Obviously no team tops the 2005-06 squad that brought the Miami Heat their first championship after 18 years in the league. But after them the competition is tight.
The franchise didn't really take off until Pat Riley signed on as president and head coach in 1995, and in the 15 years since then Miami has 11 postseason berths and 7 division titles.
During that stretch there have been a number of outstanding teams, to narrow the list down to only five required consideration of several factors.
Regular season record is important, but postseason success is heavily weighed into the equation. Teams that went further into the playoffs were considered over those that made early exits.
Expectations entering the season factor in as well; teams that over-performed got the nod over rosters that may have been better on paper, but played below their skill level.
The last part of the equation is made up by the character of the roster. Were these players beloved? Did they have that something special that tends to just ignite a home crowd? There's no exact word to explain it, but let's call it a fan favorite bonus.
With all that said, enjoy the slide show.Begin Slideshow
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Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NBA
Article written by Michael Pinto
Miami Heat’s Top 5 Teams of All Time
February 27th, 2010 by Michael Pinto Leave a reply »
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