2001 NBA Playoffs

The 2001 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2000-01 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers 4 games to 1. Shaquille O'Neal was named NBA Finals MVP for the second straight year.

This was the 76ers' first appearance in the Finals since Moses Malone and Julius Erving led the 1983 squad to the NBA title (coincidently, last defeating the Lakers) in the famous "fo', fo', fo'" year (it ended up being "fo', fi', fo'", as Philadelphia lost one second-round game that year).

However, this was the Lakers' turn to put together the most dominant postseason in league history, finishing 15–1 with their only loss coming in OT to the Sixers in Game 1 of the Finals. The Lakers set many playoff records, including going undefeated in regulation and on the road (finishing 8–0 in the latter category). They were the second NBA champion to defeat four 50-win or better teams on their way to the title as the Rockets did it first in 1995.

The Milwaukee Bucks were one of the surprise teams of the playoffs, winning a playoff series for the first time since 1989 and advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1986. As of 2012, however, they have been unable to duplicate this feat.

The Dallas Mavericks also ended years of futility, making the playoffs for the first time since 1990. Along the way they did have many abysmal seasons, including back-to-back years with 11 and 13 wins. By beating Utah in the first round, the Mavericks won their first playoff series since 1988. Reunion Arena, the Mavs' home court for 21 years, hosted its last game (Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the San Antonio Spurs); the Mavs moved to American Airlines Center in 2001.

The Sacramento Kings won their first playoff series since 1981 (when they were known as the Kansas City Kings) and first since the franchise moved to Sacramento.

The Toronto Raptors won their first playoff series in franchise history with a 3–2 series win over the New York Knicks, but fell in 7 to the 76ers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. For the first time since 1991, the Knicks failed to win a first-round playoff series.

Bracket

Playoff qualifying

Western Conference

Best record in NBA

The San Antonio Spurs clinched the best record in the NBA, and earned home court advantage throughout the entire playoffs. However, when San Antonio lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers gained home court advantage for the NBA Finals. San Antonio's 58 games remains the lowest record for a team with home court advantage throughout the playoffs, being 3 games fewer than Indiana's 61 games in the 2003-04 season and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2009-10 season.

Clinched a playoff berth

The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the West:

1. San Antonio Spurs (clinched Midwest division)
2. Los Angeles Lakers (clinched Pacific division)
3. Sacramento Kings
4. Utah Jazz
5. Dallas Mavericks
6. Phoenix Suns
7. Portland Trail Blazers
8. Minnesota Timberwolves

Eastern Conference

Best record in conference

The Philadelphia 76ers clinched the best record in the Eastern Conference, and had home court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Clinched a playoff berth

The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the East:

1. Philadelphia 76ers (clinched Atlantic division)
2. Milwaukee Bucks (clinched Central division)
3. Miami Heat
4. New York Knicks
5. Toronto Raptors
6. Charlotte Hornets
7. Orlando Magic
8. Indiana Pacers

Western Conference

Champion: Los Angeles Lakers

First Round

(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (8) Minnesota Timberwolves

Last Playoff Meeting: 1999 Western Conference First Round (San Antonio won 3-1)

(2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (7) Portland Trail Blazers

Last Playoff Meeting: 2000 Western Conference Finals (Los Angeles won 4-3)

(3) Sacramento Kings vs. (6) Phoenix Suns

Last Playoff Meeting: 1981 Western Conference Semifinals (Kings won 4-3, then in Kansas City, Missouri)

(4) Utah Jazz vs. (5) Dallas Mavericks

Last Playoff Meeting: 1986 Western Conference First Round (Dallas won 3-1)

Conference Semifinals

(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (5) Dallas Mavericks

Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Spurs and Mavericks.

(2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) Sacramento Kings

Last Playoff Meeting: 2000 Western Conference First Round (Los Angeles won 3-2)

Conference Finals

(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (2) Los Angeles Lakers

Last Playoff Meeting: 1999 Western Conference Semifinals (San Antonio won 4-0)

Eastern Conference

Champion: Philadelphia 76ers

First Round

(1) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (8) Indiana Pacers

Last Playoff Meeting: 2000 Eastern Conference Semifinals (Indiana won 4-2)

• In game 1, Reggie Miller hit the game-winning 3 with 2.9 seconds left.

(4) New York Knicks vs. (5) Toronto Raptors

Last Playoff Meeting: 2000 Eastern Conference First Round (New York won 3-0)

(2) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (7) Orlando Magic

Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Bucks and Magic.

(3) Miami Heat vs. (6) Charlotte Hornets

Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Heat and Hornets.

Conference Semifinals

(1) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (5) Toronto Raptors

Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the 76ers and Raptors.

• Iverson-Carter duel
• 76ers ended the 16-year drought by advancing to the conference finals when Vince Carter's long jumper at the buzzer bounced cleanly off the rim.

(2) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (6) Charlotte Hornets

Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Bucks and Hornets.

Conference Finals

(1) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (2) Milwaukee Bucks

Last Playoff Meeting: 1991 Eastern Conference First Round (Philadelphia won 3-0)

NBA Finals

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Philadelphia 76ers

Last Playoff Meeting: 1983 NBA Finals (Philadelphia won 4-0)

External links

• NBA.com's 2001 Playoffs coverage