#1 seed magic number watch

[Covert Rain]

Just wonderin anyone know how many num 1 seeds have won championships?

Since 2000 the record is 7-15 for the #1 seed which isn't great.

2019-20 ^	Bucks	56-17	Lost 4-1 to Heat in Eastern Conference semifinals
2018-19	Bucks	60-22	Lost 4-2 to Raptors in Eastern Conference finals
2017-18	Rockets	65-17	Lost 4-3 to Warriors in Western Conference finals
2016-17	Warriors	67-15	Won NBA championship (beat Cavs 4-1)
2015-16	Warriors	73-9 *	Lost 4-3 to Cavs in The Finals
2014-15	Warriors	67-15	Won NBA championship (beat Cavs 4-2)
2013-14	Spurs	62-20	Won NBA championship (beat Heat 4-1)
2012-13	Heat	66-16	Won NBA championship (beat Spurs 4-3)
2011-12 ^^	Bulls	50-16	Lost 4-2 to 76ers in first round
2011-12 ^^	Spurs	50-16	Lost 4-2 to Thunder in Western Conference finals
2010-11	Bulls	62-20	Lost 4-1 to Heat in Eastern Conference finals
2009-10	Cavs	61-21	Lost 4-2 to Celtics in Eastern Conference semifinals
2008-09	Cavs	66-16	Lost 4-2 to Magic in Eastern Conference finals
2007-08	Celtics	66-16	Won NBA championship (beat Lakers 4-2)
2006-07	Mavs	67-15	Lost 4-2 to Warriors in first round
2005-06	Pistons	64-18	Lost 4-2 to Heat in Eastern Conference finals
2004-05	Suns	62-20	Lost 4-1 to Spurs in Western Conference finals
2003-04	Pacers	61-21	Lost 4-2 to Pistons in Eastern Conference finals
2002-03	Spurs	60-22	Won NBA championship (beat Nets 4-2)
2001-02	Kings	61-21	Lost 4-3 to Lakers in Western Conference finals
2000-01	Spurs	58-24	Lost 4-0 to Lakers in Western Conference finals
1999-2000	Lakers	67-15	Won NBA championship (beat Pacers 4-2)

 

[Chaplin]

Since 2000 the record is 7-15 for the #1 seed which isn't great.

2019-20 ^	Bucks	56-17	Lost 4-1 to Heat in Eastern Conference semifinals
2018-19	Bucks	60-22	Lost 4-2 to Raptors in Eastern Conference finals
2017-18	Rockets	65-17	Lost 4-3 to Warriors in Western Conference finals
2016-17	Warriors	67-15	Won NBA championship (beat Cavs 4-1)
2015-16	Warriors	73-9 *	Lost 4-3 to Cavs in The Finals
2014-15	Warriors	67-15	Won NBA championship (beat Cavs 4-2)
2013-14	Spurs	62-20	Won NBA championship (beat Heat 4-1)
2012-13	Heat	66-16	Won NBA championship (beat Spurs 4-3)
2011-12 ^^	Bulls	50-16	Lost 4-2 to 76ers in first round
2011-12 ^^	Spurs	50-16	Lost 4-2 to Thunder in Western Conference finals
2010-11	Bulls	62-20	Lost 4-1 to Heat in Eastern Conference finals
2009-10	Cavs	61-21	Lost 4-2 to Celtics in Eastern Conference semifinals
2008-09	Cavs	66-16	Lost 4-2 to Magic in Eastern Conference finals
2007-08	Celtics	66-16	Won NBA championship (beat Lakers 4-2)
2006-07	Mavs	67-15	Lost 4-2 to Warriors in first round
2005-06	Pistons	64-18	Lost 4-2 to Heat in Eastern Conference finals
2004-05	Suns	62-20	Lost 4-1 to Spurs in Western Conference finals
2003-04	Pacers	61-21	Lost 4-2 to Pistons in Eastern Conference finals
2002-03	Spurs	60-22	Won NBA championship (beat Nets 4-2)
2001-02	Kings	61-21	Lost 4-3 to Lakers in Western Conference finals
2000-01	Spurs	58-24	Lost 4-0 to Lakers in Western Conference finals
1999-2000	Lakers	67-15	Won NBA championship (beat Pacers 4-2)

Curious to know which seeds won the other 8. Certainly the #1 seed has the most wins in the last 15, which isn't bad.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Curious to know which seeds won the other 8. Certainly the #1 seed has the most wins in the last 15, which isn't bad.

