'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 2009-10 LA Lakers
The 2008-09 Lakers had one of the most exciting teams of all time. Led by the duo of Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, the rest of the roster consisted of talented players. With Andrew Bynum at center, Ron Artest playing perimeter defense and Derek Fisher playing point, there was serious depth in the team too.
LA had ended the regular season with a record of 57-25 record, the best record in the Western Conference. Coming off of a successful championship campaign the previous season, the Lakers had emerged as favorites to win it again.
The Purple and Gold would have to go through some tough competition in the postseason, facing a young Oklahoma City Thunder squad and the Utah Jazz led by Deron Williams. They faced Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference Finals. After a gruelling six game series, they emerged victorious and faced the Celtics.
LA would beat the powerhouse Celtics led by Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo in seven games. The Lakers beating the Celtics for their 16th ring in franchise history was iconic.
The Celtics had beaten the Purple and Gold in the 2008 NBA Finals. The win was redemption for the loss they'd suffered. On an additional note, the championship was a back-to-back win for the Lakers, just making this team that much greater.
#2 1986-87 LA Lakers
The 1986-87 LA Lakers were a special team. Led by a core of Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Magic Johnson and James Worthy, the team would go on to have 65-17 season to top the Western Conference table.
The team had lost in previous years' Conference Finals to the Houston Rockets, however, they would avenge that loss by sweeping the Seattle Supersonics in the Western Conference Finals.
In the Finals, the Lakers would face the Boston Celtics led by Larry Bird. While Magic Johnson and Bird have one of the greatest rivalries of all time, the Celtics had beaten the Lakers on every occasion.
In the 1987 NBA Finals, the Lakers would finally beat the Boston Celtics ending years of misery and breaking a "curse".
The pivotal moment of the series was a shot taken by Magic Johnson. A sweeping skyhook from the free-throw line that won the game for the Lakers. Magic would also win his third finals MVP in this series.
In 1988, the Lakers repeated the title and won their fifth championship of the decade.
#1 2000-01 LA Lakers
The 2000-01 Lakers were probably the best team in franchise history. The team had one of the most lethal duos in NBA history in Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant and under Phil Jackson's coaching, the team also repeated an NBA title.
The roster featured important role players such as Robert Horry, Ron Harper and Horace Grant. Shaquille O'Neal was at the peak of his powers and Kobe Bryant was on course to establish himself as one of the best players in the league.
The Lakers had a regular-season record of 56-26 which placed them at the second in the West. The greatness of this team came from it's record in the post season.
The Lakers asbolutely dominated the West. They swept Portland, Sacramento and San Antonio as Kobe and Shaq just overpowered all defenses. In the NBA finals, they would come up against Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers.
After a loss in Game One, the Lakers didn't let Philadelphia repeat the success they had. The Lakers would go on to win the series 4-1.
Going into the following season, the Lakers would win the title again, beating the New Jersey Nets in 4 games and performing a three-peat, a first since the 1954 championship as the Minneapolis Lakers.
