NBA Conference Finals

The National Basketball Association Conference Finals are the Eastern and Western championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA), a major professional basketball league in North America. The NBA was founded in 1946 as the Basketball Association of America (BAA).[1] The NBA adopted its current name at the start of the 1949–50 season when the BAA merged with the National Basketball League (NBL).[2] The league currently consists of 30 teams, of which 29 are located in the United States and 1 in Canada. Each team plays 82 games in the regular season. After the regular season, eight teams from each of the league's two conferences qualify for the playoffs. At the end of the playoffs, the top two teams play each other in the Conference Finals, to determine the Conference Champions from each side, who then proceed to play in the NBA Finals.

Overview
Further information: NBA playoffs

Initially, the BAA teams were aligned into two divisions, the Eastern Division and the Western Division. The Divisional Finals were first played in 1949, the league's third season. The first two seasons used a playoffs format where Eastern and Western Division teams would face each other before the BAA Finals, hence there were no divisional finals. In the 1949–50 season, the league realigned itself to three divisions, with the addition of the Central Division. However, the arrangement was only used for one season and the league went back into two divisions format in 1951. The two divisions format remained until 1970, when the NBA realigned itself into two conferences with two divisions each, which led to the renaming to Conference Finals. The finals was a best-of-3 series from 1949 to 1950 to; a best-of-5 series from 1951–56, and a best-of-7 series since 1957. Currently, the Conference Finals are played in a best-of-7 series like the NBA Playoffs and Finals. The two series are played in late May each year after the first and second rounds of the Playoffs and before the Finals. At the conclusion of the Conference Finals, winners are presented with a silver trophy, caps, and T-shirts, and advance to the NBA Finals.

The Los Angeles Lakers have won the most conference titles with 19. They have also made 23 appearances in the Conference Finals, more than any other team. The Boston Celtics have won 9 Conference titles, the second most of any team. Twenty-two of the 30 active franchises have won at least one conference title. The Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies have each played in at least one Conference Finals (Denver has played in four), but they have each failed to win their respective conference title. Three other franchises, the Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers, and New Orleans Pelicans have never appeared in the Conference Finals.

Key
^ NBA champion, winner of the NBA Finals
† Team with the best regular season record, or tie for best