That’s 7 of 21 finals. But I’d still bet 1/3rd is higher than other seeds.

 

[Suns_fan69]

With GSW losing to Denver this evening, the magic number for the #1 seed is: 10

 

[Suns_fan69]

With Phoenix beating Orlando tonight, the magic number for the #1 seed is: 9

 

[GatorAZ]

We wrapped up the 1-seed two weeks ago.

 

[95pro]

grizz and warriors are tied in the loss column

 

[Ronin]

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[Suns_fan69]

With the win over Miami, the magic number for the #1 seed is: 8

 

[Muggz]

With the win over Miami, the magic number for the #1 seed is: 8

Also with this win the Suns have beat all 29 other teams. I'm not sure thats impressive but its been at least 10 years since.

 

[Hoop Head]

Also with this win the Suns have beat all 29 other teams. I'm not sure thats impressive but its been at least 10 years since.

10 years since the Suns have done that or anyone has?

 

[JCSunsfan]

With the win over Miami, the magic number for the #1 seed is: 8

And only 16 games remaining. 8-8. That is the record the Suns need from here out to guarantee top seed.

Interesting 5 game stretch coming with the Timberwolves, Nuggets, 76ers, Warriors, and Griz in succession.

Minnesota is playing well lately, and the Nuggets are playing extremely well.

 

[Dback Jon]

And only 16 games remaining. 8-8. That is the record the Suns need from here out to guarantee top seed.

Interesting 5 game stretch coming with the Timberwolves, Nuggets, 76ers, Warriors, and Griz in succession.

Minnesota is playing well lately, and the Nuggets are playing extremely well.

That is assuming the other teams go undefeated!

 

[Cheesebeef]

And only 16 games remaining. 8-8. That is the record the Suns need from here out to guarantee top seed.

Interesting 5 game stretch coming with the Timberwolves, Nuggets, 76ers, Warriors, and Griz in succession.

Minnesota is playing well lately, and the Nuggets are playing extremely well.

That’s a tough stretch coming up.

 

[Suns_fan69]

I like looking at https://www.tankathon.com/remaining_schedule_strength occasionally. You can see some of the highlights in the remaining matchups.

For Phoenix, we still get 2 games vs LAL and 2 games vs Sac to balance it out. It lists NOP as an 'easy' game but they've been on a tear lately so that probably belongs more in the other column.

 

[Mainstreet]

I like looking at https://www.tankathon.com/remaining_schedule_strength occasionally. You can see some of the highlights in the remaining matchups.

For Phoenix, we still get 2 games vs LAL and 2 games vs Sac to balance it out. It lists NOP as an 'easy' game but they've been on a tear lately so that probably belongs more in the other column.

The NBA is so weird. The Pelicans have lost three games in a row with the last game being to the Magic. Once you think you have it figured out it gets reshuffled.

End of season games are wildly unpredictable from my experience.

 

[Muggz]

10 years since the Suns have done that or anyone has?

Just the Suns. Last time we did it was 2006

 

[Muggz]

And only 16 games remaining. 8-8. That is the record the Suns need from here out to guarantee top seed.

Interesting 5 game stretch coming with the Timberwolves, Nuggets, 76ers, Warriors, and Griz in succession.

Minnesota is playing well lately, and the Nuggets are playing extremely well.

Cannon Fodder! Every last one of them.
Fancy target practice for the Show.

 

[Suns_fan69]

After stomping the Lakers, the Suns magic number for the #1 seed is now: 7

 

[JCSunsfan]

For most of the season, it has been the Warriors that everyone was saying was our real competition in the playoffs, but they have dropped out of the picture. Now our concern would have to be some team that is just now really getting hot.

