query: when did the nba playoffs start in 2017

pos: 2017 NBA Playoffs Finals for the 15th consecutive year. 2017 NBA Playoffs The 2017 NBA Playoffs began on April 15, 2017. It concluded with the Golden State Warriors defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals, their third consecutive meeting at the Finals. Kevin Durant was named the NBA Finals MVP in his first year on the team. The Warriors set the record for the longest playoff winning streak (15) and the best record (16-1) in NBA playoff history. The Golden State Warriors began the finals with a playoff record of 12–0. The first two finals' games were blowouts

pos: 2017 NBA Playoffs Finals for the 15th consecutive year. 2017 NBA Playoffs The 2017 NBA Playoffs began on April 15, 2017. It concluded with the Golden State Warriors defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals, their third consecutive meeting at the Finals. Kevin Durant was named the NBA Finals MVP in his first year on the team. The Warriors set the record for the longest playoff winning streak (15) and the best record (16-1) in NBA playoff history. The Golden State Warriors began the finals with a playoff record of 12–0. The first two finals' games were blowouts

pos: 2017 NBA Playoffs 2017 NBA Playoffs The 2017 NBA Playoffs began on April 15, 2017. It concluded with the Golden State Warriors defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals, their third consecutive meeting at the Finals. Kevin Durant was named the NBA Finals MVP in his first year on the team. The Warriors set the record for the longest playoff winning streak (15) and the best record (16-1) in NBA playoff history. The Golden State Warriors began the finals with a playoff record of 12–0. The first two finals' games were blowouts by Golden State, game three was

pos: 2016–17 NBA season Charlotte's Spectrum Center, was removed as the host on July 21, 2016 due to the league's opposition against North Carolina's Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act. The regular season ended on April 12, 2017, and the playoffs began on April 15, 2017 and ended on June 12, 2017, with the Golden State Warriors going 16-1 in the playoffs and beating the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games during their third consecutive matchup in the NBA Finals. Free agency negotiations began on Friday, July 1, 2016 at 12:01 a.m. e.t. Players can sign starting on July 6, after the July moratorium ended.

neg: 2017 NBA Finals record of , while Cleveland finished the regular season with a record. The Warriors entered the 2017 Finals after becoming the first team in NBA playoff history to start , while the Cavaliers entered the 2017 Finals with a record during the first three rounds of the postseason. The Warriors' start in the playoffs is the most consecutive postseason wins in NBA history and their record is the best winning percentage () in NBA Playoff history. This was the Golden State Warriors' third consecutive trip to the NBA Finals and ninth appearance overall, having come short of back-to-back titles in

neg: 2003–04 NBA season the NBA. The All-Star Game was held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The West won 136-132; Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal was named Most Valuable Player. For the first time in 21 years the Portland Trail Blazers did not make the playoffs, ending the second longest streak in NBA history. For the first time in 20 years the Utah Jazz did not make the playoffs, ending the third longest streak in NBA history. Prior to the start of the season, Karl Malone and Gary Payton took major paycuts to leave their teams and join Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal

neg: 2017–18 NBA G League season the final minute of the team's regular season finale. Two days later, Upshaw died at the age of 26. Autopsy reports indicated that Upshaw had died from a sudden cardiac arrest. The start of the NBA G League playoffs were delayed out of respect for Upshaw's death, and the NBA's Detroit Pistons gave Upshaw an honorary call-up to their roster. 2017–18 NBA G League season The 2017–18 NBA G League season was the 17th season of the NBA G League (formerly the NBA D-League), the minor league for the National Basketball Association (NBA). It is the first season after the

neg: 2017 NBA Playoffs closer, but the Warriors still came out victors, going up 3–0 bringing them to 15–0 in the playoffs, the best ever start in NBA playoff history. The Cavs countered beating the Warriors 137–116 in Game four, with 86 points in the first half, setting an NBA Finals' record. On June twelfth, the Warriors bounced back and won game five at home 129-120, clinching the organization's fifth championship. Golden State's 16–1 record is an NBA playoff record since 03' for least games attempted to achieve an NBA championship. The title was all-star forward Kevin Durant's first and all-stars Stephen Curry's, Klay

neg: NBA Countdown Steele will be replacing Michael Wilbon as host, ending Wilbon's 8-year run on Countdown. Magic Johnson and Michael Wilbon are slated to return to the program in January 2017 to join Sage Steele for pregame coverage for the "NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC" series. With the 2017 playoffs looming, ESPN replaced Sage Steele with Michelle Beadle as the host of NBA Countdown on ABC and ESPN. Beadle joined NBA Countdown at the start of the 2016-2017 season, and has led ESPN’s regular Wednesday and Friday episodes. Beadle has been named the full time host and will lead Disney’s NBA pre-game

neg: 2013 NBA Finals to the NBA finals. The teams set up their Finals rematch in 2014, but it was the Spurs who came away victorious, ending the Heat's hopes of a three-peat in the series in five games and claiming their fifth NBA championship. During the next offseason, the Heat lost a key member of their "Big Three", when LeBron James returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who made it to the Finals in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. The Heat did not make the 2015 NBA playoffs, while the Spurs' defense of their title ended in the 1st round when they lost a

neg: Golden State Warriors Chicago Bulls. The streak eclipsed the previous record of 95 held by the Utah Jazz. The Warriors earned home-court advantage throughout the 2017 playoffs, thanks to a 2016–17 regular season record of . They were the first team in NBA playoff history to start the playoffs 12–0, defeating the Trail Blazers, the Jazz, and the Spurs in consecutive series. The 2017 Finals once again pitted the Warriors against the Cavaliers, becoming the first time in NBA history that two teams met in the Finals for three consecutive years. The Warriors won the championship after going 4–1 in the Finals, and

neg: Ian Clark (basketball) Finals series while becoming the first team in league history to start the playoffs 12–0. Clark won his first championship with the Warriors with a 4–1 series win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2017 NBA Finals. The Warriors finished the playoffs with a 16–1 record, the best postseason winning percentage in NBA history. On August 3, 2017, Clark signed with the New Orleans Pelicans. On January 30, 2018, he scored a season-high 20 points in a 114–103 loss to the Sacramento Kings. On July 9, 2018, Clark re-signed with the Pelicans. Ian Clark (basketball) Ian Patrick Clark (born March

