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2015 NBA Finals: Ranking Golden State Warriors Among The Last 25 Champions

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2015 NBA Finals: Ranking Golden State Warriors Among The Last 25 Champions

LeBron James NBA Champions
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The Golden State Warriors reached immortality by winning the 2015 NBA Championship. Now its time to rank the Warriors among the great champions of the past 25 years.

25. 1998-99 San Antonio Spurs (37-13 Regular Season, 15-2 Postseason)

David Robinson Spurs
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25. 1998-99 San Antonio Spurs (37-13 Regular Season, 15-2 Postseason)

David Robinson Spurs
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The Spurs won their first title in impressive fashion, but it was in a strike-shortened season. The Spurs played just 50 games that season, won 37, and defeated the eight-seed New York Knicks in the Finals, who were without Patrick Ewing. Hardly impressive.

24. 2011-12 Miami Heat (46-20 Regular Season, 16-7 Postseason)

LeBron James Heat
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24. 2011-12 Miami Heat (46-20 Regular Season, 16-7 Postseason)

LeBron James Heat
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As good as Miami's second championship team was, it too came in a strike-shortened season. The Heat played just 66 games, won 46, and dethroned an inexperienced but talented Oklahoma City Thunder team in the Finals. To get there, however, the Heat needed a miraculous Game 6 from LeBron against Boston in the Conference Finals to save their season.

23. 1994-95 Houston Rockets (47-35 Regular Season, 15-7 Postseason)

Rudy Tomjanovich Rockets
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23. 1994-95 Houston Rockets (47-35 Regular Season, 15-7 Postseason)

Rudy Tomjanovich Rockets
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The 1994-95 Rockets were the second of two straight championship teams, but their regular season was hardly impressive. Houston went 47-35, and earned the No. 6 seed in the West. The Rockets did defeat legendary players in Karl Malone, John Stockton, Charles Barkley, David Robinson and Shaquille O'Neal in the postseason, but their poor regular season does not help them here.

22. 2005-06 Miami Heat (52-30 Regular Season, 16-7 Postseason)

Alonzo Mourning Heat
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22. 2005-06 Miami Heat (52-30 Regular Season, 16-7 Postseason)

Alonzo Mourning Heat
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The first Miami championship team won 52 games in the regular season, but were hardly tested until the Finals. The Heat easily dispatched the Bulls, Nets and Pistons before facing the Mavs. After trailing 2-0, Dwyane Wade took over. Thanks to some favorable whistles, the Heat won four straight.

21. 2009-10 Los Angeles Lakers (57-25 Regular Season, 16-7 Postseason)

Andrew Bynum Lakers
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21. 2009-10 Los Angeles Lakers (57-25 Regular Season, 16-7 Postseason)

Andrew Bynum Lakers
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Kobe Bryant's fifth and most recent championship team won 57 games in the regular season, but looked less than impressive in the postseason. The Lakers were one Pau Gasol field goal away from playing Game 7 against the No. 8 Oklahoma City Thunder. The Lakers were also fortunate in the Finals as Kendrick Perkins did not play in Game 7 after getting injured in Game 6.

20. 2004-05 San Antonio Spurs (59-23 Regular Season, 16-7 Postseason)

Tony Parker Spurs
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20. 2004-05 San Antonio Spurs (59-23 Regular Season, 16-7 Postseason)

Tony Parker Spurs
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Despite winning 59 games in the regular season, the 2004-05 Spurs weren't a dominant team by any stretch. The Spurs feasted on a weak Western Conference at the time and defeated a Suns team that wasn't quite ready for primetime. In one of the worst Finals in recent memory, San Antonio out-defensed the Pistons to win in seven games.

19. 2010-11 Dallas Mavericks (57-25 Regular Season, 16-5)

Dirk Nowitzki Mavericks
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19. 2010-11 Dallas Mavericks (57-25 Regular Season, 16-5)

Dirk Nowitzki Mavericks
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The Mavericks are beloved by most NBA fans for knocking off Miami's Big Three, but it wasn't a dominant team. The Mavs won 57 games during the regular season, but swept a Lakers team that was dysfunctional at best, knocked out an inexperienced Oklahoma City Thunder team in five, and defeated a Heat team that mentally folded in several games in the Finals.

18. 1993-94 Houston Rockets (58-24 Regular Season, 15-8 Postseason)

Rudy Tomjanovich Rockets
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18. 1993-94 Houston Rockets (58-24 Regular Season, 15-8 Postseason)

Rudy Tomjanovich Rockets
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The Rockets' first championship team won 58 games in the regular season, but struggled in the postseason. Houston trailed Phoenix 2-0 in the Conference Semifinals before dispatching them in seven, and needed seven games to dispatch an average New York Knicks team in the Finals. It also doesn't help their cause that Michael Jordan retired that season, and some still are skeptical as to whether the Rockets would've beaten the Bulls with Jordan.

