NBA Playoffs - 5 greatest team performances during a single post-season

Oklahoma City Thunder v Golden State Warriors
Oklahoma City Thunder v Golden State Warriors

#3 1983 Philadelphia 76ers - 12-1 record in the NBA Playoffs

The Fo', Fo', Fo' Philadelphia 76ers.
The Fo', Fo', Fo' Philadelphia 76ers.

The 1983 Philadelphia 76ers were a great team that dominated the NBA Playoffs. After Moses Malone, the NBA reigning MVP, joined the team for the 1982-83 season, it was all about the NBA championship in Philadelphia.

The team completed their title quest by dominating the 1983 NBA Playoffs with a 12-1 record (.923 winning percentage).

The 1983 Sixers defeated six Hall of Fame players through their NBA Playoffs run (the second-most ever). They defeated the New York Knicks (44-38), the Milwaukee Bucks (51-31), and swept the LA Lakers (58-24) to complete their all-time great NBA Playoffs run.

Only Milwaukee took a game from the Sixers (in the second round).


#2 2001 LA Lakers - 15-1 record in the NBA Playoffs

Kobe Bryant formed an iconic duo with Shaquille O'Neal.
Kobe Bryant formed an iconic duo with Shaquille O'Neal.

The 2001 Los Angeles Lakers arguably have the greatest case to be considered as the best team in the history of the NBA Playoffs.

The team built around two Top-5 NBA players of that era (and possibly ever) and had one of the greatest coaches of all time in Phil Jackson. Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant had already won their first NBA title in 2000, and the 2001 NBA Playoffs were a solid statement.

Their winning percentage (.938) ranks second in NBA Playoffs history. The 2001 Lakers beat four 50-win teams in the NBA Playoffs and only lost one game (game one of the NBA Finals, at the hands of Allen Iverson).

They also defeated six Hall of Fame players on their way to the title and arrived at the NBA Finals with an 11-0 record in the NBA Playoffs.


#1 2017 Golden State Warriors - 16-1 record in the NBA Playoffs

2017 NBA Finals - Game Five
2017 NBA Finals - Game Five

As bad as it might have looked, Kevin Durant's decision to join the 73-9 Golden State Warriors was a powerful move that completely changed the NBA picture.

In the 2017 NBA Playoffs, the Warriors reached the NBA Finals with a 12-0 NBA Playoffs record and started the NBA Finals up 3-0.

Their unbeaten run ended on game four of the NBA Finals, but they completed the greatest NBA Playoffs run ever in terms of wins (due to the current format) and winning percentage (.941).

However, Golden State only beat four Hall of Fame players during their NBA Playoffs run, though they competed against the 51-win Utah Jazz, the 61-win San Antonio Spurs, and the 51-win Cleveland Cavaliers.

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