neg: 1968–69 Cincinnati Royals season The team soon faded after the article, going 21–32 the rest of the season to finish fifth in the East at .500, out of the 1969 NBA playoffs. Their record was better than the 37–45 mark of the Western Division San Diego Rockets, who did make those playoffs. There was no 3-point line in use this season, blocks and steals were not yet kept NBA statistics. 1968–69 Cincinnati Royals season The 1968-69 NBA season was the Royals 21st season in the NBA and 12th season in Cincinnati. The season was noteworthy for the team's fast start, in which the team

neg: 2016–17 Golden State Warriors season ever to start 15–0 in the playoffs and their fifteen-game win streak to start the playoffs set the record for most consecutive postseason wins in NBA history. Their 16–1 record is the best playoff record in NBA history, ousting the 2000–01 Los Angeles Lakers. <noinclude> <nowiki>*</nowiki> – Recorded statistics when playing for Golden State 2016–17 Golden State Warriors season The 2016–17 Golden State Warriors season was the 71st season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and its 55th in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Warriors won their fifth NBA Championship, setting the best postseason record in

neg: 2006 NBA Playoffs in the 2007 playoffs, being a division winner did not guarantee a top-3 playoff seed. The Detroit Pistons clinched the best record in the NBA, earning home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. However, when the Pistons lost to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, home-court advantage in the NBA Finals went to the Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks, which had a better record than the Heat. The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the East: The San Antonio Spurs clinched the best record in the Western Conference, and had home-court advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs. However, when

neg: Midwest Division (NBA) The Midwest Division twice had six teams qualified for the playoffs. In the 1985–86 season, all six teams from the division qualified for the playoffs, while in the 2003–04 season, six of seven teams qualified for the playoffs. In the division's first and last ever season, all teams in the division had winning percentages above 0.500 (50%). Midwest Division (NBA) The Midwest Division was a division in the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The division was created at the start of the 1970–71 season, when the league expanded from 14 to 17 teams with the addition of

neg: 2017 NBA Finals beyond the arc, going 0-for-7. Despite stellar performances from both James and Irving, Cleveland finished the game a dismal 12-of-44 from three-point range, compared to the Warriors 16-of-33 performance on three point shots. The Cleveland Cavaliers led wire-to-wire as they avoided a Finals sweep by Golden State to rout the Warriors 137–116, ending Golden State's NBA postseason record winning streak at 15 games to start the 2017 playoffs. The game was notable for shattering a number of NBA Finals records. The Cavs scored 49 points in the first quarter, the most points of any period in a Finals game, en

neg: 1992 NBA Playoffs before finally breaking through in 1997. The fourth-year Miami Heat became the first of the 1988 and 1989 expansion teams to make the playoffs, though they were swept in the first round by the Bulls. In 2006, the Heat would become the first of these teams to win the NBA title. This was the first year since 1987 that the Bulls and Pistons did not meet in the playoffs. They did not meet again until 2007. The Clippers made it to the playoffs for the first time since 1976, when they were the Buffalo Braves. Despite Magic Johnson's stunning retirement

neg: 2017–18 Golden State Warriors season of their last seventeen games. For the first time since the 2013–14 season, they did not clinch first place for home-court advantage for the playoffs and failed to win 60 games for the first time under Steve Kerr. This season marked David West's final season in the NBA. He retired on August 30, 2018; having won two NBA championships with the Warriors. The 2017 NBA draft was held on June 22, 2017, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The Warriors didn't have a pick, but acquired the Chicago Bulls 38th pick in the second round for cash. They chose power

neg: 1998–99 NBA season 1998–99 NBA season The 1999 NBA season was the 53rd season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Due to a lockout, the season did not start until February 5, 1999, after a new six-year Collective Bargaining Agreement was reached between the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association. All 29 teams played a shortened 50-game regular season schedule and the 16 teams who qualified for the playoffs played a full post-season schedule. That season's All-Star Game was also canceled. The season ended with the San Antonio Spurs winning the franchise's first NBA championship, beating the New York Knicks 4 games

neg: 2017 NBA Finals in postseason three-pointers made. He grabbed 15 rebounds and dished out 8 assists, but he committed 8 of the Cavaliers' 20 turnovers. Golden State as a team managed only half of James' total with 4 turnovers, equaling the NBA record for fewest turnovers in an NBA Finals game. With this win, the Warriors became the first team ever to start 13–0 in the playoffs and their current 13 game win-streak is tied for the most consecutive postseason wins in NBA history. Former Cavaliers head coach and current Warriors interim head coach Mike Brown took charge of the game, with Steve

neg: NBA on ABC series. TNT airs one Conference Final exclusively each year (the Western Conference Finals in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, a 20142016 and 2018. and the Eastern Conference Finals in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015)and 2017]], while ESPN will get the other. With the exception of 2004, 2010, 2012, and 2015 (when the network did not air any games from that round at all), ABC airs Conference Final matches – whichever one to which ESPN holds the rights in a given year – held on weekends. Due to the checkerboard schedule of the NBA Playoffs (in which games are

neg: 2011–12 Toronto Raptors season 2011–12 Toronto Raptors season The 2011–12 Toronto Raptors season was the 17th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The season start was delayed, and the season schedule was compressed due to the 2011 NBA lockout. The Raptors finished the season with a 23–43 record and did not make it to the playoffs. Many players signed with teams from other leagues due to the 2011 NBA lockout. FIBA allows players under NBA contracts to sign and play for teams from other leagues if the contracts have opt-out clauses that allow the players to return to the NBA

neg: 2018 NBA Playoffs 2018 NBA Playoffs The 2018 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2017–18 season. The playoffs began on April 14, 2018 and ended on June 8 at the conclusion of the 2018 NBA Finals. Within each conference, the eight teams with the most wins qualify for the playoffs. The seedings are based on each team's record. Each conference's bracket is fixed; there is no reseeding. All rounds are best-of-seven series; the team that has four wins advances to the next round. All rounds, including the NBA Finals, are in a 2–2–1–1–1 format. Home court advantage in

neg: 1988 NBA Playoffs 1988 NBA Playoffs The 1988 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1987–88 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals. James Worthy was named NBA Finals MVP. The Lakers became the first team since the Boston Celtics in 1969 to repeat as champions, a feat that coach Pat Riley guaranteed the previous offseason. This marked the first time since 1983 that the Celtics did not represent the East in the NBA Finals, but they did win

