Suns fell to the Lakers in the West Finals. Nash is 35, Stoudemire 27. 

2. 1983 NBA CHAMPION PHILADELPHIA 76ERS v. 15. 2011 DENVER NUGGETS

(65-17)                                                                               (50-32)

-They didn't quite go Fo-Fo-Fo but the Sixers did sweep the Lakers in the Finals.  Moses is 27, Erving 32. George Karl's Nuggets lost in the first round of the Playoffs. Chauncey Billups is 34, Carmelo Anthony 26.

256 Team All Time Basketball Tournament Preview-Region 8

 Region 7

The Bulls are the 2nd overall seed, the 4th overall seed, the 6th overall seed -- and the 8th overall seed; the top seed in this region, the 1991 Chicago Bulls.  

1. 1991 NBA CHAMPION CHICAGO BULLS v. 16. PLAY IN WINNER

(61-21)

-It's Jordan's first title; they beat the Lakers.  MJ is 27, Pippen and Grant are 25.  They face the winner of the 2003 Nets/1983 Suns play in game.

8. 1982 NBA CHAMPION LA LAKERS v. 9. 2004 MW CHAMP MINN TIMBERWOLVES

(57-25)                                                            (58-24)

-Here's a Lakers World Champion; they took out the Sixers in the Finals. Kareem's 34, Magic's 22. There's a helluva second round potential matchup on the horizon. The Wolves are coached by Kevin McHale and lost to the Lakers in the West Finals. Kevin Garnett is 27 and leads the way.

5. 2015 SAN ANTONIO SPURS v. 12. 2008 PHOENIX SUNS

(55-27)                                                (55-27)

-Can I interest you in another Spurs squad?  This one lost in the West first round. Duncan's 38, Ginobli's 37, Parker's 32 and Kawhi Leonard is 23. They face a Suns squad that also lost in the first round - to the Spurs.  Nash is 33, Stoudemire 25, Shawn Marion 29, Grant Hill and Shaq are both 35.

4. 2003 DALLAS MAVERICKS v. 13. 1969 NBA CHAMPION BOSTON CELTICS

(60-22)                                              (48-34)

-Another team that lost to the Spurs the Mavs, bounced in the first round.  Don Nelson coaches this team, Dirks 24, Nash is 28, Michael Finley's 29.  Don Nelson also plays for the '69 Celtics and this game should give us our first instance of that phenomenon in the tourney. The Celtics beat the Lakers in the Finals. Russell's 34, Havlicek 28. 

3. 2019 CEN DIV CHAMP MILWAUKEE BUCKS v. 14. 2014 GOLDEN ST WARRIORS

(60-22)                                                                             (51-31)

-A 24 year old Giannis leads a Bucks club that lost in the East Finals against the Warriors team before it all began, Mark Jackson coaches this group that lost in the first round of the West playoffs. Steph is 25, Klay 23.  

6. 2003 PAC DIV CHAMP SACRAMENTO KINGS v. 11. 2018 UTAH JAZZ

(59-23)                                                                               (48-34)

-The Kings made the West Semis, they're led by a 29 year old Chris Webber. The Jazz made the West Semis as well with a 25 year old Rudy Gobert and a 21 year old Donovan Mitchell.  

7. 1987 EAST CHAMP BOSTON CELTICS v. 10. 1975 WASHINGTON BULLETS

(59-23)                                                                 

-It's a Bird/McHale/Parish team; they lost to the Lakers in the Finals. Bird's 30, McHale's 29, Parish is 33.  Their opponent also fell in the NBA Finals - the Bullets have a 29 year old Elvin Hayes and a 28 year old Wes Unseld.

2. 2002 NBA CHAMP LA LAKERS v. 15. 1975 ABA NEW JERSEY NETS

(58-24)                                                     (58-26)

-We've got 2 Lakers World Champions here in Region 8, here's the second; they swept the Nets in the Finals. Shaq's 29, Kobe's 23.  They face an ABA club, the Nets lost in the East Semis, they're paced by a 24 year old Julius Erving. 

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.