Hardest Playoff Journeys

[Rich Rane]

Looking at the Spurs opponents in this year's playoffs, they've faced the Suns, the Hornets, and now the Lakers and if they win this series, a matchup with either Boston or Detroit. Have they had one of the hardest playoffs schedules ever? What other teams (historically not currently) have been battle tested?

[walchy]

well you do vs harder teams in the playoffs. if they versed the timberwolves, it wouldnt be the playoffs. it would be..... the regular season

[magicfan4life05]

In 2001 the championship lakers team had to go through portland, sacramento, and san antonio...when all those teams were just great.

They played the number 1 seed sixers in the finals.

This team went 16-1 so although the record might now show the difficulty and quality of teams, i think that shows just how good those lakers were b/c those were tough teams...

[bstein14]

So they'd have to beat a 55 win team, a 56 win team, a 57 win team, and then a 59 or 66 win team.

That would certainly go down as one of if not the toughest road to a championship ever when looking at team wins.

But the Suns didn't put up much of a fight after game one. Nobody was picking the Hornets to win it, and Its debatable as to whether or not the Lakers are as good as some of the past WCF losers the past several years.

The Celtics haven't won on the road yet, and the Pistons might not even have a top 20 player.

[Bayernfan]

Nobody tops Rockets way to championship in 1995. The Rockets had to go trough 60-22 Utah Jazz in first round ( Malone, Stockton etc. ) 59-23 Phoenix Suns in Semis ( Barkley, KJ etc. ) 62-20 San Antonio in WCF ( Robinson, Rodman, Elliot etc. ) and 57-25 orlando ( Shaq, Penny, H. Grant etc. ) Houston was a 6 seed, so they dont had homecourt in entire playoffs.

[Transistor]

1995 Rockets

CLUTCH CITY

[MagicMadness]

Nobody tops Rockets way to championship in 1995. The Rockets had to go trough 60-22 Utah Jazz in first round ( Malone, Stockton etc. ) 59-23 Phoenix Suns in Semis ( Barkley, KJ etc. ) 62-20 San Antonio in WCF ( Robinson, Rodman, Elliot etc. ) and 57-25 orlando ( Shaq, Penny, H. Grant etc. ) Houston was a 6 seed, so they dont had homecourt in entire playoffs.

Yep, that was f-ing crazy.

[LAKESHOW]

HOUSTON ROCKETS!! A 6TH SEED!

never been done before.

[JordansBulls]

Utah in 1998. They played the Rockets with Hakeem, Drexler and Barkley and then the Spurs with Duncan and Robinson and the Lakers with 4 allstars and then the Bulls.

[Dtown84]

Ouch I forgot how clutch, 'Clutch City' was. That road is scary good, especially without home court.

[shawngoat23]

Nobody tops Rockets way to championship in 1995. The Rockets had to go trough 60-22 Utah Jazz in first round ( Malone, Stockton etc. ) 59-23 Phoenix Suns in Semis ( Barkley, KJ etc. ) 62-20 San Antonio in WCF ( Robinson, Rodman, Elliot etc. ) and 57-25 orlando ( Shaq, Penny, H. Grant etc. ) Houston was a 6 seed, so they dont had homecourt in entire playoffs.

By far. Some of the playoff slates mentioned, while solid, are nothing special historically and are complete jokes compared to what these Rockets went through.

[TommyTheCat]

Nobody tops Rockets way to championship in 1995. The Rockets had to go trough 60-22 Utah Jazz in first round ( Malone, Stockton etc. ) 59-23 Phoenix Suns in Semis ( Barkley, KJ etc. ) 62-20 San Antonio in WCF ( Robinson, Rodman, Elliot etc. ) and 57-25 orlando ( Shaq, Penny, H. Grant etc. ) Houston was a 6 seed, so they dont had homecourt in entire playoffs.

good call. i forgot about that.

[War3player]

Nowadays people throw out the "________ best in history" far too often. When they say history they usually mean "in recent memory" which is usually 5-10 years.