neg: 2018 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals, while the Western Conference Finals will be televised by TNT. ABC will have exclusive television rights to the NBA Finals for the 16th consecutive year. 2018 NBA Playoffs The 2018 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2017–18 season. The playoffs began on April 14, 2018 and ended on June 8 at the conclusion of the 2018 NBA Finals. Within each conference, the eight teams with the most wins qualify for the playoffs. The seedings are based on each team's record. Each conference's bracket is fixed; there is no reseeding. All rounds are

neg: Craig Sager been a trailblazer while exemplifying courage, faith, compassion and grace." Monty Williams and Dikembe Mutombo are the 2 winners from 2017-2018. In April 2014, Sager was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and he subsequently missed the entire 2014 NBA Playoffs. His son Craig Jr. was deemed a match for bone marrow transplant, and Sager underwent the treatment, pushing his cancer into remission. On April 20, 2014, Craig Jr. did the sideline interview with San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich between the 3rd and 4th quarters of the 2014 NBA playoffs' 1st round against the Dallas Mavericks to air a special

neg: Edy Tavares was named in the Eastern Conference All-Star team for the 2017 NBA D-League All-Star Game. At the season's end, he was named the recipient of the NBA Development League Defensive Player of the Year Award. On April 12, 2017, Tavares signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He made his debut for the Cavaliers that night, recording 10 rebounds and 6 blocks in a 99–83 loss to the Toronto Raptors. Tavares did not play at all in the 2017 playoffs due to a hand injury. On October 11, 2017, Tavares was waived by the Cavaliers. Shortly after getting waived by the Cavaliers,

neg: MSG Plus the start of 2006–07 NBA and NHL seasons, some Rangers telecasts have aired on MSG+ even when there is a conflict with an Islanders and/or Devils telecast, resulting in these games being relocated to MSG2 and/or MSG+ 2. In addition, when the Knicks are not in contention for the NBA Playoffs and the Rangers are contending for the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Rangers telecast usually airs on MSG and the Knicks telecast on MSG2, or vice versa in either case. MSG+ also airs college sports events and local weekly college basketball magazine program for Hofstra University. However, games involving teams

neg: 2016 NBA draft the events' measurements would be under review since some prospects were provided with rather questionable results, especially when compared to how they measured up in previous physical events. The NBA conducts an annual lottery to determine the draft order for the teams did not make the playoffs in the preceding season. Every NBA team that missed the NBA playoffs had a chance at winning a top three pick, but teams with worse records had a better chance at winning a top three pick. After the lottery selected the teams that receive a top three pick the other teams receive an

neg: History of the Golden State Warriors streak for most games without back-to-back losses ended at 146 with a 94–87 loss to the Chicago Bulls. The streak eclipsed the previous record of 95 held by the Utah Jazz. The Warriors earned home-court advantage throughout the 2017 playoffs, thanks to a 2016–17 regular season record of 67–15. They were the first team in NBA playoff history to start 12–0, defeating in order the Trail Blazers, the Jazz, and the Spurs. The 2017 Finals once again pitted the Warriors against the Cavaliers, becoming the first time in NBA history that two teams met in the Finals for three consecutive

neg: 2017 NBA Finals Cavaliers' third consecutive trip to the NBA Finals, and fourth appearance overall, seeking to repeat as NBA champions. This was also the seventh consecutive NBA Finals appearance for LeBron James, and the sixth for James Jones (who technically qualified for the 2011 NBA Finals along with James, but did not play). The Cavaliers finished the 2016–17 regular season with a 51–31 record, securing the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference. In the playoffs, the Cavaliers swept the Indiana Pacers in the first round, swept the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference semifinals, and defeated the Boston Celtics in five games

neg: USA Thursday Game of the Week Philadelphia–Calgary series because of their coverage of the NBA playoffs. USA also didn't televise Games 2 and 5 of the playoff series between the Calgary Flames and Minnesota North Stars (April 30 and May 7 respectively) because of baseball games involving the Minnesota Twins vs. the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. the Philadelphia Phillies respectively. In 1982, doubleheaders did not start until June 17. Prior to the doubleheaders starting, Monte Moore and Wes Parker did the individual game until then. When the doubleheaders finally began, Moore and Parker moved over to the late game for the

neg: 1981 NBA Playoffs 1981 NBA Playoffs The 1981 NBA Playoffs were the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1980–81 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Houston Rockets 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals. Cedric Maxwell was named NBA Finals MVP. The playoffs are notable for being the second and final time to date that a team with a losing record advanced to the NBA Finals (the Minneapolis Lakers did it first in 1959 with a 33–39 record), as the Rockets won their first Western Conference title despite having a 40–42

neg: 2017–18 Washington Wizards season Conference playoffs where they defeated the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the playoffs, winning the series 4–2. In the Conference semifinals, they were defeated 4–3 by the Boston Celtics. The Wizards did not select anyone in the draft, having traded both picks earlier in the year. 2017–18 Washington Wizards season The 2017–18 Washington Wizards season was the 57th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and 45th in the Washington, D.C. area. The Wizards played their home games at newly named Capital One Arena. They finished the regular season with a record of 43–39, which

neg: 1957 NBA Playoffs 1957 NBA Playoffs The 1957 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1956-57 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Division champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Division champion St. Louis Hawks 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals. It was the first title in Celtics history; as of 2017, they led the NBA in titles won with 17. The Celtics and Hawks met in 4 out of 5 NBA Finals from 1957–1961, with the Celtics winning 3 out of 4. While the Hawks' dominance of the Western Division was succeeded by the Los Angeles

neg: 1953 NBA Playoffs 1953 NBA Playoffs The 1953 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1952–53 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Minneapolis Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals. The Lakers won their fourth championship in the last five years, and defeated the Knicks in the Finals for the second straight season to complete their run. Not only did the four Western Division teams meet for the third straight year, but the Eastern Division teams this year, had a slight change. The Philadelphia Warriors did

neg: Detroit Pistons both overall and road victories (27). In addition, the team set an NBA record by starting the same lineup in 73 consecutive games from the start of the season. The top-seeded Pistons defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 4–1 in the first round of the 2006 NBA Playoffs, but struggled in the second round against the Cleveland Cavaliers, falling behind 3–2 before winning in seven games. Things did not improve against the second-seeded Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. Miami defeated the Pistons in six games en route to the 2006 NBA championship. During the 2006 offseason, the Pistons offered Ben

