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Ranking every NBA Champion from No. 72 to No. 1 — The Definitive List

By Staff

TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 30: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the Golden State Warriors and Serge Ibaka #9 of the Toronto Raptors defend their positions during Game One of the NBA Finals on May 30, 2019 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 30: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the Golden State Warriors and Serge Ibaka #9 of the Toronto Raptors defend their positions during Game One of the NBA Finals on May 30, 2019 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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BOSTON – 1960: The Boston Celtics in the locker room after the 1960 NBA game at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 NBAE 2002 (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE/Getty Images)
BOSTON – 1960: The Boston Celtics in the locker room after the 1960 NBA game at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 NBAE 2002 (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE/Getty Images) /

44. 1959-60 Boston Celtics

The NBA was still in a decidedly primitive stage when the Celtics got started on their dominant run of titles. This was the third Celtics championship team under center Bill Russell, but this was perhaps the best offensive team Boston assembled during his time. The team had four players who averaged between 18 and 22 points, led by forward Tommy Heinsohn at 21.7 points. Russell averaged 18.2 points and 24 rebounds a game. Guards Bill Sharman and Bob Cousy both averaged more than 19 a game and six players overall averaged double figures.

Overall, the Celtics averaged 124 points a game even though this was an era when players regularly shot less than 44 percent from the field (even without hoisting three-pointers regularly). What the Celtics did better than anyone at the time was get up and down the floor as one of the first true fastbreak teams in the NBA. In the process, they dominated the regular season with a 59-16 record and then edged powerful St. Louis in the NBA Finals.

43. 2007-08 Boston Celtics

Yeah, yeah, there’s no question that this Celtics team would beat the 1959-60 Celtics who also won an NBA title. That’s missing the point of relative dominance and what basketball was at each given time. The earlier Celtics were much deeper and more talented at their given time.

That said, the 2007-08 Celtics were a beautiful combination of veteran players hell-bent on winning a title. The Celtics had Paul Pierce and added fellow vets Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen in the offseason. Boston went from a 24-58 to 66-16 record in the process, a staggering 42-win improvement. Pierce, who averaged 25 points a game the previous season, dropped to 19.6 as he made room for Garnett (18.8) and Allen (17.4) to have an equal share of the offense. The trio also helped keep young, emotional guard Rajon Rondo on track all season.

The veteran savvy of the team showed in the playoffs as the Celtics won a pair of seven-game series in the first two rounds. They then took the Eastern Conference Finals 4-2 over still-powerful Detroit and then won the NBA Finals 4-2 against the Kobe Bryant-led Lakers.

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