After Oklahoma City's young roster choked at a distance qualified prospects in Game 4 in addition to Game your five belonging to the NBA's Western Conference finals to let expert Dallas advance, the same refrain was this: Give this fresh Thunder squad some time, and it can allow it to become to be able to its share involving championship series.
But since 1999, half a dozen some other groups from the West managed to get that far, but none followed up which has a trip towards the finals. All of these ran into your Lakers, Spurs or maybe Mavericks, the only real teams to symbolize the seminar within the finals during the past tough luck seasons. While many a few of people groups are aging, which often can allow it to be less difficult for any innovative group such as OKC to help rule the West within the future, one must not make assumptions. Here may be a fast look at that 6 months time teams whose example the particular Thunder will certainly expect to avoid.
Portland (1999, 2000):The Trail Blazers contributed this Lakers (in L.A.) by simply 15 factors inside the fourth district involving Game 7 in 2000 prior to a strong world famous collapse. They haven't so much superior beyond the initial circle from the playoffs since.
Sacramento (2002):The Kings had that NBA's very best regular-season record. Their several best scorers ended up Peja Stojavokic (24), Chris Webber (28) and Mike Bibby (23). But your Kings, who contributed the particular Lakers 3-2 of their series, lost 106-102 throughout Game some inside L.A. (a game of which referee Tim Donaghy would afterwards allege was fixed) and also fell around OT at home throughout Game 7. They by no means created it previous the particular seminar semifinals following that.
Minnesota (2004):MV3 (Kevin Garnett, Latrell Sprewell and also Sam Cassell) maintained this Wolves towards the greatest document within the West and a showdown considering the Lakers within the conference finals. But Cassell's personal injury derailed this series, plus the rest is usually history. The Wolves didn't perhaps been returning into the playoffs.
Phoenix (2005, 2006, 2010):The run-and-gun Suns appeared most likely going in order to separate through. Steve Nash, and then 30, appeared to be a common key player through twenty six using a august 2005 squad this travelled an NBA-best 62-20 but lost around five meek game titles for the Spurs inside seminar finals. Even though the Suns built two more travels to the West finals, they certainly not had this suitable mix to acquire with the hump.
Utah (2007):Another staff using a young nucleus Deron Williams (22), Mehmet Okur (27) and also Carlos Boozer (25) the Jazz benefited out of No. 8-seed Golden State knocking off of No. a single Dallas within the conference quarterfinals, giving the Jazz an easier route into the meeting finals. Utah has been steamrolled there through the Spurs as well as hasn't been previous the particular conference semis since.
Denver (2009):After shedding in the first around pertaining to five consecutive seasons, the Nuggets and also Carmelo Anthony shown up to bust as a result of with 2009 by getting this management meeting finals in addition to tossing a new frighten in to the Lakers before getting rid of inside five games. Since then, though, this Nuggets haven't won a different playoff series and Anthony appeared to be traded away.
MICHAEL RAND
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