neg: 2011–12 Toronto Raptors season if the lockout ends. The Chinese Basketball Association, however, only allows its clubs to sign foreign free agents who could play for at least the entire season. 2011–12 Toronto Raptors season The 2011–12 Toronto Raptors season was the 17th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The season start was delayed, and the season schedule was compressed due to the 2011 NBA lockout. The Raptors finished the season with a 23–43 record and did not make it to the playoffs. Many players signed with teams from other leagues due to the 2011 NBA lockout. FIBA allows players

neg: 1971 NBA Playoffs 1971 NBA Playoffs The 1971 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1970–71 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Milwaukee Bucks defeating the Eastern Conference champion Baltimore Bullets 4 games to 0 in the NBA Finals. Led by Finals MVP and the previous season's Rookie of the Year Lew Alcindor and Oscar Robertson, the Bucks became the fastest expansion team in NBA history to win the championship (a record that they still hold as of 2018), and did so in dominating fashion, finishing 12-2 in the playoffs with a postseason average point differential

neg: NBA on ABC the network every year since 2002. The Atlanta Hawks did appear on ABC during the network's coverage in the 1960s and 1970s, including a Christmas Day game against the Phoenix Suns in 1970. The network did not air a game involving that team until Game 7 of the 2008 1st Round Playoffs, against the Boston Celtics. The Utah Jazz's appearances have all occurred during the playoffs, with the exception of a doubleheader game that occurred on April 2, 2017, against the Spurs. The Los Angeles Lakers had appeared in ABC's featured Christmas Day game every season from 2002 to 2016

neg: NBA on ABC during the first five weeks of the NBA playoffs, and is the exclusive broadcaster of the NBA Finals. ABC first signed a deal with the National Basketball Association to become the league's primary television partner in 1964; the network's first game telecast aired on January 3, 1965 (a game between the Boston Celtics and Cincinnati Royals). For much of the 1960s, ABC only televised Sunday afternoon games, including during the NBA Playoffs. This meant that ABC did not have to televise a potential NBA Finals deciding game if it were played on a weeknight. In 1969, ABC did televise Game

neg: 2000 NBA Playoffs 2000 NBA Playoffs The 2000 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1999-2000 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers 4 games to 2. Shaquille O'Neal was named NBA Finals MVP. The San Antonio Spurs were the champions going into the playoffs, but were eliminated by the Phoenix Suns in the first round, marking the first time since 1987 that a title-winning team did not repeat. They were also the first defending champion to be eliminated in the first round since the Philadelphia 76ers

neg: 2016–17 San Antonio Spurs season 2016–17 San Antonio Spurs season The 2016–17 San Antonio Spurs season was the franchise's 50th season, its 44th season in the San Antonio area, and its 41st in the National Basketball Association (NBA). This season was the team's first without longtime team cornerstone Tim Duncan since 1996–97; Duncan retired from the NBA on July 11, 2016 as a 5-time champion and the first NBA player ever to win championships in 3 straight decades. With the elimination of the Detroit Red Wings from the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs on March 28, 2017, the Spurs--with 20 consecutive NBA Playoffs appearances--held the longest

neg: Andre Iguodala high with 24 points in a 119–111 win over the Atlanta Hawks. On March 13, 2017, he was fined $10,000 by the NBA for using racially intemperate language in an interview following the Warriors' loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 10. The Warriors finished the season as the first seed in the West with a 67–15 record. Following a 129–115 victory in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals over the Spurs, the Warriors reached their third straight NBA Finals series while becoming the first team in league history to start the playoffs 12–0. Iguodala was a key bench

neg: 2005 NBA Playoffs 2012 Spurs, 2016 Cavaliers, and the 2017 Warriors followed suit. No team (until 2016) has made the finals after going 8-0 in the first two rounds, let alone win 12 straight games going to the NBA Finals, though the Spurs came close in 2012 when they won their first 10 playoff games, then lost their next four to the Oklahoma City Thunder. In 2016, the Cleveland Cavaliers became the first team to go 8-0 through the first two rounds and make the NBA Finals. In 2017, the Golden State Warriors became the second team to go 8-0 through the first

neg: 2006 NBA Playoffs 1971, when the Milwaukee Bucks met the Baltimore Bullets. 2006 NBA Playoffs The 2006 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2005–06 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat defeating the Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals. Dwyane Wade was named NBA Finals MVP. The Clippers were the biggest surprise, as they not only made the playoffs for the first time since 1997, but advanced to the second round for the first time since 1976, when they were the Buffalo Braves. They came within 1

neg: Shaquille O'Neal But when I play him (on defense), it's just going to be me down there. So don't try to make it a Yao versus Shaq thing, when it's Shaq versus four other guys." The 2009 NBA Playoffs was also the first time since O'Neal's rookie season in 1992–93 that he did not participate in the playoffs. He was named as a member of the All-NBA Third Team. The Suns notified O'Neal he might be traded to cut costs. On June 25, 2009, O'Neal was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Sasha Pavlovic, Ben Wallace, $500,000, and a 2010-second round draft

neg: NBA on CBS resigned from the "Globe" in late 1988. While Brent Musburger did host most of CBS' NBA Finals pregame and halftime programs, Pat O'Brien hosted a pregame show during the earlier rounds of the playoffs called "The Basketball Show". O'Brien, working with analyst Bill Raftery, also hosted the "Prudential At The Half". When Musburger left CBS Sports in April 1990, O'Brien took over the NBA Finals (the last that CBS did) hosting duties full-time. In 1988 and 1989, Pat O'Brien filled-in for Brent Musburger (who was busy covering the College World Series for CBS) as the NBA Finals anchor for Game

neg: 2017 NBA draft 2017 NBA draft The 2017 NBA draft was held on June 22, 2017, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. National Basketball Association (NBA) teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players. The draft lottery took place during the playoffs on May 16, 2017. The 53–29 Boston Celtics, who were also the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference and reached the Eastern Conference Finals at the time of the NBA draft lottery, won the #1 pick with pick swapping rights thanks to a previous trade with the Brooklyn Nets, who had the

