Post by eric on May 29, 2015 13:41:46 GMT -6
NBA playoffs have had a great variety of strange seeding intricacies, but the team with the better record has always had home court advantage. Let us consider, therefore, the records of the all-time greats when HOME or AWAY.
Bill Russell, the Ultimate
22-1 home, 5-1 away
Never missed the playoffs.
Won at least one round every year.
Won 18 straight rounds from 1959 to 1967.
Wilt Chamberlain, the Lesser
15-4 home, 3-7 away
Was in the playoffs the same year as Bill Russell 9 times.
Faced him 8 times.
Lost 7, including 2 Finals.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the Eternal
35-5 home, 2-7 away.
37 total rounds won remains the highest of any great player.
Played only 3 rounds a year max for the first 14 years of his career.
Was only 3-4 overall and missed the playoffs twice when playing without Oscar or Magic.
Julius Erving
15-4 home, 3-6 away NBA
20-6 home, 4-7 away NBA & ABA
Never missed the playoffs in either league.
Larry Bird, the Agoraphobe
24-7 home, 0-2 away
Played 94% of his series with home court advantage, highest of any great.
Won only 77%, lowest of any great.
Magic Johnson
30-4 home, 2-4 away
27-2 home, 1-3 away with Kareem
Combined record of 28-5 would be like if Russell added a second round and two first round exits to his resume.
Michael Jordan, the Invincible
24-0 home, 6-7 away
Was only pushed to game 7 at home twice.
1992 second round vs. Knicks. Scored 42 to spearhead a 29 point drubbing.
1998 conference finals vs. Pacers. Passed Kareem for the all-time playoffs points leader and limped to a 5 point win.
81% won second only to Russell.
Tim Duncan
29-6 home, 5-6 away
34 combined wins is second to Kareem.
Never missed the playoffs, but lost in the first round three times.
Including once as the #1 seed.
LeBron James, the Road Warrior
20-3 home, 5-4 away (away loss to the Warriors not added yet)
Only great besides Russell to not have a losing record away.
Only great besides Russell to never lose in the first round.
So far.
78% won is third only to Russell and Jordan. (Will remain in third after losing to GS.)
.
These players played in the playoffs every year from 1957 to present except for 1994.
Bill Russell, the Ultimate
22-1 home, 5-1 away
Never missed the playoffs.
Won at least one round every year.
Won 18 straight rounds from 1959 to 1967.
Wilt Chamberlain, the Lesser
15-4 home, 3-7 away
Was in the playoffs the same year as Bill Russell 9 times.
Faced him 8 times.
Lost 7, including 2 Finals.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the Eternal
35-5 home, 2-7 away.
37 total rounds won remains the highest of any great player.
Played only 3 rounds a year max for the first 14 years of his career.
Was only 3-4 overall and missed the playoffs twice when playing without Oscar or Magic.
Julius Erving
15-4 home, 3-6 away NBA
20-6 home, 4-7 away NBA & ABA
Never missed the playoffs in either league.
Larry Bird, the Agoraphobe
24-7 home, 0-2 away
Played 94% of his series with home court advantage, highest of any great.
Won only 77%, lowest of any great.
Magic Johnson
30-4 home, 2-4 away
27-2 home, 1-3 away with Kareem
Combined record of 28-5 would be like if Russell added a second round and two first round exits to his resume.
Michael Jordan, the Invincible
24-0 home, 6-7 away
Was only pushed to game 7 at home twice.
1992 second round vs. Knicks. Scored 42 to spearhead a 29 point drubbing.
1998 conference finals vs. Pacers. Passed Kareem for the all-time playoffs points leader and limped to a 5 point win.
81% won second only to Russell.
Tim Duncan
29-6 home, 5-6 away
34 combined wins is second to Kareem.
Never missed the playoffs, but lost in the first round three times.
Including once as the #1 seed.
LeBron James, the Road Warrior
20-3 home, 5-4 away (away loss to the Warriors not added yet)
Only great besides Russell to not have a losing record away.
Only great besides Russell to never lose in the first round.
So far.
78% won is third only to Russell and Jordan. (Will remain in third after losing to GS.)
.
These players played in the playoffs every year from 1957 to present except for 1994.
