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10 Recent NBA Dynasties That Never Were

By Jamal Williams

Basketball: Orlando Magic Shaquille O'Neal (C) happy and pointing with Anfernee Penny Hardaway (R) on bench during game vs Denver Nuggets at Orlando Arena. Orlando, FL 12/14/1994 CREDIT: Ben Van Hook (Photo by Ben Van Hook /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X47547 )
Basketball: Orlando Magic Shaquille O'Neal (C) happy and pointing with Anfernee Penny Hardaway (R) on bench during game vs Denver Nuggets at Orlando Arena. Orlando, FL 12/14/1994 CREDIT: Ben Van Hook (Photo by Ben Van Hook /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X47547 ) /
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CLEVELAND – MAY 5: David Stern presents LeBron James
CLEVELAND – MAY 5: David Stern presents LeBron James /

9. Cleveland Cavaliers (2007-08)

The chosen one had finally started to put his stamp on the league. Fresh off an Olympic victory in Beijing,  LeBron James was determined to take his new game and instill it for a title run. Not many players can say they do more with less, and in this case, LeBron James usually thrives taking those type of teams very far in the playoffs.

A new acquisition in Mo Williams and players such as Daniel Gibson a year older and more seasoned, the Cleveland Cavaliers toyed with the rest of the league and put up a franchise mark of 66 victories.

It would seem basketball fans were about to get as the two best players in the league (Kobe Bryant, LeBron James) led their teams to regular season success and just needed to meet each other half way for a dream matchup in the Finals. The Cavaliers would make light of their first two opponents, sweeping them en route to an Eastern Conference showdown with the Orlando Magic.

However, this team was different. This team had a style of play even the King couldn’t take on by himself. With sniper shooters on the floor in Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu, the giant man in the middle in Dwight Howard seemingly rag dolling his opponents almost like Shaquille O’Neal and Stan Van Gundy coaching to near perfection, the Magic beat the Cavaliers in six games.

The series left many shocked, LeBron looking for help to get the job done and the basketball world starving for the dream matchup we never got to witness.

Next: The Jordan Effect Part 1