- 2001 NBA Playoffs
The 2001
NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of theNational Basketball Association 's 2000-01 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference championLos Angeles Lakers winning their second consecutive championship by defeating the Eastern Conference championPhiladelphia 76ers four games to one.This was the 76ers' first appearance in the championship round since
Moses Malone andJulius Erving led the 1983 squad to the NBA championship (coincidently, last defeating the Lakers) in the famous "'fo, fo', fo'" year (which ended up being "fo', fi', fo", as Philadelphia lost one second-round game that year).However, this was the Lakers' turn to put together the most dominant postseason in league history, finishing 15-1 with their only setback being an overtime loss to the Sixers in Game 1 of the championship round. The Lakers set a multitude of playoff records, including going undefeated in both regulation and on the road (finishing an unprecedented 8-0 in the latter category). They were also the first NBA champion to defeat 4 successive 50-win or better teams on their way to the title.
The
Milwaukee Bucks were one of the surprise teams of the playoffs, winning a playoff series for the first time since 1989 and advancing to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 1986.As of 2008 , however, they have been unable to duplicate this feat.The
Dallas Mavericks also ended years of futility in the 2001 playoffs, making the postseason for the first time since 1990. Along the way they had had several "abysmal" seasons including back-to-back years with only 11 and 13 wins. By stunning theUtah Jazz in the first round, the Mavericks won their first playoff series since 1988.The
Toronto Raptors won their first playoff series in franchise history with a 3-2 series win over theNew York Knicks , but fell in seven games to the 76ers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.The total of number of playoff games in the NBA Playoffs is 72, including theNBA Finals .For the first time since 1991, the
New York Knicks failed to win a first round playoff series (losing to the Toronto Raptors 3 games to 2).Bracket
16TeamBracket
RD1=First Round
RD2=Conference Semifinals
RD3=Conference Finals
RD4=NBA Finals
group1=Western Conference
group2=Eastern ConferenceRD1-seed01=1
RD1-team01=San Antonio
RD1-score01=3
RD1-seed02=8
RD1-team02=Minnesota
RD1-score02=1RD1-seed03=4
RD1-team03=Utah
RD1-score03=2
RD1-seed04=5
RD1-team04=Dallas
RD1-score04=3RD1-seed05=3
RD1-team05=Sacramento
RD1-score05=3
RD1-seed06=6
RD1-team06=Phoenix
RD1-score06=1RD1-seed07=2
RD1-team07=L.A. Lakers
RD1-score07=3
RD1-seed08=7
RD1-team08=Portland
RD1-score08=0RD1-seed09=1
RD1-team09=Philadelphia
RD1-score09=3
RD1-seed10=8
RD1-team10=Indiana
RD1-score10=1RD1-seed11=4
RD1-team11=New York
RD1-score11=2
RD1-seed12=5
RD1-team12=Toronto
RD1-score12=3RD1-seed13=3
RD1-team13=Miami
RD1-score13=0
RD1-seed14=6
RD1-team14=Charlotte
RD1-score14=3RD1-seed15=2
RD1-team15=Milwaukee
RD1-score15=3
RD1-seed16=7
RD1-team16=Orlando
RD1-score16=1RD2-seed01=1
RD2-team01=San Antonio
RD2-score01=4
RD2-seed02=5
RD2-team02=Dallas
RD2-score02=1RD2-seed03=3
RD2-team03=Sacramento
RD2-score03=0
RD2-seed04=2
RD2-team04=L.A. Lakers
RD2-score04=4RD2-seed05=1
RD2-team05=Philadelphia
RD2-score05=4
RD2-seed06=5
RD2-team06=Toronto
RD2-score06=3RD2-seed07=6
RD2-team07=Charlotte
RD2-score07=3
RD2-seed08=2
RD2-team08=Milwaukee
RD2-score08=4RD3-seed01=1
RD3-team01=San Antonio
RD3-score01=0
RD3-seed02=2
RD3-team02=L.A. Lakers
RD3-score02=4RD3-seed03=1
RD3-team03=Philadelphia
RD3-score03=4
RD3-seed04=2
RD3-team04=Milwaukee
RD3-score04=3RD4-seed02=E1
RD4-team01=L.A. Lakers
RD4-score01=4
RD4-seed01=W2
RD4-team02=Philadelphia
RD4-score02=1Playoff qualifying
Western Conference
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 San Antonio lost to theLos Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers gained home court advantage for the NBA Finals.Clinched a playoff berth
The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the West:
#
San Antonio Spurs (clinched Midwest division)
#Los Angeles Lakers (clinched Pacific division)
#Sacramento Kings
#Utah Jazz
#Dallas Mavericks
#Phoenix Suns
#Portland Trail Blazers
#Minnesota Timberwolves Eastern Conference
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:
#
Philadelphia 76ers (clinched Atlantic division)
#Milwaukee Bucks (clinched Central division)
#Miami Heat
#New York Knicks
#Toronto Raptors
#Charlotte Hornets
#Orlando Magic
#Indiana Pacers Western Conference
Champion:
Los Angeles Lakers First Round
(1)
San Antonio Spurs vs. (8)Minnesota Timberwolves (3)
Sacramento Kings vs. (6)Phoenix Suns Conference Finals
(1)
San Antonio Spurs vs. (2)Los Angeles Lakers (2)
Milwaukee Bucks vs. (7)Orlando Magic (2)
Milwaukee Bucks vs. (6)Charlotte Hornets External links
* [http://www.nba.com/playoffs2001/ NBA.com's 2001 Playoffs coverage]
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