Puneet Varma (Editor)

2001 NBA Playoffs

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Season
  
2000–01

Teams
  
16

Champions
  
Los Angeles Lakers (13th title)

Runner-up
  
Philadelphia 76ers (9th finals appearance)

Semifinalists
  
Milwaukee Bucks San Antonio Spurs

The 2001 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2000-01 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers 4 games to 1. Shaquille O'Neal was named NBA Finals MVP for the second straight year. Since 2001, the 76ers have not advanced beyond the conference semifinals.

Contents

This was the 76ers' first Finals appearance since Moses Malone and Julius Erving led the 1983 squad to the NBA title (coincidentally, last defeating the Lakers) in the famous "fo', fo', fo'" year (it ended up being "fo', fi', fo'", as Philadelphia lost one second-round game that year).

However, it was the Lakers' turn to put together the most dominant postseason in NBA history, going 15–1 with their only loss coming in OT to the Sixers in Game 1 of the Finals. They set many records, including going undefeated in regulation and on the road (finishing 8–0 in the latter category). They were the second NBA champion to defeat four 50-win or better teams on their way to the title as the Rockets did it first in 1995.

The Milwaukee Bucks won their first playoff series since 1989, made the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1986 and won the division for the first time since that year. As of 2016, however, they have been unable to duplicate this.

The Dallas Mavericks made the playoffs for the first time since 1990. Along the way they had many abysmal seasons, including back-to-back years with 11 and 13 wins. By beating Utah in the first round, they won their first playoff series since 1988. Reunion Arena, their home court for 21 years, hosted its last game (Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Spurs); they moved to American Airlines Center in 2002.

The Sacramento Kings won their first playoff series since 1981 (when they were the Kansas City Kings) and first since moving to Sacramento.

The Toronto Raptors won their first playoff series in franchise history 3–2 over the New York Knicks. For the first time since 1991, the Knicks failed to win a first-round playoff series.

Best record in NBA

The San Antonio Spurs clinched the best record in the NBA, and earned home court advantage throughout the entire playoffs. However, when they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers gained home court advantage for the NBA Finals. San Antonio's 58 games remains the lowest for a team with home court advantage throughout the playoffs, being 3 games fewer than the Pacers and Cavs' 61 in 2004 and 2010, respectively.

Clinched a playoff berth

The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the West:

  1. San Antonio Spurs (clinched Midwest division)
  2. Los Angeles Lakers (clinched Pacific division)
  3. Sacramento Kings
  4. Utah Jazz
  5. Dallas Mavericks
  6. Phoenix Suns
  7. Portland Trail Blazers
  8. Minnesota Timberwolves

Best record in conference

The Philadelphia 76ers clinched the best record in the Eastern Conference, and had home court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Clinched a playoff berth

The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the East:

  1. Philadelphia 76ers (clinched Atlantic division)
  2. Milwaukee Bucks (clinched Central division)
  3. Miami Heat
  4. New York Knicks
  5. Toronto Raptors
  6. Charlotte Hornets
  7. Orlando Magic
  8. Indiana Pacers

Western Conference

Champion: Los Angeles Lakers

(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (8) Minnesota Timberwolves

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Spurs winning the first meeting.

(2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (7) Portland Trail Blazers

This was the tenth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning seven of the first nine meetings.

(3) Sacramento Kings vs. (6) Phoenix Suns

This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Suns winning two of the first three meetings.

(4) Utah Jazz vs. (5) Dallas Mavericks

  • In Game 5, Calvin Booth made the series winning layup with 9.6 seconds left. The Mavs would then not only become the 8th team in playoff history to overcome an 0-2 deficit, but also win their first playoff series since 1988.

    • This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Mavericks winning the first meeting.

    (1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (5) Dallas Mavericks

    This was the first playoff meeting between the Mavericks and the Spurs.

    (2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) Sacramento Kings

    This was the ninth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning seven of the first eight meetings.

    (1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (2) Los Angeles Lakers

    This was the seventh playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning four of the first six meetings.

    Eastern Conference

    Champion: Philadelphia 76ers

    (1) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (8) Indiana Pacers

  • In Game 1, Reggie Miller hit the game-winning 3 with 2.9 seconds left.

    • This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Pacers winning two of the first three meetings.

    (2) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (7) Orlando Magic

  • In Game 3, Ray Allen sends the game to overtime with a dunk over Tracy McGrady with 3.5 seconds left.

    • This was the first playoff meeting between the Bucks and the Magic.

    (3) Miami Heat vs. (6) Charlotte Hornets

    This was the first playoff meeting between the Heat and the Charlotte Hornets/Bobcats franchise.

    (4) New York Knicks vs. (5) Toronto Raptors

    This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Knicks winning the first meeting.

    (1) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (5) Toronto Raptors

  • Iverson-Carter duel
  • 76ers ended a 16-year drought by advancing to the conference finals when Vince Carter's long jumper at the buzzer bounced off the rim.

    • This was the first playoff meeting between the 76ers and the Raptors.

    (2) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (6) Charlotte Hornets

    This was the first playoff meeting between the Hornets and the Bucks.

    (1) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (2) Milwaukee Bucks

    This was the ninth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the 76ers winning five of the first eight meetings.

    Los Angeles Lakers vs. Philadelphia 76ers

    Last Playoff Meeting: 1983 NBA Finals (Philadelphia won 4-0)

  • This was Philadelphia's first NBA Finals loss to the Lakers in 19 years.
  • In Game 1, Allen Iverson scored 48 points including his famous crossover on Tyronn Lue as the 76ers stop the Lakers' 11-game playoff winning streak (19 overall) dramatically to end the Lakers' perfect run, but his greatest season didn't end the way it was supposed to as the Lakers would still win their second straight title for the first time since 1988.

    • This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning four of the first five meetings.

    References

    2001 NBA Playoffs Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA