Regular Season standings of eventual NBA Champions

[Hilltop]

What are the stats?

I'm just wondering what the regular season standings were of the past NBA Champions (of last decade or so). And I'm talking league-standings, not just conference. I just can't remember if there was a team in recent memory to have a so-so regular season finish yet eventually go on to win it all. I could be wrong though.

[Patterns]

Do it yourself.

[DEEP3CL]

1999-2000 Los Angeles Lakers 67 15 .817
2000-2001 Los Angeles Lakers 56 26 .683 (2nd in conference)
2001-2002 Los Angeles Lakers 58 24 .707 (3rd in conference)
2002-2003 San Antonio Spurs 60 22 .732
2003-2004 Detroit Pistons 54 28 .659 (3rd in conference)
2004-2005 San Antonio Spurs 59 23 .720 (2nd in conference)
2005-2006 Miami Heat 52 30 .634 (4th best league record)
2006-2007 San Antonio Spurs 58 24 .707 (3rd in conference)
2007-2008 Boston Celtics 66 16 .805
2008-2009 Los Angeles Lakers 65 17 .793 (2nd best league record)

[JackFinn]

What are the stats?

I'm just wondering what the regular season standings were of the past NBA Champions (of last decade or so). And I'm talking league-standings, not just conference. I just can't remember if there was a team in recent memory to have a so-so regular season finish yet eventually go on to win it all. I could be wrong though.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index ... 049AAXGxcI

[Hilltop]

Appreciate the responses, but DEEP had a good one right there. Thanks bud.

I was just wondering off the top of my head if there were actually teams recently who have got it together in the post-season despite ho-hum performances during the season. I was thinking, what are the chances that a team outside of Cleveland and LA will win the Championship this year (ie. Denver, Orlando, Boston, etc.).

[The Shiv]

Houston in 95 had a bad regular season and turned it on in the playoffs. I could see the celtics doing that this year.