256 Team All Time Basketball Tournament Preview-Region 16

 Region 15

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.

256 Team All Time Basketball Tournament Preview-Region 15

 Region 14

The third top seeded Laker team is right here - the 1987 Los Angeles Lakers.

1. 1987 NBA CHAMPION LA LAKERS v. 16. PLAY IN WINNER

(65-17)

-Pat Riley's Lakers won 65 and took out the Celtics in the Finals. They'll face the winners of the play in between the '98 Spurs and '68 Celtics. Kareem's 39, Magic 27, Worthy 25. 

8. 1995 UTAH JAZZ v. 9. 2020 LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

(60-22)                           (49-23)

-The Jazz lost in the first round, Stockton's 32, Hornacek and Malone are 31.  They face the quarrantine Clips who fell in the Semis. Kawhi's 28 and Paul George is 29. 

5. 1982 ATL DIV CHAMP BOSTON CELTICS v. 12. 1972 ABA EAST DIV CHAMP KENTUCKY COLONELS

(63-19)                                                                       (68-16)

-The Celts made the East Finals; Bird's 25, McHale 24, Parish 28. Kentucky from the ABA won 68 but lost in the East Semis. Gilmore's 22, Issel 23. 

4. 2016 NBA CHAMPION CLEVELAND CAVALIERS v. 13. 1994 PHOENIX SUNS

(57-25)                                                                                    (56-26)

-It's LeBron's Cleveland title team; they beat the Warriors; the King is 31 Kyrie 23. Paul Westphal coaches the '94 Suns, they made the West Semis. Barkley's 30 and KJ is 27.

3. 2008 WEST CHAMP LA LAKERS v. 14. 2009 NW DIV CHAMP DENVER NUGGETS

(57-25)                                                       (54-28)

Phil Jackson took the Lakers to the Finals, where they fell to Boston. Kobe's 29, Pau 27. Just a season later, the Nuggets lost to LA in the West Finals; Carmelo's 24, Allen Iverson 33, Chauncey Billups 32. 

6. 2009 EAST CHAMP ORLANDO MAGIC v. 11. 2000 SAN ANTONIO SPURS

(59-23)                                                                  (53-29)

-Stan Van Gundy's Magic reached the finals, but lost to LA. Dwight Howard is 23. The Spurs lost in the first round; Duncan's 23 and Robinson's 34.

7. 1994 EAST CHAMP NY KNICKS v. 10. 1992 CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

(57-25)                                                      (57-25)

-This is Pat Riley's Knicks squad that reached the NBA Finals and lost to Houston, Ewing's 31. Cleveland reached the East Finals; Daugherty's 26, Price, 27. 

2. 1967 NBA CHAMPION PHILLY 76ERS v. 15. 2017 HOUSTON ROCKETS

(68-13)                                                                (55-27)

-The Sixers beat the Warriors in the Finals; Wilt and Hal Greer are 30, Chet Walker's 26. Houston made the West Semis; James Harden's 27.

256 Team All Time Basketball Tournament Preview-Region 14

 Region 14

The 2nd Lakers club to reach a number one seed - the 2009 Lakers, atop Region 14.

1. 2009 NBA CHAMPION LA LAKERS v. 16. PLAY IN WINNER

(65-17)

-Phil Jackson's Lakers beat Orlando in the Finals; Kobe's 30, Pau's 28. They'll meet the Play In Winner between the '78 Blazers and '98 Suns.

8. 1988 EAST CHAMP DETROIT PISTONS v. 9. 2005 SW DIV CHAMP MIAMI HEAT

(54-28)                                                                     (59-23)

-Here's Chuck Daly and the '88 Pistons who lost in the Finals; Zeke's 26, Dumars 24, Laimbeer 30, Rodman 26 and Adrian Dantley leads the team in PPG and he's 32.  The Heat fell to Detroit in the East Finals; Wade's 23, Shaq's 32. 

5. 1973 NBA CHAMP NEW YORK KNICKS v. 12. 1982 CEN DIV CHAM MILWAUK BUCKS

(57-25)                                                                           (55-27)

-Phil Jackson the player is on the Knicks roster and they beat LA in the Finals.  Willis Reed is 30, Clyde Frazier 27, Pearl Monroe 28. They meet Don Nelson's Bucks; Bob Lanier is 33, Sidney Moncrief 24, Marques Johnson 25. 

4. 1984 NBA CHAMPION BOSTON CELTICS v. 13. 2010 SAN ANTONIO SPURS

(62-20)                                                                       (50-32)

-Third NBA Champ in the Region; the Celtics beat LA in the Finals. Bird's 27, McHale 26, Parish 30. And they'll host a Spurs team that made the West Semis. Duncan's 33, Ginobli 32, Parker 27.

