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How many Los Angeles Lakers teams crack the top-20 all-time?

By Ed Schrenzel

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 16: Los Angeles Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (L) and Earvin "Magic" Johnson during a ceremony where Abdul-Jabbar unveiled a statue of himself at Staples Center on November 16, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 16: Los Angeles Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (L) and Earvin "Magic" Johnson during a ceremony where Abdul-Jabbar unveiled a statue of himself at Staples Center on November 16, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

20-16:

20) 2014 San Antonio Spurs: 62-20 regular season, 16-7 playoffs; Coach: Gregg Popovich

These Spurs aptly demonstrated just how beautiful the game of basketball can be when it is played the right way with the emphasis on ball movement. This was the last of their five title teams.

They were led by their Big Three of 38-year-old Tim Duncan (somewhat past his prime, but still one of the league’s better players), Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili plus an up-and-coming young star, Kawhi Leonard.

In the Finals, the Spurs beat the Heat in five games.

19) 2013 Miami Heat: 66-16 regular season, 16-7 playoffs; Coach: Eric Spoelstra

Few teams ever had a better foursome than LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and 37-year old Ray Allen. And they waltzed through the regular season. But rather unexpectedly it took them seven games to beat far less-talented Indiana in the conference finals.

Then they were on the verge of losing to the Spurs in the Finals in six games until Allen bailed them out with a clutch, game-tying three in the final seconds, and the Heat went on to win game seven.

18) 2008 Boston Celtics: 66-16, 16-10; Coach: Doc Rivers

The rebuilt Celtics, behind a new lineup of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins, dominated the regular season, but they struggled a bit in the playoffs.

Boston needed seven games to beat both the Hawks and Cavs, then six games to defeat Detroit and LA in the Finals. They have the most postseason losses of any team in the top 20.

17) 1964 Boston Celtics: 59-21, 8-2; Coach: Red Auerbach

Somewhat surprisingly, although the Celtics won nine titles in 10 years, and 11 in 13 seasons, they seldom dominated either the regular season or the playoffs. This was probably the best team of the latter part of the Bill Russell era. Tom Heinsohn remained on the team, and Sam Jones took on a much larger role. They were joined by star John Havlicek as well as solid role players Satch Sanders and Willie Naulls.

Boston beat the Warriors in five games in the Finals.

16) 2009 Los Angeles Lakers: 65-17, 16-7; Coach: Phil Jackson

This title was particularly noteworthy because it was the first one Kobe Bryant won without Shaquille O’Neal. But he still had an excellent set of teammates, including Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum, Derek Fisher and Trevor Ariza.

The Lakers beat Orlando, led by Dwight Howard, in five games in the Finals.

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