This is so strange as a Suns fan. We have had good teams in the past, but not good like this. The difference is the offensive/defensive balance. When your defense is this good, it is a lot easier to win games consistently. I am a bit in awe.

 

[Hoop Head]

For most of the season, it has been the Warriors that everyone was saying was our real competition in the playoffs, but they have dropped out of the picture. Now our concern would have to be some team that is just now really getting hot.

This is so strange as a Suns fan. We have had good teams in the past, but not good like this. The difference is the offensive/defensive balance. When your defense is this good, it is a lot easier to win games consistently. I am a bit in awe.

The top teams in the East worry me more than the majority of Western teams. Milwaukee, Philly, and to a lesser extent Miami.

 

[95pro]

The top teams in the East worry me more than the majority of Western teams. Milwaukee, Philly, and to a lesser extent Miami.

I'm not worried about philly. They traded all their depth for Harden, who has yet to show in big games.

Miami would put up a fight, but i dont see them going on fire for a 7 game series, let alone 4 games needed to win.

Now the Bucks aren't afraid of us because they had to go through us and won the last time around. Middleton is a bad matchup for us, he gets it done everytime it seems. Then Holiday's eyes are starting to light up when he plays us. I just dont get how he gets to reach in all the time without it being a foul. I still like our chances this year due to our improved depth.

I think the Warriors are trying to get everyone 100% before sticking them back out on the court, this is something the Suns do too.

 

[Ronin]

Every team will be a speed bump as we roll towards our first title.

 

[Hoop Head]

I'm not worried about philly. They traded all their depth for Harden, who has yet to show in big games.

Miami would put up a fight, but i dont see them going on fire for a 7 game series, let alone 4 games needed to win.

Now the Bucks aren't afraid of us because they had to go through us and won the last time around. Middleton is a bad matchup for us, he gets it done everytime it seems. Then Holiday's eyes are starting to light up when he plays us. I just dont get how he gets to reach in all the time without it being a foul. I still like our chances this year due to our improved depth.

I think the Warriors are trying to get everyone 100% before sticking them back out on the court, this is something the Suns do too.

Milwaukee worries me the most. I'd say they have the mental edge on us having taken the series last year. However losing PJ Tucker will hurt them in a matchup with us. They could play big with Lopez or Portis, Giannis, PJ, Middleton, and Jrue. So we out matched across the board in size, strength, and toughness. That's why Middleton had such a good series. I think he'd be less effective in a rematch but they still worry me.

Philly lost depth but they have a really good starting 5. It all depends on Embiid, and who knows how his body holds up through 3 series before the finals. If they're healthy though they scare me because of their firepower.

Miami is tough to really get a read on because they're either great or crap. They can get hot also and they have the leadership to stay poised.

All 3 worry me more than Golden State, Utah, Memphis, Dallas, and Denver. Denver is still a dark horse is Murray can return before the playoffs start. The longer he's out, the better it is for us.

 

[95pro]

Milwaukee worries me the most. I'd say they have the mental edge on us having taken the series last year. However losing PJ Tucker will hurt them in a matchup with us. They could play big with Lopez or Portis, Giannis, PJ, Middleton, and Jrue. So we out matched across the board in size, strength, and toughness. That's why Middleton had such a good series. I think he'd be less effective in a rematch but they still worry me.

Philly lost depth but they have a really good starting 5. It all depends on Embiid, and who knows how his body holds up through 3 series before the finals. If they're healthy though they scare me because of their firepower.

Miami is tough to really get a read on because they're either great or crap. They can get hot also and they have the leadership to stay poised.

All 3 worry me more than Golden State, Utah, Memphis, Dallas, and Denver. Denver is still a dark horse is Murray can return before the playoffs start. The longer he's out, the better it is for us.

The real wildcard for an upset are the grizz. I just don’t know what to expect from them.

Denver eh. Ayton had Jokics number. I don’t expect Murray or Porter to do anything coming off those injuries.

Sixers had their honeymoon phase. I don’t expect the others to keep up their production as of late.