Examine the Story of the NBA Championship: How Dynasties Prevail
By: L.Steven Sanders
Basketball is the newest in all the professional sports in the United States. This thrilling game began in 1946 when the National Basketball Association was formed. It now is made up of probably the most well-known athletes in history. The NBA was initially known as the Basketball Association of America. This organization was founded by owners of numerous hockey arenas based in the Northeast and Midwest portions of the U.S. in addition to ones located in Canada. The leagues’ first game was held on November 1, 1946 and was made up of the New York Knickerbockers and the Toronto Huskies. A merging in 1949 joined together the Basketball Association of America together with the National Basketball League to form the NBA. During its original start, the NBA contained seventeen teams. This number dropped in 1953 to eight because of financial concerns. All original eight teams remain in existent today.
The history from the NBA Championship begins around 1947. This is the time when the very first championship game was held. Ever since then, the event has taken place each year. In 1986, it was dubbed the NBA World Championship Series. This amazing championship is played each June to conclude the season. The winners of the Eastern and Western Conference Finals play one another for that elusive championship title. The best-of-seven playoff match among teams is used to determine who qualifies to play. Whatever team has the best in season playing record gets home court advantage in the first 2 games. Home court playing for the middle three games depends upon who won the previous game. Then the last two are played at the best record team’s home court without regard to who is ahead.
There have been many dynasties in the history of the NBA Championship such as the Lakers and Celtics dynasties of the early championship years. The Minneapolis Lakers were the first team to experience a basketball championship dynasty. This significant streak lasted for approximately a decade and boasted five championship wins over a six year period of time. The Celtics then followed and dominated the finals for thirteen straight seasons. Then simply during the 1970’s these dynasties ended. Eight total teams won the championship during this period. The rivalries initiated again during the eighties and involved both original teams. Over that time, the Lakers and Celtics battled for the NBA Championship title against other teams or each other in every championship game from 1980 to 1990. By far the most well-known dynasty started in the early nineties. Chicago Bulls players completely dominated the league and made this dynasty probably the most substantial one in the history of the NBA Championship.
Current day championships are mainly dominated by the Lakers and Spurs. These teams have won eleven out of twelve Western Conference titles plus a total of 9 NBA championships. Crucial players including Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal have highlighted these games with their remarkable skills and athletic talent. History has a way of duplicating itself and dynasties are widespread in the game of basketball. It will be exciting to find out what new organizations dominate the game during the years to come.
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