3. 2013 WEST CHAMP SAN ANTONIO SPURS v. 14. 2006 PAC DIV CHAMP PHOENIX SUNS

(58-24)                                                                          (54-28)

-Three years later it's the Spurs again, they lost to the Heat in the Finals. Duncan's now 36, Parker 30, Ginobli 35 and Kawhi Leonard is 21. The Suns lost in the West Finals; Nash is 31, Marion's 27.

6. 1974 WEST CHAMP MILWAUKEE BUCKS v. 11. 1975 ATL DIV CHAMP BOSTON CELTICS

(59-23)                                                                       (60-22)

-The Bucks made the Finals, lost to LA.  Kareem's 26, Oscar 35.  The Celtics from the following season lost in the East Finals. Cowens is 26, Havlicek 34. 

7. 1998 INDIANA PACERS  v. 10. 1994 NBA CHAMPION HOUSTON ROCKETS

(58-24)                                        (58-24)

-Larry Bird coaches this Pacers team that lost in the East Finals; Reggie Miller's 32, Chris Mullin 34. The Rockets beat the Knicks to win the NBA Title; Olajuwon's 31. 

2. 1997 WEST CHAMP UTAH JAZZ v. 15. 1996 LOS ANGELES LAKERS

(64-18)                                                      (53-29)

-Utah lost in the Finals, of course, to Jordan. Malone's 33, Stockton's 34. The Region started and now ends with the Lakers - this group lost in the first round. A 36 year old Magic came back for this season, it's a 26 year old Cedric Ceballos that leads in PPG.

256 Team All Time Basketball Tournament Preview-Region 13

 Region 12

3/4 of the bracket completed. Kareem's best ever team is the top seed in Region 13 - the 1971 Milwaukee Bucks.  

1. 1971 NBA CHAMPION MILWAUKEE BUCKS v. 16. PLAY IN WINNER

(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.  

256 Team All Time Basketball Tournament Preview-Region 12

 Region 11

This is Region 12 - and here's Chicago's 5th top seed; the 1998 Bulls.

1. 1998 NBA CHAMPION CHICAGO BULLS v. 16. PLAY IN WINNER

(62-20)

-The Last Dance Bulls; they beat Utah in the Finals. Jordan's 34, Pippen's 32. The '94 Pacers/'95 Knicks winner awaits.

8. 1990 PAC DIV CHAMP LA LAKERS v. 9. 2010 CEN DIV CHAMP CLEVE CAVALIERS

(63-19)                                                           (61-21)

-The Lakers went down in the West Semis, Magic's 30, Worthy's 28. And they play a 25 year old LeBron James and his Cavs team that lost in the East Semis.  A 37 year old Shaq is on this team.  That's a star laden round one matchup.

5. 1985 EAST CHAMP BOSTON CELTICS v. 12. 2005 EAST CHAMP DETROIT PISTONS

(63-19)                                                                 (54-28)

-Speaking of stars, here's the Celtics team that lost to LA in the Finals.  Bird's 28, McHale's 27, Parish is 31.  The Pistons lost the NBA Finals to the Spurs; Hamilton's 26, Billups 28, the Wallaces, Rasheed and Ben are 30.

4. 2019 NBA CHAMPION TORONTO RAPTORS v. 13. 2000 PHOENIX SUNS

(58-24)                                                                            (53-29)

-The Raptors ended the Warriors dynasty in the NBA Finals; Lowry is 32 and Kawhi 27. The Suns went down in the West Finals; Jason Kidd's 26, Penny Hardaway 28.

3. 1994 PAC DIV CHAMP SEATTLE SONICS v. 14. 2015 SW DIV CHAMP HOU ROCKETS

(63-19)                                                                      (56-26)

-The Sonics won 63 and then went out in round one of the playoffs; Kemp's 24, Payton 25, Detlef Schrempf is 31. Kevin McHale's Rockets fell in the West Finals. Harden's 25, Dwight Howard's 29.  

6. 2007 DALLAS MAVERICKS v. 11. 2011 PAC DIV CHAMP LA LAKERS

(67-15)                                              (57-25)

-The Mavs won 67 and then went out in round one of the playoffs. Dirk's 28. 4 years later, Dirk and the Mavs eliminated the Lakers in the Semis. Kobe's 32, Pau Gasol 30.  

7. 2020 BOSTON CELTICS v. 10. 1985 CEN DIV CHAMP MILWAUKEE BUCKS 

(48-24)                                       (59-23)

-Another Corona Team, Boston lost in the East Finals. Jason Tatum is 21, Jaylen Brown 23, Kemba Walker 29. Don Nelson's Bucks went out in the East Semis. Sidney Moncrief is 27, Terry Cummings is 23. 

2. 2005 NBA CHAMPION SAN ANTONIO SPURS v. 1975 ABA NEW JERSEY NETS

(59-23)

-And here's another Spurs team; this one beat the Pistons who are also in this Region. Duncan's 28, Ginobli 27, Parker 22. The Nets lost in the ABA East semis, Erving is 24.