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.
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 and made the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1986. 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.
Bracket
| First Round
| | | Conference Semifinals
| | | Conference Finals
| | | NBA Finals
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
| 1
| San Antonio
| 3
| |
|
| 8
| Minnesota
| 1
| |
| | 1
| San Antonio
| 4
| |
|
|
| | 5
| Dallas
| 1
| |
| 4
| Utah
| 2
| |
| |
| 5
| Dallas
| 3
| |
| | 1
| San Antonio
| 0
| |
| Western Conference
|
| | 2
| L.A. Lakers
| 4
| |
| 3
| Sacramento
| 3
| | |
| |
| 6
| Phoenix
| 1
| |
| | 3
| Sacramento
| 0
| |
|
|
| | 2
| L.A. Lakers
| 4
| |
| 2
| L.A. Lakers
| 3
| |
| |
| 7
| Portland
| 0
| |
| | W2
| L.A. Lakers
| 4
| |
|
|
| | E1
| Philadelphia
| 1
| |
| 1
| Philadelphia
| 3
| | | |
| |
| 8
| Indiana
| 1
| |
| | 1
| Philadelphia
| 4
| |
|
|
| | 5
| Toronto
| 3
| |
| 4
| New York
| 2
| |
| |
| 5
| Toronto
| 3
| |
| | 1
| Philadelphia
| 4
| |
| Eastern Conference
|
| | 2
| Milwaukee
| 3
| |
| 3
| Miami
| 0
| | |
| |
| 6
| Charlotte
| 3
| |
| | 6
| Charlotte
| 3
| |
|
|
| | 2
| Milwaukee
| 4
| |
| 2
| Milwaukee
| 3
| |
| |
| 7
| Orlando
| 1
| |
|
|
Playoff 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 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:
- 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
Regular-season series
San Antonio won 3–1 in the regular-season series |
|
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Spurs winning the first meeting.
Previous playoff series[1]
San Antonio leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |
|
(2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (7) Portland Trail Blazers
Regular-season series
Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series |
|
This was the tenth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning seven of the first nine meetings.
Previous playoff series[2]
Los Angeles leads 7–2 in all-time playoff series |
|
(3) Sacramento Kings vs. (6) Phoenix Suns
Regular-season series
Sacramento won 3–1 in the regular-season series |
|
This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Suns winning two of the first three meetings.
Previous playoff series[3]
Phoenix leads 2–1 in all-time playoff series |
|
(4) Utah Jazz vs. (5) Dallas Mavericks
Regular-season series
Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series |
|
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Mavericks winning the first meeting.
Previous playoff series[4]
Dallas leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |
|
Conference Semifinals
(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (5) Dallas Mavericks
Regular-season series
San Antonio won 3–1 in the regular-season series |
|
This was the first playoff meeting between the Mavericks and the Spurs.[5]
(2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) Sacramento Kings
Regular-season series
Los Angeles won 3–1 in the regular-season series |
|
This was the ninth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning seven of the first eight meetings.
Previous playoff series[6]
Los Angeles leads 7–1 in all-time playoff series |
|
Conference Finals
(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (2) Los Angeles Lakers
Regular-season series
Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series |
|
This was the seventh playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning four of the first six meetings.
Previous playoff series[7]
Los Angeles leads 4–2 in all-time playoff series |
|
Eastern Conference
Champion: Philadelphia 76ers
First Round
(1) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (8) Indiana Pacers
- In Game 1, Reggie Miller hit the game-winning 3 with 2.9 seconds left.
Regular-season series
Philadelphia won 3–0 in the regular-season series |
|
This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Pacers winning two of the first three meetings.
Previous playoff series[8]
Indiana leads 2–1 in all-time playoff series |
|
(2) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (7) Orlando Magic
Regular-season series
Milwaukee won 4–0 in the regular-season series |
|
This was the first playoff meeting between the Bucks and the Magic.[9]
(3) Miami Heat vs. (6) Charlotte Hornets
Regular-season series
Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series |
|
This was the first playoff meeting between the Heat and the Charlotte Hornets/Bobcats franchise.[10]
(4) New York Knicks vs. (5) Toronto Raptors
Regular-season series
Toronto won 3–1 in the regular-season series |
|
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Knicks winning the first meeting.
Previous playoff series[11]
New York leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |
|
Conference Semifinals
(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.
Regular-season series
Toronto won 3–1 in the regular-season series |
|
This was the first playoff meeting between the 76ers and the Raptors.[12]
(2) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (6) Charlotte Hornets
Regular-season series
Charlotte won 3–1 in the regular-season series |
|
This was the first playoff meeting between the Hornets and the Bucks.[13]
Conference Finals
(1) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (2) Milwaukee Bucks
Game |
Date |
Visitor |
Score |
Home |
Score |
Record
(PHI-MIL) |
Venue |
TV Time |
Recap |
TV Commentators |
1 |
May 22 |
Milwaukee |
85 |
Philadelphia |
93 |
1-0 |
First Union Center, Philadelphia |
TNT 8:00et |
|
Marv Albert & Mike Fratello |
2 |
May 24 |
Milwaukee |
92 |
Philadelphia |
78 |
1-1 |
First Union Center, Philadelphia |
TNT 8:00et |
|
Dick Stockton & Hubie Brown |
3 |
May 26 |
Philadelphia |
74 |
Milwaukee |
80 |
1-2 |
Bradley Center, Milwaukee |
NBC 5:30et |
|
Mike Breen, Bill Walton & Steve Jones |
4 |
May 28 |
Philadelphia |
89 |
Milwaukee |
83 |
2-2 |
Bradley Center, Milwaukee |
NBC 5:30et |
|
Mike Breen, Bill Walton & Steve Jones |
5 |
May 30 |
Milwaukee |
88 |
Philadelphia |
89 |
3-2 |
First Union Center, Philadelphia |
NBC 9:00et |
|
Mike Breen, Bill Walton & Steve Jones |
6 |
June 1 |
Philadelphia |
99 |
Milwaukee |
110 |
3-3 |
Bradley Center, Milwaukee |
NBC 9:00et |
|
Mike Breen, Bill Walton & Steve Jones |
7 |
June 3 |
Milwaukee |
91 |
Philadelphia |
108 |
4-3 |
First Union Center, Philadelphia |
NBC 7:30et |
|
Mike Breen, Bill Walton & Steve Jones |
Philadelphia wins Eastern Conference Finals series 4–3
|
Regular-season series
Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series |
|
This was the ninth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the 76ers winning five of the first eight meetings.
Previous playoff series[14]
Philadelphia leads 5–3 in all-time playoff series |
|
NBA Finals
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.
Regular-season series
Tied 1–1 in the regular-season series |
|
This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning four of the first five meetings.
Previous playoff series[15]
Los Angeles leads 4–1 in all-time playoff series |
|
See also
- 2000–01 National Basketball Association playoff leaders
References
- ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Minnesota Timberwolves versus San Antonio Spurs (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
- ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus Portland Trail Blazers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
- ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Phoenix Suns versus Sacramento Kings (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
- ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Dallas Mavericks versus Utah Jazz (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
- ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Dallas Mavericks versus San Antonio Spurs (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
- ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus Sacramento Kings (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
- ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus San Antonio Spurs (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
- ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Indiana Pacers versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
- ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Milwaukee Bucks versus Orlando Magic (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
- ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Charlotte Hornets versus Miami Heat (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
- ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — New York Knicks versus Toronto Raptors (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
- ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Philadelphia 76ers versus Toronto Raptors (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
- ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Charlotte Hornets versus Milwaukee Bucks (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
- ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Milwaukee Bucks versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
- ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
External links
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