Conference

Eastern Conference Finals
YearChampionCoachResultRunner-upCoach
1971Baltimore BulletsGene Shue4–3New York KnicksRed Holzman
1972New York KnicksRed Holzman4–1Boston CelticsTom Heinsohn
1973New York KnicksRed Holzman4–3Boston Celtics†Tom Heinsohn
1974Boston CelticsTom Heinsohn4–1New York KnicksRed Holzman
1975Washington Bullets†K. C. Jones4–2Boston Celtics†Tom Heinsohn
1976Boston CelticsTom Heinsohn4–2Cleveland CavaliersBill Fitch
1977Philadelphia 76ersGene Shue4–2Houston RocketsTom Nissalke
1978Washington BulletsDick Motta4–2Philadelphia 76ersBilly Cunningham
1979Washington Bullets†Dick Motta4–3San Antonio SpursDoug Moe
1980Philadelphia 76ersBilly Cunningham4–1Boston Celtics†Bill Fitch
1981Boston Celtics†Bill Fitch4–3Philadelphia 76ers†Billy Cunningham
1982Philadelphia 76ersBilly Cunningham4–3Boston Celtics†Bill Fitch
1983Philadelphia 76ers†Billy Cunningham4–1Milwaukee BucksDon Nelson
1984Boston Celtics†K. C. Jones4–1Milwaukee BucksDon Nelson
1985Boston Celtics†K. C. Jones4–1Philadelphia 76ersBilly Cunningham
1986Boston Celtics†K. C. Jones4–0Milwaukee BucksDon Nelson
1987Boston CelticsK. C. Jones4–3Detroit PistonsChuck Daly
1988Detroit PistonsChuck Daly4–2Boston CelticsK. C. Jones
1989Detroit Pistons†Chuck Daly4–2Chicago BullsDoug Collins
1990Detroit PistonsChuck Daly4–3Chicago BullsPhil Jackson
1991Chicago BullsPhil Jackson4–0Detroit PistonsChuck Daly
1992Chicago Bulls†Phil Jackson4–2Cleveland CavaliersLenny Wilkens
1993Chicago BullsPhil Jackson4–2New York KnicksPat Riley
1994New York KnicksPat Riley4–3Indiana PacersLarry Brown
1995Orlando MagicBrian Hill4–3Indiana PacersLarry Brown
1996Chicago Bulls†Phil Jackson4–0Orlando MagicBrian Hill
1997Chicago Bulls†Phil Jackson4–1Miami HeatPat Riley
1998Chicago Bulls†Phil Jackson4–3Indiana PacersLarry Bird
1999New York KnicksJeff Van Gundy4–2Indiana PacersLarry Bird
2000Indiana PacersLarry Bird4–2New York KnicksJeff Van Gundy
2001Philadelphia 76ersLarry Brown4–3Milwaukee BucksGeorge Karl
2002New Jersey NetsByron Scott4–2Boston CelticsJim O'Brien
2003New Jersey NetsByron Scott4–0Detroit PistonsRick Carlisle
2004Detroit PistonsLarry Brown4–2Indiana Pacers†Rick Carlisle
2005Detroit PistonsLarry Brown4–3Miami HeatStan Van Gundy
2006Miami HeatPat Riley4–2Detroit Pistons†Flip Saunders
2007Cleveland CavaliersMike Brown4–2Detroit PistonsFlip Saunders
2008Boston Celtics†Doc Rivers4–2Detroit PistonsFlip Saunders
2009Orlando MagicStan Van Gundy4–2Cleveland Cavaliers†Mike Brown
2010Boston CelticsDoc Rivers4–2Orlando MagicStan Van Gundy
2011Miami HeatErik Spoelstra4–1Chicago Bulls†Tom Thibodeau
2012Miami HeatErik Spoelstra4–3Boston CelticsDoc Rivers
2013Miami Heat†Erik Spoelstra4–3Indiana PacersFrank Vogel
2014Miami HeatErik Spoelstra4–2Indiana PacersFrank Vogel
2015Cleveland CavaliersDavid Blatt4–0Atlanta HawksMike Budenholzer
2016Cleveland CavaliersTyronn Lue4–2Toronto RaptorsDwane Casey
2017Cleveland CavaliersTyronn Lue4–1Boston CelticsBrad Stevens
2018Cleveland CavaliersTyronn Lue4–3Boston CelticsBrad Stevens
2019Toronto RaptorsNick Nurse4–2Milwaukee Bucks†Mike Budenholzer
2020Miami HeatErik Spoelstra4–2Boston CelticsBrad Stevens