neg: 2010 NBA Playoffs that he did the same thing the . The Cavaliers did not make the playoffs again until the 2014–2015 NBA season (James' first season back in Cleveland), and in fact, they would be the first team Byron Scott failed to take to the playoffs during his tenure as head coach, he had led his two previous teams to the playoffs at least once. This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning three of the first four meetings. The Magic's victory was the most lopsided four game sweep in playoff history. This was the second

neg: 1999 NBA Finals their first ever trip to the NBA Finals. The Knicks had a harder time getting to the playoffs than the Spurs did. Toward the end of the season, with the team teetering on the brink of making the playoffs, rumors had begun to spread in the New York media that head coach Jeff Van Gundy would lose his job before the end of the season if the team did not make the playoffs. Instead, New York fired general manager Ernie Grunfeld and allowed Van Gundy to lead the team to the playoffs, with the team barely qualifying as the #8

neg: Sports in Philadelphia franchise continued to experience success until the early 1990s, when it traded Charles Barkley. The Sixers missed the playoffs for seven straight seasons until the emergence of Allen Iverson, who led the team to the 2001 finals. The team hovered around .500 for most of the 2000s decade, and missed the playoffs from 2013 to 2017. In 1996, the NBA named the 1967 and 1983 championship-winning teams two of the ten greatest teams in NBA history. The Philadelphia Warriors played in Philadelphia from 1946 to 1962 before moving to San Francisco and becoming the Golden State Warriors. The Philadelphia Warriors

neg: 2006–07 Sacramento Kings season 2006–07 Sacramento Kings season The 2006–07 Sacramento Kings season was the franchise’s 58th in the NBA and 22nd in Sacramento, California. They began the season hoping to improve upon their 44–38 output from the previous season. However, they came eleven wins shy of tying it, finishing 33–49. They failed to reach the playoffs for the first time in eleven seasons. It would also begin a stretch, unbroken as of the 2017–18 season, when the Kings would not make it to the NBA Playoffs in any capacity. On July 8, the Kings signed power forward Lou Amundson. Amundson would be waived

neg: 2017 NBA Playoffs Thompson's, and Draymond Green's second in three years. Durant, who scored over 30 points in each of five games (the first player to do so since Shaquille O'Neal in 2000 with Los Angeles), was the recipient of the 2017 Bill Russell NBA Finals' MVP award. Within each conference, the eight teams with the most wins qualify for the playoffs. The seedings are based on each team's record. Each conference's bracket is fixed; there is no reseeding. All rounds are best-of-seven series; the team that has four wins advances to the next round. As stated above, all rounds, including the NBA

neg: Al Michaels and Dan Majerle. Michaels was hired to replace Nessler as lead broadcaster of the NBA. For the first several weeks of the 2003–2004 season, Michaels had no partner. However, Doc Rivers, a critically acclaimed analyst when he worked with Turner Sports, became available after a 1–19 start by his Orlando Magic. Rivers was hired weeks before ABC's Christmas Day season opener. He and Michaels worked that game together, one of only six they did together during the regular season (all other games Rivers worked were with Brad Nessler). During the playoffs, the team worked every single telecast, including the 2004

neg: 2017 NBA draft this year. Prior to the day of the draft, the following trades were made and resulted in exchanges of draft picks between the teams. Draft-day trades occurred on June 22, 2017, the day of the draft. 2017 NBA draft The 2017 NBA draft was held on June 22, 2017, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. National Basketball Association (NBA) teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players. The draft lottery took place during the playoffs on May 16, 2017. The 53–29 Boston Celtics, who were also the #1 seed in the

neg: 2017 NBA Finals 2017 NBA Finals The 2017 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s 2016–17 season and conclusion of the season's playoffs. The Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors defeated the defending NBA champion and Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers 4 games to 1. This Finals was the first time in NBA history the same two teams had met for a third consecutive year. The Cavaliers sought to repeat as champions after winning the championship in 2016, while the Warriors won the first meeting in 2015. Golden State earned home court advantage with a 2016–17 regular season

neg: Sacramento Kings Kings moved to their current home of Sacramento, California in the 1985–86 NBA season, with their first Sacramento season ending in the first round of the Western Conference 1986 NBA Playoffs. The starting lineup was Reggie Theus, LaSalle Thompson, Mark Olberding, Terry Tyler, and Mike Woodson, with Larry Drew, Eddie Johnson, Otis Thorpe, and Joe Kleine coming off the bench. However, despite fan loyalty the Kings saw little success in subsequent seasons, and the team did not make the playoffs again until the 1996 NBA Playoffs in the 1995–96 NBA season. Some of their failure was attributable to misfortunes such

neg: 1985–86 Chicago Bulls season 1985–86 Chicago Bulls season The Chicago Bulls qualified for the NBA Playoffs. The 1985 NBA Draft took place on June 18, 1985. It was also the first NBA Draft of the "Lottery" era. The lottery was put into place so teams did not have to intentionally lose games to receive the number one pick. At the time, the Bulls had the fifth worst record of any team to qualify for the playoffs in NBA history. Michael Jordan recovered in time to participate in the playoffs and performed well upon his return. Against a Boston Celtics team that is often considered

neg: 2017 NBA Finals Deportes provided exclusive Spanish-language coverage of The Finals, with a commentary team of Álvaro Martín and Carlos Morales. 2017 NBA Finals The 2017 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s 2016–17 season and conclusion of the season's playoffs. The Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors defeated the defending NBA champion and Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers 4 games to 1. This Finals was the first time in NBA history the same two teams had met for a third consecutive year. The Cavaliers sought to repeat as champions after winning the championship in 2016, while the

neg: NBA on ABC the regular season (all other games Rivers worked were with Brad Nessler). During the playoffs, Michaels and Rivers worked every single telecast, including the 2004 NBA Finals, which saw significant ratings improvement. During the 2004 NBA Playoffs, Doc Rivers was hired as head coach of the Boston Celtics. Though Rivers continued to work games with Al Michaels throughout the rest of the playoffs, ABC was forced to search for a new lead analyst for the 2004–05 season. In addition, the network dropped Brad Nessler from all NBA coverage, and did not retain Sean Elliott or Dan Majerle. Early in the

neg: 2016–17 Toronto Raptors season 2016–17 Toronto Raptors season The 2016–17 Toronto Raptors season was the 22nd season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). On March 25, 2017, the team clinched a team-record fourth straight berth to the NBA playoffs. They finished the regular season with a 51–31 record as the 3rd seed. In the playoffs, the Raptors defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in the First Round of the playoffs in six games, facing the defending NBA Champion Cleveland Cavaliers in the Semifinals, whom they met in last season's Eastern Conference Finals. However, the Raptors would be swept by the Cavaliers in four