17. 2003-04 Detroit Pistons (54-28 Regular Season, 16-7 Postseason)

Ben Wallace Pistons
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17. 2003-04 Detroit Pistons (54-28 Regular Season, 16-7 Postseason)

Ben Wallace Pistons
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The Pistons get a ton of credit for defeating a Los Angeles Lakers team with four Hall-of-Famers in the Finals, but it was hardly a dominant team. Detroit lost seven postseason games, and needed seven games to defeat the New Jersey Nets in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Pistons didn't exactly win the Finals so much as the Lakers self-imploded.

16. 2002-03 San Antonio Spurs (60-22 Regular Season, 16-8 Postseason)

Tim Duncan Spurs
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16. 2002-03 San Antonio Spurs (60-22 Regular Season, 16-8 Postseason)

Tim Duncan Spurs
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San Antonio was a great team that won 60 games in the regular season, but weren't at their best in the postseason. San Antonio needed six games to win each playoff series, and got lucky after Dirk Nowitzki and Chris Webber became hobbled by injuries. In the Finals, the Spurs needed six to defeat a Nets team that won 49 games in the regular season.

15. 2001-02 Los Angeles Lakers (58-24 Regular Season, 15-4 Postseason)

Kobe Bryant Shaquille O'Neal
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15. 2001-02 Los Angeles Lakers (58-24 Regular Season, 15-4 Postseason)

Kobe Bryant Shaquille O'Neal
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The 2001-02 Lakers were the last of three championship teams for Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, but the Lakers wouldn't have gotten that far without some luck. In the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers got some favorable whistles and got past a very good Sacramento team in seven games. The Finals were anticlimactic as the Lakers easily swept an outmatched New Jersey Nets team.

14. 1999-00 Los Angeles Lakers (67-15 Regular Season, 15-6 Postseason)

Kobe Bryant Shaquille O'Neal Lakers
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14. 1999-00 Los Angeles Lakers (67-15 Regular Season, 15-6 Postseason)

Kobe Bryant Shaquille O'Neal Lakers
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Like the 2002 team, the 1999-00 Lakers were great in the regular season, but not so good in the postseason. In order to get to the NBA Finals, the Lakers benefited from a fourth-quarter collapse by the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Finals in Game 7. In the Finals, the Lakers needed six games to defeat an outmatched Pacers team.

13. 2006-07 San Antonio Spurs (58-24 Regular Season, 16-4 Postseason)

Tim Duncan Spurs
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13. 2006-07 San Antonio Spurs (58-24 Regular Season, 16-4 Postseason)

Tim Duncan Spurs
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The 2006-07 Spurs were a good championship team, but anyone could've swept LeBron James and the four patsies who played alongside him that season in the Finals. San Antonio won 58 games in the regular season, and were also fortunate when the Phoenix Suns lost two key players to suspensions in the Western Conference Semifinals, allowing the Spurs to win in six.

12. 2008-09 Los Angeles Lakers (65-17 Regular Season, 16-7 Postseason)

Derek Fisher Kobe Bryant Lakers
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12. 2008-09 Los Angeles Lakers (65-17 Regular Season, 16-7 Postseason)

Derek Fisher Kobe Bryant Lakers
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A year after getting thrashed by Boston, the Lakers came back and won it all in the 2009 Finals. Kobe Bryant and co. won 65 games, but easily defeated an outmatched Orlando team in five games. The Lakers were also fortunate that Boston Celtics star Kevin Garnett was lost early in the postseason to injury.

11. 1992-93 Chicago Bulls (57-25 Regular Season, 16-5 Postseason)

Michael Jordan Bulls
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11. 1992-93 Chicago Bulls (57-25 Regular Season, 16-5 Postseason)

Michael Jordan Bulls
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The Bulls had perhaps their stiffest test of their dynasty during the 1992-93 season. Chicago trailed the top-seeded Knicks 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals, but won in six. In the Finals, the Bulls faced Charles Barkley and the Phoenix Suns. In that series, the Bulls needed a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by John Paxson at the buzzer in Game 6 to eliminate the Suns.

10. 1991-92 Chicago Bulls (67-15 Regular Season, 15-7 Postseason)

Michael Jordan Bulls
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10. 1991-92 Chicago Bulls (67-15 Regular Season, 15-7 Postseason)

Michael Jordan Bulls
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Unlike other Chicago Bulls championship teams, the 1991-92 Bulls were a dominant regular season team, but were less than impressive in the postseason. Chicago needed seven games against the Knicks to even get to the Eastern Conference Finals. In the Finals, Chicago should've dominated an inferior Portland team, but needed six to dispatch the Blazers.

9. 2014-15 Golden State Warriors (67-15 Regular Season, 16-5 Postseason)

Stephen Curry Warriors
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9. 2014-15 Golden State Warriors (67-15 Regular Season, 16-5 Postseason)

Stephen Curry Warriors
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The Warriors were the best throughout the 2014-15 season, winning 67 games and were never seriously tested in the postseason. In the Finals, the Warriors overcame LeBron James at his finest to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers in six.

8. 1996-97 Chicago Bulls (69-13 Regular Season, 15-4 Postseason)

Phil Jackson Michael Jordan Bulls
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8. 1996-97 Chicago Bulls (69-13 Regular Season, 15-4 Postseason)

Phil Jackson Michael Jordan Bulls
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En route to their fifth NBA Championship of the decade, the Bulls breezed to the NBA Finals, but overcame a stiff test from the Utah Jazz. Chicago won 69 games in the regular season. In the Finals, the Bulls won three of their four games against the Jazz by five points or less.

7. 2007-08 Boston Celtics (66-16 Regular Season, 16-10 Postseason)

Kevin Garnett Celtics
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7. 2007-08 Boston Celtics (66-16 Regular Season, 16-10 Postseason)

Kevin Garnett Celtics
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The Celtics didn't exactly light the world on fire in the postseason, but it was an incredibly dominant team led by Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. The Celtics overcame two Game 7s against Atlanta and Cleveland to get to the Eastern Conference Finals. In the NBA Finals, Boston dethrone the Lakers in six, winning the decisive game six by 39 points.

6. 1997-98 Chicago Bulls (62-20 Regular Season, 15-6 Postseason)

Michael Jordan Bulls
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6. 1997-98 Chicago Bulls (62-20 Regular Season, 15-6 Postseason)

Michael Jordan Bulls
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Michael Jordan's last championship team wasn't certainly his best, but it also wasn't the worst. Chicago won 62 games in the regular season, but needed seven games to defeat the Larry Bird-led Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. In the NBA Finals against Utah, Chicago needed a Michael Jordan buzzer-beater in Game 6 to cement their legacy as a dynasty.

5. 1990-91 Chicago Bulls (61-21 Regular Season, 15-2 Postseason)

Michael Jordan Bulls
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5. 1990-91 Chicago Bulls (61-21 Regular Season, 15-2 Postseason)

Michael Jordan Bulls
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After many years of losing to the Detroit Pistons, Chicago finally broke through in 1990-91, sweeping the Bad Boys in the Eastern Conference Finals. In the NBA Finals, Chicago outlasted a beat-up Los Angeles Lakers team in five game, and their dynasty was born. In fact, only two two-point losses prevented the Bulls from a perfect postseason run.

4. 2012-13 Miami Heat (66-16 Regular Season, 16-7 Postseason)

LeBron James Heat
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4. 2012-13 Miami Heat (66-16 Regular Season, 16-7 Postseason)

LeBron James Heat
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Miami's second championship team of the Big 3 era proved that the lockout-shortened 2012 season was no fluke. Miami did get lucky when Derrick Rose was injured, but they saved their best for the Finals. Against San Antonio, the Heat needed a last-second 3-pointer from Ray Allen to force overtime in Game 6. In Game 7, the Heat sealed the deal and repeated.

3. 2013-14 San Antonio Spurs (62-20 Regular Season, 16-7 Postseason)

Tony Parker Spurs
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3. 2013-14 San Antonio Spurs (62-20 Regular Season, 16-7 Postseason)

Tony Parker Spurs
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The 2013-14 Spurs had perhaps the most impressive performance in NBA Finals history, dispatching a LeBron-led Miami Heat in five games. In all four of the Spurs' wins, the margin of victory was over double-digits, and were it not for some missed free throws in Game 2, Miami would've been swept.

2. 1995-96 Chicago Bulls (72-10 Regular Season, 15-3 Postseason)

Michael Jordan Bulls
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2. 1995-96 Chicago Bulls (72-10 Regular Season, 15-3 Postseason)

Michael Jordan Bulls
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The 1995-96 Bulls were by far the best Bulls team, but they aren't the best in the past 25 years. Chicago took advantage of a watered-down NBA at the time, and unimpressively defeated an inferior SuperSonics squad in six games to win the Finals.

1. 2000-01 Los Angeles Lakers (56-26 Regular Season, 15-1 Postseason)

Kobe Bryant Shaquille O'Neal Lakers
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1. 2000-01 Los Angeles Lakers (56-26 Regular Season, 15-1 Postseason)

Kobe Bryant Shaquille O'Neal Lakers
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The 2000-01 Lakers team, not the 1995-96 Bulls, is the best team of the last quarter century. The Lakers went 15-1 in the postseason, and only a monster game by Allen Iverson in Game 1 of the NBA Finals prevented the Lakers from finishing 16-0.

Brian Kalchik is a Houston Texans writer and featured writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.

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