Every NBA team's best iteration ever

Every NBA team’s best iteration ever

PORTLAND, OR - 1987: Head Coach Pat Riley leads Magic Johnson #32, Byron Scott #4, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar #33 during a game played circa 1987 at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1987 NBAE (Photo by Brian Drake/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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LANDOVER, MD – CIRCA 1975: Clyde Lee #34 of the Philadelphia 76ers fights for position with Wes Unseld #41 of the Washington Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1975 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. Lee played for the 76ers from 1974-76. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Washington Wizards: 1974-75

Though largely forgotten today, the Washington and Baltimore Bullets were one of the better and more consistent teams of the 1970s. They made the Finals four times throughout the decade, winning one championship in 1978. However, the best version of the team from that era was not their title winning squad, but one of the teams that fell in the Finals: the 1974-75 Washington Bullets.

Leading the way was the front court of Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld, who combined for 32 points and 27 rebounds per game, while also contributing 6 assists, and 6 combined blocks and assists. Helping to carry the scoring burden for the team was shooting guard Phil Chenier who added 21 points per game and was an All Star that season alongside Hayes and Unseld.

The team was phenomenal defensively, allowing just 91.3 points per 100 possessions, finishing first in the league. Their offense left a bit to be desired, though, as they were mediocre on that end.

Next: Every NBA team's worst iteration ever

The team finished tied with the Celtics for the best record in the NBA, who they defeated in the Eastern Conference Finals before meeting the Golden State Warriors in the Finals. Despite winning 14 less games than the Bullets, the Warriors had the highest scoring offense in the league and Rick Barry, who averaged nearly 30 points per game in the Finals, helped lead the Warriors to one of the biggest Finals upsets ever.

Though the Bullets would win the championship three years later, the team that finally brought home the title was still not quite as good as the 1975 version, in spite of their Finals loss.

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