Fansided

The best NBA playoff team of all-time at every seed

By Ian Levy

ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 25: (L-R) James Harden #13, Kevin Durant #35 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder stand on the court during the game against the Orlando Magic on February 25, 2011 at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 2011 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 25: (L-R) James Harden #13, Kevin Durant #35 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder stand on the court during the game against the Orlando Magic on February 25, 2011 at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 2011 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks arrives for Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat at the AmericanAirlines Center in Dallas on June 5, 2011. This year’s final is a rematch of the 2006 NBA championship, which Miami took in six games for their first title in franchise history. Dallas have never won the NBA championship in the 31 years they have been in the league. AFP PHOTO/Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)
Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks arrives for Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat at the AmericanAirlines Center in Dallas on June 5, 2011. This year’s final is a rematch of the 2006 NBA championship, which Miami took in six games for their first title in franchise history. Dallas have never won the NBA championship in the 31 years they have been in the league. AFP PHOTO/Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images) /

The best No. 4 seed ever: Dallas Mavericks, 2005-06

Everyone remembers how this season ended for the Mavericks — with Dwyane Wade running a one-man parade to the free throw line and winning four straight to send Dallas home. But it’s easy to forget just how good the Mavericks were this season.

Dallas had put together an impressive stretch and 2005-06 culminated in their sixth-straight playoff appearance. Their 60 wins this season matched a franchise-high (even though their SRS was slightly lower than their 60-win team in 2002-03). This squad was headlined by Dirk Nowtizki’s career-best 26.6 points per game and complemented by the outside shooting of Jason Terry and Josh Howard, both of whom averaged more than 15 points per game and shot better than 40 percent on their 3s. With Erick Dampier holding down the middle, Jerry Stackhouse and Marquis Daniels offering defense and versatility off the bench and a young Devin Harris coming off the bench as a change-of-pace this team was a powerhouse.

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