neg: 2016–17 Toronto Raptors season games. "(* game decided in overtime)" 2016–17 Toronto Raptors season The 2016–17 Toronto Raptors season was the 22nd season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). On March 25, 2017, the team clinched a team-record fourth straight berth to the NBA playoffs. They finished the regular season with a 51–31 record as the 3rd seed. In the playoffs, the Raptors defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in the First Round of the playoffs in six games, facing the defending NBA Champion Cleveland Cavaliers in the Semifinals, whom they met in last season's Eastern Conference Finals. However, the Raptors would be

neg: 1955 NBA Playoffs experimenting with a round robin playoff format in 1954, the NBA moved to a system in which the top team in each conference earned a first-round bye, giving them the right to start out in the division finals. It remained in place until 1967, when it changed to an eight-team format in which all teams played the first round. Champion: Fort Wayne Pistons Division Semifinals (1) Fort Wayne Pistons have division semifinals bye. (2) Minneapolis Lakers vs. (3) Rochester Royals: "Lakers win series 2-1" Last Playoff Meeting: 1954 NBA Western Division Finals (Minneapolis won 2-1) Division Finals (1) Fort Wayne

neg: Hack-a-Shaq and media remained displeased with the continued use of the strategy, particularly in high-profile playoff games. In 2008, the NBA Competition Committee again considered rule changes but did not achieve consensus. According to an ESPN study in 2016, offensive efficiency was higher than the Golden State Warriors when the Hack-a-Shaq strategy was used against a team. NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced that the competition committee would look into changing the rule before the start of the 2016–2017 season due to extended length of games. A player against whom the Hack-a-Shaq strategy is most effective is one who shoots free throws

neg: Andre Iguodala Warriors' NBA-record start ended after 24 wins when they lost to the Milwaukee Bucks 108–95 on December 12. An ankle injury suffered in early March forced Igoudala to miss 13 straight games. The Warriors finished the regular season as the first seed in the Western Conference with a 73–9 record, the best overall record in NBA history, surpassing the 1995–96 Chicago Bulls' mark of 72–10, while Iguodala finished as runner-up for the 2015–16 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award. In the first round of the playoffs, the Warriors faced the eighth-seeded Houston Rockets, and in a Game 4 win

neg: Kobe Bryant OT. They would go on to win the next 4 games and bring their second championship to Los Angeles in as many seasons. During the playoffs, Bryant played heavy minutes which brought his stats up to 29.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game. In the playoffs, teammate O'Neal declared Bryant the best player in the league. Bryant ended up making the All NBA Second team and All NBA Defensive Team for the second year in a row. In addition, he was also voted to start in the NBA All-Star Game for the 3rd year in a row (no

neg: 2017–18 NBA season the game 114−103. The 2018 NBA Playoffs began on Saturday, April 14, 2018, ESPN aired the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals and TNT aired the 2018 Western Conference Finals. For the first time since 1979 both Conference Finals series went to a deciding Game 7. The season ended with the 2018 NBA Finals which began on May 31, 2018 and ended on June 8, 2018 on ABC. Awards were presented at the NBA Awards ceremony, which were held on June 25. Finalists for voted awards were announced during the playoffs and winners were presented at the award ceremony. The All-NBA Team

neg: History of the Cleveland Cavaliers games as they threatened to sweep through the Eastern Conference playoffs. The 10–0 start to the playoffs saw Lue pass Pat Riley (9–0) for the most consecutive playoff wins to start a coaching career. In the NBA Finals, the Cavaliers faced a rematch with the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors, coming off an NBA-best 73–9 regular season record, raced to a 2–0 series after handing the Cavaliers back-to-back blowout losses in Games 1 and 2. The Cavaliers responded with a blowout win of their own in Game 3, before falling behind 3–1 in the series with a loss in Game

neg: History of the Indiana Pacers over Indiana Hoosiers' standout Steve Alford. The Pacers missed the playoffs in 1987–88, drafted Rik Smits in the 1988 NBA draft, and suffered through a disastrous 1988–89 season in which coach Jack Ramsay stepped down following an 0–7 start. Mel Daniels and George Irvine filled in on an interim basis before Dick Versace took over the 6–23 team on the way to a 28–54 finish. In February 1989, the team did manage to make a trade that would eventually pay off, as they traded veteran center Herb Williams to the Dallas Mavericks for future NBA 6th Man-of-the Year Detlef Schrempf.

neg: Juwan Howard season. Howard's April 17 start in the season finale against the Orlando Magic marked Howard's 900th career start. On May 30, during halftime of game 5 of the Eastern Conference championship against the Indiana Pacers, Howard delivered a passionate speech that fired up the team in its clinching game. With the retirement of Grant Hill on June 1, 2013, Howard became the oldest active player in the NBA at age 40. During the playoffs, Howard did not play, but he served as a quasi-assistant coach. In college, Howard was regarded as one of the best defensive big men in the

neg: NBA on ABC for all sporting events aired on ABC to utilize the same production elements as ESPN's sports telecasts), this means that games broadcast on ABC will use the same theme music from previous years. In addition, ABC selected pop group The Pussycat Dolls to perform "Right Now" as the new introduction for NBA games. For the 2008 season, "Nine Lives" by Def Leppard and Tim McGraw was used as the new intro song for ABC's game broadcasts, and was also used by ESPN during the playoffs prior to the start of each game. For the 2012 NBA Playoffs, the revised version

neg: Stephen Curry Finals for a third straight year while becoming the first team in league history to start the playoffs 12–0. In Game 2 of the 2017 NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Curry recorded his first career postseason triple-double with 32 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds to help the Warriors go up 2–0 in the series with a 132–113 win. Curry helped the Warriors clinch the series and the championship in Game 5 with 34 points, 10 assists and six rebounds, as Golden State claimed its second title in three years. On July 1, 2017, Curry agreed to a five-year,

