1999 NBA Playoffs

The 1999 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1998-99 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs winning their first ever NBA championship by defeating the eighth-seeded Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks four games to one. The 1999 playoffs are memorable for the fact that a number eight seed made it to the Finals for the first and only time in history, as well as the fact that it came after a lockout-shortened fifty game season.

The 1999 playoffs featured the Philadelphia 76ers' first trip to the postseason since their 1991 second-round playoff loss to the Chicago Bulls, and their first appearance since drafting Allen Iverson with the first overall pick in 1996. Iverson would later lead the Sixers to the 2001 NBA Finals. The Bulls, despite being defending champions, failed to make the playoffs (owing mostly to the retirement of Michael Jordan).

The Milwaukee Bucks also ended a long playoff drought in this tournament, advancing to the postseason for the first time since 1991.

After losing their Eastern Conference semifinal series to the Knicks, the Atlanta Hawks would not return to the playoffs until 2008.

Bracket

16TeamBracket

RD1=First Round
RD2=Conference Semifinals
RD3=Conference Finals
RD4=NBA Finals
group1=Western Conference
group2=Eastern Conference
RD1-seed01=1
RD1-team01=San Antonio
RD1-score01=3
RD1-seed02=8
RD1-team02=Minnesota
RD1-score02=1
RD1-seed03=4
RD1-team03=L.A. Lakers
RD1-score03=3
RD1-seed04=5
RD1-team04=Houston
RD1-score04=1
RD1-seed05=3
RD1-team05=Utah
RD1-score05=3
RD1-seed06=6
RD1-team06=Sacramento
RD1-score06=2
RD1-seed07=2
RD1-team07=Portland
RD1-score07=3
RD1-seed08=7
RD1-team08=Phoenix
RD1-score08=0
RD1-seed09=1
RD1-team09=Miami
RD1-score09=2
RD1-seed10=8
RD1-team10=New York
RD1-score10=3
RD1-seed11=4
RD1-team11=Atlanta
RD1-score11=3
RD1-seed12=5
RD1-team12=Detroit
RD1-score12=2
RD1-seed13=3
RD1-team13=Orlando
RD1-score13=1
RD1-seed14=6
RD1-team14=Philadelphia
RD1-score14=3
RD1-seed15=2
RD1-team15=Indiana
RD1-score15=3
RD1-seed16=7
RD1-team16=Milwaukee
RD1-score16=0
RD2-seed01=1
RD2-team01=San Antonio
RD2-score01=4
RD2-seed02=4
RD2-team02=L.A. Lakers
RD2-score02=0
RD2-seed03=3
RD2-team03=Utah
RD2-score03=2
RD2-seed04=2
RD2-team04=Portland
RD2-score04=4
RD2-seed05=8
RD2-team05=New York
RD2-score05=4
RD2-seed06=4
RD2-team06=Atlanta
RD2-score06=0
RD2-seed07=6
RD2-team07=Philadelphia
RD2-score07=0
RD2-seed08=2
RD2-team08=Indiana
RD2-score08=4
RD3-seed01=1
RD3-team01=San Antonio
RD3-score01=4
RD3-seed02=2
RD3-team02=Portland
RD3-score02=0
RD3-seed03=8
RD3-team03=New York
RD3-score03=4
RD3-seed04=2
RD3-team04=Indiana
RD3-score04=2
RD4-seed01=W1
RD4-team01=San Antonio
RD4-score01=4
RD4-seed02=E8
RD4-team02=New York
RD4-score02=1

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.The Spurs won the playoffs, their first of four championships in nine years.

Clinched a playoff berth

The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the West:

# San Antonio Spurs (clinched Midwest division)
# Portland Trail Blazers (clinched Pacific division)
# Utah Jazz
# Los Angeles Lakers
# Houston Rockets
# Sacramento Kings
# Phoenix Suns
# Minnesota Timberwolves

Eastern Conference

Best record in conference

The Miami Heat clinched the best record in the Eastern Conference, and had home court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs. However, Miami lost in the first round, so home court advantage for the remainder of the Eastern Conference playoffs switched to the Indiana Pacers.

Clinched a playoff berth

The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the East:

# Miami Heat (clinched Atlantic division)
# Indiana Pacers (clinched Central division)
# Orlando Magic
# Atlanta Hawks
# Detroit Pistons
# Philadelphia 76ers
# Milwaukee Bucks
# New York Knicks

External links

* [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/1999/playoffs/ CNNSI.com's 1999 Playoffs coverage]