Western Conference Finals
YearChampionCoachResultRunner-upCoach
1971Milwaukee Bucks†Larry Costello4–1Los Angeles LakersJoe Mullaney
1972Los Angeles Lakers†Bill Sharman4–2Milwaukee BucksLarry Costello
1973Los Angeles LakersBill Sharman4–1Golden State WarriorsAl Attles
1974Milwaukee Bucks†Larry Costello4–0Chicago BullsDick Motta
1975Golden State WarriorsAl Attles4–3Chicago BullsDick Motta
1976Phoenix SunsJohn MacLeod4–3Golden State Warriors†Al Attles
1977Portland Trail BlazersJack Ramsay4–0Los Angeles Lakers†Jerry West
1978Seattle SuperSonicsLenny Wilkens4–2Denver NuggetsLarry Brown
1979Seattle SuperSonicsLenny Wilkens4–3Phoenix SunsJohn MacLeod
1980Los Angeles LakersPaul Westhead4–1Seattle SuperSonicsLenny Wilkens
1981Houston RocketsDel Harris4–1Kansas City KingsCotton Fitzsimmons
1982Los Angeles LakersPat Riley4–0San Antonio SpursStan Albeck
1983Los Angeles LakersPat Riley4–2San Antonio SpursStan Albeck
1984Los Angeles LakersPat Riley4–2Phoenix SunsJohn MacLeod
1985Los Angeles LakersPat Riley4–1Denver NuggetsDoug Moe
1986Houston RocketsBill Fitch4–1Los Angeles LakersPat Riley
1987Los Angeles Lakers†Pat Riley4–0Seattle SuperSonicsBernie Bickerstaff
1988Los Angeles Lakers†Pat Riley4–3Dallas MavericksJohn MacLeod
1989Los Angeles LakersPat Riley4–0Phoenix SunsCotton Fitzsimmons
1990Portland Trail BlazersRick Adelman4–2Phoenix SunsCotton Fitzsimmons
1991Los Angeles LakersMike Dunleavy4–2Portland Trail Blazers†Rick Adelman
1992Portland Trail BlazersRick Adelman4–2Utah JazzJerry Sloan
1993Phoenix Suns†Paul Westphal4–3Seattle SuperSonicsGeorge Karl
1994Houston RocketsRudy Tomjanovich4–1Utah JazzJerry Sloan
1995Houston RocketsRudy Tomjanovich4–2San Antonio Spurs†Bob Hill
1996Seattle SuperSonicsGeorge Karl4–3Utah JazzJerry Sloan
1997Utah JazzJerry Sloan4–2Houston RocketsRudy Tomjanovich
1998Utah Jazz†Jerry Sloan4–0Los Angeles LakersDel Harris
1999San Antonio Spurs†Gregg Popovich4–0Portland Trail BlazersMike Dunleavy
2000Los Angeles Lakers†Phil Jackson4–3Portland Trail BlazersMike Dunleavy
2001Los Angeles LakersPhil Jackson4–0San Antonio Spurs†Gregg Popovich
2002Los Angeles LakersPhil Jackson4–3Sacramento Kings†Rick Adelman
2003San Antonio Spurs†Gregg Popovich4–2Dallas Mavericks†Don Nelson
2004Los Angeles LakersPhil Jackson4–2Minnesota TimberwolvesFlip Saunders
2005San Antonio SpursGregg Popovich4–1Phoenix Suns†Mike D'Antoni
2006Dallas MavericksAvery Johnson4–2Phoenix SunsMike D'Antoni
2007San Antonio SpursGregg Popovich4–1Utah JazzJerry Sloan
2008Los Angeles LakersPhil Jackson4–1San Antonio SpursGregg Popovich
2009Los Angeles LakersPhil Jackson4–2Denver NuggetsGeorge Karl
2010Los Angeles LakersPhil Jackson4–2Phoenix SunsAlvin Gentry
2011Dallas MavericksRick Carlisle4–1Oklahoma City ThunderScott Brooks
2012Oklahoma City ThunderScott Brooks4–2San Antonio Spurs†Gregg Popovich
2013San Antonio SpursGregg Popovich4–0Memphis GrizzliesLionel Hollins
2014San Antonio Spurs†Gregg Popovich4–2Oklahoma City ThunderScott Brooks
2015Golden State Warriors†Steve Kerr4–1Houston RocketsKevin McHale
2016Golden State Warriors†Steve Kerr4–3Oklahoma City ThunderBilly Donovan
2017Golden State Warriors†Steve Kerr4–0San Antonio SpursGregg Popovich
2018Golden State WarriorsSteve Kerr4–3Houston Rockets† Mike D'Antoni
2019Golden State WarriorsSteve Kerr4–0Portland Trail BlazersTerry Stotts
2020Los Angeles LakersFrank Vogel4–1Denver NuggetsMichael Malone

Results by team

Stats updated through September 27, 2020

Total number of appearances
TeamEastWestTotalEastWestTotalTotal
appearances
ChampionsRunner-up
Los Angeles Lakers0191904423
Boston Celtics9091101120
San Antonio Spurs06617814
Chicago Bulls60632511
Detroit Pistons50560611
Seattle SuperSonics / Oklahoma City Thunder04406610
Phoenix Suns0220779
San Francisco / Golden State Warriors0660228
Miami Heat6062028
Cleveland Cavaliers5053038
Philadelphia 76ers5053038
Houston Rockets0441348
New York Knicks4044048
Milwaukee Bucks0225168
Indiana Pacers1017078
Portland Trail Blazers0330447
Utah Jazz0220446
Baltimore / Washington Bullets4040004
Dallas Mavericks0220224
Orlando Magic2022024
Denver Nuggets0000444
New Jersey / Brooklyn Nets2020002
Toronto Raptors1011012
Kansas City / Sacramento Kings0000222
Atlanta Hawks0001011
Memphis Grizzlies0000111
Minnesota Timberwolves0000111

See also

References
  1. Goldaper, Sam. "The First Game". NBA History: NBA Encyclopedia Playoff Edition. NBA Media Ventures (NBA.com). Archived from the original on July 5, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  2. "1949–50 Season Overview: Powerful Lakers Repeat". NBA History: NBA Encyclopedia Playoff Edition. NBA Media Ventures (NBA.com). Retrieved August 5, 2010.
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