1. 1997-98 Chicago Bulls

Regular season: 62-20

Playoffs: 15-6

Prime players: G Michael Jordan, F Scottie Pippen, F Toni Kukoc, F Dennis Rodman

The case: The Bulls defeated a Utah team in the NBA Finals that featured a pair of future Hall of Famers in John Stockton and Karl Malone. Also, that Jordan character proved to be a tough guy to beat in a seven-game series. He scored 45 points to eliminate the Jazz in Game 6.

The knock: It took everything the Bulls had to knock off a good, but not great, Indiana Pacers team in seven games in the East Finals.

2. 2000-01 LA Lakers

Regular season: 56-26

Playoffs: 15-1

Prime players: C Shaquille O'Neal and G Kobe Bryant

The case: The Lakers posted the greatest conference finals rout in NBA history, sweeping the Spurs by an average of 22.3 points per game. LA also nearly became the first team in NBA history to complete an undefeated postseason. The team's only loss was to the 76ers in Game 1 of the Finals after nine days off.

The knock: The Lakers coasted through the regular season and were an average defensive team — until the playoffs. LA also didn't have much depth, relying on its two-star system.

3. 2001-02 LA Lakers

Regular season: 58-24

Playoffs: 15-4

Prime players: Shaq and Kobe

The case: LA triumphed in one of the best conference finals of the modern era, edging rival Sacramento in seven games and needing overtime in the final game. The series is best known for Robert Horry's buzzer-beating three-point game-winner that evened the series at 2-2. LA went on to sweep the New Jersey Nets in the Finals.

The knock: The Lakers couldn't even win their own division, finishing three games behind the Kings.

4. 2003-04 Detroit Pistons

Regular season: 54-28

Playoffs: 16-7

Prime players: PG Chauncey Billups, SG Richard Hamilton, SF Tayshaun Prince, PF Rasheed Wallace, C Ben Wallace

The case: They had the NBA's best starting five, thanks to a midseason trade for Rasheed Wallace. The Pistons flourished under Larry Brown, embracing a team-first attitude and shocking the heavily favored Lakers in five games in the Finals.

The knock: Because they lacked a true go-to scorer and franchise player, the Pistons suffered through bouts of inconsistency. They needed seven games just to get out of the East semis.

5. 2006-07 San Antonio Spurs

Regular season: 58-24

Playoffs: 16-4

Prime players: PF/C Tim Duncan, PG Tony Parker, G/F Manu Ginobili

The case: The best of the Spurs' four title teams featured Tony Parker coming into his own as an elite player. His improved jump shot meant teams paid dearly for doubling Tim Duncan.

The knock: The Cavs are in the discussion of "Worst Teams to Make the Finals," and the Spurs benefited from David Stern's decision to suspend Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw for Game 5 of the West semis.

6. 2004-05 San Antonio Spurs

Regular season: 59-23

Playoffs: 16-7

Prime players: Duncan, Parker, Ginobili

The case: This is the team that pops into most people's heads when they think of the Spurs' championship teams. This wasn't a great team; Duncan struggled with leg injuries, and Parker and Ginobili were just coming into their own. Also, Rasho Nesterovic played big minutes.

The knock: They needed six games to dispatch a painfully average Seattle team in the West semis. In the NBA Finals, San Antonio needed seven games to beat the Pistons, who were distracted by coach Larry Brown's impending departure.

7. 1999-2000 LA Lakers

Regular season: 67-15

Playoffs: 15-8

Prime players: Shaq, Kobe, F Glen Rice

The case: The Lakers set the league on fire during the regular season, posting 16- and 19-game winning streaks. O'Neal was hungry for his first title and earned his only league MVP award. The Lakers beat the Pacers in six games for the title.

The knock: They needed five games to beat the Kings in the first round (the opening series became best-of-seven in 2003). In the West Finals, the Lakers had to rally from a 15-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat Portland in Game 7.

8. 2002-03 San Antonio Spurs

Regular season: 60-22

Playoffs: 16-8

Prime players: Duncan, Parker, G Stephen Jackson, C David Robinson

The case: The "good-enough" team went 4-2 in every postseason series to win it all in Robinson's final season. The team was in transition, as Jackson was its third-leading scorer at 11.8 points per game. Knocked off the Nets in the Finals.

The knock: Needed six games in the West Finals to turn back the Mavericks, who lost Dirk Nowitzki to a knee injury in Game 3 of the series.

9. 2005-06 Miami Heat

Regular season: 52-30

Playoffs: 16-7

Prime players: G Dwyane Wade, C Shaquille O'Neal

The case: The Heat stormed back from a 2-0 deficit against the Mavs and reeled off four straight wins to claim the franchise's first championship.

The knock: Was it more of a case of the Mavs giving the title away? Or did the refs make a difference in awarding Wade 46 total free throws in the final two games of the Finals?

10. 1998-99 San Antonio Spurs

Regular season: 37-13

Playoffs: 15-2

Prime players: Duncan, Robinson, F Sean Elliott

The case: Lost only one game in the playoffs before reaching the Finals, where they beat the Knicks in five games.