Were the 2001 Lakers the Greatest Playoff Team EVER?

Lakers Legacy: Today marks the 25th anniversary of the 2001 Los Angeles Lakers’ championship. After winning the title the year before, the Lakers, led by Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and Phil Jackson, were tasked with beating three 50-win teams in the Western Conference and the Allen Iverson-led 76ers. The opposition proved to be no match for the Lakers, as they went on a dominant 15-1 run in the playoffs to capture back-to-back titles.

After going seven games with Portland the year before in the Conference Finals, the Lakers swept the Blazers in Round 1 with an average win margin of 14.7 points.

The Lakers made quick work of the Sacramento Kings in the Western Conference Semifinals, sweeping them 4-0. Kobe averaged 35 points per game this series, his highest average in a playoff series for his career.

In the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers took on Tim Duncan, David Robinson, and the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs. Derek Fisher shot 15-of-20 from 3-point range in the series, Kobe averaged 33.3 points per game, and the Lakers defeated the Spurs by an average of 34 points in games 3 and 4 en route to another sweep.

The Lakers faced Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA Finals, and after dropping Game 1 in overtime, the Lakers responded with four straight wins to clinch their 13th NBA championship. Shaquille O’Neal won Finals MVP averaging 33 points and 15.8 rebounds per game.

This video celebrates the legendary run of one of the greatest Playoff teams in NBA history.

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