neg: 2014–15 New Orleans Pelicans season return to the playoffs until 2018. The Pelicans did not have a pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. 2014–15 New Orleans Pelicans season The 2014–15 New Orleans Pelicans season is the 13th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Despite finishing last in the Southwest division for the fourth straight season, the Pelicans finished with a 45–37 record and clinched the eighth seed in the Western conference. The Pelicans clinched a seed in the playoffs for the first time since 2011 when the team was called the Hornets. New Orleans' season ended after they were swept 4–0

neg: 2006 NBA Playoffs 2006 NBA Playoffs The 2006 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2005–06 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat defeating the Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals. Dwyane Wade was named NBA Finals MVP. The Clippers were the biggest surprise, as they not only made the playoffs for the first time since 1997, but advanced to the second round for the first time since 1976, when they were the Buffalo Braves. They came within 1 game of making the conference finals for the first

neg: 2016–17 NBA season 2017, ESPN aired the Western Conference Finals and TNT aired the Eastern Conference Finals. The season ended with the 2017 NBA Finals which began on June 1, 2017 and ended on June 12, 2017 on ABC. Awards were presented at the NBA Awards ceremony, which were held on June 26. Finalists for voted awards were announced during the playoffs and winners were presented at the award ceremony. The All-NBA Team was announced in advance in order for teams to have all the necessary information to make offseason preparations. The following players were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of

neg: 1964 NBA Playoffs 1964 NBA Playoffs The 1964 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1963–64 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Division champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Division champion San Francisco Warriors 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals. Boston earned their 6th straight and 7th overall NBA title, as they continued to dominate the decade; except for 1967, they won every NBA title in the 1960s. This was the San Francisco Warriors' first trip to the NBA Finals since 1956 when they were based in Philadelphia; they would make a repeat appearance in 1967

neg: Vince Boryla played in the NBA Finals in 1951 and 1953. Boryla did not participate in the 1952 playoffs. He later became the Knicks' coach from 1956 to 1958, and had an 80-85 record with them. Later in his career, Boryla became the general manager of the American Basketball Association's Denver Nuggets early in their history when they were first the Kansas City ABA team and then the Denver Larks. He was also the general manager of the ABA's Utah Stars. Boryla later rejoined the Nuggets when the franchise joined the NBA. He won the NBA Executive of the Year Award with

neg: 2016–17 Golden State Warriors season time in NBA history two teams have met for a third consecutive year. Golden State became the first team ever to start in the playoffs and their fifteen straight wins were the most consecutive postseason wins in NBA history. They also became the first team in all four major professional sports in America to start 15–0 in the postseason. The Warriors set the best playoff record in NBA history by going 16–1 (.941). Golden State won the Pacific Division title and Western Conference Championship for the third consecutive season. The Warriors became only the second team in NBA history to

neg: NBA on CBS that were in the playoffs or had won the championship. CBS wanted the NBA to start Game 6 of the Finals at 10:30 local time on Sunday morning to accommodate a golf telecast of the Kemper Open (similar to 1976). This time, the NBA refused and CBS agreed to a noon start in Portland. Despite the fact that this was the Finals' clinching game, CBS cut away from its NBA coverage very quickly after the game ended, skipping the trophy presentation in the Trail Blazers' locker room to instead televise the golf tournament. By 1978, NBC aired Saturday afternoon college

neg: 2010–11 San Antonio Spurs season of the Week" for games played from December 13 through December 19 and again for games played March 7 through March 13 "Main article: 2011 NBA All-Star Game" "Main article: 2010–11 NBA season" On November 19, when San Antonio beat the Utah Jazz to go 10–1, it marked the best start to a season in franchise history. 2010–11 San Antonio Spurs season The 2010–11 San Antonio Spurs season was the 44th season of the franchise, 38th in San Antonio and 35th in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In the playoffs, the Spurs lost to the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies in six

neg: Spurs–Suns rivalry in the playoffs. The only Spurs series losses to the Suns occurred in the 2000 NBA Playoffs, when Duncan was out with a knee injury and in the 2010 NBA Playoffs, when the Suns put up the first 4-0 sweep in this rivalry. The Spurs took the first round of the 2003 series from the Suns in six games on their way to their second NBA title. The two teams met in the 2005 Western Conference Finals. The revived Suns (who had posted the third-greatest turnaround in NBA history that season) went up against the second-seeded Spurs. San Antonio took

neg: 2013–14 Golden State Warriors season 2018, this was the last time the Warriors didn’t make the NBA Finals. The Warriors did not have a pick in the 2013 NBA draft. 2013–14 Golden State Warriors season The 2013–14 Golden State Warriors season was the 68th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the 52nd anniversary of their time in the San Francisco Bay Area. They finished the regular season with a record of 51-31, clinching the 6th seed in the Western Conference playoffs. In the playoffs, the Warriors faced the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the playoffs, and lost

neg: Farm team NBA are still drafted out from NCAA. At the conclusion of the 2008–09 NBA season, 20 percent of NBA players had spent time in the NBA D-League. By the end of the 2016–17 season, 44% of players in the 2017 NBA playoffs had some experience in the D-League. The league signed a branding agreement with Gatorade in 2017 to become the NBA G League. Some sports allow the operation of independent feeder teams. In professional cycling, for example, feeder teams such as Vendée U and Trek Livestrong, act as feeders for Bouygues Télécom and Team RadioShack respectively, and compete at

neg: 1997 NBA Playoffs the playoffs up to that point; they did not return until 2005, and won the NBA Finals in 2006. The Minnesota Timberwolves made their playoff debut after failing to win more than 30 games in their first 7 seasons. It was also the first of 7 straight years in which they made the playoffs only to lose in the first round. They were the last of the 1988/89 expansion four to make their playoff debut This was the first (and so far, only) time since the ABA–NBA merger that the 4 former ABA teams, the San Antonio Spurs, the Denver

neg: 1991 NBA Playoffs 1991 NBA Playoffs The 1991 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1990–91 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals. Michael Jordan was named NBA Finals MVP. After the Pistons had ended their season the last three years, the Bulls got revenge in the Eastern Conference Finals by sweeping the two-time defending NBA champions. It was the first time the Bulls won a playoff series over the Pistons since 1974, when both teams were still part

neg: 1956 NBA Playoffs 1956 NBA Playoffs The 1956 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1955-56 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia Warriors defeating the Western Conference champion Fort Wayne Pistons 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals. It was the Warriors' second NBA title; their first was in 1947 back when the NBA was known as the BAA. They would have to wait until 1975 to taste championship gold again; by that time they had moved to the Bay Area and become the Golden State Warriors. Philadelphia's later team, the Philadelphia 76ers, would

