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#3 2014 San Antonio Spurs
The NBA's Beautiful Game. Enough said.
Before the San Antonio Spurs revealed their basketball artistry on the grandest stage in the 2014 NBA Finals, they suffered a defeat so hurtful that a few of them thought of hanging up their jerseys. Gut-wrenching. Agonizing. Excruciating. These words do not capture what that team had to go through.
The lasting image of the 2013 NBA Finals was Ray Allen’s corner three that allowed LeBron James and the Miami Heat to crawl back into the game, force overtime and eventually win Game 6. It’s a wonder the Spurs even showed up for Game 7 after that indescribable loss.
The start of 2014 was a time of soul searching for the San Antonio Spurs. They had to redo their training camp to give themselves a new perspective and start the season with a fresh outlook.
The Silver and Black crew ended the preseason with a 3-4 record. Gregg Popovich, who’s never been afraid to experiment, did a lot of tinkering in that preseason. He also kept the veterans’ minutes to a minimum if not rested.
The Spurs' initial games were not lifeless, but they lacked their usual zest. Somehow Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker found another gear to motivate and re-focus the squad. If not for that spectacular meltdown in the 2013 Finals, the Beautiful Game would not have been born.
#2 2021 Milwaukee Bucks
The pandemic and the resulting uncertainties accompanying it were not the best of times to hold an NBA preseason. Many across the league admitted they were not mentally ready to get on with their preparations. But, as they say, the show must go on.
Before winning the shortened 2021 NBA season, the Milwaukee Bucks were seemingly just a good regular season and playoff team. Giannis Antetokounmpo’s lack of shooting had teams building walls before he drove to the basket and severely curtail the Bucks’ potent attack.
The Milwaukee Bucks had to do something drastic to get them over the hump. They virtually sold their future to get their hands on Jrue Holiday and add him to the Khris Middleton and Antetokounmpo combo.
The Bucks were winless in three games that preseason. Coach Mike Budenholzer, after early losses in the playoffs, tried out a new defensive scheme with a revamped roster.
Although three games is a small sample, it was evident that the Bucks were having trouble with cohesion on both ends of the floor. Their horrible shooting in those preseason games also worried thousands of fans.
History shows that the struggles the Milwaukee Bucks had to go through prepared them well for the battles ahead. Jrue Holiday made some clutch plays throughout the playoffs and the NBA Finals that made him worth the price of the trade.
An argument could be had that the Bucks only reached the East Finals because the Brooklyn Nets were handicapped, but Budenholzer’s team can’t be faulted for the injuries to James Harden and Kyrie Irving. It’s sometimes the brutal part of the NBA game.
#1 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers
![LeBron James' iconic block on Andre Iguodala in Game 7 paved the way for the Cleveland Cavaliers' monumental upset of the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals.[Photo: Sports Illustrated]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2021/10/78332-16343564262996-1920.jpg)
The Cleveland Cavaliers were probably the most flawed NBA champion in the last 10 years. They had to rely heavily on LeBron James’ all-world talent to keep them afloat. Kyrie Irving, who broke his knee cap in the 2015 NBA Finals, was still grappling for form and consistency.
The Cavs’ NBA campaign was in turmoil halfway into the season. They fired head coach David Blatt despite having a winning record and replaced him with untested rookie head coach Tyronne Lue. If the season was topsy-turvy, the preseason completely captured it.
The 2016 Cavaliers were in disarray throughout the preseason. A 1-6 record in those games was more generous than how they played. It looked like David Blatt’s team was disengaged early in the preseason. Worse, they had no identity when LeBron was not on the floor.
Grabbing the headlines during the 2015-16 season was the historic run of the dynastic Golden State Warriors. It looked like the regular season was a mere formality until they marched to the finals and annexed another crown.
LeBron James and Kyrie Irving changed the narrative with two of the most iconic plays in NBA history. James had “The Block” on Andre Iguodala’s layup and Irving shot the dagger over Steph Curry that helped the Cavs pull a titanic upset in Game 7.