neg: 2017 NBA Finals best winning percentage () in NBA playoffs history. LeBron James and Kyrie Irving tried their best to combat the Warriors offense but were unable to overcome a bad night from Kevin Love, who only had six points and a game low minus-21 in his 29 minutes, and the Cavaliers bench, which was outscored 7 to 35 by the Warriors' bench. The Cavaliers did come out aggressive early while Golden State dealt with a series of turnovers. Though the Warriors trailed 41-33 with 10:14 left in the second quarter, they chipped away at that deficit and eventually were able to take

neg: 2015 NBA draft have not completed their four-year college eligibility. The invitation-only NBA Draft Combine was scheduled to occur in Chicago from May 12 to 17. The on-court element of the combine was scheduled for May 14 and 15. The NBA conducted an annual draft lottery to determine the draft order for the teams that did not make the playoffs in the preceding season. Every NBA team that missed the NBA playoffs had a chance at winning a top three pick, but teams with worse records had a better chance at winning a top three pick. After the lottery selected the teams that

neg: Bulls vs Lakers and the NBA Playoffs were divided into two modes, "Exhibition" or "Playoffs". Players could pick from one of the 16 teams that competed in the 1991 NBA Playoffs (up from 8 in the first game). Rosters featured many top NBA stars of the time, including Michael Jordan. Games could be configured for 2, 5, 8 or 12 minute quarters. New to the series is a star underneath the player to let users easily know which player they are controlling. "MegaTech" said that the game had impressive graphics and atmosphere, but that it did not play as fast as "David Robinson's Supreme Court". Bulls vs

neg: 2011 NBA Playoffs since 1998, and lost the ECF for the first time since 1990. The Indiana Pacers appeared in the playoffs for the first time since 2006, as did the Memphis Grizzlies. The New York Knicks made the playoffs for the first time since 2004, but this was their first playoff appearance as an above-.500 team since 2001. The Philadelphia 76ers and New Orleans Hornets appeared for the third time in 4 years. The other 11 teams were in the 2010 NBA Playoffs. The Oklahoma City Thunder headed to the playoffs with their first Northwest Division title under this incarnation. This was

neg: Steve Kerr would again face the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Warriors lost in seven games. On November 20, 2016, the NBA announced that Kerr had been fined $25,000 for public criticism of officiating during a radio interview with KNBR 680 on November 17. Kerr missed time during the 2017 playoffs due to recurring back issues. Associate head coach Mike Brown has acted as acting head coach during periods of Kerr's absence, and Brown continued head coaching into the playoffs leading the Warriors to a 12–0 record in the postseason. Kerr returned for the 2017 NBA Finals where he led the Warriors to victory

neg: Zaza Pachulia denied that he intended to injure Leonard, he was instantly dubbed a villain by the public and media. The Warriors went on to win the 2017 NBA Championship after defeating the Cavaliers 4–1 in the NBA Finals. Pachulia made history for Georgia by becoming the first player from the country to win an NBA Championship. The Warriors finished the playoffs with a 16–1 record, the best postseason winning percentage in NBA history. On July 25, 2017, Pachulia re-signed with the Warriors. On December 30, 2017, he scored a season-best 17 points to go with eight rebounds and six assists in

neg: Domantas Sabonis Thunder qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the sixth seed, but they were eliminated 4–1 by the Houston Rockets in the first round; Sabonis played just six minutes in the series, as he managed court time in just two of the five games. Upon concluding his rookie season, Sabonis indicated that he would participate in the 2017 NBA Summer League in preparation for EuroBasket 2017. On July 6, 2017, Sabonis was traded, along with Victor Oladipo, to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Paul George. Due to the unexpected trade, he not only missed the 2017 NBA Summer League, but

neg: NBA playoffs seedings are used to create a bracket that determines the match-ups throughout the series. Once the playoffs start, the bracket is fixed; teams are never "reseeded", unlike in the National Football League (NFL) and Major League Soccer (MLS) where the strongest remaining teams face the weakest teams in subsequent rounds. The first round of the NBA playoffs, or conference quarterfinals, consists of four match-ups in each conference based on the seedings (1–8, 2–7, 3–6, and 4–5). The four winners advance to the second round, or conference semifinals, with a match-up between the 1–8 and 4–5 winners and a match-up between

neg: 2016 NBA Playoffs matched the 2012 San Antonio Spurs, though the 1989 and 2001 Los Angeles Lakers had won their first eleven games en route to sweeping the first three rounds of the playoffs. Cleveland wound up repeating this feat the next year, when they swept the conference opening round, semifinal round, and winning the first 2 conference final games. However, this feat would be surpassed by the 2017 Golden State Warriors, who won 15 straight games. Within each conference, the eight teams with the most wins qualify for the playoffs. The seedings are based on each team's record. Each conference's bracket is

neg: 1991 NBA Finals announced his retirement due to the HIV virus. He did, however, play in the 1992 NBA All-Star Game and eventually with the Dream Team in the 1992 Summer Olympics. The Lakers would decline in the years following Magic's retirement, being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs two straight years (1992 - 1993) before missing the playoffs entirely in 1994. It would be nine years before the Lakers returned to the NBA Finals; by then they had moved to the new Staples Center, marking the 1991 Finals the last to be held at the Forum. 1991 NBA Finals The

neg: NBA Finals seed going into the playoffs, they only lost one game en route to defeating the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, setting up another match against the Warriors in the 2017 NBA Finals. The Warriors started strong with a 3-0 lead over the Cavs, eventually winning the series in five games with Durant being named Finals MVP. The Warriors set a playoffs record of 15 consecutive wins and a 16-1 final record, as well as a 13.5-point differential in the Finals. The Cavaliers traded away Kyrie Irving in the 2017 offseason and continued to change their roster throughout the

neg: NBA playoffs during the 2005–06 season and playoffs, and would be changed prior to the 2006–07 NBA season. Prior to 2005, NBA division champions were seeded higher than the other teams in their conference, regardless of their record. Prior to 2004, when the NBA was aligned into two conferences with two divisions each, the division champions were guaranteed the top two seeds. This meant that top two teams in a conference (by record) would be seeded either first and second (if they were in opposite divisions) or first and third (if they were in the same division). Because of